Abstract:Adaptive evolution occurs rapidly under the environment demand and can be an important element in the evolution of animals. Former researches about the adaptive evolution of animals are most focus on the changes of morphological traits, but few studies have compared the behavior. Relative to morphological traits, we know little about the adaptive evolution of complex behavior in nature. To understood the difference for adaptive evolution, we tested the nesting behavior in two subspecies of Microtus fortis, M. f. fortis from Qingtongxia of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and M. f. calamorum that from Dongting Lake of Hunan province. In the present study, two methods were used to evaluate the nesting behavior of each vole: the 48 h nesting test for the ability of using nesting materials, which materials were contained in the cage, and we grade a point of the nest that build after 48 hours; the 144 h test for the ability of collecting nesting materials, which the weight of materials used by rodents can be recorded every 24 hours and during the test. Differences of nesting points and nesting materials weight between the two subspecies were analyzed by One-way ANOVA test. We found that two subspecies of M. fortis are both behaved strong capacity of nesting, actively acquired nesting materials, and build good quality nests. However, the nesting behavior is different significantly between two subspecies of M. fortis in their nesting point (P < 0.01, Fig. 2) and the nesting material weight (P < 0.05, Fig. 3). There is a significant difference in nesting point (P < 0.05) and nesting material weight (P < 0.05) between females and males of M. f. fortis; but the differences of the nesting behavior between the male and female individuals did not appear in M. f. calamorum. Our results indicated both the two subspecies of M. fortis have strong nesting requirements, and M. f. fortis own better nesting ability in terms of nesting materials usage and collection rather than M. f. calamorum. For these two closely related species, the difference of nesting behavior can also reflect the adaptive evolution to different environments.

Abstract:The Chaihe forest area is located in the northern part of the Zhang Guang Cai ridge of the Changbai Mountain branch. The forest harvesting and plantation in the last few decades have changed the typical transitional characteristics of the broad-leaved forest belt in the past. The change of habitat structure will lead to the change of rodent community pattern. In order to elucidate the formation of the structure and pattern of the small rodent community, grasp the dynamics of community and the trend of development in Chaihe forest area, we conducted a survey of small rodents by trap day methods in 5 habitats of coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest, meadow, the along river forest and farmland of Xinfangzi, Daqinggou and Erdaohezi region between 2012 to 2015 (Table 1 and Table 2). According to the 20 m × 5 m specifications, line spacing of 20 m, 5 m between traps at the same row, we trapped the rodents for 24 hours using the seed of gourd. We trapped rodents once a year at each sample plot. Totally, we got 6 244 trap days during the 4 years and captured 1 025 individuals of todents. The results showed that Clethrionomys rufocanus and Apodemus peninsulae were the dominant species of coniferous (Table 3), among them, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest for C. rufocanus optimal habitat, broad-leaved forest was the most suitable habitat of A. peninsulae. A. agrarius and Cricetulus triton were dominant species in farmland, Microtus fortis was found only in meadows (Table 4). The total capture rate decreases with altitude decreasing, the population change of Clethrionomys rufocanus played a major role. A. peninsulae capture rate increases gradually, had a stronger adaptability to the disturbance of agricultural economy. The distribution of Rattus norvegicus was inluenced by the local residential density, Clethrionomys rutilus was mainly distributed in a relatively high altitude mixed forest of coniferous and broad-leaved trees (Table 5 and Table 6). Coniferous forest area of Chaihe forest area appeared the transition from coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest to broad-leaved forest, lost its typical features of previous, in recent decades compairing our results with the report of Sun Ruyong (1962b). The changes in the community pattern of small rodents were also found, although there were vertical changes in natural conditions and the rules of agricultural activity, an adaptive change in habitat change at the same time, it also showed the great impact of regional habitat characteristics on the distribution of microhabitat rodents at sampling points (Table 7 and Fig. 1).

