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Connaraceae is a pantropical family of about 200 species containing lianas and small trees with remarkably diverse floral polymorphisms, including distyly, tristyly, homostyly, and dioecy. To date, relationships within the family have not been investigated using a targeted molecular phylogenetic treatment, severely limiting systematic understanding and reconstruction of trait evolution. Accordingly, their last infrafamilial classification was based only on morphological data. Here, we used phylogenomic data obtained using the Angiosperms353 nuclear target sequence capture probes, sampling all tribes and almost all genera, entirely from herbarium specimens, to revise infrafamilial classification and investigate the evolution of heterostyly. The backbone of the resulting molecular phylogenetic tree is almost entirely resolved. Connaraceae consists of two clades, one containing only the African genus Manotes (4 or 5 species), which we newly recognize at the subfamily level. Vegetative and reproductive synapomorphies are proposed for Manotoideae. Within Connaroideae, Connareae is expanded to include the former Jollydoreae. The backbone of Cnestideae, which contains more than half of the Connaraceae species, remains incompletely resolved. Reconstructions of reproductive system evolution are presented that tentatively support tristyly as the ancestral state for the family, with multiple parallel losses, in agreement with previous hypotheses, plus possible re-gains. However, the great diversity of stylar polymorphisms and their phylogenetic lability preclude a definitive answer. Overall, this study reinforces the usefulness of herbarium phylogenomics, and unlocks the reproductive diversity of Connaraceae as a model system for the evolution of complex biological phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corsica and Sardinia are amongst the largest islands of the Western Mediterranean. Their complex geological history included belonging to the European–Iberian continental margin (close to current-day Catalonia and Provence) and varying degrees of isolation for the last 30 million years, leading to peculiar, highly endemic faunas and floras. This is especially true for their earthworm faunas, which include endemic species of several Lumbricoidea genera and the endemic family (or subfamily) Diporodrilidae. Only three species have been described for the morphologically unique Diporodrilus, but there exists evidence for wide morphological variability within them and the existence of several species-level genetic lineages within Corsica. This work aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between the genetic lineages of Diporodrilus from Corsica and Sardinia (based on the sequences of 5 mito-nuclear markers), to perform an integrative systematics revision combining species delimitation techniques and morphological data, and to obtain a time-calibrated phylogeny of Diporodrilus and other Corso-Sardinian Lumbricoidea. Within 15 populations of the morphospecies Diporodrilus omodeoi and Diporodrilus pilosus across Corsica and Sardinia, 10 species-level genetic lineages were detected. Phylogenetic independence, high genetic divergence and morphological differences provided the support for the description of five new pseudocryptic species: Diporodrilus rotundus sp. nov., Di. jorgei sp. nov., Di. minor sp. nov., Di. meridionalis sp. nov. and Di. telti sp. nov. Time-calibrated phylogenetic inference estimated the age for genus Diporodrilus at 65.9 Mya; even if other Corso-Sardinian genera were significantly younger, all of them presented deep divergences predating the break-off of the microplate from the continent. The almost threefold increase in the known diversity of Diporodrilus stresses the need for comprehensive earthworm diversity inventories in both Sardinia and Corsica, and for studies on their ecological role and conservation status. The close correspondence between some geological and cladogenetic events suggest that the distribution of Corso-Sardinian earthworms could be used to inform standing geological controversies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the interplay between morphological diversity and genomic duplication are crucial, since novel traits may have profound evolutionary and ecological consequences. Within the Lythraceae, Cuphea stands out as the most karyotypically diverse genus, exhibiting a broad distribution across contrasting ecosystems in the Neotropics such as wetlands, forests, savannas, and prairies, ranging from coastal regions to the central continent, and from sea level to mountainous areas, with a remarkable array of morphological variation in vegetative and reproductive structures. To elucidate the potential relationships between karyotypic diversity and morphological variability in Cuphea, we compiled a morphological database, chromosome numbers and a molecular phylogenetic tree to infer the phylogenetic signal of morphological traits and karyotype evolution in this genus. Our findings confirm the pivotal role of polyploidy in the extensive karyotypic diversification observed in Cuphea. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed that the ancestral chromosomal number for the genus is x = 11 and there is a high incidence of polyploidy in the genus, with at least 11 events of whole-genome duplication, in addition to 20 events of dysploidy (10 ascending and 10 descending). We found evidence to support a positive correlation between chromosome numbers and overall size of selected morphological traits with polyploid species showing longer floral tubes. Our investigations also revealed a potential association between polyploidy and the adaptive radiation of Cuphea during its distribution expansion to the North America. These results reinforce the importance of whole-genome duplication events in producing trait diversity and, consequently, speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molluscan clade Decapodiformes (Cephalopoda) comprises a diverse and enigmatic assemblage including inshore and offshore squids, bobtails, cuttlefishes, and the ram's horn squid (Spirulida: Spirula spirula). The latter species is of particular interest to paleontologists because it is the only living cephalopod with an internal chambered, spiral-shaped, calcareous shell resembling those seen in some fossil cephalopod taxa. Spirulida has been difficult to place phylogenetically, in part because it shares different features with sepiolids, sepiids, and oegopsids, creating conflict in morphological analyses. Unlike morphological assumptions of a close relationship with sepiids, previous molecular studies have found support for Spirulida as a close relative of Bathyteuthida and Oegopsida. Identifying the correct phylogenetic placement of Spirulida could allow alternative hypotheses of phragmocone evolution, e.g., retention of an ancestral phragmocone in Spirulida and Sepiida vs. independent reacquisition of the phragmocone in these taxa, to be evaluated. In the present study, we combined new, high-quality transcriptome data for a specimen of Spirula spirula with additional new and previously published transcriptome data for decapodiform cephalopods. Phylogenetic analyses of several matrices yielded trees in which Spirula spirula was recovered as the sister group of the oceanic open-eyed squids (Oegopsida). This close relationship of Spirula to oceanic squids, rather than to nearshore, demersal/benthic decapodiform lineages, provides further support for an "onshore to offshore" model of decapodiform evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing the phylogenetic relationships of Candida krusei strains (sexual form Pichia kudriavzevii) is a prerequisite for understanding the evolution of its virulence-associated mechanisms and ecological lifestyles. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on entire internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) data were carried out with sequences available in public databases and Hungarian isolates from animals obtained for the study. The ITS haplotype network yielded a high frequency haplotype at the centre of the network (H1; n = 204) indicating that various selective pressure might resulted in population expansion from H1. MLST analysis identified three new genotypes among animal-derived isolates, therefore overall 203 sequence types were investigated to determine the population structure of C. krusei. The most commonly encountered sequence types were ST 17 and ST 67. Phylogenetic analyses showed diverse genetic construction of C. krusei population. Evidence of potential recombination events were also observed that might play some role in high intraspecies genetic variability among strains, however, the limited data of C. krusei genotypes from different countries prevented us to identify accurate evolutionary routes of commensal and pathogenic strains or species-specific lineages. Further expansion of C. krusei MLST database may promote the better understanding of the mixed evolutionary history of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, ambrosia beetles, Euwallacea interjectus, have emerged as important pests of exotic Populus in poplar cultivations from Jiangsu, China. However, Fusarium mutualists of E. interjectus within the Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) remain unclear. In the investigation of Fusarium mutualists, 36 isolates were obtained from five geographically separated sites in Jiangsu Province and Jiangxi Province. Three novel species of AFC were identified based on morphological and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis; three novel species of AFC were identified. These new species are described here as Fusarium gannanense (AF-25), Fusarium populicola (AF-26), and Fusarium tumidispermus (AF-27). Fusarium populicola may be a pathogen of poplar and exhibited common to poplar cultivations in Jiangsu Province. The other two species were recovered from three locations in Jiangxi Province. The distribution of mutualists of E. interjectus within AFC is associated with the geographical distance among the samples with samples from the same region sharing the same mutualist. The present study augments our knowledge on the mutualists of Euwallacea within AFC in the native geographic range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the origins and genetic relationships of invasive, non-native species is critical to informing conservation and management practices. Pistia stratiotes is one such species—a pantropical floating plant that is problematic in many regions of the world, including Florida, USA. Questions surrounding the origins of P. stratiotes populations in Florida and elsewhere prompted a molecular investigation using five chloroplast and one mitochondrial DNA sequences. A total of 154 samples were collected from 14 countries. The sequence data was analyzed using haplotype network analysis, maximum likelihood phylogenetics and species delimitation tools. These data show that P. stratiotes comprises a minimum of seven distinct haplotypic clades worldwide, three of which differ enough to likely represent different species. Florida, which was more heavily sampled than other regions of the world, contains four of the clades—one of which shows evidence of being pan-Caribbean with sufficient variation to suggest regional (including Florida) nativity. A second clade, present in the U.S. Gulf States and California, may be native within this range, however more sampling is needed to fully describe its distribution and nativity. Another clade, predominant in southern Florida and the St. Johns River, likely originated in South America. Results are discussed in the broader context of the effects of cryptic species on weed management, including biological control efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary delimitation of species and populations in the microbial domain relies on an integrative approach combining molecular and morphological techniques. In case of the dinophyte Peridinium volzii, a considerable number of infraspecific taxonomic entities have been reported, but it is unclear at present whether the corresponding traits are stable within reproductively isolated units or refer to intraspecific variability. We established 26 monoclonal strains from Central Europe with a morphology that is consistent for P. volzii and characterised them by sequences gained from the rRNA operon. Ten of such strains, representative for the entire diversity observed, were investigated in detail morphologically using light and electron microscopy. In the molecular tree, P. volzii was monophyletic, sister group of Peridinium willei, and three ITS ribotypes could be distinguished. Some traits corresponding to previously described varieties and forms were found in individual cells across the strains under investigation, but not as stable characters correlating to certain ribotypes. We also observed new morphological variability (e.g., unusual shape of plate 4″). Cell size and displacement of the cingulum were significantly different between certain ribotypes but in turn, such diagnostic traits are impossible to assign to already described taxa due to their ambiguity. Based on the small first apical plate as diagnostic trait and putative apomorphy, P. volzii is a characteristic species but the present data given, we are reserved to accept more than a single reproductive unit. Thus, more research is necessary, including a focus on species delimitation to putative close relatives such as Peridinium maeandricum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the biometric investigation of the cnidome represents an essential diagnostic feature to successfully identify cnidarian species, further efforts are needed to fully characterize eventual differences. Important model actiniarians, such Anemonia viridis and Aiptasia spp., are commonly used for scientific purposes; however, their identification is often difficult, and the description of their cnidome is, therefore, essential. To contribute to this necessity, specimens of Anemonia viridis and Aiptasia couchii from the North Adriatic Sea were collected to acquire data (i.e. length, width, size range, length/width ratio) about cnidae from different tissues (i.e. column, tentacles, actinopharynx, mesenteries, and acrorhagi/acontia). Four types of cnidae were observed in each species. A. viridis shows microbasic b-mastigophores, microbasic p-mastigophores, holotrichous isorhizas, and spirocysts, whereas A. couchii harbored basitrichs, microbasic p-mastigophore, microbasic p-amastigophore and spirocysts. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses were also performed using three mitochondrial markers to confirm the correct classification of the specimens here analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deduced amino acid sequences from the complete cDNA coding sequences of three antioxidant enzyme genes (sod1, sod2, and cat) demonstrated that phylogenetically the magur catfish (Clarias magur) is very much close to other bony fishes with complete conservation of active site residues among piscine, amphibian, and mammalian species. The three-dimensional structures of three antioxidant enzyme proteins are very much similar to mammalian counterparts, thereby suggesting the functional similarities of these enzymes. Exposure to ZnO NPs resulted in an oxidative stress as evidenced by an initial sharp rise of intracellular concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) but decreased gradually at later stages. The level of glutathione (GSH) also increased gradually in all the tissues examined after an initial decrease. Biochemical and gene expression analyses indicated that the magur catfish has the ability to defend the ZnO NP-induced oxidative stress by inducing the SOD/CAT enzyme system and also the GSH-related enzymes that are mediated through the activation of various antioxidant-related genes both at the transcriptional and translational levels in various tissues. Furthermore, it appeared that the stimulation of NO, as a consequence of induction nos2 gene, under NP-induced oxidative stress serves as a modulator to induce the SOD/CAT system in various tissues of magur catfish as an antioxidant strategy. Thus, it can be contemplated that the magur catfish possesses a very efficient antioxidant