Alternative Nesting Strategies of Polistine Wasps in a Subtropical Locale

Phylogenetic studies suggest that historically all paper wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in North America have tropical origins, but some species have adapted to survive temperate conditions. Subtropical climates, which are intermediate between temperate and tropical, allow a unique opportunity to study ancestral traits which can be retained or lost within populations, and ultimately elucidate the process of social wasp evolution. We investigated the phenology of paper wasps at study sites in subtropical Baton Rouge, USA, through nest searching and monitoring of nest parameters throughout the warm season (March–October). Across the year, two periods of nest initiation occurred: from March–May (early season nests, i.e., before the summer solstice), and from July–September (late season nests, after the solstice). We observed 240 Polistes nests from six species, of which 50.8% were initiated in early season and 49.2% in late season. In contrast, Mischocyttarus mexicanus rarely built late season nests and had longer early season colony duration than Polistes bellicosus and P. dorsalis, which built more nests in the late season than early. Across all species, late season nests had significantly shorter colony duration (~87.6 days) than early season nests (~166 days), and only P. bellicosus had fewer adults at peak population in late season nests than in early season nests. Results indicate both a bivoltine colony cycle in Polistes of subtropical climates, as well as differences in nesting strategies between genera.

Bjerkandera carnegieae comb. nov. (Phanerochaetaceae, Polyporales) a wood-decay polypore of cactus

Poria carnegieae was described from Arizona growing on the woody ribs of the saguaro cactus, Carnegiea gigantea, and was transferred to Ceriporiopsis due to morphological evidence. Posterior phylogenetic studies showed a relationship of Poria carnegieae with Bjerkandera. New sequence data and morphologic evidence are presented to support the transfer of Ceriporiopsis carnegieae to Bjerkandera.

Taxonomic revision and morphological delimitation of Oxalis sect. Ripariae (Oxalidaceae)

Phylogenetic studies indicate that several infrageneric taxa in Oxalis require taxonomic updates to attain monophyly. In this contribution, we update the morphological delimitation of the South American Oxalis sect. Ripariae and provide a taxonomic revision of the currently accepted species. The sectional delimitation was carried out by comparing micro- and macromorphological features of Oxalis sect. Ripariae, O. sect. Corniculatae, and O. sect. Myriophyllum. These sections share yellow flowers and aerial stems. Glandular hairs and larger seeds with the surface longitudinally crested and with projections are exclusive to Oxalis sect. Ripariae. We accept 11 species in the section, including three previously placed in Oxalis sect. Corniculatae (i.e., O. eriocarpa, O. niederleinii, and O. refracta), but excluding O. serpens and O. subvillosa, which are moved to O. sect. Corniculatae. We also describe a new species (Oxalis lourteiginana), propose a new name and status for O. bifrons subsp. littoralis (now O. pampeana), the synonymization of O. irreperta with O. riparia, six second-step lectotypifications, and one epitypification. For each accepted species we provide a morphological description, illustrations, ecological and taxonomic information, conservation status following IUCN, and a geographic distribution map. Most species occur in southern Brazil, but the section is widespread also in Argentina, Uruguay, and eastern Paraguay. Six species are categorized as threatened and further three as near threatened. Besides, we provide an identification key for the taxa of the section.

The evolution and biological correlates of hand preferences in anthropoid primates

The evolution of human right-handedness has been intensively debated for decades. Manual lateralization patterns in non-human primates have the potential to elucidate evolutionary determinants of human handedness. However, restricted species samples and inconsistent methodologies are limiting comparative phylogenetic studies. By combining original data with published literature reports, we assembled data on hand preferences for standardized object manipulation in 1,806 individuals from 38 species of anthropoid primates, including monkeys, apes, and humans. Based on that, we employ quantitative phylogenetic methods to test prevalent hypotheses on the roles of ecology, brain size and tool use in primate handedness evolution. We confirm that human right-handedness represents an unparalleled extreme among anthropoids and found taxa displaying significant population-level handedness to be notably rare. Species-level direction of manual lateralization was largely uniform among non-human primates and neither correlated with phylogeny nor with any of the selected biological predictors. In contrast, we recovered highly variable patterns of hand preference strength, which show signatures of both ecology and phylogeny. In particular, terrestrial primates tend to display weaker hand preferences than arboreal species. These results challenge popular ideas on primate handedness evolution, especially the postural origins hypothesis. Furthermore, they point to a potential adaptive benefit of disparate lateralization strength in primates, a measure of hand preference that has often been overlooked in the past. Finally, our data show that human lateralization patterns do not align with trends found among other anthropoids, suggesting that unique selective pressures gave rise to the unusual hand preferences displayed by our species.

A mid-Cretaceous fungus, Philothysanus burmanicus gen. et sp. nov. (Ascomycota: Spheciophilaceae), on a thrip (Thysanoptera) in Burmese amber

Male and female thalli of a mid-Cretaceous fungus attached to a thrip (Thysanoptera) in Burmese amber are described as Philothysanus burmanicus gen. et sp. nov. in the family Spheciophilaceae (Ascomycota). Both spermatia and ascospores are present. Currently, Philothysanus burmanicus gen. et sp. nov., together with the previously described Spheciophilia adercia Poinar, represent the oldest known ectoparasitic fungi of insects and their age can be used as a reference point in future phylogenetic studies on the origin of fungi with this life style.

