The Neogene interval witnessed three major waves of intercontinental dispersals by carnivoran mammals,mainly migrating from Eurasia to North America but with rare occurrences going in the opposite direction(e.g.,Sthen...The Neogene interval witnessed three major waves of intercontinental dispersals by carnivoran mammals,mainly migrating from Eurasia to North America but with rare occurrences going in the opposite direction(e.g.,Sthenictis,Leptarctus).The timing and composition of dispersers are thought to be controlled by filter-bridge mechanisms,but it is unclear what types of regional conditions promoted occasional dispersals outside of the three major waves.We study and report on new occurrences of small-bodied carnivorans from late Clarendonian-aged Black Hawk Ranch and Cuyama Valley fossil mammal assemblages in California.The relatively late occurrences of the mustelids Sthenictis and Hoplictis and the ailurid Alopecocyon in coastal regions of western North America suggest that nearshore dispersal corridors both facilitate and preserve faunal elements later than they might otherwise occur further inland.The availability of both marine-and terrestrially-derived food resources may be an important factor in allowing coastally dispersing taxa to be accommodated in those ecological communities compared to less heterogenous environments further inland.展开更多
Scientific research provides essential information for conservation of threatened species.Data deficiency due to insufficient research impedes the design of conservation plans,and research bias may mistakenly direct l...Scientific research provides essential information for conservation of threatened species.Data deficiency due to insufficient research impedes the design of conservation plans,and research bias may mistakenly direct limited resources to low biodiversity regions or less threatened species.Here,we conducted a systematic review of published papers,grants,and graduate student training on carnivorans in China to identify species bias and research gaps.Furthermore,we collected intrinsic and extrinsic features of carnivorans,and identified features that impact research intensity using generalized linear models.We found that the amount of research on carnivorans increased markedly after 2000,but species bias existed.Bears and big cats received the greatest research attention,while most small-and medium-sized carnivorans received little attention,thus showing the 80-20 phenomenon.Species with a higher level of endemism and protection under Chinese law received more consideration.As an animal conservation icon in China,the giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)attracted more than 50%of overall carnivoran research resources.However,the giant panda also showed spillover effects,i.e.,post-doctoral graduates who studied the giant panda shifted their research focus to other species after graduation,which may help improve research on other species.Thus,to improve and strengthen Carnivora research and conservation,we suggest investing greater effort in species of less concern,training of more graduate students,and reinforcing academic exchange.If such actions are not taken,many carnivoran species will continue being data deficient and threatened.展开更多
Mammalian carnivores are rarely considered for environmental reconstructions because they are extremely adaptable and their geographic range is usually large. However, the functional morphology of carnivore long bones...Mammalian carnivores are rarely considered for environmental reconstructions because they are extremely adaptable and their geographic range is usually large. However, the functional morphology of carnivore long bones can be indicative of locomotor behaviour as well as adaptation to specific kind of habitats. Here, different long bone ratios belonging to a subsample of extant large carnivores are used to infer palaeoecology of a comparative sample of Plio-Pleistocene fossils belonging to Italian paleo-communities. A multivariate long bone shape space reveals similarities between extant and fossil carnivores and multiple logistic regression models suggest that specific indices （the brachial and the Mt/F） can be applied to predict adaptations to grassland and tropical biomes. These functional indices exhibit also a phylogenetic signal to different degree. The brachial index is a significant predictor of adaptations to tropical biomes when phylogeny is taken into account, while Mt/F is not correlated anymore to habitat adaptations. However, the proportion of grassland-adapted carnivores in Italian paleo-communities exhibits a negative relationship with mean oxygen isotopic values, which are indicative of past climatic oscillations. As climate became more unstable during the Ice Ages, large carnivore guilds from the Italian peninsula were invaded by tropical/closed-adapted species. These species take advantage of the temperate forest cover that was more spread after 1.0 Ma than in the initial phase of the Quaternary （2.0 Ma） when the climate was more arid [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 269-283, 2011].展开更多
古鼬属(palaeogale)由H.von Meyer于1846年建立,欧亚大陆以及北美的晚始新世一中新世地层中均有报道。但受化石标本以及研究程度的限制,古鼬的分类位置问题一直存在争议,曾被分别归入鼬科(Mustelidae)、古灵猫科(Viverravidae)、猫科(Fe...古鼬属(palaeogale)由H.von Meyer于1846年建立,欧亚大陆以及北美的晚始新世一中新世地层中均有报道。但受化石标本以及研究程度的限制,古鼬的分类位置问题一直存在争议,曾被分别归入鼬科(Mustelidae)、古灵猫科(Viverravidae)、猫科(Felidae)、古鼬科(Palaeogalidae)和猫型亚目(Feliformia)科未定等。内蒙古三盛公地区新发现了5件古鼬标本,其中IVPP V 19325(包括属于同一个体的一件残破头骨、一对近乎完整的下颌以及一些椎体和肋骨)是目前为止亚洲发现的保存最完好的标本。本文详细描述了这些新材料,并基于新材料,结合前人的图版描述,提取了古鼬的形态学性状特征用于系统发育关系分析。参考Wesley-Hunt and Flynn(2005)的系统发育关系分析,选用了共计42个类群的100个性状特征进行了分析。此外,对12个现生类群的6个基因(细胞核基因TR-i-I,TBG和IRBP;线粒体基因ND2,CYTB和12S rRNA),共计5893个碱基对进行的分子系统发育关系分析,帮助完善了古鼬的形态学系统发育关系分析结果。50%多数合意树的结果显示古鼬与鼬科及古灵猫科均无明显的亲缘关系,而是位于猫型亚目基干位置,代表了猫型亚目下一个原始的支系,可被归入古鼬科(Palaeogalidae)。同时,还厘定了古鼬科的鉴定特征。未来还需要更完整的性状数据,尤其是耳区的性状特征,来完善古鼬的系统发育关系分析。展开更多
