Some nematodes of fishes from central China, with the redescription of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus)fulvidraconis (Camallanidae)

The present paper comprises a systematic survey of nematodes based on helminthological examinations of 176 specimens of freshwater fishes, belonging to 22 species, from central China (mostly lakes in Hubei Province) collected during the autumn of 2001. The following six species were recorded: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) fulvidraconis Li, 1935, Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927, Dentiphilometra monopteri Moravec et Wang, 2002, Pingus sinensis Hsu, 1933, Proleptinae gen. sp. larv., and Eustrongylides sp. larv. Data on their morphology, morphological variability, host range, prevalence, intensity and distribution are provided. SEM studies of P. fulvidraconis and larval Physalopterinae, used for the first time in these species, revealed some additional morphological details and made it possible to redescribe the former. In contrast to the existing description of P. fulvidraconis, this species was found to possess two spicules and a V-shaped gubernaculum with unequal arms (originally mistaken for the left spicule), as well as deirids, whose location can be considered an important taxonomic feature. Larvae of the Physalopterinae have not previously been reported from fishes in China. The finding of larval Eustrongylides in Paramisgurnus dabryanus represents a new host record. All but one nematode species from this zoogeographically interesting region are briefly described and illustrated.

Common evolutionary origin of aquareoviruses and orthoreoviruses revealed by genome characterization of Golden shiner reovirus, Grass carp reovirus, Striped bass reovirus and golden ide reovirus (genus Aquareovirus, family Reoviridae)

Full-length and partial genome sequences of four members of the genus Aquareovirus, family Reoviridae (Golden shiner reovirus, Grass carp reovirus, Striped bass reovirus and golden ide reovirus) were characterized. Based on sequence comparison, the unclassified Grass carp reovirus was shown to be a member of the species Aquareovirus C The status of golden ide reovirus, another unclassified aquareovirus, was also examined. Sequence analysis showed that it did not belong to the species Aquareovirus A or C, but assessment of its relationship to the species Aquareovirus B, D, E and F was hampered by the absence of genetic data from these species. In agreement with previous reports of ultrastructural resemblance between aquareoviruses and orthoreoviruses, genetic analysis revealed homology in the genes of the two groups. This homology concerned eight of the 11 segments of the aquareovirus genome (amino acid identity 17-42%), and similar genetic organization was observed in two other segments. The conserved terminal sequences in the genomes of members of the two groups were also similar. These data are undoubtedly an indication of the common evolutionary origin of these viruses. This clear genetic relatedness between members of distinct genera is unique within the family Reoviridae. Such a genetic relationship is usually observed between members of a single genus. However, the current taxonomic classification of aquareoviruses and orthoreoviruses in two different genera is supported by a number of characteristics, including their distinct G+C contents, unequal numbers of genome segments, absence of an antigenic relationship, different cytopathic effects and specific econiches.

Genome mapping in aquatic animals: Progress and future perspectives

The genome of aquatic animals is poorly understood and information from different taxonomic groups is sketchy. While there have been intensive genomic studies on some fish models, investigations on other fishes and invertebrates have been scarce. Yet there are recently some coordinated studies on genome mapping in a number of aquaculture animals of economic importance. This review summarizes information available on genome mapping of the important fish models and aquaculture animals. The future perspectives of this field of studies are discussed.

Four new terrestrial species of Marionina (Clitellata, Enchytraeidae) from China and re-examination of M. hoVbaueri Moller

Enchytraeid surveys were made in China, mainly along the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Basin, during the period 1991-1999. Among the findings, four terrestrial species of Marionina are new to science and well illustrate the taxonomic complexity of the genus as currently defined. Marionina sinica sp. n. is characterized by a specific chaetal distribution, the marionine pattern of the dorsal blood vessel, and elongate, fusiform, spermathecal ectal ducts. Marionina sacculata sp. n. is distinguished by the possession of a pair of pouch-like oesophageal appendages in IV, the lack of lateral chaetae in VII-XI, a marionine pattern of the dorsal blood vessel, and short spermathecal ectal ducts gradually expanding into spherical ampullae. Both M. sinica and M. sacculata have minute bodies (2-3 mm long in vivo) and lack spermathecal accessory glands. The former species shows its closest aYnities with the European M. brendae Rota, 1995, whereas the latter is closest to the German M. hoVbaueri Moller, 1971, for which an amended diagnosis is provided. Marionina seminuda sp. n. has only ventral chaetal bundles, distributed from III onwards and bisetose. It is similar to the Holarctic M. subterranea (Knollner, 1935) in lacking entirely the lateral chaetae and in having the brain incised posteriorly, the dorsal vessel bifurcating behind the pharynx, and coelomocytes containing opaque granules, but diVers from it in having the longest chaetae in preclitellar segments and gland cells distributed all over the spermathecal ectal ducts. Marionina righiana sp. n. is diagnosed by the location of the head pore on the prostomium, the absence of lateral chaetae from VIII ( VII or IX) onwards, the possession of free spermathecae extending backwards through one to four segments, the brain deeply incised posteriorly, the lumbricilline pattern of the dorsal blood vessel, and the opacity of coelomocytes in vivo. Prior to this study, members of the genus so atypical as M. righiana with respect to the position of the head pore and the structure of the spermathecae were known only from South American soils. Until the taxonomy of Marionina has been more thoroughly assessed and revised, the assignment of the four species to this large assemblage should be regarded as tentative.

