Description of Aurelia pseudosolida sp. nov. (Scyphozoa, Ulmaridae) from the Adriatic Sea

Until 2021, the genus Aurelia contained eleven described species (WoRMS, 2020), with many genetic species still awaiting a formal description. In 2021, ten new species of Aurelia were described almost solely from genetic data in a novel attempt to use genetic characters as diagnostic characters for species descriptions, leaving seven genetic species still undescribed. Here we present the description of a new Aurelia species from the Adriatic Sea using an integrative taxonomy approach, i.e., employing molecular as well as morphological characteristics in order to describe this new Aurelia species. The species is described based on a single medusa sampled from the town of Rovinj (Croatia), North Adriatic, amidst combined blooms of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidy and cnidarian Aurelia solida in the summer of 2020. Based on genetic data, the newly described Aurelia pseudosolida sp. nov. has never been sequenced in any of the previous investigations of the molecular diversity of Aurelia. This is the second species belonging to Discomedusae described from the North Adriatic in little more than half a decade, which could be yet another indication of the susceptibility of the North Adriatic to proliferation of non-indigenous gelatinous species, especially if we take into account historical as well as recent blooms of suspected non-indigenous gelatinous species such as Muggiaea atlantica, Aurelia solida, Mawia benovici and Mnemiopsis leidy.

Synopsis of the genus Drosera (Droseraceae) in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

While some African Floras were continuously revised and several are now almost completed, the Flora of Angola’s ‘Conspectus Florae Angolensis’ still remains incomplete. This applies also for Droseraceae and the genus Drosera. Our study aims to provide an identification key for Drosera of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including all morphological characters of the different Angolan and Congolese taxa. Loans from different herbaria were studied. A list of important morphological characters was combined with data obtained by observations and measurements. Beside the identification key, nine species descriptions with drawings of the main characteristics, distribution maps and SEM-pictures of pollen and seed morphology are provided. The possibility of hybridisation is discussed. Despite difficulties such as varying morphology or hybridisation in some species, the identification key enables researchers to identify specimens by morphological characters.

A semantically enriched taxonomic revision of Gryonoides Dodd, 1920 (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), with a review of the hosts of Teleasinae

Teleasinae are commonly collected scelionids that are the only known egg parasitoids of carabid beetles and therefore play a crucial role in shaping carabid populations in natural and agricultural ecosystems. We review the available host information of Teleasinae, report a new host record, and revise Gryonoides Dodd, 1920, a morphologically distinct teleasine genus. We review the generic concept of Gryonoides and provide diagnoses and descriptions of thirteen Gryonoides species and two varieties: G. glabriceps Dodd, 1920, G. pulchellus Dodd, 1920 (= G. doddi Ogloblin, 1967, syn. nov. and G. pulchricornis Ogloblin, 1967, syn. nov.), G. brasiliensis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. flaviclavus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. fuscoclavatus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. garciai Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. mexicali Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. mirabilicornis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. obtusus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. paraguayensis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. rugosus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. uruguayensis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov. We treat Gryonoides scutellaris Dodd, 1920, as status uncertain. Gryonoides mirabilicornis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov. is the only known teleasine with tyloids on two consecutive flagellomeres, a well-known trait of Sparasionidae. An illustrated identification key to species of Gryonoides, a queryable semantic representation of species descriptions using PhenoScript, and a simple approach for making Darwin Core Archive files in taxonomic revisions accessible are provided.

Natural history of neotropical Ericaceae, 1

Gonocalyx pulcher (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) has been rediscovered in the northeastern Colombian Andes after a lapse of over 135 years. Recent collections herein reported represent the only collections made since the type gathering by Schlim in 1851. The history of collections, cultivation, taxonomy, and nomenclature is re-viewed. Generic and species descriptions for G. pulcher are updated and photographic illustrations are provided. The vegetation in which G. pulcher occurs, a list of its commonly associated Ericaceae, and its conservation status are briefly described. A new second-step lectotypification is made and the associated type herbarium specimens are illustrated. A key to all 11 species of Gonocalyx is provided.

