Closest Species Research Articles

Neodothiora pruni sp. nov., a Biosurfactant-Producing Ascomycetous Yeast Species Isolated from Flower of Prunus mume

A yeast strain, designated as JAF-11T, was isolated from flower of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. in Gwangyang, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain JAF-11T was closely related to Neodothiora populina CPC 39399T with 2.07 % sequence divergence (12 nucleotide substitutions and three gaps in 581 nucleotides) in the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79T with 4.66 % sequence divergence (25 nucleotide substitutions and five gaps in 535 nucleotides) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Further analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the ITS region confirmed that strain JAF-11T was well-separated from Neodothiora populina CPC 39399T. In addition to the phylogenetic differences, strain JAF-11T was distinguished from its closest species, Neodothiora populina CPC 39399T and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79T belonging to the family Dothioraceae by its phenotypic characteristics, such as assimilation of carbon sources. Hence, the name Neodothiora pruni sp. nov. is proposed with type strain JAF-11T (KACC 48808T; MB 850034).

Distribution of leaflet traits across different habitats: a phylogenetically controlled test using Neotropical palms

ABSTRACT Background Traits associated with resource acquisition and use are related to current or past environmental conditions. Consequently, similar environments are occupied by closely related lineages or by different lineages that have converged to occupy them. Understanding how functional traits vary in relation to environmental gradients facilitates a more predictive ecology of the Anthropocene. Aims: We investigated whether leaflet traits of palm species are phylogenetically conserved and how this influences their distribution in the Neotropics. Methods We measured specific leaflet area (SLA) and leaf thickness in 79 Neotropical palm species. We then assessed the relationship between these variables and their distribution at different habitat type scales using phylogenetically controlled linear mixed models. Results Phylogenetically close species showed greater similarities in SLA and lower similarities in leaflet thickness than expected from their phylogenetic relationships. Species from open habitats and forest canopy species had thick leaves and low SLA, while the opposite was found for understorey species. Conclusions Phylogenetic conservatism in SLA combined with phylogenetic divergence in leaflet thickness reveals leaflet trade-off strategies in palms and is related to their distribution in the Neotropics. Anthropogenic impacts may threaten understorey species in particular, which in the long-term may cause homogenisation of palm communities and loss of functional diversity.

Genetic polymorphism of populations and phylogeny of the Central Siberian Polygonum (Polygonaceae) section using ISSR and chloroplast markers

This article is devoted to the study of genetic polymorphism of populations and phylogeny of Polygonum section using ISSR and chloroplast markers. Section Polygonum is a taxonomically complex group. Identification of individuals is complicated because of the small size of plants, the processes of interspecific hybridization, heterocarpy, phenological and ecological plasticity. In this work, the genetic variability of six populations of five knotweed species growing in Krasnoyarsk was studied. ISSR analysis revealed that the level of genetic diversity in the populations varies from 4.17 % to 35.83 % and has maximum values for genetically close species P. sabulosum (P = 35.83 %) and P. arenastrum (P = 22.5–30 %). Minimum values of genetic diversity were observed for populations of P. aviculare (P = 4.17 %) and P. calcatum (P = 5 %). The studied populations are characterized by a very high level of genetic differentiation (Gst = 0.78) and reliably belong to different species. On the similarity dendrogram (UPGMA), individuals of these species form clearly distinct clades. The genetic structure of populations using STRUCTURE also shows a reliable division of individuals into 5 clusters corresponding to the studied species. Phylogenetic analysis using the trnL-trnF chloroplast region shows the presence of a 5-nucleotide deletion and two transversions that makes it possible to divide the studied group of Polygonum into two morphologically different clusters. The first group is formed by P. arenastrum, P. calcatum, P. caspicum, P. sabulosum and characterized by the absence of a main shoot, a gradual reduction of leaves to the top of shoots and the perianth dissection by 1/2 of its length. The second group includes P. aviculare, P. boreale, P. neglectum, P rectum that have a main shoot, heterophilly, perianth dissection by 2/3–3/4 of its length. Two substitutions have been identified in the matK sequences, however it is less informative for solving taxonomic issues of the studied group.

