Abstract:[Objectives] In the process of protecting flagship species, the national park often has an ancillary protection effect on other species with similar distributions, thus promoting the conservation of species with limited research. As an endemic bird on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, Sichuan Treecreeper Certhia tianquanensis has a narrow territory with a strong preference for pristine high-elevation coniferous forests, and part of its range coincides with that of Giant Pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Loss of pristine habitat due to human activities are threatening the survival of the Sichuan Treecreeper, leading to its classification as a national Grade II wildlife species in 2021. Although the habitat selection of Sichuan Treecreeper has not been well studied, its habitat may have ancillary protection from the flagship species, Giant Pandas. [Methods] In order to verify whether this ancillary protection effect is effective in maintaining the core habitat of Sichuan Treecreeper, a species distribution model was applied, in conjunction with functional habitat patch classification model, to predict and functionally classify its habitat. In addition, the degree of overall habitat fragmentation was quantified. Five commonly used metrics, Patch number, Patch density, Landscape shape index, Largest patch index and Correlation length were selected to measure the degree of habitat fragmentation of Sichuan Treecreeper. In this study, habitat of Sichuan Treecreeper was categorized into interior patches, small patches, transitional patches, edge patches, perforated patches, and other patches of undetermined category. [Results] Overlay analysis of model predictions with protected areas showed that Sichuan Treecreeper had a total potential distribution area of approximately 195 800 km², with 26.9% of its habitat under protection, most of which belonged to the core patches. However, only about 18.7% of the area belonged to the core range of Sichuan Treecreeper, indicating that the overall habitat was severely fragmented (Fig. 1). The interior habitat mainly located in the central and northeastern parts of Sichuan Province, the southern part of Gansu Province, and the southern part of Shaanxi Province in China. The high density of patches indicated that the habitat of Sichuan Treecreeper suffered from anthropogenic disturbance and poor connectivity. The environmental variable that contributed most to model construction was elevation (22.6%), followed by warmest quarter precipitation (13.5%), driest quarter mean temperature (12.9%), and vegetation cover type (11.0%) (Fig. 2). The potential habitat of Sichuan Treecreeper distributed near 2 500 m a.s.l., mainly inhabiting closed evergreen coniferous forests and closed evergreen broadleaf forests close to water sources. Sichuan Treecreeper prefers forests with steeper slopes and low human disturbance. Within a certain range, the Sichuan Treecreeper has an optimal adaptation zone to climatic conditions, with no clear preference for either slope aspect or forest cover. Among all the protected areas, the Giant Panda National Park protected the largest area of Sichuan Treecreeper habitat, accounting for 8.4% of the total potential distribution area (Table 1). [Conclusion] In conclusion, Sichuan Treecreeper received positive ancillary protection effects from the Giant Panda National Park, in which the core distribution area was well covered. However, the marginal fragmented habitat of Sichuan Treecreeper lacks adequate protection. According to the protection gap analysis, the unprotected core habitat is located in the southern part of Gansu Province (northeastern Diebu County). Detailed surveys of Sichuan Treecreeper are needed in this area to determine whether it is the actual habitat of the Sichuan Treecreeper. For the planning of future conservation measures, it is important to strengthen the restoration of connectivity in edge habitats, which is crucial for maintaining and restoring the connectivity of its distribution range.

