Abstract:The dietary composition and seasonal dietary shift of the Asiatic Ibex (Capra sibirica) in the central Tianshan Mountains were investigated using fecal micro-histological analysis. Total of 37 species (genus) of plants from 14 different families were identified in the fecal samples of the Asiatic Ibex (Table 1). Poaceae was found to be the main food source of the Ibex, accounting for 54.30% and 59.34% of its diet in the summer and winter, respectively. Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Asteraceae were also important food items of the ibex. Within these groups, Poa alpine, Kobresia spp., and Stipa spp. were the most commonly foraged plants (Table 1). The result of Chi-square tests revealed that the foraging habits of the ibex in summer and winter were significantly different. The proportion of Rosaceae (Pearson χ2 = 13.737, df = 1, P < 0.01) and Asteraceae (Pearson χ2 = 4.784, df = 1, P < 0.05) consumed in winter was significantly lower than in summer, while the amount of Poaceae (Pearson χ2 = 4.319, df = 1, P < 0.05) consumed in winter was significantly higher than in summer. At the plant species level, there were significant differences in the proportions consumed in summer and winter (Pearson χ2 = 89.495, df = 36, P < 0.01) (Fig. 2). The results indicate that the Asiatic ibex of the central Tianshan Mountains exhibits a generalist feeding patterns with significant seasonal shift.

Abstract:In May 2017, one large female tube-nosed bat and two small male horseshoe bats were collected in Xingyi City and Anlong County of Guizhou Province by using mist net, respectively. One of them was identified as Hairy-winged Bat (Harpiocephalus harpia), the other two were identified as Rhinolophus huananus based on the characteristics of external morphology, skull and echolocation calls, which are two new records of Chiroptera in Guizhou Province. We observed a slight bulge in the abdomen of the female H. harpia, which indicated it may be pregnant. Thus, it was released after external morphology was measured and photographed. In this case, its skull data was absent. The specimens of R. huananus were preserved in College of Environment, Northeast Normal University, China. H. harpia has short tube of the nostrils. Its pelage was thick and soft, and hind foot, wing membrane and uropatagium were covered with tawny hair (Fig. 1). The body weight is 14.01 g with forearm length 48.23 mm (Table 1). The echolocation call of this species is frequency modulation (FM) type with peak frequency 56.04 ± 4.52 kHz at resting status (Fig. 2a, Table 2). R. huananus has large ears but relatively small of the tragus. The wide noseleaf of horseshoe was completely covered its muzzle. Its sella was short (height slightly more than width) with almost rectangular, and in not being tongue shaped (Fig. 3a). The body weight of the two specimens was 4.52 g and 4.12 g, and forearm length was 40.70 mm and 40.00 mm (Table 3). The skull narrow (Fig. 3b), and the greatest length of skull was 16.35 mm and 16.46 mm (Table 3). The type of echolocation sounds is frequency modulation-constant frequency-frequency modulation (FM-CF-FM), and the peak frequency are 68.48 ± 0.08 kHz and 67.18 ± 0.06 kHz at resting status (Fig. 2b, Table 2). The discovery of two bats species expanded their distribution region in China, enriched the ecological data and provided the basic basis for further research and protection.

Abstract:Two males of barbastelle were obtained near of Zhuping Village and Xiaoxi Village, Xiaoxi Town, Yongshun County, Hunan Province, on April 6th, 2014 and August 17th, 2015. It was a medium-sized species, and had triangular tragi and nearly square outline of ears with transverse ridges in shape. The ears joined across its forehead without a prominent projecting lobe, and the tragi length was nearly a half of ear (Fig. 1a). The dorsal and ventral fur appeared black brown with the hair tip slightly white, the ventral hair between patagium base and uropatagium was partially yellow-white. The skull is slightly flattened, and the small of tympanic bulla, The dental formula of specimens is 2.1.2.3/3.1.2.3 = 34 (Fig. 1b﹣e). They were identified as Asian Barbastelle (Barbastella leucomelas) based on its external morphology, skull characteristics, and the comparison of Cyt b and ND1 gene sequences by construction of Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic tree (Fig. 2). The specimens of B. leucomelas were a new record of Chiroptera for Hunan Province, preserved in the Vertebrate Collection, College of Biology and Environmental Sciences of Jishou University and Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, respectively.

