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Kinds of Subspecies Terms modified by Subspecies Selected AbstractsGenetic Data and the Listing of Species Under the U.S. Endangered Species ActCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007SYLVIA M. FALLON Acta de Especies en Peligro de E. U. A.; decisiones de enlistado; segmento poblacional distinto Abstract:,Genetic information is becoming an influential factor in determining whether species, subspecies, and distinct population segments qualify for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, there are currently no standards or guidelines that define how genetic information should be used by the federal agencies that administer the act. I examined listing decisions made over a 10-year period (February 1996,February 2006) that relied on genetic information. There was wide variation in the genetic data used to inform listing decisions in terms of which genomes (mitochondrial vs. nuclear) were sampled and the number of markers (or genetic techniques) and loci evaluated. In general, whether the federal agencies identified genetic distinctions between putative taxonomic units or populations depended on the type and amount of genetic data. Studies that relied on multiple genetic markers were more likely to detect distinctions, and those organisms were more likely to receive protection than studies that relied on a single genetic marker. Although the results may, in part, reflect the corresponding availability of genetic techniques over the given time frame, the variable use of genetic information for listing decisions has the potential to misguide conservation actions. Future management policy would benefit from guidelines for the critical evaluation of genetic information to list or delist organisms under the Endangered Species Act. Resumen:,La información genética se está convirtiendo en un factor influyente para determinar sí una especie, subespecie y segmentos poblacionales distintos califican para ser protegidos por el Acta de Especies en Peligro de E. U. A. Sin embargo, actualmente no hay estándares o lineamientos que definan como deben utilizar información genética las agencias federales que administran el acta. Examiné las decisiones de enlistado basadas en información genética tomadas en un período de 10 años (febrero 1996,febrero 2006). Hubo una amplia variación en los datos genéticos utilizados para informar las decisiones de enlistado en términos de cuáles genomas (mitocondrial vs. nuclear) fueron muestreados y el número de marcadores (o técnicas genéticas) y los loci evaluados. En general, las agencias federales identificaron diferencias genéticas entre unidades taxonómicas putativas o poblaciones dependiendo del tipo y cantidad de datos genéticos. Los estudios que se basaron en marcadores genéticos múltiples tuvieron mayor probabilidad de identificar distinciones, y esos organismos tuvieron mayor probabilidad de recibir protección, que los estudios basados en un solo marcador genético. Aunque los resultados pueden, en parte, reflejar la disponibilidad de técnicas genéticas para decisiones de enlistado en el período analizado, el uso variable de información genética para la toma de decisiones puede desinformar acciones de conservación. Las políticas de manejo futuras se beneficiarían de directrices para la evaluación crítica de información genética para enlistar o quitar de la lista a organismos bajo el Acta de Especies en Peligro. [source] Conservation Status as a Biodiversity Trend Indicator: Recommendations from a Decade of Listing Species at Risk in British ColumbiaCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005JAMES F. QUAYLE especies amenazadas; especies en peligro; estado del ambiente Abstract:,Species conservation status is commonly used as a broad-scale indicator of the state of biological diversity. To learn about its value for tracking trends, we examined provincial lists of terrestrial vertebrate species and subspecies at risk in British Columbia, Canada, for 1992 and 2002 to see whether changes in these lists reflected changes in the status of the taxa they represent. Examination of the case histories of individual species and subspecies showed that 65% of additions and deletions to the British Columbia Red List were the result of improvement in knowledge of species status, changes in assessment procedures, and refinements in taxonomy rather than actual changes in a species' status. Comparison to an alternate set of rank scores provided by NatureServe for taxa that appeared on both 1992 and 2002 British Columbia Red Lists revealed changes in status that were not reflected by movement from the list. Estimates of historical conservation status for species on the 1992 British Columbia Red List demonstrated ambiguity around the natural baseline with regard to tracking changes in list composition over time. We discourage the continued use of indicators based solely on conservation status as a means of tracking biodiversity. Instead we recommend advancing strategic indicators around species at risk based on long-term monitoring data, deliberate and explicitly stated baselines, and consistent methods of conservation ranking. Resumen:,El estatus de conservación de las especies comúnmente es utilizado como un indicador de escala amplia del estado de la diversidad biológica. En un esfuerzo por aprender sobre su valor para el seguimiento de tendencias, examinamos listas provinciales, para 1992 y 2002, de especies y subespecies de vertebrados terrestres en riesgo en Columbia Británica, Canadá, para ver si los cambios en estas listas reflejaban cambios en el estatus de los taxa que representan. El examen de la historia del caso de especies y subespecies individuales mostró que 65% de las adiciones y supresiones en la Lista Roja de Columbia Británica fueron el resultado de avances en el conocimiento del estatus de la especie, de cambios en los procedimientos de evaluación y de refinamientos en la taxonomía y no de cambios en el estatus de una especie. La comparación con un conjunto alternativo de valores de clasificación proporcionado por NatureServe para taxa que aparecieron tanto en la Lista Roja de Columbia Británica de 1992 como de 2002 reveló cambios en el estatus que no se reflejaron en movimientos en la lista. Estimaciones del estatus de conservación histórico de especies en la Lista Roja de Columbia Británica de 1992 demostraron ambigüedad alrededor de la línea de base natural en relación con el seguimiento de cambios en el tiempo en la composición de la lista. Desalentamos el uso continuo de indicadores basados solamente en el estatus de conservación como un medio para el seguimiento de biodiversidad. En cambio, recomendamos avanzar con indicadores estratégicos en torno a especies en riesgo con base en datos de monitoreo de largo plazo, en líneas básicas puestas de manifiesto deliberada y explícitamente y en métodos consistentes para la clasificación de la conservación. [source] A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF BIARUMCURTIS'S BOTANICAL MAGAZINE, Issue 1 2008Araceae Summary This paper contains a revision of the genus Biarum Schott. 