The first Sinomastodon (Gomphotheriidae, Proboscidea) skull from the Quaternary in China

The first Sinomastodon(Gomphotheriidae,Proboscidea) skull of the Early Pleistocene,collected from the Renzidong Cave deposits in Anhui Province,Eastern China,is described here as S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.As the only brevirostrine trilophodont gomphotheriid known from the Old World,Sinomastodon was mainly indigenous to China from the Early Pliocene to the Pleistocene.Compared with a few single Pleistocene teeth previously found in China,S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.is represented by a relatively complete skull,mandible and dentition,which is the first discovery of a Quaternary Sinomastodon skull from China.With a brevirostrine,elephant-like skull,no lower tusks,and simple bunodont and trilophodont intermediate molars,the new species is morphologically distinct from other gomphotheres and should belong to the genus Sinomastodon.The new species is more progressive than S.hanjiangensis and the Pliocene type species S.intermedius in its skull and mandible morphology,but is evidently more primitive than the Pleistocene S.yangziensis in its molar morphology.The faunal analysis suggests that the emergence of S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.in Jiangnan area and its southward migration may have been related to a cooling event at the beginning of the Quaternary in Eastern China.     

Molecular phylogenetic evidence that the Chinese viviparid genus Margarya (Gastropoda: Viviparidae) is polyphyletic

We investigated the phylogeny of the viviparid genus Margarya,endemic to Yunnan,China,using two mitochondrial gene fragments(COI and 16S rRNA).The molecular phylogeny based on the combined dataset indicates that Margarya is polyphyletic,as two of the three well-supported clades containing species of Margarya also comprise species from other viviparid genera.In one clade,sequences of four species of Margarya even cluster indiscriminately with those of two species of Cipangopaludina,indicating that the current state of Asian viviparid taxonomy needs to be revised.Additionally,these data suggest that shell evolution in viviparids is complex,as even the large and strongly sculptured shells of Margarya,which are outstanding among Asian viviparids,can apparently be easily converted to simple smooth shells.The molecular data also indicate that the species status of the six extant species of Margarya should be re-assessed.     

Progress report on the study of wood-decaying fungi in China

This study addressed three important aims:(1) undermining the previously obtained raw data about wood-decaying fungi(WDF) distribution and continuously investigating permanent plots to address certain scientific questions in ecology,(2) resolving the higher-level phylogeny of WDF with the help of multiple loci,and(3) testing and estimating the medicinal values of species that are closely related to well-known medicinal species.More than 1200 species and 2469 strains of WDF in China were identified from 28908 specimens collected from a series of field investigations.Using these materials,studies in multiple disciplines,such as ecology,taxonomy and phylogeny,and medicine,have been performed.With respect to ecology,the diversity of wood-decaying polypores significantly differed among a boreal forest zone,a temperate and warm temperate forest zone,and a tropical and subtropical forest zone.For instance,from north to south,the number and proportion of brown-rot species and the proportion of species found on fallen trunks were both decreased.The ecological patterns of wood-decaying polypores on gymnosperm and angiosperm trees were also explored by a case study in Northeast China.Although the total species richness was similar between the two tree groups,several other characteristics were significantly different,such as community structure and richness in certain substrates.The taxonomy and phylogeny of wide samples were referred to and their phylogenetic positions were resolved or at least partially established.In particular,phylogenetic knowledge about four genera,Fomitiporia,Ganoderma,Inonotus and Perenniporia,which include medicinal species,was essential for further research to determine the medicinal values of these types of fungi.Among these medicinal species,we mainly focused on Inonotus obliquus for its medicinal purposes.Polyphenols,polysaccharides and lanostane-type triterpenoids,extracted from the sterile conk of this species,could dramatically decrease levels of free radicals,DPPH and hydroxyl radicals,respectively.The metabolic profiles(both production and composition) of cultured I.obliquus mycelia could be altered by co-culture with other medicinal species or by induction of S-nitrosylation and denitrosylation,which may enhance the antioxidant capacity of I.obliquus.     

浙江省藓类植物新记录

在对浙江省杭州市苔藓植物广泛调查采集和标本鉴定的基础上，发现并报道中国新记录种1个,小细罗藓(Leskeella pusilla (Mitt.) Nog.)；浙江省新记录属1个,赤藓属(Syntrichia)；新记录种4个,高山赤藓Syntrichia sinensis (C.Müll.) Ochyra，狭叶立碗藓(Physcomitrium coorgense Broth.)，东亚细枝藓(Lindbergia japonica Card.)和东亚小羽藓(Haplocladium strictulum (Card.) Reim.).对它们的主要特征、生境和地理分布进行了初步讨论，并提供了小细罗藓及东亚细枝藓的形态特征图.     

