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30 May 2025, Volume 45 Issue 3

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Regulation of seasonal spermatogenesis in mammals

Lianhong PAN, Gongxue JIA, Qien YANG, Xumin WANG

2025, 45(3):  271-282.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150983

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To adapt to cyclical changes in their environment, mammals have developed different reproductive strategies over long periods of evolution. Seasonal changes in spermatogenesis are one of the typical adaptive features of seasonally breeding animals. During the reproductive period, spermatogenic cells at all levels of the testicular spermatogenic epithelium differentiate in an orderly manner to produce a steady stream of spermatozoa, whereas during the nonreproductive period, spermatogenic cell development is blocked and the testis degenerates. Seasonal spermatogenesis is cyclic in response to dynamic changes in hormone levels, a process that is tightly regulated by the photoperiod and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis. As a major environmental signal regulating seasonal reproduction, photoperiod affects gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal activity through melatonin-mediated neurotransmission, which in turn acts on the gonads to regulate testosterone secretion and spermatogonial differentiation. In addition, thyroid hormones play a key role in the animal’s response to light signaling and maintenance of the HPG axis. Within the gonads, spermatogenic cell development in non-reproducing animals exhibits different patterns of blockage, including reduced proliferative activity of spermatogonia, autophagy and spermatocyte apoptosis, and detachment, with testosterone-regulated changes in retinoic acid concentration playing a central role in the blockage of spermatogonial differentiation. This article summarizes the mechanisms by which key environmental factors, the reproductive axis, and the testicular microenvironment synergistically regulate seasonal spermatogenesis in mammals, outlining new findings on the regulation of seasonal reproduction in animals. This paper focuses on a more systematic review of the roles of testosterone- and retinoic acid-regulated testicular microenvironments in seasonal spermatogenesis, with a view to providing reference information for the study of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of both on mammalian seasonal spermatogenesis, as well as an in-depth understanding of the physiology of reproduction and physiological ecology of veterinary species, and the development of techniques for the regulation of animal populations.

ORIGINAL PAPERS

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The expression patterns of surfactant protein A (SP‐A) in lung and skeletal muscle in SD rat and plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) under the hypoxia environments

Xiaoyan PU, Chongyang DAI, Yaxuan WANG, Dengbang WEI

2025, 45(3):  283-294.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150940

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Pulmonary surfactant protein A (Surfactant protein A, SP-A) is the most abundant pulmonary surfactant protein, encoded and synthesized by the SFTPA gene. SP-A is primarily synthesized in the lung tissue of mammals and is also expressed in tissues such as skeletal muscle. SP-A has functions including reducing pulmonary surface tension, enhancing pulmonary gas exchange, regulating immunity, clearing pathogens, and reducing inflammatory responses. In this study, after performing transcriptome sequencing analysis on the liver, lung, skeletal muscle, small intestine, colon, and adipose tissues from SD rats (2 250 m and 3 700 m) and plateau zokors (2 700 m and 3 700 m) at different altitudes; the expression levels of SFTPA gene in skeletal muscle and lung tissues of the two species were compared and analyzed by qRT-PCR; the expression levels of SP-A in skeletal muscle, lung tissue and serum of the two species were compared and analyzed by Western Blotting. The transcriptome analysis revealed that with increasing altitude, the expression of the SFTPA gene in the skeletal muscle of SD rats were significantly up-regulated, while in the skeletal muscle of plateau zokors, there were no significant difference in its expression; the qRT-PCR results showed that with increasing altitude and decreasing environmental oxygen levels, the expression of SFTPA in the skeletal muscle of SD rats increased, whereas in the skeletal muscle of plateau zokors, the expression of SFTPA significantly decreased. Furthermore, the expression of SFTPA in the lung tissues of both SD rats and plateau zokors were significantly decreased; the Western Blotting results showed that with increasing altitude and decreasing environmental oxygen levels, the expression levels of SP-A in the skeletal muscle, serum, and lung tissues of both SD rats and plateau zokors were significantly increased. In conclusion, in a high-altitude hypoxia environment, the transcriptional expression of the SFTPA gene in the lung tissues of SD rats and plateau zokors were significantly decreased. However, the content of SP-A in their lung tissues not only did not decrease but significantly increased. This may be due to SP-A synthesized and secreted by skeletal muscle being transported to the lung tissues via the bloodstream, representing an important mechanism for SD rats and plateau zokors to adapt to hypoxia environments.

