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Volume 6 Issue 01

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01

Systematics and Biodiversity is an international life science journal devoted to whole-organism biology, especially systematics and taxonomic biodiversity. It emphasizes the importance and multi-disciplinary significance of systematics. It records the diversity of organisms through descriptive taxonomic papers. The underlying basis of biodiversity is addressed directly and indirectly, through studies of taxonomic relationships, and of growth, form, adaptation and function, and through analysis and synthesis of biodiversity patterns in time and space, especially with respect to environmental and human factors. Coverage also includes relevant theory and methodology, and conservation biology.

Phylogeny of the leafhopper subfamily Deltocephalinae (Insecta: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) and related subfamilies based on morphology

Research Articles
James N. Zahniser, Christopher H. Dietrich,
Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01 , pp 1-24

Abstract
Previous phylogenetic analyses of the leafhopper family Cicadellidae based on morphological and molecular data suggested that Deltocephalinae, as traditionally defined, is polyphyletic. These analyses recovered a large clade comprising Deltocephalinae and several other subfamilies. To further elucidate relationships within this large clade of deltocephaline-like leafhoppers, an expanded dataset of 119 morphological characters and 68 taxa was compiled and analysed using cladistic methods. The taxon sample included one or more representatives of nearly all previously recognised tribes of Deltocephalinae, representatives of the non-deltocephaline family-group taxa which grouped with Deltocephalinae in previous analyses, and six putative outgroup taxa drawn from other cicadellid subfamilies. The resulting most parsimonious trees consistently recovered the putative ingroup as monophyletic. However, in agreement with previous analyses, most subfamilies and tribes represented by multiple exemplars were not resolved as monophyletic groups. Based on these results, subfamilies derived from within the deltocephaline lineage include Acostemminae, Arrugadinae, Drakensbergeninae, Eupelicinae, Koebeliinae, Mukariinae, Paraboloponinae, Penthimiinae, Selenocephalinae and Stegelytrinae. The phylogeny indicates that grass specialisation is much more phylogenetically conservative than implied by the current higher classification of leafhoppers. A list of synapomorphies on the strict consensus tree and an illustrated key to all family-group taxa of deltocephaline-like leafhoppers are provided.

The first blow fly parasitoid takes a head start in its termite host (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Bengaliinae; Isoptera: Macrotermitidae)

Research Articles
Tsang Wing Sze, Thomas Pape, Desmond K. Toole,
Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01 , pp 25-30

Abstract
The Oriental bengaliine blow fly Verticia fasciventris Malloch, 1927 is reported as an internal parasitoid of the termite Macrotermes barneyi Light and thereby represents the first record of an insect parasitoid in the Calliphoridae. The larva develops in the head of termite soldiers, finally filling the head capsule entirely. The mature larva leaves the head through the neck foramen, traversing the entire body of its host to exit between the abdominal cerci.

Phylogenetic patterns of morphological and chemical characters and reproductive mode in the Heterodermia obscurata group in Costa Rica (Ascomycota, Physciaceae)

Research Articles
Robert Lücking, Ruth del Prado, H. Thorsten Lumbsch, Susan Will-Wolf, André Aptroot, Harrie J. M. Sipman, Loengrin Umaña, José Luis Chaves,
Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01 , pp 31-41

Abstract
Species delimitation in lichens of the Heterodermia obscurata group (sect. Polyblastidium) is based on reproductive mode, lobe underside pigmentation, and medullary chemistry as main character complexes. However, these characters are inconsistently used by different workers, and phenotypes with different medullary chemistry or underside pigmentation are often lumped into single species. In addition, molecular studies in other genera of Physciaceae have shown that phenotypes reproducing either sexually or asexually do not necessarily form monophyletic clades, which does not support the species pair concept postulating that vegetatively reproducing species form monophyletic sister clades to sexually reproducing species. Obviously, these deviating concepts greatly influence the number of species recognised in biotic inventories, as is the case in the Costa Rican Lichen Biodiversity Inventory (Ticolichen). Here, depending on which species concepts are used, the number of taxa recognised in the H. obscurata group varies between 10 and 25. We therefore tested the phylogenetic patterns of distribution of morphological and chemical characters and reproductive mode in apotheciate versus sorediate taxa of the H. obscurata group in Costa Rica by means of molecular phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences. Based on our results, the use of both medullary chemistry and underside pigmentation for the distinction of species is supported, which is in contrast to the concepts used in recent treatments of the genus. The data are ambiguous, however, with regard to the species pair concept: in the case of H. flabellata vs. H. obscurata, the species pair concept does not seem to hold, while in two other supposed species pairs (Heterodermia vs. H. and H. vs. H. ), the sorediate forms appear not to be sister taxa of the apotheciate forms.

