Abstract:Sixty six infrared cameras were placed in 22 water sources from April to November 2014 to monitor the activity rhythms and time budgets of reintroducing Equus przewalskii in the Mount Kalamaili Ungulate Natur Reserve (MKUNR). Of 16 cameras that were placed in 8 water sources used frequently by the horses(Fig. 1) obtained obtain 2 051 independent photos on the reintroduced horse during 1 068 days. By analyzing those photos we found out the number of effective photos capturing the horses in the water source area was following the normal distribution. The difference of daily activity α index (Fig. 2) and diurnal β index (Fig. 3) of the horses showed significant difference between months (α index, t = 8.364, df = 7, P < 0.01. β index, t = 19.519, df = 7, P < 0.01), and the β index was 0.66 > 0.54, which indicated that reintroducing horseswas dominated in activity by daytime. Significant difference was detected in the seasonal activity index (single sample K-S test, t = 7.851, df = 23, P < 0.01) for the horse. However, no significant difference was found in the seasonal activity intensity index (Fig. 4) (c2 = 0.162, df = 2, P> 0.05) by the independent multi sample Kruskal-Wallis test. The results of multiple comparisons showed that the number of effective photosynthetic rate on the reintroducing horse in spring was significantly lower than that in summer and autumn (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between summer and autumn (P > 0.05). The reintroducinghorses were found in the water source at any time of day with a significantly variation between the groups sizes in the day time and night time (P< 0.05, T test), even in different hours. The water demands increased as the temperature increase and peaked around noontime (Fig. 5). The numbers of valid photo every day at different hours met the normal distribution for each season, and the horses at the water source showed a stable daily activity rhythm with a typical bell-shaped time allocation. In summer, the horses drank water at (25.29 ± 2.9) times/d and they took water is far less (13.88 ± 1.8) times/day than they did in spring (P < 0.01) by multiple comparison test. No any significant difference in the frequency of drank water between summer and autumn (P > 0.05). The number of horse drinking peaked from 13:00 to 17:00, 20:00﹣5:00 when the rapid decline, and 3:00﹣4:00 to the lowest, in the 5:00﹣13:00 when the rapid rise (Fig. 6). This study was firstly got the water use data in detail for the reintroducing horses by the real-time monitoring at the fixed water source in the MKUNR.

Abstract:Rapid and accurate identification of the gender of monomorphic birds, which are difficult to determine by direct observation, is of great significance in the study of avian ecology. Discriminant analysis according to morphological characteristicshas has been frequently used for sexing individuals in monomorphic species because of its fast, simple procedure and high accuracy. This study used discriminant analysis to identify the gender of five monomorphic sandpiper species at Chongming Dongtan, a stopover site of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF): Great Knots Calidris tenuirostris, Red Knots C. canutus, Red-necked Stints C. ruficollis, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers C. acuminate, and Terek Sandpipers Xenuscinereus. Five morphological characteristics (body weight, wing length, bill length, head and bill length, and tarsus length) were measured during spring migration in 2008. Firstly, we identified the gender of the individuals in the five species using molecular biological method. Then we used independent t tests to compare the difference in the morphological characteristics between the males and females. The degree of overlap in morphological characteristics between males and females as well as the sexual dimorphism index were calculated for each species. Finally, we used discriminant analysis to deduce the gender of each individual according to morphological measurements and compared the results with that from molecular biology method. The morphological characteristics of the males were significantly larger than that of the females in Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, while the females were larger than the males in other four species (Table 1). The sexual size dimorphism index of morphological characteristics in the five sandpiper species varied in 0.5%﹣25.3% (Table 2), and the interspecific overlaps of morphological characteristics varied in 29.4%﹣98.6% (Table 1). The accuracy of gender identification using discriminant analysis was 0.69 ± 0.06﹣0.96 ± 0.01, with the highest in the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (96%) while the lowest in the Terek Sandpipers (69%, Table 3). The difference in morphological characteristics between the genders affected the accuracy of gender discrimination. In addition, sex ratio might also affect the accuracy of gender discrimination. The sex ratio estimated using discriminant analysis is similar to that using molecular biological method (Table 3), indicating that the discriminant analysis has a high reliability in determining the sex ratio of population.