Molecular systematics of Xenocyprinae (Teleostei : Cyprinidae): Taxonomy, biogeography, and coevolution of a special group restricted in east Asia

We surveyed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation in the subfamily Xenocyprinae from China and used these data to estimate intraspecific, interspecific, and intergeneric phylogeny and assess biogeographic scenarios underlying the geographic structure of lineages. We sequenced 1140 bp of cytochrome b from 30 individuals of Xenocyprinae and one putative outgroup (Myxocypris asiaticus) and also sequenced 297 bp of ND4L, 1380 bp of ND4, 68 bp of tRNA(His), and 69 bp of tRNA(Ser) from 17 individuals of Xenocyprinae and the outgroup (M. asiaticus). We detected high levels of nucleotide variation among populations, species, and genera. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that Distoechodon hupeinensis might be transferred to the genus Xenocypris, the taxonomic status of the genus Plagiognathops might be preserved, and species of Xenocypris and Plagiognathops form a monophyletic group that is sister to the genus Distoechodon and Pseudobrama. The introgressive hybridization might occur among the populations of X. argentea and X. davidi, causing the two species to not be separated by mtDNA patterns according to their species identification, and the process and direction of hybridization are discussed. The spatial distributions of mtDNA lineages among populations of Xenocypris were compatible with the major geographic region, which indicated that the relationship between Hubei + Hunan and Fujian is closer than that between Hubei + Hunan and Sichuan, From a perspective of parasite investigation, our data suggested that the fauna of Hexamita in Xenocyprinae could be used to infer the phylogeny of their hosts. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

RAPD and AFLP techniques for the analysis of genetic relationships in two genera of Decapoda

RAPD was used fur analysing three (sub-)species of mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis, E. japonicus, and E. japonicus hepuensis) and three populations of E. sinensis. The results show that their relationships on DNA level are similar to the classical taxonomic hypotheses (Dai, 1991). No diagnostic RAPD marker could be found, but there were statistically significant genetic differences among these taxa (P < 0.001) or populations (P < 0.001). That is, the intraspecific similarities were larger than the interspecific similarities; the intrasubspecific similarities were larger than the intraspecific similarities; and the intrapopulational similarities were larger than the interpopulational similarities. In AFLP analysis, no significant genetic difference has been found between E. sinensis and E. japonicus, but AFLP markers among four species of Macrobrachium (M. rosenbergii. M. nipponense, M. hainanense, and M. asperulum) were found. The DNA similarities among these four species of Macrobrachium are in accordance with morphological similarities.

Sequence of genome segments 1, 2, and 3 of the grass carp reovirus (Genus Aquareovirus, family Reoviridae)

The genome segments 1, 2, and 3 of the grass carp reovirus (GCRV), a tentative species assigned to genus Aquareouirus, family Reouiridae, were sequenced. The respective segments 1, 2, and 3 were 3949, 3877, and 3702 nucleotides long. Conserved moths 5' (GUUAUUU) and 3' (UUCAUC) were found at the ends of each segment. Each segment contains a single ORF and the negative strand does not permit identification of consistent ORFs. Sequence analysis revealed that VP2 is the viral polymerase, while VPI might represent the viral guanyly/methyl transferase (involved in the capping process of RNA transcripts) and VP3 the NTPase/helicase (involved in the transcription and capping of viral RNAs), The highest amino acid identities (26-41%) were found with orthoreovirus proteins. Further genomic characterization should provide insight about the genetic relationships between GCRV, aquareoviruses, and orthoreoviruses, It should also permit to precise the taxonomic status of these different viruses. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of Metapenaeopsis (Decapoda : Penaeidae) based on mitochondrial dna sequences of selected species from the Indo-West Pacific

Phylogenetic relationships within Metapenaeopsis remain largely unknown. The modern revision of the genus suggests that the shape of the petasma, followed by the presence of a stidulating organ, are the most important distinguishing taxonomic features. In the present study, phylogenetic relationships were studied among seven Metapenaeopsis species from the Indo-West Pacific based on partial sequences of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) genes. Mean sequence divergence was 6.4% for 16S and 15.8% for COI. A strikingly large nucleotide distance (10.0% for 16S and 16.9% for COI) was recorded between M. commensalis, the only Indo-West Pacific species with a one-valved petasma, and the other species with a two-valved petasma. Phylogenetic analyses using neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood generated mostly identical tree topologies in which M. commensalis is distantly related to the other species. Two clades were resolved for the remaining species, one with and the other without a stridulating organ, supporting the main groupings of the recent taxonomic revision. Results of the present study also indicate that the deep-water forms represent a relatively recent radiation in Metapenaeopsis.

