Abstract:The complete sequences of ND2 gene from 39 Orthoptera species were sequenced in this study and those of 41 species down loaded from GenBank were used to construct the robust phylogenetic relationships of these Orthoptera species and to explore their phylogenetic utility and performance. The results indicated that the complete sequence length of ND2 gene was 996-1 029 bp with average length of 1 020 bp, A+T content was 73%. The SH test of phylogenetic trees reconstructed using four methods showed that the maximum likelihood tree from RAxML method was not significantly different from that of maximum parsimony or Bayesian method, but was significantly different from that of maximum likelihood method using the PAUP^*. The Orthoptera showed monophyly, while Acrididae, Arcypteridae, Gomphocerinae and Catantopidae were not monophyletic groups; meanwhile the relationship between Pyrgomorphidae and Chrotogonidae was much closer, which was consistent with the Otte’s classification system, and thus we suggested to merge them as one family. Some disputes still existed on the status of the Pamphagidae. Ensifera was divided into two branches. Gryllotalpidae and Gryllidae were grouped into one clade with high confidence, and the Tettigoniidae was regarded as another independent clade.

Abstract:Being potential rivals, the two similar tits, Rufous-vented Tit (Parus rubidiventris) and Coal Tit (P.ater) are occurred in the same habitat at the plateau of Wawushan in Sichuan, China.During the breeding seasons of 2010 and 2011, we studied the mechanism of their niche separation and coexistence.For vertical distribution, the niche width of Coal Tit (5.237) was significantly higher than that of Rufous-vented Tit (2.792), however, there was no significant difference for horizontal distribution and active matrix, with the total value of niche overlap over 0.7 in three dimensions.But the two species of tits showed preferences and focused on resource utilization of all these three dimensions.The parameters of most body’s measurements for these two tits are significantly different, except for the bill width, which might be the results from environmental adaptations.There was no significant difference for all the parameters of the nest-site selection of the two species, indicating that appropriate cavity nest sites might be their main competition factor.The population size of these two species may vary with their residence types.We suggest that the separation of spatial niche and food niche, appropriate population size and ratio might be the important factors for their coexistence.

Abstract:Nestlings raised by parent compete for food or for better position in the nest to get the best chance of survive. Meanwhile, parents deliver food by the begging signal of nestlings. To investigate the behavior of parent-nestling we video recorded the position of parents and each nestlings, begging intensity, feeding frequency of each nestlings in 10 broods of the Parus varius from March to July in 2011. Our results showed that: (1) paternal and maternal adults took a different position when they deliver food. Paternal adults preferred to position near the nest entrance. In contrast, maternal adults changed their position, they stood far away from the nest entrance in the early stage and moved close to the entrance in the mid and late stage; (2) nestlings that were closer to parents begged more intensely and had a higher probability of receiving food; nestlings farther from parents begged less. Therefore, position of the nestlings had greatly influence on the food receiving; (3) females delivered food with a significantly higher frequency than males; (4) the begging intensity was varied at different nest stage, higher in the earlier and lower in the later period; (5) females showed no preference on the size of nestlings, whereas males preferentially provided food for the largest-sized nestlings. The food-distribution pattern in P.varius was determined by nestling behavior and body size, and parents also adjusted their positions to deliver food as the nestlings growing.

Abstract:Animal requires a balance between energy intake and energy expenditure to maintain a stable body weight. Exercise which can increase energy expenditure is one of the most important factors affecting energy balance for animals. In order to understand the physiological effects of exercise, changes of body mass, metabolic rate, energy intake, serum leptin and body composition were measured in Eothenomys miletus during 8-weeks of forced exercise training with of treadmill. The results showed that exercise training had no significant effects on body mass, but the metabolic rate and energy intake were increased during 8-weeks exercise training, rest metabolic rate increased 29.9% and locomotor maximal metabolic rate increased 10.7%, respectively. The results also showed that exercise training decrease body fat by 28.9% compared with control group, and exercise training decrease serum leptin concentrations by 27.4% compared with control group. There was a positive relationship between serum leptin concentrations and body fat content in control group, but no for exercise trained group. There were significant increase of the mass of liver and digestive tracts compared with control group, and significant decrease of body water content compared with control group. All results indicated that E.miletus regulates its body mass and energy balance through mobilizing body fat, increasing the metabolic rate and energy intake during long-term forced exercise training. Serum leptin can regulate the variation of body fat during long-term forced exercise training.

