The structure of plant communities at local scales depends on both the spatial heterogeneity of abiotic environmental factors and the biotic interactions within the community.However,although environmental filtering d...The structure of plant communities at local scales depends on both the spatial heterogeneity of abiotic environmental factors and the biotic interactions within the community.However,although environmental filtering due to microtopographic heterogeneity and resource competition among plants caused by spatial variation in tree density and size are considered to be very important in explaining the mechanisms of community assembly,their effects on the processes of individual mortality and recruitment in natural forest regeneration,as well as their relative contributions,are still poorly understood.To address this,we established a 12-ha permanent plot in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest area and measured microtopographic variables such as elevation,slope,aspect,and terrain position index(TPI)using a total station.We monitored the individual mortality and recruitment in forest natural regeneration through repeated surveys at 5-year intervals.We fitted spatial covariance models to jointly use multiple factors from three groups of variables(microtopographic effect,neighborhood density effects,neighborhood size effects)as explanatory variables to analyze their roles in driving the mortality and recruitment of all individual and 12 dominant species in forest natural regeneration at the neighborhood scale.Our results show that:(1)In the crucial early stages of secondary forest restoration,natural regeneration is influenced by a synergy of environmental filtering,due to microtopographic heterogeneity,and resource competition among plants.(2)For distinct species responses,evergreen dominant species'mortality is largely explained by neighborhood effects,while deciduous species are more affected by topographic factors.Furthermore,the adverse effects of larger conspecific trees on younger trees indicate a pattern of competitive pressure leading to mortality among regenerating trees,such pattern emphasis the influence of parent trees on natural regeneration.(3)As trees grow,their interaction with these stressors evolves,suggesting a shift in their resource acquisition strategies and response to neighborhood effects and environmental factors.Despite these changes,the relative importance of topographic factors in determining survival and recruitment success remains constant.This research highlights the importance of considering both environmental and neighborhood effects in forest management,particularly in early secondary forest restoration.展开更多
Water risk early warning systems based on the water environmental carrying capacity(WECC)are powerful and effective tools to guarantee the sustainability of rivers.Existing work on the early warning of WECC has mainly...Water risk early warning systems based on the water environmental carrying capacity(WECC)are powerful and effective tools to guarantee the sustainability of rivers.Existing work on the early warning of WECC has mainly concerned the comprehensive evaluation of the status quo and lacked a quantitative prejudgement and warning of future overload.In addition,existing quantitative methods for short-term early warning have rarely focused on the integrated change trends of the early warning indicators.Given the periodicity of the socioeconomic system,however,the water environmental system also follows a trend of cyclical fluctuations.Thus,it is meaningful to monitor and use this periodicity for the early warning of the WECC.In this study,we first adopted and improved the prosperity index method to develop an integrated water risk early warning framework.We also constructed a forecast model to qualitatively and quantitatively prejudge and warn about the development trends of the water environmental system.We selected the North Canal Basin(an essential connection among the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region)in China as a case study and predicted the WECC in 25 water environmental management units of the basin in 2018–2023.We found that the analysis of the prosperity index was helpful in predicting the WECC,to some extent.The result demonstrated that the early warning system provided reliable prediction(root mean square error of 0.0651 and mean absolute error of 0.1418),and the calculation results of the comprehensive early warning index(CEWI)conformed to the actual situation and related research in the river basin.From 2008 to 2023,the WECC of most water environmental management units in the basin had improved but with some spatial differences:the CEWI was generally poor in areas with many human disturbances,while it was relatively good in the upstream regions with higher forest and grass covers as well as in the downstream areas with larger water volume.Finally,through a sensitivity analysis of the indicators,we proposed specific management measures for the sustainability of the water environmental system in the North Canal Basin.Overall,the integrated water risk early warning framework could provide an appropriate method for the water environmental administration department to predict the WECC of the basin in the future.This framework could also assist in implementing corresponding management measures in advance,especially for the performance evaluation and the arrangement of key short-term tasks in the River Chief System in China.展开更多
Four assessment methods(two pollution indexes and two fuzzy mathematical models) were employed to investigate the environmental quality of four soils around a ferroalloy plant in Nanjing City.Environmental quality was...Four assessment methods(two pollution indexes and two fuzzy mathematical models) were employed to investigate the environmental quality of four soils around a ferroalloy plant in Nanjing City.Environmental quality was assessed as class IV(moderately polluted) for each soil with single-factor index method,and was identified to be classes IV,III(slightly polluted),III,and III for soils A,B,C,and D,respectively,with the comprehensive index model.In comparison with the single-factor index method,the comprehensive index model concerned both dominant parameter and average contribution of all factors to the integrated environmental quality.Using the two fuzzy mathematical methods(single-factor deciding and weighted average models),the environmental risks were determined to be classes IV,III,II(clean),and II for soils A,B,C,and D,respectively.However,divergence of the membership degree to each pollution class still occurred between the two methods.In fuzzy mathematical methods,membership functions were used to describe the limits between different pollution degrees,and different weights were allocated for the factors according to pollution contribution.Introduction of membership degree and weight of each factor to fuzzy mathematical models made the methods more reasonable in the field of environmental risk assessment.展开更多
Chromophoric dissolved organic matter(CDOM)is a key component of organic matter that contributes to the ecological functioning of lakes.The lakes in Taihu Lake Basin play an important role in maintaining regional ecol...Chromophoric dissolved organic matter(CDOM)is a key component of organic matter that contributes to the ecological functioning of lakes.The lakes in Taihu Lake Basin play an important role in maintaining regional ecological stabilities;however,the optical characteristics of the CDOM in the upstream and downstream lakes in this basin have not yet been systematically studied.Here,the optical characteristics of CDOM in ten lakes of upstream and downstream of the Taihu Lake Basin were studied using UV-Visible and excitation-emission matrix spectroscopies.Three different fluorophores consisting of two humic-like components(C1,C2)and one protein-like component(C3)were identified by parallel factor analysis.Soil or surface erosion was responsible for the higher abund-ance of C1 in the upstream lakes,and increased biological activities accounted for the higher abundance of C3 in the downstream lakes.Rainfall erosion in the wet season led to an increase in CDOM.We also found that the photodegradation and flocculation degree,which played a significant role in reducing CDOM,were higher in downstream lakes than in upstream lakes.Optical analysis of CDOM provides a promising method for monitoring water qualities(e.g.,total phosphorus and potassium permanganate index)in each lake.Re-ductions in soil or surface erosion in the upstream are needed to improve water quality.展开更多
