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Summary: Baseline data on local status of threatened species are often limited, and alternative information sources such as local ecological knowledge (LEK) have potential to provide conservation insights but require critical evaluation. We assess the usefulness of LEK to generate conservation evidence for the Hainan Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron katsumatae , a poorly known threatened island galliform. Interview surveys in rural communities across eight forested landscapes on Hainan provided a new dataset of sightings of Peacock-pheasants and other galliforms. Fewer respondents had seen Peacock-pheasants compared to other species across most landscapes, although Peacock-pheasant sightings showed significant across-landscape variation, with substantially more total and recent sightings from Yinggeling National Nature Reserve. However, validation of interview data with camera trapping data from Houmiling Provincial Nature Reserve, a landscape with few reported sightings, suggests a more optimistic possible status for Peacock-pheasants, which were detected as frequently as Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus and Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera during systematic camera trap placement. Hainan Peacock-pheasant sighting rates might be influenced by various factors (e.g. restricted local access to forests), with absolute abundance possibly greater than expected from limited sightings. Conversely, relative across-landscape abundance patterns from LEK are likely to be valid, as similar detection biases exist across surveyed landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the breeding ecology of the Emei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis) in two nature reserves (Laojunshan and Wawushan) in Sichuan, China from March to August 2009 and April to August 2010. The breeding density (mean ± SE) was between 1.20 ± 0.46 and 1.55 ± 0.56 males/[km-.sup.2], and the breeding season was from late April to mid-August and from mid-May to late August in Laojunshan Nature Reserve in 2009 and 2010, respectively. This species used the edges of or gaps within natural broadleaf forest between elevations of 1,450 and 2,150 m for nesting. Vegetation around nests was mainly bamboo (Chimonobambusa szechuanensis), small shrubs, and lianes with few large trees. Nests were cup-shaped with a mean height of 137.5 ±4.6 cm above the ground. Nests were mainly in C. szechuanensis. Females laid one egg per day in the morning and the mean (± SE) clutch size was 2.9 ± 0.2 eggs. Incubation started after the last egg was laid. Both males and females were observed participating in incubation, provisioning, and brooding the nestlings. Hatching success, fledging success, and nest success were 58.6, 70.8, and 27.5%, respectively. Nest predation and human disturbances were the two main factors affecting breeding success of Emei Shan Liocichlas. Received 13 January, 2011. Accepted 22 May 2011., The genus Liocichla represents a group of Old World babblers found in Asia from India to China, including Red-faced Liocichla (Liocichla phoenicea), Scarlet-faced Liocichla (L. ripponi), Steere's Liocichla (L. steerii), [...]

The mechanism that restricts the DNA replication to one in every cell cycle is conserved in eukaryotes. Eukaryotic replication origins exhibit a step-wise assembly of protein complexes during the cell cycle. In the post-replicative state, the binding of these proteins is not strong enough to dictate DNA replication. The pre-replicative complex assembles near the end of mitosis and proceeds through G1. After entering S phase, the origins revert to post-replicative state.