Abstract:The diet of Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) was studied by checking pellets collected in Urumqi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Total of 1 132 prey items were identified from 683 pellets in 3 winters of 2009 to 2011. Six small mammals and two species of bird were preyed. By checking the frequency of each food composition in pellet samples, we found that small mammals were the main food items, Mus musculus constituted 53.45% of the food items and was the most common species of prey. Small mammals accounted for 88.16% of food composition and contributed 95.13% biomass of in pellets. There were significant differences in the prey composition among years. It indicated that the difference of food items and predation rate of prey species were related to the availability of prey resources in the habitat and Long-eared Owls was an opportunism predator.

Abstract:The incubation and brooding behavior of Blackbirds (Turdus merula)was observed with focal animal sampling and all occurrence recording methods in Ji'an,Jiangxi Province in two periods: from March to July 2009,and from March to June 2010.The results showed that the female was responsible for incubating.Blackbirds appeared a phenomenon of egg loss and had the egg supplement behavior in the incubation duration.The nest-sitting behavior among earlier stage and later stage of the incubation duration was discrepant,and which had an increasing trend with the increasing of incubation size respectively.Both parents brooding.Three feeding models were observed; female feeding,male feeding and female feeding with the food male brought.Although the feeding frequency increased and the warming reduced along with the growth of nestlings,warming behavior was not observed in the later stage of nestling duration.Blackbird adopted the longer time but less frequency nest-sitting strategy in the incubation duration and the shorter time but more frequency in the earlier stage of nestling duration,in order to get a trade-off about the distribution of the energy in nest-sitting in these two periods.

Abstract:In order to study the feasibility of piggyBac transposon application in the fish, the plasmid consisting of the piggyBac inverted terminal repeats flanking a fusion of the Bombyx mori cytoplasmic actin gene BmA3 promoter and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene and a nonautonomous helper plasmid encoding the piggyBac transposes was introduced into the zygote of the Macropodus opercularis through microinjection. The PCR identification indicated that the EGFP gene mediated by piggyBac transposon existed in the genome of the M. opercularis. Transgene was stably transferred to the next generation through normal Mendelian inheritance. The foreign DNA integration rate, i.e., the rate of number of G1 broods with EGFP positive fish to the number of fertile fish was 12.30%. These results prove that piggyBac plasmid can be a new vector for the transgenic experiment in fish. The system constructed in our experiment is feasible.

Abstract:From March 1st to April 27th, 2008 and from March 3rd to May 1st, 2009, the semen samples from four breeding Giant pandas which distributed in Qinling Mountains (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis) were used for semen cryopreservation experiments in Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Research Center. The sperm motility and acrosome integrity were tested after straw cryopreservation of semen with 4 diluents, glucose-fructose-trisodium citrate-yolk-glycerin-antibiotics, glucose-sucrose-trisodium citrate-yolk-glycerin-antibiotics, glucose-trisodium citrate-yolk-glycerin-antibiotics, and TEST imported form the USA(added with 3.5% glycerin), and with 2 methods, direct cooling balance method, and gradual cooling balance method. The results showed that the percentages of sperm motility and intact acrosome were 46.25%±11.67% and 80.75%±7.89% respectively in diluent 1; 48.75%±8.54% and 84.50%±7.59% in diluent TEST. There was no significant difference between these two diluents (P>0.05), but both were better than diluent 2 and diluent 3 (P<0.01). After freezing and thawing, the percentages of sperm motility and intact acrosome were 45.67%±10.54% and 81.37%±8.42% respectively in cryopreservation method 1, significantly higher than those of method 2 (P<0.01). The percentage of sperm abnormality was 23.50%±3.51%,in method 1, significantly lower than that of method 2 (P<0.01). Thus, we conclude that method 1 (with diluent 1) is good for semen straw cryopreservation in Giant Panda.