Description of Alitta yarae sp. nov. (Annelida, Nereididae): a new oligo/mesohaline species from southern Brazil

A new species of annelid, Alitta yarae sp. nov., is described from material collected in southern Brazil. This species was collected mostly from fishing buoys but also in muddy substrates of the following estuaries: Paraná Estuary Complex, Guaratuba, and Babitonga Bay. Alitta yarae sp. nov. belongs to a group of species with pennant-shaped posterior dorsal ligules. The most similar species of this group is A. succinea, which shares glandular structures from posterior dorsal ligules on lower edge only and having yellow-amber mandibles. However, the two species differ in the extension of the bare space between areas VI and VII–VIII, which is reduced in A. yarae sp. nov. and wider in A. succinea (respectively shorter than or equal to the palpophore), and the paragnath arrangement. Molecular analysis recovered ~20% genetic distance from the closest species A. succinea and no pattern of segregation among the estuaries studied. Finally, both the morphological and the molecular analyses strongly support the designation of a new species. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2575CF46-57C9-47AE-A4C1-235189F6C107

Identification of microRNAs Derived from Transposable Elements in the Macaca mulatta (Rhesus Monkey) Genome.

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA entities that can move within the host genome. Over long periods of evolutionary time, TEs are typically silenced via the accumulation of mutations in the genome, ultimately resulting in their immobilization. However, they still play an important role in the host genome by acting as regulatory elements. They influence host transcription in various ways, one of which as the origin of the generation of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are so-called miRNAs derived from TEs (MDTEs). miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are involved in many biological processes by regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Here, we identified MDTEs in the Macaca mulatta (rhesus monkey) genome, which is phylogenetically close species to humans, based on the genome coordinates of miRNAs and TEs. The expression of 5 out of 17 MDTEs that were exclusively registered in M. mulatta from the miRBase database (v22) was examined via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, Gene Ontology analysis was performed to examine the functional implications of the putative target genes of the five MDTEs.

Hoeflea poritis sp. nov., isolated from a bleached scleractinian coral Porites lutea.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, nonmotile and yellow-pigmented bacterium designated E7-10T was isolated from a bleached scleractinian coral Porites lutea. Strain E7-10T grew with 1.0-8.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 4.0 %), at 18-41 °C (optimum, 28 °C) and at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0). Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that E7-10T formed a lineage within the genus Hoeflea, but it was distinct from the closest species 'Hoeflea prorocentri' PM5-8T, showing 98.01 % sequence similarity. The predominant cellular fatty acids of E7-10T were summed feature 8 (26.7 %), C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl (26.2 %), C16 : 0 (20.8 %) and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (17.9 %). The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids mainly comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, two glycolipids and five phospholipids. The genome size of E7-10T was 5.58 Mb with G+C content 60.27 mol%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between the genomes of strains E7-10T and PM5-8T were 19.50 and 75.95 %, respectively, which were both below the defined cutoff values (70 % and 95-96 %, respectively) for species delimitation. Thus, strain E7-10T represents a novel species within the genus Hoeflea, for which the name Hoeflea poritis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E7-10T (=JCM 35852T=MCCC 1K08229T).

The ecological functions of dung beetles are shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity

Abstract A mechanistic understanding of the relationship between multiple dimensions of species diversity and ecosystem functioning is needed to safeguard ecological processes critical to human well‐being. We evaluated how taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities, as well as the assembly mechanisms of dung beetle communities, percent forest cover and landscape fragmentation, affect dung burial, soil excavation efficiency and dung fly larvae abundance in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, a complex tropical landscape. Dung beetle functions were measured in 15 landscapes representing a gradient of forest cover loss (0%–100%). Phylogenetically clustered assemblages of large tunneler dung beetles showed the highest dung burial efficiency across the landscape. Fly larvae abundance was negatively correlated with the taxonomic diversity and functional evenness of dung beetles. Forest cover and landscape fragmentation did not significantly affect dung burial effectiveness, suggesting a high degree of functional redundancy. Dung burial efficacy is mainly driven by selection mechanisms, in which a single or a few phylogenetically close species disproportionately affect a given function. Fly larvae abundance was controlled by a complementary functional effect where each dung beetle species additively affected fly larvae survival. Hence, multiple functions are maintained by contrasting mechanisms and different diversity dimensions. High dung beetle species richness may foster pest fly control in tropical landscapes such as Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. Our findings highlight the need to assess multiple dimensions of diversity since each can operate concurrently and contrastingly on the different ecological functions of species assemblages.

Native plants change the endophyte assembly and growth of an invasive plant in response to climatic factors.