21 species and 6 subspecies are recognised. All the taxa (except B. mendax Boyce) are illustrated by line drawings, and most of them are shown as paintings or as photographs in habitat or in cultivation. Distribution maps of all the species are given and a key to all taxa is provided. [source] Typological thinking and the conservation of subspecies: the case of the San Clemente Island loggerhead shrikeDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 4 2000Michael A. Patten Abstract. ,Hybridization with closely related taxa poses a significant threat to endangered subspecies (e.g. outbreeding depression, inbreeding) and confounds efforts to manage and conserve these taxa through a loss of taxonomic identity, in part because of the practical necessity of defining subspecies in a typological manner. We examined nine morphological characters in 167 post-juvenile museum specimens to determine if loggerhead shrikes Lanius ludovicianus Linnaeus 1766 on San Clemente Island (off the coast of California) remain diagnosable as L. l. mearnsi Ridgway (1903); an island endemic listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Four recent shrike specimens from the island were compared to historical specimens using a bivariate scatter plot and a discriminant function (the latter was used to classify recent specimens post hoc). The few recent specimens were not diagnosable as L. l. mearnsi, but instead appear to be intergrades between L. l. mearnsi and L. l. anthonyi Mearns 1898 (the subspecies endemic to Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina, Santa Rosa and Anacapa islands), and are perhaps closer to pure anthonyi. Our data and the species' natural history and distribution suggest that shrikes currently on San Clemente Island are the result of genetic ,swamping' of mearnsi by anthonyi. Under a necessarily typological definition of a subspecies, it is evident that mearnsi is probably no longer diagnosable. However, we conclude that protection of the entire Channel Islands population of the loggerhead shrike would be the best management strategy, as the species has declined drastically throughout the islands. [source] Morphometry and sexual dimorphism of the coastal spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata graffmani, from Bahía de Banderas, MexicoACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 4 2004Laura Sanvicente-Añorve Abstract External measurements and size differences between the sexes were examined in the coastal spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata graffmani, in Bahía de Banderas, on the Mexican Pacific coast. The dolphins were collected by local fishermen and 29 external characteristics were measured by members of the Marine Mammals Laboratory, University of Mexico. The length of each characteristic with respect to total length was analysed through adjustment of the data to a power equation. A stepwise discriminant analysis was applied to the absolute values and to those expressed as proportions to analyse the differences between the sexes. Results indicate that growth in these dolphins is generally negatively allometric, and most of the characteristics measured were, in both absolute and proportional terms, greater in male dolphins than in female dolphins. As found in many species of odontocetes, the discriminant analysis showed that the main differences between the sexes for this coastal subspecies include the relative positions of the umbilicus, the genital aperture and the anus. The morphometric data provided by this study, corresponding to 29 specimens of S. a. graffmani collected in a restricted locality of the Mexican Pacific coast, are particularly interesting to studies documenting latitudinal morphological differences in the coastal spotted dolphin. [source] The significance of overlapping plant range to a putative adaptive trade-off in the black bean aphid Aphis fabae ScopECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2004C. R. Tosh Abstract., 1. This study continues to explore the analysis of a putative adaptive trade-off in the utilisation of host plants Vicia faba and Tropaeolum majus by the aphid, Aphis fabae. These plants are utilised exclusively by the subspecies Aphis fabae fabae and A. f. mordwilkoi respectively, and this plant-use system has been studied previously as a potential source of disruptive selection. 2. Here the potential of these two host plants to generate disruptive selection is considered given common utilisation of the abundant host plant, Rumex obtusifolius, by both subspecies. 3. The life history of subspecific clones is quantified in the laboratory on V. faba, T. majus, and R. obtusifolius at various temperatures and used to parameterise a temperature-driven simulation model of aphid population development. 4. Accuracy of the model is tested using a field experiment, and fitness of clones on specific and common host is simulated using temperature data from a number of English sites. 5. The model gives a close quantitative fit to field data and makes the following predictions: performance of A. f. fabae is higher on the specific host than the common host under all tested thermal regimes; and performance of A. f. mordwilkoi is superior on the specific host in warm years but inferior in cold years. 6. Given the great abundance of R. obtusifolius relative to T. majus, the model predicts that the plant utilisation system has little potential to consistently promote hybrid dysfunction. This adds further weight to the assertion that the plant utilisation system studied can offer little insight into the evolutionary processes involved in subspecific differentiation and probably contains a host plant/host plants acquired after the evolution of reproductive barriers. [source] Charge density profiling of circulating human low-density lipoprotein particles by capillary zone electrophoresisELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 17 2004Mine-Yine Liu Abstract Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been utilized to profile the low-density (LDL) particles in human blood serum in this study. A 5 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.40, was chosen as the most suitable CE buffer and an extensive ultrafiltration (UF) procedure was applied to purify the LDL sample. Two LDL particle species, LDL with lower mobility and LDL, with higher mobility were observed. The electropherograms were highly reproducible with good precision of effective mobilities, corrected peak areas (CPAs) and CPA ratio of LDL,/LDL. LDL particles shown on the electropherogram were also characterized by several procedures. The applications of Sigma HDL cholesterol reagent and CE on-line 2-propanol precipitation indicated that the two particle species shown in the