Norbert Kilian

Temporal and spatial diversification of the shrub Justicia areysiana Deflers (Acanthaceae) endemic to the monsoon affected coastal mountains of the southern Arabian Peninsula

Justicia areysiana Deflers (Acanthaceae) is an endemic shrub of the monsoon affected coastal mountains of the southern Arabian Peninsula with ballochorous seed dispersal. Its occurrence in a vegetation belt of relics of the (semi)-evergreen Afro-montane woodland characterised by Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata and Juniperus procera above an elevation of c. 750-800 m is strongly dependent on the activity of the Indian Ocean southwest monsoon. Therefore, the species offers a good model to study the palaeo-climate induced habitat fragmentation of the once continuous distribution range of the Afro-montane woodland belt on the southern Arabian Peninsula. Thirteen populations from the total distribution range of the species were analysed using AFLP fingerprinting and show a distinct geographic distribution pattern with a main split between eastern (Hawf Mountains/Dhofar) and western/central populations (Jabal Urays, Jabal Gedu, Kor Seiban). Our results on the genetic differentiation of populations clearly demonstrate the strong isolation among populations and confirm geographical patterns found in former studies based on chloroplast haplotypes. The dating of the main regional split between eastern and western/central populations based on nrDNA ITS sequence variation, is dated to 0.8–1.8 Myr before present. This indicates drastic habitat fragmentation processes during the Pleistocene which are compatible with periods of aridisation assumed for the African continent at around 1.7 Myr and 1.0 Myr before present.

Alpha e-taxonomy: responses from the systematics community to the biodiversity crisis

SummaryThe crisis facing the conservation of biodiversity is reflected in a parallel crisis in alpha taxonomy. On one hand, there is an acute need from government and non-government organisations for large-scale and relatively stable species inventories on which to build major biodiversity information systems. On the other, molecular information will have an increasingly important impact on the evidential basis for delimiting species and is likely to result in greater scientific debate and controversy on their circumscription. This paper argues that alpha-taxonomy built on the Internet (alpha e-taxonomy) can provide a key component of the solution. Two main themes are considered: (1) the potential of e-taxonomic revisions for engaging both the specialist taxonomic community and a wider public in gathering taxonomic knowledge and deepening understanding of it, and (2) why alpha-species will continue to play an essential role in the conventional definition of species and what kinds of methodological development this implies for descriptive species taxonomy. The challenges and requirements for sustaining e-taxonomic revisions in the long-term are discussed, with particular reference to models being developed by five initiatives with botanical exemplar websites: CATE (Creating a Taxonomic E-Science), Solanaceae Source, GrassBase and EDIT (European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy) exemplar groups and scratchpads. These projects give a clear indication of the crucially important role of the national and regional taxonomic organisations and their networks in providing both leadership and a fruitful and beneficial human and technical environment for taxonomists, both amateur and professional, to contribute their expertise towards a collective global enterprise.

Divergence time estimation in Cichorieae (Asteraceae) using a fossil-calibrated relaxed molecular clock

Knowing the age of lineages is key to understanding their biogeographic history. We aimed to provide the best estimate of the age of Cichorieae and its subtribes based on available fossil evidence and DNA sequences and to interpret their biogeography in the light of Earth history. With more than 1,550 species, the chicory tribe (Cichorieae, Asteraceae) is distributed predominantly in the northern Hemisphere, with centres of distribution in the Mediterranean region, central Asia, and SW North America. Recently, a new phylogenetic hypothesis of Cichorieae based on ITS sequences has been established, shedding new light on phylogenetic relationships within the tribe, which had not been detected so far. Cichorieae possess echinolophate pollen grains, on the surface of which cavities (lacunae) are separated by ridges. These lacunae and ridges show patterns characteristic of certain groups within Cichorieae. Among the fossil record of echinolophate pollen, the Cichorium intybus-type is the most frequent and also the oldest type (22 to 28.4 million years old). By using an uncorrelated relaxed molecular clock approach, the Cichorieae phylogenetic tree was calibrated with this fossil find. According to the analysis, the tribe originated no later than Oligocene. The species-rich core group originated no later than Late Oligocene or Early Miocene and its subtribes diversified no later than Middle/Late Miocene or Early Pliocene—an eventful period of changing geological setting and climate in the Mediterranean region and Eurasia. The first dispersal from Eurasia to North America, which resulted in the radiation of genera and species in North America (subtribe Microseridinae), also occurred no later than Middle or Late Miocene, suggesting the Bering land bridge as the route of dispersal.

Further notes on the flora of the southern coastal mountains of Yemen

Abstract Kilian, N., Hein, P. & Hubaishan, M. A. (ed.): Further notes on the flora of the southern coastal mountains of Yemen. — Willdenowia 34: 159–182. — ISSN 0511-9618;

New and noteworthy records for the flora of Yemen, chiefly of Hadhramout and Al-Mahra

Abstract Kilian, N., Hein, P. & Hubaishan, M. A.: New and noteworthy records for the flora of Yemen, chiefly of Hadhramout and Al-Mahra. — Willdenowia 32: 239–269. 2002. — ISSN 0511-9618. Based on own collections made in the southern governorates of the Republic of Yemen between 1997 and 2002, 110 new and noteworthy records of vascular plants are provided. Five taxa, Iphigenia oliveri, Kleinia squarrosa, Parthenium hysterophorus, Rhus glutinosa subsp. neoglutinosa and Poskea socotrana are recorded as new for the Arabian Peninsula, and Pistacia aethiopica is confirmed; 23 species are recorded as new and four are confirmed for mainland Yemen; 77 species are recorded as new for the southern governorates of Yemen or larger parts of them. Brief comments are given on the phytogeography of the taxa. Rhus flexicaulis, a species hitherto considered an endemic of SW Arabia, is found conspecific with the widespread African R. vulgaris, and provides, for priority reasons, the correct name for this species; the most recently described R. gallagheri from Oman is also conspecific with it. Justicia areysiana is accepted as the correct name for the S Arabian endemic formerly known as Bentia fruticulosa.

