Abstract:We studied the composition and quality of Père David''s deer (Elaphurus davidianus) winter diets in Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland National Nature Reserve, Rare Birds, Jiangsu Province from December 2017 to March 2018 using fecal analysis and direct observation. We surveyed along seven transects (representing four vegetation types) and collected 228 fecal pellets, which formed 14 composite samples. We also collected plants at the foraging grounds to construct a reference library of plant cell morphology, which was used to identify plants in the fecal samples. The frequency conversion method was used to calculate the density of each food resource. The winter diets of Père David''s deer were composed of 51 plant species belonging to 14 families, with Phragmites australis (relative density 23.09%) and Spartina alterniflora (17.58%) being their staples. Other food plants included Suaeda salsa (6.50%), Imperata cylindrical (5.36%), Aeluropus sinensis (4.90%), Festucas arundinacea (3.83%), Scirpus planiculmis (3.45%), Suaeda glauca (3.27%), Puccinellia distans (3.12%), Lolium perenne (2.60%) and Artemisia capillaris (2.60%). Herbs constituted 96.73% of the total forage quantity, with the remainder consisting of twigs and leaves of woody plants. The percentage of crude protein found in the browse was sufficient for the nutritional needs of the Père David''s deer.

Abstract:To have more overall investigation, field surveys were carried out to investigate the diversity and distribution of mammals in Yanqing district by line transect method, camera-trapping, live traps, cave survey, and interview survey, Beijing from 2017 to 2018. We analyzed the factors influencing the mammal abundance and distribution. Twenty one species were recorded (belonging to 7 orders and 15 families). By the relative abundance index (RAI), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) was the highest detected species (28.27%), followed by Hog-badger (Arctonyx collaris, 21.47%) and Asian Badger (Meles leucurus, 13.79%), the Asian Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura shantungensis, 0.17%) and north China Zokor (Myospalax psilurus, 0.17%) were the least two species in number (Table 4). By the distribution, Wild Boar is the most widely distributed mammal, accounting for 84.21% of all survey grids, followed by Hog-badger and Asian Badger, 73.68% of the total number of survey grids. Asian Lesser White-toothed Shrew and other 5 species only have one record in the grid, 5.26% of the total number of grids (Table 1). The highest species richness was found in Songshan National Nature Reserve and the Wild Duck Lake Wetland both located in southwestern part of Yanqing. The minimum species richness occurred in Shuitou Valley Scenic Spots and Jiuyanlou Scenic Spots in the northeastern section of Yanqing (Fig.1). The main negative influence factors on the mammal diversity is recognized as “water resource availability” and “distribution of human activity”. On the purpose of better protection for the diversity of mammals in this region, we recommended that: (1) building diversion works or establish the permanent water points in water-deficient regions, and (2) strengthening the wildlife conservation education in non-protected areas to reduce the interference of tourism such as mountaineering to wild mammals.

Abstract:To study the seasonal activity pattern and regional heterogeneity distribution of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), we installed 130 infrared cameras alongside 57 transects at 1200-2500m above sea level in Foping National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi Province, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2017. The infrared cameras operated effectively for 100 685 days and took 1 831 effective pictures of giant pandas. Then we classified the pictures and the cameras’ working time according to bamboo-forest types and conservation-station locations to determine their seasonal spatial distribution and activity patterns. The results showed that: (1) Giant pandas were most active in spring, then in winter. The relative abundance indexes in Bashania fargesii forest and Fargesia qinlingensis forest, were respectively 2.89 and 3.72 in spring, and 2.95 and 2.74 in winter. The relative abundance index was highest in Bashania fargesii forest and Fargesia qinlingensis forest, and it means an activity peak of giant panda at March. The relative abundance index of giant pandas in B. fargesii forest was higher than that of F. qinlingensis forest in Nov, Dec and Jan, and lower in the remaining months. (2) Giant pandas existed in every conservation station, yet showed seasonal distribution differences. Sanguanmiao and Xihe stations, with the highest relative abundance indexes, caught their activity throughout the year. Giant pandas were primarily active in spring and winter at Daguping, Yueba and Longtanzi stations at a lower altitude; they were active in summer at Liangfenya station at a higher altitude, which is primarily covered with F. qinlingensis forest. (3) Human disturbance, showing some discrepancy between conservation stations, mainly included gathering, herding, travelling, domestic dog activity and monitoring. Though mostly sporadic, it affected the activities and distribution of giant pandas. This study has comprehensively investigated the seasonal dynamics and regional distribution of giant pandas in Foping National Nature Reserve. Its findings will provide valid reference for future conservation and management of giant pandas.