Abstract:Social play is one of the common behaviors in primates. Social play, therefore, is an important part in life of Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta). The main objective of this study is to describe basic characteristics of social play of Rhesus Macaques by infrared cameras in Hongshan forest zoo of Nanjing in the winter of 2017. We recorded the behavioral parameters as following: beginning and ending time of each social play, play duration, age of playmates, number of playmates and the type of each play behavior. We took totally 7 496 social plays from the infrared camera recorder in continuous 10-day′s record, including 4 018 bouts of touching and catching, 1 012 bouts of chasing, 671 bouts of biting and wrestling, 53 bouts of other play behaviors, and 1 742 bouts of more than one play types. We analyzed the rhythm of the social play with ANOVA and found out the social play was with a significant rhythm with two play peaks at 08:30﹣09:30 and 10:30﹣11:30 (Fig. 1). We analyzed the influence of the number of playmates and the type of play behavior on the duration of the social play via Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U for pairwise comparisons. The results showed that the number of playmates and the type of play behavior had significant effects on the duration of the social play. In the process of a play, the more involved playmates, the longer duration of the social play. The social playing round with more than one types had the longest duration, followed by biting and wrestling, touching and catching, and chasing. Juvenile individuals of 0 to 3-year-old engaged more in touching and catching play behavior, while the subadult or adult individuals engaged more in chasing play behavior (Fig. 2). This study quantified the types and impact factors of social play of Rhesus Macaques, and provided quantified evidence for the management and welfare of the Rhesus Macaques in the Zoo.

Abstract:In September 2015, nine captive Chinese Monals (Lophophorus lhuysii), 4 males and 5 females (Table 1), in Fengtongzhai National Nature Reserve, Sichuan were blood sampled, to investigate and compare thirty-four physiological and biochemical parameters. The data were analyzed by T-test in SPSS 19.0 and the results indicated that, 1) There was no significant difference of blood physiological parameters between males and females (P > 0.05, Table 2). 2) The serum total protein level of males were significantly higher than that of females (P < 0.05), while serum urea levels showed a converse trend (P < 0.05, Table 3). However, there were no significant differences of other blood parameters including organics (albumin, globulin, creatinine, glucose, urea, enzyme, cholesterol, triglyceride et al.) and inorganic ions (Ka, Na, Mg, Cl, Ca, P, Fe) between males and females (P > 0.05, Table 3). Our results collectively indicated that several blood biochemical parameters such as serum total protein and serum urea levels were different between males and females in captive situation, while blood physiological parameters were almost at the same levels.

Abstract:To detect the sexual dimorphism pattern and its relationship between female fecundity in anuran, we caught 45 pairs of mating Duttaphrynus melanostictus individuals from Huangqiao Conservation Station in Wuyanling National Nature Reserve in March 2015, and measured their morphological traits [snout-vent length (SVL), head length (HL), head width (HW), interorbital space (IOS), tympanum diameter (TD), parotoid gland length (PGL), eye diameter (ED), length of lower arm and hand (LAHL), forelimb length (FLL), hindlimb length (HLL), body mass (BM)]. Then we collected female eggs to calculate their reproductive output (clutch mass and clutch size). We used linear regression to detect the relationship between morphological characteristics and SVL, the relationship between reproductive and body size, and the relationship of morphology within mating pairs. Paired t-tests were used to compare SVL and BM between sexes. One-way ANCOVAs were used to compare other morphological traits between sexes with SVL as covariate. We found female D. melanostictus had larger body size than males (Fig. 1, Table 1). Other morphological traits were positively correlated with SVL in both sexes (Fig. 2). Head length and hindlimb length were greater in males than in females after removing the effect of SVL, but other morphological characteristics did not differ significantly between sexes (Table 1). Both clutch size and clutch mass were positively related with female SVL and BM (Fig. 3), indicating that females could increase their fertility through increasing body size. Thus, in D. melanostictus, the formation of size sexual dimorphism was dominated by fecundity selection, while sexual dimorphism in other traits might be influenced by sexual selection and natural selection. Furthermore, we found only forelimb length showed significant correlation within paired toads (Fig. 4), which indicated there was assortative mating by forelimb length in D. melanostictus. In conclusion, current study provided direct evidence that fecundity selection could shape sexual dimorphism pattern in anuran, but also indicated that sexual selection and natural selection could influence the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Moreover, our results provided case study on assortative mating pattern in amphibians, and highlighted the importance of detecting multiple traits in assortative mating research.

