Species diversity of the subgenus Amiota (s. str.) Loew, 1862 (Diptera, Drosophilidae) in southern China

A total of 38 Amiota (s. str.) species (about 40% of the world total) are reported from southern China, with descriptions of 23 new species, i.e. sinuata species-group: aculeata Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov., subsinuata Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov., xishuangbanna Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov.; basdeni species-group: brevipartita Chen and Gao, sp. nov., curvispina Chen and Gao, sp. nov., lipingae Chen and Gao, sp. nov., huae Chen and Gao, sp. nov., longispina Chen and Gao, sp. nov.; taurusata species-group: asymmetrica Chen and Takamori, sp. nov.; femorata Chen and Takamori, sp. nov., yixiangensis Chen and Takamori, sp. nov.; alboguttata species-group: ailaoshanensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., arcuata Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., dehiscentia Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., jizushanensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., latitabula Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., luguhuensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., nozawai Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., paraspinata Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., shangrila Chen and Watabe, sp. nov.; and ungrouped: fuscicata Chen and Zhang, sp. nov., wangi Chen and Zhang, sp. nov., wuyishanensis Chen and Zhang, sp. nov. A key to all species from southern China is provided. The Amiota fauna of southern China at the species-group level is compared with that of six geographic regions. The subgenus Amiota is assumed to have originated and produced many species-groups in the Oriental region of East Asia, and then the basdeni, alboguttata and rufescens species-groups might have spread to Europe and North-Central America throughout the Palearctic region of East Asia and both the apodemata, sinuata and nagatai species-groups to tropical regions of South-East Asia.

Effects of food and topography on ranging behavior of black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) in Wuliang mountain, Yunnan, China

We studied the ranging behavior of a habituated group of black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) in a high, seasonal habitat on Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China, between March 2005 and April 2006. Our results indicated that the total home range size for the study group was 129 ha, or 151 ha if the lacunae within the borders in which gibbons were not observed were included. This is a much bigger range size than that of other gibbon species. However, 69.7% of their activities occurred within 29 ha. The intensity of quadrant use was significantly correlated with the distribution of important food patches. The mean yearly daily path length was 1,391 m. Gibbons traveled farther when they spent more time feeding on fruit. To avoid often passing through ridges with little food, gibbons usually stayed in the same valley for successive days, and then moved on to another valley for another several days, which resulted in a concentrated ranging pattern.

The Critically Endangered black crested gibbon Nomascus concolor on Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China: the role of forest types in the species' conservation

The Critically Endangered black crested gibbon Nomascus concolor of China, Laos and Vietnam is threatened by deforestation and habitat destruction but there have been no studies of how it uses its forest habitat, probably because of the typically rugged t

Maintenance of Multifemale Social Organization in a Group of Nomascus concolor at Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China

Many short-term studies have reported groups of black crested gibbons containing >= 2 adult females (Nomascus concolor). We report the stability of multifemale groups in this species over a period of 6 yr. Our focal group and 2 neighboring groups included 2 breeding females between March 2003 and June 2009. We also habituated 1 multifemale group to observers and present detailed information concerning their social relationships over a 9-mo observation period. We investigated interindividual distances and agonistic behavior among the 5 group members. The spatial relationship between the 3 adult members (1 male, 2 females) formed an equilateral triangle. A subadult male was peripheral to the focal group, while a juvenile male maintained a closer spatial relationship with the adult members. We observed little agonistic behavior among the adult members. The close spatial relationship and lack of high rates of agonistic behavior among females suggest that the benefits of living in a multifemale group were equal to or greater than the costs for both females, given their ecological and social circumstances. The focal group occupied a large home range that was likely to provide sufficient food sources for the 2 females and their offspring. Between March 2003 and June 2009, 1 adult female gave 2 births and the other one gave 1 birth. All individuals in the focal group survived to June 2009. A long-term comparative study focused on females living in multifemale groups and females living in pair-living groups would provide insight into understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of the social system in gibbons.