文摘The Neogene interval witnessed three major waves of intercontinental dispersals by carnivoran mammals,mainly migrating from Eurasia to North America but with rare occurrences going in the opposite direction(e.g.,Sthenictis,Leptarctus).The timing and composition of dispersers are thought to be controlled by filter-bridge mechanisms,but it is unclear what types of regional conditions promoted occasional dispersals outside of the three major waves.We study and report on new occurrences of small-bodied carnivorans from late Clarendonian-aged Black Hawk Ranch and Cuyama Valley fossil mammal assemblages in California.The relatively late occurrences of the mustelids Sthenictis and Hoplictis and the ailurid Alopecocyon in coastal regions of western North America suggest that nearshore dispersal corridors both facilitate and preserve faunal elements later than they might otherwise occur further inland.The availability of both marine-and terrestrially-derived food resources may be an important factor in allowing coastally dispersing taxa to be accommodated in those ecological communities compared to less heterogenous environments further inland.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31900372,31822049)。
文摘Scientific research provides essential information for conservation of threatened species.Data deficiency due to insufficient research impedes the design of conservation plans,and research bias may mistakenly direct limited resources to low biodiversity regions or less threatened species.Here,we conducted a systematic review of published papers,grants,and graduate student training on carnivorans in China to identify species bias and research gaps.Furthermore,we collected intrinsic and extrinsic features of carnivorans,and identified features that impact research intensity using generalized linear models.We found that the amount of research on carnivorans increased markedly after 2000,but species bias existed.Bears and big cats received the greatest research attention,while most small-and medium-sized carnivorans received little attention,thus showing the 80-20 phenomenon.Species with a higher level of endemism and protection under Chinese law received more consideration.As an animal conservation icon in China,the giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)attracted more than 50%of overall carnivoran research resources.However,the giant panda also showed spillover effects,i.e.,post-doctoral graduates who studied the giant panda shifted their research focus to other species after graduation,which may help improve research on other species.Thus,to improve and strengthen Carnivora research and conservation,we suggest investing greater effort in species of less concern,training of more graduate students,and reinforcing academic exchange.If such actions are not taken,many carnivoran species will continue being data deficient and threatened.
文摘Mammalian carnivores are rarely considered for environmental reconstructions because they are extremely adaptable and their geographic range is usually large. However, the functional morphology of carnivore long bones can be indicative of locomotor behaviour as well as adaptation to specific kind of habitats. Here, different long bone ratios belonging to a subsample of extant large carnivores are used to infer palaeoecology of a comparative sample of Plio-Pleistocene fossils belonging to Italian paleo-communities. A multivariate long bone shape space reveals similarities between extant and fossil carnivores and multiple logistic regression models suggest that specific indices （the brachial and the Mt/F） can be applied to predict adaptations to grassland and tropical biomes. These functional indices exhibit also a phylogenetic signal to different degree. The brachial index is a significant predictor of adaptations to tropical biomes when phylogeny is taken into account, while Mt/F is not correlated anymore to habitat adaptations. However, the proportion of grassland-adapted carnivores in Italian paleo-communities exhibits a negative relationship with mean oxygen isotopic values, which are indicative of past climatic oscillations. As climate became more unstable during the Ice Ages, large carnivore guilds from the Italian peninsula were invaded by tropical/closed-adapted species. These species take advantage of the temperate forest cover that was more spread after 1.0 Ma than in the initial phase of the Quaternary （2.0 Ma） when the climate was more arid [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 269-283, 2011].
文摘古鼬属(palaeogale)由H.von Meyer于1846年建立,欧亚大陆以及北美的晚始新世一中新世地层中均有报道。但受化石标本以及研究程度的限制,古鼬的分类位置问题一直存在争议,曾被分别归入鼬科(Mustelidae)、古灵猫科(Viverravidae)、猫科(Felidae)、古鼬科(Palaeogalidae)和猫型亚目(Feliformia)科未定等。内蒙古三盛公地区新发现了5件古鼬标本,其中IVPP V 19325(包括属于同一个体的一件残破头骨、一对近乎完整的下颌以及一些椎体和肋骨)是目前为止亚洲发现的保存最完好的标本。本文详细描述了这些新材料,并基于新材料,结合前人的图版描述,提取了古鼬的形态学性状特征用于系统发育关系分析。参考Wesley-Hunt and Flynn(2005)的系统发育关系分析,选用了共计42个类群的100个性状特征进行了分析。此外,对12个现生类群的6个基因(细胞核基因TR-i-I,TBG和IRBP;线粒体基因ND2,CYTB和12S rRNA),共计5893个碱基对进行的分子系统发育关系分析,帮助完善了古鼬的形态学系统发育关系分析结果。50%多数合意树的结果显示古鼬与鼬科及古灵猫科均无明显的亲缘关系,而是位于猫型亚目基干位置,代表了猫型亚目下一个原始的支系,可被归入古鼬科(Palaeogalidae)。同时,还厘定了古鼬科的鉴定特征。未来还需要更完整的性状数据,尤其是耳区的性状特征,来完善古鼬的系统发育关系分析。
