新疆马鹿(Cervus elaphus)有3个亚种(塔里木亚种C. e . yarkandensis、天山亚种C. e . songaricus和阿勒泰亚种C. e . sibiricus)。本文报道新疆马鹿3个亚种头骨形态学特征描述和14项形态学指标测定。被测定的指标主要有颅全长(GLC)、...新疆马鹿(Cervus elaphus)有3个亚种(塔里木亚种C. e . yarkandensis、天山亚种C. e . songaricus和阿勒泰亚种C. e . sibiricus)。本文报道新疆马鹿3个亚种头骨形态学特征描述和14项形态学指标测定。被测定的指标主要有颅全长(GLC)、颜面长(FL)、鼻骨全长(GLN)、前头长( MFL)、眼窝长(OFW)、基底全长(CBL)、口盖最大幅(GPB)、前臼齿间距离(Pm-P)、眼间最小幅(ZB)、筋突起高(CH)、关筋突起高(LH)、牙齿间隙裂高(DH)、前下颚骨高(HMP2)、后下颚骨高(HMM3) ,采用主成分分析并在这3个亚种之间进行了比较。结果表明: 1)阿勒泰亚种的头骨长度和高度值比塔里木亚种大,宽度值比塔里木亚种小; 2)天山亚种的头骨大小一般处在塔里木亚种和阿勒泰亚种的中间,但三者之间没有显著性差异; 3)阿勒泰亚种和天山亚种的头骨形态测量数据比较接近,塔里木亚种的头骨形态比较特殊(塔里木亚种的头骨短而宽,明显区别于其他两亚种的特征)。在新疆导致马鹿3个亚种头骨形态差异的主要因素有栖息地环境和气候因素的差异。阿勒泰亚种和天山亚种栖息在大陆性气候寒冷区的针叶林中,冬天气候比较寒冷;塔里木亚种栖息在大陆性气候温热区的塔里木河流域胡杨林中,气候干旱炎热。因此,阿勒泰和天山亚种在适应寒冷的气候并适应生软食物的食性过程中头骨变成长细,而塔里木亚种长期适应干旱炎热并适应生硬食物的食性使头骨变的短而宽。展开更多
Genetic divergences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes,known as DNA barcodes,have been used in species identification in the animal kingdom.Barcodes can assist field workers and taxonomists to deter...Genetic divergences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes,known as DNA barcodes,have been used in species identification in the animal kingdom.Barcodes can assist field workers and taxonomists to determine groups in need of taxa analysis,and facilitate the recognition of appropriate populations and scales for conservation planning.In this study,18 species of Bovidae were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for species differentiation.The results showed that all but 2 species had unique DNA barcodes.The mean intraspecific variation was 0.63%,yielding a threshold of 6.3% for flagging putative species.The results supported the inference that barcode variation within species of mammals is somewhat higher than within other animal groups.The present study validated the effectiveness of barcoding for the identification of bovid species.展开更多
Trachypithecus,which currently contains 20 species divided into four groups,is the most speciose and geographically dispersed genus among Asian colobines.Despite several morphological and molecular studies,however,its...Trachypithecus,which currently contains 20 species divided into four groups,is the most speciose and geographically dispersed genus among Asian colobines.Despite several morphological and molecular studies,however,its evolutionary history and phylogeography remain poorly understood.Phayre’s langur(Trachypithecus phayrei) is one of the most widespread members of the genus,but details on its actual distribution and intraspecific taxonomy are limited and controversial.Thus,to elucidate the evolutionary history of Trachypithecus and to clarify the intraspecific taxonomy and distribution of T.phayrei,we sequenced 41 mitochondrial genomes from georeferenced fecal samples and museum specimens,including two holotypes.Phylogenetic analyses revealed a robustly supported phylogeny of Trachypithecus,suggesting that the T.pileatus group branched first,followed by the T.francoisi group,and the T.cristatus and T.obscurus groups most recently.The four species groups diverged from each other 4.5-3.1 million years ago(Ma),while speciation events within these groups occurred much more recently(1.6-0.3 Ma).Within T.phayrei,we found three clades that diverged 1.0-0.9 Ma,indicating the existence of three rather than two taxa.Following the phylogenetic species concept and based on genetic,morphological,and ecological differences,we elevate the T.phayrei subspecies to species level,describe a new species from central Myanmar,and refine the distribution of the three taxa.Overall,our study highlights the importance of museum specimens and provides new insights not only into the evolutionary history of T.phayrei but the entire Trachypithecus genus as well.展开更多
Aims The spatial segregation hypothesis and the low-frequency hypothesis are two important proposed mechanisms that delay or prevent competitive exclusion in ecosystems.Because tree species interact with their neighbo...Aims The spatial segregation hypothesis and the low-frequency hypothesis are two important proposed mechanisms that delay or prevent competitive exclusion in ecosystems.Because tree species interact with their neighbors,the importance of these potential processes can be investigated by analyzing the spatial structures of tree species.Methods The distribution of the adults of 27 common tree species in a fully mapped 5-ha subtropical forest plot in Baishanzu,eastern China,was analyzed to investigate the community-level intra-and interspecific spatial association patterns.We first tested for the overall spatial pattern in the 5-to 40-m neighborhoods and classified first-order bivariate associations with a diametric scheme based on Ripley’s K and nearest-neighbor statistic(G-function).Then heterogeneous Poisson null models were used to distinguish second-order interactions from overall spatial associations(including first-order effects).Finally,we analyzed correlations between the existence of species interactions and some attributes of the species involved.Important Findings Partial overlap and segregation increased with scale,whereas mixing decreased.Nearly 70%of the species pairs occurred less than expected at random,and only 3.4%of the species pairs were well mixed;11.0%of all species pairs showed significant small-scale interactions,which was a greater frequency than expected by chance if species are abundant or prefer the same habitat,but less frequent than expected if species are highly aggregated.This suggests that both spatial segregation and low frequency of species facilitate species coexistence by reducing the opportunity that trees of two species encounter each other.The study also revealed that positive interactions were more prevalent than negative interactions in the forest,which indicates that positive interactions may have important effects on forest species assemblies.展开更多
The north temperate region was characterized by a warm climate and a rich thermophilic flora before the Eocene,but early diversifications of the temperate biome under global climate change and biome shift remain uncer...The north temperate region was characterized by a warm climate and a rich thermophilic flora before the Eocene,but early diversifications of the temperate biome under global climate change and biome shift remain uncertain.Moreover,it is becoming clear that hybridization/introgression is an important driving force of speciation in plant diversity.Here,we applied analyses from biogeography and phylogenetic networks to account for both introgression and incomplete lineage sorting based on genomic data from the New World Vitis,a charismatic component of the temperate North American flora with known and suspected gene flow among species.Biogeographic inference and fossil evidence suggest that the grapes were widely distributed from North America to Europe during the Paleocene to the Eocene,followed by widespread extinction and survival of relicts in the tropical New World.During the climate warming in the early Miocene,a Vitis ancestor migrated northward from the refugia with subsequent diversification in the North American region.We found strong evidence for widespread incongruence and reticulate evolution among nuclear genes within both recent and ancient lineages of the New World Vitis.Furthermore,the organellar genomes showed strong conflicts with the inferred species tree from the nuclear genomes.Our phylogenomic analyses provided an important assessment of the wide occurrence of reticulate introgression in the New World Vitis,which potentially represents one of the most important mechanisms for the diversification of Vitis species in temperate North America and even the entire temperate Northern Hemisphere.The scenario we report here may be a common model of temperate diversification of flowering plants adapted to the global climate cooling and fluctuation in the Neogene.展开更多
