Abstract:To investigate the number of vertebrae from Cypriniformes including Cyprinidae, Cobitidae and Balitoridae in China and its correlation with phylogenetic constraint and ecological adaptation, the number of vertebrae, ribs and caudal vertebrae were compared by X-ray photographic method. A total of 157 currently recognized species were analyzed. The results showed that the number of vertebrae 30 to 52, with average of 39.5±4.4, ribs 8 to 28, with average of 15.3±3.1, caudal vertebrae 14 to 34, with average of 21.1±2.9. Based on the cluster results of vertebrae, ribs and caudal vertebrae in number, the 12 subfamilies of the Cyprinidae were divided into two types. The type Ⅰ included the Leuciscinae, Cultrinae, Xenocyprininae, and Schizothoracinae. The type Ⅱ included the Danioninae, Hypophthalmichthyinae, Gobioninae, Gobiobotinae, Acheilognathinae, Barbinae, Labeoninae, and Cyprininae. One-way ANOVA analysis of 89 species from the Cyprinidae showed that the ratio of ribs to vertebrae in carnivorous fish was significantly lower than that in phytophagous fish (P<0.05), although more vertebrae and caudal vertebrae were seen in carnivorous fish (P<0.05). The pelagic fish had less vertebrae and caudal vertebrae than demersal fish (P<0.05). Relative to large-sized fishes, small-sized fishes had less vertebraes and ribs; the ratio of ribs to vertebrae number was significantly lower (P<0.05). These findings suggested that the vertebrae number of the Cyprinidae closely correlated with ecological habits and body size.

Abstract:Bats belonging to Microchiroptera have been known one of the most gregarious mammals. They rely mainly on acoustic signals to communicate in darkness and maintain their social structures. Some species demonstrate a diverse repertoire of syllables, but few studies have conducted on their social calls for specific species. We recorded the social vocalizations of captive adult Murina leucogaster and analyzed its spectral characteristics based on the shape of sound wave in the spectrogram. Communication calls were grouped together into preliminary vocalization types based on their visual similarity in sonograms, and then we performed a principal component analysis (PCA) and a discriminant function analysis (DFAs) to confirm the preliminary classification. The results show that M.leucogaster possess a rich repertoire of social vocalizations with sixteen distinct syllable types. These syllables were further categorized into 13 simple syllables and 3 composite syllables, and most of them had multiple harmonics. Simple syllables can be classified into 9 frequency modulation syllables, 2 quasi-constant frequency syllables and 2 noise burst syllables. Composite syllables consist of simple syllables conjoined without any silent interval. Maximum frequency of fundamental frequency, bandwidth of fundamental frequency and duration were highly correlated to the types of frequency modulation syllables. These results provide a basis for future studies not only of the behavioral significance of vocalization, but also of the neural basis of vocal communication in the M. leucogaster.

Abstract:We evaluated the effects of foraging-trip distance and social group sizes on the amount of single trip' s food collection of the Brandt’s vole(Lasiopodomys brandtii) during the food storing period in typical steppes in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia. Wheat(Triticum aestivum) was provided as supplemental food at food stations in different distances to the center of burrow systems to measure the amount of food collection of Brandt’s voles on each single foraging trip. We manipulated the group size of the voles from 3 to 11 individuals, and foraging-trip distance from 5 to 30 meters in this study. The vole can carry about 8.0 wheat seeds on average on each foraging trip. Results show that the amount of food collection of Brandt’s voles was not related to either foraging-trip distances or group sizes. Moreover, there was no direct interaction between foraging-trip distance and group size.

Abstract:We observed the diurnal activity rhythm and duration of each behaviors of Przewalski’s horses in breeding period and post-breeding period by using focal animal sampling methods during April to August, 2011 at Xinjiang Wild Horse Breeding and Research Center. We tested the differences of time budget spent in each behaviors by male and female and the diurnal activity rhythm between males and females by the One-way ANOVA test. We totally made 14 688 min,valide observations (8 736 min in breeding period and 5 952 min in post-breeding period) and found out (1) during breeding season both males and females same time in feeding, drinking and standing (P>0.05), but males spent less time in resting, grooming and more timein moving and other behavior (P<0.05); (2) The difference in diurnal activity rhythm between males and females were showed in moving, grooming and other behavior (P<0.05), but no difference in the rest activity rhythms between the two genders; (3) Mating behavior was hardly occurred in daytime, and in one family group no any two females were mated by the same male in the same day. That indicated the possibility of one stallion mate with two or more female horses in one family group was very rare.