Paranephelius (Asteraceae: Liabeae): A case study in high-elevation hybridization and taxonomic insights

Paranephelius Poepp. (Liabeae: Asteraceae) is a genus, here comprised of three species confined to high-elevation Andean habitats from 3°–25°S latitude from northern Peru to northern Argentina. In a prior investigation, sequence data was analyzed from samples throughout the range of the genus to evaluate the morphological variation used in delineating species. This detailed sampling allowed for molecular studies at a fine geographic scale. Within Paranephelius, genetic divergence is low, and not adequate to fully resolve phylogenetic relationships at the species level. Two genetically and morphologically recognizable genomes were reveled in northern Peru; these correspond to P. ovatus Wedd. and P. uniflorus Poepp., respectively. Several accessions possess sequences representing putative hybrids between these two species. These putative hybrids have caused taxonomic confusion in establishing species boundaries in Paranephelius. The molecular analysis suggested that P. asperifolius (Muschl.) H. Rob. & Brettell, distributed in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, is related to P. ovatus, while it most closely resembles P. uniflorus. Species that have changed status include, P. ferreyrae H. Rob., here within the parameters of P. uniflorus; and P. jelskii (Hieron.) H. Rob. & Brettell, P. bullatus A. Gray ex Wedd., and P. wurdackii H. Rob. are here within parameters of P. ovatus. This study is not intended to be a monograph, but does includes a key to species, descriptions, illustrations, and citation of specimens examined.

Flora of Singapore precursors, 26: The genus Maesa (Primulaceae) in Singapore and clarification of Maesa ramentacea in Malesia

Two species of Maesa are recorded for Singapore: the scrambling species M. sumatrana Scheff. found in the Central Catchment area, and the small tree taxon M. leptobotrya Hance found primarily in the Bukit Timah area. Both species have traditionally been misidentified as the widespread species Maesa ramentacea (Roxb.) A.DC., and this taxonomic confusion is discussed; a key to the two species, descriptions and photographs are provided.

Taxonomic evaluation of Xylodon (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) in Korea and sequence verification of the corresponding species in GenBank

Genus Xylodon consists of white-rot fungi that grow on both angiosperms and gymnosperms. With resupinate and adnate basidiomes, Xylodon species have been classified into other resupinate genera for a long time. Upon the integration of molecular assessments, the taxonomy of the genus has been revised multiple times over the years. However, the emendations were poorly reflected in studies and public sequence databases. In the present study, the genus Xylodon in Korea was evaluated using molecular and morphological analyses of 172 specimens collected in the period of 2011 to 2018. The host types and geographical distributions were also determined for species delimitation. Furthermore, public sequences that correspond to the Xylodon species in Korea were assessed to validate their identities. Nine Xylodon species were identified in Korea, with three species new to the country. Morphological differentiation and identification of some species were challenging, but all nine species were clearly divided into well-resolved clades in the phylogenetic analyses. Detailed species descriptions, phylogeny, and a key to Xylodon species in Korea are provided in the present study. A total of 646 public ITS and nrLSU sequences corresponding to the nine Xylodon species were found, each with 404 (73.1%) and 57 (61.3%) misidentified or labeled with synonymous names. In many cases, sequences released before the report of new names have not been revised or updated. Revisions of these sequences are arranged in the present study. These amendments may be used to avoid the misidentification of future sequence-based identifications and concurrently prevent the accumulation of misidentified sequences in GenBank.

Studies in Austral Bryaceae (Bryopsida). III. A Preliminary Account with Keys to Rosulabryum J.R. Spence in Chile

A preliminary study of the genus Rosulabryum J.R. Spence in Chile is presented, with brief species descriptions, notes on ecology and distributions, and a taxonomic key. The following 12 species are confirmed with vouchered specimens; Rosulabryum andicola (Hook.) Ochyra, Rosulabryum billarderii (Schwägr.) J.R. Spence, Rosulabryum campylothecium (Taylor) J.R. Spence, Rosulabryum capillare (Hedw.) J.R. Spence, Rosulabryum coloratum (Müll. Hal.) J.R. Spence, Rosulabryum densifolium (Brid.) Ochyra, Rosulabryum longidens (Thér.) J.R. Spence, Rosulabryum macrophyllum (Cardot & Broth.) Ochyra, Rosulabryum perlimbatum (Cardot) Ochyra, Rosulabryum puconense (Herzog & Thér.) J.R. Spence, Rosulabryum rubens (Mitt.) J.R. Spence, and Rosulabryum torquescens (Bruch ex De Not.) J.R. Spence. Rosulabryum canariense (Brid.) Ochyra is tentatively excluded as the Chilean material can be referred to R. coloratum. Similarly, Rosulabryum viridescens (Welw. & Duby) Ochyra is tentatively excluded since the Chilean plants do not match the African type, but instead appear to be atypical plants of R. campylothecium.

