A molecular evaluation of the Liagoraceae sensu lato (Nemaliales,Rhodophyta) in Bermuda including Liagora nesophila sp. nov. and Yamadaella grassyi sp. nov.

We have undertaken a comprehensive, molecular‐assisted alpha‐taxonomic examination of the rhodophyte family Liagoraceae sensu lato, a group that has not previously been targeted for molecular studies in the western Atlantic. Sequence data from three molecular markers indicate that in Bermuda alone there are 10 species in nine different genera. These include the addition of three genera to the flora — Hommersandiophycus, Trichogloeopsis, and Yamadaella. Liagora pectinata, a species with a type locality in Bermuda, is phylogenetically allied with Indo‐Pacific species of Hommersandiophycus, and the species historically reported as L. ceranoides for the islands is morphologically and genetically distinct from that taxon, and is herein described as L. nesophila sp. nov. Molecular sequence data have also uncovered the Indo‐Pacific L. mannarensis in Bermuda, a long‐distance new western Atlantic record. DNA sequences of Trichogloeopsis pedicellata from the type locality (Bahamas) match with local specimens demonstrating its presence in Bermuda. We described Yamadaella grassyi sp. nov. from Bermuda, a species phylogenetically and morphologically distinct from the generitype, Y. caenomyce of the Indo‐Pacific. Our data also indicated a single species each of Ganonema, Gloiocallis, Helminthocladia, Titanophycus, and Trichogloea in the flora.     

Sequence analysis of a pea comb locus on chicken chromosome 1

To facilitate gene identification, this study aimed to narrow the scope of the genome region affecting chicken comb type by using two bird populations. First, an F₂ resource population was generated by crossing Japanese game fowl (Shamo; pea comb, P/p and P/P) with White Plymouth Rock (single comb, p/p). Comb types of the 240 F₂ offspring produced by an F₁ intercross between eight males and 57 females were segregated at a ratio of 3:1 (pea:single). The pea comb locus was mapped to a chromosomal region on Gallus gallus chromosome 1 that was flanked by microsatellite markers MCW0112, MCW0019 and ABR521. The second population (five‐generation, n=1300 animals) was derived from a cross between Shamo and Rhode Island Red (single comb, p/p) that had been genotyped for additional polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellite markers within this region through development of chicken draft sequences. To close some gaps in these draft sequences, we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome contig and sequenced it using the shotgun sequencing technique. Chickens selected from pedigrees in these populations were grouped by inheritance of a P or p haplotype at the locus constructed by the additional markers. Finally, this locus was fine‐mapped to roughly 60 kb based on the association of haplotypes and comb types. Chicken genome sequences suggest that the most likely polymorphism responsible for the pea comb locus is a duplicated sequence and that the sex determining region Y‐box 5 gene, one predicted gene and one expressed sequence tag in a critical region may be associated with the duplicated sequence.     

Elevation of Francisella philomiragia subsp. noatunensisMikalsen et al. (2007) to Francisella noatunensis comb. nov. [syn. Francisella piscicida Ottem et al. (2008) syn. nov.] and characterization of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis subsp. nov., two important fish pathogens

Aims: This study was conducted to clarify the taxonomic status of Francisella sp. strain Ehime‐1, a fish pathogen, in relation to the fish pathogens F. piscicida and F. philomiragia subsp. noatunensis and to F. philomiragia subsp. philomiragia. Methods and Results: Francisella sp. Ehime‐1 was compared to F. piscicida, F. philomiragia subsp. noatunensis and several F. philomiragia subsp. philomiragia isolates through sequencing of the 16S rRNA‐gene and several house‐keeping genes and determination of biochemical and phenotypic properties. Results show that F. piscicida is indistinguishable from F. philomiragia subsp. noatunensis by sequence and phenotypic traits. Francisella sp. Ehime‐1 and F. philomiragia subsp. noatunensis are clearly separated from F. philomiragia. Francisella sp. Ehime‐1 is biochemically, phenotypically and genetically different from F. philomiragia subsp. noatunensis (=F. piscicida), but DNA–DNA hybridization does not clearly support establishment as a separate species (level of relatedness 64% and 73·4%, mean 68·7%). Conclusions: We propose to elevate F. philomiragia subsp. noatunensis to species rank as F. noatunensis comb. nov., while F. piscicida is considered a heterotypic synonym of F. noatunensis comb. nov. Evidence suggests that Francisella sp. Ehime‐1 represents a novel subspecies of F. noatunensis, for which the name F. noatunensis subsp. orientalis subsp. nov. is proposed (=DSM21254^T, = LMG24544^T). Significance and Impact of the Study: This study contributes to the taxonomy and characteristics of fish‐pathogenic Francisella spp.     