Abstract:Six forest bats(3♀,3♂)were collected from Nanling Nature Reserve in Guangdong Province in August 2012 and measurement was taken. The nostrils were short tubes; pelages were thick and soft; hind legs, wing membrane and uropatagium were covered with brown hair. Their sizes were relatively large and with obvious difference between male and female. The forearm length (FA) was 48.94-52.67 mm in female and 44.00-46.92 mm in male. The karyotype of this bat was 2n=44, FN=52. The echolocation calls were frequency modulated (FM) with main frequency 78.3 kHz. These individuals were identified as Harpiocephalus harpia (Murininae) based on the characteristics of external characteristics, skull morphologies and karyotypic information. The occurrence of this bat verified and confirmed their distribution in mainland China. This recording had a great significance in supplementing the distribution, behaviorl and ecology informations on this species.

Abstract:The cellular DNA contents of Channa maculata, C.argus and their reciprocal hybrids (C.maculata ♀×C.argus ♂, C.argus ♀×C.maculata ♂) were assayed by using a flow cytometer with the DNA of chicken red blood cells (2.5 pg/2c, 2c:diploid) as a standard. The DNA contents of the 4 species of fish are 1.488±0.035 pg/2c (C.maculata ♀), 1.489±0.034 pg/2c (C.argus ♂), 1.522±0.077 pg/2c (C.maculata ♀×C.argus ♂), and 1.520±0.033 pg/2c (C.argus ♀×C.maculata ♂) respectively. Comparing the DNA contents of the 4 species of fish, it was showed that there was no significant difference between C.maculata and C.argus (P>0.05), and the similar result was obtained between their reciprocal hybrids (P>0.05), but there was significant difference between reciprocal hybrids and their parents (P<0.05). The DNA contents of the reciprocal hybrids are more than those of their parents, which may be used for hybrid identification.

Abstract:The signal peptide cleavage of Cyprinus carpio var. jian LEP-A1 (jlLEP-A1) and LEP-B (jlLEP-B) sites were identified by SignalP-4.0 software. And pairs of primers were designed to amplify the jlleptiA1 and jlleptinB ORF region without the signal peptide sequence. The amplification products were ligated into the prokaryotic expression vector of pET-32a (+) and pGex-4T-1 respectively, and the recombination plasmida were constructed. The plasmid sequence was confirmed by sequencing and transferred into the host bacteria, Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant proteins of pET-32a(+)/jlLEP-A1, pET-32a(+)/jlLEP-B, pGex-4T-1/jlLEP-A1 and pGex-4T-1/jlLEP-B were highly expressed by induction with IPTG. The optimum concentration of IPTG was 1 mmol/L for 5 h at 37℃. The recombinant proteins mainly existed in soluble form as revealed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis analysis. The results provided useful information for research on jlleptin function.

Abstract:Study on Dictyostelium discoideum cell cycle can provide theoretical foundation for research of the eukaryotic cell cycle regulation. In this study, the cell counting and cell doubling time calculation indicated that the allC mutant doubling time was 2.36 h, only one third of that of KAx-3 cells. To search for the reason of shortened allC mutant doubling time, the function of cyclin B1, cell cycle of mutant cells and wild cells were studied by flow cytometry and real time-quantitative PCR. After cultured for 16 hours, the number of the mutant allC cells (1.51%) in the G2 phase was significantly less than that of KAx-3 cells (16.61%)(P<0.05). The relative expression level of cyclin B1 in allC mutant and KAx-3 cells were 2.5 and 0.24, respectively. It has demonstrated that the G2 phase of allC mutant was obviously shorter than that of KAx-3 cells, so was the relative expression level of cyclin B1 which was related closely to G2 phase regulation. Our results suggest that the overexpression of cyclin B1 in allC mutant may affect the normal cell cycle regulation to some extent, and it contributes to G2 phase abnormality.

Abstract:The effects of snakehead (Channa argus) culture on zooplankton community structure were studied by the comparative research of snakehead culture pond to surrounding areas including drainage region and Nanyang Lake. The results showed that species number (24 species) and density (1 032 ind/L) of zooplankton in snakehead pond were dramatically lower than those of surrounding areas ( the species number was 64 and 65, the density was 1 995 ind/L and 2 569 ind/L in drainage region and near lake region, respectively), while biomass (4.65 mg/L) was significantly higher, which may be attributed to that biomass in snakehead pond was mainly composed of macrozooplankton (95.70%) such as Cladocera, Copepoda and Nauplius, while micro Protozoa and Rotifera have a lower proportion (4.30%), but they were the main component in surrounding areas. Different from the surrounding areas, the dominant species in pond were Daphnia magna and Brachionus calyciflorus. Comprehensive analysis of dominant species and diversity index showed that snakehead pond was moderately polluted, drainage region was mildly to moderately polluted, while waters near Nanyang Lake was slightly polluted, which indicated that snakehead culture had resulted in pollution in surrounding areas.

