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1. Two new species of Phaeohelotium ( Leotiomycetes : Helotiaceae ) from Chile and their putative ectomycorrhizal status

   https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2022.10.10  

   Grupe, A.C.; Smith, M.E.; Weier, A.; Healy, R.; Caiafa, M.V.; Pfister, D.H.; Haelewaters, D.; Quandt, C.A. (December 2022, Fungal Systematics and Evolution)

   Species of the genus Phaeohelotium ( Leotiomycetes : Helotiaceae ) are cup fungi that grow on decaying wood, leaves, litter, and directly on soil. Northern Hemisphere species are primarily found on litter and wood, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere the genus includes a mix of saprotrophs as well as taxa that grow on soil in association with ectomycorrhizal trees. The diversity of this genus has not been fully explored in southern South America. Here we describe two species from Chile, Phaeohelotium maiusaurantium sp. nov . and Ph. pallidum sp. nov ., found on soil in Patagonian Nothofagaceae -dominated forests. We present macro- and micromorphological descriptions, illustrations, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The two new species are placed in Phaeohelotium with high support in our 15-locus phylogeny as well as phylogenetic reconstructions based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene. Our ITS phylogeny places both Ph. maiusaurantium and Ph. pallidum in a well-supported subclade that includes ectomycorrhizal root tip samples from Australasia. Similar species can be separated from these new taxa based on morphological characteristics, biogeography, substrate, and sequence data. In addition, two unnamed species from Chilean Nothofagaceae forests ( Phaeohelotium sp. 1 and Phaeohelotium sp. 2) are documented from scant collections and sequence data and await description until more material becomes available. 

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2. Parasitism of Neoconocephalus katydids by the parasitoid fly, Ormia lineifrons

   https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13245  

   Rogers, Kyler J.; Beckers, Oliver M. (October 2021, Ethology)

   Abstract Mating signals of insects do not only attract their intended receivers but also eavesdropping parasites and/or predators. As a result, an arms race between the host or prey and the eavesdropper ensues, propelling their co‐evolution and potentially contributing to their diversification. Here, we investigate the species interaction of the flyOrmia lineifronsthat usesNeoconocephaluskatydids as hosts for its lethal larvae. We surveyed the host use ofO. lineifronsover a 2‐year period in Kentucky and determined which species were used as hosts, the parasitism rate of each katydid host, and how many generations per year the fly displays. Four of the six surveyedNeoconocephalusspecies were parasitized and killed (Neoconocephalus triops,Neoconocephalus velox,Neoconocephalus robustus,Neoconocephalus nebrascensis) byO. lineifrons. Three of these katydid species were previously not known to be hosts ofO. lineifrons. Two of the six species were not parasitized in either year (Neoconocephalus bivocatus,Neoconocephalus retusus) even thoughO. lineifronswas active when they called. The parasitism rate of each host peaked between 38% and 100% across years. The fly had three distinct generations per year, and each generation used different katydid species as hosts. We discuss the importance of the synchronization of the three fly generations with their hosts as well as potential counteradaptations of the hosts. These semi‐independent arms races could provide valuable insights in the diversification of the hosts and their parasitoid. 

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3. Comparative genomics of 10 new Caenorhabditis species

   https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.110  

   Stevens, Lewis; Félix, Marie-Anne; Beltran, Toni; Braendle, Christian; Caurcel, Carlos; Fausett, Sarah; Fitch, David; Frézal, Lise; Gosse, Charlie; Kaur, Taniya; et al (April 2019, Evolution Letters)

   Abstract The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been central to the understanding of metazoan biology. However, C. elegans is but one species among millions and the significance of this important model organism will only be fully revealed if it is placed in a rich evolutionary context. Global sampling efforts have led to the discovery of over 50 putative species from the genus Caenorhabditis, many of which await formal species description. Here, we present species descriptions for 10 new Caenorhabditis species. We also present draft genome sequences for nine of these new species, along with a transcriptome assembly for one. We exploit these whole-genome data to reconstruct the Caenorhabditis phylogeny and use this phylogenetic tree to dissect the evolution of morphology in the genus. We reveal extensive variation in genome size and investigate the molecular processes that underlie this variation. We show unexpected complexity in the evolutionary history of key developmental pathway genes. These new species and the associated genomic resources will be essential in our attempts to understand the evolutionary origins of the C. elegans model. 

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4. Molecular systematics of Crassiphycus and Hydropuntia (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) with the description of poorly known taxa in the Western Atlantic Ocean

   https://doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2020.1814424  

   Gurgel, Carlos Frederico; Soares, Luanda P.; Norris, James N.; Fujii, Mutue T.; Schmidt, William E.; Fredericq, Suzanne (January 2020, European Journal of Phycology)

   null (Ed.)

   This study builds on recent treatments of the marine red algal family Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales) focusing in detail on Hydropuntia and Crassiphycus. Species in these two genera often present identification problems due to high levels of morphologial similarity among genetically distinct species, and high levels of phenotypic plasticity, leading to pseudocryptic speciation and homoplasies. In order to resolve long standing problems, clarify some species concepts and better understand the evolution of the group, we performed phylogenetic analyses of all plastid rbcL DNA sequences available for known Hydropuntia and Crassiphycus species, including newly sequenced specimens. Our results revealed the presence of potentially undescribed species, the existence of strong phylogeographic patterns below and above the species level and helped re-delineate morphologically similar taxa. New detailed morphological descriptions for three common yet poorly known Western Atlantic species are provided: C. secundus, C. usneoides and H. rangiferina. H. rangiferina from the Indo- Pacific is a distinct species from the true H. rangiferina and represents a putative undescribed species. We also provide a time-calibrated phylogeny for the six genera in the Gracilariales to identify past geological and climatic processes associated with their origin and diversification. 

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5. Paludicola gen. nov. and Revision of the Species Formerly in Batrachospermum Section  Turfosa (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta)

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13001  

   Vis, Morgan L.; Lee, Janina; Eloranta, Pertti; Chapuis, Iara S.; Lam, Daryl W.; Necchi, Jr., Orlando; Oliveira, ed., M. C. (May 2020, Journal of Phycology)

   Since the first phylogenetic study of the order Batrachospermales,Batrachospermumwas shown to be paraphyletic. Subsequently, sections of the genus have been methodically investigated usingDNAsequences and morphology in order to propose new genera and delineate species.BatrachospermumsectionTurfosais the last section with multiple species yet to be examined. New sequence data of specimens from Europe and the United States were combined with the sparse sequence data already available. Phylogenetic analyses usingrbcL andCOI‐5P sequences showed this section to be a well‐supported clade, distinct fromBatrachospermumsectionBatrachospermumand its segregate genera. Section Turfosais raised to the generic rank asPaludicolagen. nov. Substantial genetic variation within the genus was discovered and 12 species are recognized based onDNAsequence data as well as morphological characters and geographic distribution. The following morphological characters were applied to distinguish species: branching pattern (pseudodichotomous or irregular), whorl size (reduced or well developed), primary fascicles (curved or straight), spermatangia origin (primary or secondary fascicles), and carposporophyte arrangement (loose or dense). Previously published species were transferred to the new genus:P. turfosa,P. keratophyta,P. orthosticha,P. phangiae,andP. periploca. Seven new species are proposed as follows:P. groenbladiifrom Europe;P. communis,P. johnhallii, andP. leafensisfrom North America; andP. aquanigra,P. diamantinensis, andP. turfosiformisfrom Brazil. In addition, three unsequenced species in the section,P. bakarensis,P. gombakensis, andP. tapirensis, were transferred to the new genus. 

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