Morphology of the dentary bone in pycnodonts (Actinopterygii) and related taxonomic and phylogenetic implications

The Cimicidae (Hemiptera) are known to be blood ectoparasites primarily on birds and bats. Three species of the subfamily Haematosiphoninae are known from Argentina: Acanthocrios furnarii, Ornithocoris toledoi, and Psitticimex uritui; all feed on diverse avian hosts. The chromosome number and male meiosis of A. furnarii, and P. uritui from new Argentinean samples are analyzed and compared with previous data. The sample of A. furnarii described by Ueshima (1966) with 2n = 32 + XY (male), strikingly differs from the present results (2n = 10 + XY, male). The diploid number of P. uritui agree with the previously reported by Ueshima (1966), 2n = 28 + X 1 X 2 Y (male). Taxonomical implications about the identity of A. furnarii are discussed and the mechanisms of the karyotype evolution of species belonging to Haematosiphoninae are proposed.

The knowledge of northern South American Glyptodontidae (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata) is very scarce compared with that of southern South American taxa, which have been systematically studied since the 19th century. Recently, the northern taxa (originally assigned to the Glyptodontidae Propalaehoplophorinae Asterostemma and Propalaehoplophorus) have been reinterpreted as basal Glyptodontinae, belonging to the new genus Boreostemma. In this contribution, we present and describe the most complete Neogene Glyptodontidae from northern South America (middle Miocene of the Honda Group, La Venta, Colombia), and its main taxonomic, paleobiogeographic, and phylogenetic implications. This new material expands the morphological characterization of B. acostae and corroborates differences compared with Glyptodontidae from Miocene southern South America. A cladistic analysis corroborates the monophyly of the Glyptodontinae, that B. acostae and B. venezolensis being the sister group of the remaining taxa of Glyptodontinae. The traditionally recognized genera (e.g., Glyptodon and Glyptotherium) constitute natural groups. Whereas the Miocene seems to represent a diversification period for Glyptodontidae in southern South America, the recorded taxa in northern South America are restricted with certainty only to the Glyptodontinae Boreostemma.

In Croatia and the surrounding area, the genus Iris is represented with about 20 Alpine-Dinaric, Mediterranean and Pannonian taxa from the subgenera Iris and Limniris. We researched pollen morphology of all taxa by using scanning electron microscopy. All pollen grains are sulcate with few palynological features, which could have taxonomic importance on different classification levels: shape of dry pollen grains; shape, outline and approximate size of hydrated pollen grains, approximate size of the sulcus, and ornamentation of the sulcus membrane and of the exine. At least four pollen types were recognised and taxonomically delimited to the series level: two characterise the subgenus Iris, section Iris (series Elatae and Pumilae), and two the subgenus Limniris, section Limniris (series Laevigatae, Sibiricae and Spuriae). Taxonomic implications of pollen morphology of their critical groups and taxa have been evaluated. Possible phylogenetic implications of pollen morphology of the genus Iris on the Southern European area were suggested: the subgenus Iris is more advanced than the subgenus Limniris; I. graminea seems to be the most primitive member of the subgenus Limniris on the Southern European territory; and pollen morphology of the population of the subspecies I. sibirica subsp. erirrhiza from the Mountain Bjelolasica could represent a link between the subgenera Limniris and Iris in the territory of Southern Europe. The possible pathway of evolution of the genus Iris on the territory of Southern Europe was suggested: from the subgenus Limniris, through the “linked taxon” I. sibirica subsp. erirrhiza from the Bjelolasica Mountain, to the subgenus Iris, series Pumilae, and finally to the series Elatae.

Pantanal flood pulse reveals constitutive and plastic features of two wild rice species (Poaceae, Oryzoideae): implications for taxonomy, systematics, and phylogenetics

A molecular survey concerning the origin of Cyperus esculentus (Cyperaceae, Poales): two sides of the same coin (weed vs. crop).

