A participatory action research was conducted in 2022,with the“Establishment of Demonstration Site for Peatland Conservation through Integrated Management and Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTF...A participatory action research was conducted in 2022,with the“Establishment of Demonstration Site for Peatland Conservation through Integrated Management and Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs)”to give recommendation on the development of guidelines on Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs)and peatland conservation.According to the peat soil assessment,it was found that peat soil content was very low and top soil was thin under the mangrove forest,and Payena paralleloneura-Kan Zaw bearing forest in March 2022.Organic material might be pressed by trespasser to collect Kan Zaw seed,to conduct horticulture and mining near the Kan Zaw bearing forest,or organic material might be damaged by burning with controlled fire in the previous years,under Kan Zaw trees to collect seeds.Organic material might have been carried to the downwards with running water due to the heavy rainfall,with 4,700 mm/year.Mangrove forest and Kan Zaw bearing evergreen forest can be assumed as“the major source of coastal peatland formation,with peat deposits eroded seawards”.It is assumed that the organic material will accumulate on top of the sands and it will lead to the formation of the peatland at coastal zone.It can be assumed that the accumulation of organic material found in mangrove forest and evergreen forests will promote the soil carbon storage,if we can adopt the ASEAN Policy on Zero Burning,which reflect ASEAN's commitment to controlling fires and haze,offering techniques,benefits,requirements,and challenges for implementing zero burning practices[1].Sustainable utilization of NTFP including peat and Kan Zaw-Payena paralleloneura Kurz seed was studied at demonstration sites,and it is recommended to make a trial on silvicultural system at mangrove forest and apply suitable silvicultural system such as Clear-Felling(in blocks or in alternate strips)system,Selection System,and Shelter Wood System to ensure the sustainable utilization of NTFP from mangrove forest[2].Gap planting and assisted natural regeneration are also recommended for mangrove forest and Kan Zaw-bearing forest.展开更多
This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fiel...This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fields of study have established how critical it is to conserve these natural resources in the ecosystem and to ensure sustainability in not only green livelihoods but also to enhance living conditions of the life on earth. The aim of this research was to generate high priority sites for establishing soil and water conservation techniques in the Lower Bogoria Landscapes in Baringo, Kenya using GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis. Various criteria were analyzed to generate the final conservation priority sites, such as land use land cover, rainfall runoff, soil erosion and slope. The criteria were assigned weights using the AHP technique and overlayed using the weighted overlay tools to produce the final outputs. Land use land cover maps were generated using supervised maximum likelihood technique, rainfall run-off maps were generated using the SCS-CN method and soil erosion maps were generated using RUSLE model. The final soil and water conservation maps showed that high and moderate priority areas requiring the establishment of techniques and mechanisms to control soil erosion and conserve water increased from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, more than 50% of the total study area was classified as moderate to high priority for water and soil conservation. Soil and water conservation structures such as water pans, percolation tanks, farm ponds and stop dams should be constructed in such areas.展开更多
The critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern(CThalasseus bernsteini,CCT)and its common flocking companion,the Greater Crested Tern(Thalasseus bergii,GCT),have been the focus of targeted recovery efforts in the Jiush...The critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern(CThalasseus bernsteini,CCT)and its common flocking companion,the Greater Crested Tern(Thalasseus bergii,GCT),have been the focus of targeted recovery efforts in the Jiushan Archipelago of Zhejiang Province,China since 2013.To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of these measures and address key knowledge gaps in population dynamics and migration ecology,we analyzed ten years(2015-2024)of banding and citizen science data,comprising 116 CCT and 3501 GCT resighting records.We estimated survival rates using both directly derived survival rate(based on resighting rate after two years)and Cormack-Jolly-Seber modeling,and examined migration connectivity and climate risks.Results showed robust juvenile survival:modeled survival for the tern chick population was lower in the first two years(63.9±12.0%)but exceeded 78%thereafter.This was also supported by resighting rate after two years:CCT 77.27%,GCT70.42%.A key divergence in post-breeding migration was identified:CCT moves northward to stopover sites such as Nantong,Rizhao,and Jiaozhou Bay,whereas GCT migrates southward.Climate data confirmed that northern stopover sites do not pose higher storm risks,indicating that CCT's northward migration is not a population liability.Furthermore,connectivity among breeding islands in Zhejiang and the Matsu Archipelago reveals a nascent coastal breeding network along China's coast.These findings underscore the importance of protecting both the northern migration route and the breeding island network to ensure full life-cycle conservation of CCT.展开更多
