scholarly journals An ancient push-pull pollination mechanism in cycads

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (24) ◽  
pp. eaay6169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayla Salzman ◽  
Damon Crook ◽  
James D. Crall ◽  
Robin Hopkins ◽  
Naomi E. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Dioecious Plant ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Pollination Mechanism ◽  
Pollination Mechanisms ◽  
Plant Group ◽  
Pollination Mutualism ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Behavioral Convergence

Most cycads engage in brood-site pollination mutualisms, yet the mechanism by which the Cycadales entice pollination services from diverse insect mutualists remains unknown. Here, we characterize a push-pull pollination mechanism between a New World cycad and its weevil pollinators that mirrors the mechanism between a distantly related Old World cycad and its thrips pollinators. The behavioral convergence between weevils and thrips, combined with molecular phylogenetic dating and a meta-analysis of thermogenesis and coordinated patterns of volatile attraction and repulsion suggest that a push-pull pollination mutualism strategy is ancestral in this ancient, dioecious plant group. Hence, it may represent one of the earliest insect/plant pollination mechanisms, arising long before the evolution of visual floral signaling commonly used by flowering plants.

Molecular insights into the phylogenetic placement of the poorly known genus Niceforonia Goin & Cochran, 1963 (Anura: Brachycephaloidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4514 (4) ◽  
pp. 487
Author(s):  
ANDRÉS R. ACOSTA-GALVIS ◽  
JEFFREY W. STREICHER ◽  
LUIGI MANUELLI ◽  
TRAVIS CUDDY ◽  
RAFAEL O. DE SÁ
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New World ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Phylogenetic Inference ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
First Time

Among New World direct-developing frogs belonging to the clade Brachycephaloidea (= Terraranae), there are several genera with uncertain phylogenetic placements. One notable example is the genus Niceforonia Goin & Cochran 1963, which includes three species that are endemic to Colombia. Three specimens of the species Niceforonia nana were collected and for the first time the genus is included in a molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial (mtDNA; 12S and 16S) and nuclear (nucDNA; TYR and RAG1) markers. Molecular phylogenetic inference based on concatenated and separate mtDNA and nucDNA analyses recovered Niceforonia nana nested within Hypodactylus Hedges et al. 2008, rendering the latter genus paraphyletic. Consequently, herein we place the genus Hypodactylus in the synonymy of Niceforonia to resolve the paraphyly and place Niceforonia in the subfamily Hypodactylinae. Based on our revised concept of the genus Niceforonia we conducted preliminary morphological comparisons using specimens and literature descriptions. Finally, Nicefornia nana is quite divergent from other species of Niceforonia (uncorrected genetic distances of ca. 10% 16S and 7% TYR) suggesting that further taxonomic revision may be warranted. 

scholarly journals A new genus and species of natricine snake from northeast India

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4603 (2) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
VARAD B. GIRI ◽  
DAVID J. GOWER ◽  
ABHIJIT DAS ◽  
H.T. LALREMSANGA ◽  
SAMUEL LALRONUNGA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Molecular Variation ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Indian Populations ◽  
Western Palearctic ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic

Based on the first molecular phylogenetic analyses of samples from northeast India, specimens referred to Rhabdops from this region are more closely related to the southeast and east Asian natricine genera Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 and Sinonatrix Rossman & Eberle, 1977 (as well as to New World and western Palearctic natricines) than to peninsular Indian (true) Rhabdops. Morphologically, these northeast Indian populations differ from other natricines by having a single (‘fused’ or unpaired) internasal shield and a single prefrontal shield. Given the morphological and phylogenetic distinctiveness of these northeast Indian populations, we refer them to a new genus, Smithophis gen. nov., and transfer Rhabdops bicolor (Blyth, 1854) to Smithophis bicolor comb. nov. Based on morphological and molecular variation within our northeast Indian sample, we additionally describe Smithophis atemporalis sp. nov. from the state of Mizoram.

