Phylogeny of the Labeoninae （Teleostei, Cypriniformes） based on nuclear DNA sequences and implications on character evolution and biogeography

Abstract The Labeoninae is a subfamily of the family Cyprinidae, Order Cypriniformes. Oromandibular morphology within the Labeoninae is the greatest among cyprinid fishes. Although several phylogenetic studies about labeonines have been undertaken the results have been inconsistent and a comprehensive phylogeny is needed. Further, an incongruence between morphological and molecular phylogeny requires a systematic exploration of the significance of morphological characters on the basis of the molecular phylogeny. In this study, a total of 292 nucleotide sequences from 73 individuals （representing 24 genera and 73 species） of Labeoninae were analyzed. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicate that there are four major clades within Labeoninae and three monophyletic lineages within the fourth clade. Results of the character evolution show that all oromandibular morphological characters are homoplastically distributed on the molecular phylogenetic tree and suggests that these characters evolved several times during the history of labeonines. In particular, the labeonine, a specific disc on the lower lip, has been acquired three times and reversed twice. These morphological characters do not have systematic significance but can be useful for taxonomy. The results of biogeography suggest that the Labeoninae originated from Southeast Asia and separately dispersed to Africa, East Asia and South Asia.

Evolution of the platycodonoid group with particular references to biogeography and character evolution

The Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau（QTP）is an important center of origin and diversification for many northern temperate plants.The hypothesis＂out‐of‐QTP＂suggests that the majority of northern temperate plants have originated and dispersed from the QTP and adjacent regions.An interesting question is whether the biogeographic history of the platycodonoids（Campanulaceae）,a group mainly distributed in the QTP and adjacent regions,coincides with the hypothesis＂out‐of‐QTP＂？Furthermore,how have the diagnostic characters of the platycodonoids evolved？In the present study,all 10genera of the platycodonoids were sampled for molecular phylogeny and dating analyses,and ancestral states of distribution and characters were reconstructed.The results do not support the platycodonoids as an＂out‐of‐QTP＂group,but instead they might have descended from Tethyan ancestors.The dispersal and diversification of the platycodonoids in Asia might have been driven by the uplift of the QTP.The present study highlights the importance of the Tethyan Tertiary flora for the origin of the Sino‐Himalayan flora and the influence of the uplift of QTP on diversification of northern temperate plants.In addition,character state reconstruction reveals that the inferior ovary,capsule,long‐colpate pollen,and chromosome number 2n=14 are probably ancestral states.

Fractal characterization for the mining crack evolution process of overlying strata based on microseismic monitoring technology

In order to study the evolution laws during the development process of the coal face overburden rock mining-induced fissure,we studied the process of evolution of overburden rock mining-induced fissures and dynamically quantitatively described its fractal laws,based on the high-precision microseismic monitoring method and the nonlinear Fractal Geometry Theory.The results show that:the overburden rock mining-induced fissure fractal dimension experiences two periodic change processes with the coal face advance,namely a Small→ Big→ Small process,which tends to be stable;the functional relationship between the extraction step distance and the overburden rock mining-induced fissure fractal dimension is a cubic curve.The results suggest that the fractal dimension reflects the evolution characteristics of the overburden rock mining-induced fissure,which can be used as an evaluation index of the stability of the overburden rock strata,and it provides theoretical guidance for stability analysis of the overburden rock strata,goaf roof control and the support movements in the mining face.

Animation of Chinese Characters： Evolution of Shapes and Styles

Hanzi （Chinese characters） has a long history and affluent contents. To promote the popularity of historical and cultural knowledge of Chinese characters, an online program has been launched by Beihang University and Beijing Normal University to explain Chinese characters＇ original meanings and evolution processes with vivid and expressive animation videos. Currently, More than 1,000 videos can be accessed through the website “http：//www.chinesecharacter.org/”. Besides these online resources, a human-computer interaction system is also proposed to simulate clerical changes of Chinese characters through computer morphing technology. What we want is to make the teaching and learning of Chinese characters more reasonable, more easily understandable and more interesting.

The Effect of Spatial Structure Character of Heat Source on the Ray Path and the Evolution of Wave Energy of Meridional Wave Train

This paper studies correlations between the spatial structure character of thermal forcing and deformation and the amplitude of rays of meridional wave train. It is shown that if thermal forcing appears a meridional linear variation the rays of quasi-stationary planetary wave may propagate along oblique lines and if the meridional variability of heat source has second order term the rays show distinct deformation as a great circular route. Additionally, the inhomogeneous distribution may cause lower frequency oscillations in mid- and low-latitudes. The combination of zonal and meridional wave numbers and distributive character of heat source may form an inverse mechanism of variational trend of generized wave energy, reflecting in some degree the physical process of transition between meridional and zonal flow patterns.

