Abstract:A total of 405 specimens of Xenophysogobio boulengeri were collected from October 2010 to July 2011 in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The age structure and growth characteristics were studied by otolith, then the life history pattern was concluded by the method of fuzzy cluster analysis. The results showed that,the catch consisted of four age groups and individuals of age 1 to 2 groups were dominant,occupying more (83.70%). The relationship between body length and weight was described by formula W=5×10^-6L3.294 3(r²=0.941 3, n=405, F=6 040.22, P<0.01). The body length and otolith radius could be expressed as L=0.000 8R²-0.168 4R+42.504(r²=0.836 5, n=399, F=399.20, P<0.01). The von Bertalanffy equations of the species were calculated by L_t=179.49(1-e^{-0.249 8(t+0.289 8)}), W_t=133.18(1-e^{-0.249 8(t+0.289 8)})^{3.294 3}. The age inflection point of body weight was estimated at 4.48 years. According to the typical characteristics of r and k selection and the results of fuzzy cluster analysis, it was concluded that the life-history pattern of X.boulengeri tended to r-selection. Compared with samples of this fish from the study area in 2001-2002, the growth characteristics of them have changed in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, therefore it is urgent to take protective measures for this fish.

Abstract:The morphology and histology of the digestive tract of wild and cultivated Yellowfin Black Porgy (Sparus latus) were studied using routine method of paraffin tissue section. The results showed that there were some differences between the two populations. Morphological observations showed that oesophagus was crude and short, and the V-shaped stomach was divided into three portions: cardiac stomach, fundic stomach and pyloric stomach. There were four pyloric caeca, and intestine was detoured two inflections in the body cavity. In wild fish, the teeth were harder and sharper, the fat in the body cavity was less, and the digestive tract was cruder and shorter. The average intestinal coefficients of the wild and cultivated Yellowfin Black Porgy were 0.71±0.03 and 0.94±0.12, respectively. Histological observations showed that mucous epithelium of oesophagus was composed of pinacocyte layer and goblet cell layer with rich goblet cells. Stomach had a single-layered columnar epithelium, without goblet cells. The gastric gland was developed in the cardiac stomach and fundic stomach. The histological features of pyloric caeca were similar to those of intestine, with columnar epithelium and less goblet cells. Meanwhile the distribution trend of goblet cells in the whole intestine was: foregut > midgut > hindgut and cultivated fish > wild fish. There were more goblet cells in rectum than in intestine. The major histological differences between wild and cultivated Yellowfin Black Porgy were that there were more goblet cells in the same part of digestive tract in cultivated fish than in wild fish, while the muscular coat was thicker in wild fish than in cultivated fish. It could be concluded that the differences of digestive tract between the two populations relied on their different living conditions and foods.

Abstract:We observed the skin structures of Xenophrys brachykolos, Brachytarsophrys carinense and Ophryophryne microstoma, representing three genera of Megophryinae respectively, using paraffin section and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Skins taken from dorsal head, dorsal and ventral trunk were observed.The skin structures of three species were similar, composed of epidermis and dermis.Dermis was made up of stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum.The stratum spongiosum abounded with two types of glands: mucus gland and granular gland.However, there were interspecific difference and inter-position difference in skin thickness and glands density.Osteoderms, which had laminate structure and were blue after staining with hematoxylin-eosin, were found in the skin of B.carinense, while the lamina calcarea was found in the skins of X.brachykolos and O.microstoma.However, the lamina calcarea was more developed in the skin of X.brachykolos than in O.microstoma.The functions of both structures of osteoderms and lamina calcarea could be water conservation and anti-desiccation.They exist in the Megophryinae, providing important clues for the research of integumentary skeleton evolution.

