Reconstruction of the biogeographical history of Malesherbiaceae

Malesherbiaceae are xerophytic plants of Chile, Peru, and Argentina. The 24 species of the only genus,Malesherbia, live in a variety of arid habitats in the Pacific coastal desert and adjacent Andes of Peru, Chile, and neighboring Argentina. Taxa with distributions in both Peru and Chile are rare; for this reason the family provides an excellent case study for the biogeography of this region of western South America. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data using Turneraceae as an outgroup shows a correlation between the phylogeny and the distribution of Malesherbiaceae. The origin of the family is placed in the late Miocene to early Pliocene, when the region became permanently arid. The five major clades of the family likely diverged during the Pliocene. A single clade consisting of species native to Peru and the Atacama Desert indicates that the family was introduced to Peru once. Most modern species appear to have evolved in response to Pleistocene climatic fluctuations.

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Resumen  Las Malesherbiaceae son plantas xerófitas de Chile, el Perú, y Argentina. Las 24 especies del genero único,Malesherbia, viven en una variedad de hábitats en el desierto costero del Pacífico y en la zona andina vecina en el Perú, Chile, y Argentina. Los taxones con distribuciones tanto en el Perú como en Chile son raros; por eso la familia es un buen ejemplo para el estudio de la biogeografía de esta región del oeste de América del Sur. El análisis filogenético de datos de secuencias de ITS usando Turneraceae como un grupo extemo muestra una correlación entre la filogenia y la distribución de Malesherbiaceae. La familia se originó en el Mioceno tardío o Plioceno temprano, cuando la región se volvió permanentemente árida. Los cinco clados mayores de la familia probablemente divergieron en el Plioceno. Un solo clado que tiene especies nativas a Perú y el Desierto de Atacama indica que la familia llegó al Perú una vez. La mayoría de las especies modernas probablemente evolucionaron en respuesta a las fluctuaciones climáticas en el Pleistoceno.

     

Culture conditions for enhanced cellulase production by a native strain of Penicillium purpurogenum

A cellulolytic wild-type strain of Penicillium purpurogenum was isolated from a soil sample in southern Chile. It grew best at 28°C from an inoculum of 4×10⁷ spores/100 ml medium. Highest endoglucanase activity was with Sigmacell as carbon source and corn steep liquor as nitrogen source. Wheat bran enhanced the production of endoglucanase and -glucosidase. The enzymes in the crude supernatants were stable up to 50°C and between pH 4.4 and 5.6 for 48 h.J.Steiner and C. Socha are with the Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 233, Santiago 1, Chile; J. Eyzaguirre is with the Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.     

Reproductive biology of Stictosiphonia hookeri (Rhodomelaceae,Rhodophyta) from Argentina,Chile, South Africa and Australia in laboratory culture

The red alga Stictosiphonia hookeri is epilithic in shaded habitats of the upper intertidal zone from 30 to 55° S. Thalli of this species from Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Australia, usually without reproductive structures when collected, all developed tetrasporangia in culture. Although good vegetative growth occurred in all nine isolates at 20–25 °C, 12:12 light: dark cycle, 10–30 µmol photons m^–2 s^–1, none reproduced in these conditions except one isolate from Australia. At 15 °C the four South African (34 °S) isolates developed tetrasporangial stichidia, and three completed a Polysiphonia-type life history. Gametophytes were unisexual or bisexual. At 15 °C one isolate from Chile (36 °S) formed tetrasporangia, but sporelings were not viable. At 10 °C isolates from Argentina and Chile (53 °S and 54 °S) formed tetrasporangia; however, only the Chile isolate completed a Polysiphonia-type life history with unisexual gametophytes. The temperature required to induce sporogenesis correlates with the range of water and air temperatures in the natural habitats of each isolate. In irradiances >50 µmol m^–2 s^–1 the thalli became yellow- brown within two weeks because of phycobiliprotein loss, but this did not impair growth or reproduction. The Argentina and Chile isolates were resistant to freezing in seawater for at least two days, showing no cell damage. The protein cuticle of the outer cell wall is repeatedly shed in culture. This may serve to minimize the attachment of epiphytes in the field.     

