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    Habitat prediction of Asiatic golden cat ( Catopuma temminckii) in Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province
    Liwen HE, Xiaotong YANG, Jirong TENG, Junliang WANG, Sheng LI, Lingyun XIAO, Jian HUANG
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 237-247.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150737
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    The Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is listed as a First Class species in the National Key Protected Wild Animals in China, and assessed as Near Threatened (NT) and Endangered (EN) by IUCN Red List and China Species Red List, respectively. Once widely distributed from East to Southeast Asia, the Asiatic golden cat inhabits diverse habitats ranging from lowland rainforests to montane coniferous forests and subalpine rhododendron forests, whereas its habitat selection preference remains poorly understood. In this research we determined the habitat selection strategy of this species in the montane forest ecosystem in Southwest China. We collected the occurrence data (292 independent detections at 117 sites) of the Asiatic golden cat through camera-trapping surveys from 2016 - 2019 in Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province, and constructed a MaxEnt model with 7 environmental variables (altitude, aspect, slope, distance to river, land use type, distance to road, distance to residents) to predict its suitable habitats in the reserve. The results showed that the suitable habitats were estimated as 1 045.90 km2 in the reserve, yet separated into the northern and southern parts by natural and anthropocentric barriers including the Bailongjiang River, 212 National Highway and the residential area along the low valley. The model response curves showed that the Asiatic golden cat prefers the evergreen coniferous forests close to rivers, at an elevation of around 2 400 m. The results indicated that, the wide river and anthropogenic impacts (e.g. roads) are possibly key factors driving the fragmentation status of the Asiatic golden cat’s habitat at the landscape scale. Future studies shall further examine the impacts of different types of human disturbance on Asiatic golden cats, and explore their basic ecology including diet composition, activity rhythm, population status and dynamics by integrating multiple methods.

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    Distribution, group size and activity rhythm of wolves ( Canis lupus) in the Gongga Mountains, Sichuan Province
    Jiang QIAO, Xiaoli GONG, Wei JIA, Guoqing JIA, Yong JIANG, Huaming ZHOU, Jiaqi LI, Anxiang WEN, Jie WANG
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 248-257.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150542
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    The wolf (Canis lupus) is one of the largest and most widely distributed carnivores in the world. Historically, it occurred throughout mainland China, but its range has shrunk dramatically due to habitat loss and human persecution. We conducted wildlife camera trapping in 1 km grid cells, with 195 cells and 286 sites in total, in Mt. Gongga from 2011 to 2020. Wolves were detected in 46 cells and at 56 sites, with 278 independent detections. The detection percentage was 23.6% and 19.6% for grid cells and sites, respectively. Wolves were found at altitudes ranging from 3 097 m to 4 563 m. The group size of wolves averaged (1.2 ± 0.5) ind., with no significant variance among vegetation types or between seasons (t = -1.119, P = 0.266; t = -0.251, P = 0.801). Wolves were active at 03: 00 - 07: 00 and 15: 00 - 17: 00 in the dry season (November - April), and were active at 03: 00 - 07: 00 and 13: 00 - 15: 00 in the rainy season (May - October). The temporal activity pattern significantly overlapped between wolves and sympatric herbivores. The highest degree of overlap was with the Chinese serow Capricornis milneedwardsii (Δ4 = 0.908) in the dry season and with the sambar deer Rusa unicolor (Δ4 = 0.895) in the rainy season. This study determined the distribution, population size and activity rhythm of wolves in Mt. Gongga for the first time, providing reliable information for further studies and large carnivore management in the nature reserve.

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    Diversity and activity rhythm of mammals and birds in the Badagongshan National Nature Reserve, Hunan inferred through camera traps
    Xiangdong RUAN, Yixin CHEN, Boyu WANG, Xiao YANG, Chunlin LIAO, Yang YU, Cheng GUO
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 342-351.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150708
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    Identifying the status of fauna diversity in protected areas is important for understanding their current population demography and distribution, while is essential for accurate conservation planning. Due to the complex terrain and dense vegetation, the knowledge of the fauna diversity status of Mt. Wuling, situated at the edge of the Yun-Gui Plateau,remains insufficient. From March 2017 to December 2018, we investigated the diversity, community composition, and activity rhythms of terrestrial mammals and birds by deploying 60 infrared camera traps at the northern Mt. Wuling in Badagongshan National Nature Reserve, Hunan, China. We established 60 camera sites, monitored totaling 18 525 camera-trapping days, and identified 2 865 independent images. We totally identified 15 mammals and 35 birds, belonging to 8 orders, 25 families, and 37 genera. We also identified three birds, namely Schoeniparus dubius, Turdus feae, and Emberiza tristrami as new recorded species for the reserve. Rodentia, Cetartiodactyla, Carnivora, Galliformes, and Passeriformes were the most abundant orders and widely occurred in the study area. Based on the detailed time records of the eight most abundant species, the results show that: (1) Dremomys pyrrhomerus and Paguma larvata are typically diurnal and nocturnal mammals respectively, and their activity rhythms are consistent with other populations outside the region; (2) Both Elaphodus cephalophus and Sus scrofa exhibit cathemeral activities but their activity rhythms are significantly different from each other; (3) We also detected significant differences in activity rhythms, between Tragopan temminckii and Chrysolophus pictus as well as between Garrulax ocellatus and Leiothrix lutea. This survey provides basic and valuable information on the current status of mammalian and avian diversity in Badagongshan National Nature Reserve, which is essential for wildlife monitoring and biodiversity conservation in this area.

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    The three-dimensional reconstruction and parameter measurement of the skull of Amur leopard ( Panthera pardus orientalis) in China
    Qiang LIU, Haijun WANG, Yue ZHAO, Shiyu CHEN, Guangshun JIANG
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 315-321.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150740
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    The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), one of the world’s most endangered cat subspecies, is mainly distributed in the Northeastern Tiger and Leopard National Park and its surrounding areas in China. No skull measurements have been reported due to its rarity. In this study, the head specimen of a female Amur leopard who died of severe illness was used as the research object. The image data was acquired by scanning with the Dachang Sunshine32 X-ray computed tomography device and the 3D skull reconstruction was performed with the 3D Slicer software to establish the‘digital specimen’of the Amur leopards and measure 26 cranial parameters. This study filled the gap in the digital morphology model of the northeast leopard’s skull among the big cats in China, and provided a basis for the future conservation work of large endangered cats, such as research, conservation, medical treatment, data preservation and feline population differentiation. Morphological information from the skull laid the foundation for taxonomic studies of the Amur leopard. For taxonomic studies of mammals, cranial features have been, and continue to be, important evidence for understanding both interspecific and intraspecific taxonomy.

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    Mammal diversity in the forest fragments of Wuhan City
    Qiwei WANG, Hengyue ZHAO, Qin LIU, Neng WAN, Zhibing ZHU, Hongyu NIU, Hongmao ZHANG
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 258-269.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150730
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    Urbanization is one of the main reasons for forest fragmentation in urban systems, which causes threats to biodiversity through both species decline and biotic homogenization. This study aims to reveal the richness, abundance, and diversity of mammals on the fragmented forest patches in urban, suburban and rural areas. Our study helps to provide substantial data for the protection of mammal diversity and land-use planning in urban ecosystems. According to the urban-suburban-rural gradient, we surveyed the diversity of mammals on 13 forest patches in Wuhan from 2019 to 2021 by using literature reviewing and camera-trapping. Taking the patch area, distance to the urban center, isolation, and shape index as patch characteristics of urbanization, we analyzed the relationships between species composition and patch characteristics by using RDA, and examined the relationships between the species diversity and patch characteristics by using linear regression. We recorded 15 forest mammals in total, which belong to 8 orders and 6 families. The dominant species are Racoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), Asian badger (Meles leucurus), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), and Confucian niviventer (Niviventer confucianus). The fauna type is dominated by oriental species. The species composition was positively correlated with distance to the urban center in suburban forest, and negatively correlated with area in urban forest. The species richness (P < 0.01) and Shannon-Wiener diversity index (P < 0.05) were significantly positively correlated with the distance to urban center. There was no significant correlation between species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index with isolation and shape index (P > 0.05). Our study showed that the distance to the urban center was the main factor affecting forest mammal diversity in Wuhan. The high speed of urbanization in Wuhan has reduced the mammal diversity. For maintaining and restoring the high diversity of mammals, we recommend that some specific measures should be carried out in urban forest patches to reduce human disturbance and protect natural forests, especially the continuous natural forests in the suburban and rural areas.