Abstract:To investigate the breeding and genotyping for Tbx18 knock-out mice (Tbx18:Cre knock-in Mus musculus) and the application of Tbx18 knock-out and genetic tracing mice, we introduced into Tbx18:Cre knock-in heterozygote mice and breed offspring. The genotyping of the offspring were performed by PCR using genomic DNA. We observed the morphology of knock-out (KO) hearts from male and female heterozygate mice inter-crossed by Hematoxylin and eosin-staining(H.E)analysis. We also observed the fate of Tbx18-expressing epicardial cells within Tbx18:Cre/Rosa26REYFP embryos by cryostat sections. The results indicated that the genotyping of heterozygote offspring, Tbx18 knock-out and Tbx18:Cre/Rosa26REYFP embryos were consistent with Mendel's law of segregation. We also found that there was malformation of the SAN head in Tbx18 knock-out heart compared with the wild-type. The Tbx18-expressing epicardial cells were important cardiac progenitor resource in mouse heart development. These results suggest that Tbx18 knock-out mice is an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of congenital heart diseases. The Tbx18-expressing epicardial cells are candidate cardiac progenitor for cardiac repair and regeneration in heart disease.

Abstract:To explore the adaptive mechanism to hypoxia in Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), we compared the contents of myoglobin (Mb), lactic acid (LD) and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in cardiac and skeletal muscles by spectrophotometry in Tibetan Antelope and Tibetan Sheep from the same elevation . The results showed that the contents of Mb in cardiac and skeletal muscles of Tibetan Antelope were significantly higher than in Tibetan Sheep (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between cardiac and skeletal muscles in Tibetan Antelope (P>0.05). However, the content of Mb in cardiac was significantly higher than that in skeletal muscle in Tibetan Sheep (P<0.05). The contents of LD and the activity of LDH in cardiac and skeletal muscles of Tibetan Antelope were significantly lower than in Tibetan Sheep (P<0.05), and the activity of LDH in cardiac muscle was significantly lower than that in skeletal muscle in the two groups. The results suggest that Tibetan Antelope could improve its ability to obtain and store oxygen under hypoxia by increasing the contents of Mb in cardiac and skeletal muscles,so that its cardiac and skeletal muscles could be supplied with rich oxygen in hypoxic environment. On the contrary, Tibetan Sheep is also a hypoxia-adapted species; it has less Mb, but higher LD content and LDH activity in cardiac and skeletal muscles, suggesting that it may obtain most energy from aerobic oxidation. Therefore, we speculate the above-mentioned differences might be related to different sports capabilities of two hypoxia-adapted species, and we consider that higher Mb content in Tibetan Antelope might be one of the molecular mechanisms for hypoxia adaption.

Abstract:By interviewing local fishermen, we collected population status information of Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus tridentatus)in the coasts of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan in the summer from 2006 to 2010 and we also visited 27 hatching sites in those coasts to survey the number of spawning adults and baby Horseshoe Crab hatched. We estimated the current resource of this species in Fujian by sampling them at 24 locations twice using shallow bottom trawling in summer 2006 and winter 2007, the results showed that local fishermen found out the population size of this species decrease greatly in most coasts of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan. No any spawning adults have been observed in the 27 hatching sites and few juveniles were found in 6 of the 27 sites. Fortunately at one more site (Zhangpugulei Fujian Province) we counted over 1 000 juveniles. The horseshoe crab almost disappears and is at the edge of extinction in most coast of China except for Dongshan Bay and Beibu Bay where a few Horseshoe Crabs have survived. However, the resource of Horseshoe Crab in the Coast of Kinmen Island of Taiwan has been recovered well due to artificial breeding and releasing, as well as the establishment of protected areas. The decline of Horseshoe Crab resource in China is mainly due to over-harvest, habitat destruction and marine environment pollution. This species is urgent to be protected. We suggest to include it in national key protection animals list, establish nature reserves at their hatching habitat, strengthen harvest regulation and conduct artificial propagation to protect this species.

Abstract:The activity patterns of the Badgers (Meles meles) reintroduced from Shandong to Shanghai was observed during November 2010 to February 2011. The results showed that in winter, these badgers mainly fed on meat and acted once every 2-4 days. The duration of the activity was short. Activity of reintroduced badgers depended on temperature in seminatural area. The reintroduced badgers can adapt to artificial condition and overwinter smoothly.