Climate change, microbial endophytes, and local plants can affect the establishment and expansion of invasive species, yet no study has been performed to assess these interactions. Using a growth chamber, we integrated the belowground (rhizosphere soils) and aboveground (mixture of mature leaf and leaf litter) microbiota into an experimental framework to evaluate the impacts of four native plants acting as microbial inoculation sources on endophyte assembly and growth of the invasive plant Ageratina adenophora in response to drought stress and temperature change. We found that fungal and bacterial enrichment in the leaves and roots of A. adenophora exhibited distinct patterns in response to climatic factors. Many fungi were enriched in roots in response to high temperature and drought stress; in contrast, many bacteria were enriched in leaves in response to low temperature and drought stress. Inoculation of microbiota from phylogenetically close native plant species (i.e., Asteraceae Artemisia atrovirens) causes the recipient plant A. adenophora (Asteraceae) to enrich dominant microbial species from inoculation sources, which commonly results in a lower dissimilar endophytic microbiota and thus produces more negative growth effects when compared to non-Asteraceae inoculations. Drought, microbial inoculation source, and temperature directly impacted the growth of A. adenophora. Both drought and inoculation also indirectly impacted the growth of A. adenophora by changing the root endophytic fungal assembly. Our data indicate that native plant identity can greatly impact the endophyte assembly and host growth of invasive plants, which is regulated by drought and temperature.IMPORTANCEThere has been increasing interest in the interactions between global changes and plant invasions; however, it remains to quantify the role of microbial endophytes in plant invasion with a consideration of their variation in the root vs leaf of hosts, as well as the linkages between microbial inoculations, such as native plant species, and climatic factors, such as temperature and drought. Our study found that local plants acting as microbial inoculants can impact fungal and bacterial enrichment in the leaves and roots of the invasive plant Ageratina adenophora and thus produce distinct growth effects in response to climatic factors; endophyte-mediated invasion of A. adenophora is expected to operate more effectively under favorable moisture. Our study is important for understanding the interactions between climate change, microbial endophytes, and local plant identity in the establishment and expansion of invasive species.

Mammillaria monochrysacantha (Cactaceae), a new endemic species from Guanajuato, Mexico

A new species of Mammillaria ser. Stylothelae is described and illustrated. Mammillaria monochrysacantha is distinguished from other species of the series by having a globose stem with fibrous roots, one single golden yellow hooked central spine, 28–32 tortuous hair-like radial spines, flowers with lanceolate pale yellow tepals, and non-arilloid seeds. We provided a comparison with other morphologically close and sympatric species of Mammillaria. The new species is endemic from the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico. We included data about its habitat and the status of conservation. Additionally, we integrated an identification key for M. ser. Stylothelae from Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro, Mexico.

A chromosome-level genome assembly provides insights into Cornus wilsoniana evolution, oil biosynthesis, and floral bud development.

Cornus wilsoniana W. is a woody oil plant with high oil content and strong hypolipidemic effects, making it a valuable species for medicinal, landscaping, and ecological purposes in China. To advance genetic research on this species, we employed PacBio together with Hi-C data to create a draft genome assembly for C. wilsoniana. Based on an 11-chromosome anchored chromosome-level assembly, the estimated genome size was determined to be 843.51Mb. The N50 contig size and N50 scaffold size were calculated to be 4.49 and 78.00Mb, respectively. Furthermore, 30 474 protein-coding genes were annotated. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that C. wilsoniana diverged from its closest species ~12.46 million years ago (Mya). Furthermore, the divergence between Cornaceae and Nyssaceae occurred >62.22Mya. We also found evidence of whole-genome duplication events and whole-genome triplication γ, occurring at ~44.90 and 115.86Mya. We further inferred the origins of chromosomes, which sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of the karyotype of C. wilsoniana. Through transcriptional and metabolic analysis, we identified two FAD2 homologous genes that may play a crucial role in controlling the oleic to linoleic acid ratio. We further investigated the correlation between metabolites and genes and identified 33 MADS-TF homologous genes that may affect flower morphology in C. wilsoniana. Overall, this study lays the groundwork for future research aimed at identifying the genetic basis of crucial traits in C. wilsoniana.

The Patterns of Intraspecific Variations in Mass of Nectar Sugar along a Phylogeny Distinguish Native from Non-Native Plants in Urban Greenspaces in Southern England.