defensive mechanisms to defend against the oxidative stress and also from related cellular damages during exposure to ZnO NPs into their natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first high-throughput amplicon sequencing study of mycobiome associated with leaves of the seagrass Halophila stipulacea. Five leaf samples were collected from the Al-Leith mangroves along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Total DNA was extracted from 250 mg of each sample, and the first 300 bp (contains D1-D2 variable regions) of the LSU rDNA amplicon was sequenced with the Illumina MiSeq (bTEFAP). A total of 928,626 reads were obtained from the five samples. The sequence reads belonged to Metazoa (48.1% of the total reads), Viridiplantae (41.1%), Eukaryota (8.8%), Fungi (1.96%), Bacteria (0.09%), and Archaea (0.0001%). Fungi represented between 1.1% and 5.8% of the total reads in the five samples. A total of 18,279 reads (representing 1.96% of the total reads) were recorded from the 5 samples representing 296 molecular species (OTUs) that belong to 13 fungal phyla. At the phylum level, Basidiomycota dominated the community (37.2–51.6%) in three samples, while Neocallimastigomycota (37.5%) and Mucoromycota (42.1%) dominated the community in the fourth and the fifth samples, respectively. High diversity of OTUs (28 molecular species) were recorded from the monokaryotic subkingdom with five unknown basal lineages that are not aligning with any known taxa. Total number of sequence reads of microbial eukaryote organisms (Stramenopiles) from the five samples ranged between 0.16 of total reads in the fifth sample (AL-Hs05) to 2.9% in the first one (AL-Hs01). Majority of the microbial eukaryote reads (93.6%) belong to the phylum Oomycota, followed by Opisthokonts (Fungi/Metazoa group) representing 6.4% of microbial eukaryote reads. Monokaryon phyla (i.e., Chytridiomycota, Mucoromycota, and Neocallimastigomycota) and microbial eukaryotes occupied a major portion of the sequence reads followed by Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. Our results support the findings that the majority of fungi and microbial eukaryotes communities are so far unknown with seven deep branching lineages remain to be cultivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than ten species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus (Cyprinidae: Barbinae) have been found to exhibit striking variation related to cave-dwelling traits. Until now, the molecular phylogeny and evolutionary history of this genus have remained unclear. To understand the molecular phylogeny and biogeographic evolution of Sinocyclocheilus, we analyzed the complete mitogenomes of 12 Sinocyclocheilus species based on Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analyses. The results of phylogenetic analyses strongly suggest that the genus Sinocyclocheilus is a monophyletic group, and S. jii is the most basal species. Molecular clock estimates showed that the diversification of this genus occurred in the late Miocene (about 6.49 Ma), which was associated with the intensive uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Selective pressure analyses showed the dN/dS ratios of all Sinocyclocheilus species were < 1, indicating that this genus suffered strong purifying selection on its mitochondrial function, and then adapted to the contrasting environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 1980s, DNA sequencing became a routine and the increasing computing power opened the door to reconstruct molecular phylogenies using probabilistic approaches. DNA sequence alignments provided a large number of positions containing phylogenetic information, which could be extracted using explicit statistical models that described the mutation process using appropriate parameters. Consequently, an active quest started for building increasingly improved (more realistic) statistical models of nucleotide substitution. The simplest model assumed that nucleotide frequencies were in equilibrium and one single category of substitutions. Subsequent models allowed either unequal nucleotide frequencies or separate rates for transitions and transversions. The HKY85 model (Hasegawa et al. in J Mol Evol 22:160, 1985) combined elegantly both options into a single model, which became one of the most useful ones and has been the choice in many molecular phylogenetic studies ever since. The use of improved substitution models such as HKY85 allows reconstructing more accurate and reliable phylogenies, which in turn provide robust frameworks for understanding how biological diversity evolved and for performing a wealth of comparative studies in different disciplines such as ecology, biogeography, developmental biology, biochemistry, genomics, epidemiology, and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematics and phylogeny of flatfish is investigated on the basis of an incomplete nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA and the complete Co-1 and Cyt-b sequences. In total 62 specimens of 14 species of our own collections were submitted to the GenBank/BOLD repositories and studied. Four types of gene trees were reconstructed: Bayesian (BA), maximum likelihood (ML), minimum evolution (ME), and neighbor joining (NJ). These trees showed basically similar topology. Two separate branches on the trees support the previously identified subfamilies Hippoglossoidinae and Pleuronectinae with the monophyletic status of these taxa. The subfamily Pleuronectinae can be considered monophyletic if the tribe Microstomini is excluded from it and genus Lepidopsetta is moved into the tribe Pleuronectini. Three sets of nucleotide sequences were formed and independently studied. One set included all the obtained 16S rRNA gene sequences (291 bp), the second set included a sample of longer 16S rRNA sequences (617 bp), and the third set consisted of three gene sequences: 16S rRNA, Co-1, and Cyt-b (2926 bp). All three data sets gave a similar phylogenetic signal, which is consistent with the traditional concept of the taxonomy of the Pleuronectiformes order; however, the second and third sets provided better resolution of topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new taxa from Phytophthora ITS clade 2a are described from Cinnamomum cassia plantations and adjacent waterways in Van Yen, Vietnam, disturbed rainforest in the Hela Province of Papua New Guinea and from disturbed forest on Christmas Island. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using data from nuclear regions (ITS, β-tubulin; heat shock protein 90) and mitochondrial regions (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1; cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1; ribosomal protein L10). The molecular data supported recognition of three species: Phytophthora insulinativitatica, P. multibullata and P. x vanyenensis, and two informal taxa: P. sp. germisporangia and P. sp. awatangi. P. x vanyenensis appears to be a hybrid between P.mekongensis and an unknown species. P. multibullata and P. sp. germisporangia are phylogenetically close to P. citrophthora, but morphologically distinct. P. insulinativitatica is most closely related to P. botryosa, but has distinct morphology. P. sp. germisporangia and P. sp. awatangi were morphologically distinct and separated in the phylogeny based on mitochondrial sequences, but their nuclear sequences were identical. When comparing the sequences of these new species to that available on GenBank, it became evident that some of these species shared similarity with isolates submitted to GenBank under other species names. A re-evaluation of all P. meadii and P. colocasiae ITS sequence data identified an additional 7 putatively new species all isolated from Asia. The results support the view that many more Phytophthora species remain to be discovered in the Asia-Pacific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe incidence of striped flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in radish is being reported from Delhi National Capital Region and Haryana. The larvae and adult of this species were found to damage both roots and leaves of radish, respectively. Overall there was an average 