Abstract:Color discriminability in birds is enhanced both by tetrachromacy and colored oil droplets. Most sexually monochromatic passerine birds, from a human visual perspective, were actually sexually dichromatic from an avian visual perspective, based on comparisons of plumage reflectance data using a visual model. In this study, we compared the plumage reflectance, body measurements and patch sizes between male and female Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus saturatus). Totally, 45 individuals (18 males and 27 females) captured in 2014 and fed in the campus of Beijing Normal University were used in this study. In the non-breeding season (15 Jan. 2017) and breeding season (17 Apr. 2017), body size, area of black throat and ear patch, and reflectance spectrums of crown, throat, ear covert and rump were measured from 29 birds each time. Based on multivariate analysis of variance of body measurements (Table 1) and independent t-test of patch sizes (Fig. 1), we found there is no obvious difference between males and females, in both breeding season and non-breeding season. From an avian visual perspective, Tree Sparrow is a sexually monochromatic bird through analysis of bird vision model that based on the plumage reflectance data (Table 2 & 3, Fig. 2). Summarily, there is no sexual dichromatic in Tree Sparrow in our analysis. We wish the above results can provide basic information for the evolution of sexual dichromatism in Old World Sparrows.

Abstract:One specimen (♂) was found at Xianfei Cave (26°58′25″N, 113°3′23″E, altitude 463 m) of Sifang mountain, and nine more specimens (4♀ 5♂) were collected at Jinjue Mountain (26°58′24.4″N, 113°3′23.1″E, altitude 311 m) in August 2016 in Hengdong County, Hunan Province. The size of these specimens are small with a measurement of 33.3﹣36.1 mm in forearm length. The feet length (not including the length of the claws) exceeds half of the tibiae length, and the outer edge of the tibia is decorated with hair (Fig. 1). The greatest length of skull is 13.57﹣14.35 mm. The skull is thick and robust, the shape of neurocranium is round and obviously higher than the upper jaw bone (Fig. 2). These specimens were further confirmed as Myotis longipes by phylogenetic inferred from their Cyt b sequences (1 140 bp) (Table 1, Fig. 3). The divergence of these specimens was analyzed between the M. longipes of Guangxi, Laos, Chongqing and Guizhou from Hengdong (Table 3). Here, we provided the measurement data of the morphological structure, skull feature of the M. longipes, and compares them with the specimens in Guangdong Province, China and India (Table 2). The ten specimens were identified as M. longipes, which was first found in Hunan Province. The specimens have been kept in the Museum of Vertebrate Specimens at Hunan Normal University.

Abstract:Ovulation and gestation are closely related to menstrual cycle. It is important to monitor the menstrual cycle of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in captivity. This study analyzed the menstrual cycle records of 8 females reared in Shanghai Zoo since 2002 to 2017, and the data were analyzed by SPSS22.0. The luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine of 2 female chimpanzees in a 60-day period was tested by using radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the average menstrual cycle was 33.5 ± 5.3 days; the average period of menstruation was 1.6 ± 1.1 days (Table 2); the average gestation period was 226.9 ± 17.3 days, with significant difference between the single and twins; LH surge appeared in estrus peak (Fig. 2).

Abstract:The objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics and differences of the testes morphology, vascular casts and arterial diameters in yak and cattle and to explore the physiological mechanism of plateau adaptability in yak testis. Twenty-eight testes from fourteen slaughtered adult yaks (Bos grunniens) and eighteen testes from nine slaughtered adult cattle (B. taurus) were collected in Xining, Qinghai Province, and their morphological parameters were examined, vascular casts were achieved by adopting the vessel perfusion technology, arterial diameters were measured, and all of data were analyzed using T-test. Results showed that there were differences in morphology (Table 1), arterial diameters of testis and epididymis between yak and cattle, and relative ratios of diameter of testicular artery or its branch to testis weight in yak was higher than that of cattle (P < 0.01) (Table 2). The general arterial architecture of yak testis was similar to that of the cattle. Additionally, there were fewer thick collecting veins and fine veins showed the compact woven bag-shaped arrangement on the surface of testis (Fig. 1). The study suggests that testicular vascular anatomical characteristics are the basis for supplying enough blood to yak testis, especially the compact woven bag-shaped veins arrangement is able to benefit for adjustment of temperature and sperm maturation, which might be one of the plateau adaptability characteristics of testis in yak.

