Mitochondrial phylogeography of grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Lymantriinae: ) endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Lymantriinae: ) are the most damaging pests to alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Here, we conducted extensive sampling from 39 geographic populations covering almost the entire distribution of the eight QTP (Hübner) species to investigate phylogeographic patterns and speciation based on two mitochondrial genes ( and ). A total of 40 haplotypes were detected in the 39 populations, with >70% of all haplotypes not shared between populations.

Leaf functional traits of from different environments in eastern China.

Functional traits are important in understanding how plants respond and adapt to their immediate environment. is a highly endangered arbor species found throughout eastern China, primarily inhabiting hillsides and valleys, yet, little is known about the variation in leaf traits across these environments. In the present study, we tested this by comparing leaf surface area, leaf weight, leaf length, leaf symmetry and leaf mass per unit area, as well as the relationship between leaf traits and environmental factors and the scaling relationship between leaf surface area versus leaf dry mass.

The native reed-specific bird, reed parrotbill, has been detected in exotic smooth cordgrass.

After the smooth cordgrass invaded coastal China, native birds started avoiding the green desert, and bird diversity declined. After many years, a few passerine birds began to enter and use smooth cordgrass, but only birds with a nonspecialised habitat. In this study, we found that a native reed-specific bird, the parrotbill flocked and sang in a smooth cordgrass habitat throughout the overwintering period near Sheyang Port in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province.

An integrative view on the systematic position of the cupressophyte .

We made an in-depth review of historical studies of the cupressophyte conifer genus Siebold & Zucc. with an emphasis on its systematic position. We suggest that the systematic position of the genus is better understood using an integrative approach, so the evolution of phenetic characters is discussed within the context of recent phylogenomics.

Driven to the edge: Species distribution modeling of a Clawed Salamander (Hynobiidae: ) predicts range shifts and drastic decrease of suitable habitats in response to climate change.

Climate change is one of the major threats to global amphibian diversity, and consequently, the species distribution is expected to shift considerably in the future. Therefore, predicting such shifts is important to guide conservation and management plans. Here, we used eight independent environmental variables and four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) to model the current and future habitat suitability of the Korean clawed salamander () and then defined the dispersal limits of the species using cost distance analysis.

Mitochondrial genomes of five tetras and their phylogenetic implications.

To date, the taxonomic status and phylogenetic affinities within , even among other genera in Characidae, remain unclear. Here, we determined five new mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of species (, , , , and ). The mitogenomes were all classical circular structures, with lengths ranging from 16,008 to 17,224 bp.

Interannual variation in food choice of white-headed langur inhabiting limestone forests in Fusui, southwest Guangxi, China.

Food habits are important factors in the adaptation of wild nonhuman primates. White-headed langurs () are endemic to heavily fragmented limestone forests and adapt to unique living environments via flexible food selection strategies. In this study, we compared the dietary data for white-headed langurs living in Chongzuo White-headed Langur National Nature Reserve in 2013 and 2016 to evaluate interannual variations in diet.

Sympatric genome size variation and hybridization of four oak species as determined by flow cytometry genome size variation and hybridization.

The species serve as a powerful model for studying introgression in relation to species boundaries and adaptive processes. Coexistence of distant relatives, or lack of coexistence of closely relative oak species, introgression may play a role. In the current study, four closely related oak species were found in Zijinshan, China.

DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew () with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts.

Diet analysis of potential small mammals pest species is important for understanding feeding ecology and evaluating their impact on crops and stored foods. Chinese mole shrew (), distributed in Southwest China, has previously been reported as a farmland pest. Effective population management of this species requires a better understanding of its diet, which can be difficult to determine with high taxonomic resolution using conventional microhistological methods.

Cones structure and seed traits of four species of large-seeded pines: Adaptation to animal-mediated dispersal.

Seed dispersal selection pressures may cause morphological differences in cone structure and seed traits of large-seeded pine trees. We investigated the cone, seed, and scale traits of four species of animal-dispersed pine trees to explore the adaptations of morphological structures to different dispersers. The four focal pines analyzed in this study were Chinese white pine (), Korean pine (), Siberian dwarf pine (), and Dabieshan white pine ().

Limited polymorphism of the functional MHC class II B gene in the black-spotted frog () identified by locus-specific genotyping.

Amphibians can be more vulnerable to environmental changes and diseases than other species because of their complex life cycle and physiological requirements. Therefore, understanding the adaptation of amphibians to environmental changes is crucial for their conservation. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presents an excellent tool for the investigation of adaptive variations and the assessment of adaptive potential because it can be under strong diversifying selection.

The current status of heavy metal in lake sediments from China: Pollution and ecological risk assessment.

Heavy metal contamination in lake sediments is a serious problem, particularly in developing countries such as China. To evaluate heavy metal pollution and risk of contamination in lake sediments on a national scale in China, we collated available data in the literature of the last 10 years on lake sediments polluted with heavy metals from 24 provinces in China. Based on these data, we used sediment quality guidelines, geoaccumulation index, and potential ecological risk index to assess potential ecological risk levels.