63.02 percent leaf infestation and 53.96 percent root infestation in the radish fields surveyed, which was above the economic threshold level (25% infestation). Infestation was also observed on other cruciferous crops like turnip, mustard, cabbage and cauliflower in National Capital Region and Haryana. In the present study, we have furnished the species diagnosis, sexual dimorphism, nature of damage and illustrations of various stages of the pest. DNA barcoding was employed to confirm the species identity and molecular phylogenetic studies based on mt CO I sequences from across the world showed that there were two clusters; the Old World and the New World. The biology of the pest and the importance of studies on area specific population dynamics for formulating management strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Psathyrellaceae was analysed using phylogenetic and morphological characters. A total of 18,133 sequences (ITS, 5.8S, LSU, ef-1α, β-tubulin), with 45 newly generated, were evaluated from a wide geographic sampling. Special attention was given to the alignment procedures and an iterative multigene guide tree was used to achieve the best possible phylogenetic hypotheses. A new generic system is proposed, which includes the known genera Coprinellus, Coprinopsis, Cystoagaricus, Homophron, Hormographiella, Kauffmania, Lacrymaria, Parasola, Psathyrella and Typhrasa. Six new, monophyletic genera are recognized, viz. Candolleomyces, Britzelmayria, Narcissea, Olotia, Punjabia and Tulosesus, and the corresponding new combinations are proposed. Galerella floriformis is shown to belong to the Psathyrellaceae and the new genus Hausknechtia is erected for it. Psathyrella is subdivided into 18 sections (sections Noli-tangere, Saponaceae, Stridvalliorum, Arenosae, Confusae, Sublatisporae, Sinefibularum are new), and sections Pennatae, Pygmaeae and Pseudostropharia are emended. Coprinellus is divided into nine sections (Disseminati, Aureogranulati, Curti, Hepthemeri and Deminuti are new), and 20 sections are proposed for Coprinopsis (Cinereae, Filamentiferae, Melanthinae, Alopeciae, Xenobiae, Phlyctidosporae, Krieglsteinerorum, Erythrocephalae, Geesteranorum, Mitraesporae, Radiatae, Subniveae and Canocipes are new). And lastly, Parasola is divided into sections Parasola and Conopileae. Many problematic species groups still need revision. A key to the genera based on morphological characters is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine tardigrades in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions are poorly understood. During the 59th Japan Antarctic Research Expedition, a sediment sample was collected from Lützow-Holm Bay, East Antarctica. The sediment sample yielded three species of marine tardigrades belonging to the family Styraconyxidae Kristensen & Renaud-Mornant, 1983: Angursa antarctica Villora-Moreno, 1998, Styraconyx cf. qivitoq Kristensen & Higgins, 1984, and S. takeshii sp. nov. The new species resembles S. nanoqsunguak Kristensen & Higgins, 1984 by the overall morphology, but the new species has thick seminal receptacle ducts that do not terminate in typical, swelled vesicles, in contrast to S. nanoqsunguak's narrow seminal receptacle ducts that terminate in small vesicles. The presence of the undivided mouth papilla and the larger body further differentiates the new species from S. nanoqsunguak. We also report a young adult female with a gonopore, but lacking seminal receptacles in the new species. As well as morphological information, we provided the sequences of the new species' nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I fragments. Using the former molecular data, phylogenetic analyses of Styraconyxidae were conducted and polyphyly of Styraconyx was suggested. The biogeography of marine tardigrades in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species and a new genus of a microsporidium Alternosema bostrichidis isolated from an adult Prostephanus truncatus in Mexico and from three species of the genus Dinoderus in Nigeria are described. The microsporidium is monomorphic, monoxenic, and develops in direct contact with host cell cytoplasm. The infection first appears with thoracic muscles, followed by a generalized invasion of the host. All developmental stages are diplokaryotic. Sporogony is disporoblastic. Mature spores are ovoid. Unfixed spores measure 3.7–4.2 × 2.0–2.6 μm, fixed and stained spores 3.5–5.0 × 2.4–2.8 μm. The polaroplast consists of dense lamellae and rare lamellae. The polar tube is slightly anisofilar, consisting of 11–17 coils, with 9–14 proximal (130 nm in diameter) and 2–3 distal coils (120 nm in diameter) arranged in one layer. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based upon a short portion of small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (Genbank accession # KP455651) placed the new microsporidium within Liebermannia-Orthosomella lineage, which contains multiple undescribed parasites. In particular, A. bostrichidis showed maximal sequence similarity of 95% to Microsporidium sp. BBRE2 (# FJ755987) from Baikalian Diplacanthus brevispinus (Amphipoda: Acanthogammaridae) and Microsporidium sp. Comp CD Van 2 (# KC111784) from compost and soil in Canada. Frequent, devastating epizootics of laboratory cultures of A. bostrichidis support its potential as a biological control agent of grain borers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two conflicting morphological approaches to polyclad systematics highlight the relevance of molecular data for resolving the interrelationships of Polycladida. In the present study, phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on a short alignment of the 28S rDNA marker gene with 118 polyclad terminals (24 new) including 100 different polyclad species from 44 genera and 22 families, as well as on a combined dataset using 18S and 28S rDNA genes with 27 polyclad terminals (19 new) covering 26 different polyclad species. In both approaches, Theamatidae and Cestoplanidae were included, two families that have previously been shown to switch from Acotylea to Cotylea. Three different alignment methods were used, both with and without alignment curation by Gblocks, and all alignments were subjected to Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood tree calculations. Over all trees of the combined dataset, an extended majority-rule consensus tree had weak support for Theamatidae and Cestoplanidae as acotyleans, and also the cotylean genera Boninia, Chromyella and Pericelis appeared as acotyleans. With the most inclusive short 28S dataset, on the other hand, there is good support for the aforementioned taxa as cotyleans. Especially with the short 28S matrix, taxon sampling, outgroup selection, alignment method and curation, as well as model choice were all decisive for tree topology. Well-supported parts of the phylogeny over all trees include Pseudocerotoidea, Prosthiostomoidea, Stylochoidea, Leptoplanoidea and Cryptoceloidea, the latter three with new definitions. Unstable positions in the tree were found not only for Theamatidae, Cestoplanidae, Boninia, Chromyella and Pericelis, but also for Anonymus, Chromoplana and Cycloporus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mesanthemum is a genus comprising 16 species in the family Eriocaulaceae and is native to Africa and Madagascar. Eriocaulaceae are characterised by a basal tuft or rosette of narrow leaves and small flowers in heads. Mesanthemum can be recognised by diplostemonous flowers and fused glandular pistillate petals. While most Mesanthemum species are large perennial herbs, two small ephemeral species from West Africa, M. albidum and M. auratum differ from the rest of the genus by their shorter life cycle, smaller size, simpler floral structures and different seed surface patterning. A molecular phylogenetic study, morphological comparisons and scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of seed coat sculpture were carried out to determine whether they should be separated as a new genus. The molecular results indicate that the two ephemeral species are nested in the Mesanthemum clade. However, they are not closely related to each other. All species of Mesanthemum