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Tropical beta diversity, and particularly that of herbivorous insects in rainforests, is often considered to be enormous, but this notion has recently been challenged. Because tropical beta diversity is highly relevant to our view on biodiversity, it is important to gain more insights and to resolve methodological problems that may lead to contradictions in different studies. We used data on two ecologically distinct moth families from Southeast Asia and analyzed separately the contribution of beta components to overall species richness at three spatial scales. Observed diversity partitions were compared under different types of null models. We found that alpha diversity was lower than expected on the basis of null models, whereas hierarchical beta components were larger than expected. Beta components played a significant role in shaping gamma diversity, and their contribution can be high (multiplicative beta >5). We found a reduction in beta components when comparing primary forests to agricultural sites (cf. "biotic homogenization"), but even in these habitats, beta components were still substantial. Our analyses show that beta components do play an important role in our data on tropical herbivorous insects and that these results are not attributable to lumping different habitats when sampling environmental gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initiating a revision of the Malaysian Myrsinaceae for the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia project, this paper revises Ardisia subgenus Bladhia from the region. Five taxa are recognised including a new species - Ardisia subverticillata Julius & Utteridge; a key, species descriptions, conservation assessments and distribution maps are provided. In addition, Ardisia tumida Furtado, previously treated within this subgenus, is excluded and transferred to subgenus Pimelandra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the genus Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) from Sulawesi are described and illustrated; C. anisodonta Bramley, C. mendumiae Bramley and C. pseudoverticillata Bramley. Distribution maps and preliminary conservation assessments are provided for each species. To enable identification, a key to the nine species of Callicarpa present on Sulawesi is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orania Zipp. (Oranieae: Arecoideae: Arecaceae) is a genus of solitary, single stemmed tree palms consisting of 28 species, of which 11 species are new and described for the first time in this paper. The genus has an interesting disjunct distribution, with 25 species found in Malesia and three species confined to Madagascar. The 11 new species, O. bakeri A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. dafonsoroensis A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. deflexa A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. ferruginea A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. grandiflora A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. littoralis A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. longistaminodia A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. subdisticha A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. tabubilensis A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., O. timikae A. P. Keim & J. Dransf. and O. zonae A. P. Keim & J. Dransf. are found in New Guinea. A determination key is produced and detailed descriptions provided for all taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on herbarium collections, the Malesian species of the genus Lasianthus are revised. A total of 131 species including 5 subspecies and 6 varieties are recognized from the Malesian region, of which 41 species, 3 subspecies and 3 varieties are described as new, and 3 new combinations are made for varieties. 22 species names and 15 variety names are reduced to synonyms. Ten species names and 2 varieties are treated as dubious mainly because their types cannot be traced. Additionally, 11 species are further excluded from Lasianthus. All species are described and a key to Malesian Lasianthus is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyperus pertenuis Roxb. is re-instated as a separate species based on specimens previously assigned to C. scariosus. The distribution range of C. scariosus is redefined. The typification of both species is clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed morphological study of specimens of Lobelia sect. Rhynchopetalum from Malesia revealed that this material could be divided into five species, all endemic to the region: L. philippinensis (three subspecies) and L. proctorii, endemic to the Philippines; L. sulawesiensis, sp. nov., endemic to Sulawesi; L. sumatrana, endemic to Sumatera; and L. eryliae, with one subspecies in the Philippines and the other in Sulawesi. A key is provided for distinguishing these taxa and each is described fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicoelia was always considered to be a monotypic genus. Typical are the hooded (cucullate) petals that form cavities in which juvenile thecae of adjacent stamens are protected. Specimens of Sumatra appear to represent a new species. The Sumatran specimens have stipules that fall slightly later and they show morphological differences in the pistillate petals, pistillode, columella and hilum. Newly described structures are disc glands (thought to be absent), probably not functional, but present in the flowers of both sexes and a gynophore in the pistillate flowers. Dicoelia is considered as a member of the Phyllanthaceae conforming with the latest molecular phylogenetic results; a classification that agrees with the presence of two ovules per locule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt is made to discover the identity and correct name for Uvaria tripetala Roxb., Uvaria tripetala Blanco, Phaeanthus nutans Hook. f. & Thomson and Uvaria ophthalmica Roxb. ex G. Don (Annonaceae). It is concluded that all but one