Abstract:The ultrastructures of spermatogenesis and mature spermatozoa in Sepia lycidas were determined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that there are five developmental stages of spermatogenesis: spermatogonium, primary spermatocyte, secondary spermatocyte, spermatid, and mature spermatozoon. The spermatid undergoes five phases (Ⅰ through Ⅴ) for differentiation, and the phase Ⅱ can be further divided into early and late periods. During spermameiogenesis, the nucleus undergoes a process of lateral contraction and longitudinal elongation, making it convert from a round or oval shape to an irregular spindle-like shape, and finally to a slightly curved long cylinder shape; the size of the nucleus reduces from 6.27 μm × 5.84 μm to 5.75 μm × 1.53 μm. The chromatin in the nucleus forms flocculent blocks, dense granules, fine fibers, crude fibers, and lamellae, and condenses into a region with a high electron density. The morphology of acrosome is also changed, from a round shape with a diameter of 1.02 μm, to helmet-like, conical, backward "U"-like, and finally to bullet-like with a length of 1.71 μm and a maximum width of 0.91 μm. The vacuole-shaped mitochondria experience migration and fusion, and they exhibit an oval shape with abundant cristae, and form a mitochondrial spur that incompletely surround the flagellum in the middle piece. The mature spermatozoa are 101.28 μm long, and consist of a head and a tail. The head shows a long pepper shape, approximately 7.73 μm in length and 1.15 μm in width, and it consists of an acrosome and a nucleus. The arosome resembles a bullet with a length of 1.71 μm and a width of 0.91 μm, and the nucleus is slightly curved and cylindrical, and is approximately 5.75 μm long and 1.53 μm wide. The 93.18 μm long tail is slender with a typical "9+2" structure, and it consists of middle, principal, and end pieces.

Abstract:In this study, we observed the microstructure of digestive organs of Paramesotriton caudopunctatus by using histological methods. The results show that the esophagus of P.caudopunctatus is short; the tissue structure of stomach and intestine is divided into the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and adventitia; submucosa is lost in the preceding section of small intestine. Gastric mucosal layer contains many gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma cell cytoplasm contains eosinophilic granules. The slender villi in the preceding segment of the small intestine are intensive; the slender villi in the middle and posterior segments of the small intestine gradually become short and sparse; the midgut gland in the lamina propria of mucous layer is absent. The boundaryies of parenchymal liver lobule is not obvious, and numerous pigment particles distribute within the hepatic lobule.

Abstract:Skeletal system remodeling of tadpoles, which occurs during amphibian metamorphosis, adapts them to the change from aquatic habitat to land habitat. In this study, the vertebrae skeletons of Bufo gargarizans tadpole at different stages (Gosner 38-46) were investigated using double staining with alcian blue and alizarin red. The results showed that the neural arch laminae fused at the midline at gosner stage 39. The centra and neural arch of presacrals Ⅰ-Ⅷ and sacral started to ossify at gosner stage 42, then the transverse processes of presacrals Ⅰ-Ⅷ, sacrum, hypochord, postsacral Ⅰ and postsacral Ⅱ began to ossify; finally the urostyle formed at gosner stage 46. The formation of the urostyle by the fusion of the postsacral veterbrae reflects the functional adaption of anuran larval skeletal system for transformation from aquatic to terrestrial environment.

Abstract:The survey on avifauna and community of birds were carried out with the method of line transect and fixed-radius point count methods, during April 2011 to March 2012. We conducted bird surveys each month in 35 line transects and 5 fixed-radius points in North Aershan, Inner Mongolia. Each line is 1000 m long and 100 m wide, while each point’s radius is 300 m. A total of 102 species belonging to 13 orders and 32 families were counted. Sixty are summer visitors and 31 are residents that represented 58.82% and 30.39% of whole species;6 are passage migrants and 5 are winter visitors that represented 5.88% and 4.91% of whole species, respectively. Breeding birds make of the majority of the local avifauna, and summer visitors dominate the breeding birds. Fifteem birds are listed as grade Ⅱ national protected species. Avifauna of Aershan City have some mixed characteristics betweem the northeast and Mongolia-Xinjiang region and between the south part and the north part of Daxing’anling. The species composition of bird showed an obviously seasonally difference, bird species peaks in spring and autumn, reduced in summer and winter with stationary phase. The bird Diversity index were different in different habitat in order: Woodland>Grassland>Wetland>Mountain>Farmland>Residential area. With the intensification of human activities, the bird diversity is significantly lower in the human regular activities habitat and the near-by town habitat. The survey results revealed that impact of urbanization is starting to show a significantly influence of human activities on the avifauna.

