Abstract:Soil macrofauna were sorted by hand.The responses of soil macrofaunal community to water-soil erosion controlling methods (i.e. Pinus tabulaeformis woodland, Populus simonii woodland, Caragana intermedia shrub, Astragalus adsurgens meadow,abandoned and cropland) were investigated with emphasis on their composition,biodiversity and seasonal dynamic in Huangfuchuan Watershed,Inner Mongolia,from May to September,2008.A total of 1 653 soil macrofauna belonging to 1 phyla,3 classes,8 orders and 34 families were collected.The dominant groups were Melolothidae larvae and Formicoidae imago.Compared to farmland,the individual number,group number,and biomass of soil macrofaunal communities in other land use plots increased significantly,and it is most remarkably in Populus simonii woodland.In different land use plots,the status of animal group collocating which reflected by Shannon-Wiener index (H') and Pielou index (J) were not as good as that of in farmland,but the complexity index (C_j) of soil macrofaunal community was higher than that of in farmland.Different soil macrofauna had different response to water-soil erosion controlling methods.Because the individual number of some main groups significantly increased,the construction of soil macrofaunal communities in different land use plots had the trend of simplification.The results suggested that all water-soil erosion controlling methods are benefit to the recovery and conservation of soil macrofaunal community.But it is necessary to predict pest's dynamics in management practices,and enhance the plantation biodiversity in working-out the means of water-soil erosion controlling.

Abstract:From July 2010 to January 2011,scan sampling and behavioral sampling methods were used to study the behavior of Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) in Yangxian Crested Ibis Acclimation Park (n_YX=30) and Huayang Crested Ibis Acclimation Base(n_HY=22).The acclimation conditions of the two training cages were also compared.The results indicated that the time budget of foraging behavior were significantly different in the two training populations.In autumn,the Yangxian birds showed more paddling,explore pecked,biting throw and washing food behaviors(P<0.01),while the searching and filter pecked behaviors were significantly less than what of the Huayang birds(P<0.01).There was no tearing food behavior in Huayang.In winter,the foraging behavior differences were similar to what in autumn,however,there was more hollow-out behavior in Yangxian birds(P<0.05) and there was no paddling,tearing and biting-throw food behavior in Huayang birds.In Huayang training cage,the Crested Ibis frighten-flying time (96.5±84.9 s) was significantly longer than what of the birds in Yangxian cage (40.6±51.3 s),and the landing site tendency was also different.From July to mid December 2010,some of the birds in Huayang showed abnormal behavior of roosting on the ground at night.The shape of the food and the foraging site quality in the training cage were main factors caused the foraging behavior difference.The frighten-flying time and landing site tendency of the ibis maybe related to the shelter abundance and openness of the training cage.The shortage of perch in Huayang cage caused some birds' abnormal behavior of roosting on the ground.

Abstract:We investigated breeding biology on two populations of Common Coots (Fulica atra) in Anbanghe Wetland and Longfeng Wetland, Heilongjiang Province, China, in 2008 and 2009 and found out that conspecific brood parasitism was common in the two populations. The proportion of parasite nests was 38.55% on average in the two populations. Egg recognition and rejection was a particularly defense taken by the hosts parasitized by the neighbors or floaters, egg buried and ejection as well as piped were the common manners of parasite defense. The nearest distance between parasite nests was 41.906±4.035 m (n=32) which is smaller than nearest distance (51.765±4.532 m, n=51) between un-parasite nests. However, the difference was not significant (t=-1.503,df=81,P=0.137). It seems the territory behaviors of F.atra in breeding season play a role in the conspecific parasitism, which has been hypothesized and needed to be tested in the future study.