Abstract:Bite force of animals can reflect the ability of anti-predation, and attracting the opposite sex. For lizards, there is usually a significant linear relationship between head shape of individuals and their bite force. We performed the head morphometric analysis using species Trapelus sanguinolenta (♀13, ♂11) collected in Tukai Desert of Huocheng County, western Xinjiang, in July 2018. We measured the bite force of each individuals by a membrane pressure tester to analyze the relationship of the bite force with the sexual dimorphism in head. Then we employed the analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis, Akaike information model and stepwise regression analysis to analyze the difference in the head shape and bite force between females and males of the lizard species. The results showed that no significant intraspecific difference in the head morphological indexes for this lizard (Table 1), as well as no significant difference was found in the bite force between females and males. However, there was a difference of bite force in slope coefficients of head depth between males and females (Fig. 2). The bite force of the males increased faster with the head depth than the females did. The results of Principal component analysis and Akaike information model showed that head length, head width and lower jaw length were important factors affecting the bite force (Fig. 1, Table 2). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the bite force was mainly affected by head width (Table 3). The results indicated that the bite force of T. sanguinolenta is affected by the size of the head. No significant intraspecific difference in the bite force is consistent with the morphological characteristics of the head, which may indicate an adaptation of this species to the shrub habitat. Specifically, it is the result of a trade-off between head size and movement balance.

Abstract:In order to explore the influences of nonlinear phenomena (NLP) on the vocal responses in concave-eared torrent frogs (Odorrana tormota), and whether NLP can enhance the unpredictability of calls, strange male concave-eared torrent frogs were stimulated by replaying NLP and linear calls (Fig. 1). The numbers of evoked vocal responses were recorded and the spectral and temporal parameters of response calls were analyzed. The results revealed that NLP calls could cause more response calls in strange frogs (n = 22, P < 0.05, Table 2), but there was no significant difference in the first response latency (P > 0.05, Table 3) of two kinds of evoked response calls. We then employed Praat to divide the calls into different temporal segments and obtain various temporal and spectral parameters. Wilcoxon’s signed rank test was used to determine whether there was significant difference in sound parameters of two kinds of evoked response calls. The results showed that the total duration of response calls stimulated by linear calls was longer than that of NLP-stimulated ones, while other vocal parameters, such as average fundamental frequency, maximum fundamental frequency, minimum fundamental frequency and dominant frequency, showed no significant difference (P > 0.05, Table 4). It was possible that strange male frogs would respond to the conspecific calls instantly in order to protect their territory and resources, however, there were no differences in response time to NLP calls and linear calls. In terms of response call numbers, more responses were stimulated by NLP calls which contain more complicated information, and thus increase the attention of the receiver. The current study reveals that the NLP calls will enhance vocal unpredictability and cause more responses of strange male frogs.

Abstract:During the amphibian survey in Chishui Suoluo National Nature Reserve from 18 to 19 May, 2019, eight amphibian specimens were collected in Jinsha Ditch area (28°26′12″ N, 105°59′52″ E, altitude 465 m). The specimens were identified as Megophrys omeimontis, a new record of amphibians in Guizhou Province, China by morphological and molecular compare with the type locality specimen (Fig. 1 and 2, Table 2). The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed based on 16S rRNA gene fragments showed that the eight specimens were clustered with the M. omeimontis from type locality, and the genetic distance between our specimens and M. omeimontis from type locality was 0.04%, much lower than that between Megophrys species (Fig. 3, Table 3).

Abstract:During the fieldworks in June 2018, an adult male and two adult females (Fig. 1 and Table 1) were collected from Wenshan National Nature Reserve (23°21′41″ N, 104°50′26″ E, altitude 1 300 m) near the town of Fadou, Xichou County, Yunnan Province, China. Morphological measurements were taken for the three specimens. They have smooth olive dorsum with irregular dark-green marks and brown spots; tips of the fingers widely dilated and truncated; males with nearly entire webbed while female one third wedd; males with two side protuberant osseous tubercles on the tips of fingers while female absent; the chest of males beige with small lemon-colored spots, while the chest of female absent of spots with uniformly milk white. All major morphometric characters of these specimens were found to match with the type specimen of Kaloula nonggangensis. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene fragments showed that these specimens clustered with K. nonggangensis from the type locality (Fig. 2) and shared a haplotype. Therefore, we report K. nonggangensis as a new member of amphibian fauna of Yunnan. Morphological variation and additional natural history data of this species were described. This new record found suggestion similar animal fauna were in the karst areas from southeastern Yunnan and west eastern Guangxi.