Abstract:Captive breeding is an effective strategy for the conservation of endangered species, but it may affect their phenotypes in many cases. To investigate how captive breeding influences morphology and health status of Shinisaurus crocodilurus, we compared the morphological traits and bacterial infection rate for both new hatched ones and sub-adults of Shinisaurus crocodilurus born in captive breeding population and in the wild population. We got the following results: (1) the body size of new born ones was not showed a significant difference between both groups, but the sub-adults born in captive population was larger than those born in wild population by Bonferroni post hoc test (Fig. 1). (2) The tail autotomy rate was significantly lower for those born in captive population at both age stages (Fisher′s exact test, all P < 0.05; Fig. 2a). (3) The Bacterial infection rate was highest in sub-adults born in captive breeding population, but no significant difference was found between the two groups (Fisher′s exact test, all P > 0.05; Fig. 2b). Our study indicates captive breeding has enhanced growth rate, reduced predation risk. However, there is a slightly potential to increase the bacterial infection rate. More cautions should be taken in disease controlling in captive breeding programs for S. crocodilurus.

Abstract:The main objective of this study is to analyze the historical change and current status of fish species diversity of the Chaobaihe River Basin. We statistically compile the species composition of the fish in the Chaobaihe River Basin before the construction of Miyun Reservoir based on the historical fish specimens and research literatures, and compares it with the survey data of 23 collection sites in the Chaobaihe River basin in 2017, collection sites as shown in Fig. 1. Depending on the analysis and comparison, there were at least 47 species of native fish species before the construction of Miyun Reservoir in this basin. And now it reduced to 33 species, as shown in the Table 1 and the appendix. In addition, there are at least 8 introduced species in the basin, as shown in the Table 1. Cyprinid fishes in the Chaobaihe River Basin accounts for 67% of the total number of species. Most of them are low trophic level fish species. Zacco platypus is the dominant species. The fish diversity and spatial changes of six rivers in the basin were evaluated by Margalef richness index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou′s evenness index, the result of analytical computation as shown in Fig. 2, 3, 4 and 5. By analyzing the results we can see the degree of diversity of the mainstream is obviously higher than that of the tributaries in this basin, affected by the regulation of Miyun Reservoir (Regulate data of Miyun Reservoir as shown in Fig. 7) the upper reaches of the Miyun Reservoir are obviously higher than the lower reaches, and the Baihe River is the most diverse one which needs to be protected. Compared with the survey results of the Beijunhe River system and the Yongdinghe River system in the same period, the fish species richness, species diversity and species equability in the Chaobaihe River Basin are better than those of other two river systems, the data comparison as shown in Figure 8. Miyun Reservoir is the receiving waterbodies for the mid-route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. In this context, we should pay more attention to alien species in the Chaobaihe River Basin.