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Effect of overexpression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on the growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of giant panda

Feiping LI, Mengshi ZHANG, Shenfei WANG, Xianbiao HU, Yuliang LIU, Rong HOU, Xiangyu LIU, Kailai CAI

2025, 45(3):  295-301.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150902

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Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is an important factor regulating cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have broad application prospects in the repair of tissue damage as well as the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and, as a result, have great potential in the disease treatment and genetic conservation of rare and endangered animals, such as giant pandas. The aim of this study was to construct a giant panda LIF overexpression vector and transfect panda bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (PDBM-MSCs) with liposome to study the effect of LIF on the growth of PDBM-MSCs. The CDS region of the LIF gene was amplified from the cDNA of PDBM-MSCs, and seamlessly cloned onto the pCDH-CMV-MCS-EF1-GFP+puro overexpression vector to construct the LIF overexpression recombinant plasmid. Lipo3000 was used to transfect recombinant plasmid into PDBM-MSCs. The results showed that PDBM-MSCs expressed green fluorescence 48 h after transfection, and total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed into cDNA 72 h after transfection. A q-PCR detection showed that the mRNA expression level of LIF in the LIF overexpression group was significantly higher than that in the negative control group. Moreover, overexpression of LIF could significantly up-regulate the mRNA expressions of CCNB2 and CDK7, and significantly down-regulate the mRNA expressions of apoptosis genes caspase3, P53, P16 and P21. 72 h after transfection, flow detection showed that the viability of PDBM-MSCs transfected with LIF overexpression recombinant plasmid was significantly higher than that of the negative control group. In this study, the panda LIF overexpression vector was successfully constructed and transfected into PDBM-MSCs, which significantly improved cell viability and inhibited apoptosis, indicating that LIF can promote growth and inhibit apoptosis of PDBM-MSCs, laying a foundation for the study of the mechanism of LIF in giant pandas.

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Temporal niche patterns of Anhui musk deer (Moschus anhuiensis) and sympatric ungulates

Dapeng PANG, Lanrong WANG, Yuting LU, Jiawei HUANG, Peng XU, Qingyue JIANG, Zhongwen DING, Yunfeng CHEN, Jun DING, Baowei ZHANG

2025, 45(3):  302-311.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150912

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Revealing the activity rhythms of sympatric ungulates will promote an understanding of its temporal niche relationships and coexistence mechanisms. To assess the daily activity rhythm and avoidance-attraction relationship of Moschus anhuiensis and its two sympatric ungulates, Muntiacus reevesi and Sus scrofa, we continuously monitored the three species with infrared camera technology from July 2021 to June 2023 in Anhui Wanfoshan Provincial Nature Reserve. A total of 46 infrared cameras were deployed, accumulating 19 248 camera-days of operation. The cameras captured 326 independent valid detections of Anhui musk deer, 1 110 of Reeves’ muntjac, and 488 of wild boar. We used the non-parametric kernel density estimation method to analyze the daily activity rhythm characteristics of these three ungulate species at different time scales. The results showed that the activity rhythm of Mo. anhuiensis showed nocturnal characteristics, the Mu. reevesi showed a bimodal activity pattern with peaks at dawn and dusk, and S. scrofa showed typical diurnal behavior. On a seasonal scale, the degree of overlap in daily activity rhythms between Mo. anhuiensis and Mu. reevesi is relatively high (Δ4 = 0.89, P = 0.01), while both species had relatively low degrees of overlap with S. scrofa (Δ4 = 0.54, P < 0.01; Δ4 = 0.57, P < 0.01, respectively). The annual activity rhythms of the three ungulate species all peaked during autumn and winter. The monthly activity rhythm index of the Mo. anhuiensis reaches its peak in November-December, Mu. reevesi peaked in February, and S. scrofa in September. The overlap of Mo. anhuiensis and S. scrofa increased in winter. Overall, the annual activity pattern of the three ungulate species peaked in autumn and winter, which might be due to the intensified species competition caused by reduced resources and the breeding habits of Mo. anhuiensis in the above seasons. This study has preliminarily grasped the daily activity rhythms of three ungulate species in Wanfoshan Provincial Nature Reserve across different time scales, as well as changes in their overlap. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the temporal niche differentiation mechanisms among these three ungulate species. Based on these results, it is recommended to protect the winter food resources of ungulates while conducting long-term monitoring of interspecific relationships among sympatric ungulate species, to protect the Anhui musk deer population.

