Molecular phylogeny of Entomobrya (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from China: Color pattern groups and multiple origins

Highly diversified colorations among springtails (Collembola) have been widely used for species diagnosis, but their phylogenetic significance is poorly known. We addressed this issue in the largest Entomobryinae genus Entomobrya, which possesses variable color patterns among species. The relationships within the genus and to other genera have also rarely been studied. Based on material mainly from China, we have conducted a multilocus phylogeny and topology tests with likelihood and Bayesian algorithms, and accordingly demonstrated the non-monophyly of Chinese Entomobrya. The division of five clades, including Entomobrya and several related genera, coincided well with five types of colorations, respectively. Further analyses of divergence time and historical biogeography revealed that Chinese Entomobrya originated mainly from Palearctic (northern and western) China in the Paleocene and Eocene. This study highlights the great phylo? genetic values as well as taxonomic uses of coloration in Chinese Entomobrya. Multiple phylogenetic and biogeographic origins of Entomobrya imply its complicated relationships with both scaled and unsealed genera of Entomobryinae.     

In Memory of Academician Er-Mi Zhao (1930-2016)

Academician Er-Mi Zhao,Professor of the Chengdu Institute of Biology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,and Sichuan University,passed away on 24 December,2016,to the great loss of both Chinese and world herpetology.As one of the most internationally renowned Chinese herpetologists,Academician Zhao represented a remarkable era of Chinese herpetology and made a significant contribution to global research,both academically and spiritually.He played a significant role in our understanding of the amphibians and reptiles of Tibet,herpetofauna of the Hengduan Mountains,taxonomy of Chinese snakes,and biogeography of the East Asian islands.His distinguished studies laid a solid and substantial foundation for research by future generations of young herpetologists,and had an extensive and profound impact on the development of the field.     

A Mechanical Model for the Adhesion of Spiders to Nominally Flat Surfaces

In dry attachment systems of spiders and geckos, van der Waals forces mediate attraction between substrate and animaltarsus. In particular, the scopula of Evarcha arcuata spiders allows for reversible attachment and easy detachment to a broadrange of surfaces. Hence, reproducing the scopula’s roughness compatibility while maintaining anti-bunching features and dirtparticle repellence behavior is a central task for a biomimetic transfer to an engineered model. In the present work we model thescopula of E. arcuata from a mechano-elastic point of view analyzing the influence of its hierarchical structure on the attachmentbehavior. By considering biological data of the gecko and spider, and the simulation results, the adhesive capabilities of thetwo animals are compared and important confirmations and new directives in order to reproduce the overall structure are found.Moreover, a possible suggestion of how the spider detaches in an easy and fast manner is proposed and supported by the results.     

Utilization and management of organic wastes in Chinese agriculture: Past, present and perspectives

Recycling and composting of organic materials such as animal waste, crop residues and green manures has a long tradition in China. In the past, the application of organic manures guaranteed a high return of organic materials and plant mineral nutrients and thus maintained soil fertility and crop yield. As a result of rapid economic development coupled with the increasing urbanization and labour costs, the recycling rate of organic materials in Chinese agriculture has dramatically declined during the last two decades, in particular in the more developed eastern and southeastern provinces of China. Improper handling and storage of the organic wastes is causing severe air and water pollution. Because farmers are using increasing amounts of mineral fertilizer, only 47% of the cropland is still receiving organic manure, which accounted for 18% of N, 28% of P and 75% of K in the total nutrient input in 2000. Nowadays, the average proportion of nutrients (N+P+K) supplemented by organic manure in Chinese cropland is only 35% of the total amount of nutrients from both inorganic and organic sources. In China, one of the major causes is the increasing de-coupling of animal and plant production. This is occurring at a time when "re-coupling" is partly being considered in Western countries as a means to improve soil fertility and reduce pollution from animal husbandry. Re-coupling of modern animal and plant production is urgently needed in China. A comprehensive plan to develop intensive animal husbandry while taking into account the environmental impact of liquid and gaseous emissions and the nutrient requirements of the crops as well as the organic carbon requirements of the soil are absolutely necessary. As a consequence of a stronger consideration of ecological aspects in agriculture, a range of environmental standards has been issued and various legal initiatives are being taken in China. Their enforcement should be strictly monitored.     

