Paleotropical Species Research Articles

A Historical Review of the Molecular Phylogeny of the Philippine Nepenthes L. (Nepenthaceae) with Notes for Unsampled Taxa

Despite advances in molecular phylogenetics, the genus Nepenthes L., comprising about 180 species, presents a challenging phylogenetic puzzle due to morphological convergence. The Philippines (PH), a hotspot for pitcher plant diversity with 61 species, faces unclear evolutionary relationships due to insufficient taxon sampling. This historical review compiled the phylogenetic studies concerning Philippine Nepenthes from various molecular studies using nuclear or plastid markers. Here, we identified that the molecular phylogeny constructed from the angiosperms353 probe set used by Mullins et al. (2020) has given the most comprehensive results, with most samples from the Philippines and a total of 35 species compared to previously conducted phylogenies since 2000. It was revealed that these species form a large Philippine clade, split into three groups: Mindanao, Palawan, and Graciliflora, with other PH taxa belonging to the Insignes Clade. This study noted the possible clades of 26 unsampled PH taxa based on morphology and geography. Lastly, we created a distribution map of Philippine Nepenthes to support these placements. This study will help future research determine the phylogeny of Nepenthes in the Philippines, understand their evolutionary relationships with other paleotropical species, and assist policymakers in conserving these species from extinction.

Global root trait underrepresentation in Paleotropical communities: a qualitative analysis

Many ecosystem processes revolve around plant roots and the rhizosphere, but root trait knowledge has generally lagged behind aboveground plant traits from leaves and stems. In particular, root trait representation of Paleotropical species and tropical communities in modern trait databases remains poor, constraining our understanding of belowground processes in these regions. Therefore, we sought to examine the current state of root trait representation and associated topics in the Paleotropics to identify gaps and biases in the existing literature. Using an exhaustive literature scan, we compiled a list of publications that contained various belowground trait information. Subsequently, we utilized a statistical topic modeling method to analyze abstracts of publications in order to identify topics studied alongside root trait documentation. Finally, we consolidated trends in root trait coverage and topics across five geographical regions and four time periods to illustrate shifts in literature and knowledge of ecological processes revolving around roots. Root trait representation was heavily biased toward root biomass but other aspects of root systems such as physiology, architecture and anatomical traits remain underrepresented. We categorized 23 unique topics around root trait literature across eight categories: ecosystem productivity and biomass stocks, plant functional traits, resource availability, ecosystem processes and dynamics, mycorrhizal colonization, edaphic processes, seedling experiments, and global change and variation. Traits and topic coverage were unequally distributed across the Paletropics and exhibited a notable shift in focus from resource limitation and mycorrhizae research to root trait variation at large spatial and temporal scales over the last 50 years of root trait literature. Given these trends and the heterogenous effects global change exerts on the tropics at a regional scale, we provided several recommendations to facilitate inter-study comparisons of traits to advance the field’s understanding of belowground ecosystem processes in pantropical communities.

Specific diversity of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana formations in Kilakam and N'Guel kolo in the Diffa region, Niger

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyse the ecological and floristic indicators of natural formations with Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana. Methodology and Results: The present study was conducted in the departments of Maine-Soroa and Goudoumaria located in the Diffa region, in the extreme south-east of Niger Phytosociological data were collected using the Braun-Blanquet sigmatiste method and the Daget and Poissonet quadrat point method. In total, 80 plots were delimited. The data collected are related to the coverage of plant species and environmental variables. The spectra of biological and phytogeographical types were calculated. Hierarchical Ascending Classification (HAC), Canonical Detrended Analysis (CDA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were used to determine the plant groupings and their ecological and floristic characteristics. The results revealed a total species richness of 72 plant species divided into 34 families and 70 genera. The most represented families are Poaceae (18.06%), Fabaceae- Mimosoideae, and Convolvulaceae (8.33% each). Therophytes are the most represented biological type (50%). Paleotropical species is the dominant phytogeographic type (37.5%). The ascending hierarchical classification (CHA) and the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) allowed to discriminate three (3) plant groupings with V. tortilis. These are the Vachellia tortilis and Dactyloctenium aegyptium group (G1) and the Vachellia tortilis and Cenchrus biflorus group (G2) observed on the dune flats and slopes and the Vachellia tortilis and Schoenefeldia gracilis group (G3) in the lowlands. The analysis of structural parameters showed that the population of V. tortilis is characterized by an average density of 102.5±22.10 plants/ha with individuals having an average diameter of 14.68±8.22 cm, an average height of 5.24±1.49 m and an average cover of 25.58±16.47 m². Conclusion and application of results: This study constitutes a reference state that can serve as a basis for sustainable management of the ecosystems in these areas, whose main uses are essentially pastoral. Key words: Vachellia tortilis, Biological types, Phytogeographical types, Floristic diversity, Niger.