Abstract:The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of H3K27 trimethylation pattern between parthenogenetic and in vivo mouse (Mus musculus) embryos. The effect of trichostatin (TSA) on the level of H3K27me3 in parthenogenetic embryos, and the impact of TSA on parthenogenetic embryonic development were also studied. Firstly, we used the indirect immunofluorescence with specific antibody against H3K27me3 and showed that there was a mild intensity staining in the metaphase oocyte. We activated the metaphase oocytes by strontium chloride and then collected the embryos at different developmental stages. The in vivo embryos were collected by flushing the uterus at different times after injecting pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotropin. Different patterns of H3K27me3 staining were detected in normal fertilized embryos and parthenogenetic embryos. The relative fluorescence intensities of the different stage embryos were determined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Moreover, the pronuclear embryos which were activated by strontium chloride were treated with TSA for 20 hours. The un-treated parthenogenetic embryos were cultured in a medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide (0.05%) as a control. The results showed that there was a trend of increasing fluorescence intensity in parthenogenetic embryos, reaching the highest in blastocysts, while it was opposite in the in vivo embryos from 2-cell to the blastocyst stage. However, the mean fluorescence intensity of the parthenogenetic embryos was generally lower than that of normal embryos. After the treatment with TSA, though there was no significant difference in early embryo development (P>0.05) between the treated and the non-treated groups, the level of H3K27me3 in parthenogenetic embryos increased. There was significant difference (0.015±0.002 vs.0.004±0.000 5,P<0.05) in blastocyst formation. These results indicated that the pattern of the H3K27me3 in parthenogenetic embryos differ significantly from that of the in vivo embryos, which may be one of the reasons causing the low development ability of the parthenogenetic embryos. The TSA treatment of parthenogenetic activation embryos causes a certain effect on the H3K27me3 pattern, improving the in vitro embryo development.

Abstract:Five specimens of Scincella modesta were collected from Funiushan Nature Reserve in July 2011, July and October 2012. This is the first discovery of this skink in Henan Province. The specimens were preserved in the school of life sciences, henan normal university, Kaifeng, China.

Abstract:During a field survey in Huaihua, Hunan Province in May, 2013, a snake specimen of the family Colubridae was identified as Achalinus ater which is a new record of snake in Hunan Province. The finding of this species in Hunan will benefit the further study on morphological variation and geographical distribution of A. ater.

Abstract:The avian diversity was monthly investigated and monitored in Hunan Hupingshan National Nature Reserve from April 2011 to April 2013. Among the observed Passerine birds, six species are the new bird records of Hunan Province, which are long-tailed minivet Pericrocotus ethologus, slaty-blue flycatcher Ficedula tricolor, plain-backed thrush Zoothera mollissima, green shrike babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus, spot-breasted parrotbill Paradoxornis guttaticollis, russet bush warbler Bradypterus mandelli.

Abstract:A subadult pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) was observed on 29 July 2012 in the Hanma Nature Reserve, Greater Xing'an Mountains, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Combining review the literature and examined specimens preserves at different musuem, more distribution records in spring and summer of pine grosbeak has been confirmed in China. This species has been known a habit of irruptive migration in some years, which leads to a greatly change in its breeding and wintering range annually. According to these records, presumably the status of pine grosbeak is a rare summer visitor in addition to previously known winter visitor in China. The historical record of the pine grosbeak in jincheng Shan area, eastern Sichuan is turned out to be the crimson-browed finch (P.subhimachala).

Abstract:During the survey on bat diversity in July and November, 2012, 32 specimens (10 males and 22 females) of Rhinolophus were collected at two caves in Zhijin County of Bijie City and one cave in Wudang District of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. They were identified as R.paradoxolophus,which is the first record of Rhinolophidae in Guizhou Provinces, The specimens(5 males and 11 females)are preserved in the School of Life Sciences,Guizhou Normal University.

Abstract:July 17, 2007, one male bat was captured under a house eave of Xiaoxi National Nature Reserve, Yongshun County, Hunan Province, China. It was identified as Elery’s tube-nosed bat, Murina eleryi, which is a new record of Chiroptera in Hunan Province, and the specimen is currently preserved in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Abstract:The color and uniformity of chromaticity are important indicators to measure pearl value.The study of pearl color and shell nacre color involves many disciplinary fields.Previous studies have show that the color of pearl is in line with the correspondent shell nacre color of the mantle of the donor mussel and that the shell nacre color of pearl is determined by genetic factors.Existing researches still cannot give a systematic and reasonable explanation about the mechanism of shell nacre color formation. However, it is known that metal elements, porphyrin, carotenoid, and physical structure may be closely related to the nacre color formation. A little organic matrix in the nacre, which is constituted of proteins, can control the structure of pearl nacre and the formation of color. Thus, the organic matrix may be the key factor to determine the color formation of pearl nacre. This article describes the research progress of the pearl color and the shell nacre color, discusses the influencing factor of pearl color, and proposes ideas for further in-depth study of pearl and the nacre color.