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Preliminary exploration of the spatial ecological relationships of Carnivorous species in Renhuai, Guizhou

Weixi WANG, Yi LIU, Dan XIANG, Jichi HUANG, Li YUE, Hao CHEN, Shize LI, Mingming ZHANG

2025, 45(3):  312-323.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150911

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Renhuai City is one of the top ten economic counties in western China, with severe human disturbance and a high degree of urbanization. To understand the interspecific ecological spatial relationships of carnivorous species in this area and clarify their survival and distribution within the region, we conducted a series of field surveys and monitoring with infrared cameras in the whole area of Renhuai City from October 2022 to November 2023. We analyzed the spatial ecological relationships of seven medium and small-sized carnivorous species using species distribution modeling and assessed their interspecific ecological niche overlap using ENMTools. The results show that the distribution patterns of suitable habitats for the seven carnivorous species in the study area are similar and distributed mainly in the southern and eastern parts of Renhuai City. However, the sizes of suitable habitats differed among the species, with Arctonyx collaris occupying the largest suitable habitat area (1 288.023 km²) and Meles leucurus occupying the smallest area (615.867 km²). We detected significant differences in the selection and response to different environmental factors among the seven species. Temperature annual range is the dominant factor driving the distributions of Prionailurus bengalensis, Meles leucurus, Paguma larvata, and Viverricula indica. The distributions of Mustela kathiah and Arctonyx collaris are mainly affected by the normalized difference vegetation index, while the most important factor affecting the distribution of the Melogale moschata is precipitation seasonality. The environmental ecological niches and geographical distributions of the seven carnivorous species overlapped highly in the study area. This study reveals the distribution characteristics of suitable habitats for seven carnivorous species and their spatial relationships in Renhuai City, and provides scientific support for regional biodiversity conservation and management.

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Population size, distribution and gut bacterial composition of Trachypithecus francoisi in Jinfo Mountain National Nature Reserve

Xia WANG, Yu CHEN, Haifeng ZHENG, Wei ZHONG, Lixia CHEN, Yawang SUN

2025, 45(3):  324-332.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150910

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To explore the population size and distribution of François’ Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) in the Jinfo Mountain National Nature Reserve, as well as their adaptability to the environment, we conducted from December 2021 to October 2022 interview surveys, infrared observation, line observation, and trace observation methods. Feces samples of T. francoisi in the reserve were also collected using a non-invasive sampling method to assess gut bacterial composition. The results showed that there were about 180 T. francoisi in the reserve, with an average of 7.83 monkeys per group. Individuals were concentrated in the core area of the reserve, with the largest number in Longtang and Diaozui areas. The dominant phyla of fecal microbial flora in T. francoisi were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacterial. At the species level, Akkermansia muciniphila was the most abundant. In conclusion, the population size of T. francoisi in Jinfo Mountain National Nature Reserve has gradually increased recently, and gut bacterial diversity provided guarantees for the survival of T. francoisi in a complex natural environment.

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Population size and distribution of western black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) in Ailao Mountain, Xinping, Yunnan Province

Bin GUO, Jiawen LI, Zhongwen LI, Yanan LI, Zhou DAO, Yunchang MA, Fa XU, Chunhua ZHANG, Zhineng LI, Liwei ZHANG, Fachang DENG, Guanghua LIU, Xuelong JIANG

2025, 45(3):  333-344.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150939

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Population surveys of rare and endangered species play a vital role in making suitable conservation action plans. The western black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) is a small arboreal ape mainly distributed in Yunnan Province, China, with Ailao Mountain, Xinping County as an important distribution site. From March to April and November to December 2022, a comprehensive field survey of western black crested gibbons was conducted in Ailao Mountain, Xinping by monitoring their loud morning calls. The results revealed 178 groups (about 765 individuals) recognized, which indicated the largest population found and a significant population growth compared to the previous survey (124 groups) in 2010. Most groups are located in Ailaoshan National Nature Reserve and the adjacent national forests in the north, with 89 groups in Zhelong (1.04 group/km²) and 50 groups in Shuitang (0.40 group/km²), and 39 groups (0.38 group/km²) in Ailaoshan County Nature Reserve of Xinping in the south. The elevational distribution of the groups ranges from 1 900 to 2 927 m, and most of the groups are distributed from 2 200 to 2 900 m above sea level. One hundred fifty-two groups are found inside nature reserves, with a protection rate of 85.4%. The main threats to the gibbons in Ailao Mountain, Xinping include population isolation and dispersal limitation by road across the mountain and artificial pine forest belt along the outside of the national nature reserve. Therefore, ecological corridor construction across the road ‘Enshui’ and habitat restoration after cleaning the partial pine forest are suggested to promote population dispersal and exchange, and habitat expansion.

