Mitochondrial control region sequence variation within the argali wild sheep (Ovis ammon): evolution and conservation relevance

The phylogenetic relationship of several subspecies of Ovis ammon were analyzed by comparing DNA sequences within the entire mitochondrial D-loop region. Five putative subspecies of ammon (dalai-lamae, darwini, hodgsoni, sairensis and adamerzi) were sampled from four provinces in China [Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu and Xizang (Tibet)] and two (servertzovi and nigrimontana) from Uzbekistan. The argalis sampled represent most of the currently recognized putative Subspecies of argali. Analysis of mtDNA sequences revealed high variability within ammon (7.7%), ranging from 2.4 to 11.5%. MaxiMUM-Parsimony tree indicated that nigrimontana from Uzbekistan diverged First, followed by severtzovi from Uzbekistan. The dispersal of argalis into China gave rise to three clades, suggesting that the argali originated in Western Asia and then dispersed throughout the central Asian highlands on a southeastward course. Among the Chinese argalis, mtDNA analysis places dalailamae genetically closer to hodgsoni than to darwini. Severtzovi and.. nigrimontana are two separate subspecies and genetically distinct from the Chinese argali.

The Genomes of Oryza sativa: A history of duplications

We report improved whole-genome shotgun sequences for the genomes of indica and japonica rice, both with multimegabase contiguity, or almost 1,000-fold improvement over the drafts of 2002. Tested against a nonredundant collection of 19,079 full-length cDNAs, 97.7% of the genes are aligned, without fragmentation, to the mapped superscaffolds of one or the other genome. We introduce a gene identification procedure for plants that does not rely on similarity to known genes to remove erroneous predictions resulting from transposable elements. Using the available EST data to adjust for residual errors in the predictions, the estimated gene count is at least 38,000 - 40,000. Only 2% - 3% of the genes are unique to any one subspecies, comparable to the amount of sequence that might still be missing. Despite this lack of variation in gene content, there is enormous variation in the intergenic regions. At least a quarter of the two sequences could not be aligned, and where they could be aligned, single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rates varied from as little as 3.0 SNP/kb in the coding regions to 27.6 SNP/kb in the transposable elements. A more inclusive new approach for analyzing duplication history is introduced here. It reveals an ancient whole-genome duplication, a recent segmental duplication on Chromosomes 11 and 12, and massive ongoing individual gene duplications. We find 18 distinct pairs of duplicated segments that cover 65.7% of the genome; 17 of these pairs date back to a common time before the divergence of the grasses. More important, ongoing individual gene duplications provide a never-ending source of raw material for gene genesis and are major contributors to the differences between members of the grass family.

Primatology in China

China is one of the countries with the greatest diversity of nonhuman primate species: 22 species with 30 subspecies, in 6 genera and 3 families. Primatology in China started in 1862, but fruitful study began only in the 1950s. More than 2,000 academic papers have been published, covering systematics, evolution, ecology, etho-ecology, conservation, reproduction and neuroscience. We review primatology in China over the past century, concentrating mostly on systematics, etho-ecology, conservation and reproduction. We aim to share this information with international colleagues and to seek possibilities for collaboration in the future.

亚洲南部球果蝠Sphaerias blanfordi(Thomas,1891)的亚种分化

球果蝠Sphaerias blanfordi(Thomas,1891)是亚洲南部喜马拉雅-印度支那地区的特有种,甚为罕见而少有报道.曾被认为是单型种,几乎无雄性特征的描述.蔡桂全和张遁治(1980)根据采自西藏东南部墨脱的2只雄性标本订了一亚种一墨脱亚种Sphaerias blanfordi motuoensis,其主要特征是颈下侧有一对灰黄色的圆形毛斑.中国科学院昆明动物研究所先后在云南西北部高黎贡山地区采获25号标本(9♂♂,16♀♀),发现球果蝠两性在外形上有明显的性别差异,雄性的颈下侧有一对圆形、灰黄色的刷状毛斑,但雌性均无;对比墨脱标本,认为墨脱亚种的鉴别特征不可靠,亚种不能成立.Lunde(2003)曾报道采自越南北部Mt.Tay Con Linh Ⅱ地区的43号标本,其前臂长和上犬齿外宽明显与印度、缅甸和云南西北部高黎贡山地区的标本不同,可能是真正的地理亚种.