Rationale: Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) has been evaluated as a tool to improve analytical efficiency and add capability in areas within Pharmaceutical Research and Development (Pharma R&D). This article reports the comparison of single MS, and tandem MS/MS REIMS (REIMS and REIMS/MS) methodologies to investigate which mode produces maximum discrimination power for screening applications. Methods: Control tissue samples and cell line suspension samples were analysed using optimised REIMS and REIMS/MS to evaluate which technique produced optimal discrimination power for control tissue and cell line identification. The iKnife sampling tool and a prototype 'cell sampler' were utilised for tissue and cell analysis, respectively. The REIMS source was coupled to a hybrid Quadrupole‐Time Of Flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer. Multivariate Analysis (MVA) was utilised to evaluate the resulting Mass Spectrometry (MS) data and discriminate between sample types. Results: Proof of concept investigations demonstrating that REIMS/MS offered increased MVA discrimination for sample identification, compared with REIMS, is presented for the first time. Control tissue data showed discrimination by timepoint classification over 0‐144 h storage after removal from the host. Timepoint discrimination was optimised using REIMS/MS with a collision energy that effectively maximised ion fragmentation. Similar optimisation was observed when REIMS/MS was applied to the identification of cell lines. Conclusions: The proof of concept results demonstrate that REIMS/MS can offer advantages over REIMS for control tissue quality screening, and cell line identification applications in Pharma R&D. Further work following this proof of concept investigation is being undertaken to implement the technology for these applications, utilising the optimised REIMS/MS methodology. REIMS/MS will also be used as an optimised tool for other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low intensity subsistence agriculture is generally believed to be less damaging to wildlife than intensive farming. As Myanmar is undergoing rapid modernization, subsistence farming may shift to intensive agriculture, resulting in increased threats to species of conservation concern such as the green peafowl Pavo muticus. Here we investigate habitat use of the green peafowl in a low intensity agricultural landscape surrounding a small forest fragment in southern Shan State, Myanmar. The forest belongs to Nan Kone Buddha Monastery and the green peafowl is protected from hunting in the area on the basis of religious beliefs. We established three survey transects with a total length of 3,414 m. During February 2016–January 2017 we conducted surveys twice daily for 4 consecutive days every month, walking all transects in both directions in the mornings and afternoons and recording visual and auditory peafowl encounters. We estimated peafowl density to be 2.63 animals/km2 in the less disturbed western part of the study area and 1.13 animals/km2 in the eastern part, which had higher levels of human disturbance. The peafowl's habitat use was significantly non-random, with forest patches being the most utilized habitat, followed by croplands. Within a 300 m buffer zone around the forest patch, the order of habitat preference was crop > scrub > fallow, with crop significantly preferred over the other two habitats. We conclude that preserved isolated forest blocks adjacent to community-managed agricultural areas are important for green peafowl conservation, and discuss the implications for long-term conservation management of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some oscine birds, individually distinctive vocalisations are thought to be more pronounced allowing individual recognition based on songs. In this study, we explore individual identification in the songs of male Emei Shan Liocichla, a vulnerable babbler that inhabits dense vegetation. We recorded territorial songs of male Emei Shan Liocichla from Laojunshan National Nature Reserve during the breeding season of 2016, in southern Sichuan, China. We used three methods to compare the acoustic difference among and within individuals. The results demonstrated that male Emei Shan Liocichlas had individually distinct songs and can be used to identify individuals. We also found that 4 to 5 songs were relatively certain of an individual identity. Our findings indicated that individual distinctiveness by vocalisation was reliable in the Emei Shan Liocichla. Monitoring song therefore provides a potential method to follow individuals in the field and thus facilitate ecological research of this secretive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green peafowl Pavo muticus is a highly threatened galliform species that was historically distributed widely across South-east Asia. Evidence shows a recent population decline and range contraction for this species, linked with habitat degradation and over-exploitation. This study aimed to determine the current known distribution across mainland South-east Asia and investigate potential habitat that could host remaining viable populations and contribute to the long-term survival of the species. We used locations from historical and recent records and habitat variables from a geographical information system database to model the probability of occurrence and classify key localities according to their relative importance for the species. Our results showed that the green peafowl probably occurs in less than 16% of its historical range across mainland South-east Asia and that remaining locations are fragmented. Four confirmed and two potential stronghold populations were identified for the species, based on the localities with high capacity to contribute to its long-term survival in large contiguous patches. These were in central Myanmar, western and northern Thailand, eastern Cambodia/south-central Viet Nam and northern Cambodia/southern Lao. Threats vary amongst countries, with continued habitat loss and degradation in many areas and hunting particularly acute in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao. Most of the remaining populations are in protected areas but the protection level varies widely. We propose conservation actions for each stronghold population, in accordance with the nature of the threats and protection level in each area, to prevent the local extinction of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A successful mating in the mushroom Coprinus cinereus brings together a compatible complement of pheromones and G-protein-coupled receptors encoded by multiallelic genes at the B mating-type locus. Rare B gene mutations lead to constitutive activation of B-regulated development without the need for mating. Here we characterize a mutation that arose in the B6 locus and show that it generates a mutant receptor with a single amino acid substitution (R96H) at the intracellular end of transmembrane domain III. Using a heterologous yeast assay and synthetic pheromones we show that the mutation does not make the receptor constitutively active but permits it to respond inappropriately to a normally incompatible pheromone encoded within the same B6 locus. Parallel experiments carried out in Coprinus showed that a F67W substitution in this same pheromone enabled it to activate the normally incompatible wild-type receptor. Together, our experiments show that a single amino acid replacement in either pheromone or receptor can deregulate the specificity of ligand-receptor recognition and confer a self-compatible B phenotype. In addition, we use the yeast assay to demonstrate that different receptors and pheromones found at a single B locus belong to discrete subfamilies within which receptor activation cannot normally occur.

Background: The Emei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis) is a globally vulnerable babbler, endemic to southwestern China. We investigated its nest predators, nest-site selection and nest success at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China in order to identify the precise nesting-habitat requirements of the species, and to test whether the nest-site-selection cues, preferred by the Emei Shan Liocichla, are positively associated with nest success. Methods: We used infrared cameras to determine nest predators. We compared the microhabitat attributes between nest and random sites, as well as successful and failed nests. We used Binary Logistic Regression to determine the most important variables affecting nest-site selection of the Emei Shan Liocichla. We used the nest survival analysis in Program MARK to estimate daily nest survival rates (DSR). Nest success was calculated using the Mayfield method. Results: In total 56 nests were found. The DSR for all nests that contained at least one egg was 0.9564 ± 0.0091 (95 % CI 0.9346–0.9711) (n = 40), while the total nest success was 27.5 %. We identified four categories of predators in 10 nest predation events, i.e. squirrels (n = 5), snakes (n = 3), raptors (n = 1) and wasps (n = 1). We found that: (1) nest predation was the primary reason for nest failure of the Emei Shan Liocichla, (2) tree cover, bamboo cover, liana abundance and distance to forest edge or gap were the most important variables affecting nest-site selection of this species, and (3) the nest-site-selection variables we measured appeared not to be positively associated with nest success. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the Emei Shan Liocichla tended to select nest sites near forest edges or gaps with good concealment and that nest-site selection by this species was nonrandom but not necessarily adaptive. Reducing forest-edge development and protecting bamboo stands should be effective for conservation of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]