More Like this

1. The early actinopterygian genus Rhadinichthys redefined, the type species ornatissimus redescribed, and the species bearsdeni introduced

   https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755691024000136  

   MO, Yunyan; CARON, Abigail M; COATES, Michael I (October 2024, Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh)

   ABSTRACT Rhadinichthysis one of the most wide-ranging and speciose genera of Palaeozoic actinopterygians. A classic variety of ‘palaeoniscoid’,Rhadinichthysspecies are generally small (~10–15 cm) and known mostly from dermal skeletal remains that show features commonplace among early ray-finned fishes. For this reason, the genus has long been considered a poorly diagnosed wastebasket taxon in need of revision and rarely included in systematic analyses. In the present work, syntypes ofRhadinichthys ornatissimus, the type species, are re-examined and supplemented with better-preserved material from other localities in the Scottish Midland Valley. A neotype is nominated and a more precise diagnosis presented with a suite of genus-level apomorphies. Unexpectedly, these traits are also evident in the monotypic Lower Carboniferous actinopterygian genusWoodichthys, which the neotype ofR. ornatissimusclosely resembles. As a result, the genusWoodichthysis subsumed within the redefinedRhadinichthys, and the singleWoodichthysspecies is reassigned asR. bearsdeni, comb. nov., bringing with it a set of endoskeletal data. Some of these data are new, derived from μCT scans of the skull of theR. bearsdeniholotype, yielding renderings that update the original description of its skull table, parasphenoid, neurocranium, and otoliths. Further new data concerning the hyoid arch are obtained from a new specimen ofR. bearsdenifrom a site close by the original Bearsden locality. Redefined in this way,Rhadinichthyspresents a data-rich operational taxonomic unit better suited for systematic studies. However, in so doing, it also releases a cluster of fossil species no longer anchored to a genus and now in need of rediagnoses. 

   more » « less
2. The long and short of the S ‐locus in Turnera (Passifloraceae)

   https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15970  

   Shore, Joel S.; Hamam, Hasan J.; Chafe, Paul D. J.; Labonne, Jonathan D. J.; Henning, Paige M.; McCubbin, Andrew G. (July 2019, New Phytologist)

   Summary Distyly is an intriguing floral adaptation that increases pollen transfer precision and restricts inbreeding. It has been a model system in evolutionary biology since Darwin. Although theS‐locus determines the long‐ and short‐styled morphs, the genes were unknown inTurnera. We have now identified these genes.We used deletion mapping to identify, and then sequence,BACclones and genome scaffolds to constructS/shaplotypes. We investigated candidate gene expression, hemizygosity, and used mutants, to explore gene function.Thes‐haplotype possessed 21 genes collinear with a region of chromosome 7 of grape. TheS‐haplotype possessed three additional genes and two inversions.TsSPH1was expressed in filaments and anthers,TsYUC6in anthers andTsBAHDin pistils. Long‐homostyle mutants did not possessTsBAHDand a short‐homostyle mutant did not expressTsSPH1.Three hemizygous genes appear to determine S‐morph characteristics inT. subulata. Hemizygosity is common to all distylous species investigated, yet the genes differ. The pistil candidate gene,TsBAHD, differs from that ofPrimula, but both may inactivate brassinosteroids causing short styles.TsYUC6is involved in auxin synthesis and likely determines pollen characteristics.TsSPH1is likely involved in filament elongation. We propose an incompatibility mechanism involvingTsYUC6andTsBAHD. 

   more » « less
3. Revision of Batrachospermum section Macrospora (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) with the establishment of the new genus Montagnia

   https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2019.1624143  

   Necchi Jr, Orlando; Garcia Fo., Auro Silva; Paiano, Monica O.; Vis, Morgan L. (November 2019, Phycologia)
4. Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean genera, Niveomyces ( Cordycipitaceae ) and Torrubiellomyces ( Ophiocordycipitaceae ), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani

   https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.05  

   Araújo, J.P.M.; Lebert, B.M.; Vermeulen, S.; Brachmann, A.; Ohm, R.A.; Evans, H.C.; Debekker, C. (December 2022, Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi)

   During surveys in central Florida of the zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani , which manipulates the behavior of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus , two distinct fungal morphotypes were discovered associated with and purportedly parasitic on O. camponoti-floridani . Based on a combination of unique morphology, ecology and phylogenetic placement, we discovered that these morphotypes comprise two novel lineages of fungi. Here, we propose two new genera, Niveomyces and Torrubiellomyces , each including a single species within the families Cordycipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae , respectively. We generated de novo draft genomes for both new species and performed morphological and multi-loci phylogenetic analyses. The macro-morphology and incidence of both new species, Niveomyces coronatus and Torrubiellomyces zombiae , suggest that these fungi are mycoparasites since their growth is observed exclusively on O. camponoti-floridani mycelium, stalks and ascomata, causing evident degradation of their fungal hosts. This work provides a starting point for more studies into fungal interactions between mycopathogens and entomopathogens, which have the potential to contribute towards efforts to battle the global rise of plant and animal mycoses. 

   more » « less
5. Testing the Radius Scaling Relation with Gaia DR2 in the Kepler Field

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab44a9  

   Zinn, Joel C.; Pinsonneault, Marc H.; Huber, Daniel; Stello, Dennis; Stassun, Keivan; Serenelli, Aldo (November 2019, The Astrophysical Journal)

   null (Ed.)