Taxonomic Complexity Research Articles

Cypsela diversity in some members of Compositae through LM study and its taxonomic significance.

Compositae (Asteraceae), also known as the sunflower family has evolved to become the most diverse and advanced angiosperm family. However, with high diversity, taxonomic complexities also arise at several levels. A reliable tool in resolving such taxonomic conundrums in this family is the characteristic fruit of Compositae known as "cypsela." While most of the previous cypsela-based studies have focused on specific tribes and species of Compositae, in this study, we shift our focus to the genus level and seek a broader understanding of the taxonomic relationships that prevail in this family. In order to achieve this, we sampled 25 genera of Compositae and subjected them to qualitative and quantitative analysis to resolve them into groups based on the degree of similarity. This study was conducted by employing light microscopy techniques for gathering the qualitative and quantitative morphological data of the cypselae. The qualitative data were collected on six key morphological characteristics-shape, color, base, surface ornamentation, ribs, and pappus types for all the members. These data were used to yield an artificial dichotomous key to genera for the 25 members. The quantitative data on dimensions (length, breadth) of the entire cypsela as well as the pappus and ribs were subjected to principal component analysis, to understand the covariance among these variables. Hierarchical clustering followed by dendrogram construction was used to visualize the patterns of correlation within the samples and make taxonomic conclusions. The resulting dendrogram showed four closely related clades that consisted of 23 out of the 25 members whereas 2 members emerged as outgroups. The results of this study commensurate with DNA-based resolution of the concerned Compositae members, hence highlighting the reliability and significance of both light microscopy and morphology-based studies that seem to be fading away otherwise.

Taxonomic implications of pollen morphology for species of Passiflora L., subgenus Deidamioides (Harms) Killip (Passifloraceae)

Deidamioides, one of the four subgenera proposed for the genus Passiflora, is distributed in South and Central America, with its species, until now having been grouped in five sections: Deidamioides, Mayapathanthus, Tryphostemmatoides, Polyanthea and Tetrastylis. Within the current delimitation, subg. Deidamioides is not clearly defined and has a very controversial taxonomic history. The taxonomic complexity of this subgenus has been discussed by some phylogenetic studies attempting to clarify its monophyletic status and the positioning of species within its sections. The main objective of the present study was to analyze the pollen grains of species of subg. Deidamioides with the aim of finding diagnostic characters that can corroborate the taxonomic positioning of its sections and species. Polliniferous material was acetolyzed, measured and described using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Four pollen types and two subtypes were established for the analyzed species based on apertural characteristics: Pollen Type I (Subtype I.1. Passiflora contracta, P. igrapiunensis and P. timboënsis; Subtype I.2. P. cirrhiflora, P. macdougaliana, P. tryphostemmatoides and P. ovalis); Pollen Type II (P. obovata); Pollen Type III (P. arbelaezii and P. gracillima); and Pollen Type IV (P. deidamioides). The results confirm recent proposals that subg. Deidamioides is polyphyletic, and that it possesses apertural characteristics similar to those of subgenera Astrophea, Decaloba and Passiflora.

A taxonomic revision of fat dormice, genus Glis (Rodentia)

Abstract We address in this study the taxonomic status of the two major phylogenetic lineages of fat dormice, genus Glis. These lineages show unique mutations at 43 positions of the cytochrome b alignment and are classified as two distinct species, the European fat dormouse Glis glis (Linnaeus, C. [1766]. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis synonymis, locis, Vol. 1. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm]) and the Iranian fat dormouse Glis persicus (Erxleben, I.C.P. [1777]. Systema regni animalis per classes, ordines, genera, species, varietates cum synonymia et historia animalium. Classis I. Mammalia. Impensis Weygandianis, Lipsia [Leipzig]). The European dormouse is widespread in Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus, while the Iranian dormouse occupies the southern Caspian coast in Iran. Ranges are presumably delimited in Azerbaijan by rivers Kura and Aras. The two species differ categorically in size of the glans penis, size and shape of the baculum and in width of the posterior extension of the premaxilla. The Iranian fat dormouse has on average a more blackish distal half of the tail, a higher count for abdominal nipples, and a longer maxillary tooth-row. Intraspecific structuring in G. glis indicates a taxonomic complexity which is not yet understood and requires a comprehensive systematic revision. To define the nominal taxon objectively we designate voucher PMS 27369 (Slovenian Museum of Natural History) as the neotype for G. glis, therefore restricting the type locality for the species to Mt. Krim in Slovenia.