中国西南部明纹花鼠三个亚种的分化

明纹花鼠是东南亚地区的特有种, 在中国有3 亚种(阿萨姆亚种、滇西亚种、滇南亚种) , 分布于 藏东南、云南西南部和南部。以往主要根据外部形态特征进行分类。为探讨3 亚种头骨性状的差异, 在测量15 个性状的基础上, 运用统计分析软件SPSS 1110 对其可测量性状进行多变量分析。结果及推测如下: ①明纹花 鼠3 个亚种的地位是确定的。②在头骨15 个性状中, 两两亚种之间具有显著差异的性状: 阿萨姆亚种与滇西亚 种有8 个(枕鼻长、吻宽、颧宽、眶间宽、后头宽、鼻骨宽、下齿列、下颌骨高) ; 阿萨姆亚种与滇西亚种有7 个(颅全长、枕鼻长、颧宽、眶间宽、后头宽、下颌高、下颌骨高) ; 滇西亚种与滇南亚种有4 个(吻宽、后头 宽、鼻骨宽、下颌高) 。③滇南亚种与滇西亚种之间的亲缘关系近于两者各自与阿萨姆亚种之间的亲缘关系。

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of wood mice (genus Apodemus Kaup, 1829) based on complete mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, with emphasis on Chinese species

Phylogenetic relationships among 15 species of wood mice (genus Apodemus) were reconstructed to explore some long-standing taxonomic problems. The results provided support for the monophyly of the genus Apodemus, but could not reject the hypothesis of paraphyly for this genus. Our data divided the 15 species into four major groups: (1) the Sylvaemus group (A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A. alpicola, and A. uralensis), (2) the Apodemus group (A. peninsulae, A. chevreri, A. agrarius, A. speciosus, A. draco, A. ilex, A. semotus, A. latronum, and A. mystacinus), (3) A. argenteus, and (4) A. gurkha. Our results also suggested that orestes should be a valid subspecies of A. draco rather than an independent species; in contrast, A. ilex from Yunnan may be regarded as a separate species rather than a synonym of orestes or draco. The species level status of A. latronum, tscherga as synonyms of A. uralensis, and A. chevrieri as a valid species and the closest sibling species of A. agrarius were further corroborated by our data. Applying a molecular clock with the divergences of Mus and Rattus set at 12 million years ago (Mya) as a calibration point, it was estimated that five old lineages (A. mystacinus and four major groups above) diverged in the late Miocene (7.82-12.74 Mya). Then the Apodemus group (excluding A. mystacinus) split into two subgroups: agrarius and draco, at about 7.17-9.95 Mya. Four species of the Sylvaemus group were estimated to diverge at about 2.92-5.21 Mya. The Hengduan Mountains Region was hypothesized to have played important roles in Apodemus evolutionary histories since the Pleistocene. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Status and distribution pattern of black crested gibbon (Nomaseas concolor jingdongensis) in Wuliang Mountains, Yunnan, China: implication for conservation

The western black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor), or black gibbon, one of the lesser apes (Hylobatidae), is mainly distributed in Yunnan, China. Of the four recognized subspecies, N. c. jingdongensis is endemic to the Wuliang Mountain, central Yunnan,

Geographic variation of Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae : Murinae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables

Geographic variation of Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae: Murinae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables. Zoological Studies 47(4): 393-401. A sample of 134 specimens of Apodemus chevrieri was investigated in the present study. Individuals were divided into male and female groups, and these were respectively subjected to multivariate analysis. Results indicated that 3 geographic populations of A. chevrieri inhabit southwestern China: a Sichuan population in western Sichuan Province; a northwestern Yunnan population ranging from northwestern Yunnan Province eastward to southern Sichuan Province; and a central Yunnan population in central Yunnan Province. In addition, a coefficient of difference analysis was performed among these 3 geographic populations. The results suggested that these 3 geographical populations of A. chevrieri belonged to 2 subspecies. Furthermore, we discuss the relationships of the subspecific differentiation of A. chevneri with changes in latitude in southwestern China.

