Abstract:Rab proteins constitute the largest subfamily of the Ras superfamily of small GTPase and regulate different vesicular trafficking pathway in eukaryotic cells.The number and function of Rab family proteins display divergences in different species.In order to understand the diversity of Rab gene,9 new Rab genes,EoRab1A,EoRab2b,EoRab2c,EoRab2d,EoRab6,EoRab7,EoRab2-like,EoRabL2 and EoRan(GenBank accession no.HM371131-HM371139),were obtained from the ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus.Sequences analysis showed that the Rab gene family contains not only evolutionary conservative core function genes,but also function-specific genes in Euplotes.

Abstract:Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of four morphologically similar and sympatric grouper species,namely Yellow grouper(Epinephelus awoara),Hongkong grouper(E.akaara),Duskytail grouper(E.bleekeri) and Honeycomb grouper(E.merra) were investigated.Specimens were sampled from sea area of southern China.Calculation based on genotypes of nine microsatellite DNA loci showed that the genetic diversity of the four grouper species was high with the mean number of alleles,average polymorphic informative content(PIC),average observed heterozygosity(Ho) and average expected heterozygosity(He) being from 8.22 ± 5.02 to 18.67 ± 9.38,from 0.56 ± 0.21 to 0.83 ± 0.13,from 0.62 ± 0.03 to 0.85 ± 0.02,and from 0.60 ±0.07 to 0.86 ± 0.04,respectively.Tests of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(HWE) demonstrated that,except for those of Duskytail grouper,most loci of the rest three grouper species were under equilibrium conditions.Phylogenetic trees reconstructed from both genotypes of microsatellite DNA loci and partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene(mtDNA Cyt b) sequences indicated that Yellow grouper and Hongkong grouper were more closely related among the four species.Furthermore,Bayesian cluster on the genotypes of nine microsatellite DNA loci for all individuals of the four grouper species supported their genetic distinctiveness.

Abstract:By using light and scanning electron microscopy,unique characteristics in the morphology,histology,and growth patterns of the lateral line system was observed in the Pufferfish,Takifugu obscures.The lateral line system of T.obscurus is consisted of the main lines and accessory lines(and accessory neuromasts).The former includes supraorbital,infraorbital,postotic,mandibular,preopercular,and supratemporal lines on the head,and dorsal,and ventral trunk lines on the body.The later includes rostral accessory,infraorbital accessory,mandibular accessory,posteriodorsal mandibular accessory,and posterodoral supraorbital accessory lines,and ventral supratemporal accessory,dorsal supratemporal accessory,posterior preopercular accessory,trunk accessory and caudal accessory neuromasts.There are over one thousand neuromasts,the mechanoreceptive organs,in the lateral line system of T.obscures.They are uniquely located at the top of the individual tubercle,and distribute in the superficial grooves which are arranged according to the above topographic line patterns.Each of the neuromast consists of sensory hair cells,supporting cells and surrounded by mental cells.Sensoryhair cells stay in circular at the centre of the neuromast.Each of them has one kinocilium and dozens of stereocilia on the top.Even though there is no real canal system in the T.obscurus,the patterns of the line distribution and the growth of neuromasts that indicate that the lateral line system in the T.obscurus still have two mechanoreceptive systems such as in other teleoste fishes.The neuromasts in the main lines may be homologues of the canal neuromasts and the neuromasts in the accessory lateral line and accessory neuromasts may be the real superficial neuromasts.

Abstract:The predatory effect of the tadpoles of Microhyla pulchra on algae was studied.The result shows that the predatory capability of tadpoles on Cyanophyta increased significantly,but the average predatory capability of each tadpole decreased significantly as the tadpole density increased.The paper also discussed the significance of controlling Cyanophyta by tadpole.

Abstract:Tylototriton shanjing is a national protected species(Class Ⅱ) in China.In this paper,the microstructure of the adult skin of this species was observed.The results showed that the thickness of skin and the distribution of capillaries,pigment,and glands were different in the whole body.The skin of the head and back was thicker than that of the abdomen.Dermal melanocytes shallowly scattered mainly on the abdomen part and the dorsal part where there were no warts.Mucous and granular glands were rich,but they distributed unevenly.Under the head boney ridges and the warts of dorsal skin there were many large granular glands,which were full of secretions.Under epidermal cells,glands were protuberant,and in this part the layers of the epidermal cells were decreased to form an effective channel.Moreover,compared with the other amphibians,the skin structure of T.shanjing indicated its adaption to live in the moisture mountain areas.