Abstract:We surveyed bird species, abundance of each species in 10 transects 1.5 km long and 100 m wide in three type desert vegetation (Haloxylon shrub, Reaumuria shrub and Artemisia grassland) and sampled vegetation characteristics associating with birds, such as vegetation components, percent of cover, vegetation height from May to August, 2010 in Fukang, Xinjiang. We used average vegetation height and coverage to reflected vegetation structure, used significantly positively correlated bird assemblage and narrowly distributed bird assemblage found in this study, to reveal the correlation between breeding bird community with the three desert vegetation. Based on DCCA ordination and Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient, we found out (1) the entire bird community responded strongly to vegetation structure;(2) Significantly correlated bird assemblage responded more strongly to vegetation structure than the entire bird communities;(3)Narrowly distributed bird assemblage responded strongly to vegetation component. Our results supported the opinion that the bird community/vegetation correlation pattern was ascribe to the scale effect. Based on the results we presumed in desert narrowly distributed birds respond to vegetation component more strongly than to vegetation structure, especially to average number of herb species; widely distributed birds respond to vegetation structure more strongly. The ratio of the widely distributed birds to narrow distributed birds might decide the bird community responding to vegetation.

Abstract:From 2005 to 2009, we collected the samples of Myotis davidii’s echolocation calls, wing shape and faecal pellets, and analyzed the echolocation calls, wing shape and summer diet of an endemic Chinese bat, M.davidii. The results indicated that the peak frequency, bandwidth and duty cycle of echolocation calls is 60.4±10.0 kHz (Mean±SD), 54.7±8.5 kHz and 7.4%±3.5%, respectively. Aspect ratio, wing loading and tip shape index is 6.2±0.8, 5.3±0.9 N/m² and 2.2±0.8, respectively. The summer diet of M.davidii is mainly consisted of the insects of Coleoptera (57.7%, volume percent) and Diptera (36.0%) insects from fecal analysis. Based on the analysis of echolocation calls, wing shape and summer diet, we speculate that M.davidii mainly probably forages in complex forest habitat.

Abstract:Thioflavin (TFT), a benzothiazole fluorescent dye, is able to selectively stain amyloid structures and is mainly used to detect amyloidosis using fluorescence microscopy. In this study, the circulating hemocytes of four species of mollusks, Chlamys farreri (Bivalvia), Mactra chinensis (Bivalvia), Natica janthostomoides (Gastropoda) and Octopus variabilis (Cephalopoda), were observed in order to develop the fluorescence staining method of mollusks haemocytes with TFT. Under fluorescence microscope, haemocytes of four mollusks showed yellow-green fluorescence after treatment with 0.1% TFT. The outlines of the cells were clear; the nuclei and granules in the cytoplasm were clearly distinguishable. The haemocytes of all four mollusks could be divided into two types, granulocytes and agranulocytes, based on whether cytoplasmic granules could be observed. In scallop, clam and octopus, the agranulocytes could be subdivided into hyalinocytes and haemoblasts, while the granulocytes could be subdivided into small granulocytes and large granulocytes according to the size of granules in the cytoplasm. The fluorescence staining method of mollusks haemocytes with TFT is easy to operate, and the samples can be observed for a long time after staining because the fluorescence is not easy to bleach. This study is the first to use TFT in the morphological characterization and classification of mollusks haemocytes, and suggests that TFT fluorescence staining is a good method for the observation and classification of mollusks haemocytes.

Abstract:This study was designed to understand the growth characteristics of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)and establish an in vitro culture system. Unilateral testis from male cynomolgus monkey of juvenile stage was obtained by surgical operation, and testicular cells were collected by two-step enzymatic digestion method. Purified SSCs were cultured in a special medium in vitro and cultured SSCs were identified by alkaline phosphatase (AKP) dye. Meanwhile, clone formation rate was used to evaluate the effect of different feeder cells and different seeding densities on SSCs proliferation. The results showed that the culture medium consisted of DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS supported SSCs survival and proliferation in vitro. The typical clone clumps formed during 3-5 days and were positive for AKP dye. Judged from the observations 3 days and 7 days after culture, SSCs plated on Sertoli cells (SC) feeder layer performed better than on cynomolgus monkey skin fibroblast (CSF) cells feeder layer, with significant difference in clone formation rate (P<0.05), and 1×10⁵ cells/ml SSCs seeding density was proper for primary culture. This culture system provides convenience for the research of spermatogenesis mechanism and germ-line cells modification by gene targeting technology in nonhuman primates.

