Integrated species delimitation and conservation implications of an endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Green and Orchid Islands of Taiwan

Oceanic islands are productive habitats for generating new species and high endemism, which is primarily due to their geographical isolation, smaller population sizes and local adaptation. However, the short divergence times and subtle morphological or ecological divergence of insular organisms may obscure species identity, so the cryptic endemism on islands may be underestimated. The endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani Kôno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Pachyrhynchini) is endemic to Green Island and Orchid Island of the Taiwan‐Luzon Archipelago and displays widespread variation in coloration and host range, thus raising questions regarding its species boundaries and degree of cryptic diversity. We tested the species boundaries of P. sonani using an integrated approach that combined morphological (body size and shape, genital shape, coloration and cuticular scale), genetic (four genes and restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, RAD‐seq) and ecological (host range and distribution) diversity. The results indicated that all the morphological datasets for male P. sonani, except for the colour spectrum, reveal overlapping but statistically significant differences between islands. In contrast, the morphology of the female P. sonani showed minimum divergence between island populations. The populations of P. sonani on the two islands were significantly different in their host ranges, and the genetic clustering and phylogenies of P. sonani established two valid evolutionary species. Integrated species delimitation combining morphological, molecular and ecological characters supported two distinct species of P. sonani from Green Island and Orchid Island. The Green Island population was described as P. jitanasaius sp.n. Chen & Lin, and it is recommended that its threatened conservation status be recognized. Our findings suggest that the inter‐island speciation of endemic organisms inhabiting both islands may be more common than previously thought, and they highlight the possibility that the cryptic diversity of small oceanic islands may still be largely underestimated.     

Co-existence of three species of amphibious plants in relation to spatial and temporal variation: Investigation of plant responses

Plant responses in Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) Raven ssp. montevidensis (Spreng.) Raven and Marsilea mutica Mett., and the introduced Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdc. were observed and related to co-existence of the species in a freshwater lagoon in the Sydney basin. Water levels vary in the lagoon, and plants of all three species grow readily from stem fragments on freely draining, waterlogged and submerged soils. In Marsilea, sporelings develop rapidly from ruptured sporocarps when wet. In Ludwigia, the seeds germinate in white and in red light, but not in darkness or far-red light. They germinate readily on soil and in water, floating or when held submerged. At 30°C, germination is rapid, at 40°C slower and less, and at 10°C nil, but seeds imbibed at 10°C and then exposed at 15°C have greater and more rapid germination than seeds maintained at 15°C. In relation to seasonal variation, plants of all three species grew at 10, 20, 30 and 40°C on freely draining, waterlogged and submerged soils, with the optimum temperature for growth apparently lower in Myriophyllum than in the other two species. In relation to water depth, plants of all three species grew when submerged to I m; the stems of Ludwigia and Myriophyllum elongating and reaching the water surface, and the petioles in Marsilea elongating bringing the leaf blades on to the surface, each within a week during summer. The floating leaf blades in Marsilea increase in size with depth of submergence of the subtending shoots. Mean relative growth rates (R?) under the most favourable experimental conditions were least in plants of Marsilea, the species occurring along more exposed parts of the shoreline in the lagoon. It was concluded that, while water levels in the lagoon were stable, differences in growth form between the species were probably more critical in their co-existence than quantitative differences in their growth: the floating leaves of Marsilea, being more resistant to wind and wave action than the floating shoots of Ludwigia and Myriophyllum, occupy the more exposed parts of the lagoon 'S edge. The most sheltered parts are occupied by the shoots of Myriophyllum which ride high on the water and overtop shoots of Ludwigia. Shoots of Ludwigia appear to be more resistant than those of Myriophyllum to removal and damage by wind and wave action, and achieve their greatest abundance on the water surface in situations of intermediate exposure to wind and wave action. Using Grubb's (1977) classification of niches, in Bushells Lagoon the three species appear to be primarily differentiated in habitat niche, less in regeneration niche and even less in phenological niche. In the lagoon, their habitat niches apparently overlap in water depth but are differentiated along a gradient of exposure.     

台湾、海南与大陆鸟类的亲缘关系

本研究利用过去的文献,整理台湾、海南和大陆鸟类的亲缘关系。结果发现,海南有78%的鸟类与大陆相同,有40%的鸟类与台湾相同。依此数据,显示海南成为岛屿的时间比台湾晚,与大陆鸟类的亲缘关系也比台湾较为密切。然当孤立成为岛屿之后,栖于岛上的鸟类,乃各自发展为地方特色。台湾仍保有一些古北界的寒带鸟类,不见于海南。海南则有一些东洋界的热带鸟类,也没有分布到台湾。     

Trichosanthin inhibits T cell activation by interfering with the recruitment of ZAP-70 to CD3 ζchain

INTRoDUCTIONThichosanthin(Tk),aplantproteinisolatedfromaChinesemedicinalherbTh-1.Correspondenceaddress:Dr.KuangYenCHoU,ShanghaiInstituteofImmunology,Shang-haiSecondMedicalUniversity28oSouthChongqingRoad,Shanghai2ooo25,China.Fax:(8621)63846383,E-mail:my@sh…     

A molecular phylogeny for the pyraloid moths (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) and its implications for higher‐level classification