First discovery of fossil Diplothrix (Muridae, Rodentia) outside the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

The first Diplothrix (Muridae, Rodentia) fossils of the early Early Pleistocene are described as D. yangziensis sp. nov., which were collected from the Renzidong Cave deposits in Anhui Province, Eastern China. Diplothrix was previously represented by a single species, D. legata, whose geographical distribution during the Late Pleistocene is restricted to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. With straight chevrons on M1, distinct t3 and t9 on upper molars, primitive M3, mlc on m1, and developed a-lab on m2 and m3, the new species is morphologically distinct from other large murids in East Asia, and should belong to the genus Diplothrix. There are also differences in molar morphology between the new species and D. legata, the type species of Diplothrix, as well as other known fossils. For example, D. yangziensis sp. nov. has a smaller size, a more elongated crown, developed precingulum and pc on M1, more primitive M3, weaker mlc and more primitive pc on m1, and stronger plc and pc on m3. In short, Diplothrix yangziensis sp. nov. is evidently more primitive than D. legata, suggesting that the former is likely the ancestor of the latter. Diplothrix yangziensis sp. nov. is the first discovery of the genus outside the Ryukyu Islands, Japan and is also the earliest and most primitive species of the genus in Eurasia. Its discovery has significant implications for reconstructing the evolution and dispersal pattern of Diplothrix, as well as for discussing its palaeoecological variation.     

A new species of Lepidopteris discovered from the Upper Permian of China with its stratigraphic and biologic implications

A new species Lepidopteris baodensis sp.nov.belonging to the family Peltaspermaceae and represented by two ultimate pinnae in the collection under study,was recently discovered at the Baijiagou of Baode,Shanxi,China,from the Upper Permian Sunjiagou Formation.The lower surface of the ultimate rachis,the midrib and secondary veins is covered with triangular,trapezoid,rounded,or ligulate subepidermal swellings,which show different natures from intercalary pinnules.Lepidopteris is one of typical elements of the Late Permian Euramerican flora.Since Schimper erected the genus Lepidopteris in 1869,the entire epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings had been unclear.The new species L.baodensis clearly showing the distinguished epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings,not only enlarges and supplements our knowledge in biology and taxonomy of Lepidopteris as well as the Upper Permian stratigraphy of China,but also provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between Euramerican floras and Cathaysian floras in paleoclimatic,paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic context.     

Dietary overlap of snow leopard and other carnivores in the Pamirs of Northwestern China

Information about competition between carnivore species for food within high altitude regions is limited.Data collected from the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve,China revealed important interactions between snow leopard(Panthera uncia),grey wolf(Canis lupus),red fox(Vulpes vulpes)and their prey species,including domestic livestock.Sixty-four line transects were conducted in order to identify field signs of habitat occupancy and collect scats for diet analysis.High dietary overlap was observed between all three carnivore species:snow leopard and red fox(Pianka’s index=0.96),red fox and grey wolf(Pianka’s index=0.90),snow leopard and grey wolf(Pianka’s index=0.87).Snow leopard and grey wolf showed significant predation on livestock(36.8%for snow leopard and 29.4%for grey wolf in diet composition).As a pioneering exploration of the endangered snow leopard and its relationship with other species within the alpine ecosystem under livestock grazing pressure,this study contributes a greater understanding of the relationship within carnivore guild in the Pamirs whilst providing implications for conservation planning and project implementation activities in China.     

Juvenile hominoid cranium from the terminal Miocene of Yunnan, China

Fossil apes are known from several late Miocene localities in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, principally from Shihuiba (Lufeng) and the Yuanmou Basin, and represent three species of Lufengpithecus. They mostly comprise large samples of isolated teeth, but there are also several partial or complete adult crania from Shihuiba and a single juvenile cranium from Yuanmou. Here we describe a new, relatively complete and largely undistorted juvenile cranium from the terminal Miocene locality of Shuitangba, also in Yunnan. It is only the second ape juvenile cranium recovered from the Miocene of Eurasia and it is provisionally assigned to the species present at Shihuiba, Lufengpithecus lufengensis. Lufengpithecus has most often been linked to the extant orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, but recent studies of the crania from Shihuiba and Yuanmou have demonstrated that this is unlikely. The new cranium reinforces the view that Lufengpithecus represents a distinct, late surviving lineage of large apes in the late Miocene of East Asia that does not appear to be closely affiliated with any extant ape lineage. It substantially increases knowledge of cranial morphology in Lufengpithecus and demonstrates that species of this genus represent a morphologically diverse radiation of apes, which is consistent with the dynamic tectonic and biotic milieu of southwestern China in the late Miocene.     

