Taxonomic status of the white-head langur (Trachypithecus francoisi leucoscephalus) inferred from allozyme electrophoresis and random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD)

Six sample specimens of Trachypithecus francoisi and 3 of T. leucocephalus were analyzed by use of allozyme electrophoresis and random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) in order to clarify the challenged taxonomic status of the white-head langur. Among the 44 loci surveyed, only 1 locus (PGM-2) was found to be polymorphic. Nei's genetic distance was 0.0025. In total, thirty 10-mer arbitrary primers were used for RAPD analysis, of which 22 generated clear bands. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on genetic distances using neighbor-joining and UPGMA methods. The results show that T. francoisi and T: leucocephalus are not monophyletic. T. francoisi from Guangxi, China and Vietnam could not be clearly distinguished, and they are not divided into 2 clusters. A t-test was performed to evaluate between genetic distances within and between T. leucocephalus and T. francoisi taxa groups. The statistical test shows that the taxa group within T: leucocephalus and T: francoisi does not significantly differ from that between T: leucocephalus and T: francoisi at the 5% level. Our results suggest that the level of genetic differentiation between T, leucocephalus and T. francoisi is relatively low. Recent gene flow might exist between T. francoisi and T. leucocephalus. Combining morphological features, geographical distribution, allozyme data, RAPD data, and mtDNA sequences, we suggest that the white-head langur might be a subspecies of T. francoisi.

On the little known species of threadfin breams Nemipterus mesoprion (Bleeker) and Nemipterus delagoae (Smith)

Among the fish species of the family Nemipteridae, the two little known species, namely, Nemipterus mesoprion (Bleeker) and Nemipterus delagoae (Smith) are recorded from the Cochin waters. Nemipterus mesoprion is a new distributional record from the west coast of India. N. delagoae is described with adequate numbers of specimen for the first time from Indian waters. Moreover, the results of the present study show that the colour of the viscera, the number of pyloric caeca and the gill rakers can also be used for the diagnosis of the species of the genus Nemipterus. The affinity of the above species with other related species of the genus Nemipterus and their geographical distribution are presented.

Late Pleistocene divergence and subsequent population expansion of two closely related fish species, Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and Australian anchovy (Engraulis australis)

Climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene ice ages produced great changes in species' geographical distribution and abundance, which could be expected to have genetic consequences. Living in the temperate upwelling zones of the northwestern Pacific, Ja

The Hypogean fishes of China

China has 92 described species of hypogean (cave and artesian) fishes. That is nearly one third of all the described hypogean fish species (299), more than any other country. Of all Chinese hypogean fishes 56 species show troglomorphisms, i.e., adaptation

Phylogeography of the freshwater catfish Hemibagrus guttatus (Siluriformes, Bagridae): Implications for South China biogeography and influence of sea-level changes

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) ; [2007CB411600]; [30530120]

中国东北濒危植物地理分布及优先保护研究

本文采用以世界自然保护联盟（IUCN）濒危物种等级和标准为依据的中国物种红色名录确定出东北地区濒危植物。统计整理出濒危植物地理分布资料，通过对受威胁系数及遗传价值系数等系数的计算得到各个濒危种的优先保护值和保护等级，并以丰富度、优先保护值为指标运用不同方法得到的濒危植物保护的热点地区。主要结论如下： 东北地区共有濒危植物25科42属60种，其中中国特有种8种。濒危植物科属种三个层次植物区系是温带性质的。 应用多指标的优先保护值进行综合分析，将60种濒危植物划分了3个保护等级。一级保护的有长白松等11科14属18种；二级保护的有朝鲜梾木等12科16属19种；三级保护的有鱼鳞云杉等13科17属23种。 针对保护濒危植物丰富度高的县市和达到对所有种保护的目标，并综合考虑濒危植物受威胁程度、遗传价值、利用价值、保护现状和名录收录的因素，本文确定6个地区包含的19个县市作为本文濒危植物优先保护区域。优先保护区域如下：长白山的安图县、抚松县、长白朝鲜族自治县、临江市、和龙县和靖宇县，辽东山地的宽甸满族自治县、桓仁满族自治县、本溪满族自治县、清原满族自治县、新宾满族自治县、凤城市、庄河市和大连市，小兴安岭的伊春市，张广才岭的尚志市，老爷岭北部的鸡西市，大兴安岭的呼玛县和根河市。 本文首次以县市为单位对各县市自然保护区进行综合评价并划分综合评价级别。确定的优先保护区域中有4个县市对濒危植物的保护尚属空白，它们是临江市、和龙县、本溪满族自治县和鸡西市,建议采取措施对这些县市的濒危植物种加强保护。应通过对自然保护区晋级方式加强保护的有安图县的长白松保护区和根河市的西伯利亚五针松保护区。应加强辽东山地的除国家级自然保护区外的其它类型自然保护区中濒危植物的保护。