belong to what has been called Phaeanthus ebracteolatus (C. Presl) Merr., which must now be referred to correctly as Phaeanthus ophthalmicus (Roxb. ex G. Don) J. Sinclair. The correct name for the species that has generally been called Phaeanthus nutans or Phaeanthus ophthalmicus is Phaeanthus intermedius (P. Parm.) I. M. Turner & Veldkamp. Typification of these names and their known synonyms is presented. This includes four new lectotypifications and the designation of two new epitypes and one new neotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Endospermum (Euphorbiaceae) in the Malay Archipelago (Malesia) comprises eight rather than the 10 species recognised in the latest revision by Schaeffer in 1971. Endospermum banghamii and E. ronaldii are synonymised with E. quadriloculare. The diagnostic characters for the genus are briefly discussed with special emphasis given to the myrmecophytic characters. The phylogenetic analysis, based on morphological characters (11 vegetative and 12 reproductive), resulted in a single, most parsimonious cladogram with bootstrap support only for the genus. The historical biogeographic analysis, used to evaluate the cladogram, showed that two species are placed in an unexpected position in the phylogeny, which means that the morphology-based cladogram may be reliable to a large extent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study that revised Clerodendum in Borneo and presented a key to the 23 taxa recognized. It dispelled confusion surrounding application of certain names and species circumscriptions. It introduced two combinations, Clerodendrum japonicum var. bethuneanum and Clerodendrum pubiflorum.

The article offers corrective notes on the Malesian members of the genus Ficus. It re-instates Ficus gibbsiae and F. laevicarpa and alters the description of F. benguetensis and F. macilenta. It also re-evaluates and subdivides F. fistulosa and presents a key to the species found in the Philippines. In addition, it validates F. peninsula and F. prasinicarpa, and replaces F. cuneata with F. cuneiformis.

The species within Rhododendron sect. Schistanthe (= sect. Vireya), a taxon unique for its tropical habitat, distinctive leaf scales, and tailed seeds, have diversified greatly in morphological features. The section contains over 300 species, occurring mainly on the Malay Peninsula, New Guinea, and the islands between. An analysis based on the combined sequences of three nuclear genes supports a phylogeny in which sect. Schisranthe (less R. santapaui) is rnonophyletic, with well-defined clades corresponding to subsections Euvireya, Malayovireya, Pseudovireya, and Discovireya. Within subsect. Euvireya, molecular-phylogenetic groupings follow geography more closely than traditional taxonomic groupings based upon morphology. One of the two most derived clades contains exclusively species from New Guinea, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. The results are consistent with a stepwise phylogeographic history of sect. Schistanthe, beginning in Asia, proceeding eastward and reaching New Guinea within the last 15 Ma, when movement of the Australian tectonic plate brought New Guinea into the Malesian domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical high mountain forests in Lore Lindu National Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia, were described by their floristic composition and the importance of tree families (Family importance values, FIV), based on tree inventories conducted on 4 plots (each 0.24 ha) in old-growth forest stands at c. 1800 and 2400 m a.s.l. (mid- and upper montane elevations). To identify general patterns and regional peculiarities of the forests in the SE Asian and SW Pacific context, the biogeography of the tree species was analysed using distribution records. Out of the total of 87 tree species, only 18 species were found at both elevational zones. The discovery of new species and new distribution records (28% of the data set) highlights the deficiencies in the taxonomic and distribution data for Sulawesi. Sulawesi endemism rate was 20%. In the mid-montane Fagaceae-Myrtaceae forests, Lithocarpus spp. (Fagaceae) were overall important (4 spp. occupying around half of the total basal area) and the Myrtaceae the most species rich (8 spp.), thus showing typical features of Malesian montane forests. The upper montane conifer-Myrtaceae forest contained several high mountain tree taxa and showed affinity to the forests of New Guinea. The mountain flora comprised both eastern and western Malesian elements, with the nearest neighbouring islands Borneo and Maluku both sharing species with Sulawesi, reflecting the complex palaeogeography of the island. A separate analysis showed the mid-montane forest to possess greatest biogeographical affinity to Borneo/western Malesia, and the upper montane forest had a number of typical elements of Papuasia/eastern Malesia and the Phillipines, which may be a result of historical patterns in land connection and the emergence of mountain ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Medusanthera (Stemonuraceae, Icacinaceae s.l.) is revised; eight species are recognised. Three new species are described and illustrated: Medusanthera megistocarpa Utteridge from New Guinea, M. howardii Utteridge from Fiji, and M. malayana Utteridge from Peninsular Malaysia. A key to the genus is given, and descriptions, conservation ratings, and distribution maps provided for each species; a list of exsiccatae is supplied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Flueggea plants species native to Malesia, a region that covers countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. There are 3 species of Flueggea that have been discovered where Flueggea gracilis in West Malesia and Flueggea flexuosa in East Malesia are little trees, while Flueggea virosa is a shrub located in Papua New Guinea and Australia. Flueggea plants have several functions including production of tanning products and black dyes, fish poison, and treating diarrhoea.