Further addition to the braconid fauna of Iran (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

BackgroundThe cosmopolitan family Braconidae is one of the largest in the order Hymenoptera. Many of its members are important as biological control agents against more than 120 pest species belonging it four insect orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera) that cause economic damage to various agricultural, horticultural, and forestry plants and trees. Due to the lack of regional studies, as well as taxonomic complexities compared with well-studied other western Palaearctic countries, the faunistic knowledge of this family is still largely incomplete.ResultsBased on specimens collected from different localities in Iran, as well as material deposited in different Iranian collections, twenty-five braconid species are recorded for the first time from Iran. Collectively, these belong to ten subfamilies (Alysiinae, Brachistinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Euphorinae, Exothecinae, Hormiinae, Ichneutinae, Microgastrinae, and Rogadinae). Two genera, Pentatermus Hedqvist (Rogadinae) and Stenobracon Szépligeti (Braconinae), are reported in the present study for the first time. Specimens are identified with the help of specialists, as well as using the available keys for each subfamily. A faunistic list comprising the valid species names and the extralimital distribution are given.ConclusionsIn the present study, a list of 25 species and two genera, Pentatermus Hedqvist (Rogadinae) and Stenobracon Szépligeti (Braconinae), are newly recorded from Iran, thus raising the total number of this important group as biocontrol agents to reach 1038 species.

Genomic data inform conservation of rare tree species: clonality, diversity and hybridity in Eucalyptus series in a global biodiversity hotspot

Rare species are key targets of biodiversity conservation worldwide, but assessments of genetic diversity and conservation priority can be impeded by limited sample size. Reduced-representation genome sequencing improves resolution of analysis in this context, enabling applications in conservation genomics. The tree genus Eucalyptus contains many rare taxa, but clarity on conservation actions can be confounded in this group due to taxonomic complexity, unrecognised clonality and hybridisation. Using SNPs, we address key questions surrounding taxonomy, clonality and genetic diversity in two rare species, Eucalyptus virginea and a putative hybrid E. × phylacis, to inform conservation. We confirm that a highly disjunct population belongs to E. virginea despite sharing a multi-stemmed short-statured (‘mallee’) growth form and geographic proximity with a closely-related species, indicating that growth form was unrelated to phylogenetic distance. Clonality was confirmed in the disjunct population but the number of discrete clumps vs unique genets was not equal, reflecting the importance of genetic assessments of population size. The small, clonal, disjunct population had the lowest allelic richness and highest differentiation, as expected. However, heterozygosity excess suggested that clonality may prevent the loss of heterozygosity in mallee eucalypts by facilitating long-term persistence, contrary to expectations that small, isolated populations face increased conservation genetic threat. Analyses also confirmed that the Critically Endangered E. × phylacis is an F1 hybrid of E. decipiens and E. virginea, therefore its conservation listing should be revised. Our data highlight the usefulness of genomic analysis in applied conservation of non-model taxa.

Molecular evidence of the hybrid origin of Cryptocoryne ×purpurea Ridl. nothovar. purpurea (Araceae).