electropherogram belong to LDL. The LDL particles were found to associate with the buoyant LDL fraction and the LDL, particles associate with the dense LDL fraction. This study utilizes CZE for the profiling of LDL isoforms and provides a new analytical method for the resolution of LDL subspecies. It demonstrates a high-mobility LDL particle which circulates in healthy subjects and diminishes in atherosclerotic patients. Diminution of the high-mobility LDL subspecies may be linked to minimal formation of arterial plaque in atherosclerotic patients. [source] External Features of the First Instar Larva of Damaster (Coptolabrus) jankowskii jankowskii (Coleoptera; Carabidae)ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002Jung Lark KIM ABSTRACT Larval features of the carabid beetle, Damaster (Coptolabrus) jankowskii jankowskii (Oberthür) were investigated for the first time. For accomplishing the purpose, the adult beetles were collected by pitfall traps in the deciduous forest of Mt. Palgongsan, southern Korea. They have been reared under the laboratory condition of 16L: 8D at 20°C. The first instar larvae were obtained by isolating eggs after oviposition and were kept at the same condition. In the present study, external morphology of the first instar larva of this subspecies are described and its important character states and comparisons with the kin species are also discussed. [source] Phylogeny of Rhus gall aphids (Hemiptera : Pemphigidae) based on combined molecular analysis of nuclear EF1, and mitochondrial COII genesENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010Zi-xiang YANG Abstract Rhus gall aphids (Fordinae : Melaphidini) have a disjunct distribution in East Asia and North America and have specific host plant relationships. Some of them are of economic importance and all species form sealed galls which show great variation in shape, size, structure, and galling-site. We present a phylogeny incorporating ten species and four subspecies of Rhus gall aphids based on 1694 base pairs of nuclear elongation factor-1, (EF1,) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) DNA sequence data. The results suggest that Melaphidini is monophyletic and at the genus level, Schlechtendalia, Nurudea, and Floraphis were each monophyletic. Kaburagia and Meitanaphis were not monophyletic and therefore inconsistent with the current classification. The North American sumac gall aphid, Melaphis rhois, was most closely related to the East Asian Floraphis species, although this was poorly supported. The conservation of gall morphology with respect to aphid phylogeny rather than their host plants suggests that gall morphology is largely determined by the aphids. While there is no evidence of strict co-speciation between the aphids and their primary host plants, switching between recently diverged host plants may be involved in the speciation process in Melaphidini. [source] Effects of Valproate on Acylcarnitines in Children with Epilepsy Using ESI-MS/MSEPILEPSIA, Issue 1 2007Tamara Werner Summary:,Purpose: To determine the influence of valproate (VPA) treatment on acylcarnitines in children with epilepsy. Methods: Determination of acylcarnitines (including free carnitine and acylcarnitines from C2 to C18) in dried blood spot specimens using tandem-mass spectrometry. Longitudinal study of changes in acylcarnitines in children under VPA treatment without pretreatment (group 1) or with pretreatment with other antiepileptic drugs (group 2) before the start of VPA treatment at an early and a late treatment interval (12,66, 90,260 days after the beginning of treatment, respectively). Cross-sectional comparison of these two VPA groups and of a group receiving carbamazepine monotherapy (group 3) with controls. Results: Acylcarnitines in epileptic patients before VPA therapy did not differ from control values. In group 1, decreases of C0 (,26%), C2 (,12%), C16 (,31%), C18 (,41%), Ctotal (,10%), increases of C5OH (+31%), C8 (+33%) in the early treatment interval, and decreases of C16 (,21%), C18 (,42%), and increases of C2 (+26%), C5OH (+44%) in the late treatment interval were significant. In group 2, both in the longitudinal and the cross-sectional study, only a decrease of C18 (,41%, ,43%, respectively) in the late treatment interval was found. In group 3, no significant changes have been observed. Conclusions: We could prove changes in acylcarnitine subspecies, which were associated with VPA treatment in children with epilepsy. The treatment interval with the most marked changes coincides with the interval of highest risk for VPA-induced hepatotoxicity. The observed specific acylcarnitine pattern might point to the impaired intermediary metabolism that is responsible for VPA-induced hepatotoxicity. [source] Mating Call Discrimination in Female European (Coturnix c. coturnix) and Japanese Quail (Coturnix c. japonica)ETHOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Sébastien Derégnaucourt Each year, thousands of domestic Japanese and hybrid quails are released within the breeding range of the European quail. We showed recently that no post-zygotic isolating mechanisms have yet been established between these subspecies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pre-zygotic mechanisms are strong enough to prevent hybridization. We tested the level of subspecies selectivity in females of European and Japanese quail respectively using playbacks of European, hybrid and Japanese male mating calls. European quail females emitted the greatest number of rally calls in response to mating calls by conspecific males. Their responses were the weakest to mating calls produced by males of the other subspecies and intermediate to mating calls by hybrid males. In contrast, Japanese quails produced similar responses to all types of mating calls. These results suggest that mixed pairs could form in the wild. The European quail could thus become one of the most endangered galliforms of the Western Palearctic. [source] INCIPIENT SPECIATION DESPITE LITTLE ASSORTATIVE MATING: THE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER HYBRID ZONEEVOLUTION, Issue 12 2009Alan Brelsford Hybrid zones between recently diverged taxa are natural laboratories for speciation research, allowing us to determine whether there is reproductive isolation between divergent forms and the causes of that isolation. We present a study of a classic avian hybrid zone in North America between two subspecies of the yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata). Although previous work has shown very little differentiation in mitochondrial DNA across this hybrid zone, we identified two nuclear loci (one sex-linked and one autosomal) that show fixed differences across the hybrid zone, in a close concordance with patterns of plumage variation. Temporal stability and limited width of the hybrid zone, along with substantial linkage disequilibrium between these two diagnostic markers in