Broad phylogenomic sampling improves resolution of the animal tree of life

Long-held ideas regarding the evolutionary relationships among animals have recently been upended by sometimes controversial hypotheses based largely on insights from molecular data. These new hypotheses include a clade of moulting animals (Ecdysozoa) and the close relationship of the lophophorates to molluscs and annelids (Lophotrochozoa). Many relationships remain disputed, including those that are required to polarize key features of character evolution, and support for deep nodes is often low. Phylogenomic approaches, which use data from many genes, have shown promise for resolving deep animal relationships, but are hindered by a lack of data from many important groups. Here we report a total of 39.9 Mb of expressed sequence tags from 29 animals belonging to 21 phyla, including 11 phyla previously lacking genomic or expressed-sequence-tag data. Analysed in combination with existing sequences, our data reinforce several previously identified clades that split deeply in the animal tree (including Protostomia, Ecdysozoa and Lophotrochozoa), unambiguously resolve multiple long-standing issues for which there was strong conflicting support in earlier studies with less data (such as velvet worms rather than tardigrades as the sister group of arthropods), and provide molecular support for the monophyly of molluscs, a group long recognized by morphologists. In addition, we find strong support for several new hypotheses. These include a clade that unites annelids (including sipunculans and echiurans) with nemerteans, phoronids and brachiopods, molluscs as sister to that assemblage, and the placement of ctenophores as the earliest diverging extant multicellular animals. A single origin of spiral cleavage (with subsequent losses) is inferred from well-supported nodes. Many relationships between a stable subset of taxa find strong support, and a diminishing number of lineages remain recalcitrant to placement on the tree.     

Phylogenetic positions of two marine ciliates, Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Scuticociliatia), inferred from complete small subunit rRNA gene sequences

The small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene was sequenced for two marine scuticociliates Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi. The results show that this gene comprises 1763 and 1753 nucleotides in the two marine ciliates respectively. Metanophrys similis is phylogenetically closely related to the clade containing Mesanophrys carcini and Anophyroides haemophila, which branches basally to other species within the order Philasterida. Pseudocohnilembus hargisi groups with its congener, P. marinus, with strong bootstrap support. Paranophrys magna groups with the clade including Cohnilembus and Uronema, representing a sister clade to that containing the two Pseudocohnilembus species.     

Phylogenetic positions of two marine ciliates, Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi (Protozoa, Ciliophora,Scuticociliatia), inferred from complete small subunit rRNA gene sequences

The small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene was sequenced for two marine scuticociliates Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi. The results show that this gene comprises 1763 and 1753 nucleotides in the two marine ciliates respectively. Metanophrys similis is phylogenetically closely related to the clade containing Mesanophrys carcini and Anophyroides haemophila, which branches basally to other species within the order Philasterida. Pseudocohnilembus hargisi groups with its congener, P. marinus, with strong bootstrap support. Paranophrys magna groups with the clade including Cohnilembus and Uronema, representing a sister clade to that containing the two Pseudocohnilembus species.     

Phylogenetic positions of two marine ciliates, Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Scuticociliatia), inferred from complete small subunit rRNA gene sequences

The small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene was sequenced for two marine scuticociliates Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi. The results show that this gene comprises 1763 and 1753 nucleotides in the two marine ciliates respectively. Metanophrys similis is phylogenetically closely related to the clade containing Mesanophrys carcini and Anophyroides haemophila, which branches basally to other species within the order Philasterida. Pseudocohnilembus hargisi groups with its congener, P. marinus, with strong bootstrap support. Paranophrys magna groups with the clade including Cohnilembus and Uronema, representing a sister clade to that containing the two Pseudocohnilembus species.     