九寨沟湖泊湿地植物群落与植物地理研究

九寨沟湖泊湿地在维持九寨沟的生态平衡中起着重要的作用，在旅游产业的发展下，湿地生态系统及生物多样性面临着较大的威胁。尽管九寨沟湿地具有重要的生态价值，但目前对其研究尚比较薄弱。湿地植物群落和植物地理研究可以为湿地资源的可持续利用和监测保护提供科学依据。作者从2004年8月到2007年11月对九寨沟湿地的植物物种组成、地理分布、优势植物群落的结构、生长动态、湿地土壤种子库进行了调查研究。主要结果如下： 1. 九寨沟湿地物种组成、地理分布特点及湿地植物群落特点 九寨沟湿地共有苔藓植物8科13属16种，维管植物为48科107属199种。九寨沟湿地植物的地理成份较为丰富，维管植物在科级水平上有7种地理分布型（变型），在属级水平上有13种地理分布型（变型）， 在种级水平上共有29种地理分布型（变型）。九寨沟湿地植物以温带成份和我国特有成份为主，同时兼有热带、亚热带成份和环极—高山成份。九寨沟湿地植物的分布表现出明显的垂直地带性和水平地带性。湿地植物群落可划分21个群落类型，不同植物群落类型的物种多样性及物种组成存在较大的差异。九寨沟湿地植物的物种多样性和群落多样性以及较高的生产力特征，是维持其湿地生态景观多样性和稳定性的基础。 2. 土壤、水环境、海拔等对湿地植物的分布及生物多样性的影响 九寨沟湿地土壤、水等环境因子存在较大的差异。帕米尔苔草和宽叶香蒲等群落的凋落物较多，土壤有机碳、土壤总磷较高，可能是九寨沟湿地的重要土壤碳库。 九寨沟湿地植物沿水环境梯度的分布规律表现为：沉水植物（轮藻—篦齿眼子菜，水苦荬，杉叶藻）——挺水植物（水木贼，芦苇，宽叶香蒲）——湿生草本（苔草、节节草、披散木贼）——湿生灌木（柳灌丛，小檗灌丛）等。海拔也影响湿地植物的物种组成。 水深对物种多样性有影响，水深与物种丰富度负相关。随着水深的增加，水木贼、芦苇、杉叶藻、宽叶香蒲等群落的物种多样性下降；在长期淹水和季节性淹水的地方，水木贼群落物种多样性存在显著差异。土壤总氮与水木贼群落物种丰富度正相关。 3. 土壤营养元素、水环境对植物生长的影响 水深影响湿地植物生物量的分配。芦苇无性系分株在47 cm水深的环境中单株平均生物量最大；在干滩地中（地面水深0 cm），叶生物量百分比最大，而茎生物量百分比最小，茎的生物量百分比和生长速率随水深的增加而增加；在较干的滩地生境中，开花率、花序的生物量百分比明显大于水较深的生境。 水深与水木贼地上生物量负相关，但水木贼地上生物量在长期淹水和季节性淹水的地方没有显著的差异。在水浅的地方，杉叶藻、水木贼、芦苇等植物群落中，其他伴生物种的生物量占样方总生物量的百分比较大。 土壤有机碳、土壤总氮、土壤总磷等对湿地植物生物量的影响比较大：宽叶香蒲地上生物量与土壤总磷正相关；水木贼地上生物量与土壤总氮正相关；杉叶藻地上生物量与土壤有机碳正相关。 水深、土壤营养成分对湿地植物高度、密度等有影响。水木贼的平均高度在季节性淹水的地方比长期淹水的地方低，平均密度在长期淹水的地方比季节性淹水的地方低；除了5月份，其他观察月份水木贼的密度都与水深负相关，同时与土壤有机碳正相关。另外，芦苇密度与土壤有机碳含量正相关，宽叶香蒲密度与水深负相关，帕米尔苔草高度与土壤有机碳负相关。 4. 优势植物群落的动态变化 在优势植物群落中，优势种的高度、密度、盖度、生物量等在群落中占绝对优势。除五花海，水木贼群落的物种组成、高度、生物量在两年间没有显著的变化。芦苇群落的物种丰富度在近两年有所增加。 湿地植物生长表现为明显的季节动态，生长的峰值大多在7月－8月。优势植物群落的物候与水文周期有关。湿地植物群落的物种组成和密度，可以作为对湿地监测和保护的生物指示。 5. 九寨沟湿地土壤种子库特征及其在湿地生物多样性恢复中的作用 水深和现存植被物种丰富度可以解释湿地土壤种子库的变化。水深可以解释表层物种丰富度45%的变化。现存植被物种丰富度可以分别解释10 cm土层、2－5 cm土层及5－10 cm土层土壤种子库45%、48%和25%的变化。 湿地土壤种子库的密度为0－15945粒m-2, 种子库中共发现23个物种。现存植被优势物种和种子库优势物种不同。各层土壤种子库密度和物种丰富度并不存在显著的差异，但第二层土壤种子库密度最大。海拔、现存植被优势种盖度、土壤总磷、土壤总氮、土壤有机碳对湿地土壤种子库的密度和垂直结构没有影响。土壤种子库物种丰富度小于地上植被物种丰富度。湿地土壤种子库与地上植被的相关性不大。在浅水区域，湿地土壤种子库在湿地植被恢复中有一定作用。但在深水区域，保护现存植被更重要。 The lakeshore wetlands are valuable ecological units of the Jiuzhaigou lakes. Pressure for travel industry development pose a continuing and severe threat to the biodiversity-support function of the wetland system. Despite the ecological importance of wetlands in Jiuzhaigou, they are so far poorly studied. Both general plant communties and biogeographical studies are needed in order to attain basis for sustainable use the wetland resources and adequate protection of these areas. The present study was undertaken to examine aquatic plants distribution and the species compositon, structure and growth dynamics of their communities with variations of environmental factors along altitudes, water depth and soil properities gradients in Jiuzhaigou. Analysis of field survey data collected during August 2004 and November 2007 in lakeshore wetlands in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. The results were as following: (i) Species composition and biogeography in wetland vegetation 8 families, 13 genus, 16 species of moss and 48 families, 107 genus and 199 species of vascular plants in Jiuzhaigou wetlands were found. The floristic compositions were abundunt. Ten geographical distribution types at family level, 13 geographical distributions types at generic level and 29 geographical distribution types at specific level in vascular plants were found. Most species in Jiuzhaigou wetlands are temperate elements and Chinese endemic elements, with a few of tropical and subtropical and some circumarctic elements. And the plant distributions show clear vertical and horizontal patterns. There were 21 major wetland plant community types. Species composition and species richness in different plant communities are different. The species diversity and plant community diversity and their high biomass are the basis for the diversity and stability of wetland landscapes in Jiuzhaigou. (ii) Water depth, soil nutrients and altitudes influence on the species diversity and plant distribution. Total phosphorous and organic cabon in soil were higher in C. pamiernensis and T. latifolia communities, where are important cabon reservoirs in Jiuzhaigou wetlands. Along gradients of water depth, among populations of the dominant plant species present: submerged macrophytes (Chara vulgaris, Potagemonton pectinatus, Veronica anagalis-aquatica，Hippuris