Synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 (Myxozoa : Myxosporea : Myxobolidae)

A synopsis of 744 nominal species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) is presented. For each species, the relevant morphometric and morphological data are indicated, as well as the host(s), site(s) of infection within the host and type-locality.

Redescription of Difflugia tuberspinifera Hu, Shen, Gu et Gong, 1997 (Protozoa : Rhizopoda : Arcellinida : Difflugiidae) from China

The freshwater testate amoeba Difflugia tuberspinifera Hu et al. 1997 collected from pond and lake in China, is investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. This little known taxon is redescribed and its morphology, biometry and ecology are supplied. After carefully comparison with other six similar species including Difflugia bartosi Stepanek, D. corona Wallich, D. corona cashi Deflandre, D. corona tuberculata Vucetich, D. muriformis Gauthier-Lievre et Thomas and Netzelia tuberculata (Wallich) Netzal we believe that the sub-spherical to spherical shell, the mulberry-shaped appearance, the 7-10 apertural tooth-like structures, the short collar and the conical spines numbering from 4 to 8 at the upper equatorial region in D. tuberspinifera set it apart from other species. Besides, statistical analysis indicates that D. tuberspinifera is a size-monomorphic species characterized by a main-size class and a small size range and the shell height is significant correlated with other morphometric characters at p < 0.05 excepting the number of aperture tooth-like structures and the number of spines. Moreover, D. tuberspinifera inhabits not only lotic but also lentic environment.