As an apex predator the Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia.Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century,tige...As an apex predator the Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia.Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century,tigers rapidly declined in China and are now restricted to the Russian Far East and bordering habitat in nearby China.To facilitate restoration of the tiger in its historical range,reliable estimates of population size are essential to assess effectiveness of conservation interventions.Here we used camera trap data collected in Hunchun National Nature Reserve from April to June 2013 and 2014 to estimate tiger density and abundance using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture(SECR)methods.A minimum of 8 individuals were detected in both sample periods and the documentation of marking behavior and reproduction suggests the presence of a resident population.Using Bayesian SECR modeling within the 11400 km2 state space,density estimates were 0.33 and 0.40 individuals/100 km^(2) in 2013 and 2014,respectively,corresponding to an estimated abundance of 38 and 45 animals for this transboundary Sino-Russian population.In a maximum likelihood framework,we estimated densities of 0.30 and 0.24 individuals/100 km^(2) corresponding to abundances of 34 and 27,in 2013 and 2014,respectively.These density estimates are comparable to other published estimates for resident Amur tiger populations in the Russian Far East.This study reveals promising signs of tiger recovery in Northeast China,and demonstrates the importance of connectivity between the Russian and Chinese populations for recovering tigers in Northeast China.展开更多
Background:The Bar-headed Goose(Anser indicus)breeds across the high plains and plateau of Central Asia and winters in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP),the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Indian sub-continent.Of the two ...Background:The Bar-headed Goose(Anser indicus)breeds across the high plains and plateau of Central Asia and winters in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP),the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Indian sub-continent.Of the two recognized discrete flyways of the Bar-headed Goose,the Eastern Tibetan Flyway(ETF)is the larger,comprising at least six migration routes.However,we remain ignorant about their migratory connectivity,habitat use and effectiveness of site-safeguard mechanisms set in place for the species.Methods:We tracked 30 ETF Bar-headed Geese from Chinese and Mongolian breeding areas to their wintering grounds using GPS/GSM transmitters,to determine their migration routes and stopover staging patterns within the QTP,overlaying these upon GIS layers of protected area status and habitat type,to model their habitat selection.Results:In total,14 tagged Bar-headed Geese provided information on their entire autumn migration and 4 geese on their entire spring migration.Qinghai Lake marked birds overwintered in the QTP(n=2),geese tagged in Mongolia wintered either in the QTP(n=3)or in India/Bangladesh(n=9),representing three of the migration routes within the ETF.In total,tagged birds staged at 79 different stopover sites within QTP in autumn and 23 in spring,of which 65%(autumn)and 59%(spring)of all fixes fell within the boundaries of either National Nature Reserves(NNRs)or Important Birds Areas(IBAs)in the QTP.Bar-headed Geese predominantly occurred on four land-cover types:grassland(mostly by day),water bodies(at night),wetlands and bare substrates(salt flats,dry lake/river substrates and plough)with little change in proportion.Generalized linear mixed models comparing presence with pseudo-absence data suggested geese strongly selected for wetlands as staging habitat,avoiding bare substrates in spring.Conclusions:Based on our limited observations of these tagged geese,this study is the first to show that the current designated National Nature Reserves in place in the staging areas within the QTP appear adequate to prot展开更多
Species delimitation is essential to informing conservation policy and understanding ecological and evolutionary processes.Most of our recent gains in knowledge on animal diversity rely on morphological characteristic...Species delimitation is essential to informing conservation policy and understanding ecological and evolutionary processes.Most of our recent gains in knowledge on animal diversity rely on morphological characteristics and mitochondrial(mt)DNA variation.Concordant results based on both have led to an unprecedented acceleration in the identification of new species and enriched the field of taxonomy.However,discordances are also found commonly between morphological and mtDNA evidence.This confounds species delimitation,especially when gene flow or mt genome introgression has occurred.Here,we illustrate how mt genome introgression among species of the Odorrana grahami complex confounds species delimitation using the combined evidence of morphological characters,mt variation,and thousands of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS).Fifty-eight samples across the distribution of the O.grahami complex were included.The mtDNA matrilineal genealogy indicated 2 clades,with O.grahami and Odorrana junlianensis clustered together.In contrast,all nuclear evidence including gene trees,species trees,and genetic structure analyses based on GBS data support 3 species with distinct genetic clusters.These 3 distinct genetic clusters also correspond to distinct morphological characters.They affirm the distinct taxonomic entities of both O.grahami and O.junlianensis,as well as a third clade distinct from either.Which species the third clade belongs to remains unclear and will require further testing.The nuclear genomic loci contradict the COI evidence,with indications of rampant historical mt genome introgression among the species of the O.grahami complex.These discordant signals previously confused species delimitation efforts in this group.Based on these findings,we recommend the integration of independent data,especially nuclear genomic evidence,in species delimitation so as to be robust against the pitfalls of mt introgression.展开更多
Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines.Although studies exploring the dynamics and competitio...Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines.Although studies exploring the dynamics and competition between tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(P.pardus)span decades,there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors that influence their coexistence mechanisms on a broad scale,as well as the drivers determining their exploitative and interference competition.We gathered a comprehensive list of research papers among which 36 papers explored the interspecific interactions between tigers and leopards and tested the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the coexistence mechanisms along three dimensions using multiple response variables regression models;we also tested the influence of ecological drivers determining the exploitative or interference competition between tigers and leopards.Elevation and ungulate density were the most important predictors in regulating the coexistence mechanisms.Tigers and leopards exhibited more positive relations/higher overlaps as elevation increased in the spatial niche.In addition,they showed a higher dietary overlap in the prey-rich regions.We determined that interference competition between tigers and leopards was less frequently observed in habitats with dense tree cover and homogeneous vegetation structures.Meanwhile,studies with multiple metrics would promote the detection of interference competition.Our study provides new insight into the competitive interactions and coexistence mechanisms of tigers and leopards on a broad scale.Policy-makers and managers should pay more attention to the factors of elevation,prey abundance,and habitat structures for the conservation of tigers and leopards.展开更多
Proteases in male reproductive tract are considered to play key roles in fertilization processes.In contrast to mammals,there are limited data concerning crustacean sperm proteases.We previously identified a novel spe...Proteases in male reproductive tract are considered to play key roles in fertilization processes.In contrast to mammals,there are limited data concerning crustacean sperm proteases.We previously identified a novel sperm gelatinase(MSG) from Macrobrachium rosenbergii that was inhibited by a male reproduction-related Kazal-type protease inhibitor(MRPINK) specifically.In the present study,MSG was found to be distributed on the vas deferens and terminal ampullae by Western blot.Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that MSG was expressed in secretory epithelial cells and sperm distributed mainly at the base zone.RNA interference(RNAi) mediated knock-down of MSG resulted in a marked loss of sperm gelatinolytic activity.Taken together,the results show that MSG is closely linked to and probably involved in the fertilization process.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Individual dispersal trends, unquestionably important for species ecology and evolution, are affected by multiple factors. Understanding the factors that influence female dispersal strategies offers import...DEAR EDITOR,Individual dispersal trends, unquestionably important for species ecology and evolution, are affected by multiple factors. Understanding the factors that influence female dispersal strategies offers important insight into primate dispersal mechanisms and female choice. To investigate the proximate causes of dispersal in female Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti), we observed and analyzed nine years of detailed dispersal and demographic data from a population of R. bieti in Xiangguqing, Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China. Results showed that females who lived long-term in a one-male unit (OMU), without giving birth and with few or no relatives, were more likely to leave that OMU. In addition, an OMU led by an outgroup male and containing more female relatives was significantly more likely to be chosen for immigration. Conversely, greater male age, longer male tenure, and more potentially fertile females discouraged immigration into an OMU. These results suggest that reproduction, male quality, and kin cooperation play the largest roles in female Yunnan snub-nosed monkey dispersal.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Based upon morphological and molecular evidence,the authors revised the genus Rohanixalus Biju,Garg,Gokulakrishnan,Chandrakasan,Thammachoti,Ren,Gopika,Bisht,Hamidy and Shouche,2020(Anura:Rhacophoridae)in C...DEAR EDITOR,Based upon morphological and molecular evidence,the authors revised the genus Rohanixalus Biju,Garg,Gokulakrishnan,Chandrakasan,Thammachoti,Ren,Gopika,Bisht,Hamidy and Shouche,2020(Anura:Rhacophoridae)in China through describing one new species,adding one species to the fauna(R.shyamrupus)and supplementing data on one species(Rohanixalus hansenae;Supplementary Materials).展开更多
CHINAS EVOLVING NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATIONS AND SINGLE LARGE PROTECTED AREA OR SEVERAL SMALL PROTECTED AREAS(SLOSS)DEBATE As of 2021,the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that there are over 6,00...CHINAS EVOLVING NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATIONS AND SINGLE LARGE PROTECTED AREA OR SEVERAL SMALL PROTECTED AREAS(SLOSS)DEBATE As of 2021,the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that there are over 6,000 national parks(NPs)in more than 100 countries,most of which are strongly focused on endangered species.1 Over the past 6 years,China has invested US$20million in developing the Giant Panda National Park(GPNP)and a furtherUS$16million in establishing theNortheast China Tiger and Leopard National Park(NCTLNP).展开更多
Environmental changes along an altitudinal gradient can facilitate the differentiation of life-history features in ectothermic species,but little attention has been devoted to the reciprocal influence of altitude and ...Environmental changes along an altitudinal gradient can facilitate the differentiation of life-history features in ectothermic species,but little attention has been devoted to the reciprocal influence of altitude and alpine slope directionality on life-history variation.According to life-history theory,increased environmental stress causes a change in reproductive allocation from number to quality of offspring,as well as a stronger trade-off between size and number of offspring.To clarify the influence of environmental pressures on the life-history features of the Qinghai toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii along an altitudinal cline,we surveyed late pregnant females from 3 populations of low(2,600 m),middle(3,400 m),and high(3,600 m)elevations in the Dangjin Mountain of Gansu,China from July to October 2019,and compared their inter-population differences in maternal body size,reproductive characteristics,offspring growth,and locomotor performance.Because of lower temperatures,higher humidity,and lower light intensity caused by slope aspect and altitude,the middle-altitude region experienced stronger environmental stress than the high-and low-altitude regions.Our results showed that females were larger at middle-and high-altitude sites and smaller at the low-altitude site,following Bergmann’s rule.We also found that females from low-altitude population gave birth earlier than those from the middle and high altitudes.Our results showed a shift in the offspring size-number trade-off of P.vlangalii in response to colder and harsher environments,with lizards from the alpine steppe(i.e.the middle-and high-altitude habitats)producing fewer but larger offspring than those from the warm steppe(i.e.the low-altitude habitat).Low-altitude juveniles grew faster than high-altitude ones,but at the same rates as middle-altitude juveniles.This result demonstrates that the growth of P.vlangalii was associated with temperature and light intensity.Our findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of the altitudinal v展开更多