Abstract:[Objectives] A songbird may sing different songs while defending territory and attracting mates. Research shows that bird songs may have functional variation within one’s song repertoire. Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis, a common songbird resident in Wuhan, China, can sing 1﹣3 song types individually. Do different song types of Light-vented Bulbul have any functional differences? Do the birds change song type use between breeding season and non-breeding season? To answer these questions, we recorded songs from a Light-vented Bulbul population and explored the functional variations between the two song types (named type A and type B) which comprise the song repertoire of this bulbul population through song parameter comparisons and playback experiments. [Methods] From March to June, and October to November 2022, we recorded 1 007 songs from 15 Light-vented Bulbul territories in the campus area of China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China. Song parameters of each song type in spring (breeding season) and in autumn (non-breeding season) were measured and compared between song types and between seasons using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Then from April to June, and September to October 2023, we did playback experiments in the area of campus and nearby, including 18 playbacks in spring, of which 10 were for group A (song type A as playback stimuli) and 8 for group B (song type B as playback stimuli), and 11 playbacks in autumn, in which 5 for group A and 6 for group B. Behavioural parameters (number of flights, minimum distance to the speaker, time spent staying within 10 m to the speaker, number of responding songs) were measured for each playback and were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney test to explore the potential functional difference between song types, and using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to explore the difference between seasons. [Results] Song parameters of 391 type A songs and 279 type B songs from 15 territories recorded in spring were compared and the results suggested that there were significant differences between song types in the following song parameters:peak frequency (P < 0.001), song duration (P = 0.008), peak time relative (P = 0.022), number of syllables per song (P = 0.020), number of syllable types per song (P < 0.001), energy (P = 0.042) (Table 1). Song type B has a longer song duration, more syllables, and more syllable types per song. Light-vented Bulbuls expend more energy to produce a type B song than a type A song. Songs recorded in autumn were also compared with those recorded in spring from the same territories. The results suggested the percentage of song types varies between seasons. The percentage of type A song was 52% ± 8% in spring and 62% ± 8% in autumn, while the percentage of type B song was 48% ± 8% in spring and 38% ± 8% in autumn (Fig. 3). Light-vented Bulbuls increased the use of type A song in autumn, with less usage of type B songs. Besides, the song parameters of each song type vary between seasons. Parameters with significant differences between seasons also differ between song types (Table 2). However, there were no significant differences in all responding behavioural parameters of the playback experiments in either spring or autumn between group A and group B (P > 0.05) (Table 3). Comparisons on responding behaviour parameters of Light-vented Bulbuls to the same song type playback also show no significant difference between seasons (P > 0.05) (Table 3). During spring playback, more Light-vented Bulbul individuals sang while responding and sang more songs with song type matching the playback songs than in autumn (Fig. 3). [Conclusion] It is speculated that the change in proportion of song type use between seasons may be the consequence of different singing energy allocation strategies of Light-vented Bulbuls during the breeding season and non-breeding season. Although there were significant differences in song parameters between the two song types in the repertoire of a certain Light-vented Bulbul population, no functional variations between song types were detected in this study with song playback experiments. The song-type matching during spring playbacks may be a signal of aggressive intention and Light-vented Bulbuls become less territorial during non-breeding season. This study quantified the differences in acoustic characteristics between different song types and between seasons in a population of Light-vented Bulbuls and discussed the potential functional variations between song types, which provided a new reference for understanding the communication behaviour of songbirds.

Abstract:[Objectives] With the development of global urbanization, urban areas are constantly expanding, and natural habitats around cities are being squeezed, resulting in a decrease in area and an increase in fragmentation. The process of urbanization will have a significant impact on ecosystem functions, which may lead to birds being forced to adapt to urban habitats and exhibiting homogenization of functional traits. However, there is relatively little research on the impact of urbanization on birds in China, especially on the functional traits through which urbanization will affect birds. Therefore, this study aims to understand the differences in bird species richness and functional diversity under urbanization gradients, and whether it supports the moderate disturbance hypothesis. Also, the study compares the differences in functional traits of birds in urban, suburban, and outskirts to explore which functional traits will affect birds’ adaptation to urban habitats. [Methods] We conducted bird surveys on three different urbanization intensity patches in Hangzhou, including 15 urban patches, 15 suburban patches, and 15 outskirt patches. Each urban survey area with varying levels of urbanization disturbance includes 3 patches of lake water habitats, 5 patches of mountain habitats, and 7 patches of green habitats. We calculate the species richness and functional diversity of birds in different urbanization levels in the region and compare the differences in functional traits of birds in urban, suburban, and outlying patches to explore which functional traits will affect the adaptation of birds to urban habitats. Bird surveys were conducted in November 2022, January to February 2023, March to April 2023, and June 2023. We designed a 1.5 km long survey transect of equal intensity for each patch and recorded the bird species and numbers seen or heard on both sides of the lines. We calculated the species functional richness, functional dispersion, Rao’s Quadratic Entropy, and Community Weighted Mean for each patch to evaluate the diversity of bird communities. We selected 30 functional traits to assess avian functional diversity and calculated functional diversity and community-weighted means (Table 1). The first four axes of the PCoA analysis, which accounted for more than 80% of the variation, were used as the new “traits” to calculate functional diversity. Mann-Whitney U test was employed to analyze the significance of differences in community-weighted means among different regions. [Results] The bird species richness level is highest in outlying patches, but suburban patches have higher bird functional richness (Table 2). Although the species richness and functional diversity in urban areas are lower than those in suburban areas and outlying patches, the overall proportion of species composition in urban areas is also higher, and a higher degree of urban greening supports a certain level of bird species diversity. There are significant differences in nest site selection, clustering, and feeding habits among birds in urban, suburban, and outlying areas (Fig. 3). Compared to birds in suburban and outlying areas, urban birds tend to build nests in tree crowns rather than on the ground or in shrubs (Fig. 5) and are more inclined to form larger groups (Fig. 6). In terms of feeding habits, the proportion of urban birds feeding on flowers and fruits is relatively high, while the proportion of feeding on invertebrates is relatively low (Fig. 4). We did not find significant differences in body morphometrics among birds in urban, suburban, and outlying areas. [Conclusion] The moderate disturbance hypothesis of bird diversity under different urbanization gradients in Hangzhou is reflected through the functional diversity of birds. Suburbs with moderate urbanization disturbance intensity have higher functional diversity, while outlying areas have the highest species richness. Urbanization mainly affects birds through functional traits such as feeding habits, nest sites, foraging layers, and flocking behaviours. Among them, flocking behaviours, nest sites, and feeding habits are the functional trait groups that distinguish urban birds from other birds the most. The low coverage of shrubs in cities, the high risk of human activities from the ground, and the tendency of vegetation types towards landscaping plants may be important factors contributing to significant differences in the feeding habits and nest sites of urban birds. Urban habitats, as a new and unfamiliar environment, are easier for larger groups of birds to adapt to. Improving urban shrub coverage, optimizing the selection of bird-feeding plants in landscaping, increasing and preserving ancient and dead trees, and providing artificial nests are crucial for birds to adapt to urban habitats.