中国蔷薇属芹叶组（Rosa Sect. Pimpinellifoliae DC. ex Ser.）的分类学研究

本研究通过我国CDBI、 KUN、PE、SZ等主要标本馆约3, 500份馆藏标本的研究和野外考察相结合，对我国蔷薇属（Rosa L.）芹叶组(Sect. pimpinellifoliae DC. ex Ser.）植物以及相关组的一些种进行了性状特征、形态和微形态的研究，对该组的一些种的形态特征描述进行了补充，同时给出详细的地理和海拔范围分布图。综合花粉以及种子（瘦果）形态的研究结果重新制订了分种检索表，同时，对该组一些形态相近容易混淆的种进行了对比研究，特别对一直存在争议的绢毛复合体（绢毛蔷薇R. sericea Lindl.和峨眉蔷薇R. omeiensis Rolfe）进行了大量宏观形态特征的研究，并用光学显微镜（LM）和扫描电镜(SEM)对二者的花粉及种子形态、微形态进行对比研究和分析，主要研究内容包括： 1. 芹叶组孢粉研究 对芹叶组的10个种及相关的4个组共17个种（18个样品）的植物花粉进行了光镜和扫描电镜观察和比较研究。研究结果表明：蔷薇属植物花粉粒大小为中等偏小，极轴长23.98[21.82(R. graciliflora Rehd. et Wils.)～29.18(R. tsinglingensis Pax. et Hoffm.)] μm，赤道轴长28.65[24.15（R. graciliflora）～34.70(R. davidii Crép.)] μm；花粉属辐射对称等极单花粉，花粉形态赤道面观呈球形到超长球形；极面观为三裂圆形或近圆形,三孔沟，孔缘加厚,具中部突起的桥状盖。花粉外壁纹饰为条纹状，光镜下形态特征相差不大；在电镜下外壁条纹和脊沟内穿孔的形状、大小和频度等特征，常具组至种水平上的可见变异，可作为组至种水平划分的依据。 根据花粉外壁条纹特征及穿孔形状和数目等特征，本研究将这些植物的花粉归为5个类型，并编制了分组检索表。同时，根据条纹状的清晰度，排列方式、条纹形状、穿孔大小及其频度等方面的差异，各有特点，对该组的10个种编制了分种检索表。 2. 芹叶组种子形态研究 应用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对我国蔷薇属芹叶组14个种及相关组5个组共36种植物的种子宏观形态及种皮微形态特征进行了观察研究。结果显示，蔷薇属种子形态多样,形状分别为肾形、卵形或锥形等；种子颜色以淡棕色、褐色以及土黄色为主；种子大小种间相差悬殊，相对体积为（长×宽×厚）36.66（4.79～114.47) mm3。光镜下，种子宏观形态特征具组内一致性，在扫描电镜下种子表面结构特征因种而异，其纹饰以网纹为主，可分为3种类型，即近平滑型、负网纹型和网纹型。研究结果表明，蔷薇属种子表面纹饰与地理分布关系不大,具有组及种内稳定性。其种子形态、大小、表而纹饰类型等特征可作为蔷薇属组及种水平上的分类依据。 结合蔷薇属花粉形态研究结果，得出蔷薇属种皮微形态特征与花粉外壁纹饰特征相吻合，在代表组及种的特征上具相关性的结论。同时根据种子形态、微形态结构特征的组间区别和种间差异编制了分组及芹叶组14个种的分种检索表。 3. 绢毛蔷薇复合体的研究 通过对大量标本的研究、野外观察以及扫描电镜对绢毛蔷薇复合体的花粉形态和种皮表面结构进行研究，通过对小叶、花粉及种子的形态定量分析结果支持Rowley (1959)的观点，将峨眉蔷薇处理为绢毛蔷薇的一个变种。 综上研究结果得出，蔷薇属植物的小叶片数目、花被基数以及花粉及种子形态等性状是较为稳定的，这些特征可很好的作为分类学依据。 The morphology, pollen exine sculpture and seed coat structure of the species of Rosa sect. Pimpinellifoliae and related sections were studied.About 3,500 herbarium specimens at CDBI, KUN, PE, and SZ were examined. Field work in Sichuan and Yunnan were conducted. Revisions of some species were carried out and a new key to species of sect. Pimpinellifoliae was proposed based on morphology, pollen exine sculpture and seed coat structure, Detailed morphological descriptions, geographical distributions and the altitudinal ranges of some taxa are given. The systematics of the species complex, the Rosa sericea complex (R. sericea Lindl. & R. omeiensis Rolfe), was emphasized. This thesis focused on the following three aspects: 1. Pollen morphology of Rosa sect. Pimpinellifoliae The pollen morphology of 18 samples representing 10 species of the Eurasian Rosa sect. Pimpinellifoliae and 7 additional species of related sections was investigated under LM and SEM. The pollen grains are monadic, actinomorphic, equipolar, medium-sized, spheroidal to perprolate in equatorial view, 3-lobed circular or semi-circular in polar view, crassimarginate, pontoperculate, and with striate exine sculpture. The striate sculpture varies among sections and species. The equatorial axis ranges from 17.97 μm (R. sikangensis) to 29.18 μm (R. tsinglingensis) with an average of 23.98 μm in length, while polar axis varies from 24.15 μm (R. gracilifolra) to 34.70 μm (R. davidii) with an average of 28.65 μm in length. The pollens can be divided into five types based on striate sculpture and a key to the sections sampled was proposed accordingly. The pollen morphology of species of sect. Pimpinellifoliae is more homogeneous and different from other sections sampled and did not support the two-series subdivisions in sect. Pimpinellifoliae. A key is also provided based on characers of pollen morphology among species in sect. Pimpinellifoliae. 2. Seed coat structure of Rosa sect. Pimpinellifoliae The seed coat structure of 39 samples representing 14 species of Rosa sect. Pimpinellifoliae and 12 additional species of related sections was investigated under LE and SEM. The seed relative volume (Length × width × thickness) ranges from 4.79 to 114.47 mm3 with an average of 36.66. mm3. The seeds are reniform, ovate or oblong in shape, with orange-brown, light brown or deep brown color. Seed coat sculpture was reticulate or striate-like reticulate. There was no difference in sculpture character of various speices under LM, while three types of seed coat sculpture were identified under SEM and a key to species based on the seed coat sculpture was provided. The three types of seed coat sculpture were nearly smooth, areolate and reticulate. The study of the seed coat sculpture of same species sampled from different populations showed that characters on the seed coat are stable, and thus the size, shape and seed coat sculpture can be used in species level identification. Interestingly, characters in the seed coat sculpture and the pollen morphology in sect. Pimpinellifoliae are consistent at in specific or sectional levels. A key to the 14 species sampled was given based on seed coat sculpture. 3. The study on Rosa sericea complex The Rosa sericea complex contains R. omeiensis and R. sericea. They are morphologically similar to one another and the systematic status of R. omeiensis has been controversial. In this study we examined large numbers of herbarium specimens of R. omeiensis and R. sericea and conducted field observations in the Hengduan Mts.. We also performed SEM study of pollen morphology and seed coat structure of R. omeiensis and R. sericea. We further carried out intensive morphometric study on the leaflet, pollen, and seed morphology. Our results showed that R. omeiensis should be sunk to be a variety of R. sericea, just as Rowley’s treatment in 1959. In conclusion, the features in the number of leaflet and petal, and the morphological character on pollen and seed are relatively stable. Therefore these characters are very useful in taxon delimition.