Abstract:A suitable nest-site for reproduction is limited and thus some species may take over active/used nests and/or nest holes of other species for breeding. During the breeding season (April to August) in 2014﹣2016, 23 cases of breeding birds using Common Magpie (Pica pica) nests in Xianghai National Nature Reserve, Jilin, China, were reported in this study. Four bird species, namely Long-eared Owl (Aiso otus, 5 nests) (Fig. 1), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, 8 nests), Little Owl (Athene noctua, 4 nests), and Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus, 6 nests) (Fig. 2) were found in magpie nests. Among them, four cases (17.4%) were nest usurpation. Nest usurpation occurred mainly in the sparse elm forest in West Songnen Plain, which is inhabited by Magpies and usurped birds. The nest height, tree height, tree diameter at breast height, nest direction, and nest width and nest depth of four usurpers were recorded (Table 1﹣4). Larger birds like Long-eared Owls and Mallards usually dismantled part or rooftop of nests in using. Owls prefer nests in higher trees than other usurpers while Mallards usurped Magpie nests close to water.

Abstract:During March to June 2016, we studied the incubation behavior and rhythm of Great Coucal (Centropus sinensis) using data-logger in Nonggang, Guangxi Province (22°26′35.20′′﹣22°30′46.90′′N, 106°57′46.35′′﹣107°03′32.99′′E). Through systematic search and tracking the birds′ behavior, we totally found 12 nests. Then, incubation data were obtained by regular observation and automatic temperature recorders from 8 nests. The results showed that: 1) The bird laid one egg every two days while still in the period of nest building. The long and short axis of the eggs were 36.11 ± 0.42 mm and 28.46 ± 0.38 mm respectively, and the egg weight was 16.35 ± 0.51 g (n = 44 eggs). The clutch size were 3﹣5 eggs and the incubation period was 16.75 ± 1.65 d (n = 4 nests). The hatching rate was 45.45% (n = 44 eggs) (Table 1). There was no significant correlation between clutch size and incubation period (Pearson correlation, r = 0.865, P > 0.05); 2) Both adults participated in incubation during the daytime, but only one bird incubated eggs at night. Usually, the one which in charge the job at night stayed at the nest around 19:00 and would last to around 06:00 of the next day (Fig. 2); 3) The length of daily activities was over 700 min (n = 45 d) and the birds took 8.82 ± 0.34 times (n = 45 d) of the recesses per day. Average recess time was 52.91 ± 2.35 min (n = 397 times) which has significant negative correlated to the ambient temperature (r =﹣0.113, P< 0.05) (Table 3, Fig. 4). We suggest the incubation strategy of the birds being lower leaving nest frequency and longer recess time; 4) The average incubation temperature in the nest was 31.7 ± 0.3℃ (n = 4 nests) and increased with nest age (Table 2, Fig. 3). It was positive correlated to the ambient temperature (maximum temperature, r = 0.566; minimum temperature, r = 0.537; mean temperature r =0.706, P <0.01) and the length of activities (r = 0.506, P <0.01); 5) Normally the parents started to incubate right after the clutches were full, however, one nest was delayed incubation by parents for 9 days, during that period, the nest temperature dropped to a minimum of 22.1℃ at night. Under north tropical climate condition in the southwest Guangxi, we suggest high ambient temperature would be an important benifitial factor to the incubating of the Great Coucal.

