Bonasa sewerzowi, the smallest and most southerly distributed grouse species in the world, is a bird endemic to China. The population of B. sewerzowi had shown a declining trend, which made it to be the endangered spe...Bonasa sewerzowi, the smallest and most southerly distributed grouse species in the world, is a bird endemic to China. The population of B. sewerzowi had shown a declining trend, which made it to be the endangered species in the China Red Data Book and Category I of nationally protected animals. So far, however, most studies about this species were mainly focused on the morphological and ecological aspects. In order to further study the feature of B. sewerzowi, the complete mitochondrial genome （mitogenome） ofB. sewerzowi was sequenced by Illumina Hiseq 2000 high-throughput sequencing. Then, we focused on comparative genomics of two Bonasa species to find their characteristics. Finally, phylogenetic position of Bonasa was made based on the mitogenome dataset. Our results revealed that： （1） the mitogenome of B. sewerzowi, consisting of 16 658 bp, displayed typical genome organization and gene order found in other previously determined Galliformes mitogenomes; （2） the structure and composition of mitogenomes were similar between B. sewerzowi and B. bonasia; （3） the monophyly of Bonasa was well supported, which had a closer phylogenetic relationship with Meleagris gallopavo.展开更多
The Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi) is a rare, endemic bird in China, inhabiting conifer-dominated mountain forests. Both the natural fragmentation and heavy cutting of mature forests have resulted in patchy grou...The Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi) is a rare, endemic bird in China, inhabiting conifer-dominated mountain forests. Both the natural fragmentation and heavy cutting of mature forests have resulted in patchy grouse habitats. We used SPOT (XS-sensor) satellite imagery to discriminate between open land and conifer or broadleaf forests. The area analyzed is about 120000 ha in size and includes the Lianhuashan Nature Reserve and the Yeliguan Forestry Park. We identiifed 4111 ha of mature coniferous forests in 229 patches (maximum 332 ha, mean 18 ha) as the habitat used by Chinese Grouse throughout the year. We examined 31 forest islands of different sizes and degrees of isolation for the presence of Chinese Grouse. We used generalized linear models (GLM) with binomial error structure and logit link function to estimate the probability of Chinese Grouse occupancy in a forest fragment. Habitat patch size (hs) and distance to the next occupied fragment (doc) were used as predictor variables, important for occupancy. Small habitat islands were disproportionately less likely to be occupied than large, nearby habitats. There was a clear speciifc habitat size of about 40 ha, above which habitat fragments were occupied more often. Suitable habitat fragments isolated by more than 2 km appeared to be inaccessible to Chinese Grouse. The results have been used in reforestation projects to establish linking corridors in the study area.展开更多
Nest survival is a vital component of breeding success,and affects population dynamics,as the loss of nests is the main cause of reproductive failure in birds.To identify key factors for the conservation of Chinese gr...Nest survival is a vital component of breeding success,and affects population dynamics,as the loss of nests is the main cause of reproductive failure in birds.To identify key factors for the conservation of Chinese grouse Tetrastes sewerzowi,we tested the effects of nest concealment,nest age,nesting season,and habitat edge on nest daily survival rate(DSR)of Chinese grouse using 54 nests found at Lianhuashan Nature Reserve,Gansu,China,2009-2012.Moreover,we controlled for the effect of research activity by testing the effect of nest checks on DSR.Overall,mammal predation caused 93%of nest failures.DSR was 0.986±0.0038 in the constant model and the probability of a nest with a full clutch of 6 eggs surviving the entire 40-day nesting period was 0.526±0.090.DSR decreased with nest age and nesting season(from 19 May to 3 July).Mammals instead of avian predators being responsible for most nest failures suggest that nest sites might be selected to avoid visual avian predators,but not olfactory mammalian predators,and the decreasing trend of DSR with nest age and nesting season could attribute to an additive exposure effect.Moreover,nest checks conducted by investigators significantly lowered nest DSR,especially during the late period of nesting season and for older nests.Mammalian predators might locate the nest site by following the investigator's odor.Based on our results,we suggest that the late incubation stage is a particularly vulnerable period for nest survival of Chinese grouse and those researchers should adjust their activities around nests to balance the need of acquiring accurate data and decreasing nest predation risk.展开更多