Abstract:In order to understand the situation of wildlife resources and promote the effective management of nature reserve,we surveyed the amphibian resources 3 times by 10 transects (3-6 km length, 5 m unilateral width) in Mangshan National Nature Reserve of Hunan Province once a year from 2008 to 2011. The vertical distribution patterns of amphibians were analyzed by every 20 meters elevation change between the range of 400-1 800 m. Total of 36 species of amphibians belonging to 7 families of 2 orders were recorded in the field survey. The amphibian fauna was dominated by oriental species (34 species), of them 17 species distributed in both Central and South China. The vertical distribution of amphibians was obvious in the range 400-1 400 m in altitude. Moreover, the elevation with most species richness ranged of 600 m to 800 m. Rana hanluica, Paa boulengeri, and Hyla chinensis were firstly recorded in Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve. We also analyze the historical change of amphibian diversity with the historical data.

Abstract:The karyotype of the larvae Eustrongylides ignotus, a parasitic nematode of Monopterus albus, collected from Changde City of Hunan Province was analyzed using the metaphase chromosome spread prepared from regenerative cells by an air-drying method. Results showed that the E.ignotus had a diploid chromosome number of 12 with a chromosome formula of 2n=12=10 m+2 sm, and its sex determining mechanism was the XX-XY type. There were ten autosomal biarmed chromosomes and two X chromosomes in females or one X and one Y in males. Five pairs including chromosomes 1-4, X chromosome and Y chromosome were metacentric chromosomes, while the remaining chromosome 5 was submetacentric. Every pair of chromosomes had their characteristic G-banding pattern.

Abstract:Under the artificial breeding conditions, the embryogenesis and juvenile development of Solen grandis were observed by light microscopy. The results indicated that the embryonic and larval development of S. grandis included the following stages: zygote, embryo cleavage, blastula, gastrula, trochosphere, d-larvae, and finally juvenile. After 20-24 hours of fertilization, D-larvae appeared at the average daily water temperature of 22.4℃. It took 5-7 days to develop to juvenile, and the juvenile became the adult shellfish after 38 days when the shell length-width ratio was 2.60. The accumulated temperature from zygote to attachment was 3 088.79-5 005.19℃ ·h. After juvenile developed outlet pipe, its intake pipe appeared, and at last the two pipes transformed into one pipe with diplopore. The regression equation of shell length and shell height was y=150.37e^{0.002 7x},x: shell height (μm), y: shell length (μm), R²=0.985 5, P<0.01. The regression equation of shell length and day old was y=143.38e^{0.091 6x},x: day old (d), y: shell length (μm),R²=0.979 5,P<0.01. The regression equation of shell height and day old was y=33.979 x-15.450,x: day old (d), y: shell height (μm), R²=0.987 3,P<0.01.

Abstract:Estradiol (E₂) at dose of 30 mg/kg was implanted in back muscle of cultured female Chinese Sturgeon(Acipenser sinensis)(age: 11 years old; average body weight: 46 kg). Serum was sampled from the tail of fish before implantation and 30 days, 120 days and 200 days after implantation. The serum concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), triglyceides (TG), total cholesterol (TCH), glucose (GLU), vitellogenin (VTG) were measured. The results showed that the concentrations of TP, ALB, GLB, TG, TCH, VTG, except for GLU, in serum in the treated group were significantly higher than those in control group. These preliminary data are useful for searching for the exogenous substance to accelerate ovarian development of Chinese Sturgeon.

Abstract:In most fish, slow and fast muscle fibers occupy distinct regions in the axial muscle and display different growing characteristics. To fully understand the postembryonic development feature of slow muscle fibers of Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi), we made paraffin section at the base point of the dorsal fin on individuals at age 1 to 33 days and dyed paraffin section by immunohistochemistry method. We also identified the number of slow muscle fibers and measured their area by using image analysis software. The results showed that slow muscle fibers located near the horizontal septum after hatching with a wedge shape, later they extended to the dorsal and ventral. At age 1 to 9 days, the slow muscle fibers were monolayer, then they became multilayers at age 11 days. Slow muscle fibers covered across the lateral line at age 19 days, then extended to the second dorsal myotome and down to 2/3 of ventral myotome and became into two muscle fiber sections at 33 days, which were located at the horizontal septum and lateral line, respectively. The superficial, spindle cells of skeletal muscle may were the main source of slow muscle fibres hyperplasia growth. The total numbers of slow muscle fibers increased from 6 to 315 after hatching, and the total fiber area increased from 13.18 μm² to 7 839.58 μm². Hyperplasia growth of muscle fiber was dominant at age of 13 days, where as hypertrophic growth was dominant at the other ages.