Abstract:Chongming Dongtan is one of the important transit points of Asia-Pacific Flyway, as well as a key coastal reclamation area in Shanghai. As a kind of artificial wetland, rice (Oryza sativa) paddy-field is widely distributed in this area and the main goal of restoration management, it′s necessary to find out whether the paddy-field is attractive to the waterfowls. In our study area, there are two different manage patterns (traditional and mechanized) of rice paddy-field. The traditional paddy-field samples region located in Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve (Fig. 1), composed of rice paddies and diversion trench, and farming in traditional manual administration with low density of cultivation. Traditional manage patterns rice paddy retained some rice and guarantee water conditions with the depth of 0.5﹣15 cm in winter. Mechanized manage pattern rice paddy sample region located in Yaoquan farm (Fig. 1), a typical coastal farmland ecosystem, managed in large scale mechanization farm mode, with high density cultivation. It is also composed of rice paddies and diversion trench. Mechanized manage pattern rice paddy-field is normally abandoned or planted as rotation in winter, with no water in rice paddies. Quadrat methods were taken to measure the differences of waterfowl diversity and habitat factor of two patterns of rice paddy in winters of 2013 and 2014, and we tried to find out which manage pattern of the rice paddy would attract more waterfowls and analyzed the environmental factors impacting the waterfowls′ distribution. During the two-year investigation, up to 1 795 waterfowl individuals were recorded, subordinated in 5 orders, 7 families and 18 species. In traditional manage pattern of paddy field, there were 1 756 waterfowl individuals subordinated in 5 orders, 6 families and 17 species, and the dominant species were Common Teal (Anas crecca), Spot-billed Duck (A. poecilorhyncha), Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus). In mechanized manage pattern of rice paddy, 39 waterfowl individuals were counted, subordinated in 4 orders, 5 families and 6 species, and the dominant species were Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). T-test analysis indicated that firstly the paddy fields under traditional manage pattern performed better than another kind of fields in terms of abundance, richness of waterfowls, and secondly the paddy fields after transformation in 2014 performed better effect of waterfowl attraction than the ones in early transformation in 2013. Linear Regression (Backward Elimination) showed that the proportion of open water area being the most important factor to influence waterfowl species and abundance. Our study suggested that hydrological condition of rice fields is the main factor of attracting waterfowls in winter, and it is important for waterfowl biodiversity conservation.

Abstract:The Blue-throated Bee-eaters (Merops viridis) is widely distributed in south China, however, received little concern for basic biological studies. During 2011﹣2016, we observed the predatory behaviour and recorded the prey items of Blue-throated Bee-eaters in the suburb of Ji′An, Jiangxi Province. Our results showed that 90.6% of prey items were insects from taxa of Hymenoptera (26.0%), Lepidoptera (26.3%) and Odonata (38.3%). The percentages of different insect types varied significantly between early- and late-breeding seasons, possibly caused by the differences in life history of different insect taxa. The birds dealt with different kinds of insects with different ways before swallowing those foods. In addition, we also found there were mussel shells scattered in the bottom of the nest chambers of the Bee-eaters (Fig. 1). The birds may forage on small mussel shells to meet the additional calcium needs during egg-laying stage, because the mussel shells were stained with debris of insect corpses, as the marks of being swallowed and digested. Although the insect preys were relatively abundant in south China, Blue-throated Bee-eater is not common in its distribution range, suggesting that food supply might not the limiting factor. Limited distribution and habitat loses are threatening the survival of the Blue-throated Bee-eater, more studies are needed in the future to provide suggestions and measures for its conservation.

Abstract:For exploring the differences of serum biochemical indices for seven captive cranes species (Gruiformes), including Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus), Red-crowned Crane (G. japonensis), Black-crowned Crane (Balearicapavonina), Black-necked Crane (G. nigricollis), Grey-crowned Crane (B. regulorum), Blue Crane (Anthropoidesparadiseus) and White-naped Crane (G. vipio), ten biochemical indicators including total cholesterol, triglyceride and serum glucose were measured in this study (Table 1). Then, these measured values were compared with the average values provided by International Species Information System (ISIS) (Table 2). All data were determined for assumption of normality by Shapiro-Wilk test and homogeneity of variance by Welch′s test. One sample T-test was used to compare with the average value of ISIS. LSD or Tamhane′s test was performed in different crane species, depending on the variances. The results indicated that, 1) there was significant difference on total cholesterol, however, no significant difference on triglyceride and serum glucose among these seven crane species. Except for total cholesterol of Black-crowned Crane, total cholesterol of Grey-crowned Crane and serum glucose of Blue Crane, other indicators are higher than the average value of ISIS (Table 2). 2) There are significant differences in the concentration of total serum protein, albumin and globulins among these seven cranes species, with all these biochemical indicators in the range of ISIS (Table 3). 3) There are no significant differences in the level of serum creatinine and uric acid, with the concentration of uric acid lower than the average value of ISIS, however, there is significant difference of the urea nitrogen among these seven crane species (Table 4). The significant differences of serum biochemical indicators among crane species were mainly caused by feed and environmental factors. So the biochemical indicators of cranes provide an important reference for nutritional situation and healthy judgment, also a guiding role to breeding management for the captive animals.

