Stem Anatomical Descriptors of Four Sesbania Scop. Species And Their Systematic Implication

Stem anatomical features of four Sesbania Scop. species viz. S. bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight, S. cannabina (Retz.) Poir., S. sesban (L.) Merr., and S. rostrata Bremek. & Oberm., were examined to add some insights for identification of these species using quantitative anatomical descriptors. Sesbania stem is composed of epidermis, cortex, vascular tissues – phloem, cambium zone and xylem, and pith, which exhibit significant variations among the species in terms of their area and thickness. Sesbania sesban showed the largest area and widest epidermal cells. The close relationship between S. bispinosa and S. rostrata was found in the stem anatomical descriptors. Moreover, S. rostrata and S. cannabina were closer to some extent according to some anatomical descriptors; also rationalizing the external morphological similarities of these species. A dichotomous key of the studied Sesbania species was made. Dendrograms based on Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster analysis of stem anatomical descriptors also confirmed close relationships identified in previous phylogenetic analyses. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(2): 441-449, 2021 (December)

Four new species of troglomorphic Coecobrya Yosii, 1956 (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from Thailand based on morphological and molecular evidence, with an updated key of Thai troglomorphic species

Four new species of troglomorphic Coecobrya Yosii, 1956 are described from caves located in the central and northeastern regions of Thailand. Coecobrya whittenisp. nov. and C. troglobiasp. nov. are from Khon Kaen province, C. ellisisp. nov. is from Phetchabun province and C. phitsanulokensissp. nov. is from Phitsanulok province. They all exhibit remarkable troglobitic characters i.e. elongated antennae, legs and furca, slender claw complex and large body size. Coecobrya whittenisp. nov. is similar to C. troglobiasp. nov. and they were found a distance of only 3.4 km from each other. However, they are mainly different in the number of An mac on dorsal head and number of chaetae of Th. II. Likewise, C. ellisisp. nov. is similar to C. phitsanulokensissp. nov.. However, they differ in the number of An mac on the dorsal head, the number of central mac on Abd. II, central mac on Abd. IV, lateral mac on Abd. IV and the number of inner teeth of the claw. Moreover, C. ellisisp. nov. has orange pigment dots on the body, a unique character, considering that all other troglomorphic Coecobrya species in Thailand are devoid of pigmentation. The results of the molecular approach based on two partial mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rDNA) and a nuclear gene fragment (28S rDNA) supported the results of morphological species discrimination in separating the four nominal populations as valid species. An updated dichotomous key of Thai troglomorphic Coecobrya species is also given.

Helen’s twins in the Balkans: discovery of two new Paraptychoptera Tonnoir, 1919 species closely related to P. helena Peus, 1958, with systematic revision of the “lacustris” group (Diptera, Ptychopteridae)

Ptychoptera castor Keresztes & Klappert, sp. nov. and P. pollux Keresztes & Török, sp. nov. both belong to the subgenus Ptychoptera (Paraptychoptera)Tonnoir (1919) and are described from boggy headwaters in the south Balkan area. These new species are closely related to the range-restricted P. helena Peus, 1958, which is known only from Oiti village, Mount Oeta, Phthioitis region, Greece and, together with P. lacustris, forms a morphologically well-defined unit in the subgenus Paraptychoptera. Based on cladistic analyses of 53 different morphological characters using the male antenna, wing, and genital structures, a general revision of the “lacustris” group is proposed with a dichotomous key of Paraptychoptera species.

New Species of Anthurium (Araceae) from Venezuela

A total of nine species of Anthurium Schott sect. Calomystrium Schott (Araceae) from Venezuela are treated. Most of the species have been confused with A. cartilagineum (Desf.) Kunth; a dichotomous key to distinguish them is provided. All but one of these species are endemic to the Cordillera de la Costa in northern Venezuela. Seven species are described as new: A. alfcardozoi Croat, A. coltovarense Croat, A. galipanense Croat, A. georgetatei Croat, A. guaicaipurense Croat & M. Hanson, A. hansonianum Croat, and A. ronliesneri Croat. One additional species, Anthurium species #1, is included in the key and is fully described but is not being formally published owing to inadequate material. In addition, A. cartilagineum (Desf.) Kunth is redescribed, and a more complete description is provided since it is a close relative to several of the species treated here.