Natural hybridization has been considered a source of taxonomic complexity in Cryptocoryne. A combined study of DNA sequencing data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the trnK-matK region of chloroplast DNA was used to identify the parents of Cryptocoryne putative hybrids from Peninsular Malaysia. Based on the intermediate morphology and sympatric distribution area, the plants were tentatively identified as the hybrid Cryptocoryne ×purpurea nothovar. purpurea. The plants were pollen sterile and had long been considered as hybrids, supposedly between two related and co-existing species, C. cordata var. cordata and C. griffithii. The status of C. ×purpurea nothovar. purpurea was independently confirmed by the presence of an additive ITS sequence pattern from these two parental species in hybrid individuals. An analysis of the chloroplast trnK-matK sequences showed that the hybridization is bidirectional with the putative hybrids sharing identical sequences from C. cordata var. cordata and C. griffithii, indicating that both putative parental species had been the maternal parent in different accessions.

Reproductive Output and Insect Behavior in Hybrids and Apomicts from Limonium ovalifolium and L. binervosum Complexes (Plumbaginaceae) in an Open Cross-Pollination Experiment.

Ex situ plant collections established from seeds of natural populations are key tools for understanding mating systems of intricate taxonomic complexes, as in the Limonium Mill. genus (sea lavenders, Plumbaginaceae). Plants show a polymorphic sexual system associated to flower polymorphisms such as ancillary pollen and stigma and/or heterostyly that prevents self and intramorph mating. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the significance of pollen-stigma dimorphisms and the role of flower visitors in the reproductive output of hybrids arising from sexual diploids of Limonium ovalifolium complex and apomicts tetraploids of L. binervosum complex in an open cross-pollination experiment. Results showed that, similarly to parental plants, hybrids present inflorescence types, self-incompatible flowers, and produced regular pollen grains with the typical exine patterns, with medium to high viability. By contrast, apomicts show floral polymorphisms, inflorescences, and pollen grains of maternal phenotype but with low stainability. Several insects’ species visited the inflorescences of parental plants and both hybrids and apomicts and some of these insects carried A and/or B pollen grains on their bodies, especially Clepsis coriacana (Rebel) and Tapinoma sp. Insects’ floral visits to hybrids and apomicts seem to be independent of pollen fertility and plants’ reproductive modes. Both hybrids and apomicts were able to produce fertile seeds, although the latter showed more seedlings with developmental anomalies than the first plants. The findings demonstrate that there is a weak reproductive barrier between the diploid species of L. ovalifolium complex as they can hybridize and produce fertile hybrids, provided there is pollen transport by pollinator insects. This study supports that apomixis is a strong reproductive barrier between both L. ovalifolium and L. binervosum complexes but did not allow us to exclude reproductive interferences of apomict pollen into sexuals.

Issues in cyanobacterial taxonomy: comprehensive case study of unbranched, false branched and true branched heterocytous cyanobacteria.

The order Nostocales is represented by morphologically diverse forms with respect to the branching patterns and polarity of the filaments. With growing understanding of taxonomy and systematics, members of the order Nostocales have also undergone multiple taxonomic revisions. The last decade has seen a surge in the description of new genera and families within the order Nostocales. In this study, we discuss the taxonomic status of all the newly described and reclassified taxa of some of the prominent morphological forms within the order Nostocales by constructing comprehensive phylogenetic trees. Further, we propose certain strategies that would contribute to resolving the taxonomic complexities arising due to inadequate taxon sampling.

Identification of hybrid formulae of a few willows (Salix) using ovule numbers

Abstract Salix is a genus of considerable taxonomic complexity, and accurate identification of its species and hybrids is not always possible. Quantification of ovules was used in this study to verify the parentage of a few hybrids of Salix. It has been shown that ovule numbers in willow hybrids are the mean of the ovule numbers of their parents. The ovule index of a prostrate specimen of S. ×cottetii affirmed that this was a hybrid of S. myrsinifolia Salisb. and S. retusa L., and the ovule index of the ornamental cultivar ‘The Hague’ affirmed that this was a hybrid of S. caprea L. and S. gracilistyla Miq. Finally, we also examined a confusing group, previously identified in North America as S. pentandra. The ovule indexes and other morphological characters indicated that there were four taxa among the studied specimens: S. pentandra, S. ×meyeriana, S. serissima Fernald, and a hybrid of S. serissima and S. fragilis that has not previously been described. It was concluded that quantification of ovules in willows is a reliable tool that can be used in willow taxonomy, genetics and population studies.