隆肛蛙属Feirana种群的系统学与动物地理学研究

对隆肛蛙属的物种构成进行了订正，建立新属肛刺蛙属Yerana gen. nov.；订正后的隆肛蛙属现仅隶2种， 即隆肛蛙F. quadrana和太行隆肛蛙F. taihangnicus。运用形态学分析探讨了隆肛蛙属物种及种群的形态差异和分类关系，通过分子系统学研究探讨了隆肛蛙属物种及种群的分类和系统发育关系，运用动物地理学方法结合系统发育关系探讨了隆肛蛙属种群的地理分布格局成因与历史过程。主要结果和推论如下： 1．隆肛蛙属物种构成的订正及一新属建立 建立新属肛刺蛙属，将隆肛蛙属中的原叶氏隆肛蛙F. yei归隶新属肛刺蛙属并更名为叶氏肛刺蛙Y. yei，，新属建立的主要依据为：（1）雄性肛部隆起，肛孔下方有两个布满黑刺的大的白色球形隆起，具单咽下内声囊， 第一指具婚刺；（2）形态量度分析表明叶氏肛刺蛙与隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙的形态差异远大于后两者之间的差异；（3）叶氏肛刺蛙的分布区与隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙的分布区距离较远且呈隔离状态；（4）分子系统学研究资料（Jiang et al.,2005）证明叶氏肛刺蛙与隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙非单系发生；叶氏肛刺蛙在第二支中位于基部。因此，隆肛蛙属现仅隶2种，即隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙。 2．隆肛蛙属种群形态学研究 对隆肛蛙属中隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙的15个地理种群565只标本的28项形态性状进行了测量，运用典型判别分析法对其分析的结果表明：（1）太行隆肛蛙与隆肛蛙形态差异明显，支持其为不同的物种；（2）原隆肛蛙河南伏牛山种群和山西中条山种群应为太行隆肛蛙的地理种群；（3）隆肛蛙不同地理种群之间形态差异明显，其中四川安县种群、陕西周至种群和湖北利川种群与模式产地重庆巫山种群的差异可能达到了亚种或亚种以上分化水平。对隆肛蛙属量度分析的15个种群进行定性形态分析表明其分为三种形态型，对应隆肛蛙、过渡型和太行隆肛蛙，其变异特征主要为内跗褶、雄性肛部隆起及疣粒分布、第五趾外侧缘膜等，这与量度分析结果相似。 3．隆肛蛙属种群分子系统学研究 测定隆肛蛙属Feirana的2种19种群的线粒体12S rRNA和16S rRNA基因片段、ND2基因的DNA序列，比对后共计1953bps。（1）遗传多样性与距离分析：结果表明，隆肛蛙属种群具很高的遗传多样性，19个种群样品表现出19种单倍型（遗传多样性指数Hd＝1.0）； ND2基因的进化信息含量远高于12SrRNA和16SrRNA。隆肛蛙属2种群组内的种群间的遗传距离远小于两种群组间的距离，种群在不同基因上的遗传距离表现的关系与对应的系统树一致。（2）系统发育关系分析：结果表明，不同基因片断基于不同方法构建的隆肛蛙属种群系统发育树结构基本一致，基本表明隆肛蛙属种群为单系发生；它们在系统树中分为两大支，分别对应于隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙；支持中条山种群（沁水、历山和济源种群）和伏牛山种群（栾川和内乡种群）为太行隆肛蛙的地理种群，而原隆肛蛙秦岭中东段的部分种群（柞水、宁陕、长安大坝沟种群）也应为太行隆肛蛙的地理种群。（3）亚种分化分析：根据遗传距离分析和系统发育关系分析结果，并考虑形态上的差异情况以及地理分布信息，隆肛蛙所隶种群组可分为2亚种，即隆肛蛙指名亚种F. quadrana quadrana包括四川盆地东缘大巴山东段-巫山-武陵山北麓种群和秦岭中段（周至板房子和长安广货街）种群，他们在系统关系树上聚为一支；安县亚种F. quadrana anxianensis包括四川盆地西缘岷山东麓-龙门山-大巴山和秦岭西段的种群（安县、青川、文县、南江和凤县种群），他们在系统关系树上聚为一支。太行隆肛蛙所隶种群组也可分为2亚种，即太行隆肛蛙指名亚种F. taihangnicus taihangnicus包括中条山的种群（沁水、历山和济源种群）和中东秦岭的部分种群（柞水、长安大坝沟和宁陕种群），他们在系统关系树上聚为一支；太行隆肛蛙伏牛亚种F. taihangnicus funiuensis，为伏牛山地区的种群（栾川和内乡种群），他们在系统关系树上聚为一支。 4．隆肛蛙属种群动物地理学研究 隆肛蛙属19种群的分歧年代分析： 以长江巫山段和黄河三门峡段的形成历史时期为参考点，根据已测隆肛蛙属19种群及其外群包括N. pleski、P. yunnanesis、P. robertingeri、F. limnocharis的1953bps DNA序列构建分子钟，获得各支系的分歧年代。结果表明：①棘蛙族在70Ma左右开始其独立演化历程，这与Roelants et al.（2004）的分析结果～60±15Ma左右开始分化基本一致，后者印证了本文的分子钟。②隆肛蛙属的起始分化年代较早，隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙两种群组的最近祖先种群大概在46Ma～50Ma左右；隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙种群组内的种群分化年代相对两种群组间晚得多， 隆肛蛙种群组内两亚种分化起始年代约为10Ma左右，而太行隆肛蛙种群组内两亚种分化起始年代约为6Ma。 隆肛蛙属种群分布格局形成过程分析： ①隆肛蛙属的系统关系与地理分布格局密切相关，大部分系统分支分级与地理距离成正比；②隆肛蛙属最近祖先种群的分化中心可能位于秦岭中部地区， 隆肛蛙属的种群分布格局的形成表现为隔离分化与扩散相结合的机制，由隔离分化产生的隆肛蛙祖先种群主要从秦岭中部向西南方向扩散，后隔离分化为两亚种；太行隆肛蛙祖先种群向东北方向扩散也分化为两亚种。 隆肛蛙属种群分布区域地质历史的探讨：本文所建分子钟和种群分化方式印证了该区域的几次主要地质事件，包括岷山-龙门山-西秦岭等地区的快速差异隆起、第四纪冰期等。 The specific composition of the genus Feirana should be revised. A new genus Yerana gen. nov.（Ranidae：Dicroglossinae）was established based on morphological data-set and molecular phylogeny, as a result, only two species F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus are classified into Feirana now. Morphological differences and taxonomy of populations of Feirana were investigated based on morphological and morphometric data; phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of populations of Feirana were elucidated using molecular data, and then the proceeding of the distribution pattern of populations of Feirana were discussed. The main results and conclusions and proposals were presented as following: 1. Revising of the specific composition of the genus Feirana and establishment of a new genus The new genus Yerana, only containing the type species Y. yei, was established based on the following evidences: (1) In adult male, distinct up-heaved circular vesicle presents around the anal, and under anal there are two white balls on which black spines exist, black horny spines scatter on the upper side of first finger, and internal single subgular vocal sac presents; (2) there is obvious morphometric differences between Yerana and Feirana; (3) Yerana is distributed far from Feirana; (4) evidences of molecular phylogeny（Jiang et al.,2005）suggested that Yerana take a special phylogenetic clade which is different from other genus included in the tribe Paini. As a result, there are only two species in Feirana, i.e., F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus. 2. Morphological research of populations of Feirana Twenty-eight characters of 565 individuals of 15 populations of the genus Feirana were measured, the results of Canonical Discriminant analysis of the morphometric data-set indicated that: (1) there are very prominent differences between the two species F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus. The validity of species F. taihangnicus was approved here; (2) Mt. Funiu population and Mt. Zhongtiao population should belong to the species F. taihangnicus; (3) Obvious differences exist among 12 populations of F. quadrana, the differentiation among Zhouzhi population, Anxian population, Lichuan population, and Wushan population together with the others probably reach sub-specific or specific level. Result of morphological comparison between 15 different populations show that 3 morphological types are recogenized in according with F. quadrana, F. taihangnicus and intergradation, this result conform to the result of morphometric analysis. 