The Chinese Grouse (Bonasa sewerzowi) is a bird endemic to China,inhabiting the conifer-dominated high mountains.It occurs in the most southern range of grouse and is the smallest grouse species in the world.The Chine...The Chinese Grouse (Bonasa sewerzowi) is a bird endemic to China,inhabiting the conifer-dominated high mountains.It occurs in the most southern range of grouse and is the smallest grouse species in the world.The Chinese Grouse has been listed as an endangered species by the China Red Data Book and placed in Category I of nationally protected animals.Since 1995,we have systematically conducted work on the Chinese Grouse using radiotelemetry techniques at the Lianhuashan Nature Reserve in Gansu Province,western China.In this presentation we summarize the mating behavior,nest site selection,incubation rhythm,winter social behavior,diet and other natural history characteristics of this species.With the aid of landscape ecological methods,we also analyze the condition of habitat fragmentation and propose suggestions for conservation.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar(30925008)a grant(O529YX5105)from the Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Bonasa sewerzowi, the smallest and most southerly distributed grouse species in the world, is a bird endemic to China. The population of B. sewerzowi had shown a declining trend, which made it to be the endangered species in the China Red Data Book and Category I of nationally protected animals. So far, however, most studies about this species were mainly focused on the morphological and ecological aspects. In order to further study the feature of B. sewerzowi, the complete mitochondrial genome （mitogenome） ofB. sewerzowi was sequenced by Illumina Hiseq 2000 high-throughput sequencing. Then, we focused on comparative genomics of two Bonasa species to find their characteristics. Finally, phylogenetic position of Bonasa was made based on the mitogenome dataset. Our results revealed that： （1） the mitogenome of B. sewerzowi, consisting of 16 658 bp, displayed typical genome organization and gene order found in other previously determined Galliformes mitogenomes; （2） the structure and composition of mitogenomes were similar between B. sewerzowi and B. bonasia; （3） the monophyly of Bonasa was well supported, which had a closer phylogenetic relationship with Meleagris gallopavo.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31270468,30620130110)
文摘The Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi) is a rare, endemic bird in China, inhabiting conifer-dominated mountain forests. Both the natural fragmentation and heavy cutting of mature forests have resulted in patchy grouse habitats. We used SPOT (XS-sensor) satellite imagery to discriminate between open land and conifer or broadleaf forests. The area analyzed is about 120000 ha in size and includes the Lianhuashan Nature Reserve and the Yeliguan Forestry Park. We identiifed 4111 ha of mature coniferous forests in 229 patches (maximum 332 ha, mean 18 ha) as the habitat used by Chinese Grouse throughout the year. We examined 31 forest islands of different sizes and degrees of isolation for the presence of Chinese Grouse. We used generalized linear models (GLM) with binomial error structure and logit link function to estimate the probability of Chinese Grouse occupancy in a forest fragment. Habitat patch size (hs) and distance to the next occupied fragment (doc) were used as predictor variables, important for occupancy. Small habitat islands were disproportionately less likely to be occupied than large, nearby habitats. There was a clear speciifc habitat size of about 40 ha, above which habitat fragments were occupied more often. Suitable habitat fragments isolated by more than 2 km appeared to be inaccessible to Chinese Grouse. The results have been used in reforestation projects to establish linking corridors in the study area.
基金This research is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project 31520103903,31172099).
文摘Nest survival is a vital component of breeding success,and affects population dynamics,as the loss of nests is the main cause of reproductive failure in birds.To identify key factors for the conservation of Chinese grouse Tetrastes sewerzowi,we tested the effects of nest concealment,nest age,nesting season,and habitat edge on nest daily survival rate(DSR)of Chinese grouse using 54 nests found at Lianhuashan Nature Reserve,Gansu,China,2009-2012.Moreover,we controlled for the effect of research activity by testing the effect of nest checks on DSR.Overall,mammal predation caused 93%of nest failures.DSR was 0.986±0.0038 in the constant model and the probability of a nest with a full clutch of 6 eggs surviving the entire 40-day nesting period was 0.526±0.090.DSR decreased with nest age and nesting season(from 19 May to 3 July).Mammals instead of avian predators being responsible for most nest failures suggest that nest sites might be selected to avoid visual avian predators,but not olfactory mammalian predators,and the decreasing trend of DSR with nest age and nesting season could attribute to an additive exposure effect.Moreover,nest checks conducted by investigators significantly lowered nest DSR,especially during the late period of nesting season and for older nests.Mammalian predators might locate the nest site by following the investigator's odor.Based on our results,we suggest that the late incubation stage is a particularly vulnerable period for nest survival of Chinese grouse and those researchers should adjust their activities around nests to balance the need of acquiring accurate data and decreasing nest predation risk.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 39400016,30370223,30620130110,31071931) since 1995
文摘The Chinese Grouse (Bonasa sewerzowi) is a bird endemic to China,inhabiting the conifer-dominated high mountains.It occurs in the most southern range of grouse and is the smallest grouse species in the world.The Chinese Grouse has been listed as an endangered species by the China Red Data Book and placed in Category I of nationally protected animals.Since 1995,we have systematically conducted work on the Chinese Grouse using radiotelemetry techniques at the Lianhuashan Nature Reserve in Gansu Province,western China.In this presentation we summarize the mating behavior,nest site selection,incubation rhythm,winter social behavior,diet and other natural history characteristics of this species.With the aid of landscape ecological methods,we also analyze the condition of habitat fragmentation and propose suggestions for conservation.
