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The article discusses research which investigated population and conservation strategies for Shinisaurus crocodilurus or the Chinese crocodile lizard in China. Estimated total wild population of the lizards is about 950 individuals, based from transect surveys. Factors that may have contributed to population decline include poaching, habitat destruction, mining, small scale dam construction, electro-fishing and poisoning of fish in the stream. Several measures to address the population decline of the lizards include educating local people, punishing illegal poaching and promoting scientific research.

Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus bieti) are 1 of 3 snub-nosed monkey species endemic to China. Only ca. 1500 individuals remain in high-altitude forests 3000–4500 m above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau, making them the nonhuman primate living at the highest known elevation. It is one of the most endangered 25 primate species in the world. Proper knowledge of the population genetics and social system of Rhinopithecus bieti will contribute to more appropriate conservation management decisions. Cross-species amplification of human microsatellite loci has facilitated analysis of the population genetics and reproductive strategies of various primate species. We screened 72 human-derived markers to assess their utility in Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys. Thirteen of them produced reliable results and exhibited moderate levels of polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although dispersal in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a demographic mechanism which can potentially counteract the negative effect of habitat fragmentation, little is known about dispersal in this species because of difficulties in observing individuals. Using data from faecal microsatellite genotyping, we compared the spatial distribution of giant pandas in two populations and the proximity of relatives in one key population to infer their dispersal pattern. We conclude that giant pandas exhibit female-biased dispersal because: (i) vAIc (variance of assignment index) for females was significantly larger than for males, suggesting that females comprise both 'local' and 'foreign' genotypes; (ii) the average spatial distance of related female dyads was significantly larger than that of males; (iii) larger r (relatedness), F(ST) (genetic variance among populations) and mAIc (mean of assignment index) values were found in males using the software FSTAT, although the differences were not significant; (iv) males set up territories neighbouring to their birth place; (v) significant population structure using microsatellites with a concomitant lack of mitochondrial structure was found in a previous study, possibly indicating more extensive female dispersal; and (vi) female-biased dispersal was strongly supported by evidence from concomitant ecological studies. Considering previous ecological data and life-history characteristics of the giant panda, female-biased dispersal is most likely to be due to competition for birth dens among females, inbreeding avoidance and enhancing inclusive fitness among related males.