Growing public awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity requires the development of forest practices that increase the complexity of stand structure.Understanding the ecological processes of different fo...Growing public awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity requires the development of forest practices that increase the complexity of stand structure.Understanding the ecological processes of different forest vegetation provide insights into community coexistence mechanisms.In this paper,the spatial patterns of three different communities,evergreen broadleaf forest,deciduous broadleaf forest,and mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest at Mt.Huangshan,China,were quantified with four structural parameters,the mingling index,the uniform angle index,the diameter dominance index and the crowdedness index.All trees with a diameter at breast height of more than 5 cm were measured.Our analyses highlighted that most trees in the three communities were extremely dense and slightly clumped,with a moderate size differentiation and high mixed structure.In mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest,the distribution pattern of tree species was better than the other two forests.Overall,spatial patterns in mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest exhibited a strong stability-effect,that is,the stand had a suitable environment for the stable survival of the forest.With the increasing of elevation,the degree of the mingling index and the crowdedness index increased,however,there was no influence on the uniform angle index and the diameter dominance index.Further,at the same elevation,four structural parameters of shady slope were larger than that of sunny slope.Then we found the relationship between stand spatial structure and environment factors had important influence on forest structure.Our work contributes to the knowledge of population structure,and further provide theoretical basis for the sustainable development of forest resources and protecting biodiversity of Huangshan Mountain.In future studies,it is necessary to explore the limiting factors of community spatial distribution by combining species diversity and functional traits.展开更多
Salinity severely affects plant growth and development.Thus,it is crucial to identify the genes functioning in salt stress response and unravel the mechanism by which plants against salt stress.This study used the pho...Salinity severely affects plant growth and development.Thus,it is crucial to identify the genes functioning in salt stress response and unravel the mechanism by which plants against salt stress.This study used the phosphoproteomic assay and found that 123 of the 4000 quantitative analyzed phosphopeptides were induced by salt stress.The functional annotation of the non-redundant protein database(NR)showed 23 differentially expressed transcription factors,including a phosphopeptide covering the Serine 31 in the RAV(related to ABI3/VP1)transcription factor(named SiRAV1).SiRAV1 was located in the nucleus.Phenotypic and physiological analysis showed that overexpressing SiRAV1 in foxtail millet enhanced salt tolerance and alleviated the salt-induced increases of H_(2)O_(2) accumulation,malondialdehyde(MDA)content,and percent of electrolyte leakage.Further analysis showed that SiRAV1 positively regulated SiCAT expression to modulate the catalase(CAT)activity by directly binding to the SiCAT promoter in vivo and in vitro.Moreover,we found that phosphorylation of SiRAV1 at the Ser31 site positively regulated salt tolerance in foxtail millet via enhancing its binding ability to SiCAT promoter but did not affect its subcellular localization.Overall,our results define a mechanism for SiRAV1 function in salt response where salt-triggered phosphorylation of SiRAV1 at Ser31 enhances its binding ability to SiCAT promoter,and the increased SiCAT expression contributes to salt tolerance in foxtail millet.展开更多
As ecologically fragile areas,coastal zones are affected by both anthropogenic activities and climate change.However,the impacts of these factors on large nearshore mammals,such as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(IPHDs...As ecologically fragile areas,coastal zones are affected by both anthropogenic activities and climate change.However,the impacts of these factors on large nearshore mammals,such as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(IPHDs,Sousa chinensis),are poorly understood.Here,modeling revealed that the suitable habitats of IPHDs are affected mainly by the sea surface temperature(SST),and the habitat suitability decreases as the distance to the nearest coastline increases.In addition,anthropogenic activities involving demersal fishing,contamination and shipping have narrowed IPHD habitats and reduced the habitat suitability.We found that climate change will further narrow suitable habitats located farther than 7 km from coastlines and trigger habitat losses in the eastern Taiwan Strait by 2090-2100 under the Representative Concentration Pathway(RCP)8.5 scenario.The projected decreases in habitat suitability and area emphasize the urgency of establishing connected marine protected areas(MPAs)while considering climate change,intergovernmental cooperation,and public involvement.展开更多
Understanding the diet of threatened wildlife is vital for species-specific conservation and habitat management measures.The Red-crowned Crane(Grus japonensis)is a vulnerable bird distributed in Northeast Asia.Previou...Understanding the diet of threatened wildlife is vital for species-specific conservation and habitat management measures.The Red-crowned Crane(Grus japonensis)is a vulnerable bird distributed in Northeast Asia.Previous dietary studies of this bird focused mainly on its plant food composition based on field observations and microhistological identification.Herein,a total of 45 fecal samples were collected in November,December and January(15 fecal samples each month)from wintering cranes,and then subjected to a high throughput sequencing meta-barcoding approach to determine the primary plant(rbcL)and animal(COI)food items in their diet.A total of 230 operational taxonomic units(OTUs)of plant foods and 371 OTUs of animal foods were obtained.The main plant foods in the wintering period were Miscanthus,Zea,and Hordeum genera,which were similar to those in the breeding and the migration periods.Both agricultural and natural plants were detected,indicating a relatively broad dietary niche for this crane species.However,the main animal foods were representatives of Theridiidae,Megascolecidae,and Agelenidae,in sharp contrast to previous studies.The higher number of small terrestrial arthropods in animal foods might be due to the indirect intake of plants.The composition of both plant and animal foods in the diet showed the highest diversity in December,while it was homogeneous in January.The plant of Zea genus became the main source of nutrition in late winter,as supplementary feeding was performed in the reserve,which could help Red-crowned Cranes to get through the cold season.The results obtained in this work would contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies for the Red-crowned Crane.展开更多
A new species of the genus Xenophrys is described from a karst cave environment of Libo County, Guizhou Province, Southern China. The new species, Xenophrys liboensis sp. nov., is distinguished from its congeners by a...A new species of the genus Xenophrys is described from a karst cave environment of Libo County, Guizhou Province, Southern China. The new species, Xenophrys liboensis sp. nov., is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) tympanum distinct; 2) vomerine teeth present; 3) the length of lower arm and hand larger than the half of snout-vent; 4) heels overlapped slightly when the flexed legs are held at right angles to the body axis; 5) toe tips with rudimentary webs and without grooves; 6) dermal fringes moderate; 7) tubercles on the dorsum forming an X-shaped weak ridge; 8) horn-like tubercle at the edge of the upper eyelid distinct; 9) color of the iris in life is brown. In Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of 22 species of Xenophrys, all the individuals of X. liboensis sp. nov. clustered into a monophyletic clade with high posterior probabilities. In addition, the ranges of genetic divergences of X. liboensis sp. nov. with other species were interspecific rather than intraspecific. Based on the above evidences, we consider that X. liboensis sp. nov. is a valid species in Xenophrys.展开更多