Abstract:The dorsolateral fold is an important morphological structure of Anurans, but little is known about its histological structure and function. We studied the histology and histochemistry of the dorsolateral fold and dorsal skin by using Hematoxylin-Eosin, Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid Schiff and Masson staining methods in four Ranid species: Dianrana pleuraden, Sylvirana latouchii, Nidirana daunchina and Boulengerana guentheri. Our results found that: 1) The skin gland units of Ranidae consist of rich and diversified mucous and granular glands. There were two types of ordinary mucous glands (OMGs), types OMGⅠand Ⅱ, and the former was absent in B. guentheri and N. daunchina (Fig. 1 b2, d2). The granular glands were categorized into typeⅠ, type Ⅱ and specialized type, but type Ⅱ was only found in N. daunchina (Fig. 1 b3, Fig 2 b3). Specialized granular glands were only found in the dorsolateral fold of S. latouchii and B. guentheri (Fig. 2 c3, d3). 2) The dorsolateral fold consists of a fat layer which is similar between D. pleuraden and N. daunchina (Table 1, Fig. 2 a3, b3). The dorsal skin of N. daunchina had a fat layer whereas this layer was absent in D. pleuraden. The fat layer was 1.52 times and 1.60 times thick as their dermis in D. pleuraden and N. daunchina, respectively. The dorsolateral fold contained a layer of clustered and enlarged specialized granular glands in the dermis which was similar in S. latouchii and B. guentheri (Table 1, Fig. 2 c3, d3). Two types of granule secretions were found in the specialized granular gland (Fig. 2 d3). 3) Their functions included energy storage and antipredation. We speculate that the structural and functional evolution of the dorsolateral fold is related to environmental adaptation. The evolution of two types of dorsolateral fold in ranid species may represent two evolutionary orientations.

Abstract:The Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is one of the world′s top 100 worst invasive alien species and has a strong ability to adapt to the environment. This study aims to establish a rapid and stable in vitro culture system of Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts, and to provide material and method support for further study on the tolerance mechanism of Red-eared Slider to extreme environment at the cellular level. Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts were isolated from stage 13﹣14 Red-eared Slider embryo by trypsin enzyme digesting and differential adherence, then were primarily cultured and subcultured in vitro. The growth curves of Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts under different temperatures, different inoculation densities and different serum concentrations were drawn by MTT (Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide) method. The cultured Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts were identified using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts were transfected using Lipofectamine 3000. The results showed that: 1) Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts were typical spindle-shaped, irregular star or polygons. When reached to a certain density, they grew in multiple layers and arranged in a disorderly manner. With the increase of passage times, the cell volume increased and the spindle-like cells elongated. Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts could be cultured for at least 15 generations (Fig. 1). 2) The growth state of Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts was good at 30﹣34 ℃, and the growth rate increased with the increase of temperature. The inoculation density of Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts should not be less than 1.25 × 104 cells/cm2 and the optimum serum concentration of the cell culture was 10% (Fig. 2). 3) The expression of vim and acta2, two fibroblast markers, were detected in the cultured Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts by RT-PCR (Fig. 3). 4) Liposomes could successfully mediate the expression of exogenous green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein in Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts, and the transfection efficiency was about 30% (Fig. 4). This study successfully isolated and cultured Red-eared Slider embryonic fibroblasts in vitro and the cells could be used for the transfection and expression of exogenous genes.

Abstract:To explore the relationship between the development of visual organ, ecological habits and the feeding behaviors of Sebastiscus marmoratus, histological methods were employed to study the developmental characteristics of visual organ in larvae and juvenile fish. The results showed that the differentiation rate of S. marmoratus was faster than that of other species. As an ovoviviparous fish, the retinal nerve cell layer and the original lens were already formed at birth. The 1-day-old larvae of S. marmoratus already had phototaxis. The retina of 1-day-old larvae differentiated into six layers, the lens became fibrosis, and the diameter was about 72 μm. The retina differentiated into ten layers and the sclera appeared to adapt to its feeding behavior at 2-day-old. In this period, the swimming ability was enhanced. The crystalline capsule was formed during 5﹣7 days and its diameter of lens was about 99 μm. Table 1 describes S. marmoratus′ structural characteristics and development speed of the retina, and Fig. 1 shows the development characteristics of visual organ in S. marmoratus 1﹣5 days old larvae. On the 17th day, the corneal structure was differentiated and the choroid was fully developed. Until 37 days, the vision organ was completely developed in the juveniles. Fig. 2 shows microscope observation of the development characteristics of visual organ in S. marmoratus 5﹣26 days old larvae and young fish, and Table 2 reflects the relationship between the retinal formation time and behavior development in different fishes.