Compared to the higher fungi(Dikarya),taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number.Thus,the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known.Rece...Compared to the higher fungi(Dikarya),taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number.Thus,the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known.Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have provided reliable and accurate information.It is therefore necessary to compile all available information since basal clades genera lack updated checklists or outlines.Recently,Tedersoo et al.(MycoKeys 13:1–20,2016)accepted Aphelidiomycota and Rozellomycota in Fungal clade.Thus,we regard both these phyla as members in Kingdom Fungi.We accept 16 phyla in basal clades viz.Aphelidiomycota,Basidiobolomycota,Blastocladiomycota,Calcarisporiellomycota,Caulochytriomycota,Chytridiomycota,Entomophthoromycota,Glomeromycota,Kickxellomy-cota,Monoblepharomycota,Mortierellomycota,Mucoromycota,Neocallimastigomycota,Olpidiomycota,Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota.Thus,611 genera in 153 families,43 orders and 18 classes are provided with details of classification,synonyms,life modes,distribution,recent literature and genomic data.Moreover,Catenariaceae Couch is proposed to be conserved,Cladochytriales Mozl.-Standr.is emended and the family Nephridiophagaceae is introduced.展开更多
Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to...Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric.Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic(two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets.Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of "Plain-backed" Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China("Alpine Thrush"); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), China("Himalayan Forest Thrush"); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan("Sichuan Forest Thrush"). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists("Yunnan Thrush"). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative "Yunnan Thrush" as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato(s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto(s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush.Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. compris展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,During the breast-feeding period,infants undergo remarkable changes,including rapid physiological and developmental growth.However,little is known about gene expression features and sex-specific gene expre...DEAR EDITOR,During the breast-feeding period,infants undergo remarkable changes,including rapid physiological and developmental growth.However,little is known about gene expression features and sex-specific gene expression in breast-feeding infants.In this study,we sequenced 32 blood transcriptomes from 16 breast-feeding rhesus macaque(Macaca mulatta)infants and their lactating mothers.We identified 218 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between infants and mothers,including 91 up-regulated and 127 down-regulated DEGs in the infant group.展开更多
The continuation of the isolated Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)population living along the China-Russia border is facing serious challenges due to factors such as its small size(including 38 individuals)and canin...The continuation of the isolated Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)population living along the China-Russia border is facing serious challenges due to factors such as its small size(including 38 individuals)and canine distemper virus(CDV).We use a population viability analysis metamodel,which consists of a traditional individual-based demographic model linked to an epidemiological model,to assess options for controlling the impact of negative factors through domestic dog management in protected areas,increasing connectivity to the neighboring large population(including more than 400 individuals),and habitat expansion.Without intervention,under inbreeding depression of 3.14,6.29,and 12.26 lethal equivalents,our metamodel predicted the extinction within 100 years is 64.4%,90.6%,and 99.8%,respectively.In addition,the simulation results showed that dog management or habitat expansion independently will not ensure tiger population viability for the next 100 years,and connectivity to the neighboring population would only keep the population size from rapidly declining.However,when the above three conservation scenarios are combined,even at the highest level of 12.26 lethal equivalents inbreeding depression,population size will not decline and the probability of extinction will be<5.8%.Our findings highlight that protecting the Amur tiger necessitates a multifaceted synergistic effort.Our key management recommendations for this population underline the importance of reducing CDV threats and expanding tiger occupancy to its former range in China,but re-establishing habitat connectivity to the neighboring population is an important long-term objective.展开更多
基金supported by the grant from Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation(CPF08004)
文摘Genetic divergences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes,known as DNA barcodes,have been used in species identification in the animal kingdom.Barcodes can assist field workers and taxonomists to determine groups in need of taxa analysis,and facilitate the recognition of appropriate populations and scales for conservation planning.In this study,18 species of Bovidae were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for species differentiation.The results showed that all but 2 species had unique DNA barcodes.The mean intraspecific variation was 0.63%,yielding a threshold of 6.3% for flagging putative species.The results supported the inference that barcode variation within species of mammals is somewhat higher than within other animal groups.The present study validated the effectiveness of barcoding for the identification of bovid species.