The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have designated airborne particulates,including particulates of median aerodynamic diameter < 2.5um(PM_(2.5)),as Group 1 carcinogens...The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have designated airborne particulates,including particulates of median aerodynamic diameter < 2.5um(PM_(2.5)),as Group 1 carcinogens.It has not been determined,however,whether exposure to ambient PM_(2.5) is associated with an increase in respiratory related diseases.This meta-analysis assessed the association between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) and the risk of respiratory tract diseases,using relevant articles extracted from PubMed,Web of Science,and Embase.In results,of the 1,126 articles originally identified,35(3.1%) were included in this meta-analysis.PM_(2.5)was found to be associated with respiratory tract diseases.After subdivision by age group,respiratory tract disease,and continent,PM_(2.5) was strongly associated with respiratory tract diseases in children,in persons with cough,lower respiratory illness,and wheezing,and in individuals from North America,Europe,and Asia.The risk of respiratory tract diseases was greater for exposure to traffic-related than non-traffic-related air pollution.In children,the pooled relative risk(RR) represented significant increases in wheezing(8.2%),cough(7.5%),and lower respiratory illness(15.3%).The pooled RRs in children were 1.091(95%CI:1.049,1.135) for exposure to<25 μg/m^3 PM_(2.5),and 1.126(95%CI:1.067,1.190) for exposure to > 25 μg/m^3 PM_(2.5).In conclusion,exposure to ambient PM_(2.5) was significantly associated with the development of respiratory tract diseases,especially in children exposed to high concentrations of PM_(2.5).展开更多
A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described,from Yuexi county,Anhui province,in the south of the Dabie Mountains.It is based on morphological and molecular analysis.The new species is identified as belonging ...A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described,from Yuexi county,Anhui province,in the south of the Dabie Mountains.It is based on morphological and molecular analysis.The new species is identified as belonging to the Tylototriton asperrimus group and shares a number of similarities with T.wenxianensis,T.broadoridgus and T.dabienicus.The diagnostic characteristics of the new species are as follows: the head length is greater than the width of the head; bony ridges on the head are prominent and necked-in; the distal digit ends,ventral digits,peripheral area of the cloaca and the tail's lower edge are orange.The result from the molecular analysis of the genus Tylototriton(including the type specimen of the new species) based on three mitochondrial genes(ND1,ND2 and CYTB) indicated that the new species was close to T.wenxianensis,T.dabienicus,and T.broadoridgus,but formed an independent clade.This result was consistent with the morphological analysis above,which supports the theory that the population distributed in the south of the Dabie Mountains,namely in from Yuexi county,Anhui province,represented a distinct species,Tylototriton anhuiensis sp.nov.展开更多
The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned thei...The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned their performance when regions suffer from drought. Whether we should consider the effects of drought on vegetation change in assessments of the benefits of ecological restoration programs is unclear. Therefore, taking the Grain for Green Program(GGP) region as a study area, we estimated vegetation growth in the region from 2000–2010 to clarify the trends in vegetation and their driving forces. Results showed that: 1) vegetation growth increased in the GGP region during 2000–2010, with 59.4% of the area showing an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI). This confirmed the benefits of the ecological restoration program. 2) Drought can affect the vegetation change trend, but human activity plays a significant role in altering vegetation growth, and the slight downward trend in the NDVI was not consistent with the severity of the drought. Positive human activity led to increased NDVI in 89.13% of areas. Of these, 22.52% suffered drought, but positive human activity offset the damage in part. 3) Results of this research suggest that appropriate human activity can maximize the benefits of ecological restoration programs and minimize the effects of extreme weather. We therefore recommend incorporating eco-risk assessment and scientific management mechanisms in the design and management of ecosystem restoration programs.展开更多
Genus Rhacophorus Kuhl and Van Hasselt, 1 822 is one of the most diverse genera of the family Rhacophoridae, and its taxonomy of genus Rhacophorus faces major challenges because of rapidly described new species and co...Genus Rhacophorus Kuhl and Van Hasselt, 1 822 is one of the most diverse genera of the family Rhacophoridae, and its taxonomy of genus Rhacophorus faces major challenges because of rapidly described new species and complex interspecies relations. In this study, we investigate the generic taxonomy within the genus Rhacophorus based on 1 972 bp of mitochondrial genes(12S rRNA, tRNA-val and 16S rRNA), containing 102 sequences from 58 species. The results reveal three well-supported and highly diverged matrilines that correspond with morphological characteristics and geographic distribution. Accordingly, we consider these three lineages as distinct genera: Rhacophorus sensu stricto, resurrected genus Leptomantis Peters, 1867, and the genus Zhangixalus gen. nov.展开更多
The change of freeze-thaw pattern of the Tibetan Plateau under climate warming is bound to have a profound impact on the soil process of alpine grassland ecosystem;however,the research on the impact of the freeze-thaw...The change of freeze-thaw pattern of the Tibetan Plateau under climate warming is bound to have a profound impact on the soil process of alpine grassland ecosystem;however,the research on the impact of the freeze-thaw action on nitrogen processes of the alpine grassland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau has not yet attracted much attention.In this study,the impact of the freezing strength on the soil nitrogen components of alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau was studied through laboratory freeze-thaw simulation experiments.The 0–10 cm topsoil was collected from the alpine marsh meadow and alpine meadow in the permafrost region of Beilu River.In the experiment,the soil samples were cultivated at –10°C,–7°C,–5°C,–3°C and –1°C,respectively for three days and then thawed at 2°C for one day.The results showed that after the freeze-thaw process,the soil microbial biomass nitrogen significantly decreased while the dissolved organic nitrogen and inorganic nitrogen significantly increased.When the freezing temperature was below –7°C,there was no significant difference between the content of nitrogen components,which implied a change of each nitrogen component might have a response threshold toward the freezing temperature.As the freeze-thaw process can lead to the risk of nitrogen loss in the alpine grassland ecosystem,more attention should be paid to the response of the soil nitrogen cycle of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau to the freeze-thaw process.展开更多
Understanding the spatial interactions among multiple ecosystem services is crucial for ecosystem services management. Ecosystem services, including crop production, freshwater supply, aquatic production, net primary ...Understanding the spatial interactions among multiple ecosystem services is crucial for ecosystem services management. Ecosystem services, including crop production, freshwater supply, aquatic production, net primary production, soil conservation, water conservation, flood regulation, forest recreation, were measured at 1-km grid scale covering the Taihu Lake Basin(TLB) of China. Our objective is to get a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distributions, trade-offs, synergies of multiple ecosystem services across the TLB. Our results found that: 1) majority of ecosystem services were clustered in space and had a similar spatial distribution pattern with the geographical resource endowment. Most of the landscape contributed a high supply of no services, one or two, and a low supply of three to seven services. 2) There were high correlation between forest recreation and freshwater supply and regulating services. Aquatic production had low correlation with other services. 3) The changes of provisioning services led to trade-offs between regulating services and cultural services in the TLB, while synergies mainly occurred among the provisioning service. 4) The spatial relationships of multiple services are consistent at 1-km spatial scale, counties and provinces. This research could help integrate multiple ecosystem services across scales and serve as a reference for decision making.展开更多
