The mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic characteristics of the Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, : the first sequence for the genus.

Members of the genus (Columbidae) are widely distributed in southern Asia and the Indo-Malayan Region but their relationships are poorly understood. Better knowledge of the systematic status of this genus may help studies of historical biogeography and taxonomy. The complete mitochondrial genome of was characterized, a first for the genus.

Genome size variation and karyotype diversity in eight taxa of sensu stricto (Rosaceae) from China.

Eight taxa of Linnaeus, 1753 sensu stricto (Rosaceae) from China have been studied karyologically through chromosome counting, chromosomal measurement and karyotype symmetry. Genome size was also estimated by flow cytometry. Six taxa, Cheng ex T.

Taxonomic Identity of Franchet (Betulaceae).

and are recognised as separate species in . In this study, the results of an examination of literature, morphological comparison and phenetic clustering of nuclear ITS sequences suggest that is conspecific with . Thus, we propose reducing to a synonym of .

A new species, a new combination, and a new record of Chapuis, 1865 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Platypodinae) from China.

This study describes a new species, Lai & Wang, , designates a new combination, (Browne, 1975, from Herbst, 1793), and notes a new record, Beeson, 1937, from China. Genetic data from four genes indicate that the new species and form a clade clustered with other species. Molecular phylogeny and morphological characters support their taxonomic placement.

Lectotypification of W.C.Cheng (Pinaceae).

W.C.Cheng did not clearly indicate the herbarium repository of the type specimen () when he described W.

Taxonomic revision of the complex (Aspleniaceae) with reinstatement of and .

The complex is morphologically variable and difficult in species delimitation. Owing to lack of comprehensive sampling in phylogenetic studies, the taxonomy of this complex remains unresolved. Based on extensive field observations, specimen examination and our recent molecular data, the present study aims to clarify the identities of three species of in this complex from Asia.

Typification of W.C.Cheng (Cupressaceae).

W.C.Cheng validly published the name W.

New records and key to (Pooideae, Poaceae) from the Flora of Southern Africa region and notes on taxa including a diclinous breeding system in .

Four species of L. are newly reported for sub-Saharan Africa and southern Africa, L., Azn.

(Poaceae): A common new species in the complex from the Drakensberg Mountain Centre of Floristic Endemism, southern Africa, with key and notes on taxa in the complex including the overlooked .

We present taxonomic notes on the complex from southern Africa that includes description and illustration of the new species from the Drakensberg Mountain Centre of Floristic Endemism of South Africa and Lesotho. can be differentiated from s.l.

Catalogue of herpetological specimens of the Ewha Womans University Natural History Museum (EWNHM), Republic of Korea.

The herpetology collection of the Ewha Womans University Natural History Museum (EWNHM) represents one of the oldest and largest institutional collections in the Republic of Korea. The specimens deposited in the EWNHM represent a major historical collection of the native herpetofauna, both in species diversity and time span. However, the full inventory of the herpetology collection has never been conducted and thus the collection has received little attention from researchers.

and (Agrostidinae, Poaceae) from páramos of Boyacá, Colombia: synoptic taxonomy including a key to Colombian species.

We present taxonomic notes, including updated species descriptions and images, for the nine species of and one species of found in páramos of Departamento Boyacá, Colombia (, , , , A. cf. imberbis, , s.

New combinations and updated descriptions in (Agrostidinae, Poaceae) from the Neotropics and Mexico.

Based on morphological study and corroborated by unpublished molecular phylogenetic analyses, five grass species of high-mountain grasslands in Mexico, Central and South America, , , , , and , are transferred to and bring the number of species of this genus recognized in the New World to ten. The name is lectotypified and epitypified. We provide an updated genus description for , and updated species descriptions, images, and notes on the new combinations.

(Rosaceae), a new species from the Hengduan Mountains, China.

, a new species from the Hengduan Mountains China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to from China (Yunnan & Xizang), Nepal, and Sikkim in the size of the leaflets, glabrous veins, persistent (sometimes) herbaceous stipules and reddish brown villous inflorescences and red fruits, but differs in its serrate leaflet margins toothed in the distal half or often almost to their base, reddish brown villous to glabrous hypanthium and reddish brown villous infructescences, among other characteristics.

Páramo s.l. (Poaceae): An updated list and key to the species known or likely to occur in páramos of NW South America and southern Central America including two new species, one new variety and five new records for Colombia.

(syn. ), as traditionally circumscribed, is one of the most speciose genera from páramo grasslands of northwest South America and southern Central America and often dominates these high-elevation habitats. However, it remains difficult for researchers to accurately identify the species due to a lack of floristic treatments for most of the countries containing páramo, with the distribution of many species still very poorly known.

, a new species of Rosaceae from China.

Xin Chen & Jing Qiu, (Rosaceae), a new simple-leaved species belonging to Sorbussubg.Ariasect.Alnifoliae, is described from Anhui and Jiangxi provinces in China.

Phylogeographic analyses of a widely distributed : Further evidence for the existence of glacial refugia of cool-temperate deciduous trees in northern East Asia.

Despite several phylogeographic studies had provided evidence to support the existence of glacial refugia of cool-temperate deciduous trees in northeast China, the species used in these studies were limited by the species ranges, which could not exclude the possibility that northern populations were the colonists from southern refugial populations during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Here, we estimated the nucleotide variation in , a widespread species distributed in Eurasia. Three groups in northeast, central, and southwest China were constructed according to the simulation results from SAMOVA, composition of chloroplast haplotypes and structure results.

Secondary compounds of alter decomposers' effects on litter decomposition.

A major gap to understand the effects of plant secondary compounds on litter decomposition in the brown food web is lack of information about how these secondary compounds modify the activities of soil decomposers. To address this question, we conducted an experiment where aqueous extracts and tannins prepared from needles were added to soils collected either from (pine soil) or (oak soil). Our objective was to investigate the cascading effects of the two compounds on isopod () activity and subsequent change in litter decomposition.

Similarity of plant functional traits and aggregation pattern in a subtropical forest.

The distribution of species and communities in relation to environmental heterogeneity is a central focus in ecology. Co-occurrence of species with similar functional traits is an indication that communities are determined in part by environmental filters. However, few studies have been designed to test how functional traits are selectively filtered by environmental conditions at local scales.