Phylogenetic positions of some genera and species of the family Buccinidae (Gastropoda: Mollusca) from China based on ribosomal RNA and COI sequences

A phylogenetic analysis of members of the family Buccinidae was conducted using 18S rRNA gene, 28S rRNA gene and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase Ⅰ gene. We studied 18 species of Buccinidae that belong to eight different genera and inhabit the China coastal seas. We analyzed the patterns of divergence between an outgroup and basal ingroup taxa, the monophyly of the genus Neptunea, and the position of one unnamed species within the Buccinidae. A phylogenetic tree (neighbor-joining (NJ) method) was reconstructed based on the sequences of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI, with Rapana venosa as outgroup. The NJ tree indicated that the 18 species could be divided into five groups. The genus Buccinum was monophyletic, whereas Neptunea was shown to be paraphyletic since it included Siphonalia subdilatata and Neptunea sp., a new species. This novel species otherwise clustered consistently with Neptunea cumingi in three other phylogenetic trees, showing a low genetic distance and divergence percentage of sequences belonging to the genus Neptunea. A smaller genetic distance and a smaller difference of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI sequences between Neptunea cumingii and Neptunea arthritica cumingii confirmed them to be the same species.     

Local-scale drivers of multi-stemmed tree formation in Acer,in a temperate forest of Northeast China

Acer is an important genus in temperate forests in Northeast China.Individual Acer trees can re-sprout from the root collar and can occur in clonal units,either as a single-stemmed or multi-stemmed tree.However,the factors that induce multiple-stems in Acer remain only partly understood.In this study,we determined the relative importance of abiotic and biotic variables in driving the production of multiple-stems in this genus,within a 25-hm~2experimental forest dynamics plot in Changbaishan(CBS)temperate forest.We used generalized linear mixed models to perform analyses at two levels(community-and specieslevel).We found seven Acer species in total within the plot,where they form a key part of the forest community.Our results show that abiotic factors play a more important role in producing multi-stemmed trees at the community level in CBS.At the species level,the relative importance of different factors varied among species.Shrub species tended to have a higher frequency of multi-stemmed trees under stressful conditions,whereas tree species tended to have more multi-stemmed trees in more suitable habitat.Our results indicate that the relative importance of different factors influencing the frequency of multi-stemmed individuals in Acer differs at the community and species level in the temperate forest.     

Evolution of stomatal and trichome density of the Quercus delavayi complex since the late Miocene

A fossil oak species,Quercus tenuipilosa Q.Hu et Z.K.Zhou,is reported from the upper Pliocene Ciying Formation in Kunming,Yunnan Province,southwestern China.The establishment of this species is based on detailed morphologic and cuticular investigations.The fossil leaves are elliptic,with serrate margins on the apical half.The primary venation is pinnate,and the major secondary venation is craspedodromous.The tertiary veins are opposite or alternate-opposite percurrent with two branches.The stomata are anomocytic,occurring only on the abaxial epidermis.The trichome bases are unicellular or multicellular.The new fossil species shows the closest affinity with theextant Q.delavayi and the late Miocene Q.praedelavayi Y.W.Xing et Z.K.Zhou from the Xiaolongtan Formation of the Yunnan Province.All three species share similar leaf morphology,but differ with respect to trichome base and stomatal densities.Q.tenuipilosa.Q.praedelavayi,and Q.delavayi can be considered to constitute the Q.delavayi complex.Since the late Miocene,a gradual reduction in trichome base density has occurred in this complex.This trend is the opposite of that of precipitation,indicating that increased trichome density is not an adaptation to dry environments.The stomatal density(SD)of the Q.delavayi complex was the highest during the late Miocene,declined in the late Pliocene,and then increased during the present epoch.These values show an inverse relationship with atmospheric CO_2 concentrations,suggesting that the SD of the Q.delavayi complex may be a useful proxy for reconstruction of paleo-CO_2 concentrations.     