Abstract:[Objectives] Site fidelity, defined as the return to and reuse of a previously occupied location, is a common behavior observed in many species. Factors influencing site fidelity include gender, age, season, among others. The Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollia, a first-level protected species in China, holds significant ecological and cultural value. Yanchiwan, located in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains in Gansu Province, serves as an important breeding and summering site for these cranes, marking the northernmost boundary of their known breeding range. Research on Black-necked Cranes in this region is crucial for their conservation. This study aims to investigate the differences in home range sizes among cranes of different ages during the summering and wintering periods, with a particular focus on the site fidelity of individuals born in Yanchiwan. [Methods] From 2018 to 2020, we captured juvenile Black-necked Cranes and fitted them with rings and satellite trackers. Individuals tracked for more than two summering periods were selected for analysis. Tracking data were filtered based on factors such as time, instantaneous speed, and accuracy. Kernel density estimation (KDE) methods were used to calculate the home range and core area for cranes of different ages during the summering and wintering periods use the “amt” package in R v. 4.2.3. The degree of home range overlap among different age groups was also assessed. Logarithmic transformations were applied to the home range and core area data, followed by differential tests. Statistical analyses were conducted using Student’s t test and Mann-Whitney U test, and QGIS was used for mapping. [Results] A total of 18 individuals were tracked over more than two summering periods. Juveniles exhibited smaller home range and core area compared to subadults during both summering and wintering periods (home range in summering period:t =﹣2.37, df = 28, P = 0.025; core area in summering period:t =﹣2.19, df = 28, P = 0.037; home range in wintering period:W = 128, P = 0.011; core area in wintering period:W = 110, P = 0.003). The largest home range and core area were observed in 1-year old individuals, but no significant differences were found between 1-year old and 2-year old subadults (Fig. 1). The degree of home range overlap did not significantly differ across age stages (P > 0.05). Notably, 33.33% of the 1-year old subadults did not return to their birthplace (n = 6) (Fig. 2), and one individual was recorded summering in Mongolia (Fig. 3). Additionally, Black-necked Cranes exhibited higher habitat fidelity during the wintering period across all age groups (Fig. 4). [Conclusion] This study demonstrates that Black-necked Cranes born in Yanchiwan exhibit marked exploratory behavior during the subadult stage, providing insights into the movement patterns of subadult cranes originating from this region. The findings underscore the critical role of the Yanchiwan breeding population in the overall population dynamics of Black-necked Cranes and highlight the significance of subadults in population dispersal. These results offer valuable information for understanding the contributions of the Yanchiwan breeding site to the broader conservation and management strategies for Black-necked Cranes.