基金supported by the Margot Marsh Biodiversity FoundationPrimate Action Fund+1 种基金Helmsley Charitable TrustCritical Ecosystem Partnership Fund。
文摘Trachypithecus,which currently contains 20 species divided into four groups,is the most speciose and geographically dispersed genus among Asian colobines.Despite several morphological and molecular studies,however,its evolutionary history and phylogeography remain poorly understood.Phayre’s langur(Trachypithecus phayrei) is one of the most widespread members of the genus,but details on its actual distribution and intraspecific taxonomy are limited and controversial.Thus,to elucidate the evolutionary history of Trachypithecus and to clarify the intraspecific taxonomy and distribution of T.phayrei,we sequenced 41 mitochondrial genomes from georeferenced fecal samples and museum specimens,including two holotypes.Phylogenetic analyses revealed a robustly supported phylogeny of Trachypithecus,suggesting that the T.pileatus group branched first,followed by the T.francoisi group,and the T.cristatus and T.obscurus groups most recently.The four species groups diverged from each other 4.5-3.1 million years ago(Ma),while speciation events within these groups occurred much more recently(1.6-0.3 Ma).Within T.phayrei,we found three clades that diverged 1.0-0.9 Ma,indicating the existence of three rather than two taxa.Following the phylogenetic species concept and based on genetic,morphological,and ecological differences,we elevate the T.phayrei subspecies to species level,describe a new species from central Myanmar,and refine the distribution of the three taxa.Overall,our study highlights the importance of museum specimens and provides new insights not only into the evolutionary history of T.phayrei but the entire Trachypithecus genus as well.
基金Appropriative Foundation of Ecology and Environment Protection of Zhejiang Province(ZCJ200317)China National Program for R&D Infrastructure and Facility Development(2008BAC39B02).
文摘Aims The spatial segregation hypothesis and the low-frequency hypothesis are two important proposed mechanisms that delay or prevent competitive exclusion in ecosystems.Because tree species interact with their neighbors,the importance of these potential processes can be investigated by analyzing the spatial structures of tree species.Methods The distribution of the adults of 27 common tree species in a fully mapped 5-ha subtropical forest plot in Baishanzu,eastern China,was analyzed to investigate the community-level intra-and interspecific spatial association patterns.We first tested for the overall spatial pattern in the 5-to 40-m neighborhoods and classified first-order bivariate associations with a diametric scheme based on Ripley’s K and nearest-neighbor statistic(G-function).Then heterogeneous Poisson null models were used to distinguish second-order interactions from overall spatial associations(including first-order effects).Finally,we analyzed correlations between the existence of species interactions and some attributes of the species involved.Important Findings Partial overlap and segregation increased with scale,whereas mixing decreased.Nearly 70%of the species pairs occurred less than expected at random,and only 3.4%of the species pairs were well mixed;11.0%of all species pairs showed significant small-scale interactions,which was a greater frequency than expected by chance if species are abundant or prefer the same habitat,but less frequent than expected if species are highly aggregated.This suggests that both spatial segregation and low frequency of species facilitate species coexistence by reducing the opportunity that trees of two species encounter each other.The study also revealed that positive interactions were more prevalent than negative interactions in the forest,which indicates that positive interactions may have important effects on forest species assemblies.
基金supported in part by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(32060055,31570211)the United States National Science Foundation(DEB 0743474,0743499)+3 种基金the Smithsonian Endowment Grants Programthe Small Grants Programthe Global Genome Initiative of the National Museum of Natural Historythe Smithsonian Barcode Network。
文摘The north temperate region was characterized by a warm climate and a rich thermophilic flora before the Eocene,but early diversifications of the temperate biome under global climate change and biome shift remain uncertain.Moreover,it is becoming clear that hybridization/introgression is an important driving force of speciation in plant diversity.Here,we applied analyses from biogeography and phylogenetic networks to account for both introgression and incomplete lineage sorting based on genomic data from the New World Vitis,a charismatic component of the temperate North American flora with known and suspected gene flow among species.Biogeographic inference and fossil evidence suggest that the grapes were widely distributed from North America to Europe during the Paleocene to the Eocene,followed by widespread extinction and survival of relicts in the tropical New World.During the climate warming in the early Miocene,a Vitis ancestor migrated northward from the refugia with subsequent diversification in the North American region.We found strong evidence for widespread incongruence and reticulate evolution among nuclear genes within both recent and ancient lineages of the New World Vitis.Furthermore,the organellar genomes showed strong conflicts with the inferred species tree from the nuclear genomes.Our phylogenomic analyses provided an important assessment of the wide occurrence of reticulate introgression in the New World Vitis,which potentially represents one of the most important mechanisms for the diversification of Vitis species in temperate North America and even the entire temperate Northern Hemisphere.The scenario we report here may be a common model of temperate diversification of flowering plants adapted to the global climate cooling and fluctuation in the Neogene.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(31270567,31210103911,31421063,31200410 and 31470566)the National Scientific and Technical Foundation Project of China(2012FY112000).