Diversity Variation of Ground-dwelling Beetle(Insecta:Coleoptera) Communities in Jiaozi Mountain, Yunnan, China

对云南轿子雪山自然保护区地表甲虫物的种组成及生物多样性季节变化进行了连续跟踪调查.调查结果如下:(1)通过对4种典型微环境样地(草地、灌丛、林地以及农田生态系统)连续3次跟踪连续调查,共获得标本2451头,分别隶属于24科.其中步甲科(Carabidae)为优势类群,占总数的62.10%;隐翅虫科(Staphylinidae)其次,占12.77%.可能由于海拔、气温等因素影响,该地区昆虫活动高峰期较短.(2)通过对4种典型微生态环境中地表甲虫的生物多样性的比较,表明不同生境内甲虫的多样性指数存在动态变化,在不同生境片区内甲虫存在迁移活动,甲虫多在灌丛中越冬,并随季节及食物源迁移.

Group Size and Composition of Black．and．White Snub．nosedMonkey(rhinopithecus)Estimated by Faecesof Sleeping Sites at Baima Snow Mountain

介绍了应用过夜地粪便来估计白马雪山黑白仰鼻猴群大小和组成的一种方法。该物种以单雄多雌单 元和全雄组的形式在树上过夜。粪粒根据其大小可分为3种类型：成年雄性的(最大)、成年雌性的(中等大小)和 未成年个体的(最小)。2000一2001年，搜集了滇西北白马雪山国家级自然保护区北部南任村(99。04 7E，28。34 7N) 附近黑白仰鼻猴群每个季节2个过夜地的粪粒。根据2001年11月猴群通过开阔地的数据来确定猴群组成。每个 季节，由于单雄多雌单元的成年个体数与其粪粒数正相关，所以二者回归直线的斜率可以看作是每个个体每晚 的平均排便量。由于该物种的栖息地主要为高山峡谷，而且能见度较低，因此，利用过夜地粪便比以前通过猴群 活动痕迹来估计猴群大小和组成相对准确、可靠。从估计成年雌性个体数的角度看，利用粪粒来估计种群大约有 9．4％的偏差。导致偏差的可能原因有杂草和灌丛对粪粒准确计数的影响、个体排粪率的差异以及成年雄性最小 粪粒与成年雌性最大粪粒的混淆等。该方法适应于栖息地和主要食物与本文研究种群相似的其他种群。

Sleeping sites of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) at Baima Snow Mountain, China

Data on sleeping sites of a group of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus bieti (Colobinae, Primates) were collected between April-July and September-December 2001 to try to determine the factors affecting site selection at Nanren (99 degrees

Temperature-Dependent Growth and Life Cycle of Nemoura sichuanensis (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) in a Chinese Mountain Stream

Plecoptera constitute a numerically and ecologically significant component in mountain streams all over the world, but little is known of their life cycles in Asia. The life cycle of Nemoura sichuanensis and its relationship to water temperature was investigated during a 4-year study in a headwater stream (known as the Jiuchong torrent) of the Xiangxi River in Central China. Size structure histograms suggest that the life cycle was univoltine, and the relationships between the growth of Nemoura sichuanensis, physiological time, and effective accumulated water temperature were described using logistic regressions. The growth pattern was generally similar within year classes but growth rates did vary between year-classes. Our field data suggest a critical thermal threshold for emergence in Nemoura sichuanensis, that was close to 9 degrees C. The total number of physiological days required for completing larval development was 250 days. The effective accumulated water temperature was 2500 degree-days in the field. Development during the life cycle increased somewhat linearly with the physiological time and the effective accumulated water temperature, but some non-linear relationships were best developed by logistic equations.

A taxonomic study of Oconnorella (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta) from Changbaishan Mountain, China

We describe three enchytraeid species, including two new species, from Mt. Changbaishan, Jilin Province, northeastern China. Oconnorella cheni sp. nov. is characterized by a simple spermatheca; absence of the oesophageal appendages and seminal vesicle; and nephridia from 6/7, with a distinct funnel and the efferent duct arising from the anterior part of the postseptale. Oconnorella globula sp. nov. is distinguished by a spermatheca with two diverticula; lack of oesophageal appendages and seminal vesicle; and nephridia from 6/7, with distinct funnel and the efferent duct arising from the mid-ventral or posteroventral part of the postseptale. We redescribe Oconnorella changbaishanensis (Xie et al., 2000) from type and live specimens, and amend some characters that cannot be investigated clearly from mounted specimens. We revise the generic diagnosis of Oconnorella.