The morphology of the slender, filiform spermatozoa of 13Protodrilus species of 22 different populations is investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. All species have two types of spermatoza: fertile euspermatozoa, and paraspermatozoa, which are probably infertile and may comprise up to 20% of the total number of mature gametes. This is the first record of sperm dimorphism in polychaetes. The general construction pattern of the euspermatozoa is very complex. It shows a longish tapering acrosomal vesicle with an internal acrosomal rod, a rod-like conical nucleus, and a midpiece with numerous very complex supporting elements and two thin mitochondrial derivatives. Further, it has a ‘peribasal body’ surrounding the basal body of the axoneme, an anulus region with an ‘anchoring apparatus’ and an anulus cuff. Posteriorly, the tail region proper contains in some species 2 to 9 supporting rods. In several species the euspermatozoon shows very distinct and species-specific alternations of this ‘general pattern’ relating to e.g. size of sperm elements, structure of acrosome and nucleus, presence or absence of axial rod, and number, shape and size of supporting elements in midpiece and tail. In a number of species some sections of the euspermatozoon overlap with each other more or less strongly. The paraspermatozoon has a comparatively simple construction pattern and possesses no supporting structures in midpiece and tail region. The midpiece is very short and, in some species, entirely surrounded by its two thin and elongate mitochondrial derivatives. An axial rod is often missing or reduced; different sperm sections never overlap each other. In contrast to the euspermatozoa, the paraspermatozoa of the different species have a very similar ultrastructure. Their possible function in spermatophore transfer and histolytical opening of the female epidermis is discussed. A comparison of the different forms of euspermatozoa inProtodrilus elucidates possible plesiomorphous and apomorphous sperm traits. Very likely, the hypothetical plesiomorphous type of spermatozoa inProtodrilus has a very similar morphology to that of the paraspermatozoa, which for this reason are considered to be a sort of persisting representatives of the ancientProtodrilus sperm type. InProtodrilus, the different traits of the euspermatozoa represent excellent taxonomic characters for distinguishing species (e.g. ‘sibling species’). They can also be used well for phylogenetics within the genus, whereas the relations ofProtodrilus to other polychaete groups cannot be clarified solely on the basis of sperm characters, since in all groups the sperm structure is primarily an adaptation to a specific mode of reproduction. Generally, the value of sperm characters in phylogenetic considerations at higher taxonomic levels seems to be very limited due to the surprisingly wide range of different sperm structures within a single genus as is demonstrated in the present paper.

Most recent studies on Lilium species have been descriptive observations based on FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) analyses or phylogenetic studies focusing on only one section without taking the evolutionary framework of Lilium into account. To better understand the taxonomic status, evolution, and karyotype diversity of the genus Lilium, we conducted FISH mapping using 35S rDNA sequences in 29 important wild Lilium species covering four sections of the genus in China. Their molecular phylogenetic relationships were analyzed based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. For 35S rDNA, the hybridization loci always existed in pairs on homologous chromosomes. The number of hybridization signals varied from 4 to 14 in diploid species, and the signals were mainly located on the proximal region of the short arm of chromosomes. Among all the sections, sect. Sinomartagon had the most 35S rDNA signals. Genotype grouping based on 35S signal loci was largely consistent with groups in the phylogenetic tree constructed using ITS sequences, and different species in a sect./subsect. shared some common molecular and cytogenetic features. The results indicated that sect. Martagon is monophyletic in a single clade; Lophophorum should be treated as a different taxon from Sinomartagon; Lilium taliense and Lilium wardii Stapf ex Stern show close molecular and cytological phylogenetic relationships; Lilium duchartrei Franch. is more distantly related to other sect. Sinomartagon species; Lilium lophophorum (Bureau & Franch.) Franch. is distinct from other Lophophorum species; Leucolirion species form two relatively independent groups (6a and 6b, with Lilium henryi Baker and Lilium rosthornii Diels in 6a); and Nomocharis-like Lilium species should be treated as a different taxon, like sect. Lophophorum. Based on previous studies and our findings, we discuss the evolutionary trends of Lilium with references to its geographical distribution. We propose that sect. Lophophorum is a relatively primitive group, and species in subsect. Leucolirion 6b may be more evolved than those in 6a. These findings provide a new reference for the taxonomy, phylogeny, and breeding of Lilium.