The Ganitrus group of Elaeocarpus L. (incl. Elaeocarpus Sect. Ptilanthus Schltr.) as found in Malesia is examined and some understanding reached. The group is more complex and speciose in eastern Malesia, especially in Papuasia (with the Philippines, Sulawesi and Maluku somewhat less rich) than in western and central Malesia. E. angustifolius Blume (syn. E. ganitrus & E. sphaericus auctt. mult.) - the source of the ornamental beads known as rudraksha of eastern commerce, from which malas or rosaries are made - is considered to be very variable in Malesia and probably varies further in the extremes of its range; outside Malesia the Ganitrus group is represented by ' E. angustifolius s.l.' only. The following species are recognised: E. altisectus Schltr. with a new subsp. carrii Coode from New Guinea; E. angustifolius Blume; E. avium Coode sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. buderi Coode; E. dolichostylus Schltr. with E. chloranthus treated as var. chloranthus (A. C. Sm.) Coode from New Guinea, with a new var. elliptifolius Coode from the Talaud/Sangihe Is. and a new var. hentyi Coode (replacing and re-interpreting subsp. collinus Coode) from New Guinea; E. fulvus Elmer; E. kaniensis Schltr.; E. ornatus Coode sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. osiae Coode sp. nov. from Bougainville I.; E. ptilanthus Schltr.; E. ramiflorus Merr. and E. trichopetalus Merr. & Quisumb. - a total of 12 species although the last two are perhaps not truly distinct from E. angustifolius. The stone sculpturing is discussed and some useful characters revealed. Attention is drawn to a collection from mid-altitude in Papua New Guinea, inadequately known but probably a new species in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platea malayana Utteridge is described and illustrated as a new species from the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia; notes on its conservation status and taxonomic affinities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species delimitation in Scaphium (Sterculioideae, Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae) has been problematic and has led to confusion in identification of species. The genus was last revised in 1953 and at that time comprised four species. Since then five new species have been published. This revision of Scaphium recognises eight species, with other names being accounted for in synonymy or by exclusion from the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stemonurus corrugatus Utteridge & Schori is described and illustrated as a new species from Sarawak, Malaysia. The new species is similar to S. grandifolius, S. scorpioides, and S. umbellatus, and morphological differences among the taxa are discussed. A distribution map and notes on the new species’ conservation status are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight genera and approximately 55 species of Marantaceae occur in Asia. Until recently these were the most poorly understood members of the family, but over the last few years much progress have been made in understanding their alpha taxonomy and distribution. Generic delimitation and phylogenetic relationships between genera, however, remain unclear. We analysed phylogenetic relationships in Asian Marantaceae using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis of plastid ( rps16 intron) and nuclear [internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and 5S-non-transcribed spacer (NTS)] DNA sequence data. The results show that two Asian genera, Halopegia and Stachyphrynium, are well-defined monophyletic entities that should be maintained in their current form. Schumannianthus virgatus is sister to Halopegia and should be transferred to a genus of its own. Phacelophrynium, Monophrynium and Cominsia are nested within a paraphyletic Phrynium. Within this large clade, a number of geographically focused monophyletic species groups can be identified, in some cases corroborated by flower and fruit characters not previously emphasized in taxonomic studies, but these do not provide a useful framework for a revised generic classification. A revised generic classification of Asian Marantaceae is supplied, including the description of a new genus Indianthus Suksathan & Borchs. to which S. virgatus is transferred. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159, 381–395. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptions and information about 26 species of Strobilanthes Blume are provided. Sixteen species are described as new: Strobilanthes bilabiata J. R. I. Wood, S. fragrans J. R. I. Wood and S. trichantha J. R. I. Wood from Thailand, S. borii J. R. I. Wood and S. parvifolia J. R. I. Wood from India, S. chrysodelta, J. R. I. Wood, S. muratae J. R. I. Wood, S. ramulosa J. R. I. Wood, S. tanakae J. R. I. Wood and S. wardiana J. R. I. Wood from Burma, S. disparifolia J. R. I. Wood from Laos, S. fusca J. R. I. Wood from the Philippines, S. longipedunculata Terao ex J. R. I. Wood from Vietnam, S. longistaminea J. R. I. Wood and S. pusilla J. R. I. Wood from Indonesia and S. orientalis J. R. I. Wood from East Timor. Species placed in Aechmanthera Nees and Sericocalyx Bremek. are transferred