Abstract:The Piebald Odorous Frogs (Odorrana schmackeri species complex) are endemic to China and widely distribute in Southern China. However, their taxonomy is still unresolved and many cryptic species have been reported in the past decade. Previous analyses have suggested the obvious genetic divergence of O. schmackeri in Hunan Province, whereas the taxonomic status and distribution patterns of this frog in Hunan Province remain unclear. Here, morphological cluster and molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on the data collected from 8 geographical populations of the piebald odorous frog in Hunan and the type locality of piebald odorous frog in Yichang, Hubei as well as samples of the huanggang odorous frog (O. huanggangensis) from the type locality Wuyishan, Fujian (Fig. 1). The genetic distance between Huitong, Chengbu, Xinning, Shuangpai, Yizhang populations of O. schmackeri in Hunan Province and O. huanggangensis in Fujian Province is 0.001﹣0.002, whereas it reached 0.072﹣0.073 compared with O. schmackeri from the type locality Yichang, Hubei Province. The genetic distance between Shimen, Guidong groups of O. schmackeri in Hunan Province and O. schmackeri of Yichang, Hubei Province is 0.001﹣0.012, which is less than that (0.072﹣0.074) with O. huanggangensis in Fujian Province (Table 2). Interestingly, the genetic distance analyses further suggested the existence of two distinct species, i.e., O. schmackeri and O. huanggangensis, which corresponding to Wulingyuan (A) group and Wulingyuan (B) group respectively, in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. In addition, the topology of phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on morphological and molecular data all indicated that O. schmackeri species complex in Hunan Province were divided into two major groups: one group consisted of the populations from Wulingyuan (A), Huitong, Chengbu, Xinning, Shuangpai and Yizhang, the another contained samples from Shimen, Wulingyuan (B) and Guidong (Fig. 4 and 5). Therefore, the piebald odorous frog distributed in southwestern Hunan and the south of Mt. Xuefeng are revised as O. huanggangensis and it was the new records in Hunan, whereas the populations from northwestern Hunan and Mt. Luoxiao are reserved as O. schmackeri, and the two species were sympatrically distributed in Wulingyuan Scenic Area. However, a further study is required on the taxonomic status of O. schmackeri species complex between Mt. Wuling and Mt. Xuefeng in northwestern Hunan, and the mechanism underlying the sympatric distribution.

Abstract:The morphological and histological observation on the skin of larval Pseudohynobius jinfo was conducted by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Measurements were performed using image software Image-Pro Plus 6.0. All statistical tests were performed using software SPSS 19.0. All values given were shown as Mean ± SE. P < 0.05 was considered significant in t test. The skin of P. jinfo consisted of epidermis and dermis (Fig. 1, 3), but the thicknesses were different at different positions of the body (Table 1). The skin of the back head was the thinnest (45.99 ± 12.77 μm) and the ventral side of tail was the thickest (95.21 ± 42.72 μm). The stratum corneum consisted of stratified squamous epithelium cells with biological activity only found in the skin of tail and the back of trunk (Fig. 1). The skin of the jaw and that of ventral side of trunk were different from other parts (Fig. 2). Both mucus glands and granular glands were found (Table 2). Mucus glands widely spread over the body. Granular glands were distributed in the skin of trunk and tail. The capillary vessels were abundant around glands in stratum spongiosum and moved outside to make the epidermis thinner. Pigment cells were mainly distributed in stratum spongiosum near the epidermis (Fig. 3).