Abstract:Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the skin microstructure and ultrastructure of the adult Trachidermus fasciatus. The results show that the thickness of the skin in different parts of the body is different, but the basic structure is similar. Skin is composed of epidermis and dermis layers. There is no scale on the skin, and the epidermis layer is thinner, consisting of 4 to 8 layers of cells including epithelial cells and mucous cells and basal cells. The surface cells are flat or polygonal, and they are mainly connected by desmosomes, where the joint forms ridge-like processes. The free surface of epidermal cells invaginate to form some fingerprint-like micro-crests. Mucous cells are spherical,ovoid in shape and distribute between epithelial cells. The primitive mucous granules in mucous cells have different shapes, showing elliptic granules, uniform blocks and loose filaments. Epidermis and dermis are connected through basilar membrane, and dermis is composed of stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum. Dermal connective tissue is thick in the abdomen and thin in other parts. The joint of epidermis and dermis has pigment layer, and the skin of head, backside, tail handle and body side contains more pigment cells than that of abdomen and mentum. In the dermal layer there are dermal keratinized spines in the Yellow River group, but such structures are absent in Luanhe River group. Lateral-line hole and superficial neuromast distribute in the skin of head, body side and tail handle

Abstract:The morphology and histology of digestive system of Coilia nasus were studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The digestive tract could be divided into the buccal-pharynx cavity, esophagus, stomach, intestine and anal portions. The specimen examined had a big mouth crack, canine-shaped jaw teeth, cone-shaped palatal teeth, but no pharyngeal teeth were observed. The specimen contained 5 pairs gill arch, and the length of gill raker whose surface being coated with irregular small tooth was greater than that of gill filament. The shape of stomach was like a "Y". 16-21 multi-finger pyloric caeca were observed in conjunctive site of the stomach and intestine. The intestine was short and rectum. The ratio of intestine length to body length was 0.241±0.080. Liver was divided into two parts. Histological studies showed that the wall of digestive tract was composed of mucosa, submucosa, muscle layer, and serosa layers. The mucosa epithelium of the buccal-pharynx cavity of this species was stratified squamous, with abundant rounded mucous cells. The taste buds, glands, and goblet cells were observed in the oral cavity. Mucosa epithelium of stomach was simple columnar, and well-developed gastric glands and gastric pits were present in the stomach. The pyloric caeca mucosa had about 20-25 wrinkles covered with microvilla, and these wrinkles filled in most part of the pyloric caeca cavity. The three portions of the intestine showed histological differences. Mucous epithelium of intermediate intestine was well developed, and both stratified squamous epithelium and simple columnar epithelium were observed. Mucosal foldings were slender and linked into a mesh. The results suggest that the digesting system of C. nasus shows typical characteristics of carnivorous fish.

Abstract:Studies were conducted to examine the effects of temperature on larval and juvenile development, initial feeding timing, the group feeding rate and the point of no return (PNR) of the larvae of Parabotia fasciata during April to May, 2011. The results showed that the larval mouth opened 2 days after hatching and the group feeding rate peaked 1-2 days after the yolk sac exhaustion. The feeding intensity of the larvae of P. fasciata increased as the temperature rose. The time the larvae of P.fasciata reaching PNR shortened as the temperature rose, PNR appeared in 8.0-9.0 days after hatching at 22℃, in 7.0 d at 26℃, in 5.5 d at 28℃, and in 5.0 d at 30℃. The period between the feeding ratio reaching the peak and PNR is the starvation phase of no return. At 22℃, the starvation phase of no return lasted 3.5 days while that of 30℃ lasted 1.5 days. These results showed that the higher the temperature, the lower the larvae starvation endurance and the lower the survival rate. The study proves that temperature has a great effect on development, feeding and the point of no return of the larvae of P.fasciata. At different temperatures, proper feeding timing is of great importance to the survival of the larvae of P.fasciata.