are here revised, including the description of a new species M. alenicola from Equatorial Guinea. An identification key is provided, together with taxonomic descriptions, synonymy and notes. Images of the seeds as seen under SEM are provided where available. Lectotypifications are provided for Mesanthemum albidum, M. bennae, M. pilosum, M. prescottianum, M. pubescens and M. variabile. A neotype is selected for M. rutenbergianum, which is synonymised with M. pubescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxobolus pelecicola Voronin et Dudin, 2015 was recently described from the skeletal musculature of sichel Pelecus cultratus. However, another species, Myxobolus ladogensis Rumyantsev et Schulman, 1997, was described previously from the same host, displaying identical tissue localization and spore morphology as in M. pelecicola. Unfortunately, M. ladogensis was overlooked when M. pelecicola was described, resulting in the superfluous description of the latter species, which, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, is a junior synonym of M. ladogensis. The description of M. ladogensis is supplemented with SSU rDNA sequence analysis supporting the conspecificity with M. pelecicola. The closest relatives of Myxobolus ladogensis (syn. M. pelecicola) include several muscle-infecting Myxobolus spp. with sequence similarity below 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eriocaulon is a genus of c. 470 aquatic and wetland species of the monocot plant family Eriocaulaceae. It is widely distributed in Africa, Asia and America, with centres of species richness in the tropics. Most species of Eriocaulon grow in wetlands although some inhabit shallow rivers and streams with an apparent adaptive morphology of elongated submerged stems. In a previous molecular phylogenetic hypothesis, Eriocaulon was recovered as sister of the African endemic genus Mesanthemum. Several regional infrageneric classifications have been proposed for Eriocaulon. This study aims to critically assess the existing infrageneric classifications through phylogenetic reconstruction of infrageneric relationships, based on DNA sequence data of four chloroplast markers and one nuclear marker. There is little congruence between our molecular results and previous morphology-based infrageneric classifications. However, some similarities can be found, including Fyson's sect. Leucantherae and Zhang's sect. Apoda. Further phylogenetic studies, particularly focusing on less well sampled regions such as the Neotropics, will help provide a more global overview of the relationships in Eriocaulon and may enable suggesting the first global infrageneric classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minute snails of the troglobitic genus Zospeum are known from the southeastern Alps through the Dinarides and from the Pyrenees to the Cantabrian Mountains. The majority of Zospeum has been described from the northernmost region of Southeast Europe, the geographical focus of our study. The taxonomic value of the few available morphological shell characters has been debated for nearly as long as the genus is known. Recent results of genetic studies questioned the established taxonomic system based on morphological characters in the 1970s, with one species (Z. isselianum) appearing to be polyphyletic. Here, we present a comprehensive revision of Zospeum from the Alpine and Dinaride regions, using an integrative approach including genetic methods, morphometry, X-ray micro computer tomography (micro-CT), and SEM. We reveal 25 species and describe 5 new to science. Genetic analysis separated the genus into five clades, strongly challenging the previously valid taxonomic system and revealing several species polyphyletic. The various methods used for morphological characterization often proved useful in separating species showing high incidence of cryptic speciation in the genus. Radular investigation, using SEM, uncovered new insights about the taxonomic value of the configuration of the radular ribbon within Zospeum as well as Zospeum's dentitional affinity within the Ellobioidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coussareeae are a Neotropical clade of morphologically heterogeneous plants in the subfamily Rubioideae of the coffee family (Rubiaceae). The tribe encompasses about 330 species assigned to ten genera: Bradea, Coccocypselum, Coussarea, Cruckshanksia, Declieuxia, Faramea, Heterophyllaea, Hindsia, Oreopolus, and Standleya. Historically, the genera of Coussareeae have rarely been considered closely related, and the widely defined Coussareeae were delimited based on molecular systematics without proposed morphological synapomorphies. In order to assess the tribe's monophyly, as well as the generic limits, infrageneric relationships, and suprageneric relationships, multiple specimens per genus were sampled whenever possible and analyzed using multiple molecular loci with the Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. The results of the phylogenetic analyses (all genera represented by multiple terminals are monophyletic, all genera are resolved with respect to each other, and three major suprageneric clades are resolved), coupled with herbarium and literature studies, were used to identify potential synapomorphic features. Non-molecular diagnostic features remain elusive for Coussareeae as a whole, but we have identified multiple diagnostic features and potential synapomorphies for each of the three major suprageneric clades: (1) Coussarea and Faramea (e.g., porate pollen grains with annuli bordering the pores); (2) Bradea, Coccocypselum, Declieuxia, Hindsia, and Standleya (e.g., colporate pollen grains with complex reticulate tecta); and 3) Cruckshanksia, Heterophyllaea, and Oreopolus (e.g., chartaceous, loculicidal capsules). The latter clade, distributed in different biomes of the Andes, is sister to the former two, both widely distributed in the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances in molecular phylogenetic studies, deep evolutionary relationships in Cyperaceae are still not entirely resolved. Reduction of floral morphology and complex inflorescences pose difficulties to unravel relationships based on morphology alone. One of the most phylogenetically informative structures in Cyperaceae are the embryos. The utility of embryo characters and types in Cyperaceae systematics is reviewed in a molecular phylogenetic context using a DNA supermatrix incorporating sequences from five plastid (matK, ndhF, rbcL, rps16, trnL-F) and two nuclear ribosomal (ETS, ITS) regions. The phylogenetic hypothesis presented includes the most extensive sampling of the family to date. Fourteen qualitative morphological embryo characters were coded, ancestral state reconstructions were performed, and the embryo of each sampled genus was classified in a typological system based on key morphological features. Embryo morphology provides a valuable source of independent data for Cyperaceae systematics that can be used to place species with unknown affinities, when molecular data is not available, or when results of analyses are inconclusive or conflicting. Integrating embryo data will remain critical for future higher level studies of Cyperaceae evolution and classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary biologists have long been intrigued by exaggerated morphologies tied to sexual or natural selection. In insects, relatively few studies have investigated the evolution of such traits at the genus level and above and have used comparative phylogenetic methods to do so. We here investigate the interspecific evolution of head length in the minute litter bug genus Nannocoris Reuter based on the first phylogenetic hypothesis of the group (25 ingroup species, five gene regions, 3409 bp) and ancestral state reconstruction. Head lengths in this speciose genus range from approximately one sixth of the total body length to more than a quarter of the body length, while the head and mouthpart (rostrum) lengths are correlated. Different species therefore possess a markedly different reach of the rostrum when extended. The analyses show that head length evolution in Nannocoris is plastic, with