Abstract:A total of 100 Threadsail Filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer) (length 7.00﹣14.50 cm, weight 7.96﹣136.54 g) were collected from Yellow Sea as experimental samples. We then observed and measured every sample by light microscopy and vernier caliper. The features of the front view of the head, side view of the body, second dorsal fins and scales were analyzed. We then measured the morphological indexes of the fish body, and carried out linear regression analysis. The numbers of dorsal fin rays, caudal fin rays, anal fin rays, pectoral fin rays were also counted. It was shown that the surface of the body was covered with a variety of fleece scales, with. bony scales resembling dentile. Each piece of scale consisted of a base plate and a bony bulge. Between the ventral spine and abdomen was a triangular contractile cortical structure; The fish skin was full of black spots and stripes. The other typical characteristic of Threadsail Filefish was that six main lateral lines were extended from each eye. The variation of total length/standard length was minimum and the difference between female and male was the lowest, and the correlation equation was SL = 0.8239TL﹣0.0471 (R2 = 0.9763), which had the best linear correlation coefficient. The calculation of head length/proboscis length and head length/eye diameter had the lowest linear correlation coefficient, and the variation and difference between female and male were the highest. The general correlation equation of standard length and weight was W = 2.3743e0.2803SL (R2 = 0.9577), and it was W = 2.5406e0.2737SL (R2 = 0.9638) for male ones, W = 2.0328e0.2954SL (R2 = 0.9490) for female ones. The first dorsal fin consisted of two dorsal fin spines; the number of second dorsal fin was 30﹣34; The number of anal fins was 29﹣34; the number of ectoral fins was 12; the number of tail fins was 13; the pelvic fin degenerated into pelvic fin spines. The external difference between the female and male ones was the length of the second root of the second dorsal fin. The length of the second fin in males was about 1/6 to 1/5 of that in females. It appears that the distribution of this species has been extended to the yellow sea.

Abstract:Mt. Ailao, Mt. Wuliang and Mt. Cang are the key areas of biodiversity in Yunnan Province (Fig. 1), China. In order to reveal the taxonomy and phylogeny of earthworms from these areas, specimens were collected by digging and hand-sorting methods (Fan et al. 2012) in 2010, 2011 and 2016. Both morphological and phylogenetic methods were used to identify species. We analyzed both composition and p-distance based on either mitochondrial COⅠ, COⅡ, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, ND1 sequences or their combined genes. Phylogenetic trees and ancestral distribution area were also reconstructed with the combined genes. As results, a total of 3 families, 8 genera and 27 species of earthworm species were classified, including 21 species of Megascolecidae, 4 species of Lumbricidae, and 2 species of Moniligastridae (Table 1). Three new species were identified, and they were Amynthas wuliangmontis sp. nov., Amynthas jingdongensis sp. nov. and Amynthas lacustris sp. nov (Fig. 2). The mitochondrial COⅠ, COⅡ, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and ND1 genes were sequenced, and the average inter-species p-distance of combined sequences was determined to be 19.6% ± 0.5% (Table 2), while the average intra-species p-distance was 0﹣2.7% (Table 3). Both Maximum Likehood tree and Bayesian Inference (BI) tree showed the same phylogenetic relationship of these specimens (Fig. 3). We classified the BI tree into 7 clusters. Cluster 1 was constructed of all 4 Lumbricidae species. However, Clusters 2﹣7 were constructed of all Megascolecidae specimens. According to Cluster 7, it was verified that Amynthas and Metaphire were in a mixed group. Moreover, we suggested that the diffusion direction of Megascolecidae was from south to north according to the reconstruction of ancestral distribution area (Fig. 4), hence species may spread from Mt. Wuliang & Mt. Ailao to Mt. Cang. This is the first attempt for taxonomy and phylogeny analysis of earthworms in extension of Yunling Mountains. Our results show the biodiversity as well as the close phylogenetic relationship of earthworm species in this region, which will be valuable for further researching earthworms in southeast China.

Abstract:Six soil hypotrichous ciliates belonging to five genera and three families were morphologically investigated using non-flooded Petri dish method, live observation and protargol impregnation techniques. These organisms are: Urosomoida dorsiincisura Foissner, 1982, Urosoma emarginata (Stokes, 1885) Berger, 1999, Deviata brasiliensis Siqueira-Castro, Paiva & Silva-Neto, 2009, Gonostomum strenuum (Engelmann, 1862) Sterki, 1878, Gonostomum strenuum (Engelmann, 1862) Sterki, 1878, Gonostomum gonostomoidum (Hemberger, 1985) Berger, 1999, Wallackia bujoreani (Lepsi, 1951) Berger & Foissner, 1989 (Fig. 1, 2). Among them, Urosoma emarginata and Gonostomum gonostomoidum were first recorded in China. Deviata brasiliensis were first recorded from soil in China. The result showed that these populations differ slightly from historic populations, but they fluctuated within a narrow range. According to the results of cilium arrangement acquired by the adoption of protargol impregnation techniques, main taxonomic characteristics were measured and statistically analyzed, and the minimum values, maximum values, mean values, standard deviations and variation coefficients of main characteristics were calculated in all populations (Table 1﹣3). The results showed that the populations of every species investigated in this paper were slightly different from the same populations residing domestically and abroad. However, changes in these populations generally fluctuated within intra-species ranges. Therefore, this paper can enrich both species diversity of ciliates in China and researches concerning the geographical distribution of these ciliates populations.

