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The complete mitogenome sequence of the masked shrew (Sorex caecutiens) was determined using long PCR. The genome was 17,096 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, one origin of L strand replication, and one control region. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is A (32.9%), C (24.5%), T (29.3%), and G (13.3%). The base compositions present clearly the A–T skew, which is most obviously in the control region and protein-coding genes. The extended termination-associated sequence domain, the central conserved domain and the conserved sequence block domain are defined in the mitochondrial genome control region of the masked shrew. Mitochondrial genome analyses based on MP, ML, NJ, and Bayesian analyses yielded identical phylogenetic trees. The five Sorex species formed a monophyletic group with the high bootstrap value (100%) in all examinations.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of total anthocyanin (TA) and total phenolics (TP) from Rubia sylvatica Nakai fruit (RSF) was optimized using response surface methodology. On the basis of a single-factor experiment, six factors were screened using a Plackett-Burman experimental design to determine the variables that significantly influence the extraction yield of TA and TP, namely ultrasound power, liquid: solid ratio, ethanol concentration, pH value, extraction temperature, and extraction duration. Based on statistical significance analysis, ethanol concentration, pH value, and extraction temperature were selected for further optimization of the extraction process using a Box–Behnken design. Under the optimum conditions, yields of TA and TP were 22.50 ± 0.89 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/g RSF and 36.20 ± 0.11 mg gallic acid/g RSF, respectively. The extract prepared under UAE exhibited excellent DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 1.21 ± 0.04 mg/mL). The results demonstrate that R. sylvatica fruit are rich in anthocyanins and show considerable potential as a source of colorants for use in the food industry.

Zhalong National Nature Reserve (Zhalong) is an important habitat of avian, especial for cranes and waterfowls. For grasping the relation between avian ecological group and habitat types and scientific management for resource, we used line transects to survey bird population and distribution during November-December from 2005-2009 at Zhalong, and used cluster analysis and Chi-Square tests to analyze data. We recorded 23 bird species of 15 families and 7 orders during the wintering period, including Anseriformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Passeriformes, Strigiformes. Geographic region and dominant vegetation were the main influence factors of wintering avian distribution at Zhalong. Different ecological groups preferred different habitat types (p

Using simultaneous land surveys, we monitored the population size and spatial distribution of wintering Siberian cranes at 64 lakes around Poyang Lake between 1998 and 2010. The results showed that 46 lakes were inhabited by wintering cranes, and in 25 of those, the number of wintering cranes accounted for more than 1% of the Siberian cranes' global population. The lakes where over 40.0% of the global population, e.g. 1 280 individuals, included Dachahu Lake in Jiujiang region, and Banghu Lake and Candouhu Lake in the Poyang Lake Nature Reserve. The average yearly population of the wintering Siberian crane in the Poyang lakes was 3 108±849, with the maximum of 4 004 individuals in winter 2002. On the whole, there was no drastic fluctuation, but population numbers have shown considerable fluctuation since 2003. We also found the Poyang Lake Nature Reserve was the major wintering area of the Siberian crane, with over 60% of Siberian cranes wintering in the reserve since 2002 (except in 2006). Most of the inhabited lakes are covered in existing nature reserves, though some lakes outside the reserve were also considerably used by Siberian cranes.

Many transgenes are silenced in mammalian cells (donor cells used for somatic cell nuclear transfer [SCNT]). Silencing correlated with a repressed chromatin structure or suppressed promoter, and it impeded the production of transgenic animals. Gene transcription studies in live cells are challenging because of the drawbacks of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Nano-flare probes provide an effective approach to detect RNA in living cells. We used 18S RNA, a housekeeping gene, as a reference gene. This study aimed to establish a platform to detect RNA in single living donor cells using a Nano-flare probe prior to SCNT and to verify the safety and validity of the Nano-flare probe in order to provide a technical foundation for rescuing silenced transgenes in transgenic cloned embryos. We investigated cytotoxic effect of the 18S RNA-Nano-flare probe on porcine fetal fibroblasts, characterized the distribution of the 18S RNA-Nano-flare probe in living cells and investigated the effect of the 18S RNA-Nano-flare probe on the development of cloned embryos after SCNT. The cytotoxic effect of the 18S RNA-Nano-flare probe on porcine fetal fibroblasts was dose-dependent, and 18S RNA was detected using the 18S RNA-Nano-flare probe. In addition, treating donor cells with 500 pM 18S RNA-Nano-flare probe did not have adverse effects on the development of SCNT embryos at the pre-implantation stage. In conclusion, we established a preliminary platform to detect RNA in live donor cells using a Nano-flare probe prior to SCNT.