Abstract:Gymnocypris chui, also known as the Zhus naked carp, belongs to Gymnocypris, Schizothoracinae, Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes, which was mainly distributed in the Lake Lang Tso, Ngamring County, Shigatse City, Tibet Autonomous Region. The regionality and particularity of the living geographical environment for G. chui made it very sensitive to external disturbance. Once the population resources were broken, it would be difficult to recover. The study of fish life history was of great significance to the protection and exploitation of fish resources, and reproductive biology was an important part of the study of life history. To understand reproductive biology of G. chui, total 307 specimens were collected from July 2017 to June 2018 in the Lang Tso, Ngamring County, Tibet (Fig. 1 & Table 1). The total length, body length (accurate to 0.1cm) and total weight (accurate to 0.01 g) were measured in fresh state aft-r sampling. After dissection, the weight of gonad and eviscerated body weight were weighed (accurate to 0.01 g). Gender and gonadal development were judged according to the description in references. The ovaries at mature stage (Ⅳ, Ⅴ) were taken for about 5g and fixed with 6% formalin solution, and then counted with a counter. Two hundred eggs were randomly sampled from different parts of IV ovaries. The diameter of eggs (accurate to 0.01mm) was measured by micrometer. The results showed that the shape of anal fin could be used as a preliminary tool for sex discrimination of G. chui. The female''s anal fin was oval. With a slightly pointed end and smooth edge, while the male''s anal fin had a notched edge, and the last three branch fins had horny barbs (Fig. 2). The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females and males G. chui was relative high from March to May (Fig. 3). The mean oocyte diameter was 2.18 mm, which is unimodal distribution (Fig. 4). Fulness and GSI showed the opposite trend (Fig. 5). The range of absolute fecundity was from 862 to 8 933 eggs. The mean absolute fecundity was 2 885 ± 2 765 eggs and the mean relative fecundity was 15 eggs /g (Table 2). Absolute fecundity positively correlate with body length and body weight, while relative fecundity had no significant correlation with body length and body weight (Fig. 6 & Fig. 7). The minimum size and weight were 217 mm and 122.68 g for mature females, and 198 mm and 91.93 g for mature males. The GSI were 3.92% for females and 3.34% for males. The minimum age at maturity was 7 for females and 6 for males. Sex ratio (♀︰♂) was 1︰0.967, which is consistent with the 1︰1 ratio (Table 3). During the investigation period, the water temperature of the rivers entering the lake ranged from 2.2 to 15.9 ℃ during the non-stop flow period and the freezing period, and the flow velocity ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 m/s (Table 4). These results suggest that G. chui had more yolk substances which can provide more nutrients for larvae to hatch. These results also reflect that G. chui experience more the environmental pressure in the Lang Tso.

Abstract:To understand the genetic diversity of Gobiopterus lacustris in the Leizhou Peninsula, transcriptomic sequencing of male and female gonads was performed. Using MISA software, 25 452 microsatellite markers were identified from the transcriptome data. A total of 14 708 single-base repeat types and 6 175 two-base repeat types were identified, while the numbers of three-, four-, five-, and six-base repeats were 4 223, 327, 15 and 4, respectively. By randomly selecting 50 microsatellite loci to design primers, 39 pairs of clear and stable bands could be amplified. The genetic diversity and genetic structure of G. lacustris were analyzed by microsatellite markers. It was showed that 11 microsatellite loci were polymorphic with different degrees of polymorphism, and the numbers of alleles ranged from 2 to 15, with an average number of 6 ± 3.9 (Table 2). The 11 microsatellite loci were used to analyze the genetic diversity of four populations including Zhanjiang Donghai Island population, Leizhou Jiulong Mountain population, Leizhou Fucheng population and Lianjiang Gaoqiao population. The average number of effective alleles of the four G. lacustris populations ranged from 1.919 to 2.485, and the observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity distributed at ranges of 0.343﹣0.465 and 0.381﹣0.483, respectively (Table 2). The average polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.348 to 0.465 (Table 2). Chi-square tests showed that most loci in the 4 G. lacustris groups did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05) (Table 3). Linkage disequilibrium analysis was performed in each population and 18 pairs of loci were found to be significantly or very significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) deviated from linkage equilibrium. The genetic differentiation of the 4 populations reached above average level (0.107﹣0.216) (Table 5). Molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) revealed that genetic variation was mainly derived within the population (Table 6).

