Reinstatement of Perinereis bairdii (Webster, 1884) and description of P. websteri sp. nov. from Bermuda, including the reproductive morphology of two Atlantic Perinereis species (Annelida: Errantia: Phyllodocida)

Perinereis anderssoni Kinberg, 1865 originally described from Brazil has been attributed with a wide distribution on the American Atlantic coasts, ranging from Brazil to Bermuda, due to the synonymy of Nereis bairdii Webster, 1884 and Nereis (Perinereis) melanocephala McIntosh, 1885. In this paper, the synonymy of Nereis bairdii with Perinereis anderssoni is rejected based on a re-examination of the syntypes of N. bairdii which are found to contain two species requiring designation of a lectotype and paralectotypes here redescribed as Perinereis bairdii (Webster, 1884) and the remaining specimens are here described as Perinereis websteri sp. nov. The synonymy of Nereis (Perinereis) melanocephala with P. anderssoni is rejected and the synonymy with P. bairdii proposed by previous authors is accepted here. A description of P. anderssoni, a redescription of P. floridana, and a description of the males of P. cariboea with additional material are provided for comparison. A key to identifying all Atlantic Perinereis species is also included.

Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Alter the Reproductive Morphology of Rosa acicularis (Prickly Rose)

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that is widely used in many different commercial formulations. Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are used in forestry operations to reduce populations of plants that compete with merchantable conifers. Past research has found that low-dose GBH applications caused male sterility in agriculturally relevant plants, sparking a need to determine the potential impacts of forestry-related GBH applications on understory plants. We investigated the effects of GBH on the reproductive morphology of Rosa acicularis, a highly prevalent understory shrub within British Columbia, Canada, growing on three operational forestry cutblocks treated with 1.782 kg a.i./ha of glyphosate, in the Omineca Region, and also in a controlled experiment. We analyzed floral and pollen morphology from treated plants and compared these with untreated plants in both scenarios. Pollen viability of treated plants was reduced by an average of 66%, and >30% of anthers were non-dehiscent compared to controls across our three field sites and experimental plants. We also found alterations in pollen and petal morphology in flowers from treated sites and glyphosate residues present in floral tissues 2 years after GBH applications. It is important to fully understand how long GBH-induced change will impact forest vegetation, to preserve natural forest biodiversity and reduce anthropogenic influences on boreal forest ecosystems.

A new status for two varieties previously included in the southern Malagasy Kalanchoe rosei, now included in K. variifolia (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae)

Kalanchoe rosei (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) is a phyllo-bulbiliferous species endemic to southern Madagascar. Historically, two varieties, K. rosei var. seyrigii and K. rosei var. variifolia, have been recognised in K. rosei. One of the two specimens cited when K. rosei var. seyrigii was described bears much resemblance to K. peltigera. However, regardless of how K. rosei var. seyrigii was originally described, the type of the name K. rosei var. seyrigii, which determines its application, is that of the synonym it replaced, i.e., K. rosei subsp. serratifolia. The two varieties, K. rosei var. seyrigii and K. rosei var. variifolia, were originally described as subspecies and are sometimes treated at that rank, as K. rosei subsp. serratifolia and K. rosei subsp. variifolia. Kalanchoe rosei var. seyrigii and K. rosei var. variifolia are morphologically very similar and, based on reproductive morphology alone, can hardly be distinguished, which reaffirms the close relationship between them. Kalanchoe rosei is most closely related to K. peltigera, as well as to K. daigremontiana, K. laetivirens, and K. sanctula, a group of pink-flowered constitutively phyllo-bulbiliferous species from Madagascar. In contrast, K. rosei var. seyrigii and K. rosei var. variifolia rather share several morphological similarities with orange-flowered representatives included in the informal group “Suffrutescentes”, and frequently hybridise with them. Kalanchoe rosei var. variifolia is here elevated to species rank, as K. variifolia, for material hitherto treated as belonging to K. rosei var. seyrigii and K. rosei var. variifolia. Two varieties, the autonymic one and K. variifolia var. seyrigii, are recognised in K. variifolia. The typification of K. rosei subsp. variifolia and K. rosei var. seyrigii, the basionyms of K. variifolia var. variifolia and K. variifolia var. seyrigii, respectively, is clarified.