Taxonomy of the New World species of Lotus (Leguminosae: Loteae)

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Arambarri ◽  
Sebastián A. Stenglein ◽  
Marta N. Colares ◽  
María C. Novoa
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Arithmetic Average ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
Pair Group ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypotheses ◽  
Vegetative Characters ◽  
Numerical Taxonomic Study ◽  
Reproductive Characters

The aims of the present study were to elucidate the relationships of the New World Lotus species groups, subgenera Acmispon Raf. (sections Microlotus Benth. and Simpeteria Ottley), Hosackia Benth. and Syrmatium Vog., and to compare these results with previous classifications and recent morphological and molecular phylogenetic hypotheses. A numerical taxonomic study using unweighted pair-group arithmetic average clustering was performed. The phenogram was generated from 34 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) × 41 characters (four vegetative characters and the basic chromosome numbers, 16 epidermal traits and 20 reproductive characters). The epidermal microcharacters (epidermal cells, stomata, stomatal index and trichomes) are described and summarised for 18 species of Hosackia and Syrmatium, and the remaining characters were derived from the literature. Phenetic results resolved four groups of species which coincide with the new genera Acmispon, Hosackia Douglas ex Benth., Ottleya D.D.Sokoloff and Syrmatium proposed, having taken into consideration the most recent morphological and phylogenetic hypotheses.

scholarly journals Geographic variation in the age of temperate-zone reptile and amphibian species: Southern Hemisphere species are older

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Dubey ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Climatic Variation ◽  
Temperate Zone ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Data

Despite controversy over alternative definitions, the species is the fundamental operational unit of biodiversity, and species are the building-blocks of conservation. But is a ‘species’ from one part of the world the same as a ‘species’ from elsewhere? Our meta-analysis of molecular phylogenetic data reveals that reptile and amphibian species distributed in temperate-zone areas of the Northern Hemisphere are younger than taxa from the Southern Hemisphere, probably reflecting the greater impact of past climatic variation on Northern Hemisphere habitats. Because a species' age may influence its vulnerability to anthropogenic threats, geographical variation in species ages should be incorporated into conservation planning.

scholarly journals First Phylogeny of Bitterbush Family, Picramniaceae (Picramniales)

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Alexey Shipunov ◽  
Shyla Carr ◽  
Spencer Furniss ◽  
Kyle Pay ◽  
José Rubens Pirani
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Nuclear Markers ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Tree ◽  
Plant Group ◽  
The Family ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Recent Addition ◽  
The Subject ◽  
American Tropics

Picramniaceae is the only member of Picramniales which is sister to the clade (Sapindales (Huerteales (Malvales, Brassicales))) in the rosidsmalvids. Not much is known about most aspects of their ecology, geography, and morphology. The family is restricted to American tropics. Picramniaceae representatives are rich in secondary metabolites; some species are known to be important for pharmaceutical purposes. Traditionally, Picramniaceae was classified as a subfamily of Simaroubaceae, but from 1995 on, it has been segregated containing two genera, Picramnia and Alvaradoa, with the recent addition of a third genus, Nothotalisia, described in 2011. Only a few species of the family have been the subject of DNA-related research, and fewer than half of the species have been included in morphological phylogenetic analyses. It is clear that Picramniaceae remains a largely under-researched plant group. Here we present the first molecular phylogenetic tree of the group, based on both chloroplast and nuclear markers, widely adopted in the plant DNA barcoding. The main findings are: The family and its genera are monophyletic and Picramnia is sister to two other genera; some clades corroborate previous assumptions of relationships made on a morphological or geographical basis, while most parts of the molecular topology suggest high levels of homoplasy in the morphological evolution of Picramnia.

And then came molecular phylogenetics—Reactions to a monographic study of Hypericum (Hypericaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 255 (3) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
NORMAN K.B. ROBSON
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetics ◽  
New World ◽  
Molecular Study ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Genetic Switch ◽  
Traditional Treatment ◽  
Single Clade ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Floral Syndrome

Completion of a detailed monograph of Hypericum using traditional methods has stimulated the publication of phylogenetic treatments of the genus using molecular methods. The relationships thereby revealed differ from those of the traditional account in several ways that are discussed here.       A key point of conflict concerns taxa that share a specific set of morphological characters, i.e. the ‘Elodes’ syndrome (pseudotubular corolla, sterile stamen fascicles, stamen filaments ± united in the fascicle and sometimes petal appendages), which was found to be paraphyletic in each molecular study. The various groups with this syndrome were shown to have arisen from various parts of Hypericum, apparently suddenly, probably as the result of a genetic switch, the action of which can also be reversed. The formerly segregated genera with this floral syndrome should therefore all be re-incorporated in Hypericum. This necessitates the re-establishment of one section, namely Hypericum sect. Elodea, and recognition of two new sections within Hypericum, namely Hypericum sect. Lianthus and Hypericum sect. Thornea, which are proposed here.       The remaining species have resolved in various places in recent molecular phylogenetic trees that differ from each other and from the classification adopted in the monograph. In particular, in molecular results the herbaceous species with ‘3’ (i.e. 2+2+1) stamen fascicles all form a single clade; whereas, in the traditional treatment adopted in the monograph, they form three distinct, distantly related groups.            In light of recent molecular studies, Hypericum is now interpreted to comprise two distinct groups (respectively mainly Old World and mainly New World) that differ in the presence or absence of dark (hypericin-containing) glands and in the arrangement of the stamen fascicles. These two clades are described as subgenera, with the New World clade named Hypericum subgenus Brathys. By drawing attention to this grouping, the molecular work has improved on the monograph.