Notholca dongtingensis (Rotifera : Monogononta : Brachionidae), a new species from Dongting Lake, China

Notholca dongtingensis n.sp. was found in the second largest lake of China, Dongting Lake. It is related to Notholca labis Gosse, 1887 and N. kozhovi Vassilijewa & Kutikova, 1969. Its main distinguishing taxonomic features are a square-oval lorica, very short anterior spines, anterior lateral spines curving outwards and protrusile posterior margin of the ventral plate.

Rotifera recorded from China, 1893-1997, with remarks on their composition and distribution

A search of the literature on rotifers recorded from China, includes today 477 valid species names and 42 subspecies or infrasubspecific variants in 84 genera and 28 families recorded since 1893. Chinese rotifera research is reviewed, and all recorded species are listed with current taxonomic status and their first localities in China. Most of the named taxa are widely distributed or cosmopolitan, with only a small number (about 3%) possibly restricted to China. This fauna exhibits 15 endemic taxa. The composition and distribution of Chinese Rotifera are briefly analyzed. It is likely that considerably more rotifers remain to be described from China as further study to be carried on and taxonomic resolution improves.

Two new species of Rotifera from China

Two new rotifera species, Brachionus huangi n. sp, and Lecane chinesensis n. sp. are described and illustrated from different localities in China. The main distinguishing taxonomic features of B. huangi are three pairs of apical spines, a pair of symmetrical caudal spines and a wide caudal projection. For L. chinesensis, the main characteristics are the two-sided small extentions of the foot pseudosegment, the long and innercurved apical spines and ventral lorica anteriorly narrower than the dorsal one.

Rhodococcus qingshengii sp nov., a carbendazim-degrading bacterium

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, mesophilic strain, djl-6(T), able to degrade carbendazim, was isolated from a carbendazim-contaminated soil sample from Jiangsu province, China. The taxonomic position of this isolate was analysed by using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic analysis including peptidoglycan type, diagnostic sugar composition, fatty acid profile, menaquinones, polar lipids and mycolic acids showed that the characteristics of strain djl-6(T) were in good agreement with those of the genus Rhodococcus. DNA-DNA hybridization showed that it had low genomic relatedness with Rhodococcus baikonurensis DSM 44587(T) (31.8%), Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM 43066(T) (23.8%) and Rhodococcus globerulus DSM 43954(T) (117.7%), the three type strains to which strain djl-6(T) was most closely related based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (99.78, 99.25 and 98.91% similarity, respectively). Based on the phenotypic properties and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain djl-6(T) (=CGMCC 1.6580(T) =KCTC 19205(T)) is proposed as the type strain of a novel Rhodococcus species, Rhodococcus qingshengii sp. nov.

岭鳅属(Oreonectes)鱼类的分类整理

本研究对岭鳅属鱼类进行了分类整理。对目前鉴定出的岭鳅属鱼类6 个种63 尾鱼类标本的28 个可量性状和6 个可数性状进行了测量和计数；对分类学上存 在疑问的种的测量数据进行了主成分分析。结合测量、计数以及主成分分析的结 果，并应用系统发育物种概念，评价岭鳅属鱼类物种的有效性，并描述岭鳅属鱼 类两新种。主要结论如下： 1. 岭鳅属的主要鉴别特征为：前、后鼻孔分开一短距离，前鼻孔位于一个管状 系统中，管状系统的末端延长成须状；骨质鳔囊为敞开型；上颌无齿状突起。 借此特征岭鳅属鱼类与条鳅亚科（Nemachilinae）其它属级类群完全区分开 来。 2. 小眼岭鳅（Oreonectes microphthalmus）采自广西都安、罗城。根据其尾鳍叉 形，眼睛退化仅残留一黑色素眼点，全身裸露无鳞，头部的眶下管孔为3+0 以及眶上管孔为7，将小眼岭鳅描述成岭鳅属一新种。 3. 多斑岭鳅（Oreonectes polystigmus）采自广西桂林大埠。根据其侧线不完全， 仅在头部后方有6 个侧线孔，头部的眶上管孔为7，眶下管孔为4+7 以及身 体布满不规则的斑点或斑块而将其描记成岭鳅属一新种。 4. 分布于广西都安的透明岭鳅（Oreonecetes translucens）与分布于贵州荔波的 长须盲副鳅（Paracobitis longibarbatus）、荔波盲条鳅（Nemacheilus liboensis） 和荔波岭鳅（Oreonectes liboensis）是同一物种，并根据其前鼻孔与后鼻孔紧 相邻、骨质鳔囊侧囊的后壁为骨质、雄性胸鳍外侧鳍条增宽变硬的特征，将 它们归属为高原鳅属（Triplophysa），有效名称为长须盲高原鳅（Triplophysa longibarbatus）。

