Knockdown of TcGluCl leads to the premature pupation of Tribolium castaneum larvae possibly by influencing the calcium-mediating hormone homeostasis.

The glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) are widely existed in the neural and nonneural tissues of invertebrate. In addition to play important roles in signal transduction, the GluCls also showed multiple physiological functions in insects such as participate in the juvenile hormone synthesis. In the present study, the potential roles of TcGluCl in growth and development of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum were explored.

Functional Analysis of Insecticide Inhibition and Metabolism of Six Glutathione -Transferases in the Rice Stem Borer, .

The glutathione -transferases (GSTs) are important detoxifying enzymes in insects. Our previous studies found that the susceptibility of to abamectin was significantly increased when the CsGST activity was inhibited by glutathione (GSH) depletory. In this study, the potential detoxification mechanisms of CsGSTs to abamectin were explored.

Identification and Validation of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters Involved in the Detoxification of Abamectin in Rice Stem Borer, .

has developed high levels of resistance to abamectin in many areas of China, while the underline resistance mechanisms are largely unclear. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters function in transporting a large diversity of substrates including insecticides and play important roles in the detoxification metabolism of insects. In this study, synergism bioassay revealed that the ABC transporters were involved in the detoxification of to abamectin.

Identification and characterization of glutathione S-transferases and their potential roles in detoxification of abamectin in the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a kind of metabolic enzymes and participate in the detoxification metabolism of xenobiotics in various organisms. In insects, GSTs play important roles in the development of insecticide resistance and antioxidant protection. The rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis is one of the most damaging pests in rice and has developed high levels of resistance to abamectin in many areas of China, whereas the potential resistance mechanisms of C suppressalis to abamectin are still unclear.

Flonicamid and knockdown of inward rectifier potassium channel gene CsKir2B adversely affect the feeding and development of Chilo suppressalis.

Background: The selective insecticide flonicamid shows highly insecticidal activities against piercing-sucking insects and has been widely used for the control of Hemipteran insect pests, whereas its effects on Lepidopteran insect pests remain largely unknown. Recently, inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channel has been verified to be a target of flonicamid, however, functional characterization of Lepidopteran Kir genes is still lacking.

Results: Flonicamid shows no insecticidal toxicity against Chilo suppressalis larvae.

Identification and transcriptional response of ATP-binding cassette transporters to chlorantraniliprole in the rice striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

Background: As the largest transporter gene family in metazoans, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters regulate the efflux of a broad spectrum of substrates from the cytoplasm to the outside of the cell. In arthropods, ABC transporters are involved in phase III of the detoxification process, and play important roles in the metabolism and transport of insecticides.

Results: We identified 54 ABC transporters from the genome and transcriptome of Chilo suppressalis, one of the most damaging pests of rice in China.

Transcriptome analysis reveals global gene expression changes of Chilo suppressalis in response to sublethal dose of chlorantraniliprole.

The anthranilic diamide insecticide chlorantraniliprole was widely used for the controlling of Chilo suppressalis in China. Previous studies have revealed sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole on the development and reproduction of C. suppressalis.

Molecular characterization of glutamate-gated chloride channel and its possible roles in development and abamectin susceptibility in the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis.

Glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission in invertebrate nervous systems, and are of considerable interest in insecticide discovery. The full length cDNA encoding CsGluCl was cloned from the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker). Multiple cDNA sequence alignment revealed three variants of CsGluCl generated by alternative splicing of exon 3 and exon 9.

Author Correction: Identifying long-term stable refugia for relict plant species in East Asia.

In the original version of this Article, an incorrect sample size was provided for the number of relict species (443 instead of 442) and the number of relict forests (423 instead of 422). These errors have been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Identifying long-term stable refugia for relict plant species in East Asia.

Today East Asia harbors many "relict" plant species whose ranges were much larger during the Paleogene-Neogene and earlier. The ecological and climatic conditions suitable for these relict species have not been identified. Here, we map the abundance and distribution patterns of relict species, showing high abundance in the humid subtropical/warm-temperate forest regions.

Factors influencing phototaxis in nocturnal migrating birds.

Many migratory bird species fly during the night (nocturnal migrants) and have been shown to display some phototaxis to artificial light. During 2006 to 2009, we investigated phototaxis in nocturnal migrants at Jinshan Yakou in Xinping County (N23°56', E101°30'; 2400 m above sea-level), and at the Niaowang Mountain in Funing County (N23°30', E105°35'; 1400 m above sea-level), both in the Yunnan Province of Southwest China. A total of 5069 birds, representing 129 species, were captured by mist-netting and artificial light.

[Impacts of human disturbance on the species composition of higher plants in the wetlands around Dianchi Lake, Yunnan Province of Southwest China].

Introducing higher plants to build semi-natural wetland ecosystem is one of the key approaches to restore the wetlands and lakes that suffered from serious pollution and destruction. Based on the investigation data from 128 quadrats at 26 sampling sites in the wetlands around Dianchi Lake in December 2011-October 2012, and in combining with the references published in the 1960s, this paper discussed the impacts of human activities on the species composition of higher plants in the wetlands around the Lake. In 2012, there were 299 species of 88 families in the wetlands, of which, 181 species were native species, and 118 species were alien ones (including 32 invasive species).

Evidence for the persistence of wild Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae) populations in the Dalou Mountains, southwestern China.

Premise Of The Study: The possible persistence of wild Ginkgo biloba populations in China has long been debated but never scientifically confirmed. We test our hypothesis that the extant Ginkgo populations in the Dalou Mountains (SW China) represent fragments of the original natural Ginkgo range and offer a range of pertinent perspectives on the living fossil Ginkgo's history, prehistory, ecology, and place in human culture-all important aspects of this highly valued species.

Methods: We analyzed the vegetation of the study area, determined the population age structure of Ginkgo, and compared it to existing fossil records.

[Ecological issues and loss risk of cold-resistant rubber germplasm resource in Xishuangbanna].

Based on the field investigation data and related literatures, this paper analyzed the ecological issues in the breeding and utilization of highly cold-resistant and high-yielding rubber germplasm in Xishuangbanna, and the loss risk of this germplasm. The rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna had built a cycle pattern of establishing rubber nursery and managing rubber plantations to develop the local rubber industry, but the unlimited utilization of this germplasm made the rubber plantations expand to the highland with an elevation of 1300 m, resulting in the ecological issues such as the destruction of natural forests and species, decline of soil fertility, regional drought, rubber diseases and insect pests, and human-elephant conflicts. This germplsm and its intellectual property were under transnational loss without any control, making even more potential ecological and economic risks.

[Perception and attitude of rural community to the construction of Asian elephant conservation corridors in Xishuangbanna].

By using contingent valuation method (CVM), an investigation was made from November 2007 to March 2008 on the perception and attitude of 196 households in 5 villages within 2 planned Asian elephant conservation corridors in Xishuangbanna to the construction of the corridors. 80.61% of the interviewees conditionally supported the corridors construction.