Abstract:Incubation temperature plays an important role in determining the hatchling and drives phenotypic variations in oviparous reptiles. Numerous studies have reported that incubation temperature affects many processes, including embryonic metabolism, body shape, selected body temperature, locomotor performance, tongue flicking, and predation. The variation of these traits is a potentially important indicator of fitness and most likely affects the hatchling′s fitness. In this article, we studied the effects of incubation temperature on the egg and hatchling in Strink Snake (Elaphe carinata) to assess the fitness of hatchlings incubated at two different temperatures. We collected adults from the same population in Hunan to study the effect of incubation temperature on the egg incubation, hatchling metabolism and behavior. The eggs were incubated at two constant temperatures (24 and 28℃). Eggs were weighted and metabolism was measured at 5-day intervals. All hatchlings were applied to evaluate the response to chemical cues, respiration metabolism, selected body temperature, and so on. We measured tongue flicking, metabolism, locomotor performance, and predation of hatchlings at the body temperature of 28℃ because physiological and behavioral performances are dependent on the body temperature in reptiles. A preliminary analysis revealed no difference between sexes of hatchlings in the examined traits, so we pooled data for sexes. All data were tested for normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test) and homogeneity of variances (Bartlett′s test). We used repeated-measures ANOVA, one-way ANOVA or one-way ANCOVA to analyze the corresponding data. Descriptive statistics was presented as mean ± standard error, and the significance level was set at α = 0.05. Eggs incubated under different temperature regimes did not differ significantly in duration of incubation, hatching success and sex ratio (Table 1). All eggs gained mass during incubation because of absorption of water (Fig. 1). Mean values for final egg mass (weighed at the time point closest to hatching) differed between the two incubation temperatures (Fig. 1). The egg metabolism was positively correlated with egg mass and the incubation time in two incubation temperatures (Fig. 2). Eggs incubated at a higher temperature (28℃) produced more amount of carbon dioxide than those incubated at a lower temperature (24℃). The body mass and the carbon dioxide decreased with the increase of age after the snake hatched (Fig. 3). Hatchlings from lower temperature produced more amount of carbon dioxide than hatchlings from higher temperature did within the first five days after hatched. Hatchlings from two different incubation temperatures did not differ in selected body temperature, but hatchlings from higher temperature owned faster maximum swimming speed and more frequencies of tongue flicks than hatchlings from lower temperature (Fig. 4). There were significant effects of incubation temperature on hatchling initial feeding and hatchlings from lower temperature had not eaten within 10 minutes. Our results revealed that hatchlings of Strink Snake incubated at 28℃ had higher fitness than hatchlings at 24℃.

Abstract:The American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) is an anadromous fish species with ecological importance on the east coast of North America. At present, it has a potential for aquaculture in China due to its commercial importance and high market value. To evaluate and determine growth characteristics of A. sapidissima, we measured the standard length and body weight of industrially cultured A. sapidissima (n = 217) (the basic culture conditions were shown in Table 1). The results showed: The relationships between body length and weight could be described by the power function: W = 0.8062 × 10-5L3.1113 (n = 122, R2 = 0.997 5, P < 0.01) for female (♀); W = 1.0047 × 10-5L3.0574 (n = 125, R2 = 0.997 5, P < 0.01) for male (♂) (Fig. 1), those values b all were closed to 3, this means an isometric growth; There were three stages in the growth of female and male (Table 2): Fast growth stage (0+ age), the specific growth rates of body length (SL) and body weight (SW) were 63.54%/a﹣165.49%/a and 512.37%/a﹣519.15%/a, respectively; Steady growth stage (1+ age), the SL and SW were 44.85%/a﹣48.05%/a and 110.15%/a﹣126.48%/a, respectively; Aging growth stage (2+ age), the SL and SW were 4.13%/a﹣10.29%/a and 32.16%/a﹣61.30%/a, respectively. The condition factors of 0-age and 2-age fish were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of 1-age and 3-age fish (Table 2). From the beginning of 2-age, the condition factors of female were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of male (Table 2). The females grew faster than the males. The growth of intensively cultured A. sapidissima was in a constant speed which can be described with von Bertalanffy equation: Lt = 467.92 (1﹣e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710)) (♀), Lt = 389.21 (1﹣e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975)) (♂) (Fig. 2); Wt = 1637.72 (1﹣e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710))3.1113 (♀), Wt = 834.08 (1﹣e-0.7374 (t + 0.7189))3.0574 (♂) (Fig. 3). According to the growth, the body length growth rate equations of female and male were dL/dt = 268.96 e-0.5748 (t +0.1710) (♀), and dL/dt = 287.00 e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975) (♂), respectively (Fig. 4); the body weight growth rate equations of female and male were dW/dt = 2928.86 e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710) (1﹣e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710))2.1113 (♀), and dW/dt = 1880.46e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975) (1﹣e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975))2.0574 (♂), respectively (Fig. 5); the acceleration growth rate equations for body weight of female and male were d2W/dt2 = 1683.51 e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710) (1﹣e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710))1.1113(3.1113 e-0.5748 (t + 0.1710)﹣1) (♀), and d2W/dt2 = 1386.65 e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975) (1﹣e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975))1.0574(3.0574 e-0.7374 (t + 0.1975)﹣1) (♂), respectively (Fig. 6). The inflection points on body weight growth curve of female and male were 1.517 8 a and 1.224 7 a, respectively (Fig. 6); They belonged to the inflection points of sexual maturity. Before inflection point, growth was faster; After inflection point, especially after sexual maturity (2 age), the growth rate of the 2+ age fish was decreased obviously; Meanwhile, after the breeding season, the 2-age fish die largely. Therefore, 2-age A. sapidissima should be sold in the commercialization industrial aquaculture.