The genus Trachypithecus is the most diverse langur taxon, distributed in southwestern China, south and southeastern Asia. In this study, we include 16 recognized Trachypithecus species to reconstruct the phylogeny wi...The genus Trachypithecus is the most diverse langur taxon, distributed in southwestern China, south and southeastern Asia. In this study, we include 16 recognized Trachypithecus species to reconstruct the phylogeny with particular concern to the taxonomy of the three subspecies of Z phayrei using multiple genes. Our results support a sister-relationship between Z p. phayrei and T p. shanicus. However, the mitochondrial CYT B gene supported T. p. crepuscula as a distinct species, but the nuclear PRMI gene suggested a closer relationship between T p. crepuscula and T p. phayrei. The incongruence between nuclear and mitochondrial genes suggests that hybridization may have occurred, a fact that would benefit from re-examination using multiple unlinked nuclear genes.展开更多
Male muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus L.)secrete musk from their scent glands during musk secretion season.Musk plays an important role as a communication pheromone during the breeding season.In this study,gas chromatogra...Male muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus L.)secrete musk from their scent glands during musk secretion season.Musk plays an important role as a communication pheromone during the breeding season.In this study,gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS)was used to analyze the main components of musk.The GC–MS results after methyl esterification showed that 71.55%of the musk is composed of fatty acids.The other components of muskrat musk include cholesterol(9.31%)and other organics.Transcriptome comparison between musk secretion and non-secretion seasons showed significant changes in the scent glands for 53 genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and metabolism regulatory pathways,which include fatty acid biosynthesis,elongation,and metabolism;steroid biosynthesis;steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways.A reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed these detected changes.Overall,our results indicated that lipid synthesis and metabolism play important roles in musk compound synthesis by providing energy for musk production,and the produced musk provides a mechanism for male muskrats to communicate with females during the breeding season.展开更多
Mating behavior and parturition are important components in the life history of any species. The endangered Chinese crocodile lizard(Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is suffering dramatic population decreases in the wild. Su...Mating behavior and parturition are important components in the life history of any species. The endangered Chinese crocodile lizard(Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is suffering dramatic population decreases in the wild. Successful captive breeding can provide individuals to be reintroduced into their natural habitat and help to restore the wild populations. Studying the mating behavior and parturition of these lizards in captivity will enable us understand how is this ancient species reproduction and optimize artificial reproduction protocol. We studied the mating behavior and parturition of Chinese crocodile lizards in captivity using video recordings at the Daguishan National Nature Reserve, China, from 2015 to 2017. We analyzed pre-copulation and copulation, which occurred in mid-March to late May from all studied years. Pre-copulation and copulation lasted on average 7.51(n=11) and 27.45(n=11) minutes, respectively. We found that large-bodied male lizards have longer copulation periods, a pattern seen in other lizard species. In the mating event, males always initiated sex, while the females were passive. The duration of parturition lasted 153.8 ± 26.8(n=46) minutes, and larger females had heavier clutches. In addition, even though Chinese crocodile lizards represent an ancient lizard clade with primitive characteristics, they still abide by the reproduction patterns seen in most other lizard species.展开更多
There is growing interest in using ecosystem services to aid development of management strategies that target sustainability and enhance ecosystem support to humans. Challenges remain in the search for methods and ind...There is growing interest in using ecosystem services to aid development of management strategies that target sustainability and enhance ecosystem support to humans. Challenges remain in the search for methods and indicators that can quantify ecosystem services using metrics that are meaningful in light of their high priorities. We developed a framework to link ecosystems to human wellbeing based on a stepwise approach. We evaluated prospective models in terms of their capacity to quantify national ecosystem services of forests. The most applicable models were subsequently used to quantify ecosystem services. The Korea Forest Research Institute model sat- isfied all criteria in its first practical use. A total of 12 key ecosystem services were identified. For our case study, we quantified four ecosystem functions, viz. water storage capacity in forest soil for water storage service, reduced suspended sediment for water purification service, reduced soil erosion for landslide prevention service, and reduced sediment yield for sediment regulation service. Water storage capacity in forest soil was estimated at 2142 t/ha, and reduced suspended sediment was estimated at 608 kg/ ha. Reduced soil erosion was estimated at 77 m^3/ha, and reduced sediment yield was estimated at 285 m^3/ha. These results were similar to those reported by previous studies. Mapped results revealed hotspots of ecosystem services around protected areas that were particularly rich in bio- diversity. In addition, the proposed framework illustrated that quantification of ecosystem services could be sup- ported by the spatial flow of ecosystem services. However, our approach did not address challenges faced when quantifying connections between ecosystem indicators and actual benefits of services described.展开更多