Madaglymbus , a new genus of Malagasy endemic diving beetles and description of a highly unusual species based on morphology and DNA sequence data (Dytiscidae: Copelatinae)

Research Articles
H. Shaverdo, M. T. Monaghan, D. C. Lees, R. Ranaivosolo, M. Balke,
Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01 , pp 43-51

Abstract
Madaglymbus gen. nov. is described for ten species of Aglymbus Sharp, 1882, from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands based on their morphology and a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data using Bayesian and parsimony analyses. Madaglymbus was retrieved as a well supported clade (100% posterior probability both estimating model parameters for all data combined and with different loci). Madaglymbus ruthwildae sp. nov. is described from Ankarana Special Reserve, NW Madagascar. This unusual species is characterised by four highly conspicuous snow-white spots on the brownish black elytra, its small size, numerous strioles on the pronotum and elytra, a strong and very long anterodistal seta (but not a short spine) on male protarsomere 4, and bilobed male parameres. Copelatus gestroi Sharp, 1882, comb. nov. and C. multistriatus Nilsson, 1991, comb. nov. are transferred from the genus Aglymbus to Copelatus Erichson, 1832. The following name replacements are proposed: Copelatus neogestroi Balke, nom. nov. for Copelatus gestroi R gimbart, and Copelatus agaroensis Balke nom. nov. for Copelatus multistriatus Nilsson, comb. nov.

Systematics of Trapania (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) with descriptions of 16 new species

Research Articles
Terrence M. Gosliner, Shireen J. Fahey,
Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01 , pp 53-98

Abstract
Sixteen new species of Trapania are described from the tropical Indo-Pacific, temperate South Africa and the Gal pagos Islands. The new species are externally distinguished from all other described Trapania. One of the new species, Trapania euryeia sp. nov. has the widest geographic range (from the western Indian Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands) of the new species and it has a colour pattern that is similar to Trapania brunnea found from southeastern Australia. Unique aspects and combination of characters of the reproductive and radular morphology distinguish each new species from other Trapania. The phylogenetic relationships among the Goniodorididae are examined based upon morphological characters of several previously described species of additional Goniodorididae along with the 16 new species of Trapania. Results of the analyses demonstrate that Trapania is a well supported, monophyletic clade of goniodorid nudibranchs. Ancula gibbosa is the sister taxon to Trapania. Trapania species examined in this study cluster into three distinguishable clades, two largely from the tropical Indo-Pacific and a third from the Indo-Pacific, Britain, Spain and Brazil. A group of unresolved species from the Caribbean, the Gal pagos Islands, and the Indo-Pacific is basally situated to the more resolved clades. Further investigation is required to test clade robustness and further elucidate relationships of taxa included in several polytomies.

The radiation of hydrobiid gastropods in New Zealand: a revision including the description of new species based on morphology and mtDNA sequence information

Research Articles
Martin Haase,
Systematics and Biodiversity, Volume 6 Issue 01 , pp 99-159

Abstract
A revision of New Zealand hydrobiid gastropods resulted in the description of 46 new species out of a total of 64, which belong to 15 genera, nine of them new. This revision is based on morphological data as well as sequence information of two mtDNA fragments. The majority of species occur in seepages, springs and the groundwater and many have very narrow ranges. The morphological diversification appears to be linked to these habitats. Their common feature is the absence of predators. The genetics of three morphologically distinct species found in springs and streamlets suggest they have only recently split from the common, widespread Potamopyrgus antipodarum. Predator pressure, on the other hand, may have stabilised shell shape of three genetically distinct but otherwise cryptic species of Potamopyrgus, which occur in rivers, lakes and estuaries. Many species occur sympatrically. In one case of sympatry P. antipodarum appeared to displace another, slightly smaller species into crevices and other microhabitats not accessible for the former. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed based on the concatenated mtDNA sequences using Bayesian analyses, maximum likelihood and minimum evolution (LogDet distances). The three reconstruction methods gave very similar results suggesting that heterogeneous base frequencies were not a confounding factor. Analyses of character evolution revealed convergence in the digestive system as well as in the female and male genitalia. Radular features suggested a relationship of New Caledonian and New Zealand hydrobiids.