Abstract:Based on the comparative morphological and molecular characteristics of five strains of Trichodina reticulate, redescription of this species was conducted in the present study (Fig. 1﹣3, Table 2). The results indicated that these five strains showed different phenotype differentiation patterns including different denticle morphologies and the presence or absence of central granules, thus this species has dominant intraspecific morphological diversity. However, the sequence similarity and genetic distance among the five strains of T. reticulata were 99.0%﹣100% and 0.000﹣0.008, respectively, and their major variation areas (V4, V5 and V7) of 18S rDNA possessed a consistent secondary structure (Fig. 6, 7), which suggests that genetic distances among these different strains are within the intraspecific level. Furthermore, the analysis of intra-species divergence on the basis of 18S rDNA and ITS-5.8S rDNA variation site and phylogenetic tree (Bayesian inference, BI tree and maximum likehood, ML tree) showed that these strains of T. reticulata with different geographical distributions and hosts were clustered into one clade mainly due to the same mutation site (Fig. 4, 5 and 8, 9), suggesting that the intraspecific differentiation for T. reticulata probably is mainly influenced by their genes, rather than the environmental factors including geographic distribution and host type. Besides, the present study confirmed that central granules should not be the main characteristics for species identification in T. reticulata.

Abstract:The discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was used to analyze and compare the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in six tissues and organs including heart, liver, kidney, muscle, brain and lung of Apodemus agrarius and A. peninsulae. SOD and POD were expressed in all six tissues and organs analyzed, but both enzymes showed their specific characteristics in different tissues or organs of Apodemus agrarius and A. peninsulae. A total of 9 polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis bands with a mobility of 0.15 to 0.66 were separated for SOD, while 20 bands with a mobility of 0.09 to 0.83 were separated for peroxidase. Strongest activities of the two enzymes were found in the liver and lung. The activities of SOD in 6 tissues and organs of A. agrarius were stronger than in A. peninsulae. The activities and distribution of POD in the six tissues and organs of A. agrarius and A. peninsulae were similar. However, there were significant differences in POD activity and distribution among tissues and organs in the same species.

Abstract:In order to explore the changes in reproductive hormones in female blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) during estrus and gestation, 11 breeding individuals were selected and their serum levels of estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (P) and prolactin (PRL) were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results showed that the serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in estrus and gestation were at a relatively stable level and showed a fluctuating secretion pattern. The maximum values in the two periods were 2.18 ± 0.69 U/L and 8.82 ± 1.83 U/L, respectively. The serum concentration of estradiol in estrus and gestation was also at a relatively stable level, with the maximum value at 27.73 ± 23.19 ng/L on the fist day of estrus, but the overall values were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.05). Progesterone remained at a high level during estrus, with the maximum value synchronizing with estradiol 2.41 ± 1.35 μg/L on the third day, which continued to decline during gestation, and reached the lowest point on the day of delivery 0.13 ± 0.14 μg/L. The overall values were significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). Prolactin first decreased during estrus, the lowest value was 0.15 ± 0.04 U/L, and then increased on the 3nd day. The level remained high during pregnancy, and reached the highest level 0.21 ± 0.05 U/L at the time of delivery, with no significant difference in the overall value (P > 0.05). The dynamic changes of each index during this period were preliminarily explored to provide reference data for reproductive physiology of blue fox.

Abstract:The crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is an endangered relict species, and has been threatened by many factors. In addition to human hunting and habitat destruction, natural enemies are also one of their deadly threats. However, the current research on its predation by natural enemies is very scarce. This paper reported the phenomenon of Ahaetulla prasina preying on the crocodile lizard. We observed this preying behavior by full event recording method. The crocodile lizard probably faced a higher risk of being prey. Besides snakes, its natural enemies may also be animals such as birds. During the procedure of raising and breeding, we must pay attention to strengthen prevention measures to prevent the crocodile lizard from being invaded by natural enemies.

Abstract:Quasipaa boulengeri is the amphibian of Anura, Dicroglossidae. Due to the characteristics of eating the pests of agriculture and forest as well as its demand on high environment quality, this species has been protected and also using as indicator species on the environment quality. However, its population size decreased sharply due to the both of ecological environment deterioration and over used by human beings. This species has been listed as the “vulnerable” species by the Red List of China’s Vertebrates. In this paper, we overviewed its survival situations based on its habit requirement, phylogenetic analysis, artificial breeding and reproduction, as well as its conservation to provide the basic data and theoretical basis for further study on this frog species.

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