Abstract:[Objectives] The wintering phase is a critical component of the avian life cycle, providing essential habitats for waterfowl in wetland reserves. However, there is ongoing uncertainty in accurately assessing the utilization of these reserves by wintering waterbirds, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current conservation measures. Satellite tracking technology presents a real-time monitoring solution, offering crucial data for precisely measuring waterbird habitat usage during winter. This technology enables accurate quantification of waterbird wintering habitats in relation to protected areas. [Methods] In January 2021, a large net cage was deployed in Manas National Wetland Park, Xinjiang, China, capturing 22 Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus using food triggers. These swans were subsequently equipped with ‘backpack’ solar-powered satellite trackers. Due to equipment malfunctions and a limited number of valid locations, data from nine individual swans were obtained, five from adult groups and four from juvenile family groups. After excluding data from the initial week of satellite tracking and from swans that had departed their wintering grounds, a total of 3 657 locations for nine swans were analyzed. Autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDE) was employed to compute individual activity areas, we then compare the sizes of activity areas between swans from the adult groups and juvenile family groups, and derive ten movement metrics. Additionally, generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) were used to investigate the relationships between movement metrics and the utilization of wetland parks by Whooper Swans in different groups. [Results] The daily distance covered by Whooper Swans averaged 2.43 ± 0.49 km, with an average activity area size of 4.18 ± 1.27 km. The mean activity range of juvenile family groups was 2.61 times larger than that of adult groups, and the mean core activity area size was 0.97 ± 0.30 km, with juvenile family groups being 2.49 times larger than adult family groups. Juvenile family groups consistently exhibited larger metrics than adult groups across all three aspects. Although juvenile family groups had larger wintering ranges than adult groups, the difference was not statistically significant. Activity areas overlapped with wetland park covers (14.87%) for both juvenile family and adult groups. Juvenile family groups displayed a higher proportional overlap with wetland parks compared to adult groups, indicating a greater tendency for juvenile family groups to move within wetland parks, although no significant differences were observed. Juvenile family groups had a higher rate of locations within the wetland park compared to adult groups. Adult groups exhibited a greater mean distance of locations from the wetland park than juvenile family groups, suggesting that adult family groups focus more on activities outside the wetland parks. [Conclusion] The results indicate that although there is no significant difference in the size of activity areas between wintering adult and juvenile family Whooper Swan groups, there are notable differences in their utilization of wetland parks. Juvenile family groups prefer to spend more time within wetland parks due to reduced human disturbance, richer food resources, and higher safety level. Based on these findings, it is recommended that relevant management authorities develop targeted conservation measures to effectively protect and manage wintering areas for Whooper Swans.

Abstract:[Objectives] The Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla is secretive and burrowing, making it difficult to observe and track in the wild. At present, there is no record of individual continuous monitoring of the Chinese Pangolin M. p. aurita. in the mainland of China, and it is urgent to explore and summarize effective tracking methods to fill the information gap in the home range and wild activities of this species. [Methods] From June 18, 2022 to January 28, 2023, we used GPS satellite positioning, VHF radio telemetry and infrared camera monitoring to successfully track a female Chinese Pangolin for 224 consecutive days in Heyuan City, Guangdong Province, China. We calculated the home range and core movement area using mix convex polygon method and kernel density estimates method, recorded the number of days that the resting burrows were used and counted the peak period of activities. [Results] Our results showed that:(1) The movement area of this female Chinese Pangolin was 23.989 hm², the core movement area was 10.953 hm², and the movement area was larger in wet season (Fig. 1). (2) During the lactation period, it frequently moved cub between different resting burrows, and of the seven resting burrows monitored, each resting burrow was used from 2 to 18 d (Fig. 2). (3) The peak time of activities was from 18:00 pm to 1:00 am the next day (Fig. 3), and the proportion of activity time outside the burrows was only 4.46%. (4) Although the combined tracking method has certain advantages for Chinese Pangolin tracking, there are still some problems such as short endurance time and difficulty in field investigation. [Conclusion] This combined tracking method can be used as an effective method for continuous monitoring of Chinese Pangolins in mountain areas in the future. This paper also enriched the basic ecological data of Chinese Pangolin, and provided key information on conservation of Chinese Pangolin.

Abstract:[Objectives] The Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus has been recently listed as a Class-Ⅱ National Key Protected Wildlife in China, assessed as an “Endangered (EN)” species by China’s Red List of Biodiversity. Currently, there is still a lack of research on its field ecology in China. The objectives of this study are to improve the understanding of the grouping pattern and daily activity rhythms of the Common Palm Civets, and investigate the effects of elevation, human disturbances and seasons on their activities in Jianfengling, Hainan, China. [Methods] From November 2020 to October 2022, the camera trapping method was used to study the activity pattern of the Common Palm Civet in Jianfengling, and 150 infrared cameras were deployed in areas of high level of animal activity, with cameras spaced at intervals of 500 m or more. Infrared camera data were collected every 4 months. Kernel density estimation was used to plot daily activity rhythms of the species in dry and rainy seasons, and seasonal differences in activity rhythms were analyzed by comparing the overlapping degree of daily activity curves of Common Palm Civets in the dry and rainy seasons. Their activity intensity was expressed as the ratio of the number of valid detections per camera site to the total number of valid detections. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze inter-regional and seasonal differences in elevations at the activity sites of Common Palm Civets, and the effects of human disturbance on their activity intensity as well as its seasonal difference. Generalized linear model was used to analyze the effects of elevation and human disturbances on their activity. [Results] A total of 637 independent valid photos of the Common Palm Civets were obtained, 376 in the dry season and 261 in the rainy season. The results showed that Common Palm Civets in Jianfengling were predominantly solitary (98.90%), and occasionally in small groups of 2﹣4 ind. Their activities were significantly affected by elevation and human interferences, being correlated positively with elevation and negatively with interference intensities (Fig. 3). The elevations of their activity sites did not differ significantly between the dry and wet seasons, but there were clear seasonal differences in the effects of human disturbance on their activities. Their activity intensities were significantly greater in the dry seasons than in the rainy seasons in areas with low human disturbances (P < 0.05), but no obvious difference between the dry and rainy seasons in areas with high human disturbances was found. Their activity intensities in the dry season were less in the high interference area than that in the low interference area (P < 0.05), but in the rainy season there was no regional difference in their activity intensities (Fig. 2). The activity time of Common Palm Civets was centered 19:00﹣6:00 every day, and there was a peak of activity in the dawn and dusk, showing typical nocturnal behavior, with occasional daytime activity (1.73%). [Conclusion] The Common Palm Civet in Jianfengling was a typical nocturnal animal and mainly lived solitary. Their activity intensities were correlated positively with elevation and negatively with interference intensities.