Abstract:Amphibians are generally nocturnal and hide under covers in their habitat. Based on their hiding behavior, scientists have developed a standard method to monitor amphibian population in the day time by providing artificial covers made by nature materials for them in the sample sites. By checking and recording amphibians under the covers, the population parameters have been monitored. This method can be used in grassland, wetland, shrub, shallows, and conifer forest in where natural covers are seldom. We have used this method to monitor amphibians in Zoige and found out that this method worked well for tailed and tailless amphibians inhabited in the habitat mentioned above.

Abstract:The species diversity, distribution and fauna geographical elements of terrestrial molluscs in Jinggangshan Nature Reserve were analyzed. 67 species and subspecies (including 9 species unidentified), belonging to 31 genera (19 families of four orders) were collected, among which Sinoennea sp. nov. is new to science and 14 species were new net to Jiangxi Province. Referring to the composition of species, the dominant species were Diplommatina paxillus longipalatalis, D.apicina, Bradybaena ravida ravida and Meghimatium bilineatum; the dominant family was Bradybaenidae, with 4 genera and 16 species, accounting for 23.88% of the total diversity. Fauna analysis showed that 43 species belong to Oriental, accounting for, 74.14% of the total diversity. The habitats of broad-leaved forest, shrub community and farmland underbrush were obviously found with relatively higher terrestrial mollusc species richness with comparison to those distributed in bamboo forest and moss. Analysis on terrestrial mollusc community characters were made based on the Shannon-wiener index, Margalef richness index and Pielou index. The species diversity richness of terrestrial mollusc community and richness was highest Shrub community,and moss had the highest species Pielou.Compared with neighboring nature reserves, Jinggangshan Nature Reserve has the most diverse terrestrial molluscs. It was found that the terrestrial molluscs in Jinggangshan Nature Reserve had higher species similarity with Qiyunshan Nature Reserve and lower similarity with Nanling Nature Reserve.

Abstract:The relatively population density and ratio of adult to young of the Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the Brown Bear (U.arctos) were surveyed on transects in broad-leaved pine mixed forest (40 000 hm²) and conifer forest (30 000 hm²) in Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve from 1986 to 2010.Total of 65 Black Bear (2.6 ind/a) and 46 Brown Bear (1.8 ind/a) were accumulatively counted. Both the population size of Black and Brown Bear varied greatly with a trend of decline. The current relative density of Black Bear had decreased 93.4% and the percentage of young to population had decline from 17.2% to zero since 1980s. The relative density of Brown Bear was very low (0.021-0.029 ind/km), and the ratio of young to adult was only 7.1%. The lower percentage of young bears found in this survey indicated that both bear species were endangered in the study area. Habitat reduction and fragmentation, poaching are considered as major reason for population declined in the Changbai Mountain Natural Reserve.

Abstract:Histones are basic components of nucleosome and essential to chromatin structure and function. Histone posttranslational modifications and sequence variants jointly participate in modification of chromatin and regulation of gene expression. Histones are highly conserved proteins in different organisms. However, a high degree of variation was found in ciliate. In the study, H4A and H4B were cloned from Euplotes octocarinatus by PCR,GenBank accession number: JN715068 and JN715069. Sequences analysis showed that opening reading frame of the H4A gene was 324 bp, which encoded a 107 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 11.6 ku and isoelectric point of 10.99. The opening reading frame of the H4B gene was 384 bp, which encoded a 127 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 14.4 ku and isoelectric point of 9.93. H4A gene shared a high identity of 81%-94% with reported H4 gene, while H4B shared an identity of 36%-70% with H4 gene from other eukaryotes. H4A shared 44.7% identity with H4B. Real-time PCR showed that H4A transcript was higher than that of H4B. The results indicate that the H4 gene has different variants in E. octocarinatus.

Abstract:The morphological characteristics of Trichodina modesta and T.mastu parasitic on the gills of Peleteobagrus vachelli were described in detail in the present study, including the shape, adhesive disc, denticle, radial pins, granules, nucleus and adoral ciliary spiral. In addition, the morphological comparison was also conducted with other populations of T.modesta and T.mastu species previously reported. The study was the first report on the T.modesta parasitic on P.vachelli.