On the true identity of Mendoncia “stellate” trichomes

The present survey of leaf-blade trichomes of Mendoncia used SEM and light microscopy to investigate the diversity of trichome types in Neotropical and Paleotropical species of the genus. The eglandular trichomes are filiform, uniseriate, with asymmetric epidermal cells arranged radially around the trichome, these epidermal cells may be short or elongated, oriented in two groups. These cells, when elongated, are covered with epicuticular wax, forming smooth thick plates. African species have dendritic but not stellate trichomes. Character states such as number and length of basal cells were shown to overlap within the same species and therefore their use in isolation is not recommended for subgeneric classification of Mendoncia. Neotropical Mendoncia trichomes with well-developed epidermal cells arranged radially around the trichome appear to be unique to this group, without parallel in other plant families.

Indigofera vicioides Jaub. & Spach (Fabaceae): a new distributional record for the flora of the Eastern Ghats, India

Abstract Indigofera vicioides Jaub. & Spach (Fabaceae) is a paleotropical species and a rarely found legume of the Southern India. This was the first time it has been recorded in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu. This article provides a detailed description of this finding together with images and field notes.

Mycochemical Analysis and Prediction of Pleurotus Tuber-Regium’s (Pleurotaceae) Pharmacological Activities, A Food and Medicinal Fungi from Gabon

Pharmaceutical activities of a fungus depend on its bioactive compounds composition. Pleurotus tuber-regium (paleotropical species) is a fungus used in Gabon and throughout tropical Africa for its culinary and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to predict the therapeutic potential of this species, in particular of its carpophore and its sclerotia, based on the main chemical groups highlighted during the chemical screening of aqueous, hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic extracts. Chemical screening revealed that the three extracts (aqueous, hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic) prepared from the carpophore are rich in total polyphenols, alkaloids, coumarins and proanthocyanidins. Aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts are moderately rich in tannins and coumarins while the ethanolic extract is very rich in reducing sugars. About the sclerotia, the three extracts are rich in total polyphenols, alkaloids, reducing sugars and proanthocyanidins. Aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts are moderately rich in tannins, total flavonoids and coumarins. The dosage of phenolic compounds carried out on aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts confirmed the richness of this fungus in total polyphenols and proanthocyanidins, as well as its deficiency in flavonoids and tannins. The chemical groups thus identified in the carpophore and the sclerotium of P. tuber-regium allow to predict its antioxidant, antiallergic, antiplasmodial, anesthetic, analgesic, anticancer, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and ant-mutagenic activities.

DNA sequencing supports the reinstatement of Pycnolejeunea glauca from synonymy of Cheilolejeunea intertexta, as Cheilolejeunea glauca comb. nov.

Pycnolejeunea glauca, originally described by Stephani based on a collection in New Zealand by William Colenso, was placed by Grolle into the synonymy of the paleotropical species Cheilolejeunea intertexta with a type from Micronesia. In this study, we generated DNA sequences from a recently-collected sample of P. glauca and compared them with published sequences of C. intertexta from China. Pycnolejeunea glauca was recovered in the phylogenetic analyses as sister to C. nipponica, whereas C. intertexta grouped in another clade with C. vittata and C. streimannii. The analysis justifies the reinstatement of P. glauca as the new combination Cheilolejeunea glauca, a New Zealand endemic. Descriptions and illustrations are provided of key features of this species together with data on its position in the phylogeny of the genus.

Phylogenetics and seed morphology of AfricanNymphoides(Menyanthaceae)

We evaluated the boundaries amongNymphoides(Menyanthaceae) species in Africa, a region where the genus has received relatively little attention. We gathered morphological data from seeds using light and scanning electron microscopy, and we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses using nuclear sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Morphological and molecular features distinguished six species and affirmed their respective geographic ranges. No African specimens were attributable toNymphoides indica, even though this paleotropical species previously had been understood to grow in Africa. We establish the new combinationNymphoides senegalensis(G. Don) Tippery, based on an established African basionym, to accommodate the specimens formerly identified asN. indica. Phylogenetic analyses resolved two distinct clades containing African species. The majority of African species are closely related to neotropical species, with which they share similar petal ornamentation. The morphologically distinctN. ezannoishares floral and phylogenetic similarity with species from North America and Asia. Results presented here support prior hypotheses that allopolyploid species in the Americas may have originated from one or more parental lineages in Africa. Seed morphological characters remain some of the most reliable features for identifying species, particularly for herbarium specimens lacking observable floral characters.