Morfološka raznolikost i odnosi populacija Scardinius dergle i Scardinius plotizza (Actinopteri; Cypriniformes) iz Hrvatske i Bosne i Hercegovine

Genus Scardinius (Cypriniformes, Actinopteri) belongs to the family Leuciscidae, subfamily Leuciscinae, and it includes 10 species. Phylogenetic and morphometric research conducted so far have shown a great taxonomic complexity within this genus. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the morphological diversity and contribute to the clarification of taxonomic relationships and status of S. dergle and S. plotizza. For the purpose of this research specimens of S. dergle and S. plotizza were collected from their whole distribution area in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. On each individual 25 morphometric characters were measured, standardized with allometric conversion and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed significant intra- and interspecific differences in investigated morphometric characters. In addition, distinct grouping of populations of each species and partial overlapping of some populations of both species was recorded, reflecting their possible relationships. Also, investigated meristic characters showed accordance with deterministic values for most investigated populations. Although this research has given indications of relationships and the status of populations of S. dergle and S. plotizza, in order to confirm the results and determine the exact taxonomic status, phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of these species, further phylogenetic research is needed.

Overview of the floristic and taxonomic studies on Iridaceae Juss. in Bulgaria

According to the current data, the family Iridaceae is represented in Bulgaria by 30 species, grouped into 5 genera. The territory of Bulgaria, as part of the Balkan Peninsula, is characterized as a part of a secondary speciation center for the largest genera in the Iris and Crocus. In addition to widespread species, there are local and regional endemics that are of great conservation importance. Despite this fact, it is little known about the taxonomy and phylogeny of Iridaceae in Bulgaria. The main purpose of this publication is to present the degree of study of the family in Bulgarian literature, compared to the investigations in the Balkan Peninsula and the literature in the world. Inventory of the collections in the national herbaria SO, SOA and SOM have done. Most of the materials have been collected in the years of the active field studies on the Bulgarian flora – at the beginning of the 20th century until the taxonomical work on the family in vol. II of Flora Reipublicae Popularis Bulgaricae in the middle 60s. The lack of taxonomical investigations in Bulgarian flora justifies the need to reconsider the taxonomical structure of the Iridaceae family. Preliminary studies on species chorology have shown that the Bulgarian floristic literature's data are outdated and do not coincide with recent taxonomic changes in polymorphic paraphyletic and polyphyletic groups. On other hand, the decisions in the phylogenetic relationships between the polyphyletic taxa could be realized using molecular techniques, which have not yet been implemented for the species in Bulgaria. The taxonomic complexity of the group and still scarce knowledge demands further studies in Bulgarian flora, including investigating phylogenetic relationships.

Two New Species of Telorchis (Digenea: Telorchiidae) from a Green Turtle, Chelonia Mydas (Cheloniidae), from the Upper Texas Coast with a Key to North American Species of Telorchis.

Sea turtles are difficult to sample because of their protected status; however, museum collections and sea turtle stranding networks provide unique opportunities for parasitological research. Four gastrointestinal tracts from stranded, endangered green turtles, Chelonia mydas, were collected between 1993 and 1995 from the upper Texas coast and opportunistically sampled for parasite fauna. Two new species of Telorchis, a common freshwater amphibian and reptilian intestinal parasite genus, were found and described. Telorchis marinus n. sp. differs from Telorchis mydas n. sp. by its short body length, lack of pharyngeal glands, long esophagus relative to total body length, short and straight cirrus sac, short ventral sucker to ovary length relative to total body length, and an ovary located in the anterior one-third of body; it differs from its congeners in the number of ovary lengths between the ventral sucker and ovary, the number of ventral sucker lengths the cirrus sac extends beyond the posterior margin of the ventral sucker, and the vitelline field extent. Telorchis mydas differs from its congeners in the number of ovary lengths between the ventral sucker and ovary, the number of ventral sucker lengths the cirrus sac extends beyond the posterior margin of the ventral sucker, and the combination of having its ovary position near the midbody and a long, sinuous cirrus sac that is 35-44% of the total body length. Given the taxonomic complexities within Telorchis, a revised key to North American species is provided using morphological characteristics to assist future researchers in delineating true species and appropriate synonymies with molecular explorations. We reject the majority of synonymies in the genus until molecular data are available; we accept the synonymies of Telorchis necturi as Telorchis stunkardi and Telorchis gutturosi as Telorchis chelopi. Both Telorchis linstowi and Telorchis stossichi should be considered as species inquirenda. This is the first confirmed report of Telorchis from a marine host and the first report on parasites of cheloniid sea turtles in Texas, and this study adds to the ever-growing evidence that collections are essential to understanding biodiversity.