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Genetic structure analysis of wild boar population in Beijing Songshan National Nature Reserve

Xiaocheng TANG, Jing YANG, Yanmin DONG, Hongliang ZHANG, Yanjing SHEN, Xiaomeng WANG, Weidong BAO

2025, 45(3):  345-355.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150924

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With the gradual improvement of the natural ecological environment in Beijing, the population of wild boar (Sus scrofa) continues to grow, causing local damage. Understanding the background of the wild boar population genetic structure helps formulate long-term control measures. In this study, we used non-invasive sampling and PCR amplification techniques to analyze the sex structure of the wild boar population in Beijing Songshan National Nature Reserve, and microsatellite molecular markers to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic distances to understand the future development trend of the population. The results showed that 42 individuals were identified from 88 suspected wild boar fecal samples, of which 35 were females and 7 were males, with a sex ratio of 5∶1. The analysis showed that the genetic polymorphic information content (PIC) of the population was in the range of 0.55 - 0.81, with an average of 0.71, and the population had moderate genetic diversity. An evolutionary tree was constructed based on genetic distances between microsatellite loci, and the 42 individuals showed three main branches. The results of the clustering analysis also showed that the individuals of this population were clustered according to the three genetic clades. In general, the wild boar population in the Songshan area has a certain degree of segregation in terms of genetic structure, but it has not reached the level of obvious differentiation and still belongs to the same population. In addition, the analysis of the inbreeding coefficient showed that the Songshan wild boar population was moderately inbred in general, which would have a certain inhibitory effect on population growth. This study provides basic information for understanding the genetic structure of wild boars in the study area and is an important reference for estimating the changes in population density and predicting the development of wild boar populations in this area.

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Relative abundance, cluster type, and daily activity rhythm of Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus in Western Liaoning Province

Minghui LI, Xinjun HUANG, Jin CHANG, Zhimin MO, Dongmei WAN, Yiting JIANG

2025, 45(3):  356-367.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150907

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Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus is an herbivorous species widely distributed in the northeastern and northern regions of China. It is one of the dominant species in the western Liaoning region. From January 2022 to June 2023, we selected 4 survey sites in western Liaoning and conducted a study on Siberian roe deer based on infrared camera monitoring. A total of 116 camera points were set up using a 2 km × 2 km grid method, resulting in 57 995 camera days of infrared monitoring data. Among these, 97 camera points captured images of Siberian roe deer, yielding 5 254 independent and valid photos of Siberian roe deer, with 5 058 of these allowing for sex identification. We assessed the relative abundance of the local Siberian roe deer population and analyzed the seasonal variations in their clustering patterns using the Relative Abundance Index (RAI). Additionally, we examined the daily activity rhythm of roe deer using Kernel-density estimation. Our study revealed that forest type, altitude, and human interference intensity significantly affected the RAI of Siberian roe deer. Siberian roe deer had 5 cluster types: solitary individuals constituted 92.84% of all independent detections, followed by female clusters at 4.05%, and the seasonal variation in cluster types was regular and coincide with changes in reproductive states such as embryonic diapause.There were significant differences in the crepuscular activity patterns of Siberian roe deer, as evidenced by the more pronounced bimodal pattern observed in females, the peak activity time in the cold season being delayed compared to the warm season, and the greater impact of seasonal variations on female Siberian roe deer. In summary, this study explored the spatio-temporal activity patterns of Siberian roe deer in western Liaoning, the impacts of forest type, elevation, and human disturbance intensity on their relative abundance, as well as the variations in clustering patterns and daily activity rhythm in different sex and season, and prompted targeted conservation recommendations. The research findings contribute to the existing ecological data on Siberian roe deer, providing support for studying its population structure, developmental mechanisms, and other related aspects. Furthermore, the study provides valuable insights for the conservation and management of Siberian roe deer and its habitats in western Liaoning.

