Hybrid origin of the imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis (Delacour and Jabouille, 1924) demonstrated by morphology, hybrid experiments, and DNA analyses

The imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis was described in 1924 from a captive pair that was obtained in Vietnam, and that became the sole founders of a captive line in France. Always considered a highly endangered and mysterious species, and despite concerted searches, L. imperialis was not found again in the wild until one was trapped in 1990, and the captive population gradually died out. Its status as a distinct species was unquestioned until the late 1990s when the possibility of a hybrid origin was raised. To elucidate the taxonomic status of L. imperialis , we studied all the existing museum specimens, carried out captive hybridization experiments, and analysed mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. All these lines of evidence demonstrate congruently and conclusively that L. imperialis is an occasional hybrid between silver pheasant L. nycthemera and Edwards's pheasant L. edwardsi, with the 1990 bird probably being a hybrid between L. nycthemera and Vietnamese pheasant L. hatinhensis. Thus L. imperialis has no taxonomic standing and should be removed from lists of species of conservation concern. However, hybridization with L. nycthemera may pose a further threat to the survival in the wild of the endangered L. edwardsi and L. hatinhensis .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 80 , 573–600.     

江西武夷山雉科鸟类研究初报

2004年9月～2008年5月对江西武夷山国家级自然保护区的雉类资源进行了调查,查明区内分布有白眉山鹧鸪、灰胸竹鸡、黄腹角雉、白鹇、勺鸡、雉鸡、白颈长尾雉等雉科鸟类,隶属于7属7种,分别占我国雉类属、种数量的33.3%和12.7%.较常见的种类有灰胸竹鸡、白鹇和黄腹角雉.并对有关物种的生境利用特点、生物学特征和灾害性天气对其分布的影响等进行了初步分析.     

白鹇的种下分类探讨

白鹇Lophura nycthemera是广布于我国南方和中南半岛的鸡形目鸟类,目前共记录有15个亚种。由于受河流、不适宜栖息地等环境的阻隔,白鹇现代分布区呈现部分连续、间断分布的地理格局,且成年雄鸟的上体羽色在亚种间具有明显变化,呈现复杂的羽色多态性。本文通过测量15个亚种的262号标本,从羽色和量度特征上对各个亚种进行了分组和比较。发现部分邻域分布的亚种在羽色和量度特征上相近或重叠,不具有稳定的可区分的外形特征,难以达到亚种的分类标准。进而指出了目前依赖于模式概念建立的种下分类系统存在的缺陷,提出了需要结合分子系统地理学方法从进化历史角度厘定白鹇种下分类的必要性。同时,对白鹇的起源与扩散、羽色演化和保护生物学等研究方向进行了展望。     

Changes in the Status of Lophura Pheasants in Khao Yai National Park,Thailand: A Response to Warming Climate?

Long-term bird population changes in response to natural or anthropogenic factors have been relatively well documented in the temperate zone, but rarely in the tropics, where there are few long-term data sets. Here, we analyze a 25-yr sequence of records of two species of Lophura pheasants, Siamese Fireback L. diardi and Silver Pheasant L. nycthemera in Khao Yai, Thailand's oldest national park. These data suggest that the number and proportion of detections of the lowlands-inhabiting L. diardi have increased significantly in relation to those of the higher elevation inhabitant L. nycthemera . Environmental factors mediated by changing climate are the most plausible explanation for the changing proportions of sightings of the two species. Further work is needed to explore in detail microhabitat selection of these birds and whether changes in microsite conditions on the forest floor or other factors are driving the observed distribution. Long-term monitoring of the avifauna along an elevational gradient is also recommended in tandem with increased monitoring of local climatic conditions.     

高黎贡山雉类生境预测

物种分布信息对野生动物的保护和管理至关重要。基于物种访查数据和气候数据,采用基于物种生境偏好、利比希最小因子定律和谢尔福德耐受性定律构建的生态位模型,综合考虑物种出现点和环境变量,预测了高黎贡山白尾梢虹雉Lophophorus sclateri、血雉Ithaginis cruentus、白鹇Lophura nycthemera、白腹锦鸡Chrysolophus amherstiae的潜在分布区域。结果表明,模型对4种雉类的预测均达到较好效果;白尾梢虹雉、血雉、白鹇和白腹锦鸡的潜在生境总面积分别为6 432 km^2、8 464 km^2、9 573 km^2和13 691 km^2,白鹇和白腹锦鸡的潜在生境面积大于白尾梢虹雉和血雉,但后两者具有更多的高质量生境。高黎贡山北段是4种雉类潜在生境的重叠区,为高黎贡山雉类保护的优先区域,尤其是白尾梢虹雉,建议加大该区域的雉类调查和保护力度。     

白鹇种群分布与栖息地斑块特征的关系

为了解白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)种群分布与栖息地斑块特征之间的关系,于1998年9月至1999年8月在浙江省古田山国家自然保护区及其外围地区对白鹇种群进行调查.通过羽迹法调查并估计斑块内局部种群数量的相对大小,分析斑块内植被及景观特征对斑块占有及种群相对密度大小的影响.结果表明,斑块面积、总盖度、乔木层盖度和灌木层高度等对斑块内有无白鹇出现影响显著,斑块面积大、总盖度及乔木层盖度高、灌木层高度高的斑块内白鹇出现率高,斑块面积大则局部种群的相对密度也大,两者间呈极显著正线性相关.     