Influence of the cold bottom water on taxonomic and functional composition and complexity of microbial communities in the southern Yellow Sea during the summer

The formation and presence of the cold bottom water (Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass, YSCWM) is a striking hydrological phenomenon in the southern Yellow Sea during the summer and has important effects on the marine ecosystem. To better understand its influence on microbial community structure and function, we compared the bacterial, archaeal and microeukaryotic communities in the cold water mass area (CWMA) and the southern area (SA) during the summer using amplicon and metagenomic sequencings. The habitat environment in the deep waters of the CWMA was characterized by higher salinity/DO/PO4-P, greater depth/distance to the coast, and lower levels of temperature/chlorophyll a/DIN/SiO3-Si/N:P ratio compared to that of the SA. Pure depth or distance to the coast explained a small portion of the microbial community variance, while environment explained a significant fraction of the variance when partialling the effects of depth and distance to the coast. Oligotrophic taxa (e.g. SAR11 clade Ia, Nitrosopumilus, Chloropicophyceae) dominated the deep water communities in the CWMA, while the common coastal taxa (e.g. Roseobacter strain HIMB11, Bacillariophyta, Noctilucophyceae) were more dominant in the deep waters of the SA, suggesting the great impact of the oligotrophic condition in the YSCWM on microbial communities. The microbial co-occurrence networks in the CWMA were less complex but contained a higher proportion of mutual exclusion relationship among prokaryotes; the prokaryotic α-diversity in the CWMA was significantly lower than in the SA while the microeukaryotic α-diversity was significantly higher in the CWMA, implying that prokaryotes and microeukaryotes respond to the cold water mass differently and the competition among prokaryotes was intensified under the impact of the YSCWM. Genes that relate to replication and repair accounted for a significantly lower proportion in the CWMA, which was likely an adaptation to the low carbon environment.

Black aspergilli in Brazilian onions: From field to market

The occurrence of black aspergilli in onions has been reported as frequent, and this group of fungi harbors potentially toxigenic species. In addition, Aspergillus niger has been reported as the causative agent of black mold rot, an important postharvest disease that causes damage throughout the world. Brazil stands out as one of the world's largest onion producers. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the mycobiota in Brazilian onions. For this reason, we investigated the mycobiota of 48 market (n = 25) and field (n = 23) onion bulb samples. Nineteen soil samples were collected from the same fields and evaluated. In field onions and soil samples, Penicillium spp. was the prevalent fungal group, whereas in market samples A. section Nigri was the most frequent group. Due to the taxonomic complexity of this group, species identification was supported by phylogenetic data (CaM gene). A. welwitschiae was the most prevalent species in market samples. Black aspergillus strains were evaluated for fumonisin B2 (FB2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) production. Overall, 53% and 2.2% of the strains produced FB2 and OTA, respectively. The occurrence of FB2 and OTA was also investigated in onion bulb samples but none showed contamination with these mycotoxins.