The genus Trachypithecus is the most diverse langur taxon,distributed in southwestern China,south and southeastern Asia.In this study,we include 16 recognized Trachypithecus species to reconstruct the phylogeny with p...The genus Trachypithecus is the most diverse langur taxon,distributed in southwestern China,south and southeastern Asia.In this study,we include 16 recognized Trachypithecus species to reconstruct the phylogeny with particular concern to the taxonomy of the three subspecies of T.phayrei using multiple genes.Our results support a sister-relationship between T.p.phayrei and T.p.shanicus.However,the mitochondrial CYT B gene supported T.p.crepuscula as a distinct species,but the nuclear PRM1 gene suggested a closer relationship between T.p.crepuscula and T.p.phayrei.The incongruence between nuclear and mitochondrial genes suggests that hybridization may have occurred,a fact that would benefit from re-examination using multiple unlinked nuclear genes.展开更多
Understanding the relationships between plant diversity and the environment is an important step towards conservation of species and ecosystems.In this study,we hypothesize that community species richness decreases an...Understanding the relationships between plant diversity and the environment is an important step towards conservation of species and ecosystems.In this study,we hypothesize that community species richness decreases and species composition change along the elevation gradient,with a greater contribution of species turnover than nestedness to beta diversity.We surveyed plant species in 300 plots(1 m×1 m)in four elevational bands(2100 m,2300m,2500 m,and 2700 m)in the CaparaóNational Park,Southeastern Brazil.The samples presented a great number of species(97 spp.,59 genera,27families),however,74%of the species were considered rare with their relative abundance being<1%.Among the four bands along the gradient,we detected two distinct communities with few species in common.The transition between the two communities occurred at 2500 m,and this elevation band also had the highest species richness in total.A non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)showed floristic differences between the bands even though they had similar richness.In 89%of the plot pairs,using pairwise comparison of species composition,only half of the species that occurred in one did occur in the other plot.The dissimilarity among the plots and elevational band reflects a significant contribution of spatial species turnover to the species richness and beta diversity on the Caparaómountain.Beta diversity increased with spatial scale(from plot to elevational-band).The dissimilarity(βSOR=0.907)in the area was due almost exclusively to spatial species turnover(βSIM=0.879),with very low contribution of species nestedness(βSNE=0.028).Our research showed that species richness does not decrease with elevation in the study area,but the floristic composition changes.The clear distinction of species along the gradient show that spatial species turnover is the major diversitygenerating process in the studied area.展开更多
Soaring bird migration often relies on suitable terrain and airflow;therefore,route selection is vital for successful migration.While age and experience have been identified as key factor influencing migration route s...Soaring bird migration often relies on suitable terrain and airflow;therefore,route selection is vital for successful migration.While age and experience have been identified as key factor influencing migration route selection among soaring raptors in the African-Eurasian Flyway,how they shape the migration route of soaring raptors in East Asia is still largely unknown.In this study,we investigated potential variations in the routes and timing in autumn migration of juvenile and older soaring birds,using count data of Greater Spotted Eagles(Clanga clanga)from two coastal sites and two inland sites in China.From 2020 to 2023,we recorded a total of 340 individuals,with the highest site averaging over 90 individuals per autumn,making it one of the world’s top single-season counts and thus a globally important site for this species.We found that 82% and 61% records from coastal sites were juveniles,significantly higher than inland sites(15% and 24%).Juveniles at all four sites exhibited markedly earlier median passage time than non-juveniles,with brief overlapping in their main migration periods.Both coastal sites are located on the tip of peninsulas stretching southwest,requiring long overwater flights if crossing the Bohai Bay or Beibu Gulf,which would be energetically demanding and increase mortality risk.Experienced individuals may have learned to avoid such terrain and subsequent detour,while juveniles are more prone to enter these peninsulas due to lack of experience and opportunities for social learning,or following other raptor species that are more capable of powered flight.Our findings highlight the importance of age and experience in migration route selection of large soaring birds.展开更多
[ Objective ] The research aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Avian influenza virus （AIV） and Newcastle disease virus （NDV） of wild Ardeid birds in Suichuan region of Jiangxi Province. [ M...[ Objective ] The research aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Avian influenza virus （AIV） and Newcastle disease virus （NDV） of wild Ardeid birds in Suichuan region of Jiangxi Province. [ Method] A total of 110 nasopharyngeal swabs and 110 cloacal swabs of Ardeid birds were collected from Suichuan region of Jiangxi Province in October of 2014. The swabs were conducted the virus isolation using SPF chicken embryos, suspected positive samples were screened by hemagglutination （HA） test and identified by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction （RT-PCR）. [Results] HA titre of all 110 test samples was 0 except four samples. Detection on AIV and NDV of the test samples by RT-PCR showed that all the samples were negative, which indicated that the infection risk of avian influenza （AI） and newcastle disease （ND） of Ardeid birds in Suichuan region in Jiangxi Province in the summer of 2014 was low. [ Conclusion] The research provided the basic data for studying the infection situations of AI and ND of wild waterfowl in Jiangxi Province.展开更多