Ctenophore population recruits entirely through larval reproduction in the central Baltic Sea

The comb jelly Mertensia ovum, widely distributed in Arctic regions, has recently been discovered in the northern Baltic Sea. We show that M. ovum also exists in the central Baltic but that the population consists solely of small-sized larvae (less than 1.6 mm). Despite the absence of adults, eggs were abundant. Experiments revealed that the larvae were reproductively active. Egg production and anticipated mortality rates suggest a self-sustaining population. This is the first account of a ctenophore population entirely recruiting through larval reproduction (paedogenesis). We hypothesize that early reproduction is favoured over growth to compensate for high predation pressure.     

Duganella phyllosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the leaf surface of Trifolium repens and proposal to reclassify Duganella violaceinigra into a novel genus as Pseudoduganella violceinigra gen. nov., comb. nov

A bright yellow pigmented bacterium was isolated from the leaf surface of Trifolium repens in Germany. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this bacterium is most closely related to Duganella zoogloeoides IAM 12670(T), with a similarity of 99.3%, but revealed only a moderate similarity (96.8%) to the second Duganella species, Duganella violaceinigra YIM 31327(T). Strain T54(T) is clearly different from D. zoogloeoides IAM 12670(T) in that DNA-DNA hybridization revealed a similarity value of 46% (reciprocal 42%). Ubiquinone (Q-8) was the respiratory quinone and the predominant polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unknown phospholipids and one aminolipid. Strain T54(T) can be distinguished from D. zoogloeoides by the carbon substrate utilization tests of d-trehalose, cis-aconitate, trans-aconitate, glutarate and dl-3-hydroxybutyrate, and 4-hydroxybenzoate in addition to a different polar lipid profile. The name Duganella phyllosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species, with the type strain T54(T) (=LMG 25994 = CCM 7824(T)) [corrected]. In addition, it is proposed to reclassify D. violaceinigra into a novel genus Pseudoduganella gen. nov. as the novel species Pseudoduganella violaceinigra comb. nov. because of the low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the other Duganella species (<97%) and striking differences in chemotaxonomic (lipid profiles and fatty acid patterns) and other phenotypic features, including the colony pigmentation.     

Description of Bullera kunmingensis sp. nov., and clarification of the taxonomic status of Bullera sinensis and its synonyms based on molecular phylogenetic analysis

A ballistoconidium-forming yeast strain, CH 2.506, isolated from a semi-dried leaf of Parthenocissus sp. collected near Kunming City in Yunnan, China, was shown to be closely related to the non-ballistoconidium-forming species Cryptococcus luteolus (Saito) C.E. Skinner and the ballistoconidium-forming species Bullera sinensis Li by molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA sequencing. This strain was demonstrated to represent a distinct undescribed yeast species by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequence and G+C content comparison and DNA-DNA relatedness, for which the name Bullera kunmingensis sp. nov. is proposed. Meanwhile, the taxonomic relationships among Bullera sinensis and its synonyms B. derxii Nakase & Suzuki and B. alba (Hanna) Derx var. lactis Li, were clarified on the basis of molecular phylogenetic analysis and DNA-DNA reassociation. B. derxii was confirmed to be conspecific with B. sinensis, while B. alba var. lactis was shown to represent a variety of B. sinensis. A new combination, Bullera sinensis Li var. lactis (Li) Bai, Takashima et Nakase, is therefore proposed. Comparative analysis of different types of molecular criteria employed in the present study suggested that when inferring phylogenetic relationships among sibling taxa, sequence data from ITS regions should be interpreted with caution.     

