Distribution Patterns of Birds and Insect Prey in a Tropical Riparian Forest

Spatial subsidies of energy and nutrients can influence the distribution of consumers in riparian habitats. This study compared the abundance and composition of bird assemblages and the availability of volant insect prey within the riparian zone (≤ 30 m from the stream) and further inland (100–250 m away) within a secondary forest in monsoonal Hong Kong. Replicated point-counts of birds and insect light trapping were conducted in each zone during the wet and dry season of 2006–2007. The biomass of adult aquatic insects in the riparian zone was nine to 12 times higher than inland during both seasons, however, total insect biomass (aquatic plus terrestrial insects) in the riparian zone was only 49 percent (wet season) and 18 percent (dry season) greater. More birds (both numbers of individuals and species) were recorded in the riparian zone, and this difference was particularly conspicuous during the wet season. Most of the wet-season difference was due to the greater number of insectivorous birds in the riparian zone (123% greater than inland), and may have reflected the relative availability of adult aquatic insects. These findings confirm the importance of riparian zones as feeding habitats for forest birds, and have implications for conservation planning and setting the boundaries of protected areas.     

Colonization of Pacific islands by parasites of low dispersal ability: phylogeography of two monogenean species parasitizing butterflyfishes in the South Pacific Ocean

Aim To investigate the phylogeographical patterns of two poorly dispersing but widely distributed monogenean species, Haliotrema aurigae and Euryhaliotrematoides grandis, gill parasites of coral reef fishes from the family Chaetodontidae. Location South Pacific Ocean (SPO). Methods Sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were obtained from samples from five localities of the SPO (Heron Island, Lizard Island, Moorea, Palau and Wallis) for the two parasite species. Phylogenetic and genetic diversity analyses were used to reconstruct phylogeographical patterns, and dates of cladogenetic events were estimated. Results Overall, 50 individuals of 17 Haliotrema aurigae and 33 of Euryhaliotrematoides grandis were sequenced from five localities of the SPO for COI mtDNA (798 bp). Our results revealed a deep phylogeographical structure in the species Euryhaliotrematoides grandis. The molecular divergence between individuals from Moorea and individuals from the remaining localities (7.7%) may be related to Pleistocene sea‐level fluctuations. In contrast, Haliotrema aurigae shows no phylogeographical patterns with the presence of most of the mitochondrial haplotypes in every locality sampled. Main conclusions Our study shows contrasting phylogeographical patterns of the two monogenean parasite species studied, despite many shared characteristics. Both parasites are found on the same host family, share the same geographical range and ecology, and are phylogenetically close. We propose two hypotheses that may help explain the diparity: the hypotheses involve differences in the evolutionary age of the parasite species and their dispersal capabilities. Additionally, the lack of phylogeographical structure in Haliotrema aurigae contrasts with its apparently restricted dispersion, which is likely to occur during the egg stage of the life cycle, inducing a passive dispersal mechanism in butterflyfish monogeneans.     

Vegetation and fire history of a Chinese site in southern tropical Xishuangbanna derived from phytolith and charcoal records from Holocene sediments

Aim The aims of this paper are to reconstruct the vegetation and fire history over the past 2000 years in a well‐preserved rain‐forest area, to understand interactions between climate, fire, and vegetation, and to predict how rain forest responds to global warming and increased intensity of human activity. Location Xishuangbanna, south‐west China, 21–22° N, 101–102° E. Methods Phytolith (plant opal silica bodies) morphotypes, assemblages, and indices were used to reconstruct palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate changes in detail. Micro‐charcoal particles found in phytolith slides, together with burnt phytoliths and highly weathered bulliform cells, were employed to reconstruct a record of past fire occurrence. A survey of field sediments, lithology, and ¹⁴C dating were also employed. Results Phytoliths were divided into 11 groups and classified into 33 well‐described morphotypes according to their shape under light microscopy and their presumed anatomical origins and ecological significance. The phytolith assemblages were divided into six significant zones that reveal a complete history of vegetation changes corresponding to climate variation and fire occurrence. Phytolith assemblages and indices show that the palaeoclimate in the study area is characterized by the alternation of warm–wet and cool–dry conditions. Phytolith and charcoal records reveal that 12 fire episodes occurred. Comparison of burnt phytoliths with an aridity index (Iph) shows that fire episodes have a strong relationship with drought events. Main conclusions Our results indicate that fire occurrence in the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna is predominantly under the control of natural climate variability (drought events). Nearly every fire episode is coupled with a climatic event and has triggered vegetation composition changes marked by a pronounced expansion of grasses. This indicates that drought interacts with fire to exert a strong influence on the ecological dynamics of the rain forest. However, the impact of human activity in recent centuries is also significant. Our results are important for understanding the interactions between climate, fire, and vegetation, and for predicting how rain forest responds to global warming and increased human activity.     