Abstract:[Objectives] Hydropotes inermis is a national second-class protected wild animal. Releasing captive-bred H. inermis into the wild can help restore wild populations. To study the activity patterns, altitude preferences, and home range of wild released H. inermis, we reintroduced 16 captive-bred individuals into Baohua Mountain in the Ningzhen Hills along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Fourteen of these H. inermis (six equipped with satellite trackers) were released in October and November 2022, and two (both with satellite trackers) in May 2023. [Methods] Data on positioning times and activity levels were organized and summarized, creating daily activity rhythm charts for the H. inermis, and a normality test was conducted using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov method. The significance of differences in daily activity rhythms across different seasons was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The latitude and longitude data were imported into ArcGIS to calculate the elevation of each point, and the activity range maps were generated using R software and imported into ArcGIS for area calculation. The significance of differences among seasonal activity range areas was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and the difference between breeding and non-breeding periods was examined using independent sample t-tests. [Results] From the initial release on October 13, 2022, to November 24, 2023, only one H. inermis individual continued to transmit signals, while 7 ind had stopped sending signals. Among those 7 ind, the dead bodies of 2 ind and the tracker of another were found, and 4 ind were missing (Table 2). The overall activity peaks for H. inermis in Baohua Mountain occurred between 03:00﹣06:00 and 15:00﹣18:00, with the lowest level of activity observed between 09:00﹣12:00 (Fig. 2). The elevation range of the wild released H. inermis was between 100 and 150 m, with no individual venturing into higher elevations (Fig. 4). The home range area varied by season, with average area was 0.693 ± 0.220 km2 in spring, 0.557 ± 0.170 km2 in summer, 0.473 ± 0.036 km2 in autumn, and 0.639 ± 0.118 km2 in winter. The average home range area during the breeding period was 0.676 ± 0.193 km2, compared to 0.562 ± 0.073 km2 during the non-breeding period (Fig. 5), although no significant difference between the two periods was found. Analysis of the missing individuals indicated that human disturbance was a major cause of mortality, posing a significant threat to the survival of H. inermis. [Conclusion] Despite necessary preparations before the wild release, such as health checks to ensure the animals met release standards and a period of rewilding training to help them adapt to the wild, were carried out, the success rate of the wild release was still low. Therefore, the release of H. inermis requires not only the selection of suitable seasons and locations for release, but also a thorough assessment of factors such as concealment conditions and the degree of human disturbance at the release sites. Management and protection efforts also need to be strengthened to reduce human interference and improve survival rates.

Abstract:[Objectives] Understanding the competitive relationship of the sympatric Plateau Pika Ochotona curzoniae and Plateau Zokor Myospalax baileyi in their nutritional ecological niches is of significant importance for a proper comprehension of their roles and positions within the grassland ecosystem, as well as scientifically defining their potential hazards. [Methods] This study selected the dominant rodent species in the alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Plateau Pika and Plateau Zokor), as research subjects, utilizing stable isotopes (¹³C and ¹⁵N) technology to investigate their nutritional ecological niches and interspecific relationships. [Results] Results showed that:(1) Enrichment of ¹⁵N and ¹³C stable isotopes in various tissues of the Plateau Pika and Plateau Zokor was shortest in their livers and longest in their claws and bones. The δ¹⁵N values in all tissues of the Plateau Pika were significantly lower than those of the Plateau Zokor, while δ¹³C values were significantly higher; (2) Within the tissues of the Plateau Pika and Plateau Zokor, the order of nutritional levels (NR), dietary diversity levels (CR), total area of the convex polygon formed by δ¹³C/δ¹⁵N (TA), and standardized ellipse area (SEA) were:liver < muscle < claws < fur < bones, and all four indicators in the Plateau Pika’s tissues were significantly lower than those in the Plateau Zokor (Table 2); (3) There was no nutritional niche overlap in liver, muscle and claw tissues of Plateau Pika and Plateau Zokor, but the degree of nutritional niche overlap in hair and bone tissues was 0.92‰2 and 1.17‰2, respectively (Fig. 2). And they all overlap among male populations. [Conclusion] To sum up, the nutritional niche of Plateau Pika and Plateau Zokor overlap only on a long timescale, while there is obvious differentiation on a short time scale.