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    Effects of dietary protein contents on the immune function of plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae)
    Lu ZHANG, Xueqin WU, Huiqing CHEN, Xin DONG, Guozhen SHANG, Yan WU, Jianghui BIAN
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 293-303.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150743
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    The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is not only a small herbivorous mammal unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but also a keystone species in the alpine grassland ecosystem. The population number of plateau pikas has increased dramatically with the degradation of grasslands caused by overgrazing. Our recent research has found that the immune system of plateau pikas was significantly enhanced as the alpine grassland degrades, and speculated it maybe related to the rich high-protein food resources in the degraded alpine grassland. To further validate this hypothesis, a field experiment was conducted in a highly degraded grassland of the Qinghai Haibei National Field Research Station of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem. The objective of this study is to verify the hypothesis that rich high-protein food resources could increase the immune system of plateau pikas. Six sample plots (70 m × 70 m) were randomized amongst three treatment groups: no supplementation (control); supplementation with rabbit chow with 5% protein; and supplementation with rabbit chow with 20% protein. We measured the fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response, IgG levels of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in serum, and intestinal parasitic infection status of plateau pikas. The results showed that supplementation with pelleted chow with 20% protein treatment significantly decreased the FCM levels of plateau pikas, significantly increased the PHA response and IgG levels against KLH, and significantly reduced the infection rate of coccidia and the infection intensity of cestodes. This result confirmed the above hypothesis and suggested that in degraded alpine grasslands, high-protein food can promote the growth of plateau pika populations by alleviating the vicious cycle between stress-immunity-parasitic infections.

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    The current distribution and prediction of suitable habitat of Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx) in China
    LIU Ke, LIU Yanlin, LI Sheng
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 652-663.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150801
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    Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx) is widely distributed in northern Eurasia and, is one of the top predators in arid and semi-arid ecosystems in China and plays a significant role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Since the mid-20th century, the Eurasian lynx in China has experienced dramatic population decline and range contraction. However, our knowledge on its distribution status and dynamics is still very limited, which is a critical obstacle to developing specific conservation planning and action. To determine the current distribution of Eurasian lynx in China, we conducted a comprehensive search from multiple sources, including camera-trapping datasets, literature databases, and news reports, on the occurrence records of this species in China from 2010 to 2022. A total of 155 confirmed occurrence records of Eurasian lynx were obtained and were used to construct a species distribution model to predict its suitable habitat across China using MaxEnt with 24 environmental variables of 4 categories. The results showed that Eurasian lynx is currently distributed in 9 provinces, among which Neimenggu has the most occurrence records ( n = 28). The result of cluster analysis showed that these occurrence sites could be grouped into three distinct spatial clusters: northeast, northwest, and southwest China. The averaged model AICc was the lowest when the regularization multiplier (RM) was 4 for the MaxEnt model and the mean AUC of the 10 candidate models was 0.814, indicating good performance of model prediction. The total area of the model predicted suitable habitat in China is 328.74×10 4 km 2, mainly located in northern Heilongjiang, northeastern Neimenggu, northwestern Sichuan, eastern Xizang, Altai, Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains in Xinjiang, and the Qilian Mountains along the border of Qinghai and Gansu. Annual mean temperature, precipitation of driest month and land cover type were the most important factors affecting the habitat suitability of Eurasian lynx in China. Compared to the species range map provided by IUCN, the Tianshan-Altai Mountain Region, northeastern Neimenggu, parts of western Sichuan, and the Qilian Mountains were probably omitted during the IUCN species assessment, and further studies are urgently needed to examine the population and distribution status of Eurasian lynx in these regions.
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    New records of Crocidura dongyangjiangensis and Crocidura anhuiensis in Jiangxi Province
    Jiangxiao HU, Yifan XU, Zhian ZOU, Wei ZENG, Jie DAI, Xueyang REN, Hongfeng YAO, Zhongzheng CHEN
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 352-356.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150723
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    In June 2022, four specimens of Crocidura were collected from Wuyi Mountain, Yanshan County, Jiangxi Province. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses showed that one specimen is C. dongyangjiangensis, and the other three are C. anhuiensis. Both species are the first records in Jiangxi Province. The specimen of C. dongyangjiangensis exhibits a light gray-brown color, has a small body type head-body length of 63 mm, tail length of 40 mm, cranial length of 16.57 mm, and a narrow skull. These morphological features are consistent with the description of specimens from Dongyangjiang, Zhejiang Province. The maximum likelihood (ML) tree based on Cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene showed a monophyletic group between this specimen and C. dongyangjiangensis, and the genetic distance (p-distance) between them ranged from 0.6% to 1.8%. The other three specimens identified as C.anhuiensis from Jiangxi are medium-sized shrews. They have head-body length of 75 ? 87 mm and tail length of 52 ? 62 mm (68% ? 77% of head-body length), which are consistent with the morphology of the specimens from Huangshan, Anhui Province. The ML tree showed these three specimens formed a monophyletic group with the C. anhuiensis from Anhui, and their genetic difference (p-distance) was 1.2%.

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    Characteristics of tetracycline antibiotic resistance genes in intestinal microorganisms and intestinal environment of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys
    Shuzhen ZOU, Ya LUO, Ming CHENG, Fan WANG, Dayong LI, Di KANG, Yun TANG
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 304-314.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150671
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    The gut of wild animals has been shown to be a reservoir for microorganisms that contain antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) are at particular risk for ARGs. The intestinal microbial composition of female and male Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Tetracycline antibiotic resistance genes (T-ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and intestinal enzyme activities and nutrient contents of the monkeys intestinal microorganisms were analyzed. A network model was used to analyze the potential host bacteria of T-ARGs and MGEs. A simple correlative relationship was used to analyze the relationship between the abundances of T-ARGs and MGEs and the intestinal micro?ecological environment. The results showed no significant difference in the absolute abundance of T-ARGs and MGEs between female and male monkey groups. The relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Fibrobacteres in the intestines of the female group were significantly lower than those of the male group, while the activities of cellulase and protease content were significantly higher than those of the male group. T-ARGs could be used as an indicator of management risks of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in the exhibition area, who may face three potential risks. First, opportunistic pathogens in Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys are potential hosts of T-ARGs and there may be a risk of drug resistance in Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys treated with tetracycline antibiotics. Second, lipase activity, protease activity, and cellulase activity can improve the transfer ability of MGEs, which suggests that the method of maintaining intestinal digestive ability of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in the exhibition area may be contrary to the goal of reducing the transfer ability of T-ARGs. Third, T-ARGs may inhibit proteins being digested and amino acids being absorbed. It is suggested to control the sources of T-ARGs exposure in the exhibition area, in order to ensure the stability of the intestinal micro-ecological environment and to reduce the drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, extra attention should be paid to the individual health of male Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys.

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    Screening the critical morphology and skull indices for identifying Rattus norvegicus and Rattus tanezumi
    Yan CHEN, Yaxian YUE, Tao WANG, Lei ZHEN, Donghui LI, Runyu TAO, Ying SONG, Deng WANG
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 322-332.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150720
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    Clarifying the validity of characters that can classify similar rodent species can contribute to defining species quickly and accurately. We identified 36 sympatric rats into R. norvegicus (n = 31) and R. tanezumi (n = 5) by aligning the partial sequence of Vkorc1 gene (725 bp). Based on the identification results of Vkorc1 gene, we compared the accuracy of the classification and identification results of the two species by principal component analysis and cluster analysis of morphology and skull indices, which included 21 permutations of body weight, body length, tail length, ear length and hind foot length, tail length/body length, hind foot length/body length and fatness, and 2 combining indices of skull metrics. The body metrics combination of tail length/body length, ear length/body length, and fatness accurately classified all individuals of the two species. The skull morphology index combination of the length of the upper cheek tooth row, length of the lower cheek tooth row, length of the tympanic bulla, and width of the tympanic bulla also all individuals of the two species. These results provided the critical body or skull morphological characters and corresponding analytical approaches for classifying and identifying the two species.