to Strobilanthes, resulting in the new name Strobilanthes sulewesiana J. R. I. Wood for Sericocalyx collina Bremek. and the new combinations Strobilanthes tomentosa (Nees) J. R. I. Wood, Strobilanthes celebica (Bremek.) J. R. I. Wood and Strobilanthes schomburgkii (Craib) J. R. I. Wood for the species hitherto known respectively as Aechmanthera gossypina (Wall.) Nees, Sericocalyx celebicus Bremek. and S. schomburgkii (Craib) Bremek. The new combinations Strobilanthes barisanensis (Bremek.) J. R. I. Wood and S. persicifolia (Lindl.) J. R. I. Wood are made, the latter based on an earlier name for the relatively well-known S. anisiphylla (G. Lodd.) T. Anderson. Kjellbergia celebica Bremek. is renamed Strobilanthes kjellbergii J. R. I. Wood. Some 22 species are illustrated with line drawings for the first time. Pollen of 16 species is illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. The more widespread species are mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyrtostachys Blume (Areceae: Arecaceae) is treated in this study as a genus of tree palms with a disjunct distribution pattern across Malesia and consisting of seven species. Three species are newly recognised ( C. bakeri Heatubun, C. barbata Heatubun and C. excelsa Heatubun). Five previously accepted species ( C. brassii Burret , C. kisu Becc. , C. microcarpa Burret , C. peekeliana Becc. and C. phanerolepis Burret) are reduced to synonymy with C. loriae Becc. and one species ( C. compsoclada Burret) is removed to Heterospathe as Heterospathe compsoclada (Burret) Heatubun, while C. ledermanniana Becc. is considered as a doubtful taxon. A determination key is presented and detailed descriptions provided for all taxa. A phylogenetic analysis of all species in the genus was performed based on morphological data. Despite the poorly resolved tree topologies, Cyrtostachys is resolved as monophyletic, with C. glauca H. E. Moore as sister to all other species, and the west Malesian species C. renda Blume probably representing a dispersal from within a Papuasian clade into the Sunda shelf. Natural history observations, including uses and conservation status are also presented in this monograph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Nepenthes L., N. attenboroughii (Nepenthaceae), from Palawan Island in the Philippines, is described and illustrated. It is restricted to rocky, ultramafic soils that comprise the summit region of Mount Victoria, Municipality of Narra, where it occurs in isolation from other members of the genus. On the basis of the morphological features, this new taxon appears to be related to both N. mira Jebb & Cheek of Palawan and N. rajah Hook.f. of Borneo. Its substantial size places it among the largest of known pitcher plants. The diagnostic morphological characters are discussed and an updated key is provided for a revised complex of Nepenthes species from the Palawan and North Borneo phytogeographical region. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159, 195–202. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Distinct centres of endemism are indicated by high concentrations of endemic genera. • These are significant with respect to patterns of general botanical collections. • Most important abiotic correlates are annual precipitation, past climate stability. • The significance of lowland northwest Borneo for plant endemism is reaffirmed. Identifying areas of high value for biodiversity and understanding their potential environmental correlates is a critical task useful for prioritising conservation attention as natural habitats continue to be threatened. The distributions of species of 65 plant genera endemic to Borneo were mapped and modelled to examine where they are concentrated in centres of endemism, taking into consideration the historical unevenness in general botanical collecting. Overlapping distributions indicate that the areas richest in species of endemic genera are found especially in the lowland forests of northwest Borneo. In comparison, endemic species from selected non-endemic genera are concentrated in upland areas such as the central mountain chain and Mount Kinabalu. Spatial regression models show that species richness of the endemic genera is negatively correlated with historical climate instability and present-day precipitation seasonality but positively correlated with present-day annual precipitation, temperature seasonality, number of rivers and number of geological types. Centres of plant endemism revealed by the endemic genera, a distinctive subset of Borneo's endemic species, reaffirm the critical importance of lowland forest habitats in Borneo for plant diversity and endemism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The relationships of the microsoroid ferns were studied using a DNA sequence-based phylogenetic approach. Nucleotide sequences for up to four chloroplast genome regions were assembled for 107 samples from 87 species. Microsoroids s.l. include six lineages of which two are species rich. The results indicate that several genera are not monophyletic (e.g. Microsorum), several controversial genera are confirmed to be monophyletic (e.g. Leptochilus), and some genera new to science