Abstract:In order to study Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) genomics and protect endangered Leopard Cat, the biological characteristics including the morphology, the adherence rate, the frozen survival rate, the growth curve and the cell karyotype of in vitro cultured fibroblast cells were investigated. Three types of Leopard Cat tissues of cartilage, heart and lung were collected. The adhesive culture with tissue block was carried out for the primary culture of somatic cells, and then subculture was conducted after digestion by the trypsin. The frozen cell viability was calculated by cell counting method and the growth curve was made. The chromosome karyotype and G band were analyzed by normal chromosome specimen preparation technology. Fibrod cells were observed from D3 of cartilage tissue block primary culture and they overspread all the bottom surface of cultured flask by Day 6﹣7, while these events took place by D5 and D12 of heart tissue culture, and by D4 and D8﹣9 of lung tissue culture (Fig. 1). The cells derived from three organs or tissues all exhibited characteristics of fibroblast cells (Fig. 2, 3). The adherence speed following culture showed lowest to fastest from the heart-derived cells, lung-derived cells and cartilage-derived cells, respectively (Fig. 4). Comparing the frozen survival rates of three different sources of somatic cells, we showed significant reduction from P6 to P12 in both cartilage-derived cells (P6﹣P12: 91.0%﹣97.6% vs. 76.8%﹣85.5%, P < 0.05) and the heart-derived cells (P6﹣P12: 82.7%﹣88.1% vs. 43.7%﹣80.5%, P < 0.05). Lung-derived cells also showed similar trend but no significant difference was observed from P6 to P12 (P6﹣P12: 83.4%﹣96.8% vs. 73.9%﹣93.3%, P > 0.05) (Table 2). The growth curve analysis of three types of fibroblast cells showed an “S-model”, the cartilage-derived cells proliferated faster, next by the lung-derived cells, and the cardiac-derived cells proliferated slower (Fig. 5). The results of karyotype analysis showed that the number of chromosomes of all three different sources of fibroblast cells were 2n = 38 (Fig. 6), including 18 pairs of autosomes with 6m + 10sm + 2st types, one pair of sex chromosomes, and X chromosome was m type (Fig. 7, Table 3). This study established three fibroblast cell lines derived from three tissues of leopard cat, and analyzed their biological characteristic and karyotype. The results provide important biological information for future genetic research and species protection of leopard cat.

Abstract:Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniac) is a small mammal native to Qinghai-Tibet area of 3 000﹣ 5 000 m above sea level. Previous studies found that the sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-C4) gene is expressed in Plateau Pika skeletal muscle. Intraperitoneal injection is a simple and convenient method for drug injection. In order to verify the effect of Ldhc silence in Plateau Pika skeletal muscle by intraperitoneal injection of adenovirus pMultiRNAi-Ldhc as a method of RNAi, 27 Pikas were randomly divided into the RNAi-LDHC, RNAi-HK and control groups, each had nine individuals. The Pikas of RNAi-LDHC, RNAi-HK were injected with 4 × 109 pfu 0.65 ml adenovirus pMultiRNAi-Ldhc and pMultiRNAi-NS, respectively. The control group was injected the same amount of normal saline. Seven days after injection, swimming time and the expression level of Ldhc mRNA and protein in Plateau Pika skeletal muscle, and the levels of lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid as well as the content of ATP were detected. The results showed that, compared to the control group, RNAi-LDHC group′s swimming time reduced by 12.45% (Fig. 1). At the mRNA and protein levels, Ldhc gene expressions were reduced by 41.73% and 15.76%, respectively (Fig. 2). LDH, LD and ATP were reduced by 23.98%, 51.08% and 19.29%, respectively (Fig. 3). It is indicated that intraperitoneal injection of adenovirus pMultiRNAi-Ldhc can effectively silence Ldhc expression in Plateau Pika skeletal muscle.