To serve human needs, non-native species are selected based on an array of functional traits, which generally confer competitive advantages to these species in their recipient environments. Identifying non-obvious functional traits that indirectly inform human selection of non-natives to introduce into urban greenspaces is not yet part of common discussions in invasion biology. We tested whether functional traits integrated within a phylogenetic framework, may reveal those subtle criteria underlying the introduction of non-native plants into urban greenspaces. We found no differences in terms of functional traits between natives and non-natives. We also found no evidence that functional traits predict nectar production, irrespective of how nectar production was measured. Finally, we found that the mean sugar concentration of nectar per flower is evolutionarily shared both within closely related non-native plants as well as within close native plants. However, phylogenetically close species share similar intraspecific variation in mass of nectar sugar per flower, but this is true only for non-native plants, thus revealing a non-obvious selection criteria of non-native plants for urban greenspaces. Our results indicate that the phylogenetic patterns of intraspecific variation in mass of nectar sugar per flower is the major criterion distinguishing non-natives from native plants in urban greenspaces in Southern England.

Phenotypic and Genomic Characteristics of Campylobacter gastrosuis sp. nov. Isolated from the Stomachs of Pigs in Beijing.

Campylobacter is among the four main causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. Most reported Campylobacter infections are caused by C. jejuni and C. coli. However, other emerging Campylobacter pathogens have been recognized as important pathogens in humans and animals. A novel bacterial strain, PS10T, was isolated from the gastric mucous of pigs in 2022 in Beijing, China. The cell was Gram-negative, microaerobic, motile, and negative for catalase, oxidase, and urease. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and core genome indicated that this isolate belongs to the genus Campylobacter. There were low dDDH relatedness and ANI values shared within this strain and its closest species C. mucosalis below the cut-off values generally recognized for isolates of the same species. The draft genome size of PS10T is 2,240,910 bp in length with a percentage of DNA G+C contents of 37.72%. Comparing the phenotypic and phylogenetic features among this isolate and its related organisms, strain PS10T represents a novel species within the genus Campylobacter, for which the name Campylobacter gastrosuis sp. nov. (Type strain PS10T = GDMCC 1.3686T = JCM 35849T) is proposed.

Maize heat shock proteins—prospection, validation, categorization and in silico analysis of the different ZmHSP families

Among the plant molecular mechanisms capable of effectively mitigating the effects of adverse weather conditions, the heat shock proteins (HSPs), a group of chaperones with multiple functions, stand out. At a time of full progress on the omic sciences, they look very promising in the genetic engineering field, especially in order to conceive superior genotypes, potentially tolerant to abiotic stresses (AbSts). Recently, some works concerning certain families of maize HSPs (ZmHSPs) were published. However, there was still a lack of a study that, with a high degree of criteria, would fully conglomerate them. Using distinct but complementary strategies, we have prospected as many ZmHSPs candidates as possible, gathering more than a thousand accessions. After detailed data mining, we accounted for 182 validated ones, belonging to seven families, which were subcategorized into classes with potential for functional parity. In them, we identified dozens of motifs with some degree of similarity with proteins from different kingdoms, which may help explain some of their still poorly understood means of action. Through in silico and in vitro approaches, we compared their expression levels after controlled exposure to several AbSts' sources, applied at diverse tissues, on varied phenological stages. Based on gene ontology concepts, we still analyzed them from different perspectives of term enrichment. We have also searched, in model plants and close species, for potentially orthologous genes. With all these new insights, which culminated in a plentiful supplementary material, rich in tables, we aim to constitute a fertile consultation source for those maize researchers attracted by these interesting stress proteins.

ФИТОХИМИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ, РАЗРАБОТКА СОСТАВА И ТЕХНОЛОГИИ КАРАНДАШЕЙ С ЭФИРНЫМ МАСЛОМ ЛИСТЬЕВ МЯТЫ ВОДНОЙ, ПРОИЗРАСТАЮЩЕЙ НА СЕВЕРНОМ КАВКАЗЕ