vulgaris), emergent macrophytes (Equisetum fluviatile, Phragamites australis, Typha latifolia), helophytes (Carex pamirensis )and shrubs (Salix sp., Berberis sp. ). Altitudes influence on the assemblage of plant communities. Water depth negatively correlated with species richness. Specie richness showed differences between permanently flooded sites and seasonally flooded sites in E. fluvatile communities. And total nitrogen in soil was negatively correlated with species richness in E. fluviatile communities. Altitudes show no significant influence on species richness, but in fact, through our analyses, they do have influence on the assemblage of wetland plants. (iii) Water depth, soil nutrients influence on the plant growth Water depth influences the biomass allocation in Phragmities australis. The average aboveground biomass of a single ramet (4.2 g) was the largest in the habitat with water level 47 cm above the soil surface. At the habitat with water level under soil surface 15 cm (－15 cm), the leaf biomass percentage (of the total ramet biomass) was the largest (46.1%), and the height and percentage of ramose ramets ( with branches on stem )(of the total ramets in a plot) were found obviously different. The deeper in water, the larger the biomass percentage and growth rate of stems were. The flowering rate and biomass of panicles were greater in shallow water than those in deep water. Water depth negatively correlated with aboveground biomass of E. fluviatile. However, above-ground biomass of E. fluviatile showed no significant difference between permanently flooded sites and seasonally flooded sites. But in shallow water, more biomasses of accompanying species were found in dominant plant communities such as H. vulgaris communities, E. fluviatile communities and P. australis communities. Water depth, soil nutrients influence on shoot density and shoot length of wetland plants. The shoot density of E. fluviatile was correlated to water depth in all growth months. Annual average density was significantly lower at permanently flooded sites than at seasonally flooded sites. But the annual average shoot length was significantly lower at seasonally flooded sites than at permanently flooded sites. (iv) Growth dynamics of dominant communities in Jiuzhaigou wetland The shoot length and shoot density, coverage and biomass of domiant species were dominated in plant communities. The species composition increased in P. australis communities in recent two years. The species richness in E. fluviatile communities showed no difference between 2005 and 2007. The above-ground biomass and shoot density in Five－flower Lake from July 2005 to July 2007 were significantly different, while in other sites, the differences were not significant. Shoot height, shoot density and above-ground biomass showed significant seasonal changes in all sites. Growth dynamics correlated with the cycle of water levels in lakes. Most plants growth parameters peaked at July or August. The biomass of T. latifolia peaked in August. But the shoot length of T. latifolia in deeper water peaked in July. The shoot length of E. fluviatile increased significantly from May to August except in seasonally flooded sites in Arrow-bamboo Lake. The species composition of communities and shoot density can be used as bioindicators in Jiuzhaigou wetland. (v) Soil seed bank in Jiuzhaigou wetland and its role in vegetation restoration Seed density in all soil layer samples was negatively correlated to water depth. Water depth can explain 45% variance of species richness in surface layer in sediment. Species richness in extant vegetation can explain 45%, 48%, 25% variance of species richness in total 10 cm and in 2－5 cm and 5－10 cm layer sediment respectively. Mean seed densities in wetlands ranged from 0 to 15945 m–2. A total of 23 species germinated in seed bank. The dominant species in seed bank and extant vegetation showed great difference. The total number of species and seedlings that germinated in different layers was not significantly different. But the second layer had the greatest seed density. In shallow water, seed bank can contribute to vegetation restoration, while in deeper water, protection of extant vegetation may be a better strategy.