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    Behavioral ethogram and posture‒act‒environment coding system of wild Leopard cats ( Prionailurus bengalensis) based on infrared camera technology
    Ling LIU, Aigang XIAO, Tiejian ZHAO, Xiaomei FENG, Suxia SHEN, Xianwang LU, Hongwu GUAN, Dapeng ZHAO
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 270-279.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150713
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    From June 2017 to April 2021, the behavioral ethogram and posture?act?environment (PAE) coding system of wild Leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) were investigated based on infrared camera technology. The behavioral diversity of wild leopard cats across seasons and age groups was also statistically analyzed. In this study, we identified and recorded 8 types of postures, 39 acts, and 25 behaviors of wild leopard cats and established the behavioral ethogram and PAE coding system for this species. We also found that the total absolute diversity index Htotal and the total relative diversity index rtotal of Leopard cats were the highest in summer and the lowest in winter. There was a significant difference between the absolute diversity index H and relative diversity index r in autumn and winter (H: Z = -2.023, P = 0.043; r: Z = -2.023, P = 0.043). The total absolute diversity index Htotal and the total relative diversity index rtotal of adults were higher than cubs, and there were significant age-group differences in the relative diversity index r (Z = -2.018, P = 0.044). These findings provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive protection of natural populations of wild leopard cats.

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    Population size and distribution of western black crested gibbon ( Nomascus concolor) in Ailao Mountain, Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan Province
    LI Genhui, QIN Zhongyi, LU Lixiong, GAO Wenjun, LUO Wenfu, LI Han, LI Yuwu, YIN Cunquan, XU Ping, YIN Guanghua, LI Fabao, NIU Xiaowei, JIANG Xuelong
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 513-522.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150749
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    From November to December 2020, we conducted the second field survey on the population and distribution of the western black crested gibbon ( Nomascus concolor) in Ailao Mountain, Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan by interviews and loud morning calls counting method. The survey recorded 61 groups and 14 individuals of western black crested gibbon, a total of about 270 individuals in the National Nature Reserve and its surrounding state forest areas. The gibbon population was mainly found (59 groups and 13 individuals) from the central part of Chuxiong City to the south part of Shuangbai County, while from the central to the north part of Nanhua County it was represented by a small isolated population (two groups and one individual). Compared with the previous survey in 2005, the population of the western black crested gibbon in Ailao Mountains, Chuxiong Prefecture increased significantly but still facing threats from population isolation and human disturbance such as grazing by cattle and goats. According to the current population and distribution pattern, we propose to conduct long-term population dynamic monitoring for concentrated populations, regular and irregular patrolling for isolated and marginal distributed groups, habitat assessment and restoration, and assign the groups in state forests managed by national nature reserve management and protection bureau for protection and conservation of western black crested gibbons in Ailao Mountains, Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan.
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    Dynamic observation of provisioned wild Trachypithecus francoisi in Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou
    ZHANG Peng, YAN Xiugang, SHI Yun, YANG De, WANG Bin, LI Wei, YANG Yuanlu, YANG Zhaohui, WU Guangyang, CAI Zhi, LI Siyao, ZOU Hao, ZHANG Fan
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 753-759.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150707
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    From 2009 to 2021, a direct observation method was used to track and monitor a provisioned group of Trachypithecus francoisi in Mayanghe National Nature Reserve. The observation period covered 1 846 days with an average annual working days of 142. In total, 31 adults (15 males, 16 females) were observed and, in addition, 26 babies were born with a male-female ratio of 1.2∶1 (14 male, 12 female) of which 15 infants survived (7 males, 8 females), a survival rate of 57.7%. For the whole group, the average annual monkey group birth rate was about 22.8% and the annual loss rate was about 11.4%. The number of births exhibited a bimodal distribution, peaking from February to April and from July to October. The average reproductive interval of adult monkeys was 18.7 months but shortened to 16.3 months after the death or disappearance of a newborn. During 2019 -2021, the average growth rate of the group was 11.4%, the number of monkeys had generally stabilized and was self-sustaining. However, as of the end of December 2021, the feeding group had dwindled to just nine individuals (two males and seven females) due to individual deaths, disappearances, and expulsions of some sub-adults. There were no infants or juveniles and insufficient sub-adults. Furthermore, the proportion of middle-aged and elderly individuals was high, resulting in an imbalanced age structure. This study provides basic data related to long-term monitoring of wild Trachypithecus francoisi in Mayanghe National Nature Reserve. This has provided an important basis for follow-up scientific research, educational projects, and monitoring and management of Trachypithecus francoisi in the reserve. Moreover, it has ensured that this flagship species and its habitats are effectively protected and sustainably used, so as to promote the high-quality development of biodiversity protection in this region.
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    Population viability analysis of Père David’s deer ( Elaphurus davidianus) in Dongting Lake, Hunan Province
    Conglei LI, Shurong TIAN, Yucheng SONG, Hong ZHANG, Dali GAO, Daode YANG, Xiaojie GUI
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 280-292.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150710
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    Population viability analysis is a method of evaluating population size and extinction risk of threatened species, through analysis of factors such as population statistical randomness, environmental randomness, natural disasters, spatial structure of habitats and various management approaches to assess their impacts on threatened species and provide theoretical support for conservation and management strategies.The Père David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus) population in the Dongting Lake is a naturalized population. Due to low population growth as a result of flooding, and the threat of insularization and inbreeding depression, it is necessary to formulate a conservation action plan to preserve that population. We monitored the population from 2006 to 2020 and analyzed population viability based on the data collected. There were 3 groups of individuals in the area, with a total population size of about 210 individuals. We used the VORTEX model (10.5.5.0) to simulate dynamics of the population for the next 100 years based on various population parameters, including current population status, mating system, carrying capacity, and mortality. Under ideal conditions and assumed carrying capacity of 1 000 individuals, the probability of population extinction is 0, the intrinsic growth rate r is 0.0991 ± 0.0800, the instantaneous growth rate λ is 1.1041 ± 1.1900, the net reproduction rate R0 is 2.006 2, the average generation time of females T is 7.03 years, and average generation time of males T is 8.65 years. The population viability analysis indicated that the coefficient of inbreeding will increase by 8.08%, and expected and observed heterozygosity will decrease by 6.57% and 8.30%, respectively. We found through sensitivity analysis that low birth rate and high fawn mortality caused by flooding would be the main factors influencing population growth, and the probability of population extinction would be positively correlated to the frequency and degree of influence of flooding. Based on these analyses, we provided recommendations on protection and management strategies of the population.

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    Analysis of the nutritional status of vitamins and trace elements in adult male captive giant pandas at different feeding stages
    Mingxi LI, Huanliu HE, Hao ZHANG, Han LI, Tao DENG, Min CHEN, Hairui WANG, Ying YAO
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (3): 333-341.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150691
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    In the wild, giant pandas have access to a broad range of dietary options, however, for captive individuals, dietary options are greatly reduced. Maintaining a balanced diet, which includes the appropriate levels of micronutrients, is essential to the ex-situ conservation of the giant panda. Evaluating the micronutrient status of captive giant pandas at different feeding stages is a necessary step in constructing a scientific feeding strategy for this iconic species. In this study, seven healthy adult captive giant pandas were selected and fed bamboo leaves (bamboo leaf stage) and bamboo shoots (bamboo shoots stage) in turn. Feeding tests were carried out three times during the bamboo leaf stage and twice during the shoot stage. Each feeding test lasted for three days and the interval between each feeding test was 28 days. During the tests, the daily food intake of the giant pandas was recorded, the vitamin content of the bamboo that was provided was measured and corresponding mineral content was referenced so as to compare the daily intake of vitamins and minerals during the different feeding stages. Blood samples were collected at the end of each feeding stage, and the serum levels of 13 vitamins and 10 minerals were determined. In bamboo shoots, the contents of VA, VE, VK1, nicotinic acid, pyridoxal and pyridoxine were lower, while the contents of VB5 and VB12 were higher than those in bamboo leaves (P < 0.05). Compared with the bamboo leaf stage, the daily intakes of VE, VK1, Ca, Fe, Cu and Mn decreased significantly, while the daily intakes of VB5, VB6, VB7, VB12, Mg and Zn increased significantly during the bamboo shoot stage (P < 0.05). Moreover, the serum levels of VB2, Cr and Se were lower, while the levels of VE, VK1, VB5, VB7, VB9 and VB12 were higher during the bamboo shoot stage (P < 0.05). The results showed that feeding different bamboo parts could affect both the intake and serum levels of vitamins and minerals of captive giant pandas. The differences and patterns of micro-nutrition status between different bamboo feeding stages can provide a theoretical basis for the provisioning of bamboo as well as the nutritional supplementation in the daily feeding and management of captive giant pandas.