3. Molecular phylogenetic study on populaions of Feirana Fragment of 12SrRNA and 16SrRNA genes, and ND2 gene of 19 populations of two species of Feirana were sequenced and aligned, from which 1953 bps were received. (1) analyses of genetic distance and hereditary diversity indicated that: genetic distance between populations in each group were less than distance between two groups of Feirana, 19 haplotypes were recognized from 19 samples of 19 populations, so the hereditary diversity of populations of Feirana was very high (Hd=1.0), phylogenetic information in ND2 gene is more than fragment sequence of 12SrRNA and 16SrRNA genes. (2) Result of molecular phylogeny indicate that the phylogenetic trees constructed using different methods based on different sequence data sets showed the revised genus Feirana is monophyletic since the 19 populations of Feirana were firstly clustered together as one large clade, which was further clustered into two major clades, corresponding to F. quadrana(GroupⅠ) and F. taihangnicus(GroupⅡ), respectively. So populations of Qinshui and Lishan in Mt. Zhongtiao, populations of Luanchuan and Neixiang in Mt. Funiu, and populations of Zhashui, Dabagou of Chang’an and Ningshan in eastern Mt. Qinling should belong to the species F. taihangnicus; (3) Subspecific differentiation. on the basis of genetic distance, phylogenetic trees and geographical distribution, F. quadrana should have two subspecies, i.e., F. quadrana qudadrana, consisting of the populations Guanghuojie of Chang’an and Zhouzhi in Mid-Mt. Qinling, populations in Wushan area and northern Mt. Wuling (Lichuan), and F. qudadrana anxianensis, consisting of the populations in eastern Mt. Ming shan-Mt. Longmen-western Mt. Daba-western Mt. Qinling (Anxian, Qingchuan, Wenxian, Nanjiang and Fengxian); F. taihangnicus should also has two subspecies, i.e., F. taihangnicus taihangnicus, consisting of the populations in Mt. Zhongtiao and eastern Mt. Qinling, and F. taihangnicus funiuensis, consisting of the populations in Mt. Funiu. 4. Zoogeography of populaions of Feirana Analysis for divergent time of 19 populations of Feirana: Using the dates of run-through of Wushan segment of Changjiang River as the time when the population of Lichuan started differentiated from the populations of Wushan and Shennongjia, and the dates of Sanmenxia segment of Yellow River as the time when the populations in Mt. Zhongtiao started differentiated from the population of Dabagou in Chang’an, molecular clock was established using sequences with 1953 bps of 19 populations of Feirana and outgroup including N. pleski, P. yunnanesis, P. robertingeri, F. limnocharis in order to estimate divergent time of all clades. Result of that indicated that: ① the tribe Paini started to evolve independently at about 70Ma when is in consistent with that estimated by Roelants et al.（2004）with result of about ～60±15Ma, they were corroborated by each other, this confirms the validity of this molecular clock; ② divergent time for speciation of Feriana is early, ancestral populations of F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus were found about 46Ma～50Ma; differentiation of populations within species is greatly late to the divergence of the two species, divergent time for F. quadrana is 10Ma and divergent time for F. taihangnicus is 6Ma. Proceeding of distribution pattern of Feirana. Phylogenetic relationships of populations of Feirana matched quite with distribution pattern of them, the relationships among clades showed in phylogenetic trees is direct ratio to geographical distance of them; the estimated date of speciation between two species of Feirana was as early as speciation of Paa yunnanesis and Nanara pleski; middle part of Mt. Qinling is the center of speciation of Feirana, combination of mult-events of dispersal and vicariance are probably the mechanism of speciation of Feirana, F. quadrana colonized the mid-Mt. Qinling and then differentiated into two subspecies in southwest direction, ancestral population of F. taihangnicus colonized the mid-Mt. Qinling and then differentiated into two subspecies in northeast direction. On geological history of the distribution of Feirana. According to molecular clock and speciation model of populations of Feirana, some geological events are confirmed, including special rise of Mt. Minshan- Mt. Longmen-western Mt. Qinling, glacial age.