FOSSORIAL ADAPTATIONS OF A TAENIOLABIDOID MULTITUBERCULATE MAMMAL FROM THE EOCENE OF CHINA

<正> Fragments of the postcranial skeleton of s taeniolabidoid multituberculate,? Lambdopsalis bulla, from the Eocene of Chins are described. These consist of cervical vertebrae C2-C3 (fused), a fragment of the neural arch of C4, and complete C5-C7, thoracic vertebrae T1-T3, and two humeri, which are the first Complete multituberculate humeri ever described. The fusion of C2 and C3, and the stout structure of the humerus with a very large deltopectoral crest, a wide distal end, and prominent radial and ulnar condyles, indicate a fossorial mode of life for? L. bulla. These postcranial elements and a wide flattened, skull with a vertical occipital plate, suggest adaptstions seen in some modern golden moles and cricetid rodents such as Myospalax that dig with claws and displace the soil with the head.     

A new baculovirus of cultured shrimps

By means of ultrathin section, negative staining and sucrose gradient ultra-centrifugation, a new baculovirus has been discovered and purified in lymphoid organs and such tissues as muscles of the shrimps which have been spontaneously attacked by diseases and artificially infected. With a diameter of 96-112 nm, this is the thickest baculovirus of shrimps ever known. In the center is the high-density nucleus. Between the capsid and the envelope is a broad space, which is not found in any of the baculoviruses of the prawns ever reported. On the surface of the puri-fied nucleocapsid, there is a subunit of the spiral arrangement, which is also characteristic of this virus. It has not been observed and found in the epithelial cells of the livers, intestines and cheeks, which is quite different from the fact that prawn baculoviruses infect a certain epithepilial cell of the above-mentioned ones without exception. The viruses only multiplicate inside the core of target cells, which will not form occluded bodie     

Structural analysis of fibroin heavy chain signal peptide of silkworm Bombyx mori

To study the minimal length required for the secretion of recombinant proteins and silkproteins in posterior silk gland,the signal peptide(SP)of the fibroin heavy chain(FibH)of silkwormBombyx mori was systematically shortened from the C-terminal.Its effect on the secretion of protein wasobserved using enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP)as a reporter.Secretion of EGFP fusion proteinswas examined under fluorescence microscope.FibH SPs with lengths of 20,18,16 and 12 a.a.can directthe secretion of the reporter,yet those with lengths of 11, 10, 9, 8 and 1 a.a. can not. When the FibH SP wasshortened to 12a.a., the secretion efficiency was decreased slightly and cleavage occurred within EGFP.When 16a.a.of the FibH SP were used,the secretion of fusion protein was normal and the cleavage sitewas between the Gly-Ser linker and Met,the starting amino acid of EGFP. These findings are applicable forthe expression of foreign proteins in silkworm silk gland.The cleavage site of the SP is discussed andcompared with the predictive results of the SignalP 3.0 online prediction program.     

An Approach for Adaptive Limbless Locomotion Using a CPG-Based Reflex Mechanism

Animals＇ free movement in natural environments has attracted many researchers to explore control methods for bio-inspired robots. This paper presents a novel reflex mechanism based on a Central Pattern Generator （CPG） for adaptive locomotion of limbless robots. First, inspired by the concept of reflex arc, the reflex mechanism is designed on a connectionist CPG model. Since the CPG model inspired by the spinal cord of lampreys is developed at the neuron level, it provides a possible natural solution for sensory reflex integration. Therefore, sensory neurons that bridge the external stimuli and the CPG model, together with the concept of reflex arc, are utilized for designing the sensory reflex mechanism. Then, a border reflex and a body reflex are further developed and applied on the ends and the middle part of a limbless robot, respectively. Finally, a ball hitting scenario and a corridor passing scenario are designed to verify the proposed method. Results of simulations and on-site experiments show the feasibility and effectiveness of the reflex mechanism in realizing fast response and adaptive limbless locomotion.     