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    Seasonal differences in habitat selection of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta) in the Western Sichuan Plateau region
    SI Huangkai, JIN Zuxiang, ZHANG Kechu, ZHOU Fei, YAO Yongfang, XIAO Hongtao, LI Bajin, Pucuowangjia, XU Huailiang
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 676-688.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150752
    Abstract364)   HTML1)    PDF (2073KB)(335)       Save
    From July 2019 to March 2021, a follow-up survey was conducted on a group of about 40 rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta) in Yajiang County, Sichuan Province, to explore seasonal differences in habitat selection in a high-altitude environment. 135 plots (20 m×20 m) were selected based on macaque observations and 60 control plots were set where macaques were not present. 18 ecological factors, such as altitude, grazing intensity, and vegetation types, were measured in each plot and used to calculate a selection index and perform a principal component analysis. The results showed that (1) rhesus macaques preferred staying at higher altitudes (3 900 - 4 300 m) in spring, summer and autumn, but moved toward lower altitudes (3 500 - 3 900 m) in winter; (2) the macaques preferred sunny slopes, while in winter, there was no obvious preference for slope orientation; (3) their preferred habitats were areas with high canopy density (greater than 60%) in spring and low canopy density (less than 60%) in autumn and winter; (4) in spring and winter, they stayed near water sources (less than 100 m away), but preferred habitats were more than 100 m from water sources in summer and autumn; (5) in summer, they preferred to move to forested areas (coniferous forest, alpine oak forest, mixed broadleaf-conifer forest), but in other seasons they favored lowland grasslands (near the river valley) at lower altitude; (6) they avoided areas with high levels of human interference as much as possible in summer and autumn and engaged in more activities in areas with high levels of human interference in winter and spring. Both human disturbance and geographical factors played a significant role in year-round habitat selection. Vegetation factors mainly influenced habitat selection in spring, summer, and autumn, while shelter condition factors mainly affected summer habitat selection. Compared to other low-altitude areas, maximizing access to food and reducing energy consumption are the key factors for macaques to survive and reproduce in plateau environments with low natural productivity.
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    Advances in reproductive isolation mechanisms during animal speciation
    ZHANG Yuxing, WU Hong, YU Li
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 627-643.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150838
    Abstract346)   HTML8)    PDF (4322KB)(501)       Save
    The process of speciation and its mechanism is not only the‘mystery of mysteries’of Darwin, but also a key to understanding the biological diversity in nature, and it is also one of the scientific focuses in the field of evolutionary biology. Speciation refers to the evolutionary process in which a new species diverges from its ancestors, and it is also the process of reproductive isolation or barrier establishment among populations. The exploration and revelation of this process and its inherent genetic mechanism are the key to understanding the phenomenon of biodiversity. By focusing on animal groups, this review systematically describes the ways of reproductive isolation establishment and their molecular mechanisms, then discusses the bottlenecks, challenges and potential opportunities faced by current research on animal reproductive isolations, with a view to providing reference and inspiration for subsequent research on animal speciation.
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    Comparison of intestinal microbiota of golden-headed lion tamarins, golden-handed tamarins and cotton-headed tamarins under the same captive environment
    ZHANG Zeming, YAO Hongyu, WU Nan, ZHAO Lingling, GU Yiru, WANG Yu, WU Hong, ZHAO Dapeng
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 580-592.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150739
    Abstract315)   HTML2)    PDF (4950KB)(76)       Save
    The composition of intestinal microbiota in animals is directly related to the host species and their living environment. Studies on intestinal microbiota composition of various species living in the same habitat is important for the conservation of species diversity. Both non-damage sampling and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing were used to investigate the structure, diversity, and functional prediction of intestinal microbiota across three species of New World monkeys (golden-headed lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysomelas, golden-handed tamarin Saguinus midas, and cottonheaded tamarin Saguinus oedipus) from Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo. The results showed that a total of 14 phyla, 20 classes, 50 orders, 101 families, 231 genera, and 356 species of intestinal flora were obtained from 18 fecal samples collected from the three species. At the phylum level, the common dominant phyla across the three species were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, the common dominant bacterial genera included Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium. There were significant differences in intestinal microbiota at both the phylum level and the genus level among species, in which the richness of intestinal microbiota in golden-headed lion tamarin was significantly higher than that in the others. This study provides basic data for further investigation on the intestinal microbiota diversity and survival adaptation, and also serves as reference for ex situ management for species conservation.
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    Estimating the population size of wild boar ( Sus scrofa) in Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province using camera-trapping data
    CHEN Xiaonan, TIAN Jia, LIU Mingzhang, SHEN Yunyi, YU Jianping, LIU Feng, SHEN Xiaoli, LI Sheng
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 523-532.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150785
    Abstract303)   HTML6)    PDF (5317KB)(175)       Save
    Wild boar ( Sus scrofa) has high fecundity and strong adaptability to various environments. In recent years, the populations of wild boar in China have been increasing dramatically, causing numerous human-wildlife conflicts primarily due to crop damages and people injuries by the boars. To provide a scientific basis for future planned hunting and population management, we took Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province as an example to estimate the population size of wild boar using camera-trapping data. The camera-trapping data, collected during September and October 2020, contained 964 independent records of wild boar from 429 camera stations with an extensive sampling effort of 23 690 camera days. We used the Royle-Nichols model, combining environmental factors including terrain, vegetation and human impacts and the species’home range parameter, to estimate the population and distribution of wild boars in Kaihua. The results showed that the population size of wild boar within the study area was estimated as 5548 ±2343 (mean ±95% C. I. ), with an average density of 2. 38 ±0. 61 (mean ±SD) ind. /km 2, which was negatively associated with altitude and resident density, and slightly positively associated with forest coverage. Based on the results, we suggest that wild boar hunting, as a management measure to control its population, in the study area should be conducted in farmland, plantations, and ecotone areas of forest and farmland, where the boar densities are high. In the future, local administrations and the Qianjiangyuan National Park shall integrate data from the systematically designed camera-trapping network, as well as those from hunting records and other sources, into this management framework, so that the population dynamics model of target species can be continuously updated and improved, and a long-term population dynamics monitoring system can be established.
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    Analysis of factors influencing vigilance and physiological stress in Przewalski’s gazelle
    LIU Ruoshuang, SHI Jianbin, LIU Dingzhen, SHEN Xinchen, WANG Qingqing, XU Xuefei, GUO Dongsheng, DONG Shikui, ZHANG Yu, HE Yubang, WU Yonglin
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 479-488.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150765
    Abstract286)   HTML8)    PDF (2146KB)(162)       Save
    Animals develop physiological and behavioral responses to cope with natural stressors (e. g., predators) or anthropogenic stressors (e. g., road traffic). However, these responses may affect the health and survival of individuals, leading to a range of serious wildlife conservation problems. Elevated glucocorticoid concentration and increased vigilance are two common responses to predation risk in mammals. Chronic high-level glucocorticoid concentration and vigilance occur at the expense of other life maintenance and reproduction activities, reflecting a trade-off between individual survival and future fecundity. In this study, a non-invasive sampling method was employed to collect fresh fecal samples from female Przewalski’s gazelles ( Procapra przewalskii) and the cortisol concentrations in the samples were measured using ELISA. Focal-animal all-occurrence sampling and scan sampling of behavior were applied to collect data on the vigilance behaviour of female gazelles. Generalized linear mixed model was used to investigate the effects of different types of stressors on the fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) concentration and vigilance of female Przewalski’s gazelles. In wild Przewalski’s gazelle populations, reproductive status was the main factor influencing FGMs and vigilance ( F = 39. 162, P < 0. 001), with higher FGMs and vigilance behavior in the lambing season than the rutting season. Anthropogenic stressors were important factors affecting FGMs of female Przewalski’s gazelles, with road and railway traffic contributing more to their physiological stress than natural predators and grassland fences ( F = 87. 482, P < 0. 001). The negative impact of socio-economic development on wildlife is an inevitable challenge for Przewalski’s gazelle conservation. We should undertake great efforts to balance socio-economic development and wildlife conservation, and build a harmonious community for both humans and nature.