Deciphering species-group taxonomic complexity of common, Barbodes binotatus and saddle barbs, B. banksi in Peninsular Malaysia

Correct assessment of freshwater fishes depends on the most recent taxonomic nomenclature and accurate identification. The existing of the complex between closely related species is one of the prominent issues that sometimes poorly addressed that leads to misidentification of the species and inaccurate diversity measurement. This study addressed the issue through morphometrics methods, to correctly evaluate the diversity of freshwater fish within species group of genus Barbodes , i.e., B. binotatus and B. banksi . In examining species complex of B. binotatus and B. banksi , traditional and landmark-based geometric morphometrics methods were applied. Traditional morphometric displayed characters that distinguished both species were generally located at the anterior part of the body, and specifically in the cephalic area of the fish. Landmark-based geometric morphometric revealed a highly similar body shape on both species. Variations within both species were subtle and could not be significantly distinguished by both methods. The overall outcomes of this study suggest that in order to achieve a proper assessment to freshwater fishes, one need to solve the identification problems in species complex. This effort could consequently lead to a better understanding of freshwater fish status, for a better conservation plan and management.

Asteroid phase curves from ATLAS dual-band photometry

Asteroid phase curves are used to derive fundamental physical properties through the determination of the absolute magnitude H. The upcoming visible Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) and mid-infrared Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission (NEOSM) surveys rely on these absolute magnitudes to derive the colours and albedos of millions of asteroids. Furthermore, the shape of the phase curves reflects their surface compositions, allowing for conclusions on their taxonomy. We derive asteroid phase curves from dual-band photometry acquired by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System telescopes. Using Bayesian parameter inference, we retrieve the absolute magnitudes and slope parameters of 127,012 phase curves of 94,777 asteroids in the photometric H, G1, G2- and H, G12∗-systems. The taxonomic complexes of asteroids separate in the observed G1, G2-distributions, correlating with their mean visual albedo. This allows for differentiating the X-complex into the P-, M-, and E-complexes using the slope parameters as alternative to albedo measurements. Further, taxonomic misclassifications from spectrophotometric datasets as well as interlopers in dynamical families of asteroids reveal themselves in G1, G2-space. The H, G12∗-model applied to the serendipitous observations is unable to resolve target taxonomy. The G1, G2 phase coefficients show wavelength-dependency for the majority of taxonomic complexes. Their values allow for estimating the degree of phase reddening of the spectral slope. The uncertainty of the phase coefficients and the derived absolute magnitude is dominated by the observational coverage of the opposition effect rather than the magnitude dispersion induced by the asteroids' irregular shapes and orientations. Serendipitous asteroid observations allow for reliable phase curve determination for a large number of asteroids. To ensure that the acquired absolute magnitudes are suited for colour computations, it is imperative that future surveys densely cover the opposition effects of the phase curves, minimizing the uncertainty on H. The phase curve slope parameters offer an accessible dimension for taxonomic classification, correlating with the albedo and complimentary to the spectral dimension.

Reassessing the taxonomic diversity of Plagiothecium section Orthophyllum in the North American bryoflora

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Plagiothecium nemorale s.l. and P. succulentum, both belonging to P. sect. Orthophyllum, were considered to be distributed across almost the entire Northern Hemisphere. However, in the mid-twentieth century these taxa were recircumscribed resulting in their exclusion from the North American bryoflora and restricting their distributions to Asia and Europe, and in the case of Plagiothecium nemorale s.l., also North Africa. More recently, it was found that P. nemorale s.l. is a taxonomic complex comprising three distinct species: P. nemorale s.s., P. longisetum, and P. angusticellum. I revised the North American material of P. section Orthophyllum deposited in three herbaria (NY, FH, F) and found that five examined taxa of the section are present in the North America. Two of the species P. angusticellum and P. longisetum, have not been recorded from North America previously, while two others, P. nemorale and P. succulentum, had not been listed in the North American bryoflora for 50 years. One taxon is new for the U.S.A. – P. succulentum f. propaguliferum. Here I provide detailed descriptions of the anatomical and morphological features of the recorded taxa along with photographic documentation of their most important characteristics. I also summarize their known distributions in North America and ecological preferences and provide a key for their identification.