the center of the zone, indicate that there is moderate reproductive isolation between these populations, with an estimated strength of selection maintaining the zone of 18%. Pairing data indicate that assortative mating is either very weak or absent, suggesting that this reproductive isolation is largely due to postmating barriers. Thus, despite extensive hybridization the two forms are distinct evolutionary groups carrying genes for divergent adaptive peaks, and this situation appears relatively stable. [source] THE EVOLUTION OF DIOECY, HETERODICHOGAMY, AND LABILE SEX EXPRESSION IN ACEREVOLUTION, Issue 11 2007S. S. Renner The northern hemisphere tree genus Acer comprises 124 species, most of them monoecious, but 13 dioecious. The monoecious species flower dichogamously, duodichogamously (male, female, male), or in some species heterodichogamously (two morphs that each produce male and female flowers but at reciprocal times). Dioecious species cannot engage in these temporal strategies. Using a phylogeny for 66 species and subspecies obtained from 6600 nucleotides of chloroplast introns, spacers, and a protein-coding gene, we address the hypothesis (Pannell and Verdú, Evolution 60: 660,673. 2006) that dioecy evolved from heterodichogamy. This hypothesis was based on phylogenetic analyses (Gleiser and Verdú, New Phytol. 165: 633,640. 2005) that included 29,39 species of Acer coded for five sexual strategies (duodichogamous monoecy, heterodichogamous androdioecy, heterodichogamous trioecy, dichogamous subdioecy, and dioecy) treated as ordered states or as a single continuous variable. When reviewing the basis for these scorings, we found errors that together with the small taxon sample, cast doubt on the earlier inferences. Based on published studies, we coded 56 species of Acer for four sexual strategies, dioecy, monoecy with dichogamous or duodichogamous flowering, monoecy with heterodichogamous flowering, or labile sex expression, in which individuals reverse their sex allocation depending on environment,phenotype interactions. Using Bayesian character mapping, we infer an average of 15 transformations, a third of them involving changes from monoecy-cum-duodichogamy to dioecy; less frequent were changes from this strategy to heterodichogamy; dioecy rarely reverts to other sexual systems. Contra the earlier inferences, we found no switches between heterodichogamy and dioecy. Unexpectedly, most of the species with labile sex expression are grouped together, suggesting that phenotypic plasticity in Acer may be a heritable sexual strategy. Because of the complex flowering phenologies, however, a concern remains that monoecy in Acer might not always be distinguishable from labile sex expression, which needs to be addressed by long-term monitoring of monoecious trees. The 13 dioecious species occur in phylogenetically disparate clades that date back to the Late Eocene and Oligocene, judging from a fossil-calibrated relaxed molecular clock. [source] GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE EVOLUTION AND COEVOLUTION OF A TRITROPHIC INTERACTIONEVOLUTION, Issue 5 2007Timothy P. Craig The geographic mosaic theory of coevolution predicts that geographic variation in species interactions will lead to differing selective pressures on interacting species, producing geographic variation in the traits of interacting species (Thompson 2005). We supported this hypothesis in a study of the geographic variation in the interactions among Eurosta solidaginis and its natural enemies. Eurosta solidaginis is a fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) that induces galls on subspecies of tall goldenrod, Solidago altissima altissima and S. a. gilvocanescens. We measured selection on E. solidaginis gall size and shape in the prairie and forest biomes in Minnesota and North Dakota over an 11-year period. Galls were larger and more spherical in the prairie than in the forest. We supported the hypothesis that the divergence in gall morphology in the two biomes is due to different selection regimes exerted by natural enemies of E. solidaginis. Each natural enemy exerted similar selection on gall diameter in both biomes, but differences in the frequency of natural enemy attack created strong differences in overall selection between the prairie and forest. Bird predation increased with gall diameter, creating selection for smaller-diameter galls. A parasitic wasp, Eurytoma gigantea, and Mordellistena convicta, an inquiline beetle, both caused higher E. solidaginis mortality in smaller galls, exerting selection for increased gall diameter. In the forest there was stabilizing selection on gall diameter due to a combination of bird predation on larvae in large galls, and M. convicta - and E. gigantea- induced mortality on larvae in small galls. In the prairie there was directional selection for larger galls due to M. convicta and E. gigantea mortality on larvae in small galls. Mordellistena convicta- induced mortality was consistently higher in the prairie than in the forest, whereas there was no significant difference in E. gigantea- induced mortality between biomes. Bird predation was nonexistent in the prairie so the selection against large galls found in the forest was absent. We supported the hypothesis that natural enemies of E. solidaginis exerted selection for spherical galls in both biomes. In the prairie M. convicta exerts stabilizing selection to maintain spherical galls. In the forest there was directional selection for more spherical galls. Eurytoma gigantea exerted selection on gall shape in the forest in a complex manner that varied among years. We also supported the hypothesis that E. gigantea is coevolving with E. solidaginis. The parasitoid had significantly longer ovipositors in the prairie than in the forest, indicating the possibility that it has evolved in response to selection to reach larvae in the larger-diameter prairie galls. [source] TEMPORAL PATTERN OF AFRICANIZATION IN A FERAL HONEYBEE POPULATION FROM TEXAS INFERRED FROM MITOCHONDRIAL DNAEVOLUTION, Issue 5 2004M. Alice Pinto Abstract The invasion of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Americas provides a window of opportunity to study the dynamics of secondary contact of subspecies of bees that evolved in allopatry in ecologically distinctive habitats of the Old World. We report here the results of an 11-year mitochondrial DNA survey of a feral honeybee population from southern United States (Texas). The mitochondrial haplotype (mitotype) frequencies changed radically during the 11-year study period. Prior to immigration of Africanized honeybees, the resident population was essentially of eastern and western European maternal ancestry. Three years after detection of the first Africanized swarm there was a mitotype turnover in the population from predominantly eastern European to predominantly A. m. scutellata (ancestor of Africanized honeybees). This remarkable change in