head length elongations and reductions occurring in several clades, derived from ancestors with moderately elongated heads. Evidence is provided that exaggerated head lengths evolved through elongation of either the genal (pricei group) or the tip (arimensis group) region of the head. The biology of species in the genus Nannocoris is unknown, but given the lack of sexual dimorphism of head lengths, we speculate that head evolution in this genus may be driven by natural selection, potentially in the context of prey capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal flukes of fish (mainly salmonids) belonging to the genus Nanophyetus (Trematoda: Troglotrematidae) are the causative agents of nanophyetiasis, a zoonotic disease of animals and humans, which is widespread in countries in the northern Pacific. Two geographical forms, one from North America and the other from the eastern Eurasia were described within this genus; however, their taxonomic status was debatable. A multilocus analysis of nuclear rDNA sequences applied in this study has shown that these forms are independent nominal species: Nanophyetus salmincola and Nanophyetus schikhobalowi. This study, based on sequencing the mtDNA nad1 gene, has evaluated the genetic variability of N. schikhobalowi from eastern Eurasia (Russia) and compared our data with the results obtained for N. salmincola from North America (United States). The genetic differentiation within the Eurasian sample was 1.4%, that for the North American sample was 0.8%, and differentiation between the samples was 15.5%. High values of genetic divergence and completed sorting of mitochondrial haplotypes confirmed the species independence of the compared geographic forms of Nanophyetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogenetic analysis of Polycladida based on two partial mitochondrial genes ( cox1 and 16S) is provided. The analysis includes 30 polyclad terminals that represent species from the two taxa which traditionally divide the groups Cotylea and Acotylea. Our phylogenetic analyses produced a well-supported hypothesis that confirms the monophyly of Polycladida, as well as Acotylea and Cotylea. Within Acotylea, there are two lineages not highly supported: on one hand, Leptoplanoidea (excluding Hoploplana elisabelloi) and one Stylochoidea member ( Pseudostylochus intermedius) (classification sensu Faubel, 1983, 1984), and on the other hand, Stylochoidea members together with Discocelis tigrina and H. elisabelloi. The genera Stylochus and Imogine are not monophyletic. Within Cotylea, Pseudocerotidae and Euryleptidae are monophyletic, though not highly supported, while Prosthiostomidae is not. Euryleptoidea is paraphyletic. The genera Pseudobiceros and Pseudoceros are monophyletic and highly supported. Our results suggest that, within Acotylea, the prostatoid organs of Discocelis may have been derived from a prostatic vesicle. The genus Hoploplana could be included in Stylochoidea. Within Cotylea, the common ancestor of Euryleptidae and Pseudocerotidae might have been an aposematic animal with tentacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyclad flatworms have a troubled classification history, with two contradicting systems in use. They both rely on a ventral adhesive structure to define the suborders Acotylea and Cotylea, but superfamilies were defined according to eyespot arrangement (Prudhoe's system) or prostatic vesicle characters (Faubel's system). Molecular data available cover a very limited part of the known polyclad family diversity and have not allowed testing morphology-based classification systems on Polycladida yet. We thus sampled a suitable marker, partial 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), from Polycladida (19 families and 32 genera), generating 136 new sequences and the first comprehensive genetic dataset on polyclads. Our maximum likelihood (ML) analyses recovered Polycladida, but the traditional suborders were not monophyletic, as the supposedly acotyleans Cestoplana and Theama were nested within Cotylea; we suggest that these genera should be included in Cotylea. The partial 28S rDNA trees were generally well supported and robust but in conflict with both Faubel's and Prudhoe's superfamilies. Therefore, we compiled morphological and anatomical characters for all taxa used and examined their distribution on our molecular tree. Combining morphological and molecular evidence, we redefined polyclad superfamilies. Acotylea contain tentaculated and atentaculated groups and is now divided in three superfamilies. The suborder Cotylea can be divided in five superfamilies. In general, there is a trait of anteriorization of sensory structures, from the plesiomorphic acotylean body plan to the cotylean gross morphology. Traditionally used characters, such as prostatic vesicle, eyespot distribution, and type of pharynx, are all homoplastic and likely have misled polyclad systematics so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new orchid species and one variety from the cerrado and campos rupestres of central and south-eastern Brazil are described and illustrated: Habenaria brachydactyla, H. irwiniana, H. minuta, H. pansarinii, and H. pansarinii var. minuscula. Habenaria campylogyna is proposed as a new name for the illegitimate H. humilis Cogniaux. The five species differ from other Neotropical taxa by being small, slender plants with linear leaves concentrated at the base of the stem. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear and plastid DNA sequences revealed that they are not closely related, and do not belong to any of the previously identified Neotropical subclades. All of the new taxa were recovered in isolated positions, branching from basal nodes of larger subclades, suggesting that these morphological characters represent plesiomorphic traits in the Neotropical clade. Habenaria brachydactyla is genetically distinct and represents an early lineage of the Neotropical Habenaria clade. All taxa are considered threatened because of their small numbers of populations with few individuals and/or restricted distributions. Detailed descriptions, photographs, illustrations, notes, and a key to the species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular clocks based upon amino acid sequences in proteins have played a major role in the clarification of evolutionary phylogenies. Creationist criticisms of these methods sometimes rely upon data that might initially seem to be paradoxical. For example, human cytochrome c differs from that of an alligator by 13 amino acids but differs by 14 amino acids from a much more closely related primate, Otolemur garnettii. The apparent anomaly is resolved by taking into consideration the variable substitution rate of cytochrome c, particularly among primates. This paper traces some of the history of extensive research into the topic of rate heterogeneity in cytochrome c including data from cytochrome c pseudogenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of homology has a long history, during much of which the issue has been how to reconcile similarity and common descent when these are not coextensive. Although thinking molecular phylogeneticists have learned not to say 'percent homology,' the problems are deeper than that and unresolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Schaueria (Acanthaceae) has not been comprehensively treated for more than 150 years. Here, we propose a recircumscription of Schaueria based on molecular phylogenetic results and present a taxonomic revision of the genus. We recognise 14 species, which occur mainly in semideciduous montane forests, rain forests, and restingas, from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul states, Brazil. Three new species are described in the genus- S. hirta, S. pyramidalis, and S. thyrsiflora-and six are excluded from the genus. Four new combinations and two new synonyms are proposed, and five lectotypes are designated. Many species of Schaueria are endangered, critically endangered or vulnerable, and two species are assessed as near threatened because of continuous decline of habitat quality and extent of Atlantic forest. We provide a key to identify the genera of the Tetramerium lineage that occur in South America, and present descriptions, illustrations, and comments for the 14 species of Schaueria, as well as a key to identify them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descolea majestatica is an agaric with features described as intermediate between the genera Descolea Singer and Rozites P. Karst. (≡ Cortinarius). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large ribosomal subunit (LSU) and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) sequences indicates that D. majestatica is nested within the genus Cortinarius, with its closest relative a sequestrate Cortinarius species from Argentina. Taxonomic recombination is made to restore the monophyly of Cortinarius and Descolea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new genera, Atractospora and Rubellisphaeria, are described for perithecial ascomycetes occurring on decaying wood submerged in freshwater habitats. Their relationships with other morphologically similar fungi were investigated utilising four nuclear ribosomal and protein-coding loci. They are nested together with members of five orders and families and numerous genera incertae sedis in the Sordariomycetidae in a clade supported by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Their closest relative is Lentomitella. Atractospora includes species characterised by dark, immersed to semi-immersed beaked ascomata lying horizontally to the host, stipitate asci with a pronounced non-amyloid apical annulus and hyaline, fusiform, septate, thick-walled ascospores with smooth or ornamented wall. Three novel species are introduced ( A. decumbens, A. reticulata and A. verruculosa). A new combination for Aquaticola ellipsoidea is proposed in Atractospora based on molecular data and morphological characters. Rubellisphaeria, with a new species R. abscondita, is distinct by subhyaline to reddish brown, immersed ascomata with a lateral neck, short-stipitate asci and ellipsoidal smooth ascospores with a delayed formation of a middle septum. The sexual morph of the dematiaceous hyphomycete genus Myrmecridium was encountered for the first time on decaying wood submerged in a stream. It is nested in a strongly supported monophyletic clade of the Myrmecridiales. The novel species M. montsegurinum is described; it possesses papillate ascomata immersed beneath a clypeus with subhyaline to weakly pigmented ascomatal wall, long-stipitate asci with a non-amyloid apical annulus and three-septate, hyaline, ellipsoidal, delicately verruculose ascospores. A morphology-based key is provided to facilitate identification of species of Atractospora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine benthic fauna in Arctic shallow-water is reported to be a relatively young assemblage by species of either Pacific or Atlantic affinity. Whether current deep-sea Pacific species are included in the affinity or not is unknown. Combining morphological comparisons and genetic analyses, a new deep-sea hydroid to science, Sertularia xuelongi sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Sertulariidae), is described from the northern margin of the Bering Sea Basin at depths of 800-1570 m collected in 2010. It is characterized by slender and zigzag-shaped hydrocauli, alternately arranged hydrothecae and the absence of distal-lateral horns in fully matured female gonothecae. Its distribution, currently known only from Bering Sea Basin, suggests that it could not be an Arctic species with Pacific affinity. However, phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene show that it is clustered into a distinctive clade with four closely related species recorded from shallow-water of Northwest France, Iceland, Chukchi Sea and/or Bering Sea. In addition, its sequence similarity is highly relevant to these four species: Sertularia argentea (98.6 %), S. cupressina (98.8 %), S. plumosa (98.8 %) and S. robusta (99.4 %). All these provide a new insight into the relevance of North Pacific deep-sea species to the benthic fauna in Arctic and adjacent shallow-water. The taxonomic restriction of the genus Sertularia and the re-validation of the genus Polyserias are discussed. Future researches on more deep-sea species from Pacific and/or Atlantic are required to understand the evolution and speciation pattern involved in polar relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analysis of large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA or 28S rRNA) gene sequences from free-living predatory flagellates Colpodella angusta, Voromonas pontica, and Alphamonas edax (Apicomplexa) confirms their close relationship with chromerids Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, which possess a functional photosynthetic plastid. Together these organisms form a sister group to parasitic apicomplexans (coccidians and gregarines, or sporozoans sensu lato). This result agrees with the previous conclusion on monophyly of colpodellids and chromerids (chrompodellids) based on phylogenomic data. The revealed relationships demonstrate a complex pattern of acquisition, loss, or modification of plastids and transition to parasitism during alveolate evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular phylogenetic analysis of 66 representatives of haplolepidous mosses indicated that Ditrichaceae family is polyphyletic. According to the data obtained, the structure of peristome, as well as gametophyte features, which has been traditionally used to allocate this family, arose independently in different groups of haplolepideous mosses. At least six genera ( Distichium, Saelania, Eccremidium, Garckea, Rhamphidium, and Wilsoniella) should be excluded from the Ditrichaceae family, including Saelania and Distichium, should be attributed to another orders. The loss of peristome and the formation of cleistocarpous capsules also occur independently in at least two lineages of Ditrichaceae s. str., as well as in representatives of several lineages of Pottiaceae, a family derived from this group. Ditrichum, a type genus of Ditrichaceae, is also polyphyletic; the species of this genus belong to two clades. It was concluded that parallel lines of morphological variations in this group of mosses occur and its phylogeny needs to be resolved based on molecular data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ricefishes of the genus Oryzias, including Japanese medaka ( O. latipes), are known as excellent model organisms for studies in various fields of science. Some species of the genus inhabit brackish water, and such species are recognized to be useful to investigate physiological phenomena in seawater. However, only a limited number of species have been recorded from brackish waters. In addition, there is no information about the genetic relationship among populations inhabiting sites with different salinities. Here we report the discovery of Oryzias fish in two locations near Haiphong, northern Vietnam, a brackish mangrove planting area and a freshwater pond. A phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences indicated that the fish from the two localities are the same species, Hainan medaka, O. curvinotus. Population genetic analysis using the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a close genetic relationship between the two populations. These results suggest that O. curvinotus is adaptable to both hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic environments. Due to its osmotic adaptability and ease of rearing in the laboratory, this species is expected to become a model for marine environmental and toxicological studies, as well as for studies of osmotic adaptation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on traditional morphology, sequence data, and phylogenetic analyses, 18 new species are here described: Coprinellus christianopolitanus, Coprinopsis musae, C. udicola, Psathyrella arenosa, P. carminei, P. fennoscandica, P. ichnusae, P. lilliputana, P. lyckebodensis, P. madida, P. rybergii, P. sabuletorum, P. scanica, P. siccophila, P. stridvallii, P. sublatispora, P. vesterholtii, and Typhrasa nanispora. Psathyrella hololanigera and P. tenera are reported as new to Europe and P. parva as new