A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui,east China.The new species,Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp.nov.is distinguished from its congeners by a combination o...A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui,east China.The new species,Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp.nov.is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) the ventral surface and front-and-rear of the femur is paler yellowish and decorated with irregular grayish blotching,and without obvious spots on the dorsum of the hand and foot webbing; 2) the outer metatarsal tubercle is small; 3) outer fingers are half-webbed and outer toes two third webbed; 4) the skin on the dorsum is smooth and without compressed warts; 5) the throat,chest and belly are pure paler yellowish; 6) the dorsal part of the fingers and toes are grayish-white; 7) the iris is golden-yellow.In addition,the phylogenetic tree showed that all the individuals of R.zhoukaiyae sp.nov.clustered into one distinct clade which suggested the validity of this species.This results could also be used to the support of species delimitation.Currently,this species is known only from mid-elevation montane evergreen forest in the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui,China.展开更多
We describe a new species of the genus Megophr ys from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an indepen...We describe a new species of the genus Megophr ys from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an independent clade nested into the Megophrys clade and sister to M. minor. On morphology,the new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters:(1) small body size with SVL < 39.2 mm in male and SVL < 40.4 mm in female;(2) vomerine teeth absent;(3) tongue not notched behind;(4) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid;(5) tympanum distinctly visible, rounded;(6) two or three metacarpal tubercles in hand;(7) relative finger lengths: Ⅰ< Ⅱ< Ⅴ< Ⅲ;(8) toes without webbing;(9) heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body;(10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching tympanum to eye when leg stretched forward;(11) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male;(12) in breeding male, the nuptial pads with black nuptial spines on the dorsal bases of the first and second fingers.展开更多
In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China,pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes.Traditional knowledge plays an important role in th...In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China,pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes.Traditional knowledge plays an important role in the selection of forage plant species for pig farming by local people.This study aimed to identify the forage plants used for pig feeding and to catalog indigenous knowledge regarding their use.During 2016 and 2017,ethnobotanical surveys and inventories were conducted in Zhuxi County,Hubei Province,China.Data were collected using semi-structured interviews,key informant reports,free listings,guided field walks,and participatory observations with 77 households in 16 villages in 13 towns/townships.The obtained data were analyzed using a relative frequency citation(RFC)index.Overall,145 wild forage plants from 91 genera and 31 families were recorded.The most cited families were Asteraceae,Polygonaceae,Urticaceae,Amaranthaceae,Fabaceae,Cruciferae,Caryophyllaceae,and Lamiaceae.Whole plants(75.9%)and tender leaves(12.4%)were the most frequently used parts of the plants.Most of the forage plants were herbaceous(88.9%).Almost all forage plants could be collected throughout the year(62.7%).Raw and cooked were the two main preparation methods.The most frequently cited species were Taraxacum mongolicum,Bidens pilosa,Sonchus oleraceus,Pilea verrucosa,and Pilea pumila var.obtusifolia.A total of 14 species were identified as the top forage plants in Zhuxi County based on their RFC values(RFC value greater than 0.5).Local people possess rich traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of forage plants for pig feeding.However,the maintenance of this traditional knowledge may be seriously threatened by changes in pig feeding modes and the lack of successors.Appropriate strategies and action plans have been suggested for the conservation of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity and the sustainable use of forage species resources.These include 1)taking targeted measures to protect forage resources and associated traditional knowledge;2)strengthening research on the forage plants with the highest RFC values for nutritional value,digestibility,other functions,and ecological status;and 3)enhancing the identification of poisonous forage plants.展开更多
基金the Innovative Team Project of Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences MEE(ZX2023QT022)Sino-German Environmental Partnership PhaseⅢ:Strengthening Chinese environmental and nature conservation policy through dialogue+2 种基金The Central Public Welfare Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund,MEE(GYZX210302)Biodiversity Survey,Observation and Assessment Program of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of ChinaThe National Environmental Protection Public Welfare Industry Targeted Research Fund:Research and demonstration of key technologies for dynamic supervision of nature reserves(201509042)。
文摘The structure of plant communities at local scales depends on both the spatial heterogeneity of abiotic environmental factors and the biotic interactions within the community.However,although environmental filtering due to microtopographic heterogeneity and resource competition among plants caused by spatial variation in tree density and size are considered to be very important in explaining the mechanisms of community assembly,their effects on the processes of individual mortality and recruitment in natural forest regeneration,as well as their relative contributions,are still poorly understood.To address this,we established a 12-ha permanent plot in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest area and measured microtopographic variables such as elevation,slope,aspect,and terrain position index(TPI)using a total station.We monitored the individual mortality and recruitment in forest natural regeneration through repeated surveys at 5-year intervals.We fitted spatial covariance models to jointly use multiple factors from three groups of variables(microtopographic effect,neighborhood density effects,neighborhood size effects)as explanatory variables to analyze their roles in driving the mortality and recruitment of all individual and 12 dominant species in forest natural regeneration at the neighborhood scale.Our results show that:(1)In the crucial early stages of secondary forest restoration,natural regeneration is influenced by a synergy of environmental filtering,due to microtopographic heterogeneity,and resource competition among plants.(2)For distinct species responses,evergreen dominant species'mortality is largely explained by neighborhood effects,while deciduous species are more affected by topographic factors.Furthermore,the adverse effects of larger conspecific trees on younger trees indicate a pattern of competitive pressure leading to mortality among regenerating trees,such pattern emphasis the influence of parent trees on natural regeneration.(3)As trees grow,their interaction with these stressors evolves,suggesting a shift in their resource acquisition strategies and response to neighborhood effects and environmental factors.Despite these changes,the relative importance of topographic factors in determining survival and recruitment success remains constant.This research highlights the importance of considering both environmental and neighborhood effects in forest management,particularly in early secondary forest restoration.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFB3901104).