The leaves of water mint growing in the Northern Caucasus were chosen as an object of research. Earlier authenticity of water mint on external and anatomo-diagnostic signs with the purpose of distinction from close species was defined. Based on the results of qualitative reactions and quantitative determination (steam distillation method) in the leaves of water mint was detected essential oil, the content of which was 1,92%. The method of ascending chromatography on paper identified flavonoids: rutin, luteolin, hyperoside. The presence of flavonoids in the raw material was confirmed by cyanidine test (by pink staining) and the formation of a yellow-green complex (with a solution of aluminum chloride (III) 2% alcohol). The spectrophotometric method determined the content of the sum of flavonoids in terms of luteolin, which was 0,72±0,05%. The method of approximate-quantitative spectral analysis analyzed the content of chemical elements from the place of preparation of leaves of water mint in Chegemsky area of KBR. The research revealed 7 trace elements as additional sources possessing antiseptic; analgesic; antipyretic; anti-inflammatory; wound-healing, etc. properties. The optimal bases (beeswax, cocoa butter, paraffin, PEO-4000, PEO-400, tween-80, lanolin, peach oil) for medical pencils with aqueous mint essential oil were selected experimentally. For this purpose, 5 compositions of pencils with a model concentration of essential oil of 2% were selected. The technology of making pencils by pouring method was developed. The estimation of smearing and sticking ability of pencils was carried out. It is established, that the best smearing and sticking ability possesses a pencil of composition №5 which has been chosen as optimum for the further researches.

Isolation, Identification, and Application of Pigment-Producing Actinobacteria from Stingless Bee Hives for Handicraft Production

Actinobacteria are distributed in natural habitats and produce a vast variety of natural pigments that are different in colour shades and applied in textile industry and others. The extracted actinobacterial pigments are used as eco-friendly natural dyes and colour and non-toxic to living organisms and environments compared with chemical or synthetic colours. In order to produce actinobacterial pigments for handicraft making, eight strains of the pigmented producing actinobacteria were isolated from stingless bee (Tetragonilla collina Smith, 1857) hives. Based on deep colour shades presented, 4 actinobacterial strains were chosen to prepare various colour for handicrafts, including yellow, violet, green, and pink. To identify actinobacterial strains selected, phylogenetic identification was carried out. The phylogenetic results indicated that strain C2 phylogenetically shared the 16S rDNA sequence 99.6 % similarity with its closest species, namely Streptomyces cellulosae. Strain C4 had the phylogenetic relationship close to Streptomyces californicus (99.9% similarity of 16S rDNA). Strain E1 was a closest member belonged to Streptomyces chartreusis (99.9% 16S rDNA sequence similarity), and strain E2 was phylogenetically closely related to Streptomyces aureoversilis with 99.2% 16S rDNA sequence similarity. To produce the handicraft colour, we cultivated four actinobacterial strains on broken-milled rice, and actinobacterial pigments were extracted using ethyl acetate. The crude extracts obtained were mixed with white flower clay that was used for handicraft making, and the artificial clay flowers were made. This study is the first to report the use of natural colours obtained from pigment-producing actinobacteria in handicrafts in Thailand and other countries. Future research will explore the application of actinobacterial pigments in various fields, including fine arts, the ceramic industry, and others.

Two new species of Onychiuridae (Collembola) from East Siberia (Russia).

Two new species of Onychiuridae (Collembola) from Buryatia (Russia, East Siberia), Supraphorura chernovae sp. nov. and Thalassaphorura transbaikalica sp. nov., are herein described and illustrated. Supraphorura chernovae sp. nov. differs from its closest species, S. furcifera (Brner, 1901), by its dorsal pso formula as 32/022/23232, presence of 1 pso on the subcoxae 1 of all legs, and a larger set of vesicles on the PAO. Thalassaphorura transbaikalica sp. nov. is most similar to T. tibiotarsalis Sun, Chen & Deharveng, 2010 by the same dorsal pso formula (32/233/33343) and presence of 7 chaetae on the distal whorl of all tibiotarsi, but differs from the latter species specially by the presence of 1 pso on the subcoxa 1 of leg 1 (T. tibiotarsalis has 2 pso), number of vesicles on the PAO (1314 vs. 1718), number of chaetae on the subcoxa 1 of legs 13 (4, 4, 4 vs. 3, 3, 3), and ratio of the empodial appendage and claw (0.80.9 vs. 0.5). After our study there are now 47 recorded species of Onychiuridae recorded from East Siberia.