Abstract:Because of its focus of feeding on conifer seeds,the Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra) is one of the ideal species to study the coevolution between seed-prey animals and plants,and its coevolution to conifers has attracted much attention.We carried out investigation on the Red Crossbill ’s adaptation to conifers at Lianhuashan throughout the morphological differences and food profitability.These crossbills at Lianhuashan,with the spruce Picea crassifolia as their key conifer,are totally smaller than those in North America,both on body size and bill size,and their smaller bills adapted to the smaller seeds of the spruce trees.

Abstract:From November 2008 to March 2009,the characteristic of the feeding habitat wintering Siberian Crane’(Grus leucogranus) was studied using line transect,plot sampling measurement and factor analysis methods in Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve of Jiangxi Province.We found: the distribution of the Siberian Crane in the Poyang Lake showed spatio-temporal dynamics,mainly affected by the factors of water and food.There isa significant selection of the Siberian Crane on the different feeding habitats(P < 0.05),and the bird favored on the habitat of submerged plants,dominated on Vallisneria atans,Hydrilla verticillata,Potamogeton malaianus.Based on variance and factor analysis,we discovered that there were significant differences in vegetation(P < 0.001),basement and digging food factors(P < 0.05).As to feeding habitat selection of Siberian Crane,the feeding efficiency factor was dominant with basement and food abundance factors followed.

Abstract:The mating behavior of 5(2 males,3 females) captive Leopards(Panthera pardu) was observed in Chengdu Zoo during March 2005 to March 2006 by using all-occurrence and scan sampling methods.Totally,1 174 mating events were recorded and analyzed.Oestrus occurred in any seasons within a year but most happened in spring.Mating was conducted by position of face-to-back and female displayed solicitant behavior before copulation.Each oestrus period last 4.75 ± 1.26 d on average and mating occurred in day and night,however,more copulation happened in the daytime than in the night.Most mating behaviors were recorded during 08:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:00,with a peak at 08:00-10:00.The mating period lasted 3-6 days and each mating bout took 7.48 ± 1.22 seconds in average.We found a highly significant different between 2 males in mating duration and mating frequency(one-way ANOVA).No difference was detected in mating duration when one male mated with different females.The mating frequency varied greatly,from 158 to 378,between different pairs.The copulation frequency of leopards is high but copulation duration is short(7.48 ±1.22 s,n=1 174) in average.

Abstract:It is very important to identify individuals in the animal behavioral observations.However,the methods used in current studies on bat behavior,such as wing bands or necklaces are not suitable for individual identification in lab under the infrared videography.In this paper,we marked short-nosed fruit bat(Cynopterus sphinx) by combining body hair dyeing and wing bands to solve this problem.

Abstract:Snub-nosed Monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellanae) is an endemic primates in China,which lives in alpine forests from 1 400-3 000 m altitude.Taking their fresh feces as the material of non-invasive method is regarded as a feasible way to study physiologic state of free-ranging population.This work aims to determine the storing duration of feces kept in ethanol for extracting 3 steroids.The fresh fecal samples of snub-nosed monkey were treated with ethanol(95%),then kept at low temperature(4 ± 1℃) for 0,5,6,7,8,10,20,and 30 d.The fecal testosterone and estradiol of the female were successfully extracted from fecal samples stored within 30 days;while compared with the control samples(stored 0 d),the content of fecal progesterone of the female and fecal testosterone of the male decreased obviously after having been stored for 10 days and 6 days,respectively.The results showed that,the relative content values of fecal steroid can be used in the comparisons between groups as being preserved in the same condition within 30 days,while the effective storing duration for testosterone,estradiol and progesterone in fresh feces are varied.

Abstract:Through instantaneous sample method,we observed 4 Gorilla(Gorilla gorilla) individuals in Shanghai Zoo from September to December 2009 to determine appropriate sampling interval to separate two consecutive observation.The focus animals were active during 10: 00-11: 00 and 14: 00-15: 00,and significant difference in active frequency between individuals was detected.The appropriate sample interval is 3-13 min.Data accuracy would be reduced and data independence would be increase when increase sampling interval.The appropriate sample interval supposed by this study is 2－8 min.Here，a compromised sample interval of 3－8 min is considered.

Abstract:To explore the effects of phenol on the carbohydrate and protein metabolism,Moina macrocopa were exposed to phenol(0.25,0.75,1.25,1.75,2.25 mg /L) for 24 and 48 hours.Activities of several key metabolic enzymes including pyruvate kinase(PK),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),succinate dehydrogenase(SDH),glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) were investigated.The results showed that the activity of LDH was gradually increased following the increase of phenol concentration and treatment duration.PK and SDH activities remained almost unchanged.After 24 h,the activity of GOT firstly showed increase,and then decrease.After 48 h,the activity of GOT decreased.The activity of GPT was slightly elevated,but there was no significant difference when compared with controls.All these results indicate that phenol intoxication demands high level metabolic energy and leads to significant changes of the metabolic profile of the daphnia,inducing to a certain extent a shift from carbohydrate catabolism to protein catabolism.The LDH may serve as a biomarker of aquatic animal for assessing the biochemical toxicity of phenolic contamination.