should be recognized (M. membranaceum clade). Unique insights were gained into the biogeographic history of this highly diverse epiphytic vascular plant lineage that is widespread in continental Asia to Australasia. Evidence was found for splits into lineages diversifying in parallel in continental Asia and Malesia. No evidence was recovered for an African radiation because all African microsoroid species either also are found in Asia or have sister species in continental Asia. In contrast, evidence for independent radiations were discovered for the Australasian region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phylogenetic relationships of the SE Asiatic genus Christiopteris were explored by comparative analysis of sequence variation of four chloroplast genome regions that were successfully used in previous phylogenetic studies of Polypodiaceae. This small genus is nested within the drynarioid ferns, as recovered with good support by each of the methods applied to reconstruct the phylogeny, including maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood. The placement of Christiopteris within drynarioids enhances the need of a new generic classification for these ferns because Dynaria is paraphyletic in its current circumscription. Two alternative classifications are discussed. The results also support the hypotheses that leaf differentiation into litre collectors and trophosporophylls is an autapomorphy of drynarioid ferns and that SE Asia is the putative ancestral area for drynarioid and selligueoid ferns. Two clades of drynarioid ferns colonized Eastern Malesia independently, but only one of these colonization events created species endemic to New Guinea. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157, 645–656. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article characterizes the genus Alchornea in the Malay Archipelago and Thailand. According to the authors, the genus is comprised of only five species and not 11 as recognized by current literature. The authors reveal that they can be divided into two groups, with one group called Cladodes and the other Stipellaria. The characteristics of each group are discussed.

1. The identification of spatial patterns of species richness at regional scales, such as biodiversity hotspots, is complicated in invertebrate taxa (particularly those from tropical regions) by incomplete and biased inventory data. Estimation techniques of regional species richness from incompletely sampled landscapes have recently become available, but their applicability to data from museum collections and local taxonomic checklists has not been investigated. 2. We use records of sphingid moths in grid cells of 1° latitude and longitude on 14 Malesian islands to estimate the total species richness of these islands, as well as that of the whole archipelago, by five parametric and nonparametric estimation techniques. We compare these values to figures based on GIS-supported estimates of geographical ranges of each species. 3. Our analyses suggest that the F3 estimator of regional species richness leads to least deviation from the GIS-based estimate, followed by Chao2 and ICE, which are often employed in local comparisons. Overestimation occurred more often than underestimation and estimates of well-sampled islands (with many available grid cells) are less deviant than those of poorly sampled islands. We did not obtain conclusive results as to whether strongly undersampled grid cells are better excluded from an analysis (at the cost of reduced grid cell number) or not. 4. Synthesis and applications. In agreement with some previously published assessments, we conclude that the F3 estimator has the greatest potential for predicting regional species richness in partially sampled landscapes. Sample-based methods for estimating regional species richness can provide an alternative to the much more work-intensive geographical modelling of species distributions, which may facilitate the inclusion of tropical invertebrate groups in documenting global diversity patterns. However, under conditions of incomplete, non-systematic sampling, which is typical for museum and checklist data, errors can still be large, particularly if the number of sampling units (e.g. grid cells) is low. Estimation values should not be interpreted uncritically when the data conditions that lead to biased values are not precisely defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This analysis of moth (Lepidoptera) communities colonizing an alien tree invading secondary rain forest vegetation in Melanesia examines the predictability of insect herbivorous communities across distances of tens to thousands of km and the effect of dispersal barriers on community composition in the tropics. Location Six secondary rain forest sites were studied within four equidistant yet distinct geographic areas of the New Guinea mainland and the Bismarck Archipelago, including two watershed areas (Madang and Sepik) on mainland New Guinea and the adjacent large island of New Britain and small island of Unea. Methods The analysis is based on feeding records obtained by quantitative sampling and rearing of caterpillars from the alien host Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae). It examines the variation in Lepidoptera community composition at six study sites distributed on three adjacent islands ranging in size from 30 to 865,000 km2. Results Spathodea campanulata was colonized by 54 folivorous species of Lepidoptera. Most of them were generalists, feeding on > 1 native plant family. However, the three most abundant species representing 83% of all individuals ( Acherontia lachesis, Hyblaea puera complex and Psilogramma menephron) were relatively host specific, feeding predominantly on a single native family that is not the Bignoniaceae. Most of the 23 species analysed in detail had a wide geographic distribution, including 13 species spanning the entire 1000-km study transect. While the Lepidoptera in two New Guinea areas 280 km apart were similar to each other, there was a discontinuity in species composition between New Guinea and the smaller islands. However, no negative effect of small islands on species richness was detected. Main conclusions Spathodea campanulata was rapidly colonized by folivorous Lepidoptera communities with species richness and dominance structure indistinguishable from the assemblages feeding on native hosts, despite its phylogenetic isolation from the native vegetation. Although most species were generalists, the highest population densities were reached by relatively specialized species, similar to the communities on native hosts. The species turnover across distances from 10 to 1000 km was relatively low as most of the species had wide geographic ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We tested various species-level traits for their potential to explain species’ range sizes and dispersal abilities. Location Southeast Asia and Malay Archipelago. Methods We used published maps of geographical distribution estimates for sphingid moths to calculate range areas and classify species according to their dispersion across (present or historical) water straits in the Malay Archipelago. We tested forewing length (FWL), wing load (thorax width/FWL), presence or absence of a functional proboscis (i.e. adult feeding), larval diet breadth and larval diet composition for univariate correlations with range size and inter-island dispersion. We used multivariate, phylogenetically controlled models to test for independent effects of parameters. Results Range size correlated strongly with larval diet breadth, a result that was also confirmed in the multivariate model. Adult feeding had a significant impact on range sizes only within the multivariate model, but not in the univariate correlation. Dispersal class also correlated with larval diet breadth, but was additionally influenced by forewing length, wing load and larval diet composition. A univariate effect of adult feeding became non-significant in the multivariate, phylogenetically controlled model. Main conclusions Larval diet breadth is the best predictor of range size as well as inter-island dispersion, confirming the importance of niche breadth on the geographic ranges of species. A number of other factors are shown to have additional impact on predictions of range size or inter-island dispersal ability. Our analyses cannot determine the causal mechanisms of these correlations, but may stimulate further research on the adaptive significance of traits affecting range size and dispersal in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revised classification of the species of Cyathocalyx (Annonaceae) occurring in western Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo) is presented, with distribution maps. Fifteen species are recognized, including two that are newly described from Borneo ( C. angustipetalus and C. magnifructus), which are illustrated. Several important nomenclatural changes are validated, including the elevation of Drepananthus carinatus var. deltoideus to specific rank as C. deltoideus, and the transfer of the name Parartabotrys hexagynus to Cyathocalyx as C. hexagynus. Other notable nomenclatural changes include the reduction of the name C. scortechinii to synonymy with C. pubescens. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 152, 513–532. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Vireya rhododendrons are distinctive and easily recognizable by their general form; however, they are virtually circumscribed geographically, predominantly distributed throughout the biogeographically intriguing Malesian Archipelago. Hypotheses of the evolutionary relationships of the group have been proposed but the biogeography of vireyas has not been analysed based on molecular phylogeny. Recently, the first detailed molecular phylogenetic investigation of section Vireya was completed based on cp- and nrDNA sequence data, therefore making this cladistic biogeographic study of vireya rhododendrons possible. Location Malesia, Australia, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Himalayas, north Vietnam and south China. Methods Based on distribution maps, areas of endemism were determined for the biogeographic region of Malesia. Area relationships were analysed based on a recent molecular phylogeny of species in section Vireya. The method of