隆肛蛙属Feirana种群的系统学与动物地理学研究

对隆肛蛙属的物种构成进行了订正，建立新属肛刺蛙属Yerana gen. nov.；订正后的隆肛蛙属现仅隶2种， 即隆肛蛙F. quadrana和太行隆肛蛙F. taihangnicus。运用形态学分析探讨了隆肛蛙属物种及种群的形态差异和分类关系，通过分子系统学研究探讨了隆肛蛙属物种及种群的分类和系统发育关系，运用动物地理学方法结合系统发育关系探讨了隆肛蛙属种群的地理分布格局成因与历史过程。主要结果和推论如下： 1．隆肛蛙属物种构成的订正及一新属建立 建立新属肛刺蛙属，将隆肛蛙属中的原叶氏隆肛蛙F. yei归隶新属肛刺蛙属并更名为叶氏肛刺蛙Y. yei，，新属建立的主要依据为：（1）雄性肛部隆起，肛孔下方有两个布满黑刺的大的白色球形隆起，具单咽下内声囊， 第一指具婚刺；（2）形态量度分析表明叶氏肛刺蛙与隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙的形态差异远大于后两者之间的差异；（3）叶氏肛刺蛙的分布区与隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙的分布区距离较远且呈隔离状态；（4）分子系统学研究资料（Jiang et al.,2005）证明叶氏肛刺蛙与隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙非单系发生；叶氏肛刺蛙在第二支中位于基部。因此，隆肛蛙属现仅隶2种，即隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙。 2．隆肛蛙属种群形态学研究 对隆肛蛙属中隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙的15个地理种群565只标本的28项形态性状进行了测量，运用典型判别分析法对其分析的结果表明：（1）太行隆肛蛙与隆肛蛙形态差异明显，支持其为不同的物种；（2）原隆肛蛙河南伏牛山种群和山西中条山种群应为太行隆肛蛙的地理种群；（3）隆肛蛙不同地理种群之间形态差异明显，其中四川安县种群、陕西周至种群和湖北利川种群与模式产地重庆巫山种群的差异可能达到了亚种或亚种以上分化水平。对隆肛蛙属量度分析的15个种群进行定性形态分析表明其分为三种形态型，对应隆肛蛙、过渡型和太行隆肛蛙，其变异特征主要为内跗褶、雄性肛部隆起及疣粒分布、第五趾外侧缘膜等，这与量度分析结果相似。 3．隆肛蛙属种群分子系统学研究 测定隆肛蛙属Feirana的2种19种群的线粒体12S rRNA和16S rRNA基因片段、ND2基因的DNA序列，比对后共计1953bps。（1）遗传多样性与距离分析：结果表明，隆肛蛙属种群具很高的遗传多样性，19个种群样品表现出19种单倍型（遗传多样性指数Hd＝1.0）； ND2基因的进化信息含量远高于12SrRNA和16SrRNA。隆肛蛙属2种群组内的种群间的遗传距离远小于两种群组间的距离，种群在不同基因上的遗传距离表现的关系与对应的系统树一致。（2）系统发育关系分析：结果表明，不同基因片断基于不同方法构建的隆肛蛙属种群系统发育树结构基本一致，基本表明隆肛蛙属种群为单系发生；它们在系统树中分为两大支，分别对应于隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙；支持中条山种群（沁水、历山和济源种群）和伏牛山种群（栾川和内乡种群）为太行隆肛蛙的地理种群，而原隆肛蛙秦岭中东段的部分种群（柞水、宁陕、长安大坝沟种群）也应为太行隆肛蛙的地理种群。（3）亚种分化分析：根据遗传距离分析和系统发育关系分析结果，并考虑形态上的差异情况以及地理分布信息，隆肛蛙所隶种群组可分为2亚种，即隆肛蛙指名亚种F. quadrana quadrana包括四川盆地东缘大巴山东段-巫山-武陵山北麓种群和秦岭中段（周至板房子和长安广货街）种群，他们在系统关系树上聚为一支；安县亚种F. quadrana anxianensis包括四川盆地西缘岷山东麓-龙门山-大巴山和秦岭西段的种群（安县、青川、文县、南江和凤县种群），他们在系统关系树上聚为一支。太行隆肛蛙所隶种群组也可分为2亚种，即太行隆肛蛙指名亚种F. taihangnicus taihangnicus包括中条山的种群（沁水、历山和济源种群）和中东秦岭的部分种群（柞水、长安大坝沟和宁陕种群），他们在系统关系树上聚为一支；太行隆肛蛙伏牛亚种F. taihangnicus funiuensis，为伏牛山地区的种群（栾川和内乡种群），他们在系统关系树上聚为一支。 4．隆肛蛙属种群动物地理学研究 隆肛蛙属19种群的分歧年代分析： 以长江巫山段和黄河三门峡段的形成历史时期为参考点，根据已测隆肛蛙属19种群及其外群包括N. pleski、P. yunnanesis、P. robertingeri、F. limnocharis的1953bps DNA序列构建分子钟，获得各支系的分歧年代。结果表明：①棘蛙族在70Ma左右开始其独立演化历程，这与Roelants et al.（2004）的分析结果～60±15Ma左右开始分化基本一致，后者印证了本文的分子钟。②隆肛蛙属的起始分化年代较早，隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙两种群组的最近祖先种群大概在46Ma～50Ma左右；隆肛蛙和太行隆肛蛙种群组内的种群分化年代相对两种群组间晚得多， 隆肛蛙种群组内两亚种分化起始年代约为10Ma左右，而太行隆肛蛙种群组内两亚种分化起始年代约为6Ma。 隆肛蛙属种群分布格局形成过程分析： ①隆肛蛙属的系统关系与地理分布格局密切相关，大部分系统分支分级与地理距离成正比；②隆肛蛙属最近祖先种群的分化中心可能位于秦岭中部地区， 隆肛蛙属的种群分布格局的形成表现为隔离分化与扩散相结合的机制，由隔离分化产生的隆肛蛙祖先种群主要从秦岭中部向西南方向扩散，后隔离分化为两亚种；太行隆肛蛙祖先种群向东北方向扩散也分化为两亚种。 隆肛蛙属种群分布区域地质历史的探讨：本文所建分子钟和种群分化方式印证了该区域的几次主要地质事件，包括岷山-龙门山-西秦岭等地区的快速差异隆起、第四纪冰期等。 The specific composition of the genus Feirana should be revised. A new genus Yerana gen. nov.