South Florida is a renowned‘hotspot’for rare and endemic taxa,with insects and plants found in few other ecosystems.Specialized species evolved in Florida’s stochastic climate,adapting to seasonal drought and flood...South Florida is a renowned‘hotspot’for rare and endemic taxa,with insects and plants found in few other ecosystems.Specialized species evolved in Florida’s stochastic climate,adapting to seasonal drought and flooding,hurricanes and high-wind tropical storms.As human population growth and development increased,and natural ecosystems disappeared,or became increasingly degraded,at-risk taxa now face additional threats,such as urban pesticide use and fragmented remnant habitats.The ability of species to adapt to these changing ecological factors is one of the dynamics that either impacts their fitness to greater survival or drives extirpation or extinction.Butterflies are native indicator species that can be used to document environmental conditions affecting many other taxa.Butterfly surveys were conducted over 16 months on an active military air reserve base located within a mosaic of densely populated urban,commercial,industrial,residential,and agricultural matrices in Homestead,southeast Florida.Butterfly species richness,abundance and diversity were documented,providing valuable base-line data for on-going butterfly monitoring,and the importance of this site’s relatively healthy remnant ecosystems was evidenced by the supporting host plants for 20 migratory butterflies in 40 species.In addition,the air reserve base acts as refugia for many rare,endangered,and threatened federal and state-listed plants as well.展开更多
INTRODUCTION The Himalayas includes the world’s highest peak,Mount Everest(8848 m),and the altitude gradient of the southern slope of the mountain range changes rapidly,from Mount Everest to 100 km south,with the hab...INTRODUCTION The Himalayas includes the world’s highest peak,Mount Everest(8848 m),and the altitude gradient of the southern slope of the mountain range changes rapidly,from Mount Everest to 100 km south,with the habitat shifting from glaciers to tropical rain forests at altitudes below 1000 m.This area is a global hotspot for bird distribution(Orme et al.2005),and the area is home to one of the highest concentrations of threatened birds in Asia.(Acharya&Vijayan 2010).Bird diversity research in this area has revealed that the eastern Himalaya mountain range,south slopes,and mid-lower altitude areas have higher levels of bird diversity than the western Himalaya mountain range,north slopes,and high-altitude areas,respectively(Acharya et al.2010,2011;Price et al.2011;Wang et al.2013;Romanov et al.2016).In addition,the adaptability of birds to high-altitude areas,such as the enhancement of the oxygen transport capacity of the Barheaded Goose(Meir&Milsom 2013)and changes in the flight characteristics of vultures(Sherub et al.2016)have also been investigated.However,most of these studies were carried out at altitudes below 5000 m.For the mountain range with the highest peak,at 8848 m,there are very few studies on the birds in large areas above the snow line,and bird data at very high altitudes mainly come from the sporadic records of early climbers(Swan 1961,1970).展开更多
Extant giant pandas are divided into Sichuan and Qinling subspecies.The giant panda has many speciesspecific characteristics,including comparatively small organs for body size,small genitalia of male individuals,and l...Extant giant pandas are divided into Sichuan and Qinling subspecies.The giant panda has many speciesspecific characteristics,including comparatively small organs for body size,small genitalia of male individuals,and low reproduction.Here,we report the most contiguous,high-quality chromosomelevel genomes of two extant giant panda subspecies to date,with the first genome assembly of the Qinling subspecies.Compared with the previously assembled giant panda genomes based on short reads,our two assembled genomes increased contiguity over 200-fold at the contig level.Additional sequencing of 25 individuals dated the divergence of the Sichuan and Qinling subspecies into two distinct clusters from 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.Comparative genomic analyses identified the loss of regulatory elements in the dachshund family transcription factor 2(DACH2)gene and specific changes in the synaptotagmin 6(SYT6)gene,which may be responsible for the reduced fertility of the giant panda.Positive selection analysis between the two subspecies indicated that the reproduction-associated IQ motif containing D(IQCD)gene may at least partly explain the different reproduction rates of the two subspecies.Furthermore,several genes in the Hippo pathway exhibited signs of rapid evolution with giant panda-specific variants and divergent regulatory elements,which may contribute to the reduced inner organ sizes of the giant panda.展开更多
Contracaecum species are economically important fish-borne larval nematodes with zoonotic significance.In June 2019,more than 100 piscivorous birds died in their habitats close to the Wild Duck Lake,located in Yanqing...Contracaecum species are economically important fish-borne larval nematodes with zoonotic significance.In June 2019,more than 100 piscivorous birds died in their habitats close to the Wild Duck Lake,located in Yanqing,northwest of Beijing,China.Post-mortem examination of Black Night Herons(Nycticorax)revealed the presence of numerous anisakid nematodes in the proventriculus.Recovered nematodes were identified as Contracaecum sp.based on morphological description.Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial(mt)genome and the ITS gene showed that sequences of Contracaecum sp.Beijing isolates were grouped into a new individual cluster.Furthermore,the parasite was successfully isolated from fresh dead birds,feces of piscivorous birds,and fish and prevalence ranged from 8.0%to 81.8%.Consequently,our study demonstrated Contracaecum sp.infections in different sources from China,which might constitute a threat to wildlife,aquaculture,and public health.展开更多