文摘Water risk early warning systems based on the water environmental carrying capacity(WECC)are powerful and effective tools to guarantee the sustainability of rivers.Existing work on the early warning of WECC has mainly concerned the comprehensive evaluation of the status quo and lacked a quantitative prejudgement and warning of future overload.In addition,existing quantitative methods for short-term early warning have rarely focused on the integrated change trends of the early warning indicators.Given the periodicity of the socioeconomic system,however,the water environmental system also follows a trend of cyclical fluctuations.Thus,it is meaningful to monitor and use this periodicity for the early warning of the WECC.In this study,we first adopted and improved the prosperity index method to develop an integrated water risk early warning framework.We also constructed a forecast model to qualitatively and quantitatively prejudge and warn about the development trends of the water environmental system.We selected the North Canal Basin(an essential connection among the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region)in China as a case study and predicted the WECC in 25 water environmental management units of the basin in 2018–2023.We found that the analysis of the prosperity index was helpful in predicting the WECC,to some extent.The result demonstrated that the early warning system provided reliable prediction(root mean square error of 0.0651 and mean absolute error of 0.1418),and the calculation results of the comprehensive early warning index(CEWI)conformed to the actual situation and related research in the river basin.From 2008 to 2023,the WECC of most water environmental management units in the basin had improved but with some spatial differences:the CEWI was generally poor in areas with many human disturbances,while it was relatively good in the upstream regions with higher forest and grass covers as well as in the downstream areas with larger water volume.Finally,through a sensitivity analysis of the indicators,we proposed specific management measures for the sustainability of the water environmental system in the North Canal Basin.Overall,the integrated water risk early warning framework could provide an appropriate method for the water environmental administration department to predict the WECC of the basin in the future.This framework could also assist in implementing corresponding management measures in advance,especially for the performance evaluation and the arrangement of key short-term tasks in the River Chief System in China.
基金the PhD Fund of the National Education Ministry of China (No20030284038)the Interna-tional Foundation for Science (NoW/4215)
文摘Four assessment methods(two pollution indexes and two fuzzy mathematical models) were employed to investigate the environmental quality of four soils around a ferroalloy plant in Nanjing City.Environmental quality was assessed as class IV(moderately polluted) for each soil with single-factor index method,and was identified to be classes IV,III(slightly polluted),III,and III for soils A,B,C,and D,respectively,with the comprehensive index model.In comparison with the single-factor index method,the comprehensive index model concerned both dominant parameter and average contribution of all factors to the integrated environmental quality.Using the two fuzzy mathematical methods(single-factor deciding and weighted average models),the environmental risks were determined to be classes IV,III,II(clean),and II for soils A,B,C,and D,respectively.However,divergence of the membership degree to each pollution class still occurred between the two methods.In fuzzy mathematical methods,membership functions were used to describe the limits between different pollution degrees,and different weights were allocated for the factors according to pollution contribution.Introduction of membership degree and weight of each factor to fuzzy mathematical models made the methods more reasonable in the field of environmental risk assessment.
基金Under the auspices of the Science and Technology Research Project of Education Department of Hubei Province(No.Q20182502,No.D20152503)Innovation Team Project of HBNU of Heavy Metal Pollution Mechanism and Ecological Restoration for Lake-Catchment System(No.2019CZ014)。
文摘Chromophoric dissolved organic matter(CDOM)is a key component of organic matter that contributes to the ecological functioning of lakes.The lakes in Taihu Lake Basin play an important role in maintaining regional ecological stabilities;however,the optical characteristics of the CDOM in the upstream and downstream lakes in this basin have not yet been systematically studied.Here,the optical characteristics of CDOM in ten lakes of upstream and downstream of the Taihu Lake Basin were studied using UV-Visible and excitation-emission matrix spectroscopies.Three different fluorophores consisting of two humic-like components(C1,C2)and one protein-like component(C3)were identified by parallel factor analysis.Soil or surface erosion was responsible for the higher abund-ance of C1 in the upstream lakes,and increased biological activities accounted for the higher abundance of C3 in the downstream lakes.Rainfall erosion in the wet season led to an increase in CDOM.We also found that the photodegradation and flocculation degree,which played a significant role in reducing CDOM,were higher in downstream lakes than in upstream lakes.Optical analysis of CDOM provides a promising method for monitoring water qualities(e.g.,total phosphorus and potassium permanganate index)in each lake.Re-ductions in soil or surface erosion in the upstream are needed to improve water quality.
基金supported by The Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation of China(2019FY202300)the Biodiversity Investigation,Observation and Assessment Program of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China(2110404).
文摘Growing public awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity requires the development of forest practices that increase the complexity of stand structure.Understanding the ecological processes of different forest vegetation provide insights into community coexistence mechanisms.In this paper,the spatial patterns of three different communities,evergreen broadleaf forest,deciduous broadleaf forest,and mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest at Mt.Huangshan,China,were quantified with four structural parameters,the mingling index,the uniform angle index,the diameter dominance index and the crowdedness index.All trees with a diameter at breast height of more than 5 cm were measured.Our analyses highlighted that most trees in the three communities were extremely dense and slightly clumped,with a moderate size differentiation and high mixed structure.In mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest,the distribution pattern of tree species was better than the other two forests.Overall,spatial patterns in mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forest exhibited a strong stability-effect,that is,the stand had a suitable environment for the stable survival of the forest.With the increasing of elevation,the degree of the mingling index and the crowdedness index increased,however,there was no influence on the uniform angle index and the diameter dominance index.Further,at the same elevation,four structural parameters of shady slope were larger than that of sunny slope.Then we found the relationship between stand spatial structure and environment factors had important influence on forest structure.Our work contributes to the knowledge of population structure,and further provide theoretical basis for the sustainable development of forest resources and protecting biodiversity of Huangshan Mountain.In future studies,it is necessary to explore the limiting factors of community spatial distribution by combining species diversity and functional traits.