（Ranidae：Dicroglossinae）was established based on morphological data-set and molecular phylogeny, as a result, only two species F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus are classified into Feirana now. Morphological differences and taxonomy of populations of Feirana were investigated based on morphological and morphometric data; phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of populations of Feirana were elucidated using molecular data, and then the proceeding of the distribution pattern of populations of Feirana were discussed. The main results and conclusions and proposals were presented as following: 1. Revising of the specific composition of the genus Feirana and establishment of a new genus The new genus Yerana, only containing the type species Y. yei, was established based on the following evidences: (1) In adult male, distinct up-heaved circular vesicle presents around the anal, and under anal there are two white balls on which black spines exist, black horny spines scatter on the upper side of first finger, and internal single subgular vocal sac presents; (2) there is obvious morphometric differences between Yerana and Feirana; (3) Yerana is distributed far from Feirana; (4) evidences of molecular phylogeny（Jiang et al.,2005）suggested that Yerana take a special phylogenetic clade which is different from other genus included in the tribe Paini. As a result, there are only two species in Feirana, i.e., F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus. 2. Morphological research of populations of Feirana Twenty-eight characters of 565 individuals of 15 populations of the genus Feirana were measured, the results of Canonical Discriminant analysis of the morphometric data-set indicated that: (1) there are very prominent differences between the two species F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus. The validity of species F. taihangnicus was approved here; (2) Mt. Funiu population and Mt. Zhongtiao population should belong to the species F. taihangnicus; (3) Obvious differences exist among 12 populations of F. quadrana, the differentiation among Zhouzhi population, Anxian population, Lichuan population, and Wushan population together with the others probably reach sub-specific or specific level. Result of morphological comparison between 15 different populations show that 3 morphological types are recogenized in according with F. quadrana, F. taihangnicus and intergradation, this result conform to the result of morphometric analysis. 3. Molecular phylogenetic study on populaions of Feirana Fragment of 12SrRNA and 16SrRNA genes, and ND2 gene of 19 populations of two species of Feirana were sequenced and aligned, from which 1953 bps were received. (1) analyses of genetic distance and hereditary diversity indicated that: genetic distance between populations in each group were less than distance between two groups of Feirana, 19 haplotypes were recognized from 19 samples of 19 populations, so the hereditary diversity of populations of Feirana was very high (Hd=1.0), phylogenetic information in ND2 gene is more than fragment sequence of 12SrRNA and 16SrRNA genes. (2) Result of molecular phylogeny indicate that the phylogenetic trees constructed using different methods based on different sequence data sets showed the revised genus Feirana is monophyletic since the 19 populations of Feirana were firstly clustered together as one large clade, which was further clustered into two major clades, corresponding to F. quadrana(GroupⅠ) and F. taihangnicus(GroupⅡ), respectively. So populations of Qinshui and Lishan in Mt. Zhongtiao, populations of Luanchuan and Neixiang in Mt. Funiu, and