Genetic diversity is the base of the species diversity and ecosystem diversity, and also the foundation for biological evolution and species differentiation. Furthermore, genetic diversity is important evidence for evaluation of biological resources of nature. The genetic diversity data from a wide variety of rodents have many complex applications. We summarized the application of rodent prevention, the origin and differentiation including evolutionary history of rodents, the potential adaptation of rodents, the dynamics of population and regulatory mechanisms, and the conservation biology of rodents. Researches in the future should focus on the systematic study on the relationships between population dynamics and genetic diversity, and long-term monitoring of genetic diversity of rodents.

Taimen Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) was once common in China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia but is disappearing now from its native region. This vulnerable species has considerable ecological importance but there are few data available on its biology. The limited available data on its systematics, distribution, ecology, reproduction and threats are summarized and discussed., Taimen Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) je nekoć bio čest u Kini, Rusiji, Kazahstanu i Mongoliji, ali sada nestaje iz svojih prirodnih staništa. Ova osjetljiva vrsta ima značajnu ekološku važnost iako ima malo podataka o njenoj biologiji. Dostupni podaci vezani uz sistematiku, distribuciju, ekologiju, razmnožavanje i prijetnje su ograničeni te su sažeti i o njima se raspravlja.

Two new species Hemielimaea (Hemielimaea) paracari sp. nov. and H. (H.) parva sp. nov. from southwestern China are described. Characteristics of the stridulatory file on underside of male left tegmen, male stridulatory area on left and right tegmen, and abdominal apex of male are provided. Important and necessary illustrations of the new species are presented. Materials come from the following two depositories: Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZCAS), and China Agricultural University, Beijing, China (CAU).

Here, we present our findings of free-flying echolocation calls of Himalayan swiftlets ( Aerodramus brevirostris ), which were recorded in Shenjing Cave, Hupingshan National Reserve, Shimen County, Hunan Province in June 2012, using Avisoft-UltraSoundGate 116(e). We noted that after foraging at dusk, the Himalayan swiftlets flew fast into the cave without clicks, and then slowed down in dark area in the cave, but with sounds. The echolocation sounds of Himalayan swiftlets are broadband, double noise burst clicks, separated by a short pause. The inter-pulse intervals between double clicks (99.3±3.86 ms）were longer than those within double clicks (6.6±0.42 ms) (P0.05) and pulse duration 2.9±0.12 ms, 3.2±0.17 ms, (P>0.05) between the first and second, other factors—maximum frequency, minimum frequency, frequency bandwidth, and power—were significantly different between the clicks. The maximum frequency of the first pulse (20.1±1.10 kHz) was higher than that of second (15.4±0.98 kHz) (P

Using simultaneous land surveys, we monitored the population size and spatial distribution of wintering Siberian cranes at 64 lakes around Poyang Lake between 1998 and 2010. The results showed that 46 lakes were inhabited by wintering cranes, and in 25 of those, the number of wintering cranes accounted for more than 1% of the Siberian cranes' global population. The lakes where over 40.0% of the global population, e.g. 1 280 individuals, included Dachahu Lake in Jiujiang region, and Banghu Lake and Candouhu Lake in the Poyang Lake Nature Reserve. The average yearly population of the wintering Siberian crane in the Poyang lakes was 3 108±849, with the maximum of 4 004 individuals in winter 2002. On the whole, there was no drastic fluctuation, but population numbers have shown considerable fluctuation since 2003. We also found the Poyang Lake Nature Reserve was the major wintering area of the Siberian crane, with over 60% of Siberian cranes wintering in the reserve since 2002 (except in 2006). Most of the inhabited lakes are covered in existing nature reserves, though some lakes outside the reserve were also considerably used by Siberian cranes.

Taimen Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) was once common in China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia but is disappearing now from its native region. This vulnerable species has considerable ecological importance but there are few data available on its biology. The limited available data on its systematics, distribution, ecology, reproduction and threats are summarized and discussed.