Morphometric analysis and taxonomic revision of Anisopteromalus Ruschka (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) – an integrative approach

We use an integrative taxonomic approach to revise the genus Anisopteromalus. In particular, we apply multivariate ratio analysis (MRA), a rather new statistical method based on principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), to numerous body measurements and combine the data with those from our molecular analysis of Cytb and ITS2 genetic markers (on a subset of species) and all available published data on morphology, karyology, behaviour, host associations and geographic distribution. We demonstrate that the analysis of quantitative characters using MRA plays a major role for the integration of name‐bearing types and thus for the association of taxa with names. Six species are recognized, of which two are new: A. cornis Baur sp.n. and A. quinarius Gokhman & Baur sp.n. For Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), a well‐known, cosmopolitan parasitoid of stored‐product pests, we have selected a neotype to foster continuity and stability in the application of this important name. The species was sometimes confused with the related A. quinarius sp.n. , another cosmopolitan species that is frequently encountered in similar environments. We also show that several species originally described or later put under Anisopteromalus actually belong to different genera: Cyrtoptyx camerunus (Risbec) comb.n. ; Meraporus glaber (Szelényi) comb.n. ; Dinarmus schwenkei (Roomi, Khan & Khan) comb.n. Neocatolaccus indicus Ayyar & Mani is confirmed as a junior synonym of Oxysychus sphenopterae (Ferrière) syn.n. and Anisopteromalus calandrae brasiliensis (Domenichini) stat.rev. must be considered as a valid but doubtful taxon. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BDFE96D3‐D0F4‐4012‐90F5‐9A087F7F5864 .     

Phylogeny of Labidodemas and the Holothuriidae (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida) as inferred from morphology

The Holothuriidae is one of the three established families within the large holothuroid order Aspidochirotida. The approximately 185 recognized species of this family are commonly classified in five nominal genera: Actinopyga , Bohadschia , Holothuria , Pearsonothuria and Labidodemas. Maximum parsimony analyses on morphological characters, as inferred from type and nontype material of the five genera, revealed that Labidodemas comprises highly derived species that arose from within the genus Holothuria . The paraphyletic status of the latter, large (148 assumed valid species) and morphologically diverse genus has recently been recognized and is here confirmed and discussed. Nevertheless, we adopt a Darwinian or eclectic classification for Labidodemas , which we retain at generic level within the Holothuriidae. We compare our phylogeny of the Holothuriidae with previous classifications of its genera and subgenera, and make suggestions concerning possible systematic changes.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 144 , 103−120.     

Inferring the history of speciation in house mice from autosomal,X‐linked,Y‐linked and mitochondrial genes

Patterns of genetic differentiation among taxa at early stages of divergence provide an opportunity to make inferences about the history of speciation. Here, we conduct a survey of DNA‐sequence polymorphism and divergence at loci on the autosomes, X chromosome, Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA in samples of Mus domesticus, M. musculus and M. castaneus. We analyzed our data under a divergence with gene flow model and estimate that the effective population size of M. castaneus is 200 000–400 000, of M. domesticus is 100 000–200 000 and of M. musculus is 60 000–120 000. These data also suggest that these species started to diverge approximately 500 000 years ago. Consistent with this recent divergence, we observed considerable variation in the genealogical patterns among loci. For some loci, all alleles within each species formed a monophyletic group, while at other loci, species were intermingled on the phylogeny of alleles. This intermingling probably reflects both incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow after divergence. Likelihood ratio tests rejected a strict allopatric model with no gene flow in comparisons between each pair of species. Gene flow was asymmetric: no gene flow was detected into M. domesticus, while significant gene flow was detected into both M. castaneus and M. musculus. Finally, most of the gene flow occurred at autosomal loci, resulting in a significantly higher ratio of fixed differences to polymorphisms at the X and Y chromosomes relative to autosomes in some comparisons, or just the X chromosome in others, emphasizing the important role of the sex chromosomes in general and the X chromosome in particular in speciation.     