paralogy-free subtree analysis was applied. Results Individual distribution maps were produced for 74 species of Rhododendron section Vireya. Species clades with bootstrap support proved to be biogeographically informative. Major clades correspond to three regions: eastern Malesia, western/middle Malesia and Taiwan/north Vietnam/south China. Within eastern Malesia, Australia, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands are related. In western Malesia, northern Philippines, Borneo, southern Moluccas and north and west Sulawesi are related. These areas are more distantly related to Sumatra, the Malay peninsula, Java, Bali, Palawan, Lesser Sunda islands and the southern Philippines. The position of the Himalayas is equivocal and part of a basal polytomy in the summary area cladogram. Main conclusions Two alternative hypotheses are proposed for the evolution of vireya rhododendrons based on the pattern of area relationships. The first hypothesis is that the vireyas are an old group, with ancestors present on Gondwana, rifting north in the Cretaceous. The second alternative hypothesis is that vireyas are a young group that has dispersed eastwards from India to Australia and the Solomon Islands since the current Malesian islands formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships of the three species of Microsorum occurring in New Zealand, M. novae-zealandiae, M. pustulatum, and M. scandens, were explored using evidence from four chloroplast genomic markers: rbcL, rps4, rps4-trnS intergenic spacer, and trnL-F intergenic spacer. All three species were nested in a strongly supported lecanopteroid clade together with the ant-fern genus Lecanopteris and several species accepted as belonging to the polyphyletic genus Microsorum. M. scandens is sister to M. varians from New Caledonia, and in turn both are sister to M. linguiforme. M. novae-zealandiae and M. pustulatum form a clade together with the New Caledonian endemic M. viellardii. Support from morphological features is discussed, as is the possibility of a diversification of the lecanopteroids in Eastern Malesia and/or adjacent areas to the south after the collision of Australia and south-east Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Platycerium is one of the few pantropical epiphytic fern genera with six species in Afro-Madagascar, 8–11 Australasian species, and a single species in tropical South America. Nucleotide sequences of four chloroplast DNA markers are employed to reconstruct the phylogeny of these ferns and to explore their historical biogeography. The data set was designed to resolve conflicting hypotheses on the relationships within the genus that were based on previous phylogenetic studies exploring morphological evidence. Our results suggest a basal split of Platycerium into two well-supported clades. One clade comprises species occurring in Africa, Madagascar, and South America, whereas the second clade contains exclusively Australasian species. The latter clade is further divided into a clade corresponding to P. bifurcatum and its putative segregates and a clade of seven species occurring from Indochina throughout the Malesian region to New Guinea and Australia. The Afro-Madagascan clade includes a clade of two species found in tropical Africa and a clade of four species that includes three species endemic to Madagascar. The single neotropical species of this genus, P. andinum, is nested within the Afro-Madagascan clade but is not closely related to any extant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis of caterpillar (Lepidoptera) beta-diversity between tropical lowlands and highlands attempts to separate the effects of between-site (1) turnover of herbivore species on particular host plants, (2) changes in host use by herbivores, and (3) turnover of plant species on changes in herbivore assemblages. Two rain forest areas 130 km and 1700 altitudinal metres apart were studied in Papua New Guinea: one in the lowlands (100 m a.s.l.) on the northern coast of the island and one in the central New Guinean cordillera at 1800 m a.s.l. The analysis is based on caterpillar feeding records obtained by quantitative sampling and rearing of caterpillars from four Ficus species studied in the mountains and 21 Ficus species and 62 plant species from other genera and families studied in the lowlands, including three Ficus species studied in both areas. Only 17% of species feeding on Ficus in the highlands also occurred in the lowlands. These species represented 1–46% of individuals in caterpillar assemblages on particular Ficus hosts. Widespread species included both Ficus specialists and generalists feeding on numerous plant families. Some of the Ficus specialists changed their preferred host species with altitude. High species turnover was not explained by changes in the species composition of host plants with altitude as lowland and montane assemblages feeding on the same Ficus species showed high turnover. Despite the rarity of widespread caterpillars, the lowland and montane Ficus assemblages were remarkably similar in their dominance structure, species richness, host specificity, generic composition and familial composition. Ficus-feeding