Molecular Studies of New Zealand Fucales: Phylogeography, Phylogeny and Taxonomy in Carpophyllum and Cystophora (Phaeophyceae)

<p>Genetic variation in Carpophyllum Greville and Cystophora J. Agardh (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) was investigated at a variety of scales. An extensive survey of mitochondrial spacer variation in Carpophyllum maschalocarpum from 32 populations around New Zealand shows strong population differentiation at relatively small scales (50–100 kilometres), but also pathways of long distance dispersal that connect populations over much greater distances. In addition, historical climate change appears to have restricted C. maschalocarpum to the northern North Island during the last glacial maximum, with subsequent southward range expansion revealed by low genetic diversity in southern populations. These results are consistent with limited dispersal at the gamete and zygote stage, expected in fucalean algae, but with occasional long distance dispersal by detached floating thalli. The genetic signature suggests these two modes of dispersal are decoupled. Internal Transcribed Spacers sequences show little differentiation between C. maschalocarpum and C. angustifolium, and hybridisation was found in several populations where these species are broadly sympatric. In the Bay of Plenty the two species had different ITS ribotypes, but most C. angustifolium specimens had a mitochondrial spacer haplotype that clustered with C. maschalocarpum haplotypes. This indicates mitochondrial introgression from C. maschalocarpum into C. angustifolium. In Northland species were difficult to separate by morphology or molecular markers, and some populations appear to be comprised entirely of hybrids. Genetic distances between different species of Cystophora are very variable, and in some cases intra-species distances are similar to interspecies distances. This is problematic for DNA barcoding methods that rely on thresholds between inter-species and intra-species genetic distances. In some (but not all) cases, the absence of molecular differentiation can be attributed to oversplitting of Cystophora species by morphological methods, and I synonymise C. congesta with C. retroflexa, and C. distenta with C. scalaris. These studies exemplify the difficulties of delimiting species in brown algae: Morphology is often misleading or uninformative; genetic differentiation of species is very variable and often low; and species’ histories show complex patterns of isolation and secondary contact. I argue for an explicitly historical concept of species, with species’ history included in species descriptions.</p>

Molecular Studies of New Zealand Fucales: Phylogeography, Phylogeny and Taxonomy in Carpophyllum and Cystophora (Phaeophyceae)

<p>Genetic variation in Carpophyllum Greville and Cystophora J. Agardh (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) was investigated at a variety of scales. An extensive survey of mitochondrial spacer variation in Carpophyllum maschalocarpum from 32 populations around New Zealand shows strong population differentiation at relatively small scales (50–100 kilometres), but also pathways of long distance dispersal that connect populations over much greater distances. In addition, historical climate change appears to have restricted C. maschalocarpum to the northern North Island during the last glacial maximum, with subsequent southward range expansion revealed by low genetic diversity in southern populations. These results are consistent with limited dispersal at the gamete and zygote stage, expected in fucalean algae, but with occasional long distance dispersal by detached floating thalli. The genetic signature suggests these two modes of dispersal are decoupled. Internal Transcribed Spacers sequences show little differentiation between C. maschalocarpum and C. angustifolium, and hybridisation was found in several populations where these species are broadly sympatric. In the Bay of Plenty the two species had different ITS ribotypes, but most C. angustifolium specimens had a mitochondrial spacer haplotype that clustered with C. maschalocarpum haplotypes. This indicates mitochondrial introgression from C. maschalocarpum into C. angustifolium. In Northland species were difficult to separate by morphology or molecular markers, and some populations appear to be comprised entirely of hybrids. Genetic distances between different species of Cystophora are very variable, and in some cases intra-species distances are similar to interspecies distances. This is problematic for DNA barcoding methods that rely on thresholds between inter-species and intra-species genetic distances. In some (but not all) cases, the absence of molecular differentiation can be attributed to oversplitting of Cystophora species by morphological methods, and I synonymise C. congesta with C. retroflexa, and C. distenta with C. scalaris. These studies exemplify the difficulties of delimiting species in brown algae: Morphology is often misleading or uninformative; genetic differentiation of species is very variable and often low; and species’ histories show complex patterns of isolation and secondary contact. I argue for an explicitly historical concept of species, with species’ history included in species descriptions.</p>