文摘As an apex predator the Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia.Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century,tigers rapidly declined in China and are now restricted to the Russian Far East and bordering habitat in nearby China.To facilitate restoration of the tiger in its historical range,reliable estimates of population size are essential to assess effectiveness of conservation interventions.Here we used camera trap data collected in Hunchun National Nature Reserve from April to June 2013 and 2014 to estimate tiger density and abundance using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture(SECR)methods.A minimum of 8 individuals were detected in both sample periods and the documentation of marking behavior and reproduction suggests the presence of a resident population.Using Bayesian SECR modeling within the 11400 km2 state space,density estimates were 0.33 and 0.40 individuals/100 km^(2) in 2013 and 2014,respectively,corresponding to an estimated abundance of 38 and 45 animals for this transboundary Sino-Russian population.In a maximum likelihood framework,we estimated densities of 0.30 and 0.24 individuals/100 km^(2) corresponding to abundances of 34 and 27,in 2013 and 2014,respectively.These density estimates are comparable to other published estimates for resident Amur tiger populations in the Russian Far East.This study reveals promising signs of tiger recovery in Northeast China,and demonstrates the importance of connectivity between the Russian and Chinese populations for recovering tigers in Northeast China.
基金Our study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31870369&No.31970433&No.31670424)China Biodiversity Observation Networks(Sino BON)The funders had no role in study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript.
文摘Background:The Bar-headed Goose(Anser indicus)breeds across the high plains and plateau of Central Asia and winters in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP),the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Indian sub-continent.Of the two recognized discrete flyways of the Bar-headed Goose,the Eastern Tibetan Flyway(ETF)is the larger,comprising at least six migration routes.However,we remain ignorant about their migratory connectivity,habitat use and effectiveness of site-safeguard mechanisms set in place for the species.Methods:We tracked 30 ETF Bar-headed Geese from Chinese and Mongolian breeding areas to their wintering grounds using GPS/GSM transmitters,to determine their migration routes and stopover staging patterns within the QTP,overlaying these upon GIS layers of protected area status and habitat type,to model their habitat selection.Results:In total,14 tagged Bar-headed Geese provided information on their entire autumn migration and 4 geese on their entire spring migration.Qinghai Lake marked birds overwintered in the QTP(n=2),geese tagged in Mongolia wintered either in the QTP(n=3)or in India/Bangladesh(n=9),representing three of the migration routes within the ETF.In total,tagged birds staged at 79 different stopover sites within QTP in autumn and 23 in spring,of which 65%(autumn)and 59%(spring)of all fixes fell within the boundaries of either National Nature Reserves(NNRs)or Important Birds Areas(IBAs)in the QTP.Bar-headed Geese predominantly occurred on four land-cover types:grassland(mostly by day),water bodies(at night),wetlands and bare substrates(salt flats,dry lake/river substrates and plough)with little change in proportion.Generalized linear mixed models comparing presence with pseudo-absence data suggested geese strongly selected for wetlands as staging habitat,avoiding bare substrates in spring.Conclusions:Based on our limited observations of these tagged geese,this study is the first to show that the current designated National Nature Reserves in place in the staging areas within the QTP appear adequate to prot
基金supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China(2022YFC2602500,2021FY100203)the DigitalizationDevelopment and Application of Biotic Resource(202002AA100007)+4 种基金programs from the Science and Technology Bureau of Yunnan(02102AA310055,202001AW070016,and 202005AC160046)Young talent project of China Association for Science and Technology(2019-2021QNRC001)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0501)China’s Biodiversity Observation Network(Sino-BON)the Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species,Chinese Academy of Sciences(the Large Research Infrastructure Funding).
文摘Species delimitation is essential to informing conservation policy and understanding ecological and evolutionary processes.Most of our recent gains in knowledge on animal diversity rely on morphological characteristics and mitochondrial(mt)DNA variation.Concordant results based on both have led to an unprecedented acceleration in the identification of new species and enriched the field of taxonomy.However,discordances are also found commonly between morphological and mtDNA evidence.This confounds species delimitation,especially when gene flow or mt genome introgression has occurred.Here,we illustrate how mt genome introgression among species of the Odorrana grahami complex confounds species delimitation using the combined evidence of morphological characters,mt variation,and thousands of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS).Fifty-eight samples across the distribution of the O.grahami complex were included.The mtDNA matrilineal genealogy indicated 2 clades,with O.grahami and Odorrana junlianensis clustered together.In contrast,all nuclear evidence including gene trees,species trees,and genetic structure analyses based on GBS data support 3 species with distinct genetic clusters.These 3 distinct genetic clusters also correspond to distinct morphological characters.They affirm the distinct taxonomic entities of both O.grahami and O.junlianensis,as well as a third clade distinct from either.Which species the third clade belongs to remains unclear and will require further testing.The nuclear genomic loci contradict the COI evidence,with indications of rampant historical mt genome introgression among the species of the O.grahami complex.These discordant signals previously confused species delimitation efforts in this group.Based on these findings,we recommend the integration of independent data,especially nuclear genomic evidence,in species delimitation so as to be robust against the pitfalls of mt introgression.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971539)the National Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Program of China(2019FY101700 and 2021FY100702)the Research Project of Tianjin Normal University(52XB2010).