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    Population dynamics of wild Asian elephants over the past fifty years
    TANG Yongjing, YANG Cong, YANG Zicheng, CHEN Fei
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 593-607.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150768
    Abstract285)   HTML12)    PDF (5745KB)(174)       Save
    The Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus) is the flagship species of tropical forest ecosystems in Asia and plays an important role in increasing species richness and maintaining ecosystem services. Affected by habitat loss and degradation, illegal poaching, and human-elephant conflict, the distribution and population size of the world’s wild Asian elephants have declined significantly compared to the past. In order to explore the distribution, population changes, and current conservation needs of wild Asian elephants, this paper reviews the research on the historical distribution, population dynamics, threat factors, traditional culture, laws and regulations, and conservation action plans of Asian elephants in South and Southeast Asia and China over the past 50 years, and draws the following conclusions: (1) In the past 50 years, the global wild Asian elephant population has shown an early trend of decline and then growth, followed by a continued decline between 1970 - 2000 and gradually increased between 2000 - 2010, and slow growth since 2010. (2) South Asia is an important area for stabilizing the global wild Asian elephant population, mainly due to timely legislative protection, strong traditional culture protection and other factors. The continuous decline of Asian elephant populations in Southeast Asia is mainly affected by deforestation and illegal poaching. The large-scale loss of forest habitat is the main reason for its continuous decline in Indonesia, Borneo, and other regions. The main reasons for the decline in Myanmar and Thailand are illegal poaching and smuggling. (3) The existing habitats in South Asia are relatively concentrated, there are more fragmented habitats in Southeast Asia, and Myanmar has more potential distribution areas. (4) At present, the main threats to wild Asian elephants are habitat loss and degradation, poaching and illegal trade, and human-elephant conflicts. In addition, problems associated with infrastructure construction, cross-border difficulties, and isolated populations cannot be ignored. Scientific and reasonable protection measures should be formulated taking into account the local challenges faced by Asian elephant populations, and on the basis of carrying out sufficient scientific research.
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    Distribution of suitable habitat for ungulates in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province
    MENG Bingshun, HUANG Xiaolong, XIE Bo, WANG Weixi, HUANG Jichi, ZHANG Tao, RAN Jingcheng, ZHANG Mingming
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 664-675.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150756
    Abstract253)   HTML3)    PDF (20894KB)(308)       Save
    The spatial distribution of species and habitat suitability play an important role in the research on interspecific relationships, as well as research on relationships between species and environment. We evaluated and predicted the suitable habitats of four ungulates, Elaphodus cephalophus, Muntiacus reevesi, Pricornis milneedwardsii and Sus scrofa, distributed in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve. Species occurrence data was based on the monitoring data by infrared cameras deployed in the study area from 2017 to 2022 and we used MaxEnt to model the suitable habitat for each species. The results showed that (1) the suitable habitats for Elaphodus cephalophus were mainly distributed in the eastern part of the reserve, covering an area of 19 993.17 hm 2, accounting for 46.1% of the protected area. The suitable habitats for Muntiacus reevesi covered an area of 15 470.97 hm 2 ( 35.6% of the protected area), distributed in the northern and southern parts of the reserve. The suitable habitats for Capricornis milneedwardsii were mainly distributed in the northern and eastern parts of the reserve, covering an area of 13 884.78 hm 2 (32.0% of the protected area), and the suitable habitats for Sus scrofa covered an area of 20 339.98 hm 2 (46.9% of the protected area), mainly distributed in the northern, eastern and southern parts of the reserve. (2) The suitable habitats of all four ungulates were mainly distributed in the core area of Fanjingshan Reserve. (3) The distribution of Elaphodus cephalophus was mainly influenced by altitude and vegetation type and the distribution of Capricornis milneedwardsii was mainly influenced by altitude, mean diurnal air temperature range and vegetation type. The characteristics of suitable habitats for Muntiacus reevesi and Sus scrofa were relatively similar, affected by mean diurnal air temperature range, isothermality and slope. In general, the distribution of suitable habitats for these four ungulates in Fanjingshan Reserve was the result of the interaction among the biological properties of species, natural environment, human activities and interspecific relationships. These results provide some insight into habitat suitability characteristics and influencing factors of ungulates in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve.
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    Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of mammal diversity in alpine ecosystems: a case study in Xuebaoding area of Giant Panda National Park
    ZHANG Rumei, ZHANG Qing, YANG Xiao, ZHANG Farui, ZHAO Ding, PANG Dehong, YANG Kong, GUAN Tianpei
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 533-543.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150770
    Abstract239)   HTML4)    PDF (2594KB)(140)       Save
    The alpine ecosystem has nurtured special biodiversity due to its unique geographical conditions and is one of the important ecosystem types in the Giant Panda National Park. We summarized data from 83 infrared cameras deployed in Xuebaoding area (3 300 - 4 500 m above sea level) of Giant Panda National Park from April to October 2019 and 2021, and analyzed the diversity and spatio-temporal characteristics of alpine mammals to fill knowledge gaps on alpine ecosystems and support conservation management and scientific research. A total of 2 365 independent photos of mammals were taken, recording 16 species in 9 families and 5 orders. Among the detected species, two are classified as first-class National Protected Wildlife, and 7 are listed as second-class National Protected Wildlife. Of the 16 mammal species, one, four, and two are categorized as Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), and Nearly Threatened (NT) by the IUCN Red List, respectively. The results show significant spatial and temporal dynamics of mammal diversity in alpine ecosystems. The number of species recorded by a single infrared camera in the growing season (2.80 ±0.16) was significantly higher than that at the start of the growing season (1.15 ±0.14, P < 0.01) and at the end of the growing season (1.51 ±0.13, P < 0.01). Similarly, the relative abundance index of mammals in the growing season (23.52 ±3.05) was significantly higher than that at the start of the growing season (4.75 ±0.74, P < 0.01) and at the end of the growing season (6.56 ±0.98, P < 0.01) according to the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The cumulative number of species ceased to increase after 4 100 m and remained at 16 species. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index ( H') for the whole monitoring area was 2.13, and both the diversity index and relative abundance index (RAI) decreased gradually with increasing altitude. Six mammal species ( Ochotona thibetana, Ochotona erythrotis, Marmota himalayana, Pseudois nayaur, Vulpes vulpes, Mustela altaica) were only recorded in the area above the forest line during the survey compared with the data recorded at 1 800 - 3 200 m, implying that these species are more dependent on the alpine environment. The seasonal utilization of alpine environment by five mammal species, including Sichuan snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus roxellana), indicates spatio-temporal heterogeneity on species diversity in Xuebaoding area and likely reflects the effects of resource seasonal variation. The use of alpine habitats by forest-dwelling and domesticated animals during the growing season will reduce the habitat suitability of Bharal and threaten the maintenance of endemic biodiversity. Therefore, the Giant Panda National Park should strengthen the protection and management of the alpine ecosystem.
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    Three new records of Crocidura anhuiensis for Fujian, Zhejiang and Hunan provinces
    YANG Siyu, XIE Fei, TANG Keyi, FU Changkun, LIU Yang, LIU Shaoying, CHEN Shunde
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 620-625.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150786
    Abstract233)   HTML0)    PDF (12716KB)(120)       Save
    Crocidura anhuiensis was reported as a new species in 2019 with its type locality in Huang Mountain, Anhui Province. In this study, three shrew specimens were collected during field surveys in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province and Mang Mountain, Hunan Province. According to the morphological and molecular identifications, these specimens were confirmed to be C. anhuiensis, which is a new record for the mammal fauna of Fujian, Zhejiang, and Hunan provinces. This discovery expands the distribution range and enriches the biogeographic data of C. anhuiensis.