Analysis of diversity of CO I gene and system generation of nine species of chitons

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit Ⅰ(COⅠ) genes from 9 chiton species in China’s coast area were sequenced. A phylogeny tree about these gene sequences were reconstructed together with other 4 COⅠgene sequences of chitons from Genbank. The affinity genetic relationship and the taxonomic status of molecular evolution for these 13 chiton species were analyzed. The results show that Liolophura japonica and Onithochiton hirasei belong to Chitonidae, Acanthochiton rubrolineatus and Acanthochiton dissimilis belong to Acanthochitonidae, and Placiphorella japonica and Mopalia retifera belong to the same family Mopliidae. However, Lepidozona coreanica, Ischnochiton comptus, and Ischnochiton hakodadensis are not supposed to be referred to Ischnochi-tonidae according to the genetic distance analysis (L. coreanica, I. comptus, and I. hakodadensis are usually classed as Ischnochitonidae according to their morphological character). Furthermore, I. hakodadensis could not been classed as Ischnochiton, and it is more likely to be treated as a close relative of Lepidozona.     

Subspecies in Przewalski’s gazelle Procapra przewalskii and its conservation implication

Przewalski’s gazelle Procapra przewalskii is an endangered species endemic to China. A question remains about subspecific variation in this species. Skulls of Przewalski’s gazelle collected from its current remnant ranges around the Qinghai Lake in combination with those collected prior to the 20th century were measured and analyzed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis in order to clarify the question. Unexpectedly, P. p. diversicornis, extirpated from its historic range, has spread to the Qinghai Lake region where it has replaced nominotypical P. p. przewalskii and is now restricted to a few small isolated populations around the lake. We discuss the causes of this unexpected replacement. In this study, we discuss the possibility of a new form, possibly a new subspecies, in the Guide Basin, adjacent to Qinghai Lake; it is unclear whether the new form has long existed and was only discovered in recent years, or whether it evolved in recent times due to the geographical isolation and anthropogenic landscape features. The study sheds light on the processes of microevolution and subspeciation in Procapra przewalskii, and based on the findings, we propose measures for conservation strategies for Przewalski’s gazelle.     

Ancient DNA sequences of rice from the low Yangtze reveal significant genotypic divergence

Rice (Oryza sativa) was first domesticated in the lower and middle Yangtze regions of China, and rice remains have been found in many Chinese archaeological sites. Until now, only phenotypic archeobotanical evidence, such as the spikelet bases of ancient grains, has been used to speculate on the domestication process and domestication rate of rice. In this study, we sequenced 4 genomic segments from rice remains in Tianluoshan, a site of the local Hemudu Neolithic culture in the low Yangtze and two other archaeological sites (??2400 and 1200 BC, respectively). We compared our sequences with those of the current domesticated and wild rice (O. rufipogon) populations. At least two genotypes were found in the remains from each site, suggesting a heterozygotic state of the rice seeds. One ancient genotype was not found in the current domesticated population and might have been lost. The rice remains belonged to the japonica group, and most if not all were japonica-type, suggesting that the remains might be at an early stage of indica-japonica divergence or an indica-japonica mixture. We also identified sequences with significant similarity to those from species of Sapindales, Zygophyllales, and Brassicales, which is consistent with the identification of other plant remains in the Tianluoshan site and the common rice field weeds such as mustards in southern China.     

The yellow sea green tides were dominated by one species, Ulva (Enteromorpha) prolifera, from 2007 to 2011

Green tides have occurred in the Yellow Sea successively from 2007 to 2011. Genetic analysis of the 5-year green-tide-forming algae needs to be performed to determine the source of the biomass and understand the mechanism of the green tide blooms. In this study, free-floating green algae were collected at different sites in the Yellow Sea in 2010 and 2011. Data on 182 free-floating samples and 155 attached Ulva samples from previous studies on the Yellow Sea green tides from 2007 to 2009 were also taken into consideration. Morphology observation and molecular phylogenetic analyses indicated that the Yellow Sea green tides were dominated by a single species, Ulva prolifera, from 2007 to 2011. Considering that at least five Ulva species inhabit the north coast of China, the unialgal composition of the green tides implied that (1) there may be some special physiology and propagation pathways of U. prolifera for its rapid expansion, (2) the mechanisms of the Yellow Sea green tide formation were similar for the last five years, and (3) the intra-species genetic variation and population structure of U. prolifera need to be studied to determine the exact origin of the bloom-forming biomass.     

Fungal diversity on fallen leaves of Ficus in northern Thailand

Fallen leaves of Ficus altissima, F. virens, F. benjamina, F. fistulosa and F. semicordata, were collected in Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand and examined for fungi. Eighty taxa were identified, comprising 56 anamorphic taxa, 23 ascomycetes and l basidiomycete. Common fungal species occurring on five host species with high frequency of occurrence were Beltraniella nilgirica, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Ophioceras leptosporum, Periconia byssoides and Septonema harknessi. Colletotrichum and Stachybotrys were also common genera. The leaves of different Ficus species supported diverse fungal taxa, and the fungal assemblages on the different hosts showed varying overlap. The fungal diversity of saprobes at the host species level is discussed.     