Morphology, Biometry, and Taxonomy of Freshwater and Marine Interstitial Cyphoderia (Cercozoa: Euglyphida)

ABSTRACT. Good taxonomy is essential for ecological, biogeographical, and evolutionary studies of any group of organisms. Therefore, we performed detailed light- and scanning electron microscopy investigations on the shell ultrastructure and biometric analyses of the morphometric variability of five freshwater and marine interstitial testate amoebae of the genus Cyphoderia ( C. trochus var. amphoralis, C. ampulla, C. margaritacea var. major, C. compressa , and C. littoralis ), isolated from different populations in Bulgaria and Switzerland. Our aims were (1) to clarify the morphological characteristics of these taxa, and (2) to compare the morphology of a given taxon ( C. ampulla ) among different locations in Bulgaria and Switzerland as a first step towards an assessment of the geographical variation within a supposedly cosmopolitan taxon. Four of the studied taxa are characterized by a well-expressed main-size class and by a small size range of all the characters and can be defined as size-monomorphic species. Based on these results, the following systematic changes are proposed: C. major ( Penard, 1891 ) n. comb. (Syn.: C. margaritacea var. major ( Penard, 1891 ) and C. amphoralis ( Wailes & Penard, 1911 ) n. comb. (Syn.: C. trochus var. amphoralis ( Wailes & Penard, 1911 )). However, we also show significant morphological variability between the Swiss and Bulgarian populations of C. ampulla , suggesting the possible existence of more than one taxon within this species. Further studies are required to assess (1) if these two morphologically different taxa represent individual species, (2) if so, if more species exist, and if this diversity is due to limited distribution ranges (endemism) or if several closely related taxa occur together in different geographical areas.     

The phylogenetic position of Peucedanum sensu lato and allied genera and their placement in tribe Selineae (Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae)

ITS sequences of members of Peucedanum and its segregates (Cervaria, Holandrea, Imperatoria, Oreoselinum, Pteroselinum, Thysselinum, Tommasinia, and Xanthoselinum), as well as representatives of other members of the previously identified Angelica and Arracacia clades, were analysed using distance, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony methods in order to establish their phylogenetic relationships. The Angelica and Arracacia clades comprise a strongly supported monophyletic group that is formally recognised as tribe Selineae. The genus Holandrea, expanded to include Cervaria caucasica and Peucedanum achaicum, is distantly related to the other peucedanoid genera. The remaining segregates are closely related to one another and to Peucedanum sensu stricto. The genera Seseli and Selinum are polyphyletic. Members of the genus Angelica form a single clade that also includes representatives of Selinum and Sphenosciadium. New combinations in Holandrea (H. caucasica, H. achaica) and Angelica (A. capitellata) are proposed, and Selinum pyrenaeum is recognised in Angelica (A. pyrenaea).     

ASTEROMENIA (RHODYMENIACEAE,RHODYMENIALES), A NEW RED ALGAL GENUS BASED ON FAUCHEA PELTATA1

Asteromenia gen. nov. (Rhodymeniales, Rhodophyta) is proposed with a single species, Asteromenia peltata (W. R. Taylor) comb. nov. (basionym: Fauchea peltata W. R. Taylor). Thalli of the proposed new genus are stipitate with dorsiventral, peltate blades that are initially circular in shape but with age become stellate with ligulate arms. Internally, the blades have a polystromatic medulla of large, hyaline cells, grading into a cortex of smaller, pigmented cells. Clusters of translucent cells occur on the dorsal surface of the blade. Tetrasporangia are formed by transformations of intercalary midcortical cells. Mature tetrasporangia have cruciately arranged spores and are densely aggregated in the cortex, mostly on the ventral surface, but occasional tetrasporangia also arise on the dorsal surface. Carpogonial branches are four-celled and arise on inner cortical cells. Auxiliary cells are borne on auxiliary mother cells attached to supporting cells of the carpogonial branches. Cystocarps are protuberant, with well-developed, ostiolate pericarps that often have extended, proboscis-like necks. The new genus differs from the previously described peltate or dorsiventral taxa in the Rhodymeniaceae by its polystromatic medulla (Maripelta and Sciadophycus have a monostromatic medulla), intercalary tetrasporangia formed in an unmodified cortex, and four-celled carpogonial branches (Halichrysis, as typified by H. depressa (J. Agardh) F. Schmitz, has terminal tetrasporangia in nemathecia and three-celled carpogonial branches).