Abstract:Piebaldism, a phenotype of congenital chromatic disorder, is rare in the Chiroptera. Here reported are four piebald bats from three species in three provinces of China during May and August 2016. First, we captured a pregnant female Fringer Long-Footer Myotis (Myotis fimbriatus) with piebaldism on its back at a canal cave in Neixiang County, Henan Province (Fig. 1a, b). Second, a pregnant female Schreber′s Long-Fingered bat (Miniopterus fuliginosus), captured at a cave in Zhashui County, Shanxi Province, exhibited some piebaldism on the back, tail membrane, tail bone and thigh bone (Fig. 1c, d). Finally, two male Chestnut Myotis (Myotis badius), captured in Jinning County, Yunnan Province, had slight piebaldism in left side of the back (Fig. 1e) and in the side of back and neck, respectively (Fig. 1f). The piebaldism of M. fuliginosus and M. badius is reported for the first time in China. Moreover, morphological parameters (e.g. body mass and forearm length) were measured with a digital caliper (TESA-CAL IP67, Switzerland) and electronic balance (MH. DIAMOND I2000). All bats were immediately released into their roosts after taken photos (HDR-CX760E, SONY). SPSS (SPSS Statistics version 17, IBM) was used to test the difference in morphological characteristics between piebaldism and health individuals. Analyses showed that the body mass of M. fuliginosus with piebaldism was larger than that of normal individual, and the forearm length of M. badius with piebaldism was larger than that of normal individual, the other morphological parameters of bats with piebaldism, however, were within the normal range (Table 1). Therefore, our results suggested that piebaldism had no serious influence on its normal survival and reproduction. This study provides the scientific basis for further research on physiological ecology of piebald bats.

Abstract:On April 20, 2016 and February 15, 2017, the Rusty-tailed Flycatcher (Ficedula ruficauda) and Blyth′s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) were photographed in the urban areas of Chengdu, respectively. According to some relevant literatures, these two species of birds are new records for Sichuan Province. Furthermore, the Rusty-tailed Flycatcher is a new record to the Chinese avian fauna.

Abstract:Eight bird species were recorded during a field survey in South Tibet of China from September to October 2016, including White-breasted Kingfisher nominate subspecies (Halcyon smyrnensis smyrnensis), Rufous-vented Tit nominate subspecies (Periparus rubidiventris rubidiventris), Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch nominate subspecies (Sitta cinnamoventris cinnamoventris), Barred Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia unchall), Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla), Yellow-vented Warbler (Phylloscopus cantator), Rufous-faced Warbler (Abroscopus albogularis) and Richard′s Pipit (Anthus richardi).

Abstract:On June 2, 2016, during our survey on the breeding waterbirds colony at Pangong Lake in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, we found two eggs of Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus) were laid in an incubating nest of the Brown-headed Gulls (Larus brunnicephalus). It was speculated preliminarily of two reasons for this interspecific nest parasitism behavior. One might be the shortage of breeding nest sites and nest material resources for the geese and gulls in the smaller breeding island. The other might be that some nests and eggs of geese being predated, and the birds had no time to complete the next reproduction before the fall migration. We did not follow the fate of this nest. The diets of these two bird species were different, however, the precocial geese fledglings might not needed to be fed by Brown-headed Gulls, making it possible for this interspecific nest parasitism.

