关于樟科润楠属和鳄梨属的分类界线问题

讨论了润楠属Machilus Nees与鳄梨属Persea Mill.的分类界线, 认为两属的主要区别如下: 在润楠属中, 花被裂片相等或近相等, 极少外轮明显短于内轮, 在果期为纸质, 极少为薄革质, 伸长, 强度反曲, 极少张开与不反曲, 几乎宿存, 极少脱落, 如果脱落时则内、外轮从基部完全脱落; 花柱早落; 分布亚洲热带及亚热带地区。而在鳄梨属中, 花被裂片极不相等, 外轮明显短于内轮, 很少近相等, 在果期为革质到木质, 很少为薄革质, 张开或直立, 几乎不反曲, 绝大部分宿存或内轮在距基部的1/3到1/2处脱落; 花柱有时宿存; 分布美洲。两属的界线清楚, 不宜合并。把产于越南北部的Persea balansae Airy Shaw和产于苏门答腊的P. sumatrana Kosterm.转移到Machilus中, 从而提出Machilus balansae (Airy Shaw) F. N. Wei &; S. C. Tang和M. sumatrana (Kosterm.) F. N. Wei &; S. C. Tang两个新组合。     

国产樟科一新种—香港油果樟

报道樟科油果樟属一新种,香港油果樟Syndielis hongkongensis N．H．Xia,Y．F．Deng ＆ K．L．Yip。它以小枝红褐色,花被片6,能育雄蕊6,无腺体,而明显区别于近缘种油果樟S.chinensis Allen。     

The evolution of complex brains and behaviors in African cichlid fishes

In this review, I explore the effects of both social organization and the physical environment, specifically habitat complexity, on the brains and behavior of highly visual African cichlid fishes, drawing on examples from primates and birds where appropriate. In closely related fishes from the monophyletic Ectodinii clade of Lake Tanganyika, both forces influence cichlid brains and behavior. Considering social influences first, visual acuity differs with respect to social organization (monogamy versus polygyny). Both the telencephalon and amygdalar homologue, area Dm, are larger in monogamous species. Monogamous species are found to have more vasotocin-immunoreactive cells in the preoptic area of the brain. Habitat complexity also influences brain and behavior in these fishes. Total brain size, telencephalic and cerebellar size are positively correlated with habitat complexity. Visual acuity and spatial memory are enhanced in cichlids living in more complex environments. However habitat complexity and social forces affect cichlid brains differently. Taken together, our field data and plasticity data suggest that some of the species-specific neural effects of habitat complexity could be the consequence of the corresponding social correlates. Environmental forces, however, exert a broader effect on brain structures than social ones do, suggesting allometric expansion of the brain structures in concert with brain size and/or co-evolution of these structures [Current Zoology 56 (1): 144-156 2010].