Acoelomorph flatworms are deuterostomes related to Xenoturbella

Xenoturbellida and Acoelomorpha are marine worms with contentious ancestry. Both were originally associated with the flatworms (Platyhelminthes), but molecular data have revised their phylogenetic positions, generally linking Xenoturbellida to the deuterostomes and positioning the Acoelomorpha as the most basally branching bilaterian group(s). Recent phylogenomic data suggested that Xenoturbellida and Acoelomorpha are sister taxa and together constitute an early branch of Bilateria. Here we assemble three independent data sets-mitochondrial genes, a phylogenomic data set of 38,330 amino-acid positions and new microRNA (miRNA) complements-and show that the position of Acoelomorpha is strongly affected by a long-branch attraction (LBA) artefact. When we minimize LBA we find consistent support for a position of both acoelomorphs and Xenoturbella within the deuterostomes. The most likely phylogeny links Xenoturbella and Acoelomorpha in a clade we call Xenacoelomorpha. The Xenacoelomorpha is the sister group of the Ambulacraria (hemichordates and echinoderms). We show that analyses of miRNA complements have been affected by character loss in the acoels and that both groups possess one miRNA and the gene Rsb66 otherwise specific to deuterostomes. In addition, Xenoturbella shares one miRNA with the ambulacrarians, and two with the acoels. This phylogeny makes sense of the shared characteristics of Xenoturbellida and Acoelomorpha, such as ciliary ultrastructure and diffuse nervous system, and implies the loss of various deuterostome characters in the Xenacoelomorpha including coelomic cavities, through gut and gill slits.     

SARS冠状病毒及相关病毒的分子系统学分析

根据SARS冠状病毒及其相关病毒的基因组核酸序列和3种不同蛋白质序列，应用最大简约法和最小进化法重建系统发育树；并对SARS冠状病毒的11个推测蛋白质(ORF)做BLAST分析。结果表明，SARS冠状病毒和鼠肝炎病毒——牛冠状病毒分支构成姊妹群。其单系群性质得到强有力的统计学支持。这暗示了SARS的爆发可能源自种间屏障的突破事件，该病毒天然宿主可能为猪、牛或鼠。SARS冠状病毒与已知的人冠状病毒分属冠状病毒科的不同分支，因此致病机制可能有很大不同。3个基因的系统树分支格局的一致性表明：SARS冠状病毒这3个主要基因与其他冠状病毒间不存在重组，但全部11个ORF的BLAST分析却认为其基因组上一些小的区段可能与其他病毒存在重组。     

硇洲岛潮间带软体动物分布和区系研究

对硇洲岛的潮间带软体动物进行了采集调查，共鉴定软体动物148种（未包括头足纲），分属51科，其中多板纲1科1种，腹足纲33科84种，瓣鳃纲17科63种。分析表明，其区系特点是以南海亚热带-热带种和东海、南海亚热带种为主要成分，且有部分热带种已发展成优势种。     

长蝽类高级阶元系统发育初探(半翅目)

本文运用支序分析的原理和方法,采用Hennig86程序研究长蝽类（lygaeoidcomplex）亚科以上阶元间的系统发育关系．研究用分类单元代表共计21种,选用性状共48个,内群共包括19个OTUs,并采用“理想祖先”作为单一外群．计算得到的首选最简约树步长＝165,CI＝0．32,RI＝0．51．相应支序图所提示的系统发育再建景象主要包括：（1）原有意义上的长蝽科为一并系群或复系群．（2）Rhyparochrominae与红蝽类互成姐妹群．（3）Artheneinae似为一较原始而孤立的支系．（4）支持Cyminae与Berytidae接近的意见．（5）支持“malcidline”意见．     

香港海产贝类及其感染吸虫蚴虫期情况的分析

采用多样性指数和对应分析方法，对采自香港１４个地点的２２种海产贝类及其感染吸虫蚴虫期情况进行数量分析，研究海产贝类群体及其寄生吸虫蚴虫类群之间的生态关系。结果表明：在贝类—吸虫蚴虫期的统计调查中，最小样本量为贝类４０００，其中阳性贝类要３０个以上。由于自然选择的结果，使分布在大面积区域上的淡水及海产贝类群体及其感染吸虫蚴虫期的群落结构连续变化。随着贝类群落结构、数量组成复杂程度的增加，吸虫的多样性也增加，其结果将使群落的稳定性增加，并进而抑制贝类群落中优势种的发生发展和吸虫优势种的流行     

Sympatric speciation in palms on an oceanic island

The origin of species diversity has challenged biologists for over two centuries. Allopatric speciation, the divergence of species resulting from geographical isolation, is well documented. However, sympatric speciation, divergence without geographical isolation, is highly controversial. Claims of sympatric speciation must demonstrate species sympatry, sister relationships, reproductive isolation, and that an earlier allopatric phase is highly unlikely. Here we provide clear support for sympatric speciation in a case study of two species of palm (Arecaceae) on an oceanic island. A large dated phylogenetic tree shows that the two species of Howea, endemic to the remote Lord Howe Island, are sister taxa and diverged from each other well after the island was formed 6.9 million years ago. During fieldwork, we found a substantial disjunction in flowering time that is correlated with soil preference. In addition, a genome scan indicates that few genetic loci are more divergent between the two species than expected under neutrality, a finding consistent with models of sympatric speciation involving disruptive/divergent selection. This case study of sympatric speciation in plants provides an opportunity for refining theoretical models on the origin of species, and new impetus for exploring putative plant and animal examples on oceanic islands.     