Classifications of Iris L. genus at the biological and molecular levels as a basis for modern phylogenetic studies

Aim. To analyze and summarize literature data on the state of classification and taxonomy of Iris genus plants of Iridaceae family.Results and discussion. The genus Iris L. is one of the largest species of Iridaceae Juss family, which includes 1,800 species of 80 genera. Despite the fact that plants are very common as ornamental plants, there is currently no single classification for both horticultural and wild species of Iris genus. Various classifications and systems of irises have been proposed, the main difference between them is related to the understanding of the genus scope. The taxonomy of Iris genus underwent dramatic changes in the last century, especially in recent decades after the introduction of molecular methods. This paper deals with the analysis of current literature data on the existing classifications of Iris genus plants, the correspondence between taxonomic studies and the results of recent molecular studies. The data presented summarize the traditional classifications according to Rodionenko and Matthew, and also describe modern achievements in phylogenetic studies of this genus using functional genomic studies, involving molecular markers in irises. Conclusions. The data analyzed and summarized in the article can be useful for solving issues of taxonomy, phylogeny, genetics and practical problems of selection of plants of Iris genus; in addition, they will contribute to a more appropriate use of the Iris raw material in practical pharmacy.

A Global Phylogenomic Study of the Thelypteridaceae

Abstract— The generic classification of the Thelypteridaceae has been the subject of much controversy. Proposed taxonomic systems have varied from recognizing the approximately 1200 species in the family within the single genus Thelypteris, to systems favoring upwards of 30 genera. Insights on intrafamilial relationships, especially for neotropical taxa, have been gained from recent phylogenetic studies; however, in the most recent classification, 10 of 30 recognized genera are either non-monophyletic or untested. We sequenced 407 nuclear loci for 621 samples, representing all recognized genera and approximately half the known species diversity. These were analyzed using both maximum likelihood analysis of a concatenated matrix and multi-species coalescent methods. Our phylogenomic results, informed by recently published morphological evidence, provide the foundation for a generic classification which recircumscribed 14 genera and recognized seven new genera. The 37 monophyletic genera sampled demonstrate greater geographic coherence than previous taxonomic concepts suggested. Additionally, our results demonstrate that certain morphological characters, such as frond division, are evolutionarily labile and are thus inadequate for defining genera.

Chloroplast Phylogenomic Analyses Reveal a Maternal Hybridization Event Leading to the Formation of Cultivated Peanuts

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) offer numerous healthy benefits, and the production of peanuts has a prominent role in global food security. As a result, it is in the interest of society to improve the productivity and quality of peanuts with transgenic means. However, the lack of a robust phylogeny of cultivated and wild peanut species has limited the utilization of genetic resources in peanut molecular breeding. In this study, a total of 33 complete peanut plastomes were sequenced, analyzed and used for phylogenetic analyses. Our results suggest that sect. Arachis can be subdivided into two lineages. All the cultivated species are contained in Lineage I with AABB and AA are the two predominant genome types present, while species in Lineage II possess diverse genome types, including BB, KK, GG, etc. Phylogenetic studies also indicate that all allotetraploid cultivated peanut species have been derived from a possible maternal hybridization event with one of the diploid Arachis duranensis accessions being a potential AA sub-genome ancestor. In addition, Arachis monticola, a tetraploid wild species, is placed in the same group with all the cultivated peanuts, and it may represent a transitional species, which has been through the recent hybridization event. This research could facilitate a better understanding of the taxonomic status of various Arachis species/accessions and the evolutionary relationship among them, and assists in the correct and efficient use of germplasm resources in breeding efforts to improve peanuts for the benefit of human beings.

A new combination in Pseudolappula (Boraginaceae, Rochelieae) based on morphological, molecular and palynological evidence

Lappula sinaica was recently transferred to the monotypic genus Pseudolappula based on phylogenetic studies, while the related species, L. occultata, has remained in the genus Lappula. In this study, morphological, molecular, and palynological evidence supports that L. occultata should be transferred to the genus Pseudolappula. Both L. occultata and P. sinaica share a combination of nutlets features that distinguish them from Lappula: a longer adaxial keel and a linear attachment scar. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS and trnL-F strongly supports L. occultata as the sister taxon of P. sinaica. In addition, pollen grains of these two species are 3-syncolporate with 3 alternating pseudocolpi, which is significantly different from the grains of Lappula taxa. Based on the above evidence, the new combination Pseudolappula occultata is proposed.

Improving phylogenetic resolution of the Lamiales using the complete plastome sequences of six Penstemon species

The North American endemic genus Penstemon (Mitchell) has a recent geologic origin of ca. 3.6 million years ago (MYA) during the Pliocene/Pleistocene transition and has undergone a rapid adaptive evolutionary radiation with ca. 285 species of perennial forbs and sub-shrubs. Penstemon is divided into six subgenera occupying all North American habitats including the Arctic tundra, Central American tropical forests, alpine meadows, arid deserts, and temperate grasslands. Due to the rapid rate of diversification and speciation, previous phylogenetic studies using individual and concatenated chloroplast sequences have failed to resolve many polytomic clades. We investigated the efficacy of utilizing the plastid genomes (plastomes) of 29 species in the Lamiales order, including five newly sequenced Penstemon plastomes, for analyzing phylogenetic relationships and resolving problematic clades. We compared whole-plastome based phylogenies to phylogenies based on individual gene sequences (matK, ndhF, psaA, psbA, rbcL, rpoC2, and rps2) and concatenated sequences. We also We found that our whole-plastome based phylogeny had higher nodal support than all other phylogenies, which suggests that it provides greater accuracy in describing the hierarchal relationships among taxa as compared to other methods. We found that the genus Penstemon forms a monophyletic clade sister to, but separate from, the Old World taxa of the Plantaginaceae family included in our study. Our whole-plastome based phylogeny also supports the rearrangement of the Scrophulariaceae family and improves resolution of major clades and genera of the Lamiales.