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Effects of sex and season on daily activity rhythms of Cervus elaphus songaricus

Xuejun MA, Feng GAO, Yuqin MU, Han YAN, Kechun WANG, Weikang YANG, Feng XU

2025, 45(3):  368-377.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150896

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The interaction between animals and their environment remains a pivotal theme in animal ecology research, with activity rhythms serving as critical indicators of how species adapt to varying ecological contexts. This study explores the activity patterns of Cervus elaphus songaricus in Tianshan Mountains using cutting-edge infrared camera monitoring techniques. Independent valid photographs of the deer were captured and analyzed to study activity patterns across different sexes and seasons. The activity rhythm curves were plotted using the‘activity’package in R4.2.1, while the OverlapEst method was employed to quantify overlap in activity between different sexes in the same season and between seasons for the same sex. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was further utilized to assess significant differences in activity intensity. Our results indicate that red deer in Tian Shan exhibit distinct bimodal activity rhythms in spring, summer, and fall with peaks in early morning and evening, contrasting with a trimodal pattern in winter. No significant differences were observed between the daily activity rhythms and intensities of male and female deer.In contrast, we detected distinct seasonal patterns in activity rhythms and intensities between sexes, with females exhibiting significant differences in activity between seasons, particularly higher intensity variations except between summer and fall. In male red deer, winter activity intensity was markedly lower, with no significant differences across other seasons. These rhythm patterns are likely influenced by factors such as food availability and the differing reproductive roles between sexes. The study concludes that while seasonal changes significantly impact the activity rhythms of red deer in Tianshan Mountains, sexual differences do not. These insights are crucial for effective conservation and management strategies of red deer in the region’s reserves.

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Analysis of cetacean stranding and bycatch records based on mainstream online short video platforms

Zhongrui WU, Liming YONG, Qianhui ZENG, Meiying CHEN, Qian ZHU

2025, 45(3):  378-387.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150934

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Citizen science plays a crucial role in wildlife research and conservation. While traditional citizen science typically involves systematic collection of wildlife records, the temporary observation data from online short video platforms provide valuable resources for ‘passive citizen science’. This study collects all the videos about cetacean stranding and bycatch events in China from 2017 to February 2024 from four mainstream short video platforms, namely, ‘Douyin’, ‘Kwai’, ‘WeChat Video’and ‘Rednote’, for information screening and statistical analysis. A total of 174 valid records are obtained in the study, involving 228 individual animals, belonging to six families, namely, family Phocoenidae, family Delphinidae, family Physeteridae, family Kogiidae, family Ziphiidae, and family Balaenopteridae. Statistical results indicate that, the number of stranding and bycatch events is closely related to the development trend of each platform, and it increases with the growth of user numbers; compared with other platforms,‘Douyin’has the highest proportion of valid records; stranded or bycaught cetaceans recorded on short video platforms are mainly from family Phocoenidae and family Delphinidae, both of which have a higher success rate in release; there are fewer cetacean stranding and bycatch events recorded in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, while there are more in the East China Sea and South China Sea; in the face of live-stranded or live-bycaught cetaceans, public show obvious helping actions in the majority of the records, but there have been individual events of hunting and killing. This study analyzes the validness and limitations of mainstream short video platforms in China in reflecting information on cetacean stranding and bycatch events. Meanwhile, it explores the Chinese public’s awareness and its outcomes in rescuing stranded and bycaught cetaceans, reflecting the potential of short video platforms to provide supplementary data in ecology and conservation biology research.

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Assessment of the implementation effectiveness of Asian elephant food base in Simao, Yunnan

Qiupeng YU, Zhechang HU, Tongmei XU, Xiongwei YANG, Jie LI, Hongjiao WANG, Xue-you LI, Xuelong JIANG

2025, 45(3):  388-398.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150972