利用红外相机技术调查云南布龙州级保护区野生动物

物种编目是自然保护区的生物多样性监测与研究的基础,为制定、实施保护计划及开展科学研究、环境教育等提供数据支持。2014年3月至2015年3月,按公里网格法,在布龙州级保护区内设置了137个位点,总监测日为10 675d,拍摄照片19 757张。获得独立有效照片数为984张,其中70.8 %为兽类,27.6%为鸟类,1.6%为人。经鉴定,可以识别兽类5目10科17种,鸟类4目9科14种,其中国家Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级保护物种各有3种和10种。被IUCN物种红色名录评估为濒危（EN）、易危（VU）、近危(NT)的物种分别有2、4、1种。本次调查兽类记录物种数较多的是食肉目和偶蹄目,分别为4和5种,相对丰富度指数以野猪和赤麂较高;鸟类记录物种数最多的是雉类（4种）,白鹇和原鸡的相对丰富度指数较高。本次调查进一步完善了布龙州级自然保护区中大、中型兽类和地栖性鸟类的物种资源编目,为后续的科研、监测和保护管理提供了本底资源。     

哀牢山国家级自然保护区南华片三种雉类春季取食地利用比较

探讨亲缘关系密切、营养关系相似的物种间的共存机制,是群落生态学的研究热点之一。研究结果有助于了解同域物种的资源利用特点和分化方式,对于地区生物多样性的保育工作亦具有指导意义。黑颈长尾雉(Syrmaticushumiae)、白鹇(Lophuranycthemera)和红喉山鹧鸪(Arborophilarufogularis)为哀牢山国家自然保护区南华片区同域分布的3种雉类,它们亲缘关系较近,食性相似。比较三者春季取食地18个生态因子生态位宽度和重叠指数,结果显示,黑颈长尾雉广适性(生态位宽度值>0·8)的取食地因子最少(1个),专一性(生态位宽度<0·8)因子最多(4个);白鹇居中(3个和2个);红喉山鹧鸪与黑颈长尾雉恰好相反(6个和0个)。黑颈长尾雉与白鹇生态位重叠指数≥0·5的因子数(5个)多于黑颈长尾雉与红喉山鹧鸪的(2个)和白鹇与红喉山鹧鸪的(4个);灌木层盖度、草本层盖度和种子密度的生态位重叠指数在3种雉类间均较大。单因素方差分析结果表明,3种雉类在坡向、乔木密度、草本层盖度、种子密度和土壤动物等5个因子均无差异;在距空旷地距离、距道路距离和灌木层盖度等3个因子均有差异;而其余因子则是在不同的两个物种之间有差异。主成分分析结果显示,黑颈长尾雉取食地前7个主成分的累计信息量达85·6%,白鹇的前6个达86·0%,红喉山鹧鸪的前5个达79·0%。影响这三种雉类取食地选择的因子主要集中于前3个主成分。3种雉类间取食地因子差异状态呈镶嵌分布,意味着种间生态位呈分化状态。各物种优先选择的因子组合不同,各因子的重要程度亦不一。     

A taxonomic revision of the Tragulus mouse-deer (Artiodactyla)

The taxonomy of South-East Asian mouse-deer ( Tragulus ) is complex, and after some 120 years of considerable taxonomic revisions of the genus a clear key is still lacking for the determination of species and subspecies. Through craniometrical analysis of 338 skulls of Tragulus and some study of coat coloration patterns we have come to a better understanding of mouse-deer taxonomy. Our results show that there are three species groups: the T. javanicus -group, the T. napu -group, and T. versicolor . Within the T. javanicus -group we recognize three species: T. javanicus (from Java), T. williamsoni (from northern Thailand and possibly southern China), and T. kanchil (from the rest of the range), and within these species we provisionally recognize 16 subspecies. Within the T. napu -group we recognize two species: T. nigricans (from Balabac), and T. napu (from the rest of the range); within these species we provisionally recognize eight subspecies. T. versicolor from Nhatrang, south-east Vietnam, is distinct from the two previous groups; it is, however, unclear whether this species is still extant.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 140 , 63–102.     

