Power and Weakness of Repetition – Evaluating the Phylogenetic Signal From Repeatomes in the Family Rosaceae With Two Case Studies From Genera Prone to Polyploidy and Hybridization (Rosa and Fragaria)

Plant genomes consist, to a considerable extent, of non-coding repetitive DNA. Several studies showed that phylogenetic signals can be extracted from such repeatome data by using among-species dissimilarities from the RepeatExplorer2 pipeline as distance measures. Here, we advanced this approach by adjusting the read input for comparative clustering indirectly proportional to genome size and by summarizing all clusters into a main distance matrix subjected to Neighbor Joining algorithms and Principal Coordinate Analyses. Thus, our multivariate statistical method works as a “repeatomic fingerprint,” and we proved its power and limitations by exemplarily applying it to the family Rosaceae at intrafamilial and, in the genera Fragaria and Rosa, at the intrageneric level. Since both taxa are prone to hybridization events, we wanted to show whether repeatome data are suitable to unravel the origin of natural and synthetic hybrids. In addition, we compared the results based on complete repeatomes with those from ribosomal DNA clusters only, because they represent one of the most widely used barcoding markers. Our results demonstrated that repeatome data contained a clear phylogenetic signal supporting the current subfamilial classification within Rosaceae. Accordingly, the well-accepted major evolutionary lineages within Fragaria were distinguished, and hybrids showed intermediate positions between parental species in data sets retrieved from both complete repeatomes and rDNA clusters. Within the taxonomically more complicated and particularly frequently hybridizing genus Rosa, we detected rather weak phylogenetic signals but surprisingly found a geographic pattern at a population scale. In sum, our method revealed promising results at larger taxonomic scales as well as within taxa with manageable levels of reticulation, but success remained rather taxon specific. Since repeatomes can be technically easy and comparably inexpensively retrieved even from samples of rather poor DNA quality, our phylogenomic method serves as a valuable alternative when high-quality genomes are unavailable, for example, in the case of old museum specimens.

Systematics of the plant bug tribe Hyaliodini (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae, Deraeocorinae) from Australia and New Caledonia: phylogenetic analysis and discussion of deraeocorine relationships, and four new genera and thirteen new species

A systematic review of the tribe Hyaliodini from Australia and New Caledonia is given. Four new genera and 13 new species of Hyaliodini described: Bolbomiris gen. n. (B. cola sp. n., B. samuelsoni sp. n.), Epelisentis gen. n. (E. celiae sp. n., E. gressitti sp. n.), Plikomiris gen. n. (P. freycinetiaphilus sp. n., P. monteithi sp. n.) and Torunotum gen. n. (T. badius sp. n., T. hystrix sp. n., T. oviformis sp. n., T. pindaii sp. n. and T. psydrax sp. n.), as well as Femurocoris madeleinensis sp. n., Montagneria yahouensis sp. n. Femurocoris Carvalho and Montagneria Akingbohungbe and their type species are redescribed, as is M. cuneatus (Distant). Stethoconus praefectus (Distant) is reported from Australia for the first time. A dichotomous key, illustrations of male genitalia, scanning electron micrographs and habitus photographs are provided. A phylogenetic analysis of a morphological dataset was undertaken resulting in a monophyletic Hyaliodini, and the New Caledonian hyaliodines form a subclade. A discussion of the infra-subfamilial classification of the Deraeocorinae is given.

Taxonomic review of cestodes of the genus Catenotaenia Janicki, 1904 in Eurasia and molecular phylogeny of the Catenotaeniidae (Cyclophyllidea)

This study reviews the taxonomy of cestodes of the genus Catenotaenia Janicki, 1904 (Cyclophyllidea: Catenotaeniidae) in Eurasia and presents the first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of Catenotaenia, Skrjabinotaenia Ahumyan, 1946 and Meggittina Lynsdale, 1953, all parasites of rodents. The phylogenetic data are based on sequences of 28S ribosomal RNA. The analysis does not support the proposed subfamilial classification of the Catenotaeniidae into Catenotaeniinae Spasskii, 1949 and Skrjabinotaeniinae Genov & Tenora, 1979. Instead, the main division appears to be between Eurasian species and a basal Nearctic species. The results support the monophyly of the Skrjabinotaeniinae but not that of the Catenotaeniinae or Catenotaenia as traditionally understood. It is suggested that the Old World catenotaeniid cestodes appeared in murid rodents and diverged subsequently as Skrjabinotaenia and Meggittina (Skrjabinotaeniinae) in Africa. According to the molecular phylogeny, Eurasian Catenotaenia codiverged with their hosts, with the exception of Catenotaenia dendritica that originated via a host shift from murid rodents to squirrels. The crown clade of Eurasian Catenotaenia consists only of species found in cricetid rodents and the three terminal species only in the Arvicolinae (voles). Phylogenetic structure within the Eurasian Catenotaenia clade suggests seven distinct lineages, three of which are described as new: C. apodemi n. sp. from Apodemus peninsulae (type host) from the Republic of Buryatia and from Apodemus uralensis from the Lower Tunguska River, North-Central Siberia (Russian Federation); C. cricetuli n. sp. from Cricetulus barabensis from the Republic of Buryatia and C. microti n. sp. from Microtus socialis from Kazakhstan. A new genus (Catenotaenioides n. g.) is proposed for C. kirgizica Tokobaev, 1959, a basal species within the Old World clade. Of the various morphological features, proglottid form (short acraspedote proglottids widest at middle vs. elongated craspedote proglottids widest posteriorly) is consistent with the phylogenetic pattern exhibited by catenotaeniid cestodes.