Colleagues,It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering(FASE),a new international journal launched in 2014.FASE was founded jointly by the Chinese Academy of Engin...Colleagues,It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering(FASE),a new international journal launched in 2014.FASE was founded jointly by the Chinese Academy of Engineering,China Agricultural University and Higher Education Press of China.展开更多
Colleagues,It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering(FASE),a new international journal launched in 2014.FASE was founded jointly by the Chinese Academy of Engin...Colleagues,It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering(FASE),a new international journal launched in 2014.FASE was founded jointly by the Chinese Academy of Engineering,China Agricultural University and展开更多
文摘A participatory action research was conducted in 2022,with the“Establishment of Demonstration Site for Peatland Conservation through Integrated Management and Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs)”to give recommendation on the development of guidelines on Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs)and peatland conservation.According to the peat soil assessment,it was found that peat soil content was very low and top soil was thin under the mangrove forest,and Payena paralleloneura-Kan Zaw bearing forest in March 2022.Organic material might be pressed by trespasser to collect Kan Zaw seed,to conduct horticulture and mining near the Kan Zaw bearing forest,or organic material might be damaged by burning with controlled fire in the previous years,under Kan Zaw trees to collect seeds.Organic material might have been carried to the downwards with running water due to the heavy rainfall,with 4,700 mm/year.Mangrove forest and Kan Zaw bearing evergreen forest can be assumed as“the major source of coastal peatland formation,with peat deposits eroded seawards”.It is assumed that the organic material will accumulate on top of the sands and it will lead to the formation of the peatland at coastal zone.It can be assumed that the accumulation of organic material found in mangrove forest and evergreen forests will promote the soil carbon storage,if we can adopt the ASEAN Policy on Zero Burning,which reflect ASEAN's commitment to controlling fires and haze,offering techniques,benefits,requirements,and challenges for implementing zero burning practices[1].Sustainable utilization of NTFP including peat and Kan Zaw-Payena paralleloneura Kurz seed was studied at demonstration sites,and it is recommended to make a trial on silvicultural system at mangrove forest and apply suitable silvicultural system such as Clear-Felling(in blocks or in alternate strips)system,Selection System,and Shelter Wood System to ensure the sustainable utilization of NTFP from mangrove forest[2].Gap planting and assisted natural regeneration are also recommended for mangrove forest and Kan Zaw-bearing forest.
文摘This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fields of study have established how critical it is to conserve these natural resources in the ecosystem and to ensure sustainability in not only green livelihoods but also to enhance living conditions of the life on earth. The aim of this research was to generate high priority sites for establishing soil and water conservation techniques in the Lower Bogoria Landscapes in Baringo, Kenya using GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis. Various criteria were analyzed to generate the final conservation priority sites, such as land use land cover, rainfall runoff, soil erosion and slope. The criteria were assigned weights using the AHP technique and overlayed using the weighted overlay tools to produce the final outputs. Land use land cover maps were generated using supervised maximum likelihood technique, rainfall run-off maps were generated using the SCS-CN method and soil erosion maps were generated using RUSLE model. The final soil and water conservation maps showed that high and moderate priority areas requiring the establishment of techniques and mechanisms to control soil erosion and conserve water increased from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, more than 50% of the total study area was classified as moderate to high priority for water and soil conservation. Soil and water conservation structures such as water pans, percolation tanks, farm ponds and stop dams should be constructed in such areas.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32370545)Key R&D Program of Zhejiang Province(No.2021C02044)Zhejiang Rare and Endangered Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Project(2021–2025)。
文摘The critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern(CThalasseus bernsteini,CCT)and its common flocking companion,the Greater Crested Tern(Thalasseus bergii,GCT),have been the focus of targeted recovery efforts in the Jiushan Archipelago of Zhejiang Province,China since 2013.To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of these measures and address key knowledge gaps in population dynamics and migration ecology,we analyzed ten years(2015-2024)of banding and citizen science data,comprising 116 CCT and 3501 GCT resighting records.We estimated survival rates using both directly derived survival rate(based on resighting rate after two years)and Cormack-Jolly-Seber modeling,and examined migration connectivity and climate risks.Results showed robust juvenile survival:modeled survival for the tern chick population was lower in the first two years(63.9±12.0%)but exceeded 78%thereafter.This was also supported by resighting rate after two years:CCT 77.27%,GCT70.42%.A key divergence in post-breeding migration was identified:CCT moves northward to stopover sites such as Nantong,Rizhao,and Jiaozhou Bay,whereas GCT migrates southward.Climate data confirmed that northern stopover sites do not pose higher storm risks,indicating that CCT's northward migration is not a population liability.Furthermore,connectivity among breeding islands in Zhejiang and the Matsu Archipelago reveals a nascent coastal breeding network along China's coast.These findings underscore the importance of protecting both the northern migration route and the breeding island network to ensure full life-cycle conservation of CCT.