scholarly journals A New Species of Cryptopone Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Brazil with Observations of this Genus and a Key for New World Species

Sociobiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 408
Author(s):  
Itanna Oliveira Fernandes ◽  
Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New World ◽  
First Record ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
The State ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Large Genus ◽  
East And Southeast Asia

The monophyly of Ponerinae was strongly supported by a detailed molecular phylogenetic study. Within the subfamily, substantial changes were yet done to the taxonomy of several genera, such as Cryptopone Emery, and after phylogenetic and morphological considerations, the genus Cryptopone was revived. Cryptopone is a moderately large genus of pantropical distribution, with 25 described species and subspecies, with its diversity centered mostly in East and Southeast Asia. In the New World, only four species were known until now, Cryptopone gilva (Roger), Cryptopone guianensis (Weber), Cryptopone holmgreni (Wheeler) and Cryptopone mirabilis (Mackay & Mackay). Since the Mackay and Mackay’s revision of 2010 of the genus Pachycondyla which included the species currently attributed to Cryptopone, no new species was added to Cryptopone genus in the New World. Recently an unidentified Cryptopone species was collected in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. The material here described was sampled by manual collection of soil in the Floresta Nacional do Jamari (FLONA Jamari). Four individuals belonging to the worker caste are hereafter described under the name of Cryptopone pauli sp. nov. Currently this ant is known only to a single locality in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. This is also the first record of this genus for that state. We present new records of Cryptopone for the Neotropical Region with some comments on its biology and an updated key to workers of the five species of Cryptopone currently known in the New World.

Molecular data sheds light on the classification of long-legged flies (Diptera:Dolichopodidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Germann ◽  
Corinne Wimmer ◽  
Marco Valerio Bernasconi
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Nuclear Marker ◽  
Mitochondrial Markers ◽  
Traditional Classification ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Early Radiation

Dolichopodidae (long-legged flies) is the world’s fourth largest dipteran family, but a phylogeny based on a broad global taxon sample is still lacking. We present here a first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for Dolichopodidae, based on 157 dolichopodid species in 68 genera and 15 subfamilies from the Old and New World, and seven empidoid species (Empididae, Hybotidae) as outgroups. Both relatively fast-evolving mitochondrial markers (COI, 12S, 16S) and a more conserved nuclear marker (18S) were used, the latter being widely employed to study the phylogeny at higher taxonomic levels. We present strong evidence for Microphorinae as sister group to Dolichopodidae sensu stricto, and for the monophyletic Parathalassiinae as part of Dolichopodidae sensu stricto. Monophyly of Achalcinae, Dolichopodinae, and Sciapodinae is supported and Stolidosomatinae are placed within Sympycninae. Diaphorinae, Medeterinae, Neurigoninae, Rhaphiinae, and Sympycninae are paraphyletic, and Hydrophorinae and Peloropeodinae polyphyletic. Our broad taxon sample allows us to gain new insights into the complex systematics of Dolichopodidae. Our results highlight several problems with the traditional classification, which have considerable consequences for the systematic status of some taxa. The poor resolution observed in deep divergences supports previous hypotheses suggesting a rapid early radiation of Dolichopodidae.

Relationships of the New World cichlid genus Hypsophrys Agassiz 1859 (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with diagnoses for the genus and its species

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1523 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
PROSANTA CHAKRABARTY ◽  
JOHN S. SPARKS
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
Senior Synonym ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Relationship Of

Two monotypic Neotropical cichlid genera, Hypsophrys Agassiz 1859 and Neetroplus Günther 1867, are well known but poorly diagnosed. The possession of a single supraneural (versus two for most Middle American species), a strongly rounded snout with a small and slightly subterminal mouth (versus straight snout profiles with terminal mouth) provide morphological support for the sister-group relationship of Hypsophrys and Neetroplus recovered in recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Based on these shared features Neetroplus is synonymized with Hypsophrys. In addition, the senior synonym Hypsophrys unimaculatus should no longer be improperly suppressed in favor of the more familiar, but junior, H. nicaraguensis.

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