Low molecular weight RNA (LMW RNA; 5S rRNA and tRNAs) profiles of several Gram-positive species were generated on 9% denaturing polyacrylamide gels. The profiles of five Listeria spp. (L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. monocytogenes, L. seeligeri and L. welshimeri) were identical when cultured in three different media (APT, BHI and TSBYE), either shaken or statically, both at 30 and 37 degrees C. Twenty-six strains from 15 other species representing seven different genera were also compared. Each species exhibited a characteristic profile. Strain variants of the same species gave identical profiles. The technique represents a simple, reproducible approach to the identification of species and possibly of relationships between species. The taxonomic and phylogenetic implications, particularly with respect to Listeria spp., Brochothrix thermosphacta and the lactic acid bacteria, are considered.

Chromosome Size in Solanum and Cyphomandra: Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Implications

Pollen morphology of the<i>Maddenia</i>clade of<i>Prunus</i>and its taxonomic and phylogenetic implications

The spermatophores of Amblypygi and Uropygi are complicated structurs and vary in different species. In Mastigoproctus, the size and shape of the spermatophores prevent bastardation between M. giganteus and M. brasilianus. Taxonomic and phylogenetical implications are discussed.

We conducted a cytogenetic and molecular analysis in six out of the eight Discoglossus taxa CD. pictus pictus, D. p. auritus, D. sardus, D. montalentii, D. galganoi galganoi and D. g. jean‐neae) All the taxa possessed 2n = 28 biarmed chromosomes, except D. pictus pictus where the 13th pair was acrocentric, and the NORs were located on the short arm of the 7th pair in all the taxa but D. galganoi, where they were on the short arm of the 13th pair. Heterochromatin was detected by banding methods (C‐band‐ing, base‐specific fluorochromes, replication patterns and digestions with restriction enzymes). The techniques used were able to discriminate among all the Discoglussus taxa studied, identifying several heterochromatin families with marked differences in chromosome location and/or in the behaviour of the banding techniques used. The differentiation of these heterochromatin families can have either a phylogenetic (as is the case with A+T rich cen‐tromeric heterochromatin) or an adaptive (G+C rich interstitial heterochromatin) meaning. Heterochromatin heterogeneity was also observed at molecular level. In D. p. pictus, DNA digestions with restriction enzymes revealed several satellite DNA families. The sequence of the monomeric unit, its chromosomal location and the divergence along the other Discoglossus taxa were detected for one of these families (Hind III). The molecular data obtained confirmed the relationships suggested by other authors in Discoglossus by osteological and genetic data.

Comparative morphology of antennae in Cicadoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera), with respect to functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic implications

Tagalis matamorosae n. species and Tagalis pagu n. species are described from specimens collected in Barro Colorado (Panama) and Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), respectively. Among the species of Tagalis, both new species have coloration patterns and genital structure particularly different. Tagalis matamorosae n. species is the unique species with a gonoplac composed by a pair of sclerites, and T. pagu n. species shows the posteromedial process of pygophore with a curvature exclusive within the genus. Digital images of external morphological characters and of the genitalia are provided. To facilitate the identification of the new species, an updated key to the species of Tagalis is presented. Male genital structures along the genus and its taxonomic and phylogenetic implications are discussed.

Artemisia and its Allies: Genome Organization and Evolution and their Biosystematic, Taxonomic, and Phylogenetic Implications in the Artemisiinae and Related Subtribes (Asteraceae, Anthemideae)