Abstract:Leishan Moustache Toad (Vibrissaphora leishanensis) is a special species that mainly inhabits nearby creeks at 800﹣2 100 m above sea level with the intact nature vegetation. They spend most of their time in the habitat near creeks, dark and highly humidity. In generally, Leishan Moustache Toad finish their matings and eggings by the end of November. Commonly, their mating behavior is easily observed in the afternoon and at night. They lay eggs in cluster style and the males provide guarding in the nests with eggs. No any hibernation and estivation behaviors were detected in the study area, or the hibernation and estivation would be very short if they did have such behavior. It will take 3 years for their tadpoles developing to the stage of froglets.

Abstract:Two Asian pit-vipers (QY224 and QY225, stored at Chengdu Institute of Biology) were collected in Zoige, Sichuan Province in June, 2015. They were identified as Gloydius cognatus by evidence from morphology comparison and haplotype network based on mitochondrial genes ND4, which is the first discovery of G. cognatus in Sichuan. Its naming history and taxonomic position were discussed briefly.

Abstract:Chinese Sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), listed as the first level protected animals in China, is in extremely critically endangered status. The aquarium can be used as the major education and ex situ base for species conservation. In this study, the free-swimming velocity and respiratory frequency of 40 individuals distributed in 6 age groups (from 3 to above 30 years old) were observed respectively, and the behavioral changes of 9 sturgeons (♀ 6, ♂ 3) in quickly gonadual development stage (from the later-stage Ⅱ to stage Ⅲ) were compared (Table 1), in order to find the rules of these parameters to make the baseline for perfecting the cultured technology. Among the 40 individuals, eight Sturgeons of them were 3-year old with a total length of 122 ± 12 cm, body weight 8 ± 2 kg (n = 8); The sturgeons above 30 years, were 335 ± 8 cm in length and 220 ± 15 kg in weight (n = 4) respectively (Table 2). The swimming velocity of all sturgeons was 44.46 ± 5.62 cm/s (range: 30﹣60 cm/s), there were no significant differences between individuals in different age groups (P > 0.05, Table 2). The respiratory frequency during swimming was decreased significantly with the increase of age (P < 0.05), it was 10﹣20 times/min in the approaching mature age (17-year) and above, while it was 30﹣40 times/min in the younger groups (3﹣7 years) (Table 2). The swimming velocity and the respiratory frequency were significantly increased in quickly gonadual development stage when compared to the early stage of gonadual development, which were from 34.17 ± 10.06 cm/s to 47.32 ± 11.99 cm/s and from 17.3 ± 7.0 times/min to 30.7 ± 9.0 times/min, and the average enhanced percentages were 50% and 60% respectively. This indicated the swimming behavior of these animals changed significantly. As a result, the scope of the two behavior parameters can be set down with the age and development stage changing respectively, which can be used as the reference of the physical evaluation in the aquarium.

Abstract:Gomphosus is a genus of tropical fishes that inhabit coral reefs in Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Two species has been described, but only G. varius was recorded in China (Fig. 2). Gomphosus caeruleus Lacepède, 1801, a new record in China, was identified from the specimens collected in a survey of the continental slope of the South China Sea (Fig. 1a). The main morphological characteristics defining this species are: body light tan in female and black in male; snout elongated with upper and lower jaws forming a projecting tube; standard length is 4.2 times of body height and 2.6 times of head length; dorsal fin rays Ⅷ-13, anal fin rays Ⅲ-11, pectoral fin rays i (unbranched) +14 (branched); vertebral bones 25; branchiostegal rays 7; body covered with middle to large size scales; lateral line complete, with 27 pored scales, and the lateral line curved abruptly downward below the posterior portion of soft dorsal fin; 9 small scales attached to the upper operculum, triangular in shape; predorsal scales 8; a black blotch between 1st﹣3rd spines of the dorsal fin; caudal fin truncated in shape. G. caeruleus can be distinguished from sibling G. varius mainly by color. The latter with shading to green in male, yellow to brown anteriorly and dark brown posteriorly in female, and a vertical dark-brown line on each scale of body. Furthermore, G. caeruleus has twice forked canal on lateral line scales, while G. varius has thrice forked canal on scales.

