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Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall, 1913) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a widely distributed pest in Asia that primarily affects the production of snap beans and cowpea. The complete mitochondrial genome of Megalurothrips usitatus has been sequenced and annotated in this study, which is 17,209 bp long and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs, and 22 tRNA genes. Most of the protein-coding genes (PCGs) start with ATG except ND4 using TTG. Meanwhile, eight PCGs stop with TAA, four PCGs have an incomplete stop codon, and the gene Cytb ends with TAG. Phylogenetic analysis showed that M. usitatus is closely related to Frankliniella intonsa and F. occidentalis, providing a basis for the study of the mitochondrial evolution of Thripinae.

Haloxylon ammodendron is a typical tree species in arid region for windbreak and sand fixation. Understanding how stand structure (i.e., afforestation density, forest type, and stand age) of H. ammodendron impacts ecological benefits and tree growth status has great implications for desertification control in arid area. We obtained a dataset of 446 observations from 79 studies related to H. ammodendron plantations for meta‐analysis. Stand age was the key factor affecting performances of windbreak, tree canopy, and soil properties while afforestation density was more important in determining tree survival rate. Wind speed in H. ammodendron plantations was reduced by 52% in general compared to that at the site without any plantations and decreased as the increasing density. With the increase of stand age, soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus accumulated continuously, but soil moisture in 0–60 cm depth decrease when trees grew up to nearly 20 years. Within 4000 plants ha−1, responses of survival rate, tree height, ground diameter, and canopy decreased with the increase of afforestation density. Compared with mono‐species plantation, mixed afforestation was more beneficial to windbreak and survival, while it damaged tree growth. Combining the ecological functions and tree growth of H. ammodendron plantations, the afforestation density and forest age should be controlled to 450–900 plants ha−1 and 20 years, respectively, as the upper limit. Therefore, besides reasonable afforestation density, management measures for regulations of forest age and existing stand density were important to maintain higher ecological benefits and better tree growth of H. ammodendron plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Maternal monitoring of conspecifics is a crucial anti‐predator strategy that also protects infants against risks within the social group. This study examines how maternal characteristics, infant characteristics, mother–infant distance, and the social environment affect maternal monitoring behaviors in free‐ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). We observed 12 females with infants and analyzed their visual monitoring patterns. Our findings indicate that maternal rank significantly influences the time allocated to maternal visual monitoring, higher‐ranking mothers spending less time than lower‐ranking mothers. Maternal experience also played a role in monitoring strategies. Differences in monitoring strategies were observed based on maternal experience: first‐time mothers (primiparity) engaged in longer but less frequent monitoring sessions compared to experienced mothers (multiparity). The time and frequency of maternal monitoring decreased as infants aged, and mothers with male infants showed higher levels of monitoring than those with female infants. The distance between mother and infant also affected visual monitoring behavior, with mothers increasing their monitoring levels when infants were nearby (1–5 m), rather than within reach (0–1 m) or beyond nearby (>5 m). Additionally, the presence of kin and non‐kin influenced monitoring: as the number of nearby kin increased, monitoring levels decreased, while the presence of more non‐kin males led to an increase in monitoring time, and higher‐ranking non‐kin neighbors increased the frequency of monitoring. These results suggest that Tibetan macaque mothers can adapt their visual monitoring to the social risks faced by their infants, adjusting their strategies to their status and the needs of their offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]