The genetic divergence of prehistoric populations of the south-central Andes as established by means of craniometric traits

The peopling of the south-central Andean region can be determined by exploring a combination of cultural, economic, and biological factors that influence the structure of populations and determine particular dispersals of gene frequencies. Quantitative characters from 1,586 adult crania of both sexes from northern Chile, northwestern Argentina, and the Cochabamba valleys in Bolivia were analyzed employing multivariate statistical analyses. Biological distances, representing phenotypic variation between these regions and their subregions, were studied within a population genetics framework. An analysis of Mahalanobis D(2) distances establishes two principle directions of interaction: the first between the Cochabamba valleys and northern Chile, and the second between the Cochabamba region and northwestern Argentina. The Chile and Argentina regions are shown to be less related to each other than each is to the Bolivian region. A higher mean genetic divergence is found for the entire region (F(ST) = 0.195); with northwestern Argentina having the highest spatial isolation (F(ST) = 0.143) and northern Chile the lowest (F(ST) = 0.061). These results allow us to propose a populating model based on the dispersion of several lines from a common ancestral population similar to those who inhabited the Cochabamba valleys. These lines differentiated themselves in time and space according to the effective size and the rate of gene flow, eventually producing the human groups which inhabited the valleys of northern Chile and northwestern Argentina.     

The genus Calycidium Stirt.

Abstract:The lichen genus Calycidium Stirt. (Calycidiaceae,Lecanorales , ‘Caliciales’ s. lat.) contains two species: C. cuneatum Stirt., distributed in Australia (Tasmania) and New Zealand, and C. polycarpum (Colenso) Wedin, comb. nov., distributed in Argentina, Australia (Tasmania), Chile and New Zealand. The morphology, chemistry, ecology and distribution of the two species is discussed, as is the taxonomic position of the genus. Calycidium is reported as new to Argentina.     

Alien plants in southern South America. A framework for evaluation and management of mutual risk of invasion between Chile and Argentina

Most of the Chilean traffic exchange takes place along the border with Argentina. The road network between both countries facilitates the transport of alien plant species, raising the chance of new introductions of plant species and increasing the propagule pressure of already introduced plants. We used a modified version of the Australian Weed Risk Assessment method (AWRA) to analyze if alien plant species already present either exclusively in Chile or Argentina can be a potential source of risk for new alien species introduction and, specifically, which of the two countries poses a higher risk for its counterpart. We recorded 875 alien species of which 288 are exclusive to Chile, 283 are exclusive to Argentina, and 304 are shared by both countries. Considering the risk of new alien plants introductions, Chile presents a higher threat to Argentina than vice versa. Specifically, twenty-two alien species are exclusive to Chile, and are present on roadsides connecting both countries, hence they are regarded as a top risk for Argentina; a comparable top risk of alien species is absent from Argentinean roadsides. Both countries have a similar number of alien species being exclusive to one country, but are not present along roadsides (Chile 162; Argentina 186), which could represent a potential risk to the other country. The methodological approach proposed here may be a useful tool not only for screening potential new alien plant introductions, but also for the prioritization of eradication or control measures of those species already introduced.     

The taxonomy, biogeography and host plant relationships of jumping plant-lice (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) associated with creosote bushes (Larrea spp., Zygophyllaceae)