Abstract:This study investigated the distribution, localization and expression of 4 kinds of sex-steroid hormone receptors in 7 parts of the gastro-entero-pancreatic system in bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, and discusseds the roles of these 4 kinds of sex-steroid hormone receptors. Tissue samples were taken from 7 parts of the gastro-entero-pancreatic system including esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, rectum and pancreas. Paraffin sections and Strept Avidin Biotin-peroxidase Complex (SABC) immunohistochemistry techniques were used to reveal 4 kinds of sex-steroid hormone receptors with antisera including rabbit anti-estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR) primary antibodies. Sections were re-stained by haematoxylin to localize the distribution of sex-steroid hormone receptors. Sections not re-stained by haematoxylin were used to analyze the optical density of positive reaction products, and the mean optical density was calculated by Image-Pro Plus. All the data of mean optical density were analyzed by using SPSS 19.0. Mean optical density values of each sex-steroid hormone receptor in 7 parts were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The results showed that all 4 kinds of sex-steroid hormone receptors were expressed in the gastro-entero-pancreatic system of bullfrog, and there was no obvious difference in the distribution pattern between female and male bullfrogs. Estrogen receptor α (ERα) mainly distributed in stomach gland, lamina propria of rectum and pancreas (Fig. 1). Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) mainly distributed in esophagus epithelium, lamina propria of rectum and pancreas (Fig. 2). Androgen receptor (AR) mainly distributed in esophagus epithelium, rectum and pancreas (Fig. 3). Progesterone receptor (PR) mainly distributed in esophagus epithelium, jejunum and pancreas (Fig. 4). Negative controls of esophagus, stomach, rectum and pancreas staining were also displayed (Fig. 5). Optical density analysis (Table 1) displayed that estrogen receptor α (ERα) had the strongest positive reaction in the stomach and rectum of bullfrog, and relatively weaker reaction in the pancreas. Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) had the strongest positive reaction in the rectum, and relatively weaker reaction in the esophagus and pancreas. Androgen receptor (AR) had the strongest positive reaction in the esophagus, and relatively weaker reaction in the rectum and pancreas. Progesterone receptor (PR) had the strongest positive reaction in the jejunum and relatively weaker reaction in esophagus and pancreas. The positive immunoreactivity of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in stomach and androgen receptor (AR) in esophagus, rectum was stronger in the female than in the male. The positive reaction of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in pancreas was stronger in the male than in the female. Finally, we summarized that estrogen receptor α (ERα) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) distributed most predominantly in the gastro-entero-pancreatic system, followed by androgen receptor (AR) and progesterone receptor (PR). And these 4 kinds of sex steroid receptors were mainly distributed in the esophagus, stomach, rectum and pancreas, especially in stomach, and rectum. The distribution of 4 kinds of sex-steroid hormone receptors in the gastro-entero-pancreatic system of bullfrog implicated that sex-steroid hormones might have multiple regulatory roles in the digestive function of bullfrog, especially in the function of stomach and rectum.

Abstract:The distribution and types of goblet cells in the intestine of Tilapia Galilaea (Oreochromis niloticus ♀ × Oreochromis aureus ♂) were studied by Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid Sthiff (AB-PAS) and Aldehyde Fuchsin-Alcian Blue (AF-AB) staining. The results showed that the intestinal mucosal layer of tilapia was thick, and a large number of intestinal villi decreased gradually from foregut to hindgut. Goblet cells were mainly located between the epithelial cells of intestinal villi, and their shape was mostly oval or approximately circular, and some were in a shape of a long and thin spindle (Fig. 1). The statistical analysis showed that the number of goblet cells per unit area from foregut to hindgut gradually increased, the average numbers of goblet cells in foregut, midgut and hindgut of were 230.0 ± 4.9 cell/mm2, 287.9 ± 7.5 cell/mm2 and 336.7 ± 10.0 cell/mm2, respectively, with significant difference among the three groups (P < 0.05, Table 1). PAS and AB-PAS staining showed that the goblet cells in tilapia intestinal were mainly neutral and acid double staining, the acid goblet cells were low in the intestinal segments (Fig. 2, 3), and the sulfuric acid cells were mainly sulfuric acid cells in AF-AB staining (Fig. 3), and the cups of goblet cells were lack of carboxylic acid.