Étude des activités photochimiques des étiochloroplastes isolés de plantules verdies en lumière intermittente

Photochemical Activities of Etiochloroplasts Isolated from Plants Greened under Intermittent Light. I. Absorption of Oxygen. Oxygen exchange by isolated etiochloroplasts from wheat leaves (Triticum sativum Lam. cv. Florence Aurore) has been studied with an oxygen electrode. The etiochloroplasts lack an oxygen evolving mechanism and show a light induced oxygen uptake with two components. One component, sensitive to 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, results from electron flow through an active photosystem II and is suppressed by photosystem II electron donors. The other component is inhibited by quinones suggesting that it might represent some mechanism to trap and dissipate excitation energy from chlorophyll in competition with that produced by the presence of artificial traps. The results are discussed in order to explain the apparent lack of coupling between photosystem II, through which some electron flow is operating, and the active photosystem I present in these plastids.     

Identification of sibling mice species (genus Mus) by a simple immunological test

An immunological test that can be made on living animals is developed to identify M. m. musculus mice from the two other short-tailed mice ( M. spicilegus and M. spretoides ) occurring in Eastern Europe. This test uses fractionated albumin antiserum as an immunological marker and is performed using dot-blot immunoassay. One hundred and twelve animals belonging to the three species and originating from wild-caught mice and from laboratory strains were tested. All the M. m. musculus mice were correctly identified with this test. Owing to its simplicity and reliability, this test will be very useful in field surveys, particularly in the zone of sympatry between M. m. musculus and M. spicilegus .     

Plant Regeneration from Mesophyll Protoplasts of Several Nicotiana Species

In a search for model systems in plant cell genetics studies mesophyll protoplasts from eleven species of Nicotiana with low chromosome number (N. acuminata, N. alata, N. glauca, N. glutinosa, N. langsdorffii, N. longiflora, N. otophora, N. paniculata, N. plumbaginifolia, N. suaveolens, N. sylvestris) were shown to divide in a liquid culture medium. Plants were recovered from calli originating from protoplasts of all these species except N. glutinosa.     

Temporal and geographic variations in the morphology and chemical composition of the frontal gland in imagoes of Prorhinotermes species (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Although the frontal gland has long been known as a prominent defensive device for termite soldiers in many Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae, almost nothing is known about its function in imagoes. In the present study, we show that the frontal gland of imagoes in Prorhinotermes species is well developed at the time of the nuptial flight, and is filled with a complex mixture of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and nitroalkenes. The sesquiterpene composition varies between Prorhinotermes simplex and Prorhinotermes canalifrons , between geographically distant colonies of P. simplex (Cuba versus Florida), and even between different flights of closely-related subcolonies. The ratio between ( E )-1-nitropentadec-1-ene and sesquiterpenes is sex-specific. The volume of secretory cells decreases in functional kings and queens after colony foundation, and the subcellular organization changes into a form resembling unmodified epidermal cells. Dealate reproductives lose the ability for biosynthesis, and their frontal gland is devoid of volatile compounds found in swarming imagoes. The results obtained in the present study clearly show that the frontal gland is only temporarily active at the time of the dispersal flight. The most likely function of this gland is defence by the toxic nitroalkenes.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 98 , 384–392.     

Long-term fire frequency variability in the eastern Canadian boreal forest: the influences of climate vs. local factors

The influence of climatic and local nonclimatic factors on the fire regime of the eastern Canadian boreal forest over the last 8000 years is investigated by examining charred particles preserved in four lacustrine deposits. Herein, we compare the distribution of fire-free intervals (FFIs) and the synchronicity of fire events among sites, using Ripley's K -function to determine the extent of the role of local-scale vs. large-scale processes with respect to fire control. Between 8000 and 5800 cal. bp (calibrated years before present) the climatic and ecological conditions were less conducive to fire events than after this date. After 5800 cal. bp , the number of fires per 1000 years (fire frequency) progressively increased, reaching a maximum ca. 3400 cal. bp . There was a sharp decrease in fire frequency during the last 800 years. Between 8000 and 4000 cal. bp , comparable FFIs and synchronous fire episodes were determined for the study sites. During this period, the fire frequency was predominantly controlled by climate. After 4000 cal. bp , two sites displayed independent fire histories (different FFI distributions or asynchronous fire events), underlining the important influence of local factors, including short-term fuel wetness, characteristics of the watershed and landscape connectivity, in determining fire occurrence. We conclude that climatic changes occurred during the last 4000 years that induced a rise in the water table; this may explain the high spatial heterogeneity in fire history. Current and projected global climatic changes may cause similar spatial variability in fire frequency.