Abstract:Histological characters of taste bud during early development of Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi) at 3﹣28 days were observed through the paraffin section and H.E staining, and further observation was made via scanning electron microscopy to analyze the types and density of taste buds at 28 days old. The results showed that the mouth was not open until 3 days old when the taste bud was undifferentiated (Fig. 1a); at 7 days old, the mouth was open, and taste bud was in oval shape with gentle projections, which were distributed in the mucosa epidermis of pharynx epithelium, tongue, jaw and gill arch (Fig. 1b, Fig. 2a﹣d); at 14 days old, lower jaw began to develop, and taste bud was conical, meanwhile, the protrusion height was increased, and the number of taste bud in pharynx, gill and tongue began to increase (Fig. 1c, Fig. 2e﹣h); at 21 days old, taste bud was in trapezoidal shape with obvious projections, the number of which has increased in jaw, pharynx and tongue, most notably in gill arch (Fig. 1d, Fig. 2i﹣j); at 28 days old, taste bud developed completely, and the number of taste bud increased in all oropharyngeal cavity (Fig. 2k). Three main types of taste buds were observed by scanning electron microscopy (Fig. 3): type Ⅰ taste bud was in ball-like shape with contained quantities of microvilli, its processes were higher than that in the mucosa epithelium, and taste pores bumped out; type Ⅱ taste bud contained a few microvilli, its processes slightly higher than that in the mucosa epithelial , and taste pore was concave beneath; type Ⅲ taste bud contained a few microvilli, its processes were almost coplanar with the mucosa epithelium and the smooth inner hole. The number of Type Ⅰ taste bud was maximal, and that of type Ⅱ was minimal in the jaw, pharynx, while a large amount of type Ⅰ taste bud was observed in the tongue which contained no type Ⅲ taste bud (Fig. 4, Table 1). The results showed that taste bud development in early stage played an essential role in feeding, and that type Ⅰ and Ⅱ taste buds were properly the main types in mechanical and chemical recognition during food intake.

Abstract:In order to understand the growth pattern of shell morphology and body weight of young Hyriopsis cumingii cultured in cage, the non-linear growth models, Logistic, was used to describe the 4 morphological traits and body weight of young H. cumingii (Fig. 1). The results showed that the growth of young H. cumingii conformed to the Logistic growth model. Three growth parameters of the Logistic growth model were estimated by Levenberg-Marquardt iteration method, and the growth limits of the morphology and weight traits of the young H. cumingii were obtained in the observation cycle. They were 9.216 cm for shell length, 4.985 cm for shell height, 2.212 cm for shell width, 8.262 cm for height and 75.240 g for weight, respectively (Table 1). The cumulative growth of 4 morphological traits and body weight overall appeared first quick back slow trend (Fig. 2﹣4). The fastest growth intervals of the morphology and weight traits were, shell length 2.211﹣5.181 months, shell height 2.107﹣5.363 months, shell width 2.712﹣5.470 months, height 2.294﹣5.026 months and weight 4.247﹣8.065 months, respectively (Table 2). The weight had obvious growth retardation phenomenon. The instantaneous growth rate curve of all traits was bell shaped (Fig. 5), and it increased to growth inflexion point first and then it decreased gradually. The instantaneous growth acceleration curve was inverse “S” type curve (Fig. 6), and it had the highest point and the lowest point. The relative growth rate at the beginning of farming was highest, and then gradually decreases (Fig. 7). These results will provide theoretical guidance for ecological research and selective breeding, and provide reference for freshwater pearls grafting and culturing.

Abstract:Charadriiformes (Vertebrate: Aves) is a species-rich order with approximately 384 species belonging to 94 genera of 19 families (Fig. 1), and contains some model species to study migration and foraging behavior. The resources of mitogenome have rapidly accumulated in recent years due to the advanced genomic sequencing, however, Charadriiformes mitogenome has not been well studied (Table 2). Primer design has crucial importance to PCR experiments, and a successful PCR experiment depends on the quality and specificity of the primers. After the multiple sequence alignment, we found many conserved regions. Then, we designed the forward and reverse primers according to the overlapping and conserved regions. In this study, we designed 13 pairs of primers, with the amplified target fragment for each pair about 1.5 kb in length (Fig. 2, Table 1). In order to test the proposed method and prove the performance of these primer pairs, the whole primer settings were applied to amplify and sequence the mitochondrial genomes of four birds: Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus, Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola, Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, and Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura (Fig. 3). The results proved that these primer pairs were efficient. Taken together, the designed primer pairs are an effective toolkit of amplification and sequencing for the Charadriiformes mitogenomes. Our work provides a valuable resource facilitating further study of molecular systematics, population genetics, and phylogeography of Charadriiformes.