populations of Zhashui, Dabagou of Chang’an and Ningshan in eastern Mt. Qinling should belong to the species F. taihangnicus; (3) Subspecific differentiation. on the basis of genetic distance, phylogenetic trees and geographical distribution, F. quadrana should have two subspecies, i.e., F. quadrana qudadrana, consisting of the populations Guanghuojie of Chang’an and Zhouzhi in Mid-Mt. Qinling, populations in Wushan area and northern Mt. Wuling (Lichuan), and F. qudadrana anxianensis, consisting of the populations in eastern Mt. Ming shan-Mt. Longmen-western Mt. Daba-western Mt. Qinling (Anxian, Qingchuan, Wenxian, Nanjiang and Fengxian); F. taihangnicus should also has two subspecies, i.e., F. taihangnicus taihangnicus, consisting of the populations in Mt. Zhongtiao and eastern Mt. Qinling, and F. taihangnicus funiuensis, consisting of the populations in Mt. Funiu. 4. Zoogeography of populaions of Feirana Analysis for divergent time of 19 populations of Feirana: Using the dates of run-through of Wushan segment of Changjiang River as the time when the population of Lichuan started differentiated from the populations of Wushan and Shennongjia, and the dates of Sanmenxia segment of Yellow River as the time when the populations in Mt. Zhongtiao started differentiated from the population of Dabagou in Chang’an, molecular clock was established using sequences with 1953 bps of 19 populations of Feirana and outgroup including N. pleski, P. yunnanesis, P. robertingeri, F. limnocharis in order to estimate divergent time of all clades. Result of that indicated that: ① the tribe Paini started to evolve independently at about 70Ma when is in consistent with that estimated by Roelants et al.（2004）with result of about ～60±15Ma, they were corroborated by each other, this confirms the validity of this molecular clock; ② divergent time for speciation of Feriana is early, ancestral populations of F. quadrana and F. taihangnicus were found about 46Ma～50Ma; differentiation of populations within species is greatly late to the divergence of the two species, divergent time for F. quadrana is 10Ma and divergent time for F. taihangnicus is 6Ma. Proceeding of distribution pattern of Feirana. Phylogenetic relationships of populations of Feirana matched quite with distribution pattern of them, the relationships among clades showed in phylogenetic trees is direct ratio to geographical distance of them; the estimated date of speciation between two species of Feirana was as early as speciation of Paa yunnanesis and Nanara pleski; middle part of Mt. Qinling is the center of speciation of Feirana, combination of mult-events of dispersal and vicariance are probably the mechanism of speciation of Feirana, F. quadrana colonized the mid-Mt. Qinling and then differentiated into two subspecies in southwest direction, ancestral population of F. taihangnicus colonized the mid-Mt. Qinling and then differentiated into two subspecies in northeast direction. On geological history of the distribution of Feirana. According to molecular clock and speciation model of populations of Feirana, some geological events are confirmed, including special rise of Mt. Minshan- Mt. Longmen-western Mt. Qinling, glacial age.