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    Group behavior and seasonal changes of Capra sibirica in Urad Desert, Inner Mongolia
    SONG Yuhao, BI Junhuai, Wensuyaletu, WANG Guolin, LI Feng, Lü Wenbing, ZHOU Yifan, PAN Xingxing, ZHANG Ruidong
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 544-552.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150731
    Abstract232)   HTML2)    PDF (6250KB)(85)       Save
    This study investigates the main factors affecting the population dynamics and cluster size of Capra sibirica and provides a basis for its research and conservation. Infrared cameras technology was used to asses cluster types, sizes, and seasonal differences of Capra sibirica from November 2020 to November 2021 in the desert area of Urad, Inner Mongolia. 648 groups represented by 1 187 individuals were recorded and divided into 5 cluster types: mixed age/sex groups (65 groups, 10. 0%), adult female groups (13 groups, 2. 0%), ewe-lamb groups (103 groups, 15. 9%), adult male groups (81 groups, 12. 5%) and solitary adult males/females (386 groups, 59. 6%). The average group size was 1. 83 ±1. 45, varying from 1 to 11. The number of individuals per group with the highest frequency was 1 - 3. In general, the frequency of group occurrence and seasonal differences were significant ( P < 0. 001). The seasonal discrepancies in the frequency of different group sizes were also highly significant ( P < 0. 001). However, the mean cluster sizes differed between cool and warm seasons. The results indicated that habitat type is the main factor affecting the cluster size of Capra sibirica, and its population dynamics are affected by seasonal changes of food resources and its reproductive cycle. It is suggested that conservation areas should be established by the local government. Actions such as controlling or transferring some of the livestock within the range of the Capra sibirica distribution, reducing human interference, and improving ecological environment management should be taken into consideration.
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    Habitat suitability evaluation and corridor construction for sika deer ( Cervus nippon hortulorum) in southern Laoyeling, Heilongjiang Province
    WANG Qifan, CHEN Hong, NIU Yingying, ZHANG Zidong, LIANG Zhuo, TIAN Xinmin, ZHANG Minghai, ZHOU Shaochun
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 489-500.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150766
    Abstract228)   HTML8)    PDF (19814KB)(137)       Save
    Sika deer is mainly distributed in southern Laoyeling of Heilongjiang Province, China. In order to protect and recover this species, conducting habitat suitability evaluation and building ecological corridors connecting core habitat patches are the basis for population conservation and recovery of this species in the future. In this study, 763 sika deer occurrence locations were collected by large-sample plot survey and camera monitoring during 2018 - 2021. The habitat suitability of sika deer in the region was evaluated using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model and migration corridors for sika deer were identified and planned using the Least-Cost Path (LCP) analysis method. The contribution of environmental variables to the MaxEnt model indicated that rivers, forest trails, evergreen coniferous forests, roads, and residential areas accounted for 77. 3% to the model cumulatively and were the key factors influencing the distribution of sika deer. The results of the habitat suitability analysis showed that the suitable habitat area of sika deer was 1 055. 62 km 2 in southern Laoyeling, Heilongjiang Province, accounting for 27. 38% of the study area. The suitable habitats were mainly concentrated in the Heilongjiang Muling Taxus National Nature Reserve in the southwestern part and Dongning Chaoyanggou Forestry Farm, Suiyang Sanchahe and Nuanquanhe Forestry Farm in the southeastern part, while the suitable habitats in the central part of the study area were severely fragmented and distributed in strips pattern. The decrease of suitable habitat area and fragmentation may be the key factors influencing negatively the wild sika deer population. Based on the results of the habitat suitability analysis and the distribution of the deer population, four core habitat patches with a total area of 705. 22 km 2 were identified and three ecological corridors with a total length of 84. 43 km and a minimum width of 600 m were delineated for the migration of sika deer. The research results provide scientific basis for the wildlife conservation department to carry out the recovery of wild sika deer population, and serve to accelerate the region's biodiversity conservation in China.
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    Activity rhythm and home range of released sika deer ( Cervus nippon kopschi)
    LI Yaoyu, CHEN Xinyang, ZHAO Shanshan, SONG Xiao, GUO Rui, XU Aichun
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 501-512.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150762
    Abstract224)   HTML0)    PDF (52005KB)(131)       Save
    The release of animals back into the wild is an important way to ensure the long-term survival of threatened middle and large-sized wildlife species in conservation biology. Study on the activity rhythm and home range characteristic of animals released in the wild is conducive to scientific management. In this study, we take sika deer ( Cervus nippon kopschi), Category I Key National Protected Wild Animal Species, as study species. We used Beidou Satellite collar to track activities of released individuals in Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve of Zhejiang Province. The analysis of its activity rhythm was based on the accumulation of 21 854 high-precision tracking records. We also used the Minimum Convex Polygon method (MCP) and Kernel Density Estimation method (KDE) to study the characteristics of its home range. The results showed that: (1) The daily activity rhythm of sika deer after being released exhibits a bimodal pattern. It peaked in the morning between 06: 00 - 09: 00 and in the evening between 15: 00 - 21: 00. (2) We detected seasonal differences in activity intensity, which was greater in autumn than that in spring, winter, and summer. (3) Home range area is (1534. 10 ±467. 75) hm 2 based on the MCP method. The 95% and 50% home ranges are (125. 18 ±95. 55) hm 2 and (18. 24 ±15. 12) hm 2 based on the KDE method. (4) The home range area (95% KDE) of sika deer is significantly different between seasons ( P < 0. 01), which is maximum in autumn and minimum in summer. (5) The overlap index shows that the average overlap index of male and female (OI = 0. 44) is higher than that of the same sex (OI between male = 0. 38, OI between female = 0. 14), and population competition has a certain influence on the formation of home range. We recommend that the key home range area of sika deer in autumn and winter should be paid more attention in the follow-up management, for example, increasing the frequency of patrols, reducing disturbances, and continuing food feeding in winter.
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    The roles of brown adipose tissue in thermoregulatory mechanisms of hibernators
    SHANG Zhengwen, YANG Ming, WANG Dehua, XING Xin
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 608-619.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150772
    Abstract222)   HTML1)    PDF (7405KB)(128)       Save
    Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a unique organ for adaptive thermogenesis of mammals to maintain constant body temperature. Maintaining a constant body temperature is energy costy, especially in cold environments. Hibernation is an effective energy-saving strategy for some small mammals during periods of scarce food resources and/or harsh environmental conditions. During hibernation, the body temperature of mammalian hibernators shows regular periodic cycles, which are called hibernation bouts. One hibernation bout consists of entrance, deep hibernation, arousal and euthermia. In this revew, we introducs the thermoregulatory mechanism of BAT in mammals, including the neural control of BAT thermogenesis by the central nervous system and the molecular pathways of heat production signals in BAT cells. Subsequently, we follow the order of the thermoregulatory cycle to describe the thermogenic mechanisms of BAT during the processes of entrance, deep hibernation, arousal, and euthermia, including the roles of adrenergic signaling, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial respiration. Finally, the unique phenotype of BAT recruitment in fat-storing hibernating animals was described.
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    Application of deep learning in wildlife conservation
    ZHONG Junjie, NIU Bing, CHEN Qin, CHEN Xiang, WANG Yan
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 734-744.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150774
    Abstract221)   HTML0)    PDF (4522KB)(128)       Save
    Wildlife is one of the vital biological resources, but the increasing human activities and environmental degradation pose a severe threat to the survival of wild animals. Deep learning has emerged as a prominent research direction in the field of artificial intelligence and has been widely applied across various disciplines. Its versatility has demonstrated enormous potential in wildlife conservation, particularly in image recognition, monitoring, and audio recognition. This article introduces several common deep learning algorithms, provides an overview of the applications of different deep learning models in wildlife conservation, and analyzes the current issues and challenges, including limited training data, variability of environmental conditions, and the complexity of wildlife behavior. In the future, to employ deep learning for wildlife protection, in addition to addressing challenges such as data acquisition and utilization, and robustness in image recognition against various interferences, it is crucial to develop more robust and efficient deep learning models that cater to the specific requirements of wildlife conservation.