基金This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31902062)the South China Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences(QNXM-02).
文摘Salinity severely affects plant growth and development.Thus,it is crucial to identify the genes functioning in salt stress response and unravel the mechanism by which plants against salt stress.This study used the phosphoproteomic assay and found that 123 of the 4000 quantitative analyzed phosphopeptides were induced by salt stress.The functional annotation of the non-redundant protein database(NR)showed 23 differentially expressed transcription factors,including a phosphopeptide covering the Serine 31 in the RAV(related to ABI3/VP1)transcription factor(named SiRAV1).SiRAV1 was located in the nucleus.Phenotypic and physiological analysis showed that overexpressing SiRAV1 in foxtail millet enhanced salt tolerance and alleviated the salt-induced increases of H_(2)O_(2) accumulation,malondialdehyde(MDA)content,and percent of electrolyte leakage.Further analysis showed that SiRAV1 positively regulated SiCAT expression to modulate the catalase(CAT)activity by directly binding to the SiCAT promoter in vivo and in vitro.Moreover,we found that phosphorylation of SiRAV1 at the Ser31 site positively regulated salt tolerance in foxtail millet via enhancing its binding ability to SiCAT promoter but did not affect its subcellular localization.Overall,our results define a mechanism for SiRAV1 function in salt response where salt-triggered phosphorylation of SiRAV1 at Ser31 enhances its binding ability to SiCAT promoter,and the increased SiCAT expression contributes to salt tolerance in foxtail millet.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Founda-tion of China(NSFC)(Grant No.41901349)Marine Economy Develop-ment Foundation of Guangdong Province(Grant No.GDNRC[2022]21)+1 种基金Basic Scientific Research Program of National Nonprofit Research Insti-tutes(Grant No.ZX2022QT025)the Startup Foundation for Tal-ented Scholars in South China Normal University(Grant No.8S0472).
文摘As ecologically fragile areas,coastal zones are affected by both anthropogenic activities and climate change.However,the impacts of these factors on large nearshore mammals,such as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(IPHDs,Sousa chinensis),are poorly understood.Here,modeling revealed that the suitable habitats of IPHDs are affected mainly by the sea surface temperature(SST),and the habitat suitability decreases as the distance to the nearest coastline increases.In addition,anthropogenic activities involving demersal fishing,contamination and shipping have narrowed IPHD habitats and reduced the habitat suitability.We found that climate change will further narrow suitable habitats located farther than 7 km from coastlines and trigger habitat losses in the eastern Taiwan Strait by 2090-2100 under the Representative Concentration Pathway(RCP)8.5 scenario.The projected decreases in habitat suitability and area emphasize the urgency of establishing connected marine protected areas(MPAs)while considering climate change,intergovernmental cooperation,and public involvement.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31800453)the Biodiversity Investigation,Observation and Assessment Program(2019-2023)+1 种基金the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China(2110404)the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(No.2022YFS0487).
文摘Understanding the diet of threatened wildlife is vital for species-specific conservation and habitat management measures.The Red-crowned Crane(Grus japonensis)is a vulnerable bird distributed in Northeast Asia.Previous dietary studies of this bird focused mainly on its plant food composition based on field observations and microhistological identification.Herein,a total of 45 fecal samples were collected in November,December and January(15 fecal samples each month)from wintering cranes,and then subjected to a high throughput sequencing meta-barcoding approach to determine the primary plant(rbcL)and animal(COI)food items in their diet.A total of 230 operational taxonomic units(OTUs)of plant foods and 371 OTUs of animal foods were obtained.The main plant foods in the wintering period were Miscanthus,Zea,and Hordeum genera,which were similar to those in the breeding and the migration periods.Both agricultural and natural plants were detected,indicating a relatively broad dietary niche for this crane species.However,the main animal foods were representatives of Theridiidae,Megascolecidae,and Agelenidae,in sharp contrast to previous studies.The higher number of small terrestrial arthropods in animal foods might be due to the indirect intake of plants.The composition of both plant and animal foods in the diet showed the highest diversity in December,while it was homogeneous in January.The plant of Zea genus became the main source of nutrition in late winter,as supplementary feeding was performed in the reserve,which could help Red-crowned Cranes to get through the cold season.The results obtained in this work would contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies for the Red-crowned Crane.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 20577053) the Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No. KZCX3-SW-348)the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program(863)of China(No.200560101005).
文摘在湖沉积，超营养作用的一个主要原因和水质的随后的恶化的磷(P) 的周转，需要深理解。在这研究， P 版本上的暂停的效果与 Y 形状仪器在圆柱的缩影被学习。结果显示在越过沉积水接口(Fss ) 和风速度的推迟的物质的流动之间有一道正相关，并且增加的 FSS 在各个期间弯屈由一个稳定的状态跟随的过程。在轻、中等、大的风条件下面的最大的 FSS 是 299.9 ± 4 1.1， 573.4 ± 6 1.7，和 2093.8 ± 2 15.7 g/m2 分别地。然而，越过沉积水接口(FP ) 的 P 的流动没作为反应弯屈紧张的 Fss 跟随一个类似的模式，它增加了并且到达最大值在起始为光的 120 min 弯屈，然后逐渐地减少了，与 9.4 ± 1 .9 mg/m2 的最大的流动。在开始的 30 min 的 FP 的快速的增加在中等的风下面被观察，与 11.2 ± 0 .6 mg/m2 的最大的流动。令人惊讶地，大风与 3.5 ± 0 .9 mg/m2 的最大的流动比在轻、中等的风条件下面引起了更少的 FP。在水列的 Fss 在风以后在沉积过程期间显然衰退了，但是 FP 与风政体变化了。没有明显的差别在 8 h 沉积过程以后在 FP 上被检测，与起始的值相比，它意味着小冗余的 P 在风以后在水列离开了。
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFC1200705)Anhui Province Higher Education Revitalization Plan+1 种基金Colleges and Universities Outstanding Youth Talent Support Program (2014)Program of Science and Technology Fund of Guizhou Province (2012)
文摘A new species of the genus Xenophrys is described from a karst cave environment of Libo County, Guizhou Province, Southern China. The new species, Xenophrys liboensis sp. nov., is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) tympanum distinct; 2) vomerine teeth present; 3) the length of lower arm and hand larger than the half of snout-vent; 4) heels overlapped slightly when the flexed legs are held at right angles to the body axis; 5) toe tips with rudimentary webs and without grooves; 6) dermal fringes moderate; 7) tubercles on the dorsum forming an X-shaped weak ridge; 8) horn-like tubercle at the edge of the upper eyelid distinct; 9) color of the iris in life is brown. In Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of 22 species of Xenophrys, all the individuals of X. liboensis sp. nov. clustered into a monophyletic clade with high posterior probabilities. In addition, the ranges of genetic divergences of X. liboensis sp. nov. with other species were interspecific rather than intraspecific. Based on the above evidences, we consider that X. liboensis sp. nov. is a valid species in Xenophrys.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81473013 and No.81673210)Jiangsu Province Blue Project of UniversityInnovation of Graduate Student Training Project in Jiangsu Province(KYLX15_0976)