Abstract:Leptin, a product of the obese gene, is a multifunctional hormone secreted predominantly by adipocytes. It plays an important role in regulating energy balance and feeding behavior. Partial cDNA of leptin was isolated from genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) through RT-PCR. The cDNA was 364 bp in length which encoded 96 amino acid residues. Homology analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of fish leptin was carried out. Fish leptin showed a lower degree of homology. The deduced amino acid sequence of GIFT and Epinephelus coioides leptin was 80.6% identical, however the amino acids homology was below 40% when comparing GIFT with Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Medaka (Oryzias latipes), Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and so on. Leptin expression in different tissues was detected by real time PCR. The highest relative expression level was found in liver, which was 3 000 times as high as in muscle; high expression was also found in gonad and brain, which were 1 250 times and 450 times as high as in muscle, respectively. However, the relative expression level was very low in kidney, intestine and muscle.

Abstract:The anatomy and histology of liver,gallbladder and pancreas in Pachyhynobius shangchengensis were studied by routine H.E staining and mast cells (MCs) in the above organs were observed by modified toluidine staining.The results indicated that hepatic lobules were not evident,and the liver bundles interconnected into reticular structure.The nucleoli of hepatic cells were large.Most hepatic cells were mononuclear,but small proportion of hepatic cells were binuclear and tri-nuclear.The cell body in the hepatic side was bulky,and some up to 70 μm,but the ratio of the nucleus-cytoplasm was small.There were lots of chromatophore cells in the liver.The epithelium cells of gall bladder were simple squamous or cuboidal epithelium,but plica could not be observed.The connective tissue in the pancreas was underdeveloped.The border of the pancreatic cells was not circumscribed and their nuclei were larger.There were more MCs distributed in portal area,in hepatic portal vein and around pancreatic duct,but less MCs in other areas of liver and pancreas.However,there were more MCs distributed in the gallbladder wall.

Abstract:Breeding bird diversity were surveyed by line transect and fixed-radius point count methods in 3 habitat,arid grassland,typical grassland and wetland in Middle Inner Mongolia from May to June 2011.A total of 63 breeding species belonging to 25 families and 17 orders were recorded.Among them 12 were resident birds and 51 were summer visitors.Considering the avifauna,54 species (85.71%)belong to Palearctic Realm and 9(14.39%) are Oriental Realm.The bird diversity from the most to least richness in the 3 habitat surveyed by Shannon-Wiener index is wetland,arid grassland,and typical grassland.The value of evenness index was highest in arid grassland and lowest in typical grassland.

Abstract:The male genital system of Sousa chinensis was studied by histological and morphometric techniques.Sexual maturation was defined as the presence of spermatocyte sperm etc. in gonads.Evident difference was found in the histological structure of seminiferous tubules and epididymis between the immature males and mature males.Morphometric analysis showed that the diameter of seminiferous tubules of mature dolphins was 118.3±12.8 μm and the relative proportion of seminiferous tubules within the testis was 0.52.In immature males,the diameter of seminiferous tubules was between 47.4±3.5 μm and 60.3±6.0 μm,and the relative proportion of seminiferous tubules was between 0.27 and 0.40.

Abstract:In order to understand the dietary habit of Apodemus agrarius which inhabited Dongting Lake area,stomach contents of 223 samples were observed under anatomical lens.Samples were collected from three different habitats:lake beach,farmland and flood control dike.The results showed that the food composition of A.agrarius was seeds (66.55±2.37)%,leaves and stems (19.01±2.13)%,roots of herbaceous plants (8.27±1.05)% and invertebrates (6.05±0.97)%.The diet of the animals was variable in different habitats and seasons,the proportion of seeds in its diet was lower when there was less seeds supply.The food composition between juniors and adults and between pregnant and non-pregnant females were significantly different in the same habitat and season.The results indicated that the animals could adjust their diet in different habitats and physiological periods.