Species boundaries among extremely diverse and sexually dimorphic Arrenurus water mites (Acariformes: Hydrachnidiae: Arrenuridae)

Arrenurus (Arrenuridae) is the most species-rich genus of mites with about 950 named species that inhabit standing, and to a lesser extent, running water habitats around the world. To date, distinguishing species of Arrenurus has been based on male reproductive morphology. Here, we use morphological and molecular approaches to examine species boundaries among 42 named species of Arrenurus, including four named species that have colour variants (red and green A. americanus, and red and blue A. intermedius, A. manubriator and A. apetiolatus), and two unnamed morphospecies. In this study, we examine male genital structures with the use of SEM techniques, and apply mitochondrial (COI barcode region) and nuclear (28S rRNA) gene fragments to test whether male morphology reflects species boundaries in Arrenurus assessed by molecular analyses. Our results reveal that male reproductive morphology parallels species boundaries as judged by molecular data. We discuss the cases of genetically poorly diversified, yet morphologically clearly defined named species. Moreover, we show that based on the species we examined, colour morphs within otherwise morphologically similar specimens represent within-species variation and, in the absence of other diagnostic traits, colour itself can be misleading in distinguishing species. Our outcomes on molecular taxonomy of Arrenurus provide a background for testing hypotheses about speciation rate in water mites.

TAXONOMIC REVISION OF NIGERIAN SPECIES OF Capsicum L. BASED ON SOME MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

Species of Capsicum L. are closely related plants whose taxonomic status has remained controversial among different taxonomists. This study was designed to examine the taxonomic status of the species of Capsicum in Nigeria in order to establish the genetic variation between the species for the purpose of identification, as well as review the infrageneric classification (INC) of the members of the genus. Germplasm collection of the seeds of five cultivars of Capsicum were regenerated and nurtured to fruiting. Variations in their vegetative and reproductive morphology were macroscopically evaluated in replicates of 30 individuals per cultivar for each character, which equals 150 samples altogether. The cultivars of each species was hierarchically clustered as operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using Ward’s method with squared Euclidean distance. Artificial key was also constructed for the identification of the species in the genus. The twenty-three (23) morphological characters adopted gave useful insights into the INC of the species and were sufficiently diagnostic of the species as evidenced by the artificial key. Through this study, some light has been shed on the delimitation of species and varieties of the Nigerian Capsicum.

Effect of Bacterial or Fungal Phytase Supplementation on the Performance, Egg Quality, Plasma Biochemical Parameters, and Reproductive Morphology of Laying Hens

Catalytic and physicochemical properties of microbial phytase sources may differ, affecting phosphorus (P) release and subsequently the productive and reproductive performance of layers. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of bacterial and fungal phytase sources on layer productivity, egg production, biochemical blood indices, and reproductive morphology. For this purpose, 360 Bovans brown hens at 42 weeks of age were randomly allocated into 4 experimental groups, each with 15 replicates of 6 hens. The first group (control) was fed a basal diet with 4.6 g/kg available P. In contrast, the second, third, and fourth groups were fed diets treated with 3.2 g/kg available P, supplemented with either 5000 FTU/kg of bacterial E. coli (QuantumTM Blue 5G), fungal Aspergillus niger (VemoZyme® F 5000 Naturally Thermostable Phytase (NTP)), or fungal Trichodermareesei (Yemzim® FZ100). Dietary supplementation of bacterial and fungal phytases did not affect the productive performance or egg quality criteria, except for increased shell weight and thickness (p < 0.05). Serum hepatic function biomarkers and lipid profiles were not altered in treated hens, while calcium and P levels were increased (p < 0.05) related to the controls. Ovary index and length, and relative weight of oviduct and its segments were not influenced. The contents of cholesterol and malondialdehyde in the yolks from treated birds were lower compared to control hens, while calcium and P content increased (p < 0.05). Conclusively, bacterial and fungal phytase sources can compensate for the reduction of available P in layers’ diets and enhance shell and yolk quality without affecting productive performance, and no differences among them were noticed.