Abstract:Over the last decades field ecologists are more and more interested in understanding deeper biological questions, for instance: 1) the links between evolutionary and ecological dynamics. 2) For an important trait, to what extent determined by genes (as the degree of heritable reflecting the trait′s evolutionary potential)? 3) How do genes influence phenotypes, fitness and population dynamics? 4) How is the genetic correlation between important traits? As the development of biological statistics, especially the mixed effect model, combined classical theory of quantitative genetics, a professional model (Animal Model) provided us opportunity to carry out robust studies on wild populations. In this review, we introduce some basic conceptions of classical quantitative genetics, and then, by using typical examples, we focus on how to use the Animal Model. Finally, we discuss the future of integrating quantitative genetics and evolutionary ecology in the wild.

Abstract:The aim of the present study was to explore the application of digital subtraction angiography(DSA) intubation technique in the dynamic acquisition of cerebrospinal fluid in Ganges River Monkey(Macaca mulatta). A total of 28 monkeys were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group and control group, 14 individuals each. Each monkey was injected with 3% pentobarbital sodium solution through left anterior limb vein for general nesthesia, and then hairs on the back around the spine were eliminated after disinfection. In the experimental group, lumbar puncture was started with the DSA targeting, and the control group lumbar puncture was directly performed. The epidural anesthesia catheter was sent from thelumbar subarachnoid space to the occipital cistern, in which the pump was buried for all 28 monkeys. The data were analyzed with Chi-square test. Modified Tarlov reference criteria were used for neural function evaluation, and a modified incision healing grade standard was also used for healing evaluation, using Spss17.0 software for data analysis. In the control group, we obtained 8 cases of success and 6 cases of failure,with no cerebrospinal fluid outflow in all animals. In the experimental group, the lumbar puncture was successful. All the pumps were able to collect colorless and transparent cerebrospinal fluid. After surgery, all the Ganges River Monkeys were returned to normal on the same day. With DSA intubation technique, the operation is simple, safe, and feasible with high success of erebrospinal fluid collection. By embedding the pump, quick and repeated acquisition of cerebrospinal fluid can be realized when the animals are awake and in full physiological state, which will help to improve the welfare of nonhuman experimental primate animals.Sampling catheters are placed in the cisterna, which will guarantee the quality of collected cerebrospinal fluid,the convenience of studying pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, thus this approach has a certain practical value.

Abstract:Bdelloidea rotifers are the common invertebrates in moss fauna. However, Bdelloidea rotifers is difficulty to observe due to the smaller size of each in individual and also it is difficulty to separate them. Therefore the research on this group invertebrate was behind compared to other rotifer taxa. This article is aimed at comparing the extraction efficiency on Bdelloidea rotifers by different extraction methods and exploring the affect on extraction efficiency under different experiment condition. The multi-shock resuscitation methods and the sucrose shock resuscitation methods were selected according to the literature reports on extraction methods of moss-dwelling Bdelloidea rotifer. Impact factors, such as pH, temperature and humidity were chosen as different experimental conditions, and the experiment was done by setting up the different experimental groups with Orthogonal table of L9 (Table 1). All the data obtained from the experiment were deal with Excel 2010 and the statistic analysis was processed with SPSS 19.0 for analysis of variance to determine the difference among the experiment results. The study results showed that the average number of Bdelloidea rotifers were 94.68 ind/g and 165.33 ind/g by multi-shock and sucrose shock resuscitation methods, respectively (Fig.1). The sucrose shock resuscitation methods could extract more Bdelloidea rotifers compared with the multi-shock resuscitation methods significantly (F = 24.017, P< 0.05). The influence of the extraction conditions on the extraction efficiency was in the order: pH > humidity > temperature. Both range analysis and variance analysis displayed that while the maximum extraction efficiency can be expected under the following extraction conditions: pH at 7.8, temperature at 20℃ and humidity at 60% respectively (Table 2﹣4).

Abstract:Seasonal reproduction is a common life history strategy evolved by mammals inhabiting in temperate and arctic zones. This physiological process is controlled by hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA). As a circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) could oscillate spontaneously and respond light entrainment, then trigger rhythmic changes of melatonin, hypothalamic thyroid hormone, Kisspeptin as well as RFamide-related peptide (RFRP) to regulate the annual cycle from anestrus to reproduction. This review summarized the current understanding on annual clock and photosensitive neuronal circuits for regulating seasonal reproduction, and emphasized the significance of circadian clock, thyroid hormone, Kisspeptin, and RFRP.

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