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Diversionary feeding, where artificial food is used to draw animals away from problematic sites, has been employed as a successful wildlife management method for wild animals, including bears (Ursus spp.), red kites (Milvus milvus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boars (Sus scrofa). Human-elephant conflict is a significant challenge to the conservation of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in China, which has attracted considerable attention for their protection, management, and scientific research. To alleviate human-elephant conflict, China has constructed a series of food bases to attract Asian elephants in certain locations. However, there is currently no relevant assessment of the effectiveness of this intervention. To assess the implementation effectiveness of the food base of Asian elephants in Simao District, we deployed camera traps combined with manual monitoring to capture Asian elephant activities. In addition, we conducted semi-structured interviews with residents adjacent to the food base to ascertain the changes in the activities of Asian elephants. The results indicate that the food base was an effective way to attract and concentrate Asian elephants. The activity intensity of Asian elephants varied significantly across different seasons (P < 0.05) and was highest in autumn‑winter when the artificial food was available in the food base. The effective range of the food base was approximately 15 km, with 78.5% of the residents in the vicinity recognizing the effectiveness of the food source and 71.4% of the residents reporting a reduction in the frequency of Asian elephants in the area, which markedly reduced the risk of human-elephant conflict incidents. This study represents a case study for assessing the effectiveness of Asian elephant management measures, and the findings are relevant for the conservation and management of flagship species. It will also promote the harmonious coexistence of humans and Asian elephants.

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Urine differential metabolites and functional prediction of male Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) in estrus and anestrus

Bao YUAN, Bohao ZHANG, Jianfu LI, Wenli CHEN, Yong ZHANG, Xingxu ZHAO, Quanwei ZHANG

2025, 45(3):  399-408.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150951

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The aim of this study was to explore the differences of urine metabolism in male Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) during estrus, in order to provide theoretical basis for the reproductive regulation mechanism of Bactrian camels. Urine samples from breeding season (BS) and non-breeding season (NBS) male Bactrian camels were collected using Gas/Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS) techniques. Screening for Differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in urine; Based on the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, KEGG database to identify key functional substances in urine that influence seasonal estrus in Bactrian camels and their pathways. The results showed that 468 metabolites were identified by GC-MS and 6 193 by LC-MS. Compared with NBS, there were 205 DEMs and 601 DEMs identified by GC/LC-MS in BS group, respectively (P < 0.05), mainly of which were benzene and its substituted derivatives, fatty acyl, indole and its derivatives, and organic nitrogen compounds. Twelve identical pathways were obtained by GC/LC-MS KEGG enrichment analysis, and five common DEMs were obtained by GC/LC-MS Wien: L-histidine, 5′ -methyl-adenosine, 3-methylhistidine, L-methionine and triacetin. The results showed that L-histidine and L-methionine could affect spermatogenesis and reproductive health through amino acid tRNA biosynthesis and histidine metabolism pathway, and further affect the estrus of male Bactrian camels. In addition, based on the roles of L-histidine and L-methionine in female animals, it is speculated that these DEMs may act as pheromones to affect the synthesis of sex hormones in female camels, and thus induce estrus in female camels. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that male Bactrian camel estrus was also related to sperm motility and reproductive health regulated by TCA cycle, arginine biosynthesis pathway, GABA signaling and pyruvate metabolism. The above results provide an important reference for further analysis of the reproductive regulation mechanism of Bactrian camels.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES

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The first record of Delacour’s marmoset rat (Hapalomys delacouri) in Guangdong

Qiuqin LU, Feiyu LEI, Xiaoyun ZHENG, Zeling ZENG, Haibin YU, Wenhua YU, Yi WU, Kai HE

2025, 45(3):  409-414.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150898

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On December 6, 2021 a Hapalomys specimen was collected at Mt. Nanling in Guangdong Province (113°00′11.87″ E, 24°56′17.57″ N, altitude 1 023 m). We conducted external and cranial measurements and compared them with those of congeneric species. We sequenced the full-length mitochondrial CYTB gene and constructed a phylogenetic tree using the maximum likelihood method. The specimen has nails on both the thumb and the hallux; the first upper molar has three columns of cusps, each column with three main cusps, which are characteristic of the genus Hapalomys. The absence of two small cusplets between the three main cusps on the anterior margin of the first upper molar, and a tail length nearly equal to the head and body length, are consistent with the features of Hapalomys delacouri. The mitochondrial CYTB phylogenetic tree also showed that this specimen clustered with the Hapalomys delacouri sequences obtained from GenBank, with a bootstrap support of 100%. Collectively, these findings confirm that the specimen belongs to Hapalomys delacouri, representing its first distribution record in Guangdong.