陕北黄土高原植被区划及与林草建设的关系

在陕北黄土高原 ,根据植被的地理分布、植物区系背景、环境条件的地理变化及造林种草实践 ,从南至北可划分为落叶阔叶林区、森林草原区和干草原、沙化草原区。以延安一线为界 ,南部为森林地区 ,北部为草原地区 ;再以长城沿线为界 ,南部为森林草原区 ,北部为干草原、沙化草原区。延安一线和长城沿线为两条重要的生态分界线 ,就是这两条生态线把陕北黄土高原划分为森林、森林草原及干草原、沙化草原三个植被区。植被区划是造林种草的理论依据之一 ,陕北黄土高原的种树种草应遵循这两条生态线 ,使其与植被分区相符合

油松飞播造林的地理分布和适宜性分区

根据我国北方地区历年油松飞播调查资料和对典型播区的调查 ,阐明了油松飞播的地理分布和效果 ;同时运用统计分析和模糊数学分析等方法 ,对影响油松飞播成效的主要因子作了系统的宏观分析 ,得出年均降水量和年均气温是影响飞播效果的主要因子。在此基础上 ,对北方地区油松飞播造林进行了适宜性分区 ,分区结果将油松飞播划分为 3个区 ,即造林适宜区 ,造林次适宜区和造林非适宜区 ,对指导今后油松飞播生产具有重要意义

Zooplankton functional groups on the continental shelf of the yellow sea

Zooplankton plays a vital role in marine ecosystems. Variations in the zooplankton species composition, biomass, and secondary production will change the structure and function of the ecosystem. How to describe this process and make it easier to be modeled in the Yellow Sea ecosystem is the main purpose of this paper. The zooplankton functional groups approach, which is considered a good method of linking the structure of food webs and the energy flow in the ecosystems, is used to describe the main contributors of secondary produciton of the Yellow Sea ecosystem. The zooplankton can be classified into six functional groups: giant crustaceans, large copepods, small copepods, chaetognaths, medusae, and salps. The giant crustaceans, large copepods, and small copepods groups, which are the main food resources for fish, are defined depending on the size spectrum. Medusae and chaetognaths are the two gelatinous carnivorous groups, which compete with fish for food. The salps group, acting as passive filter-feeders, competes with other species feeding on phytoplankton, but their energy could not be efficiently transferred to higher trophic levels. From the viewpoint of biomass, which is the basis of the food web, and feeding activities, the contributions of each functional group to the ecosystem were evaluated; the seasonal variations, geographical distribution patterns, and species composition of each functional group were analyzed. The average zooplankton biomass was 2.1 g dry wt m(-2) in spring, to which the giant crustaceans, large copepods, and small copepods contributed 19, 44, and 26%, respectively. High biomasses of the large copepods and small copepods were distributed at the coastal waters, while the giant crustaceans were mainly located at offshore area. In summer, the mean biomass was 3.1 g dry wt m(-2), which was mostly contributed by the giant crustaceans (73%), and high biomasses of the giant crustaceans, large copepods, and small copepods were all distributed in the central part of the Yellow Sea. During autumn, the mean biomass was 1.8 g dry wt m(-2), which was similarly constituted by the giant crustaceans, large copepods, and small copepods (36, 33, and 23%, respectively), and high biomasses of the giant crustaceans and large copepods occurred in the central part of the Yellow Sea, while the small copepods were mainly located at offshore stations. The giant crustaceans and large copepods dominated the zooplankton biomass (2.9 g dry wt m(-2)) in winter, contributing respectively 57 and 27%, and they, as well as the small copepods, were all mainly located in the central part of the Yellow Sea. The chaetognaths group was mainly located in the northern part of the Yellow Sea during all seasons, but contributed less to the biomass compared with the other groups. The medusae and salps groups were distributed unevenly, with sporadic dynamics, mainly along the coastline and at the northern part of the Yellow Sea. No more than 10 species belonging to the respective functional groups dominated the zooplankton biomass and controlled the dynamics of the zooplankton community. The clear picture of the seasonal and spatial variations of each zooplankton functional group makes the complicated Yellow Sea ecosystem easier to be understood and modeled. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Continuous Plankton Records - Persistence In Time-Series And The Population-Dynamics Of Pseudocalanus-Elongatus And Acartia-Clausi

Rates of population increase in early spring and the sizes of overwintering stocks were calculated for the planktonic copepods Pseudocalanus elongatus and Acartia clausi for a set of areas covering the open waters of the north-east Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea for the period 1948 to 1979. For both species, the rates of population increase were higher in the open ocean than in the North Sea and appear to be related to temperature. The overwintering stocks in the North Sea were larger than those in the open ocean and are probably related to phytoplanton concentration. P. elongatus shows higher overwintering stocks and lower rates of population increase than A. clausi, resulting in different levels of persistence in the stocks of the two species. It is suggested that this difference in persistence is responsible for differences between the two species with respect to geographical distribution in summer and different patterns of year-to-year fluctuations in abundance.