亚洲古近纪早期的年代学和哺乳动物群更替(英文)

对广东南雄盆地、江西池江盆地、安徽潜山盆地、湖南衡阳盆地和内蒙古二连盆地古新世和早始新世沉积物进行的生物地层学、化学地层学和磁性地层学研究,第一次给亚洲早古近纪地层框架提供了严格的年代限定。亚洲古新世和早始新世地层划分为4个生物年代单位(陆生哺乳动物期),从老到新为上湖期、浓山期、格沙头期和伯姆巴期4个亚洲陆生哺乳动物期。南雄盆地古地磁数据显示上湖期的底界约位于C29r的上2/3位置。南雄盆地的古地磁资料及池江盆地最新的古地磁和同位素结果显示上湖-浓山期界线在C27n的上部和C26r的下部之间,接近C27n-C26r转换界面。这一记录支持将上湖-浓山期的界线与北美陆生哺乳动物期中的Torrejonian-Tiffanian期以及海相记录中丹尼-塞兰特期(Danian-Selandi-an)的界线相对比。二连盆地古地磁和同位素研究表明典型的格沙头动物群延续至C24r,并且可能向下延伸至C25r和C26n。南雄盆地的记录指示浓山组和古城村组可能相当于C26r的上部。这些结果表明亚洲哺乳动物分期中的浓山-格沙头期的界线可能在北美哺乳动物分期的Tiffanian期中。衡阳盆地的古地磁和同位素证据指示,以短暂的碳同位素漂移为标志的古新世-始新世界线出现在栗木坪组和岭茶组之间,位于C24r中,与海相记录中的坦尼特-伊普里斯期(Thanetian-Ypresian)界线一致。伯姆巴期岭茶动物群的时代似乎与北美Wa-satchian-0带的动物群可以比较。上湖期和浓山期动物群主要由亚洲特有的动物组成。发生在上湖期和浓山期界线处的动物群更替,与北美Torrejonian-Tiffanian期界线以及丹尼-塞兰特期界线一致。在相隔很远的生态系统上的这种巧合,可能反映出各自独立的对气候变化的生态和/或进化上的响应。格沙头动物群的地方性色彩更弱,有与北美Clarkforkian期动物群共有的属一级分类单元。伯姆巴动物群是全球性的。现生哺乳动物各目在格沙头-伯姆巴期界线处突然出现,与北美和欧洲的记录一致,显示动物群的更替与古新世-始新世界线处短暂出现的全球变暖事件(又称古新世-始新世高温事件)有关。     

A NEW PALEOCENE BIRD FROM ANHUI, CHINA

redspecimenrepersentsanewgenusandspecies.Wanshuinaliigen.etsp.nov.SpecimenShaftofarighthumerus,andthedistalendofaIefttibiotarsusanda1efttarsometatarsus,Vlo529.DistributionQianshan,AnhuiProvince;Paleocene,DoumuFormation.DiagnosisSizesma1l-medium,humeruss1enderandlong,mediancrestventraleelongated,tibiotarsuscompressedanteroposteriorly,externalcondy1eroundinlateraIview,grooveforperoneusprofundusdeepandlong;internalcondylelongerthanex-ternalcondyle,adepressionwelldeve1opedin1owerborder0finter…     

安徽潜山新发现的假古猬类化石

记述了安徽省潜山盆地早～中古新世望虎墩组中发现的２属３种假古猬类化石,其中包括一个新种──望虎墩非猬（Ａｎｉｃｔｏｐｓ ｗａｎｇｈｕｄｕｎｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ． ｎｏｖ．）。新种不同于属型种大别非猬（Ａｎｉｃｔｏｐｓ ｔａｂｉｅｐｅｄｉｓ）在于下颊齿下前尖更衰退且更靠近下后尖,下次小尖不发育,ｍ３跟座呈圆形。上颊齿单面高冠现象较显著,相对横宽。     

安徽潜山古新世裂齿目一新属兼论中国古新世裂齿类

记述了安徽潜山盆地古新世裂齿目一新属种 ,命名为潜水本爱兽 (Benaiusqianshuiensisgen .etsp .nov .)。标本产于望虎墩组下段底部 ,为一带犬齿和完整颊齿列的左下颌骨。新种的主要特点是 :个体较小 ,下齿列齿式 2 + ?·1·4·3,i2略有增大 ,p1存在但退化成单根且侧扁 ,p3无下后尖 ,p4次臼齿化且无下内尖 ,下三角座前后压缩且下前尖退化 ,m3三叶。中国曾经记述的和被认为是裂齿类的古新世哺乳动物共有 9个属种 :Lofochaiusbrachyo dus、Meiostylodonzaoshiensis、Anchilestesimpolitus、Dysnoetodonminuta、Interogaledatangensis、Pletho rodonchienshanensis、Huananiusyoungi、Yuesthonyxtingae和Simplodonqianshanensis。经过仔细比较研究它们的齿列 ,作者认为 ,Lofochaius、Meiostylodon、Interogale、Plethorodon和Simplodon可能属于裂齿类 ,而Anchilestes、Dysnoetodon、Huananius和Yuesthonyx则可能与裂齿类没有很近的亲缘关系。广东南雄盆地上湖组Lofochaiusbrachyodus的P1和P2退化、P4有一定程度的臼齿化、外架窄、主尖锥状、前尖棱和后尖棱的颊侧端内收 ,显示了裂齿类的特点。湖南茶陵盆地枣市组Meiostylodonzaoshiensis的i2增大、上臼齿主尖锥状、柱尖和后附尖发育、前尖棱和后尖棱的颊侧?     