文摘The genus Trachypithecus is the most diverse langur taxon, distributed in southwestern China, south and southeastern Asia. In this study, we include 16 recognized Trachypithecus species to reconstruct the phylogeny with particular concern to the taxonomy of the three subspecies of Z phayrei using multiple genes. Our results support a sister-relationship between Z p. phayrei and T p. shanicus. However, the mitochondrial CYT B gene supported T. p. crepuscula as a distinct species, but the nuclear PRMI gene suggested a closer relationship between T p. crepuscula and T p. phayrei. The incongruence between nuclear and mitochondrial genes suggests that hybridization may have occurred, a fact that would benefit from re-examination using multiple unlinked nuclear genes.
基金This work was supported by Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.5202016)Fundamental research funds for the central universities(Grant No.2019YC18).
文摘Male muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus L.)secrete musk from their scent glands during musk secretion season.Musk plays an important role as a communication pheromone during the breeding season.In this study,gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS)was used to analyze the main components of musk.The GC–MS results after methyl esterification showed that 71.55%of the musk is composed of fatty acids.The other components of muskrat musk include cholesterol(9.31%)and other organics.Transcriptome comparison between musk secretion and non-secretion seasons showed significant changes in the scent glands for 53 genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and metabolism regulatory pathways,which include fatty acid biosynthesis,elongation,and metabolism;steroid biosynthesis;steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways.A reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed these detected changes.Overall,our results indicated that lipid synthesis and metabolism play important roles in musk compound synthesis by providing energy for musk production,and the produced musk provides a mechanism for male muskrats to communicate with females during the breeding season.
基金financially support by the National Key Research & Development Program of China (2016YFC0503200)the Natural Science Foundation of China (31760623)the Financial Project of State Forestry Administration (V2130211)
文摘Mating behavior and parturition are important components in the life history of any species. The endangered Chinese crocodile lizard(Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is suffering dramatic population decreases in the wild. Successful captive breeding can provide individuals to be reintroduced into their natural habitat and help to restore the wild populations. Studying the mating behavior and parturition of these lizards in captivity will enable us understand how is this ancient species reproduction and optimize artificial reproduction protocol. We studied the mating behavior and parturition of Chinese crocodile lizards in captivity using video recordings at the Daguishan National Nature Reserve, China, from 2015 to 2017. We analyzed pre-copulation and copulation, which occurred in mid-March to late May from all studied years. Pre-copulation and copulation lasted on average 7.51(n=11) and 27.45(n=11) minutes, respectively. We found that large-bodied male lizards have longer copulation periods, a pattern seen in other lizard species. In the mating event, males always initiated sex, while the females were passive. The duration of parturition lasted 153.8 ± 26.8(n=46) minutes, and larger females had heavier clutches. In addition, even though Chinese crocodile lizards represent an ancient lizard clade with primitive characteristics, they still abide by the reproduction patterns seen in most other lizard species.
基金supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as ‘‘Climate Change Correspondence Program(2014001310008)’’ and ‘‘The Eco-Innovation Project(Project Number:2012-00021-0002)’’
文摘There is growing interest in using ecosystem services to aid development of management strategies that target sustainability and enhance ecosystem support to humans. Challenges remain in the search for methods and indicators that can quantify ecosystem services using metrics that are meaningful in light of their high priorities. We developed a framework to link ecosystems to human wellbeing based on a stepwise approach. We evaluated prospective models in terms of their capacity to quantify national ecosystem services of forests. The most applicable models were subsequently used to quantify ecosystem services. The Korea Forest Research Institute model sat- isfied all criteria in its first practical use. A total of 12 key ecosystem services were identified. For our case study, we quantified four ecosystem functions, viz. water storage capacity in forest soil for water storage service, reduced suspended sediment for water purification service, reduced soil erosion for landslide prevention service, and reduced sediment yield for sediment regulation service. Water storage capacity in forest soil was estimated at 2142 t/ha, and reduced suspended sediment was estimated at 608 kg/ ha. Reduced soil erosion was estimated at 77 m^3/ha, and reduced sediment yield was estimated at 285 m^3/ha. These results were similar to those reported by previous studies. Mapped results revealed hotspots of ecosystem services around protected areas that were particularly rich in bio- diversity. In addition, the proposed framework illustrated that quantification of ecosystem services could be sup- ported by the spatial flow of ecosystem services. However, our approach did not address challenges faced when quantifying connections between ecosystem indicators and actual benefits of services described.
基金the Fund of State Key Laboratory of Genetics Resources and Evolution,Kunming Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(GREKF12-06)。
文摘The genus Trachypithecus is the most diverse langur taxon,distributed in southwestern China,south and southeastern Asia.In this study,we include 16 recognized Trachypithecus species to reconstruct the phylogeny with particular concern to the taxonomy of the three subspecies of T.phayrei using multiple genes.Our results support a sister-relationship between T.p.phayrei and T.p.shanicus.However,the mitochondrial CYT B gene supported T.p.crepuscula as a distinct species,but the nuclear PRM1 gene suggested a closer relationship between T.p.crepuscula and T.p.phayrei.The incongruence between nuclear and mitochondrial genes suggests that hybridization may have occurred,a fact that would benefit from re-examination using multiple unlinked nuclear genes.