Abstract:Activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) as well as the concentration of myoglobin (Mb) in Gansu Zokors (Myospalax cansus) and SD rats (Rattus norvegicus) under normoxia,2 weeks and 4 weeks of hypoxia were measured through histological and UV spectrophotometer methods.The results showed no significant difference in Gansu Zokor skeletal muscle morphology among different groups,but a significant morphology change in SD rats was observed;After 2 weeks of hypoxia,the muscle fiber was significantly atrophied,the gap was increased,and the structure was more disordered.After 4 weeks of hypoxia,the muscle fiber was broken down,and sarcomere was disordered.Activity of LDH also showed no difference after different hypoxia adaptations in the Gansu Zokor (P>0.05);but compared to SD rat,activity of LDH in the Gansu Zokor was significantly lower after different hypoxia adaptations (P<0.01).The activity of SDH in the Gansu Zokor was lower than that of SD rat,but with no significant difference (P>0.05),after 2 or 4 weeks of hypoxia,the enzyme activity was significantly lower than that of SD rat (P<0.01).The concentrations of Mb in the Gansu Zokor were higher than those in the SD rat in different hypoxia adaptation groups (P<0.05) (P<0.01).We conclude that Gansu Zokor is much more tolerable to hypoxia than SD rat.

Abstract:Seven and five agamid lizards were collected in Funiushan National Nature Reserve in July 2011,and Taihangshan Macaque National Nature Reserve during 2010 and 2011,respectively.The twelve specimens are identified as Japalura micangshanensis that is a new record of lizard to Henan Province,China.The specimens are kept in the School of Life Science,Henan University,and the Department of Biology,Zhengzhou University.The finding of this species in Henan will benefit us to further study on morphological variation and geographical distribution of J.micangshanensis.

Abstract:A male Kerivoula picta was captured by mist net from Meideng Town,Lingao County,Hainan Island in November 2008.The detailed characteristics of morphology and echolocation pulses were represented in this study.

Abstract:The Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopus) is a group of small insectivorous birds which widely distributed in the Old World. Currently 66 species are recognized in the world, and around 50 species of this group can be found in Asia. Due to very similar external morphology and sympatrical distribution of some close related species, the taxonomy of leaf warblers has been a longstanding challenge, a difficult problem and a hot topic to the avian taxonomists. In 2003, Dr. Jia Chen-Xi et al. reviewed the taxonomical status changes of leaf warblers since 1990s’, including 3 newly described species and 9 species elevated from subspecies to species rank; this sums up of 30 species and 26 subspecies. Since 2003, taxonomic and systematic research on Phylloscopus yielded many new achievements. A combined literature and additional distribution information survey, a review of taxonomic progress related to the leaf warblers in China in the past decade is presented here. For instances, Prof. Martens and his colleagues have described the West China Leaf Warbler (P.occisinensis) from western China in 2008, which is closely related to the Tickell’s Leaf Warbler (P.affinis). Dr. Alström and his colleagues have described the Limestone Leaf Warbler (P.calciatilis) from the Vietnam and Laos karst area in 2010. This novelty proved to occur in southwestern Guangxi Province, China. Besides these newly described taxa, the Japanese Leaf Warbler (P.xanthodryas) has been split from the Arctic Warbler (P.borealis), as well as the La Touche’s Leaf Warbler (P.claudiae) has been split from the Blyth’s Leaf Warbler (P.reguloides) etc. Taxonomic status re-evaluations were also proposed, such as the Grey-headed Warbler (Seicercus xanthoschistos) turned out to be member of the genus Phylloscopus. The record of the Willow Warbler (P.trochilus) in the Dalinor National Nature Reserve, Inner Mongolia adds new distribution information to this uncommon species in China. According to these new taxonomic recommendations, we count 41 species and 31 subspecies of the genus Phylloscopus in China. The ongoing taxonomy research on the leaf warblers clearly shows a trend of integration of the traditional morphology with modern molecular genetics, vocalization analysis and field playback experiments, which enabled researchers to solve many longstanding systematic uncertainties through different chains of evidence. China holds the most species of the genus Phylloscopus in the world, with six species breeding only within China plus three endemics. However, only few publications or research projects on Phylloscopus have been carried out solely by Chinese ornithologists. Undoubtedly the leaf warblers have very important research potential in systematics and evolutionary biology and related fields. Chinese ornithologists should pay sufficient attention to these birds and concern them as major research projects.