文摘Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines.Although studies exploring the dynamics and competition between tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(P.pardus)span decades,there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors that influence their coexistence mechanisms on a broad scale,as well as the drivers determining their exploitative and interference competition.We gathered a comprehensive list of research papers among which 36 papers explored the interspecific interactions between tigers and leopards and tested the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the coexistence mechanisms along three dimensions using multiple response variables regression models;we also tested the influence of ecological drivers determining the exploitative or interference competition between tigers and leopards.Elevation and ungulate density were the most important predictors in regulating the coexistence mechanisms.Tigers and leopards exhibited more positive relations/higher overlaps as elevation increased in the spatial niche.In addition,they showed a higher dietary overlap in the prey-rich regions.We determined that interference competition between tigers and leopards was less frequently observed in habitats with dense tree cover and homogeneous vegetation structures.Meanwhile,studies with multiple metrics would promote the detection of interference competition.Our study provides new insight into the competitive interactions and coexistence mechanisms of tigers and leopards on a broad scale.Policy-makers and managers should pay more attention to the factors of elevation,prey abundance,and habitat structures for the conservation of tigers and leopards.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB833803)National Natural Science Foundation of China(40730212,30901093)Zhejiang Marine Biotechnology Innovation Team (2010R50029,2012R10029-14)
文摘Proteases in male reproductive tract are considered to play key roles in fertilization processes.In contrast to mammals,there are limited data concerning crustacean sperm proteases.We previously identified a novel sperm gelatinase(MSG) from Macrobrachium rosenbergii that was inhibited by a male reproduction-related Kazal-type protease inhibitor(MRPINK) specifically.In the present study,MSG was found to be distributed on the vas deferens and terminal ampullae by Western blot.Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that MSG was expressed in secretory epithelial cells and sperm distributed mainly at the base zone.RNA interference(RNAi) mediated knock-down of MSG resulted in a marked loss of sperm gelatinolytic activity.Taken together,the results show that MSG is closely linked to and probably involved in the fertilization process.
基金supported by the National Key Program of Research and Development,Ministry of Science and Technology(2016YFC0503200)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31470461+2 种基金 31700408)Sichuan Youth Science&Technology Foundation(2015JQ0024)Applied Basic Research Program of Sichuan Province(2017JY0325)
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Individual dispersal trends, unquestionably important for species ecology and evolution, are affected by multiple factors. Understanding the factors that influence female dispersal strategies offers important insight into primate dispersal mechanisms and female choice. To investigate the proximate causes of dispersal in female Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti), we observed and analyzed nine years of detailed dispersal and demographic data from a population of R. bieti in Xiangguqing, Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China. Results showed that females who lived long-term in a one-male unit (OMU), without giving birth and with few or no relatives, were more likely to leave that OMU. In addition, an OMU led by an outgroup male and containing more female relatives was significantly more likely to be chosen for immigration. Conversely, greater male age, longer male tenure, and more potentially fertile females discouraged immigration into an OMU. These results suggest that reproduction, male quality, and kin cooperation play the largest roles in female Yunnan snub-nosed monkey dispersal.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Fund for Central Universities (SWU-KR22014)National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC32170478,32370478)+8 种基金Yunnan Fundamental Research Project (202001AW070016,202005AC160046)“Special Fund for Youth Team of Southwest University” (SWU-XJPY202302)to Y.Z.Y.National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC2602500)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) (2019QZKK0501)Survey of Wildlife Resources in Key Areas of Xizang (ZL202203601)China’s Biodiversity Observation Network (Sino-BON)Animal Branch of Germplasm Bank of Wild Species,Chinese Academy of Sciences (Large Research Infrastructure Fund)to J.C.Unit of Excellence 2024 on Integrative diversity assessment of aquatic animals from Thailand (Fundamental FundFF67)to C.S。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Based upon morphological and molecular evidence,the authors revised the genus Rohanixalus Biju,Garg,Gokulakrishnan,Chandrakasan,Thammachoti,Ren,Gopika,Bisht,Hamidy and Shouche,2020(Anura:Rhacophoridae)in China through describing one new species,adding one species to the fauna(R.shyamrupus)and supplementing data on one species(Rohanixalus hansenae;Supplementary Materials).
基金provided by the Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Karst Science ResearchCenter ofGuizhou Province(U1812401)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB13000000)and the Major Science and Technology Projects of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(2022YFS0484 and 2021YFS0280).
文摘CHINAS EVOLVING NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATIONS AND SINGLE LARGE PROTECTED AREA OR SEVERAL SMALL PROTECTED AREAS(SLOSS)DEBATE As of 2021,the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that there are over 6,000 national parks(NPs)in more than 100 countries,most of which are strongly focused on endangered species.1 Over the past 6 years,China has invested US$20million in developing the Giant Panda National Park(GPNP)and a furtherUS$16million in establishing theNortheast China Tiger and Leopard National Park(NCTLNP).
基金Thiswork was supported,by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20050201)the National Natural Science Fund of China(31861143023).