Fossil evidence for an ancient divergence of lorises and galagos

Morphological, molecular, and biogeographic data bearing on early primate evolution suggest that the clade containing extant (or 'crown') strepsirrhine primates (lemurs, lorises and galagos) arose in Afro-Arabia during the early Palaeogene, but over a century of palaeontological exploration on that landmass has failed to uncover any conclusive support for that hypothesis. Here we describe the first demonstrable crown strepsirrhines from the Afro-Arabian Palaeogene--a galagid and a possible lorisid from the late middle Eocene of Egypt, the latter of which provides the earliest fossil evidence for the distinctive strepsirrhine toothcomb. These discoveries approximately double the previous temporal range of undoubted lorisiforms and lend the first strong palaeontological support to the hypothesis of an ancient Afro-Arabian origin for crown Strepsirrhini and an Eocene divergence of extant lorisiform families.     

苏铁在种子植物进化中的位置：分子生物学的证据

用大分子rRNA快速测序法测定了苏铁(Cycas revoluta Thunb.)、水松[Glyptos-trobus pensilis(Staunt.)Koch]和南方红豆杉[Taxus mairei(Lemee et Levl)S.Y.Hu]三种裸子植物Ls-rRNA5′端区108个核苷酸的序列。用这些数据构建的rRNA系统树揭示了苏铁与水松和南方红豆杉构成一个关系密切的姐妹群,而所分析的被子植物都为另一自然类群。另以绿藻作为种子植物群外参照物种,表明苏铁这一位置并不是由于一个特异的进化速度所造成的。这一结果支持了苏铁与松杉类为一自然群类,它们的分歧发生在裸子植物与被子植物分歧之后的假说。     

The earliest angiosperms: evidence from mitochondrial, plastid and nuclear genomes

Angiosperms have dominated the Earth's vegetation since the mid-Cretaceous (90 million years ago), providing much of our food, fibre, medicine and timber, yet their origin and early evolution have remained enigmatic for over a century. One part of the enigma lies in the difficulty of identifying the earliest angiosperms; the other involves the uncertainty regarding the sister group of angiosperms among extant and fossil gymnosperms. Here we report a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of five mitochondrial, plastid and nuclear genes (total aligned length 8,733 base pairs), from all basal angiosperm and gymnosperm lineages (105 species, 103 genera and 63 families). Our study demonstrates that Amborella, Nymphaeales and Illiciales-Trimeniaceae-Austrobaileya represent the first stage of angiosperm evolution, with Amborella being sister to all other angiosperms. We also show that Gnetales are related to the conifers and are not sister to the angiosperms, thus refuting the Anthophyte Hypothesis. These results have far-reaching implications for our understanding of diversification, adaptation, genome evolution and development of the angiosperms.     

Late Cretaceous relatives of rabbits, rodents, and other extant eutherian mammals.

Extant eutherian mammals and their most recent common ancestor constitute the crown group Placentalia. This taxon, plus all extinct taxa that share a more recent common ancestor with placentals than they do with Metatheria (including marsupials), constitute Eutheria. The oldest well documented eutherian-dominated fauna in the world is Dzharakuduk, Uzbekistan. Among eutherians that it yields is Kulbeckia, an 85-90-Myr-old member of Zalambdalestidae (a family of Late Cretaceous Asian eutherians). This extends Zalambdalestidae back by some 10 million years from sites in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. A phylogenetic analysis of well described Late Cretaceous eutherians strongly supports Zalambdalestidae, less strongly supports 'Zhelestidae' (a Late Cretaceous clade related to Tertiary ungulates), but does not support Asioryctitheria (a group of Late Cretaceous Asian eutherians). A second analysis incorporating placentals from clades that include rodents (Tribosphenomys), lagomorphs (Mimotona) and archaic ungulates (Protungulatum and Oxyprimus) strongly supports Zalambdalestidae in a clade with Glires (rabbits, rodents and extinct relatives) and less strongly 'Zhelestidae' within a clade that includes archaic ungulates ('condylarths'). This argues that some Late Cretaceous eutherians belong within the crown group Placentalia. The ages of these taxa are in line with molecularly based estimates of 64-104 Myr ago (median 84 Myr ago) for the superordinal diversification of some placentals, but provide no support for a Late Cretaceous diversification of extant placental orders.     

