Achene Morphology and Anatomy of Clematis L. (Ranunculaceae) in Korea and Its Taxonomic Implications

Clematis, a widely distributed genus in Ranunculaceae, is one of the most difficult groups of taxa in the family from a taxonomic point of view. A comprehensive study on achene morphology and the anatomy of 19 taxa of Clematis from Korea was carried out using scanning electron and light microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic significance of achene characters. Clematis achenes are elliptical, obovate or fusiform in shape, light yellow or brown to black in color and completely or sparsely covered with hairs. The permanent style is elongated and plumose in all the studied taxa except C. brachyura. We found that the size, indument, permanent style, surface sculpture, shape in cross-section, and nature and thickness of the exocarp, and endocarp were valuable achene features for species delimitation and may contribute to the unraveling of the taxonomic problems in the genus Clematis. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the quantitative achene variables among the species were highly significant (p < 0.001). Principal component analyses based on seven quantitative characters and UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean) analysis based on seven quantitative and 18 qualitative characters also signify the utility of achene features for taxonomic discriminations of the Clematis taxa within the genus. Similar to other morphological characters in the genus Clematis, achene morphological and anatomical characters with the limited taxonomic value alone cannot be expected to resolve the infrageneric relationships but certain achene features combined with other morphological features could be useful as an alternative means of determining the infrageneric relationships within the genus.

Guideline for genome transposon annotation derived from evaluation of popular TE identification tools

Background: Transposable elements (TEs) constitute the vast majority of all eukaryotic DNA, and display extreme diversity, with thousands of families. Given their abundance and diversity, TEs discovery and annotation becomes challengeable. At present, tools and databases have built libraries to mask TEs in genomes based on de novo- and homology-based identification strategies, but no consensus criteria about which tools should be used have been proposed. Results: In the de novo-based strategy, we compared performances of TE libraries developed by four commonly used tools, including RepeatModeler, LTR_FINDER, LTRharvest, and MITE_Hunter, by using a simulated genome as a standard control. The results showed that the performance of RepeatModeler decreased as it was combined with either LTR_FINDER or LTRharvest. Combination of RepeatModeler and MITE_Hunter showed better performance than RepeatModeler and MITE_Hunter alone. In the homology-based strategy, we evaluated different sources from a taxonomic point of view to build an accurate TE library. When we selected a library from databases to identify TEs for Arabidopsis thaliana genome, the library from a genus genetically closer to Arabidopsis achieved better performance than other genera with further genetic distance. Without the Arabidopsis, combination of top three genera closer to Arabidopsis showed better performance than combination of all genera. Conclusion: This study proposes a series of recommendations to perform an accurate TE annotation: 1) For de novo-based strategy, RepeatModeler and MITE_Hunter are suggested to build a TE library; 2) For homology-based strategy, it is recommended to use library of genus genetically close to the species rather than use combined library from all genera.

Present status of the genus Sphrageidus Maes, 1984 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Lymantriinae) from India

The surveys to different localities of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand yielded three species of genus Sphrageidus Maes, namely S. similis (Fuessly), S. simlensis (Gupta) and S. xanthorrhoea (Kollar) of subfamily Lymantriinae. The external morphological characters particularly wing maculation and venation along with genitalia characteristics have been studied and illustrated in detail. The male genitalic features like distinct saccus, ring-like juxta, simple valva, aedeagus with a hook or reversed spine at the apex and distinct wing venation, i.e., absence of vein M2 in hindwing completely conform the characterization of the genus. In the present studies, the species simlensis has been placed under genus Sphrageidus Maes making a new combination as Sphrageidus simlensis (Gupta) for its proper placement. The genus diagnosis has also been updated. The external morphological characters including wing maculation, venation and particularly the genitalic features proved significant from taxonomic point of view in all the three species.

Preliminary characterization of the Quercus pubescens complex in southern Italy using molecular markers

Quercus pubescens s.l. is a group of taxonomically intricate and highly debated deciduous white oaks widely distributed in southern Europe. The Apulia Region occupies the south-easternmost part of the Italian peninsula; the land-use pattern is based on extensive agricultural systems and only 10% is covered by forests that are mainly composed of oak woods. It is the region in Italy showing the highest number of oak species, among which four putative species of the Quercus pubescens group, have been reported in floras and checklists with uncertain taxonomic value because of the overlapping of diagnostic characters. In this paper, we carried out a molecular analysis on natural populations of Q. pubescens s.l. distributed throughout the Apulian region. Individuals from 24 pubescent oak populations were sampled and each tree was genotyped at 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Overall, the average expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.629, and the allelic richness (Ar) ranged between 2.130 and 7.187. No differentiation was observed among the populations investigated, and the genetic differentiation coefficient (FST) was 0.036. Gene flow among populations was found to be relatively high (Nm = 6.664). From a taxonomic point of view, the possibility of the coexistence of more than one species among the Apulian pubescent oaks reported in the taxonomic and syntaxonomic literature is not supported by the results of this molecular analysis.

Materials on the fauna of bivalve mollusks (Mollusca, Bivalvia) of the Taz river basin (Western Siberia)

Based on a study of samples made by the author, 70 species of freshwater bivalves belonging to 6 genera and 2 families are recorded for the Taz River basin (north of Western Siberia). An annotated list of bivalves of the Taz basin is provided, with data on species’ range, their findings in Western Siberia and within the studied area. Some information about bionomics and abundance of bivalves are given. 45 species are for the first time registered in this basin. Most studied molluscan communities are characterized by low species richness; the distribution of species by their occurrence was extremely uneven. 22 species are characterized as rare. The highest species richness of bivalves was found in river channels, rivers and brooks; the lowest - in temporary habitats. The core of the fauna is constituted by species with broadest range (cosmopolitan, trans Holarctic, trans Palearctic) as well as by taxa with European Siberian type of distribution. From the taxonomic point of view, the bivalve fauna of the Taz basin is relatively separated from the faunas of other river basins of Western Siberia and is more similar to the fauna of the Lower Yenisean zoogeographic province (sensu Starobogatov [1986]).