Abstract:[Objectives] Rodents act as crucial hosts in transmitting diseases such as the plague. Having efficient methods to identify rodent species is essential for disease prevention. Species are typically identified based on morphological features such as fur and body structures in the field. However, rodents are highly diverse and have variations within and between species. Examining stable and sturdy skulls can help identify the species considering the unreliability of external appearance. Currently, there is limited research on the morphological distinctions of rat mandibles. We aimed to explore the morphological differences among four rat species in the Yunnan Province, including Rattus tanezumi, R. nitidus, R. norvegicus and R. andamanensis, and provide more efficient and accurate classification criteria for species identification. [Methods] We carried out traditional linear measurement analysis and geometric morphometrics analysis on 40 mandibular specimens (10 for each species). One-way ANOVA analysis was employed to examine the differences in traditional measurements. Principal component analysis, canonical variable analysis, and phylogenetic signal test were used to analyze the differences in the geometric morphology of the mandibles of the four Rattus species. The accuracy of different methods for species identification was tested by Bayes discriminant analysis and function discriminant method. [Results] There were overall significant differences in mandibular length, length of the molar row, mandibular height, and length of the diastema between the four species, with the difference between R. tanezumi and R. andamanensis being the most prominent (Table 1). The results of geometric morphometrics showed that the mandibular morphology of R. tanezumi was similar to that of R. andamanensis, and the mandibular morphology of R. tanezumi was the most different from that of R. nitidus. The morphological differences of the mandible between four species were mainly detected in the coronoid, angular, and condylar processes (Fig. 4 and 6). The species classification accuracy results of Bayes discriminant analysis and discriminant function analysis both showed that the two methods have considerable reliability in species classification accuracy (Table 2 and Fig. 7). [Conclusion] The mandibular morphology can be used as the basis for the identification between the four species. The geometric morphometrics analysis method can help identify species between the four Rattus species. In subsequent studies, this method can be applied to verify additional groups to obtain more extensive information on morphological differences. This will serve as a reference for species identification, further promoting the control and prevention of rodent-borne diseases.

Abstract:[Objectives] Wildlife feces have the advantage of being easy to collect, preserve and transport as a non-invasive sample and are widely used for physiological metabolite extraction and to explore the physiological status of wildlife, with fecal steroid hormones being the most commonly used indicator. There are few researches on the systematic comparison of each extraction step to optimize the extraction method, which may lead to uncertainty in the determination results. This study used captive Forest Musk Deer feces as experimental samples. A comparison of four steps, including fecal sample amount, grinding method, single or repeated extraction, and drying or non-drying, was set up to explore the influence of different factors on extraction contents and stability of results, so as to optimize the extraction method of steroid hormones in Forest Musk Deer feces. [Methods] Fecal progesterone and cortisol contents were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay and radioimmunoassay respectively. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA or independent-samples t test. [Results] The results showed that there were no significant differences in progesterone and cortisol contents between the 0.1 g, 0.3 g and 0.5 g sample groups, but the stability of the hormone measurements was poor in the 0.1 g group (Fig. 1). The contents of progesterone extracted from feces ground by the grinder were significantly different from that ground with liquid nitrogen by a mortar and pestle (t = 3.793, df = 12, P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in cortisol between the two groups (t = 0.307, df = 12, P > 0.05) (Fig. 2). There were significant differences in both progesterone and cortisol contents between single and repeated solvent extraction (t =﹣4.459, df = 13, P < 0.05; t =﹣16.077, df = 7.434, P < 0.05) (Fig. 3), and no significant differences in progesterone and cortisol between the supernatant (30% ethanol) drying and non-drying groups (t =﹣1.502, df = 13, P > 0.05; t = 0.600, df = 14, P > 0.05) (Fig. 4). [Conclusion] Therefore, the method of extracting steroid hormones from Forest Musk Deer feces is optimized to use feces ground by the grinder and more than 0.1 g, the supernatant should be repeated solvent extraction and no drying (under the premise of verifying that the concentration of ethanol in the liquid to be tested does not affect hormone determination), which could achieve accurate, fast and convenient effect.