Abstract:Infertility is a serious reproductive health problem affecting family well-being and harmonious development in our country; globally, around 15% of heterosexual couples are unable to conceive their children without assistance. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) and precision medicine are key to resolve this problem, in which evaluation of sperm quality is necessary and important. However, the world health organization (WHO) laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen (fifth edition, 5th) just provides a rough analysis to evaluate human sperm, which brings inconsistency in clinic. How to precisely evaluate human sperm is an imminent and very challenging problem. In this study, a method in terms of protamine (PRM) pattern and value to evaluate human sperm was established. The primary result obtained by using of this new method is consistent with clinical outcome and better than that obtained by using WHO standard manual (5th). Thus, this study is valuable to ART and precision medicine, which can improve ART success rate and safety in clinic.

Abstract:Here we reported that the Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) could open the next-boxes and predate the eggs, nestlings or adults of Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus). Totally 43 nest-boxes were found to be opened, of which 4 were recorded by cameras, 2 were witnessed by observers of being opened by the crows, and 20 were found crow activities nearby. We assumed that all the nest-boxes were opened by crows, as no human activities or other Corvids were found around the nest-boxes. Of these 43 nest-boxes been opened, 19 were at incubating and nestling period of the Green-backed Tit, and 5 nest-boxes of adults, 3 nest-boxes of adults and eggs, 1 nest-boxes of adults and nestlings, 2 nest-boxes of nestlings and 8 nest-boxes of eggs were predated. For the cases that adults were predated, their blood and residual plumages could be detected. We suspect that crows might be able to open the nest-boxes by observing and learning from human practices, which would be confirmed by further studies.

Abstract:Nest-site selection plays an important role in avian breeding success. The Xinjiang Ground-Jays (Podoces biddulphi) is endemic to China and distributed restricted to sandy desert, scrub and desert poplar in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China. In this study, the nest-site selection of the Xinjiang Ground-Jays was investigated from April to May, 2017. Quadrat method was used with following parameters being investigated: distance to water, distance to path, distance to settlement, distance to graze land, vegetation species number, vegetation density and vegetation cover. A total of 12 nests were found, of which 9 were built in the bush of the Tamarisk (Tamarix) and located at the edge of desert, and one was built on the ground near the road (Fig. 1, Table 1). All the 7 parameters were measured for both the nest sites and control plots. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference between nest sites and control plots, and principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to analyze the main factors of the nest site selection of the Xinjiang Ground-Jay. The results showed that: 1) the vegetation species number and vegetation cover were significantly different between nest sites and control plots. The nest site had more vegetation species number and higher vegetation cover (Table 2); 2) vegetation species number, the distance of nest to the nearest road and the distance to water played the key roles in nest-site selection of the Xinjiang Ground-Jay (Table 3, Table 4). In summary, the nest-sites selection of the Xinjiang Ground-Jay was influenced by both the food availability and avoiding the disturbance, as a result of trade-off between survival and reproduction.

Abstract:We studied the breeding ecology and offspring sex ratio of Jankowski′s Bunting (Emberiza jankowskii) at Jarud Banner in Inner Mongolia during the breeding season of 2012 and 2013. Sex ratios of 12 nests with 59 offspring were identified by sequences amplified from CHD gene using the primer pair of sex1’ and sex mix. Additionally, we used one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to judge if the sex ratios in 2012 and 2013 were normally distributed, and one-sample T test to calculate the average clutch size and female sex ratio. All of these were done via SPSS 21.0. In our study area, the earliest first-egg date varied from 13th May to 12th June; the average clutch size was 5.1 ± 0.6 (4﹣6, n = 51). The average hatching period was 11.5 ± 0.7 d (10﹣12 d, n = 19), 13 (43.3%) and 15 (50%) nests fledged successfully in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Natural predators, abandon nests were the two main factors for nesting failures of Jankowski′s Bunting. The sequence length of Jankowski′s Bunting′s CHD gene was next to 170 bp, with part of the results showed in Fig. 1. According to the breeding sex ratio analyses from five nests in 2012 and seven nests in 2013, the breeding sex ratio was 1.20 ± 1.08 (1.50﹣4.00, n = 5) in 2012 and 0.86 ± 0.65 (0.25﹣2.00, n = 7) in 2013, the overall breeding sex ratio was 1.38 ± 1.03 (0.25﹣4.00, n = 12). In the one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, all the three ratios mentioned were normally distributed (P values were 0.62, 0.44 and 0.72). Based on the K-S test′s result, the sex ratio were not differed significantly in one sample T test, with P values 0.14, 0.13 and 0.24 respectively. So, we suggest that the sex ratio of Jankowski′s Bunting offspring tends to be stable to 1︰1. Besides, we provided conservation suggestions on enhancing the breeding success of Jankowski′s Bunting.