Geographic variation of the Perny's Long-nosed squirrels (Dremomys pernyi) (Milne-Edwards, 1867) (Rodentia : Sciuridae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables

A sample of 114 specimens of Dremomys pernyi was investigated, 73 of which had intact skulls and were subjected to multivariate, coefficient of difference (C. D.), and cluster analyses. Results indicate that 4 subspecies (groups) of Dremomys pernyi inhabi

黑腹滨鹬亚种分类研究进展

黑腹滨鹬Calidris alpina因繁殖季节其腹部有黑斑而得名,是北半球最常见的鸻形目鸟类之一.黑腹滨鹬历史上共命名过11个亚种,经过2次主要的系统厘定后,目前认为分化有10个亚种.亚种间除在量度性状、体色性状和地理分布有区别外,还在换羽模式、线粒体谱系组成等方面有所不同,从而使其成为研究种群分化的理想对象之一.本文介绍了黑腹滨鹬的亚种分类性状、分类修订以及亚种分类系统,并就非繁殖期的相关研究作了概述.由于混群,非繁殖地的亚种鉴定与繁殖地的亚种鉴定在性状的使用侧重上有很大的不同.非繁殖地亚种的划分,以环志回收结果和线粒体DNA谱系组成为主,其它性状为辅.中国究竟有几个亚种分布还需要进一步研究后才能确定.

The decline and impending extinction of the South China tiger

The South China tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis is the rarest of the five living tiger subspecies, the most critically threatened and the closest to extinction. No wild South China tigers have been seen by officials for 25 years and one was last brought into captivity 27 years ago. The 19 reserves listed by the Chinese Ministry of Forestry within the presumed range of the tiger are spatially fragmented and most are too small to support viable tiger populations. Over the last 40 years wild populations have declined from thousands to a scattered few. Despite its plight and occasional anecdotal reports of sightings by local people, no intensive field study has been conducted on this tiger subspecies and its habitat. The captive population of about 50 tigers, derived from six wild-caught founders, is genetically impoverished with low reproductive output. Given the size and fragmentation of potential tiger habitat, saving what remains of the captive population may be the only option left to prevent extinction of this tiger subspecies, and even this option is becoming increasingly less probable. This precarious dilemma demands that conservation priorities be re-evaluated and action taken immediately to decide if recovery of the wild population will be possible.

Molecular phylogeny of the specialized schizothoracine fishes (Teleostei : Cyprinidae), with their implications for the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Molecular phylogeny of three genera containing nine species and subspecies of the specialized schizothoracine fishes are investigated based on the complete nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Meantime relationships between the main cladogenetic events of the specialized schizothoracine fishes and the stepwise uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are also conducted using the molecular clock, which is calibrated by geological isolated events between the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the Qinghai Lake. Results indicated that the specialized schizothoracine fishes are not a monophyly. Five species and subspecies of Ptychobarbus form a monophyly. But three species of Gymnodiptychus do not form a monophyly. Gd. integrigymnatus is a sister taxon of the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes while Gd. pachycheilus has a close relation with Gd. dybowskii, and both of them are as a sister group of Diptychus maculatus. The specialized schizothoracines fishes might have originated during the Miocene (about 10 MaBP), and then the divergence of three genera happened during late Miocene (about 8 MaBP). Their main specialization occurred during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene (3.54-0.42 MaBP). The main cladogenetic events of the specialized schizothoracine fishes are mostly correlated with the geological tectonic events and intensive climate shift happened at 8, 3.6, 2.5 and 1.7 MaBP of the late Cenozoic. Molecular clock data do not support the hypothesis that the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau uplifted to near present or even higher elevations during the Oligocene or Miocene, and neither in agreement with the view that the plateau uplifting reached only to an altitude of 2000 in during the late Pliocene (about 2.6 MaBP).

Physiological responses to capture and handling of free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

We captured free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises over three seasons and assayed leukocytes and serum biochemistry to investigate physiological responses to the capture and handlings. Serum thyroid hormones (THs) declined sharply in those porpoises compared with hormone variation in a captive male finless porpoise. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia were also significant in the free-ranging animals suggesting that conservation of serum sodium might be acutely vital for this freshwater subspecies. The animals captured in spring showed more significant neutrophilia and eosinopenia than those captured in autumn suggesting that they may be more affected by capture during the breeding season. Furthermore, physical examination of porpoises when out of the water was apparently stressful, particularly when they were kept out of the water for longer periods. However, an increase in circulating THs may be an adaptive response to accommodate these short-term stresses.