文摘The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have designated airborne particulates,including particulates of median aerodynamic diameter < 2.5um(PM_(2.5)),as Group 1 carcinogens.It has not been determined,however,whether exposure to ambient PM_(2.5) is associated with an increase in respiratory related diseases.This meta-analysis assessed the association between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) and the risk of respiratory tract diseases,using relevant articles extracted from PubMed,Web of Science,and Embase.In results,of the 1,126 articles originally identified,35(3.1%) were included in this meta-analysis.PM_(2.5)was found to be associated with respiratory tract diseases.After subdivision by age group,respiratory tract disease,and continent,PM_(2.5) was strongly associated with respiratory tract diseases in children,in persons with cough,lower respiratory illness,and wheezing,and in individuals from North America,Europe,and Asia.The risk of respiratory tract diseases was greater for exposure to traffic-related than non-traffic-related air pollution.In children,the pooled relative risk(RR) represented significant increases in wheezing(8.2%),cough(7.5%),and lower respiratory illness(15.3%).The pooled RRs in children were 1.091(95%CI:1.049,1.135) for exposure to<25 μg/m^3 PM_(2.5),and 1.126(95%CI:1.067,1.190) for exposure to > 25 μg/m^3 PM_(2.5).In conclusion,exposure to ambient PM_(2.5) was significantly associated with the development of respiratory tract diseases,especially in children exposed to high concentrations of PM_(2.5).
基金partly supported by the Graduate Student Academic Innovation Research Project of Anhui University(yqh100101)the National Key Research and Development Programme(2016YFC1200700)
文摘A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described,from Yuexi county,Anhui province,in the south of the Dabie Mountains.It is based on morphological and molecular analysis.The new species is identified as belonging to the Tylototriton asperrimus group and shares a number of similarities with T.wenxianensis,T.broadoridgus and T.dabienicus.The diagnostic characteristics of the new species are as follows: the head length is greater than the width of the head; bony ridges on the head are prominent and necked-in; the distal digit ends,ventral digits,peripheral area of the cloaca and the tail's lower edge are orange.The result from the molecular analysis of the genus Tylototriton(including the type specimen of the new species) based on three mitochondrial genes(ND1,ND2 and CYTB) indicated that the new species was close to T.wenxianensis,T.dabienicus,and T.broadoridgus,but formed an independent clade.This result was consistent with the morphological analysis above,which supports the theory that the population distributed in the south of the Dabie Mountains,namely in from Yuexi county,Anhui province,represented a distinct species,Tylototriton anhuiensis sp.nov.
基金Under the auspices of the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFC0504701)Science and Technology Service Network Initiative Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.KFJ-STS-ZDTP-036)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.GK201703053)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2017M623114)
文摘The Chinese government adopted six ecological restoration programs to improve its natural environments. Although these programs have proven successful in improving local environments, some studies have questioned their performance when regions suffer from drought. Whether we should consider the effects of drought on vegetation change in assessments of the benefits of ecological restoration programs is unclear. Therefore, taking the Grain for Green Program(GGP) region as a study area, we estimated vegetation growth in the region from 2000–2010 to clarify the trends in vegetation and their driving forces. Results showed that: 1) vegetation growth increased in the GGP region during 2000–2010, with 59.4% of the area showing an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI). This confirmed the benefits of the ecological restoration program. 2) Drought can affect the vegetation change trend, but human activity plays a significant role in altering vegetation growth, and the slight downward trend in the NDVI was not consistent with the severity of the drought. Positive human activity led to increased NDVI in 89.13% of areas. Of these, 22.52% suffered drought, but positive human activity offset the damage in part. 3) Results of this research suggest that appropriate human activity can maximize the benefits of ecological restoration programs and minimize the effects of extreme weather. We therefore recommend incorporating eco-risk assessment and scientific management mechanisms in the design and management of ecosystem restoration programs.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC1200705)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB31000000)+4 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31722049, 31772434)Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, CAS (QYZDBSSW-SMC058)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CASSoutheast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute (Y4ZK111B01)the CAS "Light of West China" Program (2018XBZG_JCTD_001)
文摘Genus Rhacophorus Kuhl and Van Hasselt, 1 822 is one of the most diverse genera of the family Rhacophoridae, and its taxonomy of genus Rhacophorus faces major challenges because of rapidly described new species and complex interspecies relations. In this study, we investigate the generic taxonomy within the genus Rhacophorus based on 1 972 bp of mitochondrial genes(12S rRNA, tRNA-val and 16S rRNA), containing 102 sequences from 58 species. The results reveal three well-supported and highly diverged matrilines that correspond with morphological characteristics and geographic distribution. Accordingly, we consider these three lineages as distinct genera: Rhacophorus sensu stricto, resurrected genus Leptomantis Peters, 1867, and the genus Zhangixalus gen. nov.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31100337)the Scientific Research Foundation of Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (2243141301132)
文摘The change of freeze-thaw pattern of the Tibetan Plateau under climate warming is bound to have a profound impact on the soil process of alpine grassland ecosystem;however,the research on the impact of the freeze-thaw action on nitrogen processes of the alpine grassland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau has not yet attracted much attention.In this study,the impact of the freezing strength on the soil nitrogen components of alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau was studied through laboratory freeze-thaw simulation experiments.The 0–10 cm topsoil was collected from the alpine marsh meadow and alpine meadow in the permafrost region of Beilu River.In the experiment,the soil samples were cultivated at –10°C,–7°C,–5°C,–3°C and –1°C,respectively for three days and then thawed at 2°C for one day.The results showed that after the freeze-thaw process,the soil microbial biomass nitrogen significantly decreased while the dissolved organic nitrogen and inorganic nitrogen significantly increased.When the freezing temperature was below –7°C,there was no significant difference between the content of nitrogen components,which implied a change of each nitrogen component might have a response threshold toward the freezing temperature.As the freeze-thaw process can lead to the risk of nitrogen loss in the alpine grassland ecosystem,more attention should be paid to the response of the soil nitrogen cycle of alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau to the freeze-thaw process.