The first species of Hapalodectes (Mesonychia,Mammalia) from the middle Paleocene of China (Qianshan Basin,Anhui Province) sheds light on the initial radiation of hapalodectids

A lower jaw of the mesonychian Hapalodectes is reported from Nongshanian sediments (Upper Doumu Formation; middle Paleocene) of the Qianshan Basin (Anhui Province, China). The fragmentary mandible is only the third specimen of Hapalodectidae discovered in Paleocene deposits, and the first in south east China; it is moreover the oldest, the two other specimens having been found in Gashatan (late Paleocene) localities. The premolars and molars of the new fossil are morphologically similar to Hapalodectes dux (late Paleocene of Mongolia), which has been considered to be the most primitive hapalodectid, but their relative proportions recall H. paleocenus and the Eocene Hapalodectes species. As a result, the fossil described herein appears to be different from the other previously described species of Hapalodectes in being morphologically intermediate between H. dux and the other Hapalodectes species, notably the Bumbanian Hapalodectes hetangensis and H. huanghaiensis from China; it is thus identified as a new species, Hapalodectes lopatini (possibly a male individual). Its discovery is important because it sheds light on the initial radiation of hapalodectids. The presence of one primitive hapalodectid in Mongolia previously suggested the Mongolian Plateau as the centre of origination of this carnivorous family, but the discovery of H. lopatini in older sediments from south‐east China challenges this hypothesis. In the earliest Eocene, Hapalodectes dispersed from Asia to North America; this event being part of the ‘East of Eden’ dispersals. This event resulted in the geographical separation of two distinct Hapalodectes groups, in North America and south‐eastern China respectively.     

华南古新世哺乳类一新科

本文记述了一个新科(丽(犭亚)科)的两个新属和四个新种。文中除对四新种进行了较详细的描述与对比外,还初步讨论了丽(犭亚)科、(犭亚)科与假古猬科同Kennalestes和zalambdalestids之间的亲缘关系。从目前材料来看,在形态上,丽(犭亚)比Gypsonictops更接近于Kennalestes。丽(犭亚)科有可能是后者的古新世后裔,(犭亚)科和假古猬科的起源或许与达种白垩纪真兽类也有密切关系。     

江西池江盆地阶齿兽一新种

<正>1962年在我国广东南雄盆地首次发现了阶齿兽类化石(周明镇等,1973;郑家坚等, 1973),随后在安徽潜山、湖南茶陵、陕西石门、江西大余等地的中古新世地层中相继发现该类动物的化石材料,尤其是在广东南雄、江西大余和湖南茶陵三个地点,有大量的阶齿兽类化石产出。阶齿兽类在中古新世时在亚洲南部是广泛分布的。本文记述的阶齿兽材料是2003年在江西池江盆地发掘到的,此标本与已知的阶齿兽属中各种均有明显差别, 故建立一新种——丁氏阶齿兽(Bemalambda dingae sp.nov.)。     

Mammalian turnover and community structure in the Paleocene of North America

The effects of faunal turnover on mammalian community structure are evaluated for 17 faunal zones of the North American Paleocene through early Eocene land mammal ages (Puercan through early Wasatchian). Generic disappearances were significantly high at the end of the Puercan, Torrejonian, and Tiffanian land mammal ages, but appearances were significantly high only during the early Puercan. Generic richness rose rapidly in the early Puercan, remained stable throughout most of the Paleocene, and increased from the late Paleocene into the early Eocene. The null hypothesis that generic turnover clustered preferentially according to dentally defined trophic or body size categories could be rejected or attributed to sampling problems for all but the early (Pu0) and late Paleocene (Ti5‐Cf2). Early Paleocene change in community structure most probably represented endemic radiation of mammals into previously unoccupied niches. Community restructuring in the late Paleocene reflected a complex of causes, including climatic wanning, intercontinental dispersal, and competition.