Lepidoptera assemblages between tropical lowlands and highlands are characterized by substantial species turnover not explained by altitudinal changes in the composition of the vegetation. Further, species-rich plant genera can support caterpillar assemblages with relatively low beta-diversity compared with species-poor genera as caterpillars can switch their host preferences from one congeneric host species to another along an altitudinal gradient. Closely related plant species can thus represent a broad, continuously distributed resource along such gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim A comparison of biodiversity patterns within Malesia in relation to surface area. Location Analysis of the patterns in species richness and endemism of vascular plants in the five major Malesian islands, i.e. Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Borneo and New Guinea. Methods Available data on species richness and species ranges in correlation with the surface area of the respective islands were examined in this work. Estimations of total species numbers for these islands are presented based on extrapolation of all available published Flora Malesiana information and recent checklists, all in all comprising 12,000 different species. The regression analysis of overall species richness and endemism were studied for all species together as well as for different plant families to compare the fit with the Arrhenius species-area model. Results The five islands form a series of independent areas of increasing size suited for an analysis of the species-area relationships at the regional scale. All species taken together and those of families with even distribution throughout Malesia show significant species-area relationships. Non-significant relationships were detected in families with western or eastern-centred Malesian distribution patterns. Relationships between number of endemic species and surface area are significant for all species and for the majority of the families with significant species-area relationships. Main conclusions Species-area relationships of families appear to be dependent on species number. Families with high numbers of species usually have a significant species-area relationship whereas small families have not. For the families that display an eastern or western Malesian centred pattern, a historical biogeographical explanation should be invoked. Island surface area appears to be a predictor for island percent endemism in Malesian vascular plants. None of the islands appears to be a hotspot of endemism nor of species diversity, as no significant departure from the Arrhenius model was noted for any of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized a plant–caterpillar food web from secondary vegetation in a New Guinean rain forest that included 63 plant species (87.5% of the total basal area), 546 Lepidoptera species and 1679 trophic links between them. The strongest 14 associations involved 50% of all individual caterpillars while some links were extremely rare. A caterpillar randomly picked from the vegetation will, with≥ 50% probability, (1) feed on one to three host plants (of the 63 studied), (2) feed on< 20% of local plant biomass and (3) have≥ 90% of population concentrated on a single host plant species. Generalist species were quantitatively unimportant. Caterpillar assemblages on locally monotypic plant genera were distinct, while sympatric congeneric hosts shared many caterpillar species. The partitioning of the plant–caterpillar food web thus depends on the composition of the vegetation. In secondary forest the predominant plant genera were locally monotypic and supported locally isolated caterpillar assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of Goniothalamus (Annonaceae) occurring in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are revised, updating the previous taxonomic treatment by James Sinclair, published in 1955. A total of 18 species is recognized, including a new species, G. tomentosus. Collections referrable to G. tomentosus were previously determined as 'G. marcanii'; examination of the types of G. marcanii reveals that the two taxa are not conspecific, however, and a new name is accordingly validated here. Goniothalamus tomentosus has closest affinities with the Javan/Sumatran species G. costulatus. Other important nomenclatural changes include the reduction of G. umbrosus to synonymy with G. tapis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Maesa (Primulaceae-Maesoideae) is described from Indonesian New Guinea. Maesa megistophylla is unique in the genus in the combination of the very long elliptic leaves, and racemes with subsessile flowers. The species is illustrated, taxonomic affinities are discussed, and is assessed as Data Deficient according to the criteria of IUCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alphonsea rugosa sp. nov. is described from eastern Peninsular Malaysia. It is similar to Alphonsea elliptica but has fruits that are dry wrinkled and glabrous rather than smooth and tomentose. A conservation assessment of Vulnerable based on collections from four locations is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]