Molecular Phylogeny among Local Populations of Formica japonica (Hym., Formicidae) in Korea

ABSTRACT Not only were used Random amplified polymorphismic DNA(RAPD) markers as input for an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and cluster analysis to describe the population genetic structure, but also morphometric analysis of Formica japonica in Korea in order to investigate the relationships between local populations according to altitude. The ten populations of F. japonica in Korea did not showed any relationships according to altitude in morphological analysis, while they showed distinct relationship in RAPD analysis. It was noticed that they were clearly separated as four groups according to altitude. The first was Jirisan-Gachilbong- Gyebangsan population, the second Iksansi-Odongdo, the third Deukyusan-Hallasan, the fourth Siheungsi- Seonamsa-Jinjusi. The first group was high mountainous, the second flat and low altitude, the third high mountainous, and the fourth flat and low altitude. They occur from low altitude to comparative high altitude 1,400 m in Korea. Actually, it was found that the relationships of 10 local populations of Korean Formica japonica were not related to morphological evolution, but related to molecular evolutionary data evolved from RAPD analysis.     

Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Trimyema koreanum n. sp., a Ciliate from the Hypersaline Water of a Solar Saltern

ABSTRACT. A new ciliate, Trimyema koreanum n. sp., isolated from hypersaline water (salinity of 293‰) from a solar saltern in Korea, was investigated using live observation, protargol impregnation, and gene sequencing. Trimyema koreanum is about 30 × 13 μm in vivo, has usually 23 longitudinal ciliary rows forming two distinct ciliary girdles visible both in vivo and in protargol impregnation. A third indistinct ciliary girdle as well as a girdle of mucocysts is distinguishable only in impregnated cells. We suggest T. koreanum as a new species, differing from the most similar species, T. marinum, by the presence of two distinct ciliary girdles (T. marinum usually has six ciliary girdles clearly visible in living cells and three anterior spirals that encircle the cell completely). Although the number of known 18S rRNA sequences in the genus Trimyema was limited, the Trimyema group including T. koreanum forms a strong clade. The phylogenetic position confirms that the isolate belongs to the genus Trimyema and is different from previously sequenced species. Trimyema koreanum is able to consume both prokaryotes and small eukaryotes (specifically, the alga Dunaliella sp.).     

Molecular biological study on speciation and phylogeny of the order Entomobryomorpha (Collembola: Hexapoda)

In order to elucidate the phylogenetic relationship among groups of the order Entomobryomorpha (Collembola), the sequences on the ITS 1 to ITS 2 fragments of the rRNA gene were analyzed in 11 species of three families. In order to avoid the potential risks and inconsistencies of a single method or data set, the phylogenetic reconstructions were based on three different approaches: methods of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and neighbor joining. The inferred phylogenies supported monophyly of the order Entomobryomorpha. The relationships between families were different, but the orders of branching within each family were the same. Entomobryidae and Isotomidae were paraphyletic, whereas Tomoceridae was monophyletic. Tomoceridae was subdivided into two branches; the molecular analysis provided results distinctive enough to separate the two genera by the high bootstrap value. On the other hand, two different populations of putative Homidia koreana appeared to be different species, although their chaetotaxy is identical. A wide coverage of characters, including not only morphological characters but also genetic data such as allozymes and DNA sequences, will give a more accurate picture of the classification and phylogeny of the studied group.     

Stomatal Response of some Cultivated and Wild Tuber-bearing Potatoes in Warm Tropics as Influenced by Water Deficits

Leaf resistances of 14 cultivated potato genotypes (Solanumspp) and three tuber-bearing wild Solanum species were comparedwhen plants were grown under water stress at two tropical sitesFactors investigated were diurnal changes in leaf resistance,the effect of plant age, transient drought versus well-wateredconditions of potted and field-grown plants These measurementswere carried out in order to determine the stomatal behaviourof tuber-bearing genotypes and species Significant genotypic differences in leaf resistances were notedwithin the cultivated genotypes All genotypes had higher resistanceswhen water-stressed, but LT-7 appeared to have the lowest leafresistances Genetic differences in stomatal behaviour of tuber-bearingSolanum species were confirmed Abaxial stomatal resistancesof water-stressed plants of the species ranged between 1 74and 13 8 s cm^–1 Stomata of S chacoense were less affectedby drought (three-fold) than S tuberosum (four-fold) The greatesteffect was on S jungasense (five-fold) and on S raphanifoliumThese data show that stomata behaviour among tuber-bearing Solanumspecies is sufficiently different to warrant investigationsof drought-resistance in potato species under dry hot conditions Solanum tuberosum L., Solanum raphanifolium, Solanum chacoense, Solanum jungasense, leaf resistance     

A New Species of Halophilous Collembola (Insecta) from Korea

Three species of interstitial Collembola in Entomobryidae were identified from South Korean coast. One of them, Sinella (Coecobrya) maritima, is new to science. So far 21 halophilous species in 10 families of Collembola, including the new species in this paper, were reported from the Korean peninsula.     

Phylogenetic patterns in larval host plant and ant association of Indo-Australian Arhopalini butterflies (Lycaenidae: Theclinae)

The Oriental butterfly genus Arhopala is by far the most species‐rich genus within the subfamily Theclinae. We investigated whether biotic interactions with larval host plants or ants are phylogenetically constrained in the evolutionary history of Arhopala, by collating available information on the ecology of Arhopala from the literature as well as from personal observations, and analysing and interpreting these data rigorously in a phylogenetic context. Larvae of all species in the sister‐group of Arhopala and Flos feed on Fabaceae. However, the predominant feeding preference of Arhopala s.l., with the exception of a particular monophyletic and species‐rich group, called ‘Group A’, appears to be centred on Fagaceae, with additional records of Dipterocarpaceae feeding. The preference for Fagaceae has strong phylogenetic inertia, as indicated by T‐PTP tests designed to test for phylogenetic signal. Adding all available life‐history data, using the phylogeny presented before as scaffolding, further increased the phylogenetic signal in host plant data. Feeding on Fabaceae (mainly in the outgroup) and Euphorbiaceae also showed significant phylogenetic signal, but feeding on Dipterocarpaceae did not and was found scattered across the phylogeny. Except for the Dipterocarpaceae, phylogenetic signal in feeding preferences was very clear, even despite uneven taxon sampling and apparent lability in host plant use. Ant association also demonstrated historical constraint, but based on the phylogenetic hypothesis presented here it was not clear whether increased ant association intimacy emerged independently various times in Group A, as well as in several basal groups. Our finding of distinct phylogenetic patterns in the host plant and to a lesser degree in ant association data contradicts the hypothesis that life‐history traits are very labile in the Lycaenidae. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 84 , 225–241.