Coral community changes in response to a high sedimentation event: A case study in southern Hainan Island

A high sedimentation event caused by dredging and dumping of sediment was recorded on Xiaodonghai Reef in Yulin Bay,southern Hainan Island,China.Significantly high sedimentation and constant light shading were observed during the sediment dumping event(SD Event).Using long-term video transects,we quantified coral community changes and responses to the SD Event between 2008 and 2010.The SD Event caused severe coral mortality on Xiaodonghai Reef at a depth of 6 m,while corals at 3 m were less affected.Total live coral cover at 6 m decreased from 54.3% to 14.8%,and Diploastrea heliopora replaced Galaxea fascicularis as the dominant coral species at 6 and 9 m.The density of juvenile corals also declined after the SD Event,especially for the genera Galaxea and Platygyra.However,the density of juvenile Porites and Pocillopora spp.slightly increased.Monitoring for 11 months after the SD Event indicated no recovery of coral communities on Xiaodonghai Reef.Long-term video transect data also revealed that mean live coral cover dramatically declined,from 30.5% in 2008 to 9% in 2010,while the dominant corals in Yulin Bay shifted to more tolerant coral species,such as massive Porites spp.and D.heliopora.The rapid coral community degradation in Yulin Bay between 2008 and 2010 was probably caused by high sediment deposition resulting from intensive dredging and land-clearing activities.These results highlight the necessity for an integrated watershed management to control sediment deposition on near-shore coral reefs.     

Proteomics of a toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella DH01: Detection and identification of cell surface proteins using fluorescent labeling

Alexandrium catenella DH01 is a toxic dinoflagellate species that is able to not only produce paralytic shellfish toxins,but also cause harmful algal blooms along the coast of China.In this study,we presented a new protocol for specific labeling and detection of the cell surface proteins(CSPs) of A.catenella DH01 cells using CyDye difference gel electrophoresis(DIGE) fluor minimal dyes.CSPs were identified using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) and MALDI TOF-TOF mass spectrometry(MS).The results showed that the fluorescent cyanine dye Cy3 could specifically label the CSPs of A.catenella DH01,with minimal labeling of intracellular proteins.Among three protein extraction methods evaluated,the Trizol method was the most efficient to extract CSPs with respect to protein spot number and resolution.Forty-one CSPs were separated and identified from A.catenella DH01 by 2-DE,in which 14 were identified in the protein database using MALDI TOF-TOF MS analysis.This work represents the first attempt to investigate the CSPs of A.catenella using the CyDye DIGE fluor dyeing method that provides a potentially important tool for future comprehensive characterization of CSPs and elucidation of the physiological functions of CSPs in dinoflagellates.     

Dinosaur diversity during the transition between the middle and late parts of the Late Cretaceous in eastern Shandong Province, China: Evidence from dinosaur eggshells

The record of dinosaur eggs from the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group in eastem Shandong Province, China shows that the dinosaur species represented by elongatoolithids were present from the middle to the late Late Cretaceous, whereas those repre- sented by the dictyoolithids and spheroolithids became extinct in the middle Late Cretaceous and the new species represented by ovaloolithids appeared in the late Late Cretaceous. Estimated eggshell conductance of water vapor is over 4 to over 115 times higher in spheroolithids and the dictyoolithids than in elongatoolithids and ovaloolithids, indicating that eggs of the first two oofamilies required higher humidity during incubation. Based on the δ^18O record as preserved in eggshell, a change from relatively humid to relatively dry climatic conditions can be assumed to have taken place during the transition between the middle and late parts of the Late Cretaceous. It is reasonable to suggest that the change in climate was the cause of the dinosaur diversity.     

中国湿地外来维管束植物的初步研究

【目的】了解外来入侵湿地植物,为中国湿地保护、管理和利用提供科学的依据,为外来入侵种的控制和外来植物的风险评估提供参考资料。【方法】采用野外调查与文献分析相结合的方法,对中国湿地外来维管束植物的种类组成、生活型、生态类型、入侵途径、原产地以及危害程度进行统计和分析。【结果】中国湿地外来维管束植物有189种,隶属47科93属,其中睡莲科种类最多,占12.16%;有意引入的种类有167种,无意引入的种类有22种,美洲是中国外来入侵种的主要来源地;恶性入侵种有9种,严重入侵种有10种,局部入侵种有4种,一般入侵种有23种和暂无危害种有143种。【结论】中国外来湿地维管束植物生活型上以多年生草本为主,生态类型上以沉水植物和挺水植物为主,且大多是由人为有意引入的。