Abstract:The diversity of chromosomes and karyotypes of the freshwater planarians,Dugesia japonica,collected from Zhanghe River of Yuecheng Town and Chaoyang Lake in Handan City,Qinwang Lake in Xingtai City of Hebei Province were studied using the air-drying method.The results showed that most cells of D.japonica collected from both Zhanghe River and Qinwang Lake had the diploid chromosome number of 16 with a karyotype formula of 2n=2x=16=16m while a small proportion showed triploid of 24 chromosomes with a karyotype formula of 2n=3x=24=24m.The percentages of diploid cells were 81.07% and 68.47%,while those of triploid cells were 8.28% and 11.71% in the two local populations,respectively.D.japonica collected from Chaoyang Lake had both the triploid(2n=3x=24=24m) and the diploid(2n=2x=16=16m) cells and their percentages made up 64.60% and 7.45%,respectively.In addition,the karyotype of D.japonica from Chaoyang Lake showed polymorphism.Based on the above results,the diversity of chromosomes and karyotypes of the D.japonica from the three places was discussed.

Abstract:There are four species of Onchidiidae in eastern coastal areas of China: Onchidium struma,Platevindex mortoni,Paraoncidium reevesii and Peronia verruculata.The last three species are new record ones in mainland China.Their ecological habits and external morphology were observed through field investigation and laboratory culture.The main indicators of biological characteristics were measured for statistical analysis.The reproductive system and digestive system of the four species were compared after anatomical observation of internal structure.The results indicate that the living habitats of these four species show a gradient which are respectively from a low tide zone to the high tide zone of the intertidal zone and then to supratidal zone.Their living habits and the ways of breathing are different because of different habitats.The differences on the externalmorphology of the four species are significant of which the color of feet and dorsal are different.Platevindex mortoni has no dorsal eyes with a gray black or grey white foot,and only Peronia verruculata has dendritic gills.The internal structure shows that Platevindex mortoni has no penis subsidiary gland while Paraoncidium reevesii has no penis traction muscles and as same as Peronia verruculata which has no anal glands.Foot length and foot width are found as typical indicators in the analysis of biological data of four species.The ratio of the length of pneumostome to posterior and anus to pneumostome is a significant observation indicator in comparison of genera and species.The special external structure and differences of the internal structure can be one of the main basis for classification in Onchidiidae.The comparative study of four species in eastern coastal areas of China has great significance to basic research in amending new type species and morphological re-description of Onchidiidae.

Abstract:The ultrastructure of spermatozoon in Glaucomya chinensis was observed with transmission electron microscopy.The mature sperm is typical primitive type,including the head,middle piece and tail.The head consists of acrosome and nucleus,and the acrosome takes the shape of inverted"V".The elongated cylindrical nucleus has a posterior nuclear pocket but has no front nuclear pocket.Four large mitochondria and two centrioles make up the middle piece.The flagellum is slender and shows the typical"9 + 2 " microtubular structure.This article also discusses the morphological differences of sperm structure among lamellibranches species.

Abstract:To investigate the genetic diversity of Esox lucius in China,8 pairs of microsatellite primers were used to analyze 4 geographical populations(185 reach of Eerqisi River,635 reach of Eerqisi River,Wulungu Lake and Jili Lake) of E.lucius The results show that the average number of allele is 6.625 0 and the polymorphic information content varies between 0.603 6 and 0.656 5,which can be used for the analysis of genetic diversity and genetic structure effectively.The average expected heterozygosity values of four populations range from 0.712 6 to 0.660 0,which indicates a higher level of genetic diversity in wild populations.The total inbreeding coefficient of entire populations is 0.266 6 and the inbreeding phenomenon exists in a small number of individuals,indicating that there is a tendency toward inbreeding in E.lucius populations.The average differentiation coefficient is 0.062 2,the genetic variation among populations accounts for 6.22% of the total variation,the differentiation among populations is in a low degree and the values of gene flow among populations range from 10.077 5 to 3.360 6,indicating a wide gene exchange among E.lucius populations.