RED COATS AND WILD BIRDS: MILITARY CULTURE AND ORNITHOLOGY ACROSS THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY BRITISH EMPIRE

“Red coats and wild birds: military culture and ornithology across the nineteenth-century British Empire” investigates the intersections between British military culture and the practices and ideas of ornithology, with a particular focus on the British Mediterranean. Considering that British officers often occupied several imperial sites over the course of their military careers, to what extent did their movements shape their ornithological knowledge and identities at “home” and abroad? How did British military naturalists perceive different local cultures (with different attitudes to hunting, birds, field science, etc.) and different local natures (different sets of birds and environments)? How can trans-imperial careers be written using not only textual sources (for example, biographies and personal correspondence) but also traces of material culture? In answering these questions, I centre my work on the Mediterranean region as a “colonial sea” in the production of hybrid identities and cultural practices, and the mingling of people, ideas, commodities, and migratory birds. I focus on the life geographies of four military officers: Thomas Wright Blakiston, Andrew Leith Adams, L. Howard Lloyd Irby, and Philip Savile Grey Reid. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Mediterranean region emerged as a crucial site for the security of the British “empire route” to India and South Asia, especially with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Military stations served as trans-imperial sites, connecting Britain to India through the flow of military manpower, commodities, information, and bodily experiences across the empire. By using a “critical historical geopolitics of empire” to examine the material remnants of the “avian imperial archive,” I demonstrate how the practices and performances of British military field ornithology helped to: materialize the British Mediterranean as a moral “semi-tropical” place for the physical and cultural acclimatization of British officers en route to and from India; reinforce imperial presence in the region; and make “visible in new ways” the connectivity of North Africa to Europe through the geographical distribution of birds. I also highlight the ways in which the production of ornithological knowledge by army officers was entwined with forms of temperate martial masculinity.

The Chinese bamboo leaf odorous frog (Rana (Odorrana) versabilis) and North American Rana frogs share the same families of skin antimicrobial peptides.

The Chinese bamboo leaf odorous frog (Rana (Odorrana) versabilis) and the North American pickerel frog (Rana palustris) occupy different ecological niches on two different continents with no overlap in geographical distribution. R. palustris skin secretions contain a formidable array of antimicrobial peptides including homologs of brevinin-1, esculentin-1, esculentin-2, ranatuerin-2, a temporin and a family of peptides considered of unique structural attributes when isolated, palustrins 1–3. Here we describe the structures of mature peptides and precursors of eight putative antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretion of the Chinese bamboo leaf odorous frog (Rana (Odorrana) versabilis). Each peptide represents a structural homolog of respective peptide families isolated from R. palustris, including two peptides identical in primary structure to palustrin 1c and palustrin 3b. Additionally, two peptides were found to be structural homologs of ranatuerin 2B and ranatuerin 2P from the closely-related North American species, Rana berlandieri (the Rio Grande leopard frog) and Rana pipiens (the Northern leopard frog), respectively. Both palustrins and ranatuerins have hitherto been considered unique to North American ranid frogs. The use of primary structures of amphibian skin antimicrobial peptides is thus questionable as a taxonomic device or alternatively, the micro-evolution and/or ancestry of ranid frogs is more highly complex than previously thought.

Hull fouling on commercial ships as a vector of macroalgal introduction

Hull fouling is thought to have been the vector of introduction for many algal species. We studied ships arriving at a Mediterranean harbour to clarify the present role of commercial cargo shipping in algal introductions. A total of 31 macroalgal taxa were identified from 22 sampled hulls. The majority of records (58%) were of species with a known cosmopolitan geographical distribution. Due to a prevalence of cosmopolitan species and a high turnover of fouling communities, species composition of assemblages did not appear to be influenced by the area of origin, length of ship or age of coating. In the light of the present results, hull fouling on standard trading commercial vessels does not seem to pose a significant risk for new macroalgal species introductions. However, a high proportion of non-cosmopolitan species found on a ship with non-toxic coating may modify this assessment, especially in the light of the increasing use of such coatings and the potential future changes in shipping routes.