Maintenance of Species Differences in Closely Related Tetraploid Parasitic Euphrasia (Orobanchaceae) on an Isolated Island

Polyploidy is pervasive in angiosperm evolution and plays important roles in adaptation and speciation. However, polyploid groups are understudied due to complex sequence homology, challenging genome assembly, and taxonomic complexity. Here, we study adaptive divergence in taxonomically complex eyebrights (Euphrasia), where recent divergence, phenotypic plasticity, and hybridization blur species boundaries. We focus on three closely related tetraploid species with contrasting ecological preferences that are sympatric on Fair Isle, a small isolated island in the British Isles. Using a common garden experiment, we show a genetic component to the morphological differences present between these species. Using whole-genome sequencing and a novel k-mer approach we call “Tetmer”, we demonstrate that the species are of allopolyploid origin, with a sub-genome divergence of approximately 5%. Using ∼2 million SNPs, we show sub-genome homology across species, with a very low sequence divergence characteristic of recent speciation. This genetic variation is broadly structured by species, with clear divergence of Fair Isle heathland Euphrasia micrantha, while grassland Euphrasia arctica and coastal Euphrasia foulaensis are more closely related. Overall, we show that tetraploid Euphrasia is a system of allopolyploids of postglacial species divergence, where adaptation to novel environments may be conferred by old variants rearranged into new genetic lineages.

The low copy nuclear region, RPB2 as a novel DNA barcode region for species identification in the rattan genus Calamus (Arecaceae).

Taxonomic complexities, like environmental plasticity and homoplasy, make precise identification challenging in Calamus, the genus of spiny climbing palms of the subfamily Calamoideae (Arecaceae). In the present study, the species discriminatory power of twelve potential DNA barcode regions (rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH, rpoC, rpoB, psbK-psbI, atpF-atpH, psbZ-trnfM, ITS1, ITS2, PRK, and RPB2) were evaluated in 21 species of Calamus from the Western Ghats region of India, using distance, tree, and similarity based statistical methods. Except for the low copy nuclear region, RPB2, none of the tested plastid loci or nuclear loci ITS, either singly or in combinations, could discriminate all the species of Calamus due to low substitution rate of plastid regions and multiple copies of ITS respectively. The RPB2 locus showed highest species resolution with 96% accuracy in similarity based analysis, indicating its potential and efficiency as a barcode locus for the genus. The putative "Calamus gamblei complex" based on overlapping morphology was successfully resolved as six distinct, though closely related, species. The analysis also indicates that C. delessertianus is a morphological variant of C. dransfieldii. In spite of being a low copy nuclear gene region, RPB2 provided an efficient barcode to delineate Calamus species and hasthe potential to further extend its use as a prospective barcode to other Palm genera.

A novel curation system to facilitate data integration across regional citizen science survey programs.

Integrative modeling methods can now enable macrosystem-level understandings of biodiversity patterns, such as range changes resulting from shifts in climate or land use, by aggregating species-level data across multiple monitoring sources. This requires ensuring that taxon interpretations match up across different sources. While encouraging checklist standardization is certainly an option, coercing programs to change species lists they have used consistently for decades is rarely successful. Here we demonstrate a novel approach for tracking equivalent names and concepts, applied to a network of 10 regional programs that use the same protocols (so-called “Pollard walks”) to monitor butterflies across America north of Mexico. Our system involves, for each monitoring program, associating the taxonomic authority (in this case one of three North American butterfly fauna treatments: Pelham, 2014; North American Butterfly Association, Inc., 2016; Opler & Warren, 2003) that shares the most similar overall taxonomic interpretation to the program’s working species list. This allows us to define each term on each program’s list in the context of the appropriate authority’s species concept and curate the term alongside its authoritative concept. We then aligned the names representing equivalent taxonomic concepts among the three authorities. These stepping stones allow us to bridge a species concept from one program’s species list to the name of the equivalent in any other program, through the intermediary scaffolding of aligned authoritative taxon concepts. Using a software tool we developed to access our curation system, a user can link equivalent species concepts between data collecting agencies with no specialized knowledge of taxonomic complexities.