Primitive accumulation in modern China

This article surveys the history of primitive accumulation in China, from the early 1980s to the mid 2000s. It observes that the principal means of primitive accumulation have been the transformation of state and collective enterprises into capital, the peasants’ loss of land through various forms of dispossession, and the voluntary migration of peasants from agricultural to industrial pursuits. These mix dispossession and market mechanisms in complex ways. They have involved the creation of markets; but more, the creation of workers and capital. While the processes that drive primitive accumulation have economic logics, they also have logics that derive from concerns over social welfare, over environmental management, and over ethnic struggles. Furthermore, the state has been closely involved in the entire process—as a regionally differentiated actor, directly involved in ownership, asset transformation and the control of migration. Primitive accumulation in China does not have one motive, does not simply reflect class interests, is not a particular case of a global capitalist project, but is complex and localised.     

Wildlife trade,consumption and conservation awareness in southwest China

Commercial trade in wildlife is the major cause of species endangerment and a main threat to animal welfare in China and its neighboring countries. Driven by consumptive use for food and traditional medicine, the large volume of both legal and illegal trade in wildlife has caused great destruction to ecosystems and pushed many species to the brink of extinction. Data gathered from trading hubs at ports, boundary markets, city markets and stores, indicates the large amount of wildlife traded in the region of Guangxi, Yunnan and Qinghai provinces, a direct result of the numerous wildlife markets available. In a survey distributed in various trading places, while about half of the respondents agreed that wildlife should be protected, 60% of them had consumed wildlife at some point in the last 2 years. The results also indicated that law and regulation on wildlife trade control is insufficient. Wildlife trade controls are very limited because of bias on the utilization of wildlife as a natural resource to be exploited by the government agencies. The survey also shows that the current situation of wildlife consumption in key cities in China is serious, especially the consumption for food. The main consumption groups in China are male and young people with high education levels and good incomes. The key in public awareness publicity and education is to give them more information on the negative impacts of wildlife consumption and knowledge of protection.     

蓝藻门两新种蓝藻门两新种

报道了采自黑龙江省五大连池的蓝藻门2个新种：绿刺星球藻、雅致伪枝藻。     

中国臭蚁属一新种记述(膜翅目:蚁科)

记述了采自中国湖北省恩施市大吉镇的臭蚁属Dolichoderus Lund 1新种：大吉臭蚁D．dajiensis,sp．nov．。模式标本保存在陕西师范大学动物研究所标本室。     

中国西藏大叶蝉亚科二新种(半翅目:叶蝉科)

记述采自中国西藏的叶蝉科大叶蝉亚科窗翅叶蝉属Mileewa Distant 1新种——易贡窗翅叶蝉Mileewa yigongana Yang,sp．nov．和斑大叶蝉属Anatkina Young 1新种——多色斑大叶蝉Anatkina polycolora Yang,sp．nov．。模式标本保存在中国农业大学昆虫学系。     

河南兜姬蜂属一新种(膜翅目:姬蜂科)

报道采自河南的兜姬蜂属Dolichomitus Smith 1新种：济源兜姬蜂Dolichomitus jiyuanensis Lin,sp．nov．。模式标本保存在国家林业局森林病虫害防治总站。     

MSM and HIV/AIDS in China

This article profiles current status of spread and control of HIV/AIDS in China. China has a significant population of MSM (men who have sex with men) and they have been becoming very much alive in many ways since 1990s due to recent social changes. Some surveys indicate that great many of MSM are engaged in high-risk behaviors. In addition,majority of MSM have also experienced sexual encounters with women sometimes in their lives, which possibly contribute to spread of HIV to women. Some reports documented that HIV is becoming rampant among MSM since more than 1% of them are now infected. Political, cultural and custom elements could hinder intervention activities against HIV spread among MSM. Fortunately, many cities in China have seen that MSM were in cooperation with responsible institutions carrying out certain intervention measures. The general situation is promising. The authors forecast that the fast HIV spread among MSM of China could possibly be halted within several years when the authorities become more sensible to this issue, health service institutions offer unswerving efforts toward the MSM community and those who involve in MSM undertakes necessary responsibilities.