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    Inhibition of bile acid metabolism in plateau zokor ( Myospalax baileyi) and plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae) in high-altitude environments
    ZHANG Jiayu, AN Zhifang, WANG Zhijie, CHEN Xiaoqi, WEI Dengbang
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 553-567.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150805
    Abstract220)   HTML3)    PDF (4247KB)(74)       Save
    The plateau zokor ( Myospalax baileyi) and plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae), which are native to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, inhabit hypoxic meadows that pose unique physiological challenges. Bile acids are amphipathic steroid metabolites that not only facilitate intestinal absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins, but also act as hormones capable of reaching virtually every organ to regulate glycometabolism, lipid metabolism, and energy homeostasis, which are related to the adaptation of animals to the environments. In this study, the composition and contents of bile acids in the serum of plateau zokors and plateau pikas were analyzed by targeting metabolomics. The Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used as control and the expression levels of the key genes of bile acids anabolism were determined by real-time PCR. The results showed that the total bile acid contents in the serum of plateau zokors and plateau pikas decreased markedly than that of SD rats. With increasing altitude, the bile acid contents of zokors and pikas decreased significantly, and that of zokors reduced remarkably compared to that of pikas. The expression levels of the key genes of primary bile acids including CYP7A1, CYP8B1, CYP27A1, and CYP7B1 decreased significantly in livers of zokors and pikas. The bile acids of SD rats were synthesized by the classic or neutral bile acid pathway, but that of zokors and pikas were produced by the alternative or acidic pathway. These results suggest that high-altitude environments inhibit the anabolism of primary bile acids and that hypoxia might be the main inhibiting factor. The no-12-OH bile acids and the unconjugated secondary bile acids were the main products and the glycine conjugated bile acids were the main bile acids in the serum of zokors and pikas. Particularly, the contents of lithocholic acid (LCA) bile acids were significantly higher than that of pikas and SD rats in serum which might be related to its adaptation to the higher energy expenditure of burrowing activities. In conclusion, the alternative pathway was the dominant pathway of primary bile acids in the liver of zokors and pikas, which might be a result of long-time adaptation to the highland environments.
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    Population genomic analysis revealed the genetic basis of adaptations to urbanization in the lesser short-nosed fruit bat ( Cynopterus brachyotis)
    WANG Fei, ZHAO Huabin
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 644-651.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150824
    Abstract219)   HTML2)    PDF (3516KB)(119)       Save
    The lesser short-nosed fruit bat ( Cynopterus brachyotis) is a bat species commonly found in urban areas. A published study showed that rapid urbanization has led to a significant decrease in genetic diversity in this fruit bat. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying this species’ adaptations to urban environments have not been investigated. Based on the published population genome resequencing data from historical samples collected in 1931 and contemporary samples from 2011 - 2012, this study investigated the effects of rapid urbanization on the lesser shortnosed fruit bat and the genetic basis of adaptations to urbanization, using four methods (allele frequency analysis, selection signal detection based on population genetic differentiation, selection signal detection based on haplotypes, and detection of selected loci). Our results show that 669 selected genes were identified in the historical population and these genes were functionally enriched in visual and olfactory pathways. In contrast, 2 013 selected genes were identified in the contemporary population and these genes were enriched in immune, gustatory, and auditory pathways in addition to visual and olfactory-related pathways. These results suggest that rapid urbanization may have affected multiple sensory systems and immune systems in this species. Therefore, adaptive molecular evolution of immune, gustatory, and auditory genes may have occurred in C. brachyotis in response to rapid urbanization.
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    Feeding behavior of sympatric rodents in the Alxa Desert in response to different grazing patterns
    LIU Lina, YUAN Shuai, LI Xin, FU Heping, WU Xiaodong
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 689-701.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150800
    Abstract200)   HTML0)    PDF (12597KB)(80)       Save
    The fragile ecosystem of the Alxa Desert is sensitive to human disturbance and different grazing patterns lead to different vegetation resource types, density, distribution, coverage, substrate and animal perception of predation risk. The feeding differences of desert sympatric rodents under different grazing disturbances are of great significance for the maintenance of biodiversity in desert areas. In 2020, infrared camera trap technology was used to observe the feeding behavior of three dominant rodent species, namely Dipus sagitta, Orientallactaga sibirica, and Meriones meridianus, which coexisted in the same area in the Alax Desert. The results showed that: (1) the population density of the dominant rodent species was positively related to their feeding behavior under different grazing patterns. Grazing increased O. sibirica population density, and its feeding behavior also accounted for more in grazing-intensive habitats. M. meridianus had higher population density and more feeding behavior in habitats with low grazing intensity and high vegetation coverage. D. sagitta devoted more foraging effort in more grazing-intensive habitats. (2) Under the same grazing mode, M. meridianus adopted a combined feeding strategy of ‘foraging + feeding + storage’ , while D. sagitta and O. sibirica adopted the feeding strategy of ‘foraging + feeding’ . These results indicated that the feeding behaviors of rodent species with various feeding strategies were affected by grazing patterns according to changing environmental factors such as rodent population density, habitat vegetation, and soil.
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    New records of Paguma larvata in Liaoning Province, China
    ZHANG Lei, CHANG Jin, FENG Chaofan, WAN Dongmei
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 760-700.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150815
    Abstract177)   HTML1)    PDF (4273KB)(102)       Save
    Paguma larvata is mainly distributed in the central and southern regions in China. It is listed as a near-threatened species in the Red List of China’ s Vertebrates. In the past, there were no records of distribution of this species Liaoning Province. During the camera trapping survey of animal diversity in the Qinglonghe, Bailangshan, and Wuhuading National Nature Reserves in the western region of Liaoning, 215 independent detections of Paguma larvata were captured by camera-trapping with 584 photographs and 106 video clips from January 2022 to May 2023. These image data represent the first record of Paguma larvata in Liaoning Province, which not only plays an important role in the study of biodiversity and species integrity in this province but also provides the basic data for the distribution of Paguma larvata in China.
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    Dissecting potential mechanisms of lactate-dependent Sertoli cell proliferation and gene expression
    ZHANG Xiaona, JIA Gongxue, WU Shixin, WAN Ruidong, WANG Yujun, YANG Qien
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 568-579.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150778
    Abstract172)   HTML2)    PDF (20814KB)(49)       Save
    Sertoli cells proliferate in fetal and neonatal testes and remain quiescent in adult life. Functional evidence suggests that the size of the Sertoli cell population determines sperm production and fertility. However, the factors that regulate Sertoli cell proliferation and maturation are not fully understood. Lactate, which is secreted by Sertoli cells via lactate dehydrogenase, plays a critical role in cell fate determination. We found that Ldha mRNA is present in mouse testes and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that LDHA is enriched in Sertoli cells. To study the function of LDHA in Sertoli cells, we prepared a conditional knockout mouse model using Amh-Cre and Ldha fl/fl mice. The results showed that LDHA deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in the number of Sertoli cells, which was (18. 27 ±0. 60) /cell in Ldha-cKO mice compared to (21. 1 ±0. 68) /cell in control mice. Further analysis revealed that the proliferative capacity of Sertoli cells in Ldha-cKO mice decreased by 17. 0% and 9. 0% at Embryonic day 16. 5 and Day 0, respectively, while cell apoptosis increased by 86. 9% and 459. 0%, respectively. After incubation with 10 mmol/L lactic acid for 24 h, 936 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified in Sertoli cells of the knockout mouse, of which 695 were upregulated and 241 were downregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the MAPK pathway and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were upregulated, while DNA replication and oxidative phosphorylation were downregulated. Hence, it can be concluded that LDHA is expressed in mouse Sertoli cells and plays an important role in regulating Sertoli cell proliferation.