Cordana sinensis sp. nov. from southern China

A new species, Cordana sinensis, is described and illustrated from a specimen collected on dead branches of an unidentified broadleaf tree in Jiangxi Province, China. It is characterized by its integrated, polyblastic conidiogenous cells that produce ovoid to obclavate, medially 1–2-septate pale brown, smooth conidia with a slightly prominent hilum. A dichotomous key and a synoptic table to Cordana species, are provided.

The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Iran with the description of Mahabadphora aesthesphora as a new genus and species

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are mega-diverse and often synanthropic insects that play superb roles in various ecosystems. Identification of this group of insects is challenging due to their small size, morphological identification difficulties, niche diversity, and lack of taxonomic keys. To pave the way, an in-depth investigation was directed toward the scuttle flies in Iran using morphological and molecular data. A dichotomous key was also developed to identify the genus and species of the phorids reported in the country. The faunistic findings revealed the presence of about 22,000 (13,903 male and 8,097 female) phorid materials organized into 11 genera. Megaselia species (n = 13768), made up about 99% of the specimens studied. Moreover, 71 morphologically defined species belonging to nine genera were molecularly characterized using COI, 28S rRNA, and Arginine kinase datasets. Excluding four Megaselia Rondani, 1856 species, our results specified that morphologically delimited species were in agreement with the molecular analyses inferred from the COI/28S rRNA and COI/Arginine kinase sequences with genetic distances and phylogenetic trees. According to the results of the present study and previously published data, the Phoridae recorded for Iran are a total of 97 species that are ordered in 13 genera and three subfamilies, including Chonocephalinae, Metopininae and Phorinae. By comparing the known world phorid genera, a new monotypic genus of scuttle flies, Mahabadphora aesthesphora gen. nov., sp. nov., was identified based on its morphological and molecular characteristics and included in an updated key. Our results could comprehensively determine the taxonomic status of scuttle flies in Iran, scrutinize their phylogenetic structures and facilitate their identification.

A new species of free-living marine nematode, Diplolaimella ariakensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Monhysteridae) from the Ariake Sea, Japan

Summary A new species of free-living marine nematode, Diplolaimella ariakensis n. sp., is described from a muddy tidal flat of the Ariake Sea, southern Japan. Diplolaimella ariakensis n. sp. differs from its congeners by the following: presence of ocelli, absence of denticles in the buccal cavity, a long tail (11-14 cloacal body diam., c = 3.2-4.0 in male, 17-21 anal body diam., c = 2.9-3.4 in female), spicules as long as 1.4-1.8 cloacal body diam., gubernaculum 0.4-0.5 cloacal body diam. long with a dorsocaudal apophysis 0.5-0.7 cloacal body diam. long, presence of a precloacal supplement, absence of postcloacal papillae, presence of seven pairs of body pores in male, and the anterior position of the vulva (V = 43-46). A dichotomous key to Diplolaimella species is provided. Almost full-length 18S rRNA and partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences were determined for D. ariakensis n. sp. A maximum likelihood tree of 18S sequences supported a close relationship between D. ariakensis n. sp. and D. dievengatensis.

Knowledge and Attitudes about organ donation in students of Health Sciences from a National University of Lambayeque - 2019

Objective: Determine the level of knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and xenotransplantation in students from a National University of Lambayeque. Methods: The sampling carried out was probabilistic of a simple random type and the sample was made up of 100 university students. An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted to assess levels of knowledge and attitudes about organ donation. A survey of 20 dichotomous key questions was applied. Results: 53 women (53.0%) and 47 (47.0%) men were interviewed. It was observed that 76% do not know about the Law on the Promotion of Solidarity Donation of Human Organs and Tissues in Peru. Likewise, 96% know the organs and tissues that can be donated, 61% of the students have talked with their family about the subject of organ donation. 76% would be willing to donate their organs or tissues after life, and 88% would donate their relatives' organs to save the life of another relative. Conclusions: In the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University it was observed that the knowledge of young people about organ donation was acceptable, although certain aspects need to be clarified.

Studies in Mexican Grasshoppers: Four new species of Reyesacris Fontana, Buzzetti & Mariño-Pérez, 2011 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Ommatolampidinae)

Four new species of Reyesacris Fontana, Buzzetti & Mariño-Pérez, 2011 are described from Southern Mexico (Guerrero and Oaxaca States). Reyesacris zihua sp. nov., R. atoyacensis sp. nov., R. mephaa sp. nov. and R. tika sp. nov. A dichotomous key to species of Reyesacris and distribution map are provided together with an analysis of external and internal male genitalia to place this genus in the subtribe Vilernina within the tribe Ommatolampidini.