Syconium development in Ficus petiolaris (Ficus, sect. Americanae, Moraceae) and the relationship with pollinator and parasitic wasps

For the first time in a Neotropical Ficus species (Ficus petiolaris Kunth), the external and internal structural changes in its syconia are described, together with the development of its fig wasps. Ficus petiolaris is endemic to Mexico and represents the northernmost limit of the geographical distribution of the genus in America. Considering the large variation in syconium morphology, we evaluated whether there are differences between syconium development in F. petiolaris and that described for Paleotropical species. We recorded the development of 428 syconia in two individuals from initiation to maturity, weekly, for a period of five months, as well as that of their associated insects. The time required for completion of syconium development ranged from 91 to 126 days. The external morphology of the syconia (color, ostiole size, and thickness of syconium wall) enabled phase recognition. Male and female pollinators (Pegoscapus sp.) and parasitic wasps (Idarnes sp.) were registered. High seed germination values (50%–90%) indirectly tested the positive role of pollinators. Our results are similar to those reported in Paleotropical Ficus species, and should contribute to our understanding of syconium development as well as to the relationships that they maintain with their Agaonidae wasps.

A multi-gene phylogeny of Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) results in reinterpretation of the genus and resurrection of Chelaner Emery

Monomorium Mayr is a speciose, cosmopolitan genus of myrmicine ants that has had a challenging systematic history, comprising numerous lineages whose relationships are problematic. This study employed an extensive sampling of mostly Australian taxa, along with exemplars of other genera of Solenopsidini, to examine relationships among the continent’s Monomorium fauna. Sequences from elongation factor 1α F2, wingless and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) were analysed using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. The resultant phylogeny resolved Australian Monomorium into two major clades separated by exemplars from other genera; one comprised predominantly species with 11-segmented antennae (corresponding to Monomorium s. str. in a recent study of Myrmicinae) along with three Paleotropical species. The second clade included Australian species with 12-segmented antennae, two New Zealand species and two from New Caledonia. Two Australian cryptobiotic species were resolved as sister to Clade 2. COI analysis indicated that some species (M. fieldi Forel, M. leave Mayr and M. leae Forel) possibly represent cryptic species complexes. The New Zealand M. antipodum Forel was recovered as a valid species, and is closely related to an eastern Australian population. We resurrect the genus Chelaner Emery for species in the second clade (with 12-segmented antennae) and outline morphological characters to separate Chelaner from Monomorium s. str. Fifty-three species of Chelaner are treated as either stat. nov. or stat. rev.

Staminate flower of Prunus s. l. (Rosaceae) from Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine).

The late Eocene ambers provide plethora of animal and plant fossils including well-preserved angiosperm flowers from the Baltic amber. The Rovno amber from NW Ukraine resembles in many aspects the Baltic amber; however, only fossilized animals and some bryophytes have yet been studied from the Rovno amber. We provide the first detailed description of an angiosperm flower from Rovno amber. The flower is staminate with conspicuous hypanthium, double pentamerous perianth and whorled androecium of 24 stamens much longer than the petals. Sepals are sparsely pubescent and petals are densely hirsute outside. The fossil shares important features with extant members of Prunus subgen. Padus s. l. (incl. Laurocerasus, Pygeum and Maddenia), especially with its evergreen paleotropical species. It is described here as a new species Prunus hirsutipetala D.D.Sokoloff, Remizowa et Nuraliev. Our study provides the first convincing record of fossil flowers of Rosaceae from Eocene of Europe and the earliest fossil flower of Prunus outside North America. Our record of a plant resembling extant tropical species supports palaeoentomological evidences for warm winters in northwestern Ukraine during the late Eocene, as well as suggesting a more significant role of tropical insects in Rovno amber than inferred from Baltic amber.

Neotropical Piper species: Are they all hermaphroditic?

Sexual expression has been used as a distinctive character among the clades of the genus Piper. Unisexual flowers are described for Paleotropical species, which are usually dioecious, whereas bisexual flowers are associated with Neotropical species, considered as hermaphroditic. However, the registration of an andromonoecious species in the Neotropics, associated with the morphological similarity of Piper flowers, suggests that the presence of functionally unisexual flowers may be more common than the one recorded so far. To investigate this possibility, we determined the sexual expression of 17 Neotropical Piper species, focusing on the functionality of the flowers along the anthesis in individuals of a semideciduous seasonal forest. We found 13 hermaphroditic species, one andromonoecious and three with variable combinations of hermaphroditic, andromonoecious and male individuals. The staminate flowers presented cryptic unisexuality. Species with more than one floral type presented sexual dimorphism, differing in length of their inflorescences and pistils of flowers. Although hermaphroditism is the predominant sexual expression among Neotropical Piper species, we observed variations of this expression in almost 25% of the species studied here, indicating that the unisexual flowers may have evolved independently in different clades of Neotropical and Paleotropical species.