Abstract.  The Neotropical genus Panisopelma (Psyllidae: Aphalaroidinae) is revised and its internal phylogeny analysed. The constituent species, including five new ones, are described and illustrated. Keys are provided for the adults and the last instar larvae. Eight species are associated with creosote bushes ( Larrea , Zygophyllaceae): five with L. nitida and three with L. divaricata . There is evidence that another three species, the larvae of which are unknown, also develop on L. divaricata . Seven species are restricted to Argentina, one to Bolivia and three to Chile. The cladistic analysis based on male, female and larval morphological characters yielded a single most-parsimonious tree. The species associated with L. nitida form a monophyletic clade, those on L. divaricata , by contrast, are paraphyletic. One clade with three species is restricted to Argentina, but three clades each contain a species from Argentina and Chile. Although a close association exists between Panisopelma and Larrea , there is no evidence for cospeciation, but rather an initial shift from an unknown host to L. divaricata and a second shift from L. divaricata to L. nitida . In three species pairs of Panisopelma , the distribution patterns suggest geographical vicariance between Argentina and Chile.     

The effects of adenohypophysectomy on the hypothalamic-hypophysial neurosecretory system and the adrenal gland of the toad Bufo arenarum Hensel

Summary The effects of adenohypophysectomy were studied on the hypothalamichypophysial neurosecretory system and the adrenal glands of Bufo arenarum Hensel. An increase in vascularization of the pars intermedia was found and the neurosecretory material (NSM) in the glandular region of the median eminence disappeared. Its reappearance later was accompanied by hypertrophy of the pars intermedia; differentiated chromophil cells appeared in the pars intermedia around the vessels and, at the same time, the adrenal reverted to normal. These findings are interpreted as hypertrophy and differentiation of the pars intermedia with replacement, at least partly, of the functions of the pars distalis. The probable mechanism of differentiation and the functions of chromophil cells of the pars intermedia are discussed.This paper was presented at the VI Reunión de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Ciencias Fisiológicas (A.L.A.C.F.), Viña del Mar, Chile, 1964. It was carried out under the auspices of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Argentina) and the Rockefeller Foundation (School grant RF-58028).Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.The authors wish to thank Prof. M. H. Burgos for his constant interest, Prof. B. A. Houssay, Prof. H. Heller and Dr. J. H. Tramezzani for their criticisms, Miss B. Rodriguez and Mr. L. Castro for their technical assistance.     

Geographic mosaics of plant–soil microbe interactions in a global plant invasion

Aim Our aim in this study was to document the global biogeographic variation in the effects of soil microbes on the growth of Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle; Asteraceae), a species that has been introduced throughout the world, but has become highly invasive only in some introduced regions. Location  To assess biogeographic variation in plant–soil microbe interactions, we collected seeds and soils from native Eurasian C. solstitialis populations and introduced populations in California, Argentina and Chile. Methods To test whether escape from soil‐borne natural enemies may contribute to the success of C. solstitialis, we compared the performance of plants using seeds and soils collected from each of the biogeographic regions in greenhouse inoculation/sterilization experiments. Results  We found that soil microbes had pervasive negative effects on plants from all regions, but these negative effects were significantly weaker in soils from non‐native ranges in Chile and California than in those from the non‐native range in Argentina and the native range in Eurasia. Main conclusions The biogeographic differences in negative effects of microbes in this study conformed to the enemy‐release hypothesis (ERH) overall, but the strong negative effect of soil biota in Argentina, where C. solstitialis is invasive, and weaker effects in Chile where it is not, indicated that different factors influencing invasion are likely to occur in large scale biogeographic mosaics of interaction strengths.     

Composition and morphology of Candida utilis grown in continuous culture with decreasing concentrations of phosphate

Candida utilis was grown in continuous culture with decreasing concentrations of phosphate. At a constant dllution rate three successlve growth patterns were observed: carbon-limited growth, carbon and phosphate dual-limited growth, and phosphatelimited growth. Phosphate deficlency as well as phosphate limitation produced significant modifications in cell composition and morphology, including cell size. At the lowest phosphate concentration (6 mg/P/I), the cell size was the largest and the relative contents of phosphorus and RNA in the cells was very low, with 96% of the total phosphorus being located in the RNA fraction.M.E. Lucca and M.E. Romero are with the Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial, Fac. Bioq. y Farmacia (U.N.T.) C.C. 90, suc. 2 (4.000) S.M. Tucumán, Argentina, J.C. Díaz Ricci, O.A. Garro and D.A.S. Callieri are with PROIMI, Avda Belgrano y Pje Caseros (4000) S.M. Tucumán, Argentina.     