利用红外相机技术对九连山国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类资源的初步调查

九连山国家级自然保护区是我国中亚热带与南亚热带常绿阔叶林的过渡地带,动植物种类丰富多样。为进一步掌握该保护区野生动物资源现状,我们于2014年11月至2015年7月在保护区布设了31个红外相机监测点,对大中型兽类和林下活动鸟类进行了初步摸底调查。相机累计工作4 692个捕获日,共获得有动物的独立有效照片3 341张,鉴定出鸟兽物种共10目16科33种（兽类12种,鸟类21种）。属于国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物有斑灵狸（Prionodon pardicolor）、白鹇（Lophura nycthemera）和灰脸鵟鹰（Butastur indicus）等。兽类以赤腹松鼠（Callosciurus erythraeus）、白腹鼠种类（Niviventer rats）、小泡巨鼠（Leopoldamys edwardsi）和倭松鼠（Tamiops maritimus）等物种的相对丰富度指数较高。相对丰富度指数较高的鸟类物种依次为白鹇、紫啸鸫（Myophonus caeruleus）和黑领噪鹛（Garrulax pectoralis）等。结合以往记录,灰头绿啄木鸟（Picus canus）、乌灰鸫（Turdus cardis）、绿翅金鸠（Chalcophaps indica）、白眉鸫（Turdus obscurus）和白冠燕尾（Enicurus leschenaulti）等为保护区的鸟类新记录种。本研究的调查结果为进一步在九连山自然保护区开展鸟兽资源的长期监测奠定了基础。     

A new genus and four new species of quill mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophiudae) from phasianid birds (Galuformes: Phasianidae)

A new genus and four new species of the quill mites are described. Galliphilopsis gen. n. (G. francolinus sp. n., type species) differs from the closely related Dissonus Skoracki, 1999 by loss of leg setae dGII, the slightly divergent tips of epimeres I and the stylophore constricted posteriorly. Three new species of the genus Galliphilopsis gen. n. and one new species of the genus Mironovia Chirov and Kravtsova, 1995 are described from galliform birds (Phasianidae) collected at the Museum of Natural History, Wroclaw University (Poland): G. lophurus sp. n. from Lophura leucomelanos, G. bochkovi sp. n. from Tragopan sp. and Alectoris barbara, G. francolinus sp. n. from Francolinus levalliantoides, and Mironovia rouloul sp. n. from Rollulus rouloul.     

The extent of clonality and genetic diversity in the Santa Cruz Island ironwood, Lyonothamnus floribundus

Lyonothamnus floribundus , or island ironwood, is a relictual endemic species found on only four of the eight California Channel Islands. It has been suggested that this species is capable of clonal growth, although the extent of clonality has not been determined. We have used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis to examine clonality and genetic diversity in L. floribundus . We found that groves are largely genetically distinct clones, indicating that they are not remnants of a once larger clonal forest. Our data also indicate that the population size of L. floribundus on Santa Cruz Island is closer to 1125 individuals, rather than 32 000 based on the number of trunks. The extensive clonality in this species may have a severe impact on its ability to reproduce sexually owing to limitation of pollinator movements among flowers within a single individual. In addition, our data indicate that the two subspecies of L. floribundus are very closely related rather than being two distinct lineages dating to the Miocene, as indicated by the fossil record.     

Classification of Primula sect. Auricula (Primulaceae) based on two molecular data sets (ITS, AFLPs), morphology and geographical distribution

On the basis of the study of c . 1100 herbarium specimens, field observations and molecular (ITS, AFLPs) evidence, Primula sect . Auricula is classified into two subsections, 25 species and six subspecies. Primula auricula L. ssp. widmerae (Pax) L. B. Zhang stat. nov. , P. auricula Linn. ssp. tatriaca L. B. Zhang ssp. nov. , and P. latifolia Lapeyr. ssp. cynoglossifolia (Widmer) L. B. Zhang stat. nov. are newly described or combined; P. auricula s.l. is divided into two species: P. auricula Linn. and P. balbisii Lehm., representing the northern and the southern populations of P. auricula s.l. resolved in the molecular study, respectively; P. cottia Widmer and P. balbisii Lehm. are recovered from synonymy; P. grignensis D. M. Moser and P. pedemontana E. Thomas ex. Gaudin ssp. iberica Losa et P. Monts. are synonymized with P. hirsuta All. and P. pedemontana , respectively; P. clusiana is postulated to be an allopolyploid species. Phylogenetic relationships in the section are discussed based on morphological and molecular variation and geographical distribution.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 1–26.     

A revision of the status of Lepadogaster lepadogaster (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae): sympatric subspecies or a long misunderstood blend of species?

Molecular (partial mitochondrial 12S ribosomal DNA sequences), morphological and meristic analysis of Lepadogaster lepadogaster lepadogaster , L. l. purpurea and L. zebrina were performed to investigate the relationships between these taxa. On the western shore of mainland Portugal, where the two subspecies of L. lepadogaster occur sympatrically, they differ in microhabitat preferences and their breeding seasons are largely out of phase. This information, combined with data on distribution patterns, led to the following conclusions: Lepadogaster l. purpurea is considered to be a valid species, L. purpurea ( Bonnaterre, 1788 ), different from L. l. lepadogaster , now designated L. lepadogaster ( Bonnaterre, 1788 ). L. zebrina was found to be a synonym of L. lepadogaster . The two newly defined species were found to be in sympatry at Madeira and the Canary islands, the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean at least as far as Genoa (Italy). Diagnostic characters and a list of synonyms are provided.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 76 , 327–338.     

Sister species within the Triops cancriformis lineage (Crustacea, Notostraca)

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among the three presently recognized subspecies of the tadpole shrimp, Triops cancriformis , using mitochondrial 16S and 