Neither Phoebe nor Cinnamomum – the tetrasporangiate species of Aiouea (Lauraceae)

AbstractCinnamomum is among the largest genera of the Lauraceae, including species from tropical to temperate Asia and from tropical to subtropical America. However, previous studies indicated that Cinnamomum might not be monophyletic in its current circumscription. We therefore re‐investigated the genus and possible relatives with an increased taxon sample, particularly of the Neotropical species. Our results, based on sequences of the nuclear ITS region and the chloroplast spacers psbA‐trnH and trnG‐trnS, show that the Neotropical Cinnamomum species indeed do not form a monophyletic group with the Paleotropical species. Instead, the American species form a clade in which most species of the Neotropical genus Aiouea are nested within several subclades. According to the ITS data the Aiouea/Cinnamomum clade is sister to the likewise predominantly Neotropical Ocoteacomplex, rather than the two Paleotropical Cinnamomum clades. Therefore, Cinnamomum cannot be upheld in its cur‐rent circumscription. As the type C. verum, is from Asia, the Neotropical species need to be placed in a different genus. We decided to transfer them to Aiouea here, because this is the oldest generic name in the Aiouea/Cinnamomum clade, and the only character separating Aiouea from Neotropical Cinnamomum is the number of pollen sacs per anther (di‐ vs. tetrasporangiate), a feature that is known to be variable within several other genera as well. This transfer requires 42 new combinations and two nomina nova. In addition, six species described in the unpublished Ph.D. thesis of one of the authors (FLH) are validated in Aioueahere, and the only species of the genus Mocinnodaphne is transferred to Aiouea as well.

First report of freshwater rotifers (Rotifera: Eurotatoria) from south Andaman, India: Composition and interesting elements

Plankton samples collected from freshwater lentic ecosystems of south Andaman, India, revealed 70 species of Rotifera belonging to 25 genera and 16 families. The reports of Australasian Lecane batillifer, Oriental endemic Lecane bulla diabolica and three Paleotropical species, and 68 new records of Eurotatoria from Andaman and Nicobar Islands contribute to biodiversity and biogeography of the Indian Rotifera. The rotifers are characterized by diverse Lecanidae>Lepadellidae>Brachionidae and common nature of species of “tropic-centered” Lecane and Brachionus. The occurrences of a large number of cosmopolitan species, and several tropicopolitan and pantropical species are notable. This report indicates a further scope for biodiversity update on these metazoans from the insular freshwater of Andaman and Nicobar Islands located in the Andaman Sea.

Taxonomic revision of Neotropical Murdannia Royle (Commelinaceae).

This study provides a taxonomic revision for the Neotropical species of the genus Murdannia. Six species are recognized as native, including a new species and a new combination, while two Asian species are recognized as invasive. We present an identification key, a table summarizing the morphologic differences among the species, a new synonym, six lectotypifications, a distribution map, and descriptions, comments and photographic plates for each species. We also provide comments on the morphology of the Neotropical species of Murdannia, comparing them with the Paleotropical species, and a discussion of inflorescence architecture in the genus as a whole.

A new species of genus Ephemeroporus Frey, 1982 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from Peninsular Malaysia.

Study of Ephemeroporus Frey, 1982 populations from Peninsular Malaysia revealed a new species. Ephemeroporus malaysiaensis sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of four-five large denticles on anal margin of postabdomen instead of two-three, and five distinctive pigmented spots on each valve. Pigmented spots on the valves were never recorded for any species of family Chydoridae. E. malaysiaensis sp. nov. seems to be another endemic Chydoridae species of South-East Asia. E. malaysiaensis sp. nov. is a rare species, associated with emergent macrophytes in the littoral zone of shallow lake. Most of Ephemeroporus populations from Peninsular Malaysia belong to eurybiotic Paleotropical species Ephemeroporus barroisi (Richard, 1984).