Abstract:The survey of amphibians in Huangbaishan National Forest Park, Henan Province, was carried out from 2008 to 2010. Twenty-one species of amphibians belonging to 16 genera, 7 families and 2 orders were found, among of which, 16 species belong to the Oriental realm. Ranidae was predominant family, Bufo gargarizans gargarizans, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Fejervarya multistriata and Yeirana yei were dominant species in the park. Suggestions on the conservation of amphibians are proposed.

Abstract:Anatidae bird communities in the Qinghai Lake wetland were investigated at six types of habitat including estuarine wetlands, lakes, freshwater marsh, freshwater springs, rock lake bank and beach between April and October from 2007 to 2010. Twenty-one species belonging to nine genera were accumulatively recorded in the study period. The dominant species were Anser indicus, Tadorna ferruginea, Anas acuta,A. crecca, A.penelope, Netta rufina, Aythya fuligula, and A.ferina, and their numbers reached to 92.30% of the total individuals of Anatidae. Analysis on Anatidae community characters were made based on the Shannon-wiener index (H), richness index (D), Pielou index (E), and Simpson index (C). The species diversity of Anatidae community and Pielou was highest in estuarine wetlands and freshwater springs, and lakes and freshwater marsh had the highest species richness, while habitat of rock lake bank and beach had lower species diversity and richness. Changes in vegetation over and food richness resulting from extensive human activities were the main reasons for the significant difference of bird distribution and abundance in the various habitats.

Abstract:In order to know the road-effect zone of birds and the effect of traffic noise around Napahai Wetland Highway on Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) behavior, we drove at low speed (40 km/h) along the highway and stopped on selected spots to investigate the avoidance distance of birds, and on foot to observe the behavioral reaction of Black-necked Crane during experimental vehicle passing by along wetland highway. The results indicate: (1) A total of 36 bird species were recorded, including 4 species list first-class protection, and 3 species list second-class protection. Roadside species richness of water birds accounted for 42.86 percent of Napahai wetland; (2) Road-effect zone of birds ranged from 10.17 m to 189.63 m, among of which 50 m to 100 m extent concentrated 60 percent species, which was relative to traffic noise decreased quickly and excellent habitat of water-land intersection area. There was no correlation between road-effect zone and population amount, as to sensitive species Black-necked Crane its road-effect zone was 135.18 m; (3) The behavioral reaction of Black-necked Crane was correlate to initial status and vertical distance to highway, which suggested if Black-necked Crane be alert at beginning, it would react sensitively (such as walk away or fly away), and the closer its distance to highway, the more possible it flies away. We advised to strengthen the protection of roadside bird in Napahai wetland, strictly protected roadside water-land intersection area vertical to highway from 50 m to 100 m; Strictly limited speed 20 km/h, prohibited whistle, limited visitors’ activities (such as away from habitat of Black-necked Crane at least 125 m)and prohibited stopping on the highway, et al; Regarding sensitive species Black-necked Crane, route selection in the future new highway should avoid habitat 135 m away at least.

Abstract:Cytochrome c plays an important role in apoptosis of eukaryotes and yeast, but there are few reports about its role in Dictyostelium discoideum. Western blot and S Fluorescence Quantitative PCR were used to detect the quantity and expression changes of cytochrome c in prestalk cells and prespore cells, in order to reveal the role of cytochrome c in apoptosis of dityostelium prestalk cells. In process of 16-20 h development of apoptotic prestalk cells, the amount of mitochondrial cytochrome c showed a decreasing tendency while the amount of cytoplasmic cytochrome c showed an increasing tendency inversely. Total amount of cytochrome c in prestalk cells was higher than that in prespore cells. Cytochrome c gene expression in prestalk cells was higher than that in prespore cells, and showed an increasing tendency, but cytochrome c gene expression in prespore cell was relatively stable. These results indicate that cytochrome c, to some extent, participates in the apoptosis of Dictyostelium prestalk cells.