Abstract:Number changes and distribution ranges of mounds made by subterranean rodent is the key to monitor the population size change for this group rodent. Traditionally, people counted the number of mounds and plotted a map to figure out their distribution ranges. Both of the methods had some problem in term of heavy workload and the results were far from perfect. In this paper we used a method named the real-time kinematic (RTK) which based on GPS to estimate the number and range of mounds by subterranean rodent and got a high precision result that can locate a point of the mounds in a precision in the centimeter level. We selected the study area in an area located in the Plateau Zokor (Eospalax baileyi) located in Zhuaxixiulong Township in Tianzhu County, Gansu province in where the subterranean rodent was founded. We used RTK technology to investigate the number and distribution of the mounds by Zokors. We combined ArcGIS software to analyze the changes of the mounds number and its relative population density. According to the more precision results, we believed this method is a good way to study the distribution pattern of Zokor′s mounds and the relative population density of Zokor′s, as well as damage assessment of rangeland caused by the Zokor. We suggested this method can be both used for investigating mounds number and its distribution range of subterranean rodent, as well as used in the investigation of hole made by the aboveground rodents.

Abstract:Two individuals of Lycodon gongshan were collected at two sites in Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province, China: Daheishan Forest Park and Hongbao Village, Yanbian County in three year period from 4th September 2014 to 5th September 2017. This species was a new record of snake in Sichuan Province.

Abstract:Six specimens of Chirixalus doriae were collected in Xuwen, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, which are the first record of this species in Guangdong Province (Specimen No. XW171001﹣XW171006). This species was found in Yunnan Province and Hainan Province. The new location will help people to understand the distribution pattern and evolutionary history of this species.

Abstract:Six small frogs were collected from location of Xiangsikeng in Mangshan National Nature Reserve (24°56′57.51″N, 112°59′18.21″E, 1 342 m), Hunan Province in April 2016 and May 2017, which were identified as Anura, Rhacophoridae, Rhacophorus, R. minimus, and they are new to Hunan Province. Fourteen morphological measurements of these specimens are presented and morphological characteristics were also described in this study. Then, total DNA extraction, PCR, and16S rRNA DNA sequences were carried out. Compared with other eight tree frogs sequences from GenBank, the phylogenetic tree supported the morphological characteristics. These specimens are preserved in the College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University.

Abstract:As in other mammals, the gut of non-human primates (NHPs) contains a complex bacterial community, which plays an important role in host nutrition and health. Studies of the gut bacterial community of NHPs bear both ecological and conservation significance. During the last decade, the knowledge on the gut bacterial community of NHPs has been rapidly accumulated due to the development and application of molecular methods. In the present article, we reviewed the recent findings on the gut bacterial composition and its four major influencing factors of NHPs. Previous studies have shown that in general, the bacterial community in the gut of NHPs is mainly composed of the members from 12 phyla, among which Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria are the predominant. These bacterial phyla contain numerous taxa at the lower taxonomical levels, and the similarities in the gut bacterial composition among different NHPs appear to be much lower at the family and genus levels than at the phylum level. Some families and genera account for particularly high proportions of the gut bacterial compositions in some NHPs species, and these bacteria are usually closely associated with food degradation of their hosts. The gut bacterial composition of NHPs is strongly influenced by host species and phylogeny, diet, age/sex, and social interactions. In the end, this article proposed several research aspects related to NHPs gut bacterial community that wait for future investigations. This review may contribute to the improvement of research on the gut bacterial community of NHPs in China, where such studies have relatively lagged behind.

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