Systematics and character evolution of Vinceae (Apocynaceae)

AbstractVinceae comprises 9 genera and about 153 species. The genera differ greatly in a number of morphological traits, especially those relating to fruit and seeds, which resulted in their placement in different tribes and/or subtribes by earlier taxonomists. Here, 378 new chloroplast DNA sequences from 98 species from 5 tribes of the rauvolfioid grade were analyzed phylogenetically to test the monophyly of Vinceae, its 6 subtribes, and constituent genera, as well as the sectional treatments of Rauvolfia, and to find morphological synapomorphies for major clades. Vinceae, as currently circumscribed, was found to be monophyletic as were four of the six subtribes. Kopsia and Ochrosia were confirmed as successive sister groups to the rest. All nine genera currently recognized in the tribe were resolved as monophyletic, Laxoplumeria and Tonduzia for the first time. The broad circumscription of Petchia and Ochrosia proposed by previous authors was supported. The pantropical genus Rauvolfia is divided into two major lineages: one comprised entirely of paleotropical species, and the other the neotropical species, a recurring geographic pattern in the family. Surprisingly, the Hawaiian species of Vinceae have probably arisen by two different trans‐oceanic routes, either by long‐distance dispersal from Australasian (Ochrosia spp.) or Caribbean (Rauvolfia sandwicensis) ancestors. Within Rauvolfia, most of the sections, series and subseries recognized in previous classifications are paraphyletic. Only 2 of the 14 sections of Rauvolfia proposed by Pichon and 1 of the 11 sections proposed by Rao that are not monospecific were found to be monophyletic. Mapping of 30 morphological characters onto the molecular tree identified an unlobed upper wreath on the style head as an unambigous synapomorphy characterizing the tribe as well as synapomorphies for each of its genera. The two earliest‐branching genera, Kopsia and Ochrosia, have dextrorse corolla lobe aestivation, in contrast to the sinistrorse corollas of the other Vinceae and the great majority of genera throughout the rauvolfioid grade. Drupes have arisen in parallel at least three times within Vinceae. The adaptations of the endocarp for water dispersal are possibly ancestral in the tribe, and the observed morphological differences between the drupaceous fruits of Kopsia/Ochrosia versus Petchia and Rauvolfia may be due to their abiotic versus biotic dispersal mode, respectively.

Nymphoides grayana(Menyanthaceae) in Florida verified by DNA and morphological data1

Abstract In the genus Nymphoides (floating-heart), at least six native and naturalized species are known to occur in the USA. Among the native species is Nymphoides humboldtiana, a species recently confirmed to reach its northern range limit in southern Texas. Plants similar in appearance to N. humboldtiana have been reported from Florida, where both white- and yellow-petaled variants have been identified as Nymphoides indica, a paleotropical species. We examined specimens using molecular (DNA) and morphological data to ascertain correct species identifications for the Florida plants. Sequence data from nuclear internal transcribed spacer and plastid trnK/matK regions indicated that Florida plants are not conspecific with N. humboldtiana, and that the white and yellow floral color variants attributed to N. indica actually represent separate species. We identified the white-petaled plants as N. indica, a likely escapee from the water garden trade in which the species is commonly grown. The yellow-petaled p...

Morphological innovation, ecological opportunity, and the radiation of a major vascular epiphyte lineage.

The emergence of angiosperm-dominated tropical forests in the Cretaceous led to major shifts in the composition of biodiversity on Earth. Among these was the rise to prominence of epiphytic plant lineages, which today comprise an estimated one-quarter of tropical vascular plant diversity. Among the most successful epiphytic groups is the Polypodiaceae, which comprises an estimated 1500 species and displays a remarkable breadth of morphological and ecological diversity. Using a time-calibrated phylogeny for 417 species, we characterized macroevolutionary patterns in the family, identified shifts in diversification rate, and identified traits that are potential drivers of diversification. We find high diversification rates throughout the family, evidence for a radiation in a large clade of Paleotropical species, and support for increased rates of diversification associated with traits including chlorophyllous spores and noncordiform gametophytes. Contrary to previous hypotheses, our results indicate epiphytic species and groups with humus-collecting leaves diversify at lower rates than the family as a whole. We find that diversification rates in the Polypodiaceae are positively correlated with changes in elevation. Repeated successful exploration of novel habitat types, rather than morphological innovation, appears to be the primary driver of diversification in this group.

A revision of Spondias L. (Anacardiaceae) in the Neotropics.

As part of an ongoing study of Anacardiaceae subfamily Spondioideae, the ten native and one introduced species of Spondias in the Neotropics are revised. The genus is circumscribed. Three new species, Spondias admirabilis, Spondias expeditionaria, and Spondias globosa, are described and illustrated; a key to the taxa found in the Neotropics and distribution maps are provided. The Paleotropical species and allied genera are reviewed. Diagnostic character sets include leaf architecture, habit, flower morphology, and gross fruit morphology. Notes on the ecology and economic botany of the species are provided.