基金Under the auspices of National Social Science Foundation of China(No.14BJY021)National Natural Science Foundation of China(40901296,U1404402)Youth backbone teachers of Henan province’s universities(No.2014GGJS-044)
文摘Understanding the spatial interactions among multiple ecosystem services is crucial for ecosystem services management. Ecosystem services, including crop production, freshwater supply, aquatic production, net primary production, soil conservation, water conservation, flood regulation, forest recreation, were measured at 1-km grid scale covering the Taihu Lake Basin(TLB) of China. Our objective is to get a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distributions, trade-offs, synergies of multiple ecosystem services across the TLB. Our results found that: 1) majority of ecosystem services were clustered in space and had a similar spatial distribution pattern with the geographical resource endowment. Most of the landscape contributed a high supply of no services, one or two, and a low supply of three to seven services. 2) There were high correlation between forest recreation and freshwater supply and regulating services. Aquatic production had low correlation with other services. 3) The changes of provisioning services led to trade-offs between regulating services and cultural services in the TLB, while synergies mainly occurred among the provisioning service. 4) The spatial relationships of multiple services are consistent at 1-km spatial scale, counties and provinces. This research could help integrate multiple ecosystem services across scales and serve as a reference for decision making.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31272332, 31071894, 30911120031, 30670243)Anhui Province Higher Education Revitalization Plan+2 种基金2014 Colleges and Universities Outstanding Youth Talent Support ProgramFoundation for Graduate Student Academic Innovation Research Project of Anhui University (yqh100081)the Foundation for College Student Innovation & Venture Project of Anhui University(201610357026)
文摘A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui,east China.The new species,Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp.nov.is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) the ventral surface and front-and-rear of the femur is paler yellowish and decorated with irregular grayish blotching,and without obvious spots on the dorsum of the hand and foot webbing; 2) the outer metatarsal tubercle is small; 3) outer fingers are half-webbed and outer toes two third webbed; 4) the skin on the dorsum is smooth and without compressed warts; 5) the throat,chest and belly are pure paler yellowish; 6) the dorsal part of the fingers and toes are grayish-white; 7) the iris is golden-yellow.In addition,the phylogenetic tree showed that all the individuals of R.zhoukaiyae sp.nov.clustered into one distinct clade which suggested the validity of this species.This results could also be used to the support of species delimitation.Currently,this species is known only from mid-elevation montane evergreen forest in the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui,China.
基金We are grateful to editors and reviewers for their working on the manuscript.Collections in field were permitted by Administration of Kuankuoshui National Nature Reserve(No.KKS20040348)This study was approved by the animal ethical committee of Chengdu Institute of Biology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,and animal experiments were carried out following the institutional guidelines(No.2017CIBAEC0344)+2 种基金This work was supported by Project Supported by the Biodiversity Investigation,Observation and Assessment Program(2019-2023)of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China,the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDPB0202)National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(NSFC-31960099)Biodiversity Conservation Key La boratory of Guizhou Province Educa tion Department,Guiyang College,The laboratory on biodiversity conservation and applied ecology of Guiyang college,Guizhou Provincial Department of Educa tion Youth Science and Technology Talents Growth Project(Nos.KY[2018]455,KY[2018]468 and KY[2018]469),The Specialty Food Resource Utilization Talent Base of Moutai University.
文摘We describe a new species of the genus Megophr ys from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an independent clade nested into the Megophrys clade and sister to M. minor. On morphology,the new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters:(1) small body size with SVL < 39.2 mm in male and SVL < 40.4 mm in female;(2) vomerine teeth absent;(3) tongue not notched behind;(4) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid;(5) tympanum distinctly visible, rounded;(6) two or three metacarpal tubercles in hand;(7) relative finger lengths: Ⅰ< Ⅱ< Ⅴ< Ⅲ;(8) toes without webbing;(9) heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body;(10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching tympanum to eye when leg stretched forward;(11) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male;(12) in breeding male, the nuptial pads with black nuptial spines on the dorsal bases of the first and second fingers.
基金This research was funded by the Biodiversity Investigation,Observation and Assessment Program,Ministry of Ecology and Environment,The People’s Republic of China and the Yunnan Innovative Talents Program,China(No.2018HC009).
文摘In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China,pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes.Traditional knowledge plays an important role in the selection of forage plant species for pig farming by local people.This study aimed to identify the forage plants used for pig feeding and to catalog indigenous knowledge regarding their use.During 2016 and 2017,ethnobotanical surveys and inventories were conducted in Zhuxi County,Hubei Province,China.Data were collected using semi-structured interviews,key informant reports,free listings,guided field walks,and participatory observations with 77 households in 16 villages in 13 towns/townships.The obtained data were analyzed using a relative frequency citation(RFC)index.Overall,145 wild forage plants from 91 genera and 31 families were recorded.The most cited families were Asteraceae,Polygonaceae,Urticaceae,Amaranthaceae,Fabaceae,Cruciferae,Caryophyllaceae,and Lamiaceae.Whole plants(75.9%)and tender leaves(12.4%)were the most frequently used parts of the plants.Most of the forage plants were herbaceous(88.9%).Almost all forage plants could be collected throughout the year(62.7%).Raw and cooked were the two main preparation methods.The most frequently cited species were Taraxacum mongolicum,Bidens pilosa,Sonchus oleraceus,Pilea verrucosa,and Pilea pumila var.obtusifolia.A total of 14 species were identified as the top forage plants in Zhuxi County based on their RFC values(RFC value greater than 0.5).Local people possess rich traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of forage plants for pig feeding.However,the maintenance of this traditional knowledge may be seriously threatened by changes in pig feeding modes and the lack of successors.Appropriate strategies and action plans have been suggested for the conservation of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity and the sustainable use of forage species resources.These include 1)taking targeted measures to protect forage resources and associated traditional knowledge;2)strengthening research on the forage plants with the highest RFC values for nutritional value,digestibility,other functions,and ecological status;and 3)enhancing the identification of poisonous forage plants.