Effects of delayed first feeding on growth and survival of rock bream Oplegnathus fasciatus larvae

The effects of the timing of first feeding (0, 1 and 2 days after yolk exhaustion) and starvation on the point-of-no-return (PNR), survival and growth of laboratory-reared rock bream larvae were studied under controlled conditions. Larvae began to feed exogenously at 3 days after hatching (dah) and reached PNR on 54 h after yolk exhaustion at 22 +/- 1.5 degrees C. Larvae growth was significantly affected by the time of first exogenous feeding. The growth of 0 day delayed first feeding larvae was obviously faster than those of the other delayed first feeding larvae (P<0.05) whether at 7 dab (SL=3.40 mm, SGR=5.7, CV=4.0) or at 15 dah (SL=4.85 mm, SGR=6.1, CV=8.2) with a more uniform size distribution. Survival of 0 day delayed first feeding larvae and I day delayed first feeding larvae was 13% and 8% at the end of experiment, respectively, while no larvae survived up to 7 dah for 2 days delayed first feeding larvae and unfed larvae. Food resulted in a progressive deterioration of the larval digestive system and atrophy of skeletal muscle fibre. The ratios of head length to SL (standard length), body height to SL and eye diameter to SL were the most sensitive morphometric indices to detect the effects of fasting on larval condition. Present results showed that the combination of morphological and morphometric variables could be used to evaluate the nutritional condition of rock bream larvae. In order to avoid the potential mortality and gain better development, survival and growth in industrial production, the rock bream larvae must establish successful first feeding within 2 days after yolk exhaustion. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.