An annotated checklist of the handsome fungus beetles of the world (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Endomychidae)

A worldwide checklist is provided for the family Endomychidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea). An updated subfamilial classification is presented, based on recent higher-level phylogenetic analyses and incorporating many recently described taxa. At present, Endomychidae contains 1782 valid species and subspecies in 130 genera organized into 12 subfamilies. Two new synonyms are recognized: Symbiotes latus Redtenbacher, 1849 = Symbiotes latus var. roberti Falcoz & Roman, 1930 syn. nov.; and Cholovocerida Belon, 1884 = Displotera Reitter, 1887b syn. nov. Two new combinations are proposed: Cholovocerida ecitonis (Wasmann, 1890) for Coluocera ecitonis Wasmann, 1890 comb. nov.; and Cholovocerida maderae (Wollaston, 1854) for Cholovocera maderae Wollaston, 1854 comb. nov. Loeblia ceylanica Dajoz, 1972a is here designated as the type species for Loeblia Dajoz, 1972a, and Rhymbus hemisphaericus Gerstaecker, 1858 is designated as the type species for Rhymbus Gerstaecker, 1858. Nomen nudum status is proposed for Mycetaea tafilaletica Smirnoff, 1957. Thirty-two species originally described under Corynomalus Chevrolat, 1836 and subsequently transferred to Amphix Laporte, 1840, have been returned to Corynomalus. Known fossil taxa are summarized.

ALUMINIUM ACCUMULATION IN RUBIACEAE: AN ADDITIONAL CHARACTER FOR THE DELIMITATION OF THE SUBFAMILY RUBIOIDEAE?

The chrome azurol-S test, which is a chemical spot-test for Al accumulation in wood, was applied to 443 wood samples of members of the Rubiaceae. A positive reaction was found in 103 specimens. Comparison of the results with earlier analyses of leaves of Rubiaceae shows that Al accumulation occurs more frequently in leaves than in wood. The strongest Al accumulators occur in the neotropical genera Psychotria subg. Heteropsychotria, Coussarea, Faramea, and Rudgea. The distribution of Al accumulators is discussed in view of recent tribal and subfamilial classification of the Rubiaceae. The major conclusion is that Al accumulation is almost limited to the subfamily Rubioideae. Within the Rubioideae, however, not all tribes show the character, especially the predominantly herbaceous Anthospermeae, Paederieae, Rubieae, and Spermacoceae. Al accumulation in the Urophylleae, Pauridiantheae, Craterispermeae, and Knoxieae supports earlier associations of these tribes with the Rubioideae.

Ontogeny of Stringocephalus gubiensis and the origin of Stringocephalus

A growth series of Stringocephalus gubiensis, described here, reveals that the cardinal process of Stringocephalus originated from a bilobate structure, and the growth of its dorsal median septum is highly related to cardinal process development. From this observation we conclude that Kaplex is, structurally and temporally, a suitable ancestor for Stringocephalus, with Bornhardtina ancestral to Kaplex. Subfamilial classification of the family Stringocephalidae is revised based on the presence or absence of median septa and the nature of hinge plates as well as on cardinal process formation. The Kaplexinae and Omoloninae are proposed as new subfamilies, with the Kaplexinae, including Kaplex and Erectocephalus, and the Omoloninae, including Omolonia, Kumbella, and Hemistringocephalus. Morphologic study of South China and Western Canadian Stringocephalus reveals that late forms of the genus tend to have a higher dorsal septum and more complex cardinal process than the early forms. In view of functional morphology, these trends reflect functional perfection of the cardinal process build-up and the lever system for improving the efficiency of opening and closing the shell.