Xenoturbella is a deuterostome that eats molluscs

Xenoturbella bocki, first described in 1949 (ref. 1), is a delicate, ciliated, marine worm with a simple body plan: it lacks a through gut, organized gonads, excretory structures and coelomic cavities. Its nervous system is a diffuse nerve net with no brain. Xenoturbella's affinities have long been obscure and it was initially linked to turbellarian flatworms. Subsequent authors considered it variously as related to hemichordates and echinoderms owing to similarities of nerve net and epidermal ultrastructure, to acoelomorph flatworms based on body plan and ciliary ultrastructure (also shared by hemichordates), or as among the most primitive of Bilateria. In 1997 two papers seemed to solve this uncertainty: molecular phylogenetic analyses placed Xenoturbella within the bivalve molluscs, and eggs and larvae resembling those of bivalves were found within specimens of Xenoturbella. This molluscan origin implies that all bivalve characters are lost during a radical metamorphosis into the adult Xenoturbella. Here, using data from three genes, we show that the samples in these studies were contaminated by bivalve embryos eaten by Xenoturbella and that Xenoturbella is in fact a deuterostome related to hemichordates and echinoderms.     

The effect of ancient population bottlenecks on human phenotypic variation

The origin and patterns of dispersal of anatomically modern humans are the focus of considerable debate. Global genetic analyses have argued for one single origin, placed somewhere in Africa. This scenario implies a rapid expansion, with a series of bottlenecks of small amplitude, which would have led to the observed smooth loss of genetic diversity with increasing distance from Africa. Analyses of cranial data, on the other hand, have given mixed results, and have been argued to support multiple origins of modern humans. Using a large data set of skull measurements and an analytical framework equivalent to that used for genetic data, we show that the loss in genetic diversity has been mirrored by a loss in phenotypic variability. We find evidence for an African origin, placed somewhere in the central/southern part of the continent, which harbours the highest intra-population diversity in phenotypic measurements. We failed to find evidence for a second origin, and we confirm these results on a large genetic data set. Distance from Africa accounts for an average 19-25% of heritable variation in craniometric measurements-a remarkably strong effect for phenotypic measurements known to be under selection.     

疏浚对苏州河底栖动物群落结构的影响

在1999年10月~2001年7月,对苏州河上游黄渡和华漕两个断面底泥疏浚前后大型底栖动物群落结构进行了对比研究.结果显示,黄渡和华漕两个断面的大型底栖动物均以软体动物和寡毛类为主,疏浚前黄渡软体动物为6种,寡毛类为3种.水蛭1种,华漕软体动物为1种,寡毛类为4种,疏浚以后两个断面的种类数增加,黄渡增加1种,华漕增加了4种,华漕恢复的迹象叫明显;疏浚后两个断面的生物量和密度均低于疏浚前,但在疏浚后,的一年内,密度呈持续上升趋势.疏浚后华漕的多样性指数一直高于疏浚前同期,黄渡在疏浚半年后逐渐恢复并且超过疏浚前水平.说明苏州河上游底泥疏浚有利于大型底栖动物群落结构的恢复.     

应用线粒体Cytb基因序列探讨果蝇科部分属间的系统发育关系

通过PCR产物直接测序的方法获得了果蝇科(Drosophilidae)果蝇属(Genus Drosophila)[包括条纹果蝇亚属(Subgenus Dorsilopha)、果蝇亚属(Subgenus Drosophila)和水果果蝇亚属(Subgenus Sophophora)]、条果蝇属(Genus Phorticella)、姬果蝇属(Genus Scaptomyza)和花果蝇属(Genus Scaptodrosophila)的5个种6个单雌系的线粒体Cytb基因的部分DNA序列,用最大似然法、邻接法和Bayesian法分别构建系统树．研究结果表明：在选取的所有属和亚属中,花果蝇属的分化是最早的,其次是条纹果蝇亚属;姬果蝇属与果蝇亚属是近源的,条果蝇属同姬果蝇属和果蝇亚属形成的并系群是近源的;水果果蝇亚属早于果蝇亚属分化,水果果蝇亚属形成的支系是果蝇亚属和其它属(花果蝇属和姬果蝇属)形成的支系的姐妹分类单位．结果还表明线粒体Cytb基因可以作为有效的分子标记探讨高阶元的果蝇系统发育关系．