Abstract:The effects of temperature, salinity, pH and water velocities on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of Trachinotus ovatus were determined by the closed flow experimental methods. The results showed that the oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of juvenile T.[KG-*9]ovatus would be increasing as water temperature increasing, and the volumes reached to a peak value at 27℃. Water temperature had significant effects on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion (P<0.01).The oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of juvenile T.ovatus decreased as the salinity increasing, and salinity also had significant effects on the oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion (P<0.01). As the pH increases, the oxygen consumption did not change significantly (P>0.05). The value of pH had a significant effect on the ammonia excretion (P<0.05), the ammonia excretion was increased first, then decreased with pH increasing. Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of juvenile T.ovatus increased gradually as water velocity increasing and reached to peak values at 150 ml/min, then decreased gradually as water velocity over 150 ml/min. The effects of water velocities on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion in juvenile T.ovatus were significant (P<0.01).

Abstract:The morphological structure of female reproductive system of Octopus tankahkeei was investigated from August,2002 to December,2003. The female reproductive system of O.tankahkeei, like many cephalopods,is composed of three parts morphologically: ovary,oviduct,and oviducal gland.The ovary is a single structure,which contains oocytes at different stages.The oocytes are surrounded by a layer of columnar follicle cells which enfold into the oocyte cytoplasm and their nuclei are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the cells.Different from proximal oviduct,mushroom-like protruding enwrapped by many finger-like folds lies in the distal oviduct.The oviducal gland can be divided into three parts: central lumen,spermathecaes,and gland tissue.The twenty-four spermathecaes are special parts in oviduct gland which contain spermatozoa after coupling.We propose to divide the ovarian cycle of O.tankahkeei into four phases: previtellogenesis,early vitellogenesis,full vitellogenesis,and late vitellogenesis phases.

Abstract:Skeletal muscle is the main composition to body weight in fish,which provides an important indicator for somatic growth.To fully understand skeletal muscle development of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) at the early stage,paraffin sections of the first dorsal myomere of skeletal muscle at 1-41 days after hatching were carried out; fiber numbers and total fibre area were measured to describe hyperplastic and hypertrophic growth of skeletal muscle.The results showed that skeletal muscle growth of mandarin fish included increasing of both fibre numbers (hyperplasia) and fibre area (hypertrophy) at the early development stage,the total fiber numbers in the right first dorsal myomere increased from 40 to 520,and the total fiber area increased from 805.30 μm² to 186 422.77 μm². During the 1-9 days after hatching,the relative increased fiber numbers decreased and the relative increased fibre area raised slowly,the contribution rate of hyperplastic growth dropped dramatically from 60.53% to 8.80%,as opposite to hypertrophic growth.At the period of 9-15 days after hatching,the relative increased fiber numbers raised and relative increased area was on a steady phase,the contribution rate of hyperplastic growth increased from 8.80% to 20.26%,while hypertrophic growth contribution ratio decreased slightly.At the 15-41 days after hatching,both the relative increased fiber numbers and area were on the rise,the contribution rate of hyperplastic growth decreased to a steady phase and hypertrophic growth (from 79.76% to 87.41%) gradually became the dominant contributor of skeletal muscle growth.

Abstract:The alterations of oral apparatus morphology of Rana chensinensis tadpole were observed using both electron microscopy and light microscopy.The results showed that jaw sheaths appeared firstly at embryo stage,followed by the formation of marginal papillae and tooth rows.However,the tooth rows disappeared,followed by the lost of jaw sheaths and marginal papillae during metamorphic climax stage (G41-G42).Compared to the other anuran larvae,morphological structure of oral cavity was related with the feeding behaviors and food types in Chinese Wood Frog tadpole.Finally,the feeding mode and food transport in the tadpoles of R.chensinensis were discussed.