A new infrageneric classification of Gastrochilus(Orchidaceae:Epidendroideae)based on molecular and morphological data

Gastrochilus is an orchid genus containing 73 species of mainly epiphytic on trees or rocks in mountain forests of tropical and subtropical Asia.Previous phylogenetic analyses and morphological assessments have failed to produce a well-resolved phylogeny at the infrageneric level.In the present study,a new infrageneric classification of Gastrochilus is proposed based on thoroughly morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on 52 species.Our phylogenetic analysis divided the genus into six sections including three new sections,G.sect.Pseudodistichi,G.sect.Brachycaules and G.sect.Acinacifolii.We also reinstate G.suavis to the specific rank.Furthermore,two new species,G.armeniacus Jun Y.Zhang,B.Xu&Yue H.Cheng and G.minjiangensis Jun Y.Zhang,B.Xu&Yue H.Cheng,are described and illustrated.A key to six sections of the genus is presented.

Phylogenetic estimation and morphological evolution of Alsineae(Caryophyllaceae)shed new insight into the taxonomic status of the genus Pseudocerastium

Pseudocerastium is a monotypic genus in Caryophyllaceae endemic to China.The genus has been widely accepted since it was described in 1998,however its phylogenetic position within Caryophyllaceae has never been studied.In the present study,the whole plastid genome and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer(ITS)sequences of Pseudocerastium stellarioides was obtained through genome skimming,and the phylogenetic position of the species was studied for the first time.Plastid phylogenomic analysis of Caryophyllaceae revealed that Pseudocerastium is clustered within the tribe Alsineae with strong support.Phylogenetic analyses based on an enlarged taxon sampling of Alsineae using five DNA regions(matK,rbcL,rps16 intron,trnL-F and ITS)revealed that P.stellarioides was nested deeply within Cerastium with strong support.Analyses of morphological character evolution suggest that the ancestral states in Alsineae include three styles and a six-lobed capsule at the apex,while both Cerastium and Pseudocerastium have five styles and ten lobes at the apex of the capsule,further supporting their close relationship.The species Pseudocerastium stellarioides is similar to Cerastium wilsonii in morphology,but differs in having villous indumentum on the lower part of the filaments and compressed globose seeds.Therefore,based on the present molecular and morphological evidence,the generic name Pseudocerastium is reduced here as a new synonym of Cerastium and the species P.stellarioides is transferred to Cerastium as C.jiuhuashanense.

Pediculate Brachiopod Diandongia pista from the Lower Cambrian of South China

The Chengjiang Lagerstatte has been celebrated for prolific soft-bodied fossils. Based on specimens recently excavated in the Chengjiang Lagerstatte by the Early Life Institute, Northwest University, Diandongia pista Rong, 1974, is directly revealed to be a pediculate brachiopod, assigned to the Family Botsfordiidae, as is further confirmed by the exceptionally preserved vascular system including dorsal and ventral mantle canals. These specimens described herein exhibit some peculiarities, notably the extremely thin and long pedicles, which suggest that Diandongia is epifaunal rather than burrowing brachiopod. A study of this group of animals indicates that they may be vital to understand the relationship between the lingulids and the remaining brachiopods, and the character evolution of the early Cambrian brachiopods.

An updated classification for the hyper-diverse genus Corydalis(Papaveraceae: Fumarioideae)based on phylogenomic and morphological evidence

The genus Corydalis, with ca. 530 species, has long been considered taxonomically challenging because of its great variability. Previous molecular analyses,based on a few molecular markers and incomplete taxonomic sampling, were clearly inadequate to delimit sections and subgenera. We have performed phylogenetic analyses of Corydalis and related taxa,using 65 shared protein-coding plastid genes from313 accessions(including 280 samples of ca. 226species of Corydalis) and 152 universal low-copy nuclear genes from 296 accessions(including 271samples of Corydalis) covering all 42 previously recognized sections and five independent “series”.Phylogenetic trees were inferred using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood. Eight selected morphological characters were estimated using ancestral state reconstructions. Results include:(i) of the three subgenera of Corydalis, two are fully supported by both the plastid and nuclear data;the third,subg. Cremnocapnos, is weakly supported by plastid DNA only, whereas in the nuclear data the two included sections form successive outgroups to the rest of the genus;(ii) among all 42 sections and five“series”, 25 sections and one “series” are resolved as monophyletic in both data sets;(iii) the common ancestor of Corydalis is likely to be a perennial plant with a taproot, yellow flowers with a short saccate spur, linear fruits with recurved fruiting pedicels, and seeds with elaiosomes;(iv) we provide a new classification of Corydalis with four subgenera(of which subg. Bipapillatae is here newly described), 39 sections, 16 of which are consistent with the previous classification, 16 sections have been recircumscribed, one section has been reinstated and six new sections are established. Characters associated with lifespan, underground structures, floral spur, fruit and elaiosomes are important for the recognition of subgenera and sections. These new phylogenetic analyses combined with ancestral character reconstructions uncovered previously unrecognized relationships, and greatly improved our understanding of the evolution of the genus.