Abstract:In order to investigate how the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) utilizing feeding patches in winter, we carried out field survey on the farmland shelterbelt in Wulateqianqi County, Inner Mongolia, in January 2011 and from February to March in 2012. Focal sampling and all-occurrences recording methods were undertaken to determine the foraging behaviors of Great Spotted Woodpecker in foraging patches. Principal component analysis was used to evaluate the patch quality. Correlation analysis between the patch quality and foraging behavior items, such as foraging times, residence time, successful foraging times and successful foraging rate was undertaken to reveal the affection of patch quality on the foraging behaviors of the birds. The results showed that there were significant differences in the birds’ foraging times, residence time, successful foraging times among different patches, but not in the successful foraging rate. Except for residence time, the differences of foraging behaviors between male and female were not significant. Patch quality had positively correlated with foraging times, residence time, successful foraging times, but not with the successful foraging rate. Great Spotted Woodpecker preferred to forage in high quality patches, not only foraging for longer time in them, but also selecting the patches much more frequently; the successful foraging rate was not affected by patch quality, that probably a survival instinct of them facing with different feeding environments.

Abstract:The effects of hypoxia exposure on contents of catecholamine and norepinephrine in serum between Myospalax cansus and SD rat (Rattus norregicus)were comparatively studied.Results showed that both catecholamine and norepinephrine in serum were increased at the initial phase of acute hypoxia (0.5-4.0 h). The catecholamine content in SD rat serum was significantly higher than that of M.cansus (P<0.05) under normoxic condition.After exposed to hypoxia for 6 hours,the contents of catecholamine and norepinephrine in SD rats were decreased sharply,and individuals died at 6.5 to 7.0 hours.But the contents of the two hormones in M.cansus serum were decreased with the increase of hypoxic duration.M.cansus showed strong adaptability in hypoxic environment.

Abstract:This paper describes a new subspecies of Megophryidae from Guizhou Province,China,which has typical characteristics of Megophrys omeimontis group of the genus Megophrys,however,it is also distinguished from other species of this group in morphology.The new subspecies is named as M.binlingensis fanjingmontis subsp.nov.,owing to more similarity to M.binlingensis of M.omeimontis group in morphological character.
Holotype: No.trxy01,adult male; collected from Heiwan River region in Fanjing Mountain of Jiangkou County,Guizhou Province in June,2010.Altitude: about 900m.
Allotype: No.trxy02,adult female; collected from Heiwan River region in Fanjing Mountain of Jiangkou County,Guizhou Province.
Paratype: No trxy03,trxy04,trxy05,adult male; collected from Heiwan River region in Fanjing Mountain of Jiangkou County,Guizhou Province.
All specimens are kept in Animal Laboratory of Bioscience and Chemistry Department,Tongren University.
Diagnosis: This subspecies can be distinguished by the following characters: vomerine ridge is tinny,without vomerine teeth,and slender teeth grow on upper jaw; nuptial spinules are small and dense on the first two fingers of males; narrow film displays at the edge of outside toes; few spots scatter on chest and belly,marked dark brown strips occur on the both sides of chest and belly; body is big,SVL> 60.00 mm; 1/3 web exit between toes.
However,compared with the new subspecies,the adult males of M.binlingensis are smaller,45.0 mmM.spinata differs from the new subspecies in the following characters: nuptial spinules of M.spinata are bigger and sparser on the first two fingers of males; markedly wide film at the edge of outside toes,1/2 web between toes; 47.2 mmFor M.omeimontis,its vomerine ridge is strong,with vomerin teeth; many dark spots are in the middle of belly,and the dark patterns don't exist in the form of strip on the both sides of chest and belly; web trace exist between toes; its body is smaller,56.0 mm

Abstract:Five specimens of Rana longicrus were discovered in Guangdong Gutian Provincial Nature Reserve in October 2011,which are the first records of this species in Guangdong Province.Previously,R.longicrus was only found in western,central and northern Taiwan,China.This new record provides further information on the morphology and distribution range of this species.

Abstract:The four fishes,Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix),Bighead Carp (Aristichthys nobilis),Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus),are native to China and have been cultured.They have also been introduced to culture in many countries in geographic regions.Approximately the four species have successfully established wild populations in half of those countries.The invading rate is greatly higher than any other invasive species.The success of invasion is attributed to their high fecundities,broad physiological tolerances,variable feeding behaviors and population genetic diversity,as well as the environmental adaptability of new habitats.Any river long enough and with fluent water flow will provide essential environment for their survival and reproduction in the wild.The climatic factors are also significantly correlate with the successful invasion.Furthermore,the abundant food and compatibility with other invasive species also facilitate the four fishes to rapidly become invasive species if their population available in the introduced regions.