Pyraloidea, one of the largest superfamilies of Lepidoptera, comprise more than 15 684 described species worldwide, including important pests, biological control agents and experimental models. Understanding of pyraloid phylogeny, the basis for a predictive classification, is currently provisional. We present the most detailed molecular estimate of relationships to date across the subfamilies of Pyraloidea, and assess its concordance with previous morphology‐based hypotheses. We sequenced up to five nuclear genes, totalling 6633 bp, in each of 42 pyraloids spanning both families and 18 of the 21 subfamilies, plus up to 14 additional genes, for a total of 14 826 bp, in 21 of those pyraloids plus all 24 outgroups. Maximum likelihood analyses yield trees that, within Pyraloidea, differ little among datasets and character treatments and are strongly supported at all levels of divergence (83% of nodes with bootstrap ≥80%). Subfamily relationships within Pyralidae, all very strongly supported (>90% bootstrap), differ only slightly from a previous morphological analysis, and can be summarized as Galleriinae + Chrysauginae (Phycitinae (Pyralinae + Epipaschiinae)). The main remaining uncertainty involves Chrysauginae, of which the poorly studied Australian genera may constitute the basal elements of Galleriinae + Chrysauginae or even of Pyralidae. In Crambidae the molecular phylogeny is also strongly supported, but conflicts with most previous hypotheses. Among the newly proposed groupings are a ‘wet‐habitat clade’ comprising Acentropinae + Schoenobiinae + Midilinae, and a provisional ‘mustard oil clade’ containing Glaphyriinae, Evergestinae and Noordinae, in which the majority of described larvae feed on Brassicales. Within this clade a previous synonymy of Dichogaminae with the Glaphyriinae is supported. Evergestinae syn. n. and Noordinae syn. n. are here newly synonymized with Glaphyriinae, which appear to be paraphyletic with respect to both. Pyraustinae and Spilomelinae as sampled here are each monophyletic but form a sister group pair. Wurthiinae n. syn. , comprising the single genus Niphopyralis Hampson, which lives in ant nests, are closely related to, apparently subordinate within, and here newly synonymized with, Spilomelinae syn. n.     

金门浯江溪口鸟类的多样性

在福建省金门岛西岸的滨海滩地浯江溪口进行了为期2年的调查,采用每月2次的定点调查,获得鸟类30科105种的记录,2000年为27科89种5514只;2001年为28科84种9079只,两年种类和数量起伏月变动曲线都有2个高峰,一是在春季,另一是在秋季,虽两年高峰点有前后之差,但曲线的模式,基本上是一致的,滩地的冬候鸟和旅鸟最为显著,优势种包括普通鸬鹚（Phalacrocorax carbo),环颈Xing（Charadrius alexandrinus),白腰杓鹬（Numenius arquata),中杓鹬（Numenius phaeopus),翻石鹬（Arenaria interpres),黑腹滨鹬（Calidris alpina)等,物种多样性指数均以春季最高,秋季次之,夏季最为贫瘠。     

谷子肌动蛋白基因的克隆及序列分析

以谷子 (Setariaitalica)为材料 ,提取总RNA。根据植物肌动蛋白基因编码区的两端的保守序列设计了简并引物 ,用 5’RACE方法扩增出了谷子肌动蛋白基因编码区序列。以豌豆肌动蛋白cDNA作探针进行的Southern杂交分析表明扩增出了目的基因。将所获得的片段克隆到T载体后进行测序 ,序列分析结果表明 :谷子肌动蛋白基因的编码区长 1 1 3 1个核苷酸 ,编码了 3 77个氨基酸 ;所得序列 (命名为MIAc)与GenBank中注册的肌动蛋白基因序列的相似性均在 6 0 %以上 ,与其它肌动蛋白氨基酸序列的相似性达 89%以上。根据高等植物肌动蛋白序列相似性重建了进化树 ,表明谷子肌动蛋白与水稻肌动蛋白异型体RAc2和RAc3之间的亲缘关系最为密切 ,在进化过程中分化时间最为接近     

Immediate effects of Ore on ants in the semi-arid mallee region of north-western Victoria

The immediate effects of a high intensity wildfire on the ant communities of a heath and a mallee site in semi-arid north-western Victoria are reported. Following fire the number of species trapped on the ground doubled (to ca. 80 each site), total ant abundance decreased by half (due to the demise of previously dominant species), surface activity of reproductive castes increased, and dramatic changes in species relative abundance (including shifts toward greater equitability) occurred. These changes are interpreted in terms of fire-induced simplification of the habitat and release from competition with dominant species. The results appear to illustrate the importance of interspecific competition in structuring foraging activity in mallee ant communities. Observations are also reported on seed-harvesting by ants, including changes in harvester ant abundance, germination from within-nest seed storage, and the first record of Heteroponera removing seeds.     

福建米虾新种和亚种的记述

根据教学需要,结合调查福建淡水虾的资源,在整理采到的标本中,发现米虾(Cari-dina)属中有一新种和二新亚种,叙述如下:厦门米虾Caridina amoyensis,sp.nov.观察过标本共182尾,体长13—21毫米,标本号数75-72-1(?);75-72-2♀,采于1975年10月11日。体型小。