Global diversity of crabs (Aeglidae: Anomura: Decapoda) in freshwater

The freshwater anomuran crabs of the family Aeglidae are all restricted to southern South America occurring in Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. The family consists of a single genus, Aegla, containing 63 currently described species. There are another 5–10 known yet undescribed species to complement this diversity. The aeglids occur in freshwater lakes, streams, rivers, and in caves with freshwater. The origin of the family appears to be from marine ancestors from the Pacific invading streams in Chile about 75 mya radiating both in Chile and again on the eastern side of the Andes, particularly in Brazil. Of the 63 species, 23 or 36.5% are considered under threat and are in need of conservation action. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment     

Plant molecular biology in Argentina and Chile

We report here on 32 laboratories from Argentina and Chile that include 55 research scientists. Most of these groups were constituted in the last ten years, usually by investigators returning from their postdoctoral training abroad. Some groups are based in institutions with a long tradition in plant biochemistry that are seeking to update their research. Others are organized under the National Institutes for Agronomic Research (INTA in Argentina and INIA in Chile) with the aim of introducing the techniques of molecular biology in their plant breeding programs. Several laboratories sharing similar research interests maintain collaborative links, and many of them participate in binational or multinational research programs. An interesting level, of coordination is provided by REDBIO, the Latin American Network on Plant Biotechnology, which organized national and international meetings in both Argentina and Chile to promote biotechnological research. As a whole, the academic production of these groups has been steadily increasing.     

Tracking the origin of an invasive species: Drosophila subobscura in Argentina

Biological invasions are excellent opportunities to study the evolutionary forces leading to the adaptation of a species to a new habitat. Knowledge of the introduction history of colonizing species helps tracking colonizing routes and assists in defining management strategies for invasive species. The Palearctic species Drosophila subobscura is a good model organism for tracking colonizations since it was detected in Chile and western North America three decades ago and later on in the Atlantic coast of Argentina. To unravel the origin of the Argentinean colonizers two populations have been analysed with several genetic markers. Chromosomal arrangements and microsatellite alleles found in Argentina are almost similar to those observed in Chile and USA. The lethal allelism test demonstrates that the lethal gene associated with the O₅ inversions in Argentina is identical to that found in Chile and USA, strongly supporting the hypothesis that all the American colonizing populations originated from the same colonization event. A secondary bottleneck is detected in the Argentinean populations and the genetic markers suggest that these populations originated from the invasion of 80–150 founding individuals from Chile.     

Genome size variation in Chenopodium quinoa (Chenopodiaceae)

The extent and significance of intraspecific genome size variation were analysed in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a pseudocereal important for human consumption in the Andean region of South America. Flow cytometry, with propidium iodide as the DNA stain, was used to estimate the genome size of 20 quinoa accessions from Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and the USA. Limited genome size variation was found among the analysed accessions. The differences between the accessions were statistically significant but the maximum inter-accession difference between the populations with the largest and the smallest genome reached only 5.9%. The largest genome was found in population C4 from Chile (mean 3.077 pg/2C) and the smallest in the Peruvian population P2 (mean 2.905 pg/2C). The variation was not correlated with collection site; however, the quinoa accessions analysed in this study belonged to three distinct geographical groups: northern highland, southern highland and lowland.     

Pseudocrossidium perpapillosum (Pottiaceae) a new species from South America

Abstract

Pseudocrossidium perpapillosum M.J.Cano & J.A.Jiménez is described and illustrated as a new South American species from Argentina and Chile. It differs from other species of Pseudocrossidium R.S.Williams by the costa excurrent in an awn, elliptical in cross-section, with 4–5(6) guide cells, marginal laminal cells differentiated with rounded, thin-walled and papillose cells, paracostal distal cells with 1–2(4) bi- to quadrifurcate, long papillae, and perichaetial leaves differentiated.     

Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Quillaja Molina (Quillajaceae)

The taxonomy and distribution of the genus Quillaja (Quillajaceae) is examined and two species, Q. brasiliensis and Q. saponaria, are recognised and keyed out. Quillaja bra‐ siliensis is distributed in southern Brazil, northern Uruguay, northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguay. The presence of Q. brasiliensis in Peru, indicated in some sources, is not confirmed with herbarium specimens. Quillaja saponaria is distributed in central Chile, besides one doubtful collection from Andean Bolivia. The mention of its presence in Peru is likewise unjustified. A distribution map of the species is provided and two names are lectotypified here. Se examina la taxonomía y distribución del género Quillaja (Quillajaceae), donde dos especies, Q. brasiliensis y Q. saponaria, se reconocen y diferencian mediante una clave. Quillaja brasiliensis se distribuye en el sur de Brasil, norte de Uruguay, noreste de Argentina y este de Paraguay. La presencia de Q. brasiliensis en Perú, indicada en algunas fuentes, no se ve respaldada por ejemplares de herbario. Quillaja saponaria se distrbuye en Chile central, más una colección dudosa proveniente de los Andes de Bolivia. La mención de Q. saponaria para Perú tampoco se justifica. Se presenta un mapa de distribución de las especies y se lectotipifican dos nombres. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Glacidorbidae (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) in South America: revision and description of a new genus and three new species from Patagonia

The Glacidorbidae, a family restricted to the Gondwanan realm (Tasmania, southeastern and southwestern Australia, and southern Argentina and Chile), previously included five genera with 20 identified species; 19 of them are Australian, with one genus and species, Gondwanorbis magallanicus (Meier-Brook & Smith, 1976 Meier-Brook, K. & Smith, B.J. (1976) Glacidorbis Iredale, 1943, a genus of freshwater prosobranchs with a Tasmanian-Southeast Australian-South Andean distribution. Archive für Molluskenkunde 106, 191–198. [Google Scholar]), from South America. Here we describe two new species of Gondwanorbis: Gondwanorbis fueguensis n. sp. from the freshwater gastropods province of Southern Patagonia (Argentina) and Gondwanorbis tricarinatus n. sp. from Chile, and a new genus and species from the freshwater gastropods province of northern Patagonia (Argentina), Patagonorbis nahuelhuapensis n. sp and n. gen.

http://www./zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:62EA0972-3AEF-4188-8E6D-F10895CE2BEF     

ent-labdane glycosides from Baccharis pingraea.

The aerial parts of Baccharis pingraea, collected in Chile, afforded, in addition to two diterpene glycosides isolated previously, 14 new ones and two of the corresponding desacyl aglycones. The structures were elucidated by high field 1H NMR spectroscopy. The differences between the collections from Argentina and Chile are discussed.     

Araucnephia iberaensis n. sp., a neotropical black fly with a peculiar distribution (Diptera-Simuliidae)

Araucnephia Wygodzinsky & Coscarón is a Neotropical black fly genus in which only one species from Central Chile is known. Another species has now been found in Corrientes province on the eastern side of the Iberá tropical swamps of Argentina, on the western border of the mountainous region of southern Brazil. This new species, A. iberaensis, is herein described and illustrated and information on its bionomics is recorded. It is an interesting species because previous to its discovery no black fly genus or subgenus from Central Chile region has been found in tropical areas, because these two regions are separated by the Monte and Pampas realms. Similarly, no Brazilian genus or subgenus has crossed the Andes mountains to Chile. A comparison with other Neotropical, Nearctic, Ethiopian (Afrotropical) and Australian Prosimuliini (sensu Crosskey & Howard) showed Araucnephia to be a valid taxon most closely related to Araucnephioides (sympatric in Chile). Araucnephia also shows great affinities with Lutzsimulium from Southeast Brazil and Argentina and Paracnephia from South Africa.