Developmental plasticity and disparity in early dipnoan (lungfish) dentitions

Although the lungfish (Dipnoi) belong within the Osteichthyes, their dentitions are radically different from other osteichthyans. Lungfish dentitions also show a uniquely high structural disparity during the early evolution of the group, partly owing to the independent variation of odontogenic and odontoclastic processes that are tightly and stereotypically coordinated in other osteichthyans. We present a phylogenetic analysis of early lungfishes incorporating a novel approach to coding these process characters in preference to the resultant adult dental morphology. The results only partially resolve the interrelationships of Devonian dipnoans, but show that the widely discussed hypothesis of separate tooth-plated, dentine-plated, and denticulated lineages is unlikely to be true. The dipnoan status of Diabolepis is corroborated. Lungfish dentitions seem to have undergone extensive and nonparsimonious evolution during the early history of the group, but much of the resulting disparity can be explained by a modest number of evolutionary steps in the underlying developmental processes, those for dental formation (odontogenic) and those for the remodeling of dentine tissue (odontoclastic). Later in lungfish evolution, this disparity was lost as the group settled to a pattern of dental development that is just as stereotypic as, but completely different from, that of other osteichthyans.     

Higher-level phylogeny and morphological evolution of tyrant flycatchers, cotingas, manakins, and their allies (Aves: Tyrannida)

Despite increased understanding of higher-level relationships in passerine birds in the last 15 years, the taxonomic boundaries and phylogenetic interrelationships of the major groups of the Tyrannida (including the cotingas, manakins, tityrines, and tyrant flycatchers) remain unclear. Here, we present an analysis of DNA sequence data obtained from two nuclear exons, three introns, and one mitochondrial gene for 26 genera of Tyrannida and 6 tracheophone outgroups. The analysis resulted in well-supported hypotheses about the earliest evolution within Tyrannida. The Cotingidae, Pipridae, Tityrinae (sensu) [Prum, R.O., Rice, N.H., Mobley, J.A., Dimmick, W.W., 2000. A preliminary phylogenetic hypothesis for the cotingas (Cotingidae) based on mitochondrial DNA. Auk 117, 236-241], Tyrannidae, and the tyrannid subfamiles Tyranninae and Pipromorphinae (sensu) [Sibley, C.G., Monroe, B. L. Jr., 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT] were all found to be reciprocally monophyletic (given the present taxon sampling). The Cotingidae and Pipridae form a clade that is the sister group to a well-supported clade including Oxyruncus, the Tityrinae, Piprites, and the Tyrannidae. Oxyruncus is the sister group to the Tityrinae, and Piprites is placed as the sister group to the Tyrannidae. The tyrannid subfamilies Tyranninae and Pipromorphinae are monophyletic sister taxa, but the relationships of Platyrinchus mystaceus to these two clades remains ambiguous. The presence of medial (=internal) cartilages in the syrinx is a synapomorphy for the Oxyruncus-Tityrinae-Piprites-Tyrannidae clade. Although morphological synapomorphies currently support the monophyly of both the Pipridae and the Cotingidae, convergences and/or reversals in morphological character states are common in Tyrannida. The relationship between Oxyruncus and the Tityrinae is congruent with additional syringeal synapomorphies and allozyme distance data. Accordingly, we propose the recognition the family Tityridae within the Tyrannida to include the genera Schiffornis, Laniisoma, Laniocera, Iodopleura, Xenopsaris, Pachyramphus, Tityra, and Oxyruncus.     

Phylogeography of Indonesian and Sino-Himalayan region bush warblers (Cettia, Aves)

We present a hypothesis for the phylogeny and phylogeography of a group of bush warblers in the genus Cettia, based on parts of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene and the nuclear myoglobin intron II (in all 1.7 kb). Ancestral areas were reconstructed by dispersal-vicariance analysis and constrained Bayesian inference. The results suggest that the insular taxa in the Cettia vulcania group are most closely related to Cettia flavolivacea, and originated from a dispersal by an ancestral population in the Himalayas towards the south, to the Sunda region. From this population, a second dispersal along a different route colonized China and northern Vietnam. Hence, the Chinese taxon intricata and Vietnamese oblita, currently allocated to C. flavolivacea, are more closely related to the vulcania group than to the other taxa in the flavolivacea group, and we propose that they be treated as conspecific with C. vulcania, restricting C. flavolivacea to Myanmar and the Himalayas.     