to the Nordic countries. A four-gene dataset on Psathyrellaceae were analyzed by Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Constraint analyses were performed to determine limits of /Psathyrella, and to evaluate whether the /Coprinellus, /cordisporus, and /gossypina clades could be regarded with confidence as monophyletic clades outside of the clade /Psathyrella. This was not unambiguously supported. Based on the phylogenetic results, Kauffmania is proposed as a monotypic genus for the species P. larga and Typhrasa for P. gossypina and the new described species T. nanispora. The genus Homophron is formally validated and three combinations are proposed: H. spadiceum, H. cernuum, and H. camptopodum. The genus Cystoagaricus Singer is emended and the following new combinations are proposed: C. hirtosquamulosus, C. squarrosiceps, C. olivaceogriseus, and C. silvestris. Neotypes have been selected for seven species described by Fries, and ITS sequence data for these were generated. The following new combinations are proposed: Coprinopsis canoceps, C. cineraria, C. melanthina, C. submicrospora, C. uliginicola, and Typhrasa gossypina. Brief comments are given to other species of interest. Psathyrella ornatispora were found not to belong in Psathyrellaceae. A key to 106 psathyrelloid species in Northern Europe is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The four palaemonoid (sub)families Anchistioididae, Gnathophyllidae, Hymenoceridae, and Pontoniinae are similar in morphology, and all live in marine habitats. Their systematic relationships are controversial. In this study, we used sequences from a mitochondrial ribosomal gene (16S rRNA) and three nuclear genes (H3, NaK, and enolase) to explore the phylogenetic relationships of these four taxa. Our tree based on 43 species belonging to 28 genera shows that Gnathophyllidae and Hymenoceridae are nested within Pontoniinae. This result is consistent with evidence from larval morphology. The defining characteristics of Gnathophyllidae and Hymenoceridae, a vestigial or missing mandibular incisor process and a broadened third maxilliped, can also be found in Pontoniinae; conversely, on the basis of published species descriptions, gnathophyllids and hymenocerids meet most of the defining characteristics of Pontoniinae. The peculiar form of the third maxilliped in gnathophyllids and hymenocerids might be the result of adaptive evolution, as these particular features are also present in pontoniines. According to our phylogenetic tree, Anchistioididae are more remote from Pontoniinae, which is consistent with the distinct morphological differences in the pleopods. The pontoniine genera analyzed (together with Gnathophyllidae and Hymenoceridae) are divided into two clades. The members of Clade I exhibit primordial characteristics similar to those of the Palaemoninae, and might be direct descendants of the ancestor of the Pontoniinae; members of Clade II are more specialized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-locus phylogenetic hypothesis of the family Roccellaceae is presented based on data from the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nucLSU) and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). This analysis includes 341 sequences (166 newly generated) and 180 specimens representing about 114 species. The genera Lecanactis, Roccellina, Schismatomma and Sigridea were found to be paraphyletic/polyphyletic. In order to make these groups monophyletic, the new genera Crocellina, Diromma, Gyrographa, Gyronactis, Ocellomma, Pseudoschismatomma, Psoronactis and Vigneronia are described. The genus Sagenidium is placed in synonymy with Lecanactis. The new species Enterographa incognita, Gyronactis asiatica and Lecanactis submollis are described. Several species of Opegrapha are transferred to the Roccellaceae. Sorediate morphs are recorded for the first time in the genus Syncesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A leaf smut discovered on wild rhubarb Rheum ribes in Iran and Turkey is evaluated to identify the species. Based on morphological analyses using light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and LSU ribosomal DNA sequences, it is shown that the smut fungus belongs to Thecaphora schwarzmaniana, a rare species previously known on Rheum cordatum, R. lobatum, R. macrocarpum, and R. turkestanicum in some central Asian countries. This is the first documented case of Thecaphora schwarzmaniana on Rheum ribes and significantly expands the range of the species on the Asian continent. The ITS and LSU sequences of the Iranian and Turkish material differed from sequences of Thecaphora schwarzmaniana from Rheum palmatum from China. The re-study of the morphology of the respective specimen revealed morphological differences allowing the conclusion that Thecaphora on Rheum palmatum belongs to a distinct species. The new species is not described here due to the paucity of available material. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on ITS and LSU sequences, recovered Thecaphora on Rheum spp. in a clade including species on host plants from diverse unrelated families, indicating that multiple inter-family host jumps took place in the course of evolution of Thecaphora species. Vast similarity of ITS and LSU sequences of Thecaphora spp. on Rheum spp. point to their close relation suggesting that co-evolution could shape the diversification of Thecaphora species on Polygonaceae following an initial host jump from another host plant family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the phylogenetic position of Stachys tibetica by use of both plastid ( rps16 intron, trnL-F region and matK) and nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequence data and both parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic methods. All data corroborate that S. tibetica is extraneous in Stachys (tribe Stachydeae) and suggest a phylogenetic affiliation in a different lamioid tribe, Lamieae. The molecular data suggest that the species is most closely related to the genus Stachyopsis, while most of the morphological data suggest an intermediate position between Stachyopsis and Eriophyton. Due to difficulties in distinguishing Stachyopsis and Eriophyton, and the possible embedding of the former in the latter genus, we prefer to amalgamate the two closely related genera and refer S. tibetica to the expanded Eriophyton. As a consequence, five new combinations are made: Eriophyton lamiflorum (Rupr.) Bräuchler, Eriophyton maleolens (Rech.f.) Salmaki, Eriophyton marrubioides (Regel) Ryding, Eriophyton oblongatum (Schrenk) Bendiksby and Eriophyton tibeticum (Vatke) Ryding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial importance of carrageenophytes Kappaphycus and Eucheuma is well known, with much interest in terms of cultivation, marketing, and research. Considering the many lucrative prospects, these red seaweeds were introduced into various parts of the world for farming, where merely a few were comprehensively documented. Despite being extensively cultivated throughout Southeast Asia, the genetic diversity of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma is poorly studied, where heavy reliance is placed on the use of local or commercial names for identifications. This study used the mitochondrial-encoded cox1 and cox2-3 spacer genetic markers to investigate the Kappaphycus and Eucheuma haplotypes, cultivated and wild, available throughout Southeast Asia. Concatenated cox1- cox2-3 spacer datasets were also analyzed. The near full-length cox1 gene is preferred at revealing the genetic diversity of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma, provided a larger reference database is available. Both molecular markers were capable of delineating common members of the genus Kappaphycus (i.e., Kappaphycus alvarezii, Kappaphycus striatus, and Kappaphycus cottonii) and Eucheuma denticulatum, and revealed interesting genotypes and new species which may be potential alternatives to the common cultivars as well as materials for research. The relative scarcity of Eucheuma species is discussed and future sites for sampling are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]