文摘Environmental changes along an altitudinal gradient can facilitate the differentiation of life-history features in ectothermic species,but little attention has been devoted to the reciprocal influence of altitude and alpine slope directionality on life-history variation.According to life-history theory,increased environmental stress causes a change in reproductive allocation from number to quality of offspring,as well as a stronger trade-off between size and number of offspring.To clarify the influence of environmental pressures on the life-history features of the Qinghai toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii along an altitudinal cline,we surveyed late pregnant females from 3 populations of low(2,600 m),middle(3,400 m),and high(3,600 m)elevations in the Dangjin Mountain of Gansu,China from July to October 2019,and compared their inter-population differences in maternal body size,reproductive characteristics,offspring growth,and locomotor performance.Because of lower temperatures,higher humidity,and lower light intensity caused by slope aspect and altitude,the middle-altitude region experienced stronger environmental stress than the high-and low-altitude regions.Our results showed that females were larger at middle-and high-altitude sites and smaller at the low-altitude site,following Bergmann’s rule.We also found that females from low-altitude population gave birth earlier than those from the middle and high altitudes.Our results showed a shift in the offspring size-number trade-off of P.vlangalii in response to colder and harsher environments,with lizards from the alpine steppe(i.e.the middle-and high-altitude habitats)producing fewer but larger offspring than those from the warm steppe(i.e.the low-altitude habitat).Low-altitude juveniles grew faster than high-altitude ones,but at the same rates as middle-altitude juveniles.This result demonstrates that the growth of P.vlangalii was associated with temperature and light intensity.Our findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of the altitudinal v
基金supported by the National Science Centre,Poland,under Grants No.2015/17/D/NZ8/00778,2017/25/B/NZ8/00473 to Julia Pawłowska and 2016/23/B/NZ8/00897 to Marta Wrzosek.Yuri S.Tokarev thanks Russian Science Foundation,Grant Number 16-1400005(taxonomy of Microsporidea)and Prof.I.V.Issi(All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection)for consultation.
文摘Compared to the higher fungi(Dikarya),taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number.Thus,the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known.Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have provided reliable and accurate information.It is therefore necessary to compile all available information since basal clades genera lack updated checklists or outlines.Recently,Tedersoo et al.(MycoKeys 13:1–20,2016)accepted Aphelidiomycota and Rozellomycota in Fungal clade.Thus,we regard both these phyla as members in Kingdom Fungi.We accept 16 phyla in basal clades viz.Aphelidiomycota,Basidiobolomycota,Blastocladiomycota,Calcarisporiellomycota,Caulochytriomycota,Chytridiomycota,Entomophthoromycota,Glomeromycota,Kickxellomy-cota,Monoblepharomycota,Mortierellomycota,Mucoromycota,Neocallimastigomycota,Olpidiomycota,Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota.Thus,611 genera in 153 families,43 orders and 18 classes are provided with details of classification,synonyms,life modes,distribution,recent literature and genomic data.Moreover,Catenariaceae Couch is proposed to be conserved,Cladochytriales Mozl.-Standr.is emended and the family Nephridiophagaceae is introduced.
基金financial support from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Grant No.2014FY210200,to.T.C.and Y.G.)the Russian Science Foundation(Project No.14-50-00029,to M.K.)+3 种基金the Delia Koo Global Faculty Endowment of the Asian Studies Center,Michigan State University(to P.C.R.)The Sound Approach and Jornvall Foundation(both to P.A.and U.O.)the Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists(No.2011T2S04,to P.A.)Swarovski Optik Greater China(to P.A.)
文摘Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric.Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic(two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets.Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of "Plain-backed" Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China("Alpine Thrush"); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), China("Himalayan Forest Thrush"); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan("Sichuan Forest Thrush"). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists("Yunnan Thrush"). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative "Yunnan Thrush" as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato(s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto(s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush.Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. compris
基金This work was supported by the Sichuan Application Foundation Project(2020YJ0303)Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation(CPF2017-19)。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,During the breast-feeding period,infants undergo remarkable changes,including rapid physiological and developmental growth.However,little is known about gene expression features and sex-specific gene expression in breast-feeding infants.In this study,we sequenced 32 blood transcriptomes from 16 breast-feeding rhesus macaque(Macaca mulatta)infants and their lactating mothers.We identified 218 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between infants and mothers,including 91 up-regulated and 127 down-regulated DEGs in the infant group.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971539)the National Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Program of China(2019FY101700)a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council(202106040062).
文摘The continuation of the isolated Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)population living along the China-Russia border is facing serious challenges due to factors such as its small size(including 38 individuals)and canine distemper virus(CDV).We use a population viability analysis metamodel,which consists of a traditional individual-based demographic model linked to an epidemiological model,to assess options for controlling the impact of negative factors through domestic dog management in protected areas,increasing connectivity to the neighboring large population(including more than 400 individuals),and habitat expansion.Without intervention,under inbreeding depression of 3.14,6.29,and 12.26 lethal equivalents,our metamodel predicted the extinction within 100 years is 64.4%,90.6%,and 99.8%,respectively.In addition,the simulation results showed that dog management or habitat expansion independently will not ensure tiger population viability for the next 100 years,and connectivity to the neighboring population would only keep the population size from rapidly declining.However,when the above three conservation scenarios are combined,even at the highest level of 12.26 lethal equivalents inbreeding depression,population size will not decline and the probability of extinction will be<5.8%.Our findings highlight that protecting the Amur tiger necessitates a multifaceted synergistic effort.Our key management recommendations for this population underline the importance of reducing CDV threats and expanding tiger occupancy to its former range in China,but re-establishing habitat connectivity to the neighboring population is an important long-term objective.