基金financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brazil(CAPES)-Finance Code 001.
文摘Understanding the relationships between plant diversity and the environment is an important step towards conservation of species and ecosystems.In this study,we hypothesize that community species richness decreases and species composition change along the elevation gradient,with a greater contribution of species turnover than nestedness to beta diversity.We surveyed plant species in 300 plots(1 m×1 m)in four elevational bands(2100 m,2300m,2500 m,and 2700 m)in the CaparaóNational Park,Southeastern Brazil.The samples presented a great number of species(97 spp.,59 genera,27families),however,74%of the species were considered rare with their relative abundance being<1%.Among the four bands along the gradient,we detected two distinct communities with few species in common.The transition between the two communities occurred at 2500 m,and this elevation band also had the highest species richness in total.A non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)showed floristic differences between the bands even though they had similar richness.In 89%of the plot pairs,using pairwise comparison of species composition,only half of the species that occurred in one did occur in the other plot.The dissimilarity among the plots and elevational band reflects a significant contribution of spatial species turnover to the species richness and beta diversity on the Caparaómountain.Beta diversity increased with spatial scale(from plot to elevational-band).The dissimilarity(βSOR=0.907)in the area was due almost exclusively to spatial species turnover(βSIM=0.879),with very low contribution of species nestedness(βSNE=0.028).Our research showed that species richness does not decrease with elevation in the study area,but the floristic composition changes.The clear distinction of species along the gradient show that spatial species turnover is the major diversitygenerating process in the studied area.
基金Counting at GTL funded by the Shenzhen Zhilan FoundationAlashan SEE Ecological Association+1 种基金Beijing Xianfeng FoundationCounting at PXL was funded by the Alashan SEE Chongqing Center
文摘Soaring bird migration often relies on suitable terrain and airflow;therefore,route selection is vital for successful migration.While age and experience have been identified as key factor influencing migration route selection among soaring raptors in the African-Eurasian Flyway,how they shape the migration route of soaring raptors in East Asia is still largely unknown.In this study,we investigated potential variations in the routes and timing in autumn migration of juvenile and older soaring birds,using count data of Greater Spotted Eagles(Clanga clanga)from two coastal sites and two inland sites in China.From 2020 to 2023,we recorded a total of 340 individuals,with the highest site averaging over 90 individuals per autumn,making it one of the world’s top single-season counts and thus a globally important site for this species.We found that 82% and 61% records from coastal sites were juveniles,significantly higher than inland sites(15% and 24%).Juveniles at all four sites exhibited markedly earlier median passage time than non-juveniles,with brief overlapping in their main migration periods.Both coastal sites are located on the tip of peninsulas stretching southwest,requiring long overwater flights if crossing the Bohai Bay or Beibu Gulf,which would be energetically demanding and increase mortality risk.Experienced individuals may have learned to avoid such terrain and subsequent detour,while juveniles are more prone to enter these peninsulas due to lack of experience and opportunities for social learning,or following other raptor species that are more capable of powered flight.Our findings highlight the importance of age and experience in migration route selection of large soaring birds.
基金Supported by National Forestry Public Welfare Industry Research Project(201404404)Wild Animal Epidemic Sources and Disease Monitoring Program of State Forestry Administration
文摘[ Objective ] The research aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Avian influenza virus （AIV） and Newcastle disease virus （NDV） of wild Ardeid birds in Suichuan region of Jiangxi Province. [ Method] A total of 110 nasopharyngeal swabs and 110 cloacal swabs of Ardeid birds were collected from Suichuan region of Jiangxi Province in October of 2014. The swabs were conducted the virus isolation using SPF chicken embryos, suspected positive samples were screened by hemagglutination （HA） test and identified by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction （RT-PCR）. [Results] HA titre of all 110 test samples was 0 except four samples. Detection on AIV and NDV of the test samples by RT-PCR showed that all the samples were negative, which indicated that the infection risk of avian influenza （AI） and newcastle disease （ND） of Ardeid birds in Suichuan region in Jiangxi Province in the summer of 2014 was low. [ Conclusion] The research provided the basic data for studying the infection situations of AI and ND of wild waterfowl in Jiangxi Province.