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    Effect of exposure to high temperature on energy metabolism and oxidative stress in striped hamsters
    ZHANG Ruihan, LUO Dan, LUO Xinxin, HU Chenxiao, LIN Long, CHEN Qian, CAO Jing, ZHAO Zhijun
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 710-722.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150822
    Abstract157)   HTML0)    PDF (2899KB)(62)       Save
    The adaptive regulation of animal energy metabolism affects life history characteristics such as growth, development, reproduction, and aging. Metabolic rate and tissue mitochondrial respiration rate are related to free radical levels, which are important factors influencing the aging of the organism. In this study, we investigated the intrinsic link among energy metabolism, tissue respiration rates of major metabolically active organs, free radical levels, and antioxidant capacity in response to high ambient temperature. We used as a model species striped hamsters ( Cricetulus barabensis) that were previously acclimated to room temperature (21 ℃) and warm temperature (32.5 ℃) for 4 weeks and then were acutely exposed to extremely high temperature (37 ℃) for 48 h. The energy intake, metabolic rate, body temperature, mitochondrial respiration rate, and uncoupling protein (UCP) gene ( ucp) expression of brown adipose tissue (BAT), liver and skeletal muscle were measured. The levels of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were also determined. The results showed that the acclimation to 32.5℃ and acute exposure to 37℃ resulted in significant reductions in gross and digestive energy intake, basal metabolic rate, and non-shivering thermogenesis. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity was reduced after acclimation to 32.5℃ by 84.2%, 50.0%, and 56.6% in BAT, liver, and muscle, respectively. The liver COX activity decreased further by 23.3% after exposure to 37℃, but COX activity in BAT and muscle was not significantly changed. The acute exposure to 37℃ deceased BAT ucp1 expression by 89.5%, liver ucp2 by 76.2%, and muscle ucp3 by 58.8% in the hamster previously acclimated to 21℃, but it had no significant effect on the gene expression in the hamsters previously acclimated to 32.5℃. Acclimation to 32.5℃ significantly decreased MDA levels in heart, lung, kidney, and muscle, but not in liver and brain, and it significantly increased protein carbonyl levels in the kidney only. Acute exposure to 37℃ significantly reduced protein carbonyl levels in liver and heart, but it had no significant effect on MDA levels in all tissues. In addition, acclimation to 32.5℃ significantly reduced SOD activity in liver and muscle, but did not affect heart, lung, kidney, or brain; and it decreased GSH-Px activity in heart, lung, and kidney, but increased GSH-Px activity in muscle, and had no effect in liver. These findings suggest that (1) the effects of acute exposure to high temperatures on energy metabolism and mitochondrial respiration rate are related to habitat ambient temperature, with the animals at lower ambient temperature being more affected by high temperature; (2) after being acclimated to the warm and acutely exposed to high temperature, the metabolic rate of the organism and mitochondria respiratory decreased, while the liver, heart, lung, kidneys, skeletal muscle, and brain do not show considerable oxidative stress and damage, being inconsistent with the‘free radical hypothesis’ .
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    Pelage colour change in Hainan gibbon ( Nomascus hainanus)
    ZHU Changyue, ZHONG Xukai, WANG Yuxin, LI Wenyong, QI Xuming, FAN Pengfei
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2024, 44 (1): 1-13.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150809
    Abstract152)   HTML0)    PDF (95947KB)(164)       Save
    All known species of the genus Nomascus have distinct sexual dichromatism in adulthood. The changes in their pelage colour are used as an important indicator of individuals’sexes, ages, and ontogenetic stages. This study is focused on Hainan gibbons ( Nomascus hainanus), the rarest primate in the world, and combines the data of circa 2 years of continuous field observations and previously collected image data to describe the patterns of pelage colour changes over two crucial stages of their life history: natal coats to juvenile pelages and female fur colour changes during sexual maturity. The results show that monitoring and documenting the ‘crest’ traits, the overall fur colour, and the timing of colour change occurring at the different body parts could operatively assist in determining the age group of an individual, estimating the birth season of an infant, and identifying the fertile females in relatively complex environments, especially in dense rainforest. It was found that the development of the pelage colour change of N. hainanus in infancy was more similar to that of Cao Vit gibbon ( Nomascus nasutus). This supports the latest and accepted phylogenetic position of Hainan gibbons. We also discussed the potential interpretations of the adaptation of their pelage colour change. We advocated that the practicable suggestions described in this study should be integrated with automated data collecting systems, which might help increase the efficiency and accuracy of the population monitoring and conservation of the endangered crested gibbons in the future.
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    Preliminary analysis of the molecular phylogeography of Sorex unguiculatus and Sorex gracillimus
    MEI Xiufeng, CAI He, HAN Meifeng, ZHAO Xinxu, ZHANG Chunfeng, SHI Yanjing, CHEN Huan, TIAN Xinmin, ZHANG Junsheng, LIU Zhu
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 702-709.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150699
    Abstract145)   HTML0)    PDF (2612KB)(72)       Save
    In order to clarify the population phylogeographic relationship and subspecies differentiation of Sorex unguiculatus and Sorex gracillimus, this study analyzed the Cyt b gene sequences of S. unguiculatus (11 samples) and S. gracillimus (17 samples) collected from Northeast China together with Cyt b gene sequences of S. unguiculatus (32 samples) and S. gracillimus (22 samples) downloaded from GenBank. The different geographical populations of the two species showed different geographical patterns. In the phylogenetic tree of S. unguiculatus, there was no correlation between molecular system relation and geographical distribution. In the phylogenetic tree of S. gracillimus, samples from Northeast China were clustered into a separate clade apart from samples from Russia and Hokkaido, Japan. A similar geographical pattern was also observed in the Median-joining network analysis. Neutral tests supported S. unguiculatus has experienced population expansions in the recent past, but S. gracillimus has not experienced dramatic population expansions. The results also supported that S. unguiculatus has no subspecies differentiation. On the other hand, we found that S. gracillimus was divided into two subspecies across the geographic area of this study, one subspecies distributed in Northeast China and the other subspecies distributed in the Russian Far East (from southern Magadan to Primorsky Krai, Sakhalin Island included) and Hokkaido, Japan.
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    Prokaryotic expression system construction, antibody preparation and tissues distribution of bactrian camel TLR1
    XIE Dongxu, ZHANG Rui, Suonanji, LIU Kejiang, WANG Tingwei, WANG Wenhui
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 745-752.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150780
    Abstract135)   HTML0)    PDF (24011KB)(28)       Save
    In this study, we used bioinformatics software to analyze the TLR1 (Toll-like receptors 1) gene and used a prokaryotic expression system to inducibly express TLR1 recombinant plasmids into TLR1 protein. Rabbit polyclonal antibactrian camel TLR1 antibody was generated using the expressed recombinant TLR1 protein, and the expression of TLR1 in organs including bactrian camel heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney was detected by HE staining coupled with immunohistochemical staining of SABC using the prepared TLR1 polyclonal antibody. The size of the protein of interest obtained in this study was 62 kDa, which was the same as predicted by bioinformatics software. TLR1 recombinant protein was mainly expressed in the form of inclusion bodies. In this study, the titer of the TLR1 antibody was determined by indirect ELISA, which showed that the antibody titer result was 1∶ 64 000, and the specificity of the TLR1 antibody was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The results of the present trial of HE staining with immunohistochemical staining of SABC showed that TLR1 was upregulated in cardiomyocytes of bactrian camel hearts, Kupffer cells of the liver, monocytes/macrophages of the spleen, the respiratory bronchiolar epithelium, and type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ alveolar cells of the lung. A positive reaction appeared on the epithelial cells of the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. In conclusion, the rabbit anti-bactrian camel TLR1 polyclonal antibody has good specificity and can be used for immunohistochemical detection of TLR1 and provides a basis for further investigation of the function of TLR1 in different tissues and organs of bactrian camels.
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    The expression profile of miRNA in the different tissues of forest musk deer ( Moschus berezovskii)
    YU Miaojie, XU Zhongxian, JIANG Xuemei, WANG Chunhua, ZHAO Chanjuan, QI Wenhua, JIE Hang
    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (6): 723-733.   DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150744
    Abstract131)   HTML0)    PDF (4155KB)(58)       Save
    Forest musk deer ( Moschus berezovskii) is a medicinal economic species and the musk secreted by the male musk deer is an important component of Chinese patent medicine and perfume, which has high medicinal and economic value. miRNAs play an important role in animal cell development, differentiation, apoptosis, and disease development, which are selectively expressed in different tissues. The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and muscle tissues of forest musk deer were high-throughput sequenced by using RNA-seq technology on the Hi-seq 2500 sequencing platform. The microRNA expression of these 6 tissues was analyzed by using biostatistics and bioinformatics methods and RT-qPCR was used to verify the sequencing results. The results showed that 1 650 miRNAs co-expressed in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and muscle tissues of forest musk deer, of which there were 86, 54, 44, 68, 83, and 50 specific miRNAs, respectively ( P < 0.01). The expression levels of co-expressed miRNAs were significantly different in these six types of tissues ( P < 0.05) and the expression levels of some specific miRNAs in the heart were much higher than that in other tissues. KEGG analysis showed that the target genes of specific miRNAs in the liver of forest musk deer were closely related to the Wnt signaling pathway (ko04310), cAMP signaling pathway (ko04024), ECM-receptor interaction (ko04512), Notch signaling pathway (ko04330), and AMPK signaling pathway (ko04152) ( P < 0.01). Nine miRNAs were randomly selected for verification with RT-qPCR in liver tissue of health and abscess forest musk deer and the results were consistent with the sequencing results.
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    ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA    2023, 43 (5): 626-626.  
    Abstract128)   HTML5)    PDF (1234KB)(309)       Save
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