Abstract:The changes of microscopic structures and the number of immune cells of spleen of the Ricefield Eel(Monopterus albus)were investigated after the fish were exposed separately to different concentrations of mercury ions(Hg²⁺) and the Chromium ions(Cr⁶⁺) for 1,2,4,and 8 days.The results showed that the splenic capsule was very thin and the trabeculae could not be found in the control group.The splenic parenchyma was composed of white pulp and red pulp.The lymphocytes of white pulp aggregated into groups.The splenic nodule could seldom be observed,but periarterial lymphatic sheath could be observed in the spleen.The red pulp was made of splenic cord and splenic sinus.In the spleen,the ellipsoids opened to the white and red pulps.The melano-macrophages gathered to from a centre.Comparing with the control,histological structure of fishes exposed to two kinds of heavy metal ions displayed similar changes.Along with increasing heavy metal ion concentration and lengthening treatment time,melano-macrophage centre gradually increased in the number and distribution,then reduced.The number of melano-macrophages first increased,and then reduced.Lymphatic tissue gradually loosed,and its arrangement was sparse and chaotic.The lymphocyte border was unclear,and its number first increased,and then reduced,showing a degenerative tendency.The change of granulocytes was similar to that of lymphocytes.The red blood cells were massively damaged,and the sinusoidwas expanded.

Abstract:The chromosome spreading of metaphase kidney cells was conducted by colchicine-low concentration-air drying technique in Leuciscus merzbacheri,and Ag-NORs,C-band and G-band were analyzed in this paper.L.merzbacheri had a diploid chromosome number of 2n=50,its karyotype formula was 18m + 14sm + 6st + 12t,NF=82,and sex chromosome was not found.The Ag-NORs polymorphisms were individually specific,1-2 in number,and the frequency of single Ag-NORs was the lowest(10%),while the frequency of 2 Ag-NORs was the highest(70%).Ag-NORs mostly appeared in the chromosome m1 and m4.The associations of Ag-NORs were not observed.All the chromosomes were C-band positive,and composed of centromeric C-band and telocentric C-band.The G-bands in homologous chromosomes were basically coincident,and distinctive character of banding number and distribution could be identified in every homologous chromosome.

Abstract:This paper reported the early embryonic development of Tylototriton wenxianensis from the Huangyan Area,Huaihua City,Hunan Province.The embryonic development was divided into 21 periods.Under the condition of temperature 19-21℃ in the laboratory,the fertilized eggs completed embryonic development in 513.30 ± 7.93 h(n=8).The morphological characteristics of each period was described,and the similarities and differences compared with other caudates as well as the major differences between Tylototriton from Huaihua of Hunan Province and Tylototriton from Wenxian of Gansu Province were discussed.

Abstract:Red knobby newt(Tylototriton shanjing) is listed as categrory Ⅱ of national key protected animals.Body temperatures and metabolic rates of the Red Knobby Newt were measured at different ambient temperatures.Results showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between body temperature(T_b) and ambient temperature(T_a),and the linear regression equation is T_b=3.99 0.86T_a(R²=0.99,P < 0.01);within the range of ambient temperatures from 15℃ to 30℃,metabolic rate increased with ambient temperature;Metabolic rate decreased dramatically at 35℃ or higher;Within the range of ambient temperatures from 15℃ to 35℃,regression equations for males and females were MR₁=0.374 1-0.355 1T_a 0.113 9T_a²-0.010 5T³_a(R²=0.47,P < 0.01,df₁=3,df₂=46) and MR₂=0.478 8-0.420 3T_a 0.130 4T²_a-0.011 8 T³_a(R²=0.40,P < 0.01,df₁=3,df₂=46),respectively.The metabolic characteristics of red knobby newts were different from that of the endothermic animals.Their thermoregulation showed that the ambient temperaturehas significantly influenced body temperature,and the capability of the body temperature regulation is feebleness,which are typical of ectotherms.

Abstract:Observation on reproductive ecology of Common Teal(Anas crecca)was conducted in breeding season in South-central Heilongjiang Province from 2007 to 2009 and totally 4 nets were located.Common Teal arrived the study area from late March to early April and leaving at early October.The residence period of the four pairs observed was about six months.Paired Common Teal build their nest in early May and completed it in 5.5 ± 1.0 days(n=4).The nests were built in the grassland and bushes near the water areas with relatively simple structure.Females laid their first egg in 3.25 ± 0.50 days after nests were completed.The clutch size was 9.80 ± 2.21 eggs in average(range 7 to 12,n=4).The mean of egg weighted 28.70 ± 0.72 g,n=39.Females initiated incubation immediately after they laid the last egg.Incubation period lasted 22-26 days,averaged 24.25 ± 1.17 days(n=4).The hatching success rate was 79.5% ± 29.98% in average.Chicks were precocious and it took 29.75 ± 1.70 days for the nestlings to grow up.

Abstract:One specimen of Pygeretmus pumilio was collected in Mazongshan Town,Subei Mongolians Autonomous County,Gansu Province in May 8^th,2010,which is first record in the area.And those were described in this paper that morphological characteristic and environment of the specimen.The discovery of little earth hare has important significance for studying phylogenetic development and evolvement of rodent in the area.