Abstract:[Objectives] Owing to factors such as habitat loss, Musk Deer is critically endangered and has been listed as a first-class national protected animal in China. Musk Deer farming and artificial musk extraction are essential for the conservation of Musk Deer and the sustainable use of musk resources. The captive population of Forest Musk Deer Moschus berezovskii at Zherong Farm in Fujian represents one of the easternmost musk deer populations in China. However, there is a lack of research on the farming effects and musk production within this population. [Methods] The study was conducted at the Zherong Farm in Fujian, where the body conditions of 67 male Forest Musk Deer were assessed from September 1 to October 28, 2023 (Table 1). Each Musk Deer was sampled and subjected to muscone testing. SPSS 27.0 and R 4.4.1 were used to perform statistical analyses including correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, cluster analysis and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine the relationships between body condition, musk secretion and muscone content. [Results] The results indicated that the musk secretion of male Musk Deer at Zherong Farm in Fujian was significantly correlated with the length (r = 0.333, P < 0.05) and basal diameter (r = 0.421, P < 0.01) of their upper canine teeth (Table 5), which can be well fitted by the equation . Additionally, the muscone content in the musk was significantly correlated with the length of the upper canine teeth (r =﹣0.296, P < 0.05), but not significantly correlated with the basal diameter (r =﹣0.238, P > 0.05) (Table 5). Furthermore, a highly significant correlation was observed between the body silhouette of the male and its musk secretion (r = 0.411, P < 0.01) (Table 6). [Conclusion] Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that in Musk Deer farming and musk production of Musk Deer, musk secretion and muscone content can be predicted based on the characteristics of their upper canine teeth, specifically length and basal diameter, as well as their body silhouette.

Abstract:[Objectives] This study aims to clarify the expression characteristics of genes regulating fast and slow skeletal muscles of Yak Bos mutus at different altitudes and their adaptive mechanisms to hypoxia. [Methods] The Yaks were selected from Hualong County (1 900 m above sea level, hereinafter referred to as the low altitude group), Haiyan County (3 200 m above sea level, hereinafter referred to as the middle-altitude group) and Banma County (4 200 m above sea level, hereinafter referred to as the high-altitude group), Qinghai, China, with the low-altitude Yak and Cattle B. taurus were taken as the control. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting technology were used to detect changes in mRNA expression and protein content of genes regulating fast and slow skeletal muscle in Yak at different altitudes, respectively. [Results] The results showed that with the increase of altitude, the expression of MyoG that regulates the expression of fast muscle, gradually increased, the mRNA of MyoD which regulates the expression of slow muscle first decreased and then increased, while the protein expression of slow muscle first increased and then decreased (Fig. 2, 3). In addition, the expression of PGC-1 mRNA and PGC-1 protein gradually increased with altitude (P < 0.05) (Fig. 4, 5). [Conclusion] The above results showed that the mRNA expression of MyoG, MyoD and PGC-1 may be associated with the hypoxic environment. The muscle fibre types and the expression of regulatory genes of skeletal muscles changed to adapt to the low oxygen environment. The present study provides basic data for the in-depth study of the mechanism of hypoxia adaptation in Yaks at different altitudes in Qinghai Province.

Abstract:In July 2021, a snake specimen belonging to the genus Bungarus was collected from Zhexiang Town, Wangmo County, Guizhou Province (106°09′15″ E, 24°59′36″ N, altitude 485 m). After detailed morphological comparison and molecular systematic analysis, the specimen was identified as B. fasciatus, which is a new snake record in Guizhou Province, China. Morphologically, we mainly compared diagnosis characters and measurement data (Fig. 1). Phylogenetically, we constructed Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial Cyt b gene sequences. The ML and BI trees presented almost consistent topology, both showed that the new specimen from Guizhou was clustered with the B. fasciatus form Guangdong and Yunnan Provinces (0.99/96, BPP/BSP) (Fig. 2), and the genetic distance between them were from 0.2% to 0.9%.