Morphology, anatomy and palynology study on Turkish endemic species Saponaria karapinarensis (Caryophyllaceae)

Saponaria karapinarensis (Caryophyllaceae), an endemic species from Turkey, was studied from taxonomic point of view. Morphological, anatomical, and palynological characteristics of the species were examined. Morphology of stem, calyx, petals, and capsule are useful to distinguish the species. Anatomical features, such as the number of cortex layers and sclerenchymatic cell layers in stem, are of taxonomical importance. SEM Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies on the pollen grains have revealed that they are spheroideae and their exine ornamentation is granulatae, spinulate microechinatae- microperforatae. Seed micromorphological features were also given.

New insights on the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the Neotropical genus Phoebis (Pieridae: Coliadinae) revealed by molecular and morphological data

Phoebis Hübner (1819) is a genus of the Neotropical subfamily Coliadinae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). The highest diversity is found in the Greater Antilles islands in the Caribbean region. Although from the taxonomic point of view, Phoebis seems to be a stable genus, there is no phylogenetic hypothesis corroborating the monophyly of the genus. In this study, we used both morphological characters and a genetic dataset consisting of one mitochondrial (COI) and three nuclear markers (RpS5, MDH, Wingless). The matrix was concatenated and analysed with parsimony under implied weights (IW). Also, the concatenated data set was analysed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference evolutionary methods, and ancestral states reconstruction with characters traditionally used for classification of Phoebis was carried out. The same topology was recovered by Parsimony, ML and BI analysis, and suggest that Phoebis is not a monophyletic genus, with Aphrissa and Rhabdodryas nested within it. Our findings allow us to consider the genera Rhabdodryas syn.rev. and Aphrissa syn.rev. to be synonyms of Phoebis. These results have implications for the systematics of Phoebis and the genera that should be accepted in Coliadinae.

Biodiversity of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in the Province of Verona (Veneto, Northern Italy)

A commented catalogue of Coleoptera Staphylinidae present in Verona province (Veneto, Northern Italy) is provided. It is based on published as well as mostly unpublished records, with the Sette collection at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona as main source. These records are filed in a freely downloadable database (http://www.societaentomologicaitaliana.it/it/archivio-comunicazioni/78-archiviati/269-database-staphylinidae-verona.html). Verona province is a very diverse area, with habitats ranging from montane/alpine to hill and plain, which are natural, seminatural or anthropogenic. A total of 988 species are listed. Localities, habitats, microhabitats, collecting methods, altitudinal range, months of capture, latest year of capture and number of specimens are given for each species. Comments are added for 149 remarkable species or genera (<em>i.e</em>. new to Italy, endemic, with particular geographic distribution, living in particular habitats, introduced, problematic from a taxonomic point of view), 7 species are new records for Italy (<em>Tachyporus corpulentus J.</em> Sahlberg, 1876, <em>Aleochara bellonata</em> Krása, 1922, <em>Aleochara marmotae</em> Sainte-Claire Deville, 1927, <em>Atheta (Ceritaxa) flavipes</em> (Hochhuth, 1860), <em>Atheta (Philhygra) pseudoelongatula</em> Bernhauer, 1907, <em>Stenomastax platygaster</em> (Kraatz, 1859), <em>Carpelimus boops rondaensis</em> (Fagel, 1957)), one is very probably new to science (<em>Leptusa</em> sp.). The biogeographic analysis of the data is mostly based on the comparison of the main areas of the province (Monte Baldo, Lessinia, Morene del Garda, course of Adige river, and plain). The presence of a good percentage (5%) of endemic species is pointed out. The communities inhabiting the principal habitats and microhabitats are commented on, and remarkable species living in the protected areas of the province are listed.

Taxonomy of Aspidosperma Mart. (Apocynaceae, Rauvolfioideae) in the State of Pará, Northern Brazil

Aspidosperma Mart. is one of the most important genera from Apocynaceae Juss. occurring in Brazil. It is present in many plant formations and has species with both medicinal and economic value. From a taxonomic point of view, many of its species are difficult to identify, especially those occurring in the Amazonian region. In order to complement the information already available with regard to the taxonomy and distribution of the genus, the goal of this work was to provide a taxonomic study of the Aspidosperma species occurring in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. This study was based on the analysis of vouchers from the BHCB, HBRA, IAC, IAN, INPA, MG, R, RB and UEC herbaria, as well as scanned images of vouchers from Brazilian and foreign herbaria, and specimens collected in the field. Species identification was confirmed by analysis of protologues and types (or images). We present taxonomic descriptions, illustrations and one identification key for the 20 species of Aspidosperma found in Pará, with the Baixo Amazonas Mesoregion presenting the largest number of species (17), and the Metropolitana de Belém Mesoregion presenting the smallest number of species (3). Aspidosperma eteanum, A. oblongum, A. salgadense (endemic of Pará) and A. sandwithianum are accepted as species here. Aspidosperma cuspa is a new record for Pará. The fruits of Aspidosperma eteanum and A. salgadense, and the seeds of A. eteanum, have been described and illustrated for the first time.