Application of intergenic sequence between ND5 and ND6 as novel target for authentication and quantification of Oviductus Ranae

Oviductus Ranae (OR), dried oviducts from Rana dybowskii (RD), is a valuable food and medicine included by Chinese pharmacopeia, mainly produced in Changbai Mountain area of China. Economically motivated adulteration with oviducts from unclear species has become one of the most concerned food safety issues. Existing methods based on DNA sequencing are cost and time consuming, making them unfit for rapid authentication and quantification. Here, we developed a PCR/RT-PCR method targeting a RD specific intergenic sequence region termed IGS56 in mtDNA (Genbank NC_023528.1, 17059–17154 bp). Common primers in RD close species (F1-ND5/R1-ND6), RD specific primers (F2-IGS56/R2-ND6) and universal primers (F0–18 s/R0–18 s) were used for authentication by PCR, while RD specific primers (F3-IGS56-RT/R3-ND6-RT) and reference primers (F0–18 s-RT/R0–18 s-RT) were used for quantification by RT-PCR. For authentication, standard OR sample together with 19 batches OR samples obtained from different sites of Changbai mountain area were all identified to be RD. For RT-PCR based quantification, calibration curve with a good linear correlation (R2 =0.9915), was plotted with Ct ratio (Specificity Ct /Reference Ct) and OR percentage mixed by oviducts of R.nigromaculata. The accuracy of RT-PCR method established was verified to be high, with an average recovery rate of 106.744%.

Oxynoemacheilus marmaraensis, a new species from the Susurluk River, Türkiye (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae).

Oxynoemacheilus marmaraensis, new species, is restricted to the Susurluk River. It is distinguished from all the named species of Oxynoemacheilus in the North-western Anatolian by the flank with a vermiculate pattern and the presence of a suborbital groove in males, and no axillary lobe at base of pelvic fin. It also differs from the closest species, O. kentritensis, by 58 nucleotide substitution sites. Genetic distance is 10.49 % between O. marmaraensis and O. kentritensis. Phylogenetic analyses and species delineation tests (PTP and ASAP) support the validity of O. marmaraensis as distinct species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Synopsis of the Peruvian species of Epidendrum (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) belonging to the Scabrum group, subgroup Soratae: diversity and description of a new species

We present a synopsis of the species of the genus Epidendrum belonging to Soratae subgroup, Scabrum group in Peru. Information on their distribution, elevation ranges, phenology, and conservation status in Peru is provided. For this purpose, we conducted a review of herbarium plant material, the AMO-DATA herbarium database, and the original publications of the species. We recorded 27 species with the greatest species richness in the eastern cordillera from north to south and the highest concentration of endemic species in the central region of the Peruvian Andes. Epidendrum centralense is described and illustrated as a new species and compared with Epidendrum soratae, which is the closest species. The new species differs mainly in the color of the flowers that are green-brown with an irregular red brown tinge, the length and shape of the leaves that are 2.0–2.5 cm long, lanceolate, obtuse, the cuniculus forming a small vesicle in the pedicel, and the size and shape of the lip that is 3.1–4 × 5 mm, transversely reniform and apically obtuse. The new species represents an important record for the flora associated with the high elevation Andean Forest of Polylepis from central Peru. We provide a key to the Peruvian members of Epidendrum belonging to the Soratae subgroup.

Two new Thereus species from Peru, with notes on ecological niche partitioning (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae).

Male hairstreaks (Theclinae) are often territorial, known for occupying their observation posts at a specific time during the day and at a certain height in the vegetation. The time and height for their perch vary from species to species but remain surprisingly stable year after year in any particular location. From these strategic observation posts males can check the passage of virgin females and chase away competing males. Consequently, these posts act as resources for the males and are not only vigorously defended from conspecific males but also form males of other species. In Peru, males of two closely related species belonging to the genus Thereus Hübner were observed in situ, defending their territories. One of them, Thereus tierralinda Faynel & Fåhraeus, sp. nov., is described here based on five male specimens from Cosñipata valley, Cusco, southern Peru. Further, it is compared to Thereus columbicola (Strand) and other close species in the Thereus eryssus species group. Observations over several years of T. columbicola and this new species show that they have different spatial and temporal characteristics for their perches, presumably to avoid competition with one another. Additionally, as a result of the partial revision of the group, a second new species, Thereus vicens Faynel & Fåhraeus, sp. nov., is also described based on one male and two females from Tingo María, Huánuco, central Peru. We also note that French Guiana is a new country record for Thereus eryssus (Herbst).