the mitotype composition coincided with arrival of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which was likely responsible for severe losses experienced by colonies of European ancestry. From 1997 onward the population stabilized with most colonies of A. m. scutellata maternal origin. [source] THE AFRICANIZATION OF HONEYBEES (APIS MELLIFERA L.) OF THE YUCATAN: A STUDY OF A MASSIVE HYBRIDIZATION EVENT ACROSS TIMEEVOLUTION, Issue 7 2002Kylea E. Clarke Abstract Until recently, African and European subspecies of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) had been geographically separated for around 10,000 years. However, human-assisted introductions have caused the mixing of large populations of African and European subspecies in South and Central America, permitting an unprecedented opportunity to study a large-scale hybridization event using molecular analyses. We obtained reference populations from Europe, Africa, and South America and used these to provide baseline information for a microsatellite and mitochondrial analysis of the process of Africanization of the bees of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The genetic structure of the Yucatecan population has changed dramatically over time. The pre-Africanized Yucatecan population (1985) comprised bees that were most similar to samples from southeastern Europe and northern and western Europe. Three years after the arrival of Africanized bees (1989), substantial paternal gene flow had occurred from feral Africanized drones into the resident European population, but maternal gene flow from the invading Africanized population into the local population was negligible. However by 1998, there was a radical shift with both African nuclear alleles (65%) and African-derived mitochondria (61%) dominating the genomes of domestic colonies. We suggest that although European mitochondria may eventually be driven to extinction in the feral population, stable introgression of European nuclear alleles has occurred. [source] THE HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY OF TWO CARIBBEAN BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA: HELICONIIDAE) AS INFERRED FROM GENETIC VARIATION AT MULTIPLE LOCIEVOLUTION, Issue 3 2002Neil Davies Abstract Mitochondrial DNA and allozyme variation was examined in populations of two Neotropical butterflies, Heliconius charithonia and Dryas iulia. On the mainland, both species showed evidence of considerable gene flow over huge distances. The island populations, however, revealed significant genetic divergence across some, but not all, ocean passages. Despite the phylogenetic relatedness and broadly similar ecologies of these two butterflies, their intraspecific biogeography clearly differed. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed that populations of D. iulia north of St. Vincent are monophyletic and were probably derived from South America. By contrast, the Jamaican subspecies of H. charithonia rendered West Indian H. charithonia polyphyletic with respect to the mainland populations; thus, H. charithonia seems to have colonized the Greater Antilles on at least two separate occasions from Central America. Colonization velocity does not correlate with subsequent levels of gene flow in either species. Even where range expansion seems to have been instantaneous on a geological timescale, significant allele frequency differences at allozyme loci demonstrate that gene flow is severely curtailed across narrow ocean passages. Stochastic extinction, rapid (re)colonization, but low gene flow probably explain why, in the same species, some islands support genetically distinct and nonexpanding populations, while nearby a single lineage is distributed across several islands. Despite the differences, some common biogeographic patterns were evident between these butterflies and other West Indian taxa; such congruence suggests that intraspecific evolution in the West Indies has been somewhat constrained by earth history events, such as changes in sea level. [source] ESTIMATING PHYLOGENETIC INERTIA IN TITHONIA (ASTERACEAE): A COMPARATIVE APPROACHEVOLUTION, Issue 2 2000Eduardo Morales Abstract., Phylogenetic inertia is a difficult issue in evolutionary biology because we have yet to reach a consensus about how to measure it. In this study a comparative approach is used to evaluate phylogenetic inertia in 14 demographic and morphological characters in 10 species and one subspecies of the genus Tithonia (Asteraceae). Three different methods, autocorrelational analysis, phylogenetic correlograms, and ancestor-state reconstruction, were used to evaluate phylogenetic inertia in these traits. Results were highly dependent on the method applied. Autoregression and phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR) methods found more inertia in morphological traits. In contrast, phylogenetic correlograms and ancestor-state reconstruction suggest that morphological characters exhibit less phylogenetic inertia than demographic ones. The differences between results are discussed and methods are compared in an effort to understand phylogenetic inertia more thoroughly. [source] The interspecific relationships of Astragalus species in Egypt assessed by the morpho-anatomical characters of the podFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 5-6 2009M. M. Mourad The pod morphological and anatomical characters of 20 species, one subspecies and five varieties of Astragalus out of the 32 species growing in Egypt were investigated by LM and SEM, and numerically analysed to show the inter- as well as the infra-specific relationships. It was concluded that both A. trimestris and A. corrugatus show marked affinity to other species investigated in the present work. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] New taxa of Allium L. subg.FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 7-8 2008Allium (Alliaceae) from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan The alliances of Allium filidens Regel and A. brevidens Vved. were taxonomically revised. Three subspecies were recognized for A. filidens. The widely distributed typical subspecies is characterized by thick reticulate bulb tunics, relatively short leaf sheathes, and whitish tepals with greenish or bluish median veins. Subspecies ugamicum (Vved.) R.M.Fritsch & F.O.Khass. occurring in Chatkal, Pskem, and Ugam mountain ranges E and NE of Tashkent, has delicate, reticulate bulb tunics, relatively longer leaf sheathes, and faintly blue to violet flowers. Subspecies mogianense R.M.Fritsch & F.O.Khass. occupies a small area of distribution in western Hissar mountain range and differs from subsp. ugamicum by greenish tepals with broad green median veins. A key for determination of these subspecies is given. Allium brevidens subsp. pshikharvium R.M.Fritsch & F.O.Khass. was newly described from higher altitudes of Tajik Vanch, Darvaz, and Peter I. mountain ranges. It differs from the typical subspecies by larger scapes, denser inflorescences, green (not yellowish) tepals with dark-green median veins and violet (not purplish) filaments. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Neue Taxa von Allium L. subg. Allium (Alliaceae) aus Tadschikistan und Usbekistan Die Verwandtschaftskreise von Allium filidens Regel and A. brevidens Vved. umfassen jeweils mehrere Unterarten. Die typische Unterart von A. filidens ist weit verbreitet und besitzt dicke, reticulate Zwiebelhüllen, relativ kurze Blattscheiden und weißliche Tepalen mit grünlichem oder bläulichem Mittelnerv. Pflanzen aus den Gebirgen im Norden und Nordosten von Taschkent haben sehr zarte reticulate Zwiebelhüllen, relativ längere Blattscheiden und blaßblaue bis violette Blüten. Sie werden als subsp. ugamicum (Vved.) R.M.Fritsch & F.O.Khass. neu kombiniert. Die neu beschriebene subsp. mogianense R.M.Fritsch & F.O.Khass. ist nur aus dem westlichen Hissar-Gebirge bekannt und unterscheidet sich von subsp. ugamicum durch grünliche Tepalen mit breitem grünem Mittelnerv. Ein Schlüssel der Unterarten wird präsentiert. Aus höheren Gebirgslagen in Tadschikistan wird A. brevidens subsp. pshikharvium R.M.Fritsch & F.O.Khass. neu beschrieben, das sich von der typischen Unterart durch längere Schäfte, dichtere Blütenstände, grüne (nicht gelbliche) Tepalen mit dunkelgrünem Mittelnerv sowie violette (nicht purpurne) Filamente unterscheidet. [source] Two new species and one new subspecies of AspidistraKer-Gawl. (Ruscaceae) from VietnamFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1-2 2008H.-J. Tillich Two species and one subspecies of Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. (Ruscaceae) from Vietnam new to science are described: A. brachystyla L.V.Averyanov & H.-J.Tillich, A. nikolaiL.V.Averyanov & H.-J. Tillich, and A. fungilliformisY. Wan subsp. formosaH.-J.Tillich. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Zwei neue Arten und eine Unterart der Gattung AspidistraKer-Gawl. (Ruscaceae) aus Vietnam Zwei neue Arten und eine neue Unterart der Gattung AspidistraKer-Gawl. (Ruscaceae) aus Vietnam werden beschrieben: A. brachystyla L.V.Averyanov & H.-J.Tillich, A. nikolaiL.V.Averyanov & H.-J.Tillich, und A. fungilliformisY. Wan subsp.formosaH.-J.Tillich. [source] A palynological study of Galium L. (Rubiaceae) in Egypt and its systematic implicationFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 7-8 2007K. Abdel Khalik A pollen morphological investigation of eleven species and one subspecies of the genus Galium L. from Egypt were undertaken by using light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Pollen shape, size, exine ornamentation, number of apertures present powerful characters for distinguishing between species. The pollen grains were zonocolpate. The number of colpi ranges from 5 to 10. Their shape varies from prolate spheroidal, oblate spheroidal, spheroidal to suboblate. Three groups can be distinguished based on the size pollen grains. It was found used to distinguish between closely related species G. aparine and G. spurium and between G. tricornutum and G. ceratopodum. Two different types of exine ornamentation were recognized. The ornamentation was found useful to distinguish among closely related species such as Galium aparine and G. spurium. A key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on pollen grains characters is provided. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Eine palynologische Studie der Gattung Galium L. (Rubiaceae) in Ägypten und ihre Bedeutung für die Systematik Die Pollenmorphologie von elf Arten und einer Unterart der Gattung Galium L. aus Ägypten wurde mittels Licht- und Elektronenmikroskopie untersucht. Pollenform, Größe und Muster der Exine und die Anzahl der Aperturen repräsentieren gute Merkmale zur Unterscheidung der betrachteten Arten. Alle Pollen sind zonocolpat. Die Anzahl der Colpi liegt zwischen 5 bis 10. Ihre äußere Form variiert von prolat über sphäroidal, oblat-sphäroidal, sphäroidal bis suboblat. Auf Grund der Pollengröße lassen sich drei Gruppen unterscheiden. Es zeigte sich, dass diese drei Gruppen genutzt werden können, um die eng verwandten Arten Galium aparine und G. spurium sowie G.tricornatum und G. ceratopodum von einander zu trennen. Zwei Typen der Exine-Muster ließen sich erkennen. Sie sind geeignet um z. B. so eng verwandte Arten wie Galium aparine und G. spurium zu trennen. Ein Schlüssel, der geeignet ist, die untersuchten Taxa auf der Basis ihrer Pollenmerkmale zu bestimmen beschließt die Arbeit. [source] The identity of Paeonia corsica Sieber ex Tausch (Paeoniaceae), with special reference to its relationship with P. mascula (L.) Mill.FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1-2 2006Hong De-Yuan The taxonomy of the genus Paeonia in central Mediterranean islands has been controversial, with number of recognized taxa changing greatly from one species without infraspecific division to three species or five infraspecific taxa in one species, and with the number of synonyms as great as 30. In the present work, the taxonomic history is thoroughly reviewed and a taxonomic revision is made based on extensive field work, chromosome observation, population sampling, examination of a large amount of herbarium specimens, and subsequent statistic analysis. As a result of the studies P. corsica Sieber ex Tausch, an ignored specific name, is restored at specific rank, and the species is found distinct from all the three subspecies of P. mascula in this region in having mostly nine (vs , 10) leaflets/segments, shorter hairs (1.5 mm vs 3 mm long) on carpels, rather densely holosericeous (vs glabrous or very sparsely hirsute) on the lower surface of leaves. It is a diploid, confined to Corsica France), Sardinia (Italy), Ionian Islands and Akarnania Province of Greece, whereas P. mascula is a tetraploid, widely distributed from Spain to Turkey and Iraq, but not in Corsica, Sardinia and W Greece. In addition, type specimens of four taxa are designated, and 29 botanic names are listed as synonyms of P. corsica in this paper. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Die Identität von Paeonia corsica Sieber ex Tausch (Paeoniaceae), mit besonderem Bezug auf ihre Verwandtschaft mit P. mascula (L.) Mill. Die Taxonomie der Gattung Paeonia auf den zentralen Mittelmeerinseln ist stets kontrovers gewesen. Die Anzahl der Taxa wechselte zwischen einer Art ohne infraspezifische Differenzierung bis zu drei oder fünf infraspezifische Taxa innerhalb einer Art. Die Anzahl der Synonyme beträgt bis zu 30 Taxa. In vorliegender Arbeit wird die Geschichte der Taxonomie sorgfältig betrachtet und eine taxonomische Revision auf der Basis extensiver Feldstudien, Chromosomen-Bewertung, Sammlungen von Populationen, der Untersuchung zahlreicher Herbarproben und abschließender statistischer Analysen vorgenommen. Im Ergebnis dieser Untersuchungen wird Paeonia corsica Sieber ex Tausch, ein bislang unbeachteter Artname, erneut in den Rang einer Art erhoben. Diese in dieser Region gefundene Spezies wurde als verschieden von den drei Unterarten von Paeonia mascula befunden. Sie hat meist neun (, 10) Blättchen, kürzere Haare (1.5 mm vs 3 mm lang) auf dem Karpell dichtere holoserios (vs glabrous oder selten hirsut) auf der Blattunterseite. Paeoniacorsica ist diploid auf Korsika (Frankreich), Sardinien (Italien), den Ionischen Inseln und der Provinz Akarnania in Griechenland, während Paeonia mascula tetraploid ist und weit verbreitet von Spanien bis in die Türkei und den Irak, fehlt aber auf Korsika, Sardinien und in Westgriechenland. Außerdem werden Typspecimen für 4 Taxa festgelegt. Als Synonyme von P. corsica wurden 29 Namen aufgelistet. [source] A key for Aspidistra (Ruscaceae), including fifteen new species from Vietnam,FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 5-6 2005H.-J. Tillich Prof. Dr. Fifteen species and two subspecies of Aspidistra (Ruscaceae, Monocotyledons) from Vietnam new to science are described. This raises the number of known species to 76 and extends the genus area to South Vietnam at ca. 12° N. Additionally, a detailed new key is given to determine all recently known species in Aspidistra. New species:Aspidistra atroviolaca, A. bicolor, A. bogneri, A. carnosa, A. connata, A. foliosa, A. geastrum, A. lateralis, A. lutea, A. marasmioides, A. opaca, A. petiolata, A. stricta, A. subrotata, A. superba . New subspecies:Aspidistra arnautovii sp. nova, subsp. arnautovii, A. arnautovii subsp. nova catbaensis, A. subrotata subsp. nova crassinervis . New combinations:Aspidistra dodecandra, A. glandulosa . (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Ein Schlüssel für die Gattung Aspidistra (Ruscacaea) einschließlich 15 neue Arten aus Vietnam Es werden 15 neue Arten und zwei neue Unterarten der Gattung Aspidistra (Ruscaceae, Monocotyledoneae) beschrieben. Damit erhöht sich die Zahl der bekannten Arten auf 76. Das Areal der Gattung reicht nun bis in das südliche Vietnam bei ca. 12° N. Zusätzlich wird ein neuer Bestimmungsschlüssel für alle derzeit bekannten Arten der Gattung vorgestellt. [source] Revision of the subgenus Wichuraea (M.Roemer) Baker of BomareaMirbel (Alstroemeriaceae)FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 3-4 2003A. Hofreiter The subgenus Wichuraea of Bomarea (Alstroemeriaceae) was last revised by Baker (1888) as part of his revision of the genus Bomarea. Since then the number of validly published names has increased from seven to recently 50, indicating an urgent need for further revision. Extensive field studies in Peru (A. Hofreiter) and depth investigation of herbarium material have led to new insights into the subgenus. As a result a number of Bomarea species formerly placed under Wichuraea are relocated to another subgenus, a large number of names are placed into synonymy and one species, Bomarea vargasiiHofreiter sp. nova, and one subspecies, Bomareaandimarcana subsp. andimarcanaHofreiter comb. nov. und B. andimarcana subsp. densifoliaHofreiter comb. nov., are newly described. A key to the 16 species is given. Field studies revealed that even taxonomically valuable characters can be remarkably variable, even within a single population. This has demonstrably resulted in a high degree of taxa instability in the group. The typical habit and its variability, preferred habitats and the geographical distribution of each species is presented. Revision der Untergattung Wichuraea (M.Roemer) Baker der Gattung BomareaMirbel (Alstroemeriaceae) Die Untergattung Wichuraea wurde zuletzt von Baker (1888) als Teil der Revision von Bomarea (Alstroemeriaceae) revidiert. Seit dieser Zeit hat die Zahl gültig veröffentlichter Namen von sieben auf 50 zugenommen. Eine Revision erscheint deshalb dringend erforderlich. Die Grundlage für diese Arbeit wurde bei ausführlichen Feldstudien in Peru (A. Hofreiter) und umfangreichen Analysen von Herbarmaterial gelegt. Durch die vorliegende Revision wird die Anzahl der Arten auf 16 reduziert. Ein Teil der bisher zu Wichuraea gestellten Arten gehört zu einer anderen Untergattung, ein weiterer Teil der Namen muss in die Synonymie verwiesen werden. Eine Art, Bomarea vargasiiHofreiter sp. nova, und eine Unterart, Bomarea andimarcana subsp. andimarcanaHofreiter comb. nov. und B. andimarcana subsp. densifoliaHofreiter comb. nov., werden neu beschrieben. Feldstudien ergaben eine hohe Variabilität der Merkmale, selbst innerhalb einer Population. Dies hat z. B. allein bei Bomarea dulcis zu 14 Synonymen geführt. Für jede Art werden die typische Wuchsform und deren Variabilität, die bevorzugten Standorte und die geographische Verbreitung dargestellt. [source] Verbreitung und Differenzierung der mitteleuropäischen Unterarten von Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I. M. Johnst. (Boraginaceae),FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1-2 2003A. Clermont In Mitteleuropa sind zwei Unterarten des Ackersteinsamens (Buglossoidesarvensis subsp. arvensis, B. arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana) verbreitet. Die molekularbiologische Untersuchung der nucleären ITS1-Region von 55 mitteleuropäischen Belegen verdeutlicht die Eigenständigkeit der beiden Sippen. Innerhalb des 238 Basenpaare langen Markers unterscheiden sich die Unterarten durch 15 Substitutionen (6,4 %). Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schluss zu, dass die Unterarten bisher aufgrund ihrer morphologischen Plastizität oft verwechselt und Häufigkeit und Verbreitung der Subspecies sibthorpiana unterschätzt wurden. Morphologisch lassen sich die beiden Unterarten anhand folgender Merkmale unterscheiden: Buglossoides arvensis subsp. arvensis besitzt längliche Keimblätter, eine gerade Gynobasis, einen unverdickten, geraden Pedicellus sowie cremefarbene oder selten leicht rosa gefärbte Blüten. Buglossoides arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana zeichnet sich durch runde Keimblätter, eine zur Fruchtzeit leicht zur Blütenstandsachse geneigte Gynobasis, einen schiefen, verdickten Pedicellus an den unteren Früchten und blaue, rosa oder cremefarben gefärbte Blüten aus. Weiterhin unterscheiden sich die Unterarten in ihren ökologischen Ansprüchen: B. arvensis subsp. arvensis kommt nur als Ackerunkraut vor, B. arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana wächst sowohl auf Ackerstandorten als auch auf Trockenrasen, sandigen Ruderalflächen oder in trockenen, lichten Wäldern. Distribution and differentiation of the Central European subspecies of Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M.Johnst. (Boraginaceae) The Corn Gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis) has two Central European subspecies, B. arvensis subsp. arvensis and B. arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana. The ITS1-region of 55 European samples was amplified and sequenced and it yielded a 238 bp fragment, which consistently differed by 15 