The hindgut of lower termites harbors various symbiotic protists, which per- form varied functions in lignocellulose decomposition. As termites are social insects, the species and numbers of these flagellated protists...The hindgut of lower termites harbors various symbiotic protists, which per- form varied functions in lignocellulose decomposition. As termites are social insects, the species and numbers of these flagellated protists in the termite gut vary among the different castes. Juvenile hormones （JHs） can regulate caste differentiation in termites. In this study, we used the juvenile hormone analog fenoxycarh to induce termite workers （Reticulitermesflaviceps） to differentiate into pre-soldiers. A metatranscriptomic investigation of the protistan community was then performed by 454 pyrosequencing. From a thorough analysis based on 597 312 generated reads, we found that the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway was the most abundant pathway across the metatranscriptome. The current study demonstrates that the metatranscriptome of the protistan community in termites contains an abundance of lignocellulase, which plays a vital role in termite nutrition.展开更多
Until recently, the agamid species, Japalura flaviceps was recognized to have the widest geographic dis- tribution among members of the genus occurring in China, from eastern Tibet to Shaanxi Province. However, recent...Until recently, the agamid species, Japalura flaviceps was recognized to have the widest geographic dis- tribution among members of the genus occurring in China, from eastern Tibet to Shaanxi Province. However, recent studies restricted the distribution of J. flaviceps to the Dadu River valley only in north- western Sichuan Province, suggesting that records of J. flaviceps outside the Dadu River valley likely represent undescribed diversity. During two herpeto- faunal surveys in 2013 and 2015, eight and 12 specimens of lizards of the genus Japalura were collected from the upper Nujiang （=Salween） Valley in eastern Tibet, China, and upper Lancang （=Mekong） Valley in northwestern Yunnan, China, respectively. These specimens display a unique suite of diagnostic morphological characters. Our robust comparisons of phenotype reveal that these populations can be distinguished readily from J. flaviceps and all other recognized congeners. Herein, we describe the two Japalura lineages as new spe- cies, Japalura laeviventris sp. nov. and Japalura iadina sp. nov.. In addition, we provide updated con- servation assessments for the new species as well as imperiled congeners according to the IUCN crite- ria for classification, discuss the importance of color patterns in the diagnosis and description of species in the genus Japalura, and discuss directions for future taxonomic studies of the group.展开更多
A new species of the agamid genus Japalura is described based on 15 specimens from the upper Lancang（Mekong） Valley of eastern Tibet, PR China. Populations of the new species, Japalura vela sp. nov., were previously...A new species of the agamid genus Japalura is described based on 15 specimens from the upper Lancang（Mekong） Valley of eastern Tibet, PR China. Populations of the new species, Japalura vela sp. nov., were previously recognized as J. flaviceps. The new species is morphologically most similar to J. batangensis, J. micangshanensis, J. variegata, and J. zhaoermii, but is distinguished from the four species and all remaining congeners by the following combination of morphological characters： 1） small adult size（SVL 56–69 mm in males, 59–66 mm in females）; 2） ratio of tail TAL/SVL 1.85–2.06; 3） ratio of hind limb HLL/SVL 0.72–0.81; 4） T4 S 24 or 25; 5） concealed tympanum; 6） transverse gular fold present; 7） gular pouch present; 8） axillary fold present; 9） a pronounced, continuous, sail-like vertebral crest along length of body in males; 10） ground dorsal coloration black in males; 11） distinct gray transverse streaks on dorsal surface of head; 12） black radiated streaks around eyes; 13） distinct, black vermiculate stripes on ventral surface of head in both sexes; 14） a strongly jagged dorsolateral stripe from neck to base of tail on each side of vertebral crest in males; and 15） absence of gular spots in both sexes. General distribution patterns of the genus in the Hengduan Mountains region are also discussed.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grants 31472046, 31172153）.
文摘The hindgut of lower termites harbors various symbiotic protists, which per- form varied functions in lignocellulose decomposition. As termites are social insects, the species and numbers of these flagellated protists in the termite gut vary among the different castes. Juvenile hormones （JHs） can regulate caste differentiation in termites. In this study, we used the juvenile hormone analog fenoxycarh to induce termite workers （Reticulitermesflaviceps） to differentiate into pre-soldiers. A metatranscriptomic investigation of the protistan community was then performed by 454 pyrosequencing. From a thorough analysis based on 597 312 generated reads, we found that the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway was the most abundant pathway across the metatranscriptome. The current study demonstrates that the metatranscriptome of the protistan community in termites contains an abundance of lignocellulase, which plays a vital role in termite nutrition.
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2014FY210200,2011FY120200)the Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species of Chinese Academy of Sciences(the Large Research Infrastructure Funding)
文摘Until recently, the agamid species, Japalura flaviceps was recognized to have the widest geographic dis- tribution among members of the genus occurring in China, from eastern Tibet to Shaanxi Province. However, recent studies restricted the distribution of J. flaviceps to the Dadu River valley only in north- western Sichuan Province, suggesting that records of J. flaviceps outside the Dadu River valley likely represent undescribed diversity. During two herpeto- faunal surveys in 2013 and 2015, eight and 12 specimens of lizards of the genus Japalura were collected from the upper Nujiang （=Salween） Valley in eastern Tibet, China, and upper Lancang （=Mekong） Valley in northwestern Yunnan, China, respectively. These specimens display a unique suite of diagnostic morphological characters. Our robust comparisons of phenotype reveal that these populations can be distinguished readily from J. flaviceps and all other recognized congeners. Herein, we describe the two Japalura lineages as new spe- cies, Japalura laeviventris sp. nov. and Japalura iadina sp. nov.. In addition, we provide updated con- servation assessments for the new species as well as imperiled congeners according to the IUCN crite- ria for classification, discuss the importance of color patterns in the diagnosis and description of species in the genus Japalura, and discuss directions for future taxonomic studies of the group.
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2014FY210200, 2011FY120200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31090250)the Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species of Chinese Academy of Sciences (the Large Research Infrastructure Funding)
文摘A new species of the agamid genus Japalura is described based on 15 specimens from the upper Lancang（Mekong） Valley of eastern Tibet, PR China. Populations of the new species, Japalura vela sp. nov., were previously recognized as J. flaviceps. The new species is morphologically most similar to J. batangensis, J. micangshanensis, J. variegata, and J. zhaoermii, but is distinguished from the four species and all remaining congeners by the following combination of morphological characters： 1） small adult size（SVL 56–69 mm in males, 59–66 mm in females）; 2） ratio of tail TAL/SVL 1.85–2.06; 3） ratio of hind limb HLL/SVL 0.72–0.81; 4） T4 S 24 or 25; 5） concealed tympanum; 6） transverse gular fold present; 7） gular pouch present; 8） axillary fold present; 9） a pronounced, continuous, sail-like vertebral crest along length of body in males; 10） ground dorsal coloration black in males; 11） distinct gray transverse streaks on dorsal surface of head; 12） black radiated streaks around eyes; 13） distinct, black vermiculate stripes on ventral surface of head in both sexes; 14） a strongly jagged dorsolateral stripe from neck to base of tail on each side of vertebral crest in males; and 15） absence of gular spots in both sexes. General distribution patterns of the genus in the Hengduan Mountains region are also discussed.