Phylogeny, evolution and systematics of Moehringia (Caryophyllaceae) as inferred from molecular and morphological data: a case of homology reassessment

The phylogeny of the genus Moehringia (Caryophyllaceae) is investigated by means of analyzing nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (matK) sequence data in combination with morphological characters. Parsimony and Bayesian methods yield consistent results, and a common phylogenetic signal is shared by the nuclear and chloroplast data. Morphological characters are affected by a high level of homoplasy, but they provide valuable information when analyzed in combination with the molecular data. Moehringia is paraphyletic to Arenaria with the Iberian taxa belonging to Moehringia sect. Pseudomoehringia McNeill more closely related to Arenaria. This cladistic evidence led us to reinterpret the homology of the key character used in most, if not all, floras, to separate Moehringia from Arenaria, i.e., the seed strophiole. Thorough anatomical studies were carried out to elucidate the ontogeny of the strophiole, which proved different in Moehringia s. str. and the Iberian taxa. Within Moehringia s. str., two sister clades are recognized (i.e., Moehringia sect. Moehringia and M. sect. Latifoliae much as recognized by McNeill, whereas representatives of M. sect. Diversifoliae are assigned to either groups), and biogeographical events related to the Würm glaciation are considered to play a fundamental role in the evolution and present distribution of the genus. The variation of the strophiole is regarded as adaptability to ecological conditions and dispersal agents. We also propose two new combinations and two replacement names: Arenaria glochidisperma (J.M. Mont.) Fior et P.O. Karis, comb. nov., Arenaria tejedensis (Willk.) Fior et P.O. Karis, comb. nov., Arenaria suffruticosa Fior et P.O. Karis, nom. nov. for Moehringia intricata Willk., and Arenaria funiculata Fior et P.O. Karis, nom. nov. for Moehringia fontqueri Pau. © The Willi Hennig Society 2007.     

Examination of multiple disturbances effects on herbaceous vegetation communities in the Sudanian savanna-woodland of West Africa

In West Africa, policies for prescribed early fire, grazing and selective tree cutting in the savanna-woodlands are rarely based on long-term experimental studies. The purpose of this study was to provide scientific evidence based on field data from two case studies for an informed discussion on the long-term response of herbaceous abundance both at the community and individual species levels to fire, grazing, selective cutting and their interactions. A long-term factorial experiment was established in two State forest reserves in Burkina Faso that mainly differ in their soil attributes. Community abundance data recorded from line intercept sampling over 13 years were analyzed using a multivariate ordination technique known as principal response curves (PRC).     

Monosaccharides and monosaccharide derivatives in human seminal plasma

Gas chromatography—mass spectrometry with an on-line data system was used to identify monosaccharides and monosaccharide derivatives in human seminal plasma. The carbohydrates were converted into the methoxime—trimethylsilyl derivatives before separation in open tubular glass capillary columns coated with SE-30. Twenty-one different compounds were detected in the seminal fluid, of which twelve have not been recognized before. Seventeen of the monosaccharides have previously been identified in urine. Similar patterns of sugars were found both in fertile and infertile individuals, including one with azoospermia. The compounds identified are, with the possible exception of -ribose, present as free monosaccharides at the time of ejaculation, and they do not seem to be preformed by spermatozoa.     

Agarose Gel Electrophoretic Fractionation of Serum Proteins in Adult Cattle. II. A Study Of Cows with Different Diseases

In 283 dairy cows suffering from internal disorders the serum proteins were studied by agarose gel electrophoresis supplemented by total protein and albumin determinations. The clinical diagnoses could be grouped according to protein pattern. Group 1 (abomasal displacement and traumatic muscle injury) did not appreciably affect the serum protein concentrations and represented primarily non-inflammatory diseases or diseases of non-infectious origin. Group 2 (leukosis) occupied an exceptional position, with heavy lowering of albumin unaccompanied by a corresponding rise of total globulin. The γ-globulin concentration was significantly lowered. Group 3 (acute traumatic peritonitis) represented an acute inflammatory process with increase chiefly of the α-globulins, while the γ-globulin concentration was normal. Group 4 (chronic traumatic peritonitis, summer mastitis, chronic subclinical mastitis, chronic laminitis and polyarthritis, urinary tract infection, abscess, and sub-acute-chronic pneumonia) comprised diseases chiefly of chronic inflammatory character and with infectious origin. Especially characteristic was the heavy rise of globulins in general and of γ-globulin in particular. In most cases there was a large increase also of the α- and p-globulin fractions.