substitutions between the two subspecies. The results suggest that the two subspecies indeed represent two independent taxa and have been confused mainly because of their morphological plasticity. Because of this confusion, distribution and abundance were poorly understood. The subspecies as here re-defined can be distinguished as follows: B. arvensis subsp. arvensis has oblong cotyledons, a horizontal gynobase, an unthickened pedicel in fruit, and a cream-coloured corolla. B. arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana has circular cotyledons, an oblique gynobase, an obliquely thickened pedicel in fruit, and a light blue to (more rarely) cream-coloured corolla. The two taxa show some degree of ecological differentiation: B. arvensis subsp. arvensis is only found as a weed in winter cereals, whereas B. arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana is occasionally found as a weed in fields, but also on dry grasslands, sandy waste sites and road sides, and in dry, open forests. [source] Population variation in Persicaria salicifolia (Brouss. ex Willd.) Assenov (Polygonaceae) in NigeriaFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 7-8 2002A. E. Ayodele Dr. Study of six living population samples and herbarium specimens of Persicaria salicifolia from Nigeria revealed considerable variability in vegetative and floral characters. Two subspecies, one of which is a new one (subsp. nova, p. 516), are recognised. Experimental cultivation showed that the combination of distinguishing characters for each subspecies remains intact under uniform conditions in the botanical nursery. Variabilität der Population von Persicaria salicifolia (Brouss. ex Willd.) Assenov (Polygonaceae) in Nigeria Studien an sechs lebenden Populationsproben und Herbar-Proben von Persicaria salicifolia aus Nigeria erbrachten eine beachtliche Variabilität der vegetativen und floralen Eigenschaften. Zwei Unterarten, eine von ihnen neu (subsp. nova) wurden verzeichnet. Kulturversuche zeigten, dass die Kombination der kennzeichnenden Merkmale jeder Unterart unter gleichen Bedingungen in einer botanischen Anzucht unverändert bleiben. [source] Taxonomic significance of pollen morphology in some taxa of ResedaceaeFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 7-8 2002S.M. El Naggar Pollen morphology of 13 species and two subspecies belonging to five genera: CayluseaSt.-Hil., OchradenusDelile, RandoniaCoss., OligomerisCambess., and Reseda L. of Resedaceae in Egypt were investigated by light and scanning microscopy. The pollen grains were examined and separated into three pollen types and six subtypes representing the different taxonomic categories on the basis of pollen morphological characters, principally pollen shape, size and exine sculpture. The palynological results are discussed with respect to current systematic treatments of Resedaceae. According to the present palynological results, Resedaceae is a eurypalynous and not a stenopalynous family. In addition, this work came to the conclusions that further studies on the pollen of Resedaceae will be useful in establishing a phylogenetic relationship. Zur taxonomischen Bedeutung der Pollenmorphologie bei einigen Taxa der Familie Resedaceae Mittels Licht- und Rasterelektronen-Mikroskopie wurde die Morphologie der Pollen von 13 Arten und zwei Unterarten aus fünf Gattungen der Familie Resedaceae Ägyptens untersucht: CayluseaSt.-Hil., OchradenusDelile, RandoniaCoss., OligomerisCambess. und Reseda L. Die untersuchten Pollen wurden in drei Typen mit sechs Subtypen unterteilt. Auf der Basis dieser Pollenmorphologie repräsentieren sie verschiedene taxonomische Kategorien: Pollenform, Größe und Skulptur der Exine. Die erzielten Ergebnisse werden in Bezug auf die gegenwärtige Systematik der Resedaceen diskutiert. Entsprechend den hier vorgelegten Daten sind die Resedaceae eine eury- und nicht stenopalynologische Familie. Zusätzlich ergibt sich aus dieser Studie, dass weitere Untersuchungen an Resedaceen-Pollen sinnvoll sind, um phylogenetische Beziehungen aufzufinden. [source] Promoters of crystal protein genes do not control crystal formation inside exosporium of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. finitimus strain YBT-020FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2009Fang Ji Abstract Most Bacillus thuringiensis parasporal crystals separate from spores after sporulation. A special phenomenon called spore-crystal association (SCA) occurs in a few subspecies (e.g. ssp. finitimus) where enclosed crystals are associated with spores. In this study, the involvement of crystal protein gene promoters in SCA was investigated. Two crystal protein genes, cry26Aa and cry28Aa, were isolated from subspecies finitimus strain YBT-020, and each or both were then transferred to acrystalliferous B. thuringiensis strain BMB171 and the plasmid-cured derivative of strain YBT-020. SCA was not observed with any recombinant strain, implying that the crystal protein genes are not sufficient to cause SCA. When the typical crystal protein gene cry1Ca was introduced into strain YBT-020, free bipyramidal crystals formed in addition to SCA. Recombinant genes containing the promoter of cry26Aa or cry28Aa fused with the coding sequence (CDS) of cry1Ca were introduced into strain YBT-020, and the typical cry1Ca phenotype was observed. Another two fusion genes consisting of the promoter of cry1Ca and the CDS of cry26Aa or cry28Aa were also transferred to strain YBT-020. Only enclosed crystals formed. These results indicate that the promoters of the crystal protein genes are not the key factor determining the crystal location in strain YBT-020. [source] Cell wall teichoic acids: structural diversity, species specificity in the genus Nocardiopsis, and chemotaxonomic perspectiveFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2001Irina B Naumova Abstract Data on the structures of cell wall teichoic acids, the anionic carbohydrate-containing polymers, found in many Gram-positive bacteria have been summarized and the polymers of the actinomycete genus Nocardiopsis have been considered from the taxonomic standpoint. The structures of these polymers or their combinations have been demonstrated to be indicative of each of seven Nocardiopsis species and two subspecies, verified by the DNA,DNA relatedness data, and to correlate well with the grouping of the organisms based on 16S rDNA sequences. As each of the intrageneric taxa discussed is definable by the composition of teichoic acids, the polymers are considered to be valuable taxonomic markers for the Nocardiopsis species and subspecies. The 13C NMR spectra of the polymers, data on the products of their chemical degradation, and distinguishing constituents of whole cell walls derived from teichoic acids are discussed, which are useful for identification of certain polymers and members of the genus Nocardiopsis at the species and subspecies level in microbiological practice. [source] |