中国产丝齿菌属Hyphodontia分类学研究

革菌是指平伏的具有光滑、齿状或瘤状子实层体表面的木材腐朽菌，该类群属于担子菌门（Basidiomycota），担子菌纲（Basidiomycetes），是一类数量较多、组成较为复杂的高等真菌。 革菌具有重要的生态学功能和经济价值。该类群真菌能够降解木质素和纤维素，在森林生态系统中起着关键的降解还原作用；同时，革菌还是重要的生物资源，部分种类能够造成林木病害是林木病原菌；部分革菌具有药用、食用价值；有些种类的革菌还具有重要的工业应用价值。 对采集自我国不同地区、不同森林生态类型中的，以及现保存于中国科学院沈阳应用生态研究所东北生物标本馆（IFP），中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本馆（HMAS）等国内主要标本馆的非褶菌目木材腐朽菌 — 产丝齿菌属（Hyphodontia J. Erikss.）的真菌标本进行了全面系统的研究，其中自采标本约800余号，馆藏标本600余号。按照Donk，Eriksson和Parmasto提出的传统分类方法对该属的种类进行详细的描述和显微结构绘图，记载了每个种类的寄主、国内外分布及研究标本，并对每种与相似种的联系和区别进行了讨论。我国范围内共记录及描述产丝齿菌属（Hyphodontia）39种，其中共发现新种3个，分别是：头状囊产丝齿菌Hyphodontia capitatocystidiata H.X. Xiong, Y.C. Dai & Sheng H. Wu，异囊产丝齿菌H. heterocystidiata H.X. Xiong, Y.C. Dai & Sheng H. Wu 和 似土黄产丝齿菌H. subpallidula H.X. Xiong, Y.C. Dai & Sheng H. Wu；发现中国新记录种2个：冷杉产丝齿菌Hyphodontia abieticola (Bourdot & Galzin) J. Erikss.和弯孢产丝齿菌H. curvispora J. Erikss. & Hjortstam；大陆新记录种7个，分别是：台湾产丝齿菌Hyphodontia formosana Sheng H. Wu & Burds.，羊毛状产丝齿菌Hyphodontia lanata Burds. & Nakasone，膜质产丝齿菌Hyphodontia pelliculae (H. Furuk.) N. Maek.，无锁产丝齿菌Hyphodontia poroideoefibulata Sheng H. Wu，近球孢产丝齿菌Hyphodontia subglobasa Sheng H. Wu，热带产丝齿菌Hyphodontia tropica Sheng H. Wu和管形产丝齿菌Hyphodontia tubuliformis Sheng H. Wu。

中国龙虱科分类及区系分析

龙虱科是水生鞘翅目中的第一大科，种类十分丰富，与人类生活息息相关。本文基于大量的文献及中国水甲虫调查期间采集的龙虱科标本的观察，对中国的龙虱科进行了系统的分类学研究，以期为龙虱科生态及系统发育研究提供基础性资料。 在查阅大量文献的基础上，编制了我国龙虱科昆虫名录，共计40属315种；在名录中列出了所有物种的原始发表文献、异名及详细的分布信息。采用国际上多数分类学家认可的10亚科分类系统，编制了我国龙虱科昆虫的分亚科检索表。 检查龙虱科标本1058头，鉴定出24属共90种。对全部种类进行了详细的形态描述，绘制了鉴别特征图；报告了5个新种（其中3种已经发表），分别为拟二叉端毛龙虱、长叶宽缘龙虱、韦氏微龙虱、西双版纳微龙虱和彦宾三叉龙虱；25个省新记录种。全文包含鉴别特征图27版212幅，照片9版共81张。 对我国龙虱科昆虫进行了区系分析，得出了属、种的区系分布特点：1. 在属级阶元上，东洋界中华南区在属级分类单元的数量最为丰富，共有28属，占总属数的70%；古北界中华北区在属级分类单元的数量最多，有20属，占总属数的50%；2. 在种级阶元上，我国龙虱科昆虫以东洋成分占主导，明显高于古北界，但古北东洋界共同种比例亦很高，说明我国龙虱科东洋与古北昆虫有相互渗透的趋向。3. 龙虱科昆虫在全国各大区的分布共有47种分布型，华南区、华中区及东北区物种最丰富，明显高于其它各区，这三个区分布的种类分别为144种，97种，89种。