Abstract:Theloderma gordoni was described from Chiang Mai, Thailand by Taylor, 1962. In 2018, it was confirmed to have a distribution in Yunnan Province, China, which is the first record from China. During a field survey in October 2023, one adult male and one subadult specimen of genus Theloderma were collected from Youjiang District, Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (23°44′07″ N, 106°23′43″ E; 780 m a. s. l.). Through morphological comparison, the newly collected specimens were basically consistent with the morphological characteristics of T. gordoni (Fig. 1). Based on 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene fragment, we performed maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses using IQ-TREE 1.6.12 and calculated the uncorrected genetic distances within Theloderma using MEGA X. All the new sequences in this study have been deposited in GenBank, and the other sequences used were retrieved from GenBank (Table 1). According to the 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis revealed that the specimens and T. gordoni specimens clustered together (Fig. 2), with uncorrected pairwise distances (p-distance) from 0.7% to 4.0% (Table 3), which are less than the p-distances between species of the genus Theloderma (9.3%﹣15.3%). Based on the morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis results, the two specimens were identified as T. gordoni (Anura, Rhacophoridae), making a new record of amphibians for the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Abstract:In June of 2023, a mole specimen was collected in the Wuyanling National Nature Reserve in Zhejiang, China (Fig. 1). Examinations of external and skull morphology and measurements (Fig. 2), along with a phylogenetic tree based on the Cyt b gene (Fig. 3) supported that it should be assigned to the species Euroscaptor kuznetsovi. We also found a certain degree of geographical differentiation from the geographical population reported in Vietnam, the type locality. This may imply the existence of subspecies or cryptic species. The discovery of E. kuznetsovi is a new record of mammals in Zhejiang Province, China, which supplements the biological data on the geographical distribution of the species and provides new evidence for subsequent related research.

Abstract:The Achalinus dabieshanensis was initially described as a new species in 2023. It is only known to be located in Anhui Province, China. This study provides morphological and molecular information of A. dabieshanensis, which was collected in Huangbaishan National Forest Park, Henan Province, China. In this study, 22 morphological indexes were selected for morphological comparison. The length was measured by vernier caliper, and the number of scales was described manually. Genomic DNA was extracted from liver tissue (preserved in 95% alcohol) using FastPure Gel DNA Extraction Mini Kit, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was targeted and amplified using primers Chmf4 and Chmr4. Sequences of 21 recognized species of genus Achalinus and one outgroup (Fimbrio klossi) were downloaded from GenBank (Table 1). Uncorrected pairwise distances (p-distance) among closely related congeners were calculated using MEGA 7.0 software. Phylogenetic tree was constructed by Bayesian inference (BI) analysis using PhyloSuite v1.2.2 software. The body measurements and scale morphology of the collected specimen showed little difference compared with A. dabieshanensis from type locality. The temporal of this specimen is 1/(1 + 1) + 2 + 2, which is morphologically different from the temporal (2 + 2 + 3) of the topotype (Fig. 1). Phylogenetic tree indicated that the specimen closely clustered with a topotype of A. dabieshanensis (Lu’an, Anhui, China) (Fig. 2). The genetic distance between them is 0.002, significantly smaller than the interspecific genetic distance of Achalinus (0.034﹣0.297) (Appendix 1). The ecological environment of the specimen was similar to that of the topotype (Fig. 3). Considering both the morphological characteristics and the molecular phylogenetic relationship, the specimen of Achalinus snake, HNNU2307I021, from Xinyang County, Henan Province was identified as A. dabieshanensis,which was a new provincial record of Henan.

Abstract:Located in northwestern Yunnan Province in southwestern China, the Gaoligong Mountains harbor rich bird diversity with 796 species, of which 14 are parasitic cuckoos. Yet, avian nest parasitism by cuckoos in this biodiversity hotspot has rarely been documented. On May 12, 2022, we encountered a parasitized nest on the bank of a trail in the broadleaf forest at an altitude of 2 202 m in the Baihualing region of the Gaoligong Mountains (Fig. 1 and 2). Through field observations combined with infrared camera monitoring, we confirmed the host species and the fate of the nest, and monitored the feeding behavior from May 14 to 21. We counted feeding frequency in every 2 h on each monitoring day. To assess how feeding frequency changed with nestling age, we used a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with Poisson distribution, with feeding frequency as the response variable and nestling age as the predictor. We also used kernel density estimation (KDE) to explore how feeding frequency changed through time of day. Finally, we extracted DNA samples from nestling feathers to identify the species of brood parasite. The host species was the Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis, a common babbler species in the Gaoligong Mountains with a broad elevation from 1 000﹣2 800 m. Molecular evidence confirmed the parasite as the Large Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides (breeding elevational range:700﹣2 500 m in the Gaoligong Mountains), with a high overlap of elevational range with the host species. We recorded a total of 298 feeding events, and GLMM suggested that feeding frequency increased with increasing nestling age (Fig. 3a). KDE identified three feeding peaks (from 8:00 to 10:00, from 14:00 to 16:00, and from 18:00 to 20:00) during the day (Fig. 3b). The nest failed due to depredation on May 22, 2022. The predator was identified as the Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis. Through a literature review, we confirmed that this is the first record of brood parasitism on the Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler by the Large Hawk Cuckoo. Future research on brood parasitism in this montane biodiversity hotspot would be helpful in understanding the role of this biotic interaction in shaping the elevational distributions of both hosts and parasitic cuckoos.

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