A taxonomic study of Quercus langbianensis complex based on morphology and DNA barcodes of classic and next generation sequences.

The taxonomy of Quercus langbianensis and its relatives in Vietnam and Cambodia have been revised based on evidence obtained from field observations, morphological comparison of herbarium specimens and molecular analyses using both classic and next generation DNA markers. Based on Bayesian inference using rbcL, matK and ITS regions and Neighbour-joining tree using genome-wide sequences amplified with multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers (MIG-seq), the authors recognised ten species in the complex in Vietnam and Cambodia, three of which are newly described in this paper: Q. baolamensissp. nov., Q. bidoupensissp. nov. and Q. honbaensissp. nov. These new species are all phenotypically similar to Q. langbianensiss. str. in having lanceolate to oblanceolate leaf shape, upper 4-5/6-serrated leaf margin, acute or acuminate leaf apex and bracts of cupule arranged in 5-9 rings but distinguished both morphologically and phylogenetically. In molecular phylogenetic reconstructions, Q. bidoupensis is not close to any other species. In the Bayesian tree, Q. honbaensis is sister to both Q. blaoensis and Q. camusiae that are found in the same locality but morphologically distinct and those three species are sister to Q. langbianensiss. str., while Quercus baolamensis is not sister to Q. langbianensiss. str. in both the Bayesian tree and MIG-seq tree. In addition, Q. cambodiensis and Q. baniensis previously reduced to Q. langbianensiss. lat. have been recognised as distinct species. Six species were in need of lectotypification and that is undertaken herein.

Flora of Bokor National Park V: Two new species of Machilus (Lauraceae), M. bokorensis and M. brevipaniculata.

Two new species, Machilus bokorensis Yahara & Tagane and Machilus brevipaniculata Yahara & Tagane (Lauraceae) are described from Bokor National Park, Cambodia with their illustrations and DNA barcodes of the two plastid regions of rbcL and matK and the nuclear region of ITS.

Effects of logging and recruitment on community phylogenetic structure in 32 permanent forest plots of Kampong Thom, Cambodia.

Ecological communities including tropical rainforest are rapidly changing under various disturbances caused by increasing human activities. Recently in Cambodia, illegal logging and clear-felling for agriculture have been increasing. Here, we study the effects of logging, mortality and recruitment of plot trees on phylogenetic community structure in 32 plots in Kampong Thom, Cambodia. Each plot was 0.25 ha; 28 plots were established in primary evergreen forests and four were established in secondary dry deciduous forests. Measurements were made in 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2010, and logging, recruitment and mortality of each tree were recorded. We estimated phylogeny using rbcL and matK gene sequences and quantified phylogenetic α and ß diversity. Within communities, logging decreased phylogenetic diversity, and increased overall phylogenetic clustering and terminal phylogenetic evenness. Between communities, logging increased phylogenetic similarity between evergreen and deciduous plots. On the other hand, recruitment had opposite effects both within and between communities. The observed patterns can be explained by environmental homogenization under logging. Logging is biased to particular species and larger diameter at breast height, and forest patrol has been effective in decreasing logging.