Abstract:We checked the contents of 220 stomachs of specimens to assess effects of age and sex on diet composition of lizard Phrynocephalus grumgrzimailoi.We weighed each stomach,identified content component,counted individuals of each food item and weighed them,then calculated the index of relative importance (IRI) based on frequency of each food item appeared,percent of each mass weight,frequency of occurrence.We found out those stomachs contain large volume of arthropod and few vegetal items.Formicidae was the most important prey item of juveniles (female: IRI=95.91; male: IRI=69.04),while Coleoptera was the most important part in the diet composition of adults (female: IRI=35.49; male: IRI=32.58).Food niche breadth of adult female,adult male,juvenile female and juvenile male was 2.15,2.40,1.21 and 1.47,respectively.The food niche overlap between male and female juveniles was highest,whereas it was lowest between adult and juvenile male.The head of adult males was longer and wider comparing with adult female,and the food items of adult male were also with large volume than adult female.The lizard prey on different food items at different ontogeny stage.The phenomenon of adults of male and female fed on different size of prey might induced by sexual dimorphism in the head size and it could reduce the intraspecific competition.

Abstract:To study the poisonous effects of ephedrine on kidney,48 filial mice (Mus musculus) were intraperitoneally injected with escalation doses ( 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 g/L ) of ephedrine or the same amount of saline.The samples were collected at 5,10 and 15 d respectively, and the body weight and kidney weight were measured,the activities of SOD and CAT as well as the content of MDA were detected by colorimetry.In addition,the changes of renal lesions were observed by optical microscopy. Results showed that the body weight of filial mice of the experimental group was lower than that of control group 5,10 and 15 d after ephedrine injection,while the kidney weight was higher than that of control group. Glomerular swelling and renal capsule narrowing were observed after injection of ephedrine. The epithelial cells of renal tubule and collecting tubule showed swelling,degeneration and necrosis. The activities of SOD and CAT were significantly higher 5 d after injection,while significantly lower 10 d and 15 d after injection when compared to the control. MDA content decreased in early stage and then increased. Thus,ephedrine significantly affects the body and kidney weight,and damages the kidney in filial mice,and the latter might be correlated with the decreased activity of SOD and CAT and the increased content of MDA.

Abstract:Immunohistochemical localization and morphology of 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive cells (5-HT cells) in the digestive tract of Neomys fodiens were investigated by using the ABC (avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex)immunostaining technique.The 5-HT positive immunoreactive cells could be observed throughout the intestinal tract,from duodenum to rectum.The cell density curve appeared parabolic,with the highest in the jejunum (4.50±1.60),followed by the duodenum (4.00±1.33),while the lowest in the rectum (1.60±0.94).The 5-HT cells distributed at the bottom of epithelial cells,between epithelial cells,between glandular epithelial cells or in the lamina propria.The 5-HT cells showed two shapes,round and taper.It is suggested that 5-HT positive immunoreactive cells in the digestive tract of N.fodiens should have both endocrine and exocrine functions,and their distributive density is related to its living habit and the way of existence.

Abstract:One male specimen, collected from one cave (N31°47'17.83″,E109°31'19.13″,H: 1 120 m altitude) in Zhenping County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, on 16 April 2010, is identified as Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus luctus)which is new to Shaanxi Province. The specimen is kept in the Shaanxi Institute of Zoology. This bat species is the largest Rhinolophus in China. Anterior horseshoe broad, covering the muzzle, but without a supplementary leaflet at the side;the expansion of the base of the sella forms a cup-like structure with wing-like outgrowths. The pelage is peculiar in being dark smoky in color and woolly. The morphological measurement, distribution and protective status were presented.

Abstract:The sexual phenotype of amphibians is determined either by chromosomal factors (genetic sex determination, GSD), or by environmental factors (environmental sex determination, ESD). Recently, new findings on the sex determination-related genes and their interactions have obtained by utilizing molecular biology methods. Several genes such as DMRT1, DAX1, SF1, SOX3, SOX9, FOXL2, CYP19 and CYP17 have been found to play roles in determining the sexual phenotype of amphibians, with DAX1, SF1, FOXL2 and SOX3 involved in transcriptional regulation of aromatase gene. FOXL2 and SOX3 promote CYP19 expression. DAX1 and SF1 can influence CYP17 expression. Sex-determination genes play their roles by acting on the expression of CYP19 and CYP17. Both sex-determination related genes and temperature determine sex of amphibians by affecting estrogen and/or androgen levels.