文摘South Florida is a renowned‘hotspot’for rare and endemic taxa,with insects and plants found in few other ecosystems.Specialized species evolved in Florida’s stochastic climate,adapting to seasonal drought and flooding,hurricanes and high-wind tropical storms.As human population growth and development increased,and natural ecosystems disappeared,or became increasingly degraded,at-risk taxa now face additional threats,such as urban pesticide use and fragmented remnant habitats.The ability of species to adapt to these changing ecological factors is one of the dynamics that either impacts their fitness to greater survival or drives extirpation or extinction.Butterflies are native indicator species that can be used to document environmental conditions affecting many other taxa.Butterfly surveys were conducted over 16 months on an active military air reserve base located within a mosaic of densely populated urban,commercial,industrial,residential,and agricultural matrices in Homestead,southeast Florida.Butterfly species richness,abundance and diversity were documented,providing valuable base-line data for on-going butterfly monitoring,and the importance of this site’s relatively healthy remnant ecosystems was evidenced by the supporting host plants for 20 migratory butterflies in 40 species.In addition,the air reserve base acts as refugia for many rare,endangered,and threatened federal and state-listed plants as well.
基金supported by GDAS Special Project of Science and Technology Development(2018GDASCX-1003)Kunming Construction Real Estate Development Co.,Ltd.
文摘INTRODUCTION The Himalayas includes the world’s highest peak,Mount Everest(8848 m),and the altitude gradient of the southern slope of the mountain range changes rapidly,from Mount Everest to 100 km south,with the habitat shifting from glaciers to tropical rain forests at altitudes below 1000 m.This area is a global hotspot for bird distribution(Orme et al.2005),and the area is home to one of the highest concentrations of threatened birds in Asia.(Acharya&Vijayan 2010).Bird diversity research in this area has revealed that the eastern Himalaya mountain range,south slopes,and mid-lower altitude areas have higher levels of bird diversity than the western Himalaya mountain range,north slopes,and high-altitude areas,respectively(Acharya et al.2010,2011;Price et al.2011;Wang et al.2013;Romanov et al.2016).In addition,the adaptability of birds to high-altitude areas,such as the enhancement of the oxygen transport capacity of the Barheaded Goose(Meir&Milsom 2013)and changes in the flight characteristics of vultures(Sherub et al.2016)have also been investigated.However,most of these studies were carried out at altitudes below 5000 m.For the mountain range with the highest peak,at 8848 m,there are very few studies on the birds in large areas above the snow line,and bird data at very high altitudes mainly come from the sporadic records of early climbers(Swan 1961,1970).
基金supported by the National Key Program(2016YFC0503200)from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Chinaa special grant for the giant panda from the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of the People’s Republic of Chinathe Foundation of Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration(State Park Administration)on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park(KLSFGAGP2020.002)the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write(2017B030301011)。
文摘Extant giant pandas are divided into Sichuan and Qinling subspecies.The giant panda has many speciesspecific characteristics,including comparatively small organs for body size,small genitalia of male individuals,and low reproduction.Here,we report the most contiguous,high-quality chromosomelevel genomes of two extant giant panda subspecies to date,with the first genome assembly of the Qinling subspecies.Compared with the previously assembled giant panda genomes based on short reads,our two assembled genomes increased contiguity over 200-fold at the contig level.Additional sequencing of 25 individuals dated the divergence of the Sichuan and Qinling subspecies into two distinct clusters from 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.Comparative genomic analyses identified the loss of regulatory elements in the dachshund family transcription factor 2(DACH2)gene and specific changes in the synaptotagmin 6(SYT6)gene,which may be responsible for the reduced fertility of the giant panda.Positive selection analysis between the two subspecies indicated that the reproduction-associated IQ motif containing D(IQCD)gene may at least partly explain the different reproduction rates of the two subspecies.Furthermore,several genes in the Hippo pathway exhibited signs of rapid evolution with giant panda-specific variants and divergent regulatory elements,which may contribute to the reduced inner organ sizes of the giant panda.
基金This study was financially supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA19050204)Beijing Innovation Consortium of Agriculture Research System(BAIC04-2021)National Forestry and Grassland Administration,China,and Beijing Wildlife Rescue Center,China.
文摘Contracaecum species are economically important fish-borne larval nematodes with zoonotic significance.In June 2019,more than 100 piscivorous birds died in their habitats close to the Wild Duck Lake,located in Yanqing,northwest of Beijing,China.Post-mortem examination of Black Night Herons(Nycticorax)revealed the presence of numerous anisakid nematodes in the proventriculus.Recovered nematodes were identified as Contracaecum sp.based on morphological description.Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial(mt)genome and the ITS gene showed that sequences of Contracaecum sp.Beijing isolates were grouped into a new individual cluster.Furthermore,the parasite was successfully isolated from fresh dead birds,feces of piscivorous birds,and fish and prevalence ranged from 8.0%to 81.8%.Consequently,our study demonstrated Contracaecum sp.infections in different sources from China,which might constitute a threat to wildlife,aquaculture,and public health.
文摘Colleagues,It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering(FASE),a new international journal launched in 2014.FASE was founded jointly by the Chinese Academy of Engineering,China Agricultural University and Higher Education Press of China.
文摘Colleagues,It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering(FASE),a new international journal launched in 2014.FASE was founded jointly by the Chinese Academy of Engineering,China Agricultural University and