Scorzonera karabelensis (Compositae,) a new species from SW Anatolia, with a key to the subscapigerous Scorzonera species in Turkey

Abstract Parolly, G. & Kilian, N.: Scorzonera karabelensis (Compositae), a new species from SW Anatolia, with a key to the subscapigerous Scorzonera species in Turkey. — Willdenowia 33: 327–335. — ISSN 0511-9618;

Studies in the Compositae of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra — 1. Pulicaria gamal-eldinae sp. nova (Inuleae) bridges the gap between Pulicaria and former Sclerostephane (now P. sect. Sclerostephane)1

Abstract Kilian, N.: Studies in the Compositae of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra — 1. Pulicaria gamaleldinae sp. nova (Inuleae) bridges the gap between Pulicaria and former Sclerostephane (now P. sect. Sclerostephane). — Willdenowia 29: 167–185. 1999. — ISSN 0511-9618. A species discovered in the province of Al Mahra, SE Yemen, holding an intermediate position between Pulicaria and the small NE Somalian genus Sclerostephane is described as new to science. A comparative study of the morphology and anatomy of achenes and pappus of this species, of Sclerostephane and of species of the Omani-Makranian Pulicaria glaucescens group, which is identified as the closest ally of the new species, shows that the peculiar achenes of Sclerostephane, which were the decisive reason for its separation from Pulicaria, are morphologically much closer to those of the latter genus than thought previously. Reconsideration of the phylogenetic position of Sclerostephane based on these results leads to the conclusion that Sclerostephane is more appropriately treated as a section of Pulicaria, in which also the new Yemeni species is to be included. The new species is described as Pulicaria gamal-eldinae, and belongs to the informal P. glaucescens group, comprising P. boissieri, P. carnosa, P. edmondsonii and P. glaucescens. P. sect. Sclerostephane is formally established, the necessary new combinations P. collenettei, P. discoidea and P. longifolia are made, and a key to the species of the new section is provided.

Sample data processing in an additive and reproducible taxonomic workflow by using character data persistently linked to preserved individual specimens

We present the model and implementation of a workflow that blazes a trail in systematic biology for the re-usability of character data (data on any kind of characters of pheno- and genotypes of organisms) and their additivity from specimen to taxon level. We take into account that any taxon characterization is based on a limited set of sampled individuals and characters, and that consequently any new individual and any new character may affect the recognition of biological entities and/or the subsequent delimitation and characterization of a taxon. Taxon concepts thus frequently change during the knowledge generation process in systematic biology. Structured character data are therefore not only needed for the knowledge generation process but also for easily adapting characterizations of taxa. We aim to facilitate the construction and reproducibility of taxon characterizations from structured character data of changing sample sets by establishing a stable and unambiguous association between each sampled individual and the data processed from it. Our workflow implementation uses the European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy Platform, a comprehensive taxonomic data management and publication environment to: (i) establish a reproducible connection between sampled individuals and all samples derived from them; (ii) stably link sample-based character data with the metadata of the respective samples; (iii) record and store structured specimen-based character data in formats allowing data exchange; (iv) reversibly assign sample metadata and character datasets to taxa in an editable classification and display them and (v) organize data exchange via standard exchange formats and enable the link between the character datasets and samples in research collections, ensuring high visibility and instant re-usability of the data. The workflow implemented will contribute to organizing the interface between phylogenetic analysis and revisionary taxonomic or monographic work. Database URL: http://campanula.e-taxonomy.net/

Lactuca stebbinsii (Lactuceae, Compositae), a puzzling new species from Angola

Abstract Kilian, N.: Lactuca stebbinsii (Lactuceae, Compositae), a puzzling new species from Angola. — Willdenowia 31: 71–78. 2001. — ISSN 0511-9618. A small perennial herb from marshy meadows in the highlands of SW Angola, only known from three 19th and early 20th century collections, is described as Lactuca stebbinsii, a species new to science, and illustrated. The taxonomic position of the unusual species with entirely beakless, apically truncate, pale brown, distinctly compressed and glabrous achenes within the Lactuca-Prenanthes line of the Lactucinae is discussed. The morphological features indicate a placement in Lactuca s.l. as the most plausible solution. Possible relationships are discussed but cannot be established yet.

A new species of Campylanthus (Scrophulariaceae) from Ras Fartak, Al-Mahra, and notes on other species of the genus in Yemen

Abstract Kilian, N., Hein, P. & Bahah, S. O.: A new species of Campylanthus (Scrophulariaceae) from Ras Fartak, Al-Mahra, and notes on other species of the genus in Yemen. — Willdenowia 32: 271–279. 2002. Campylanthus hubaishanii, a dwarf shrub from the coastal mountains of southeastern Yemen, is described as a species new to science and illustrated. It is the fifth species of the genus known from mainland Yemen. The new species is compared and a closer relationship suggested with C. sedoides from coastal Jiddat al Harasis, central Oman. Based on collections made by the authors during the last years, new data on the distribution and variation of C. antonii, C. junceus and C. pungens in Yemen are also provided.