Abstract:In this study, we conducted the comparative anatomy of the cloaca of the female Yaoshan Stout Newt, Pachytriton inexpectatus, and found that: the female Yaoshan Stout Newt cloaca possess numerous sperm storage related glands, spermathecae and ventral gland, in the roof of the cloaca. This suggests that the cloacae of salamanders have the morphological structures which are related to the function of sperm storage. According to the experimental results, it implies that the Yaoshan stout newt may mates and lays eggs more than once.

Abstract:One snake specimen was collected on 22 July 2015 at Chebaling National Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province, China. According to morphological character and the data of Cyt b, it was identified as Lycodon liuchengchaoi which is confirmedly record in Guangdong Province. Specimen is kept at The Museum of Huangshan University (HUM20180001).

Abstract:Three individuals of snake were collected from Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province in August 2014. All specimens were preserved in 75% ethanol for permanent storage after liver tissues were taken and preserved in 85% ethanol. External morphology was examined and recorded on one of the three (YBU14573). Genomic DNA was extracted from liver tissue using OMEGA Kit and cytochrome b (Cyt b) was targeted and amplified using primers H16064 (5′-CTT TGG TTT ACA AGA ACA ATG CTT TA-3′) and L14910 (5′-GAC CTG TGA TMT GAA AAC CAY CGT TGT-3′). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed at 25 μl volume, and amplified DNA was produced after initial denaturing for 4 min at 95 ℃, 35 cycles of denaturation for 45 s at 94 ℃, annealing for 45 s at 58 ℃, extension for 1 min at 72 ℃, final extension for 7 min at 72 ℃, and ending at 10 ℃. The PCR products were purified and sequenced by a commercial company. Sequences editing and management were performed in Lasergene7.1 manually. Finally, all three sequences were obtained and deposited in GenBank (HM46857﹣HM46859; Fig. 3). Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis were performed in MrBayes 3.2.2 and RAxML 7.0.4 respectively. The DNA substitution model was chosen by Partition Finder 2 using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), which is a TVM + I + G model for the first codon position, a GTR + I + G model for the second codon position and a TIM + G model for the third position. In BI analysis, three independent runs of four Markov Chains for 5 000 000 generations were summarized, and sampled every 100 generations, and the first 25% were discarded as burnin. The ML analyses were performed in RAxML 7.0.4 under the most complex substitution model (GTRGAMMA) based on the AIC model assessment results. Partitions were unlinked and bootstrap proportions (BSP) were investigated with 1 000 bootstrap replicates using the fast bootstrapping algorithm, and default parameters with others. Both morphological comparison and molecular data consistently indicated these specimens were Pareas hamptoni, which is a species new to Jiangxi Province, China. The new discovery extends the geographical distribution of P. hamptoni to more than 600 kilometers eastward.

Abstract:Mismatch negativity (MMN), evoked by suddenly appeared discriminable change (deviant stimulus) in a sequence of repetitive stimuli (standard stimulus), is a negative component of event-related potential (ERP) with short duration. MMN could be found in both humans and animals and could be evoked in multiple perceptual modalities such as vision, auditory sense and olfactory sense without attention, suggesting that it reflects the brain′s automatic perception of the change in perceptual environment which is very important for animals′ survival and reproductive success. In order to clarify both advantages and disadvantages of MMN for future studies on animal cognition, this paper reviews MMN studies on various animal taxa, its generation mechanisms and generators as well as the influence factors. Finally, the possible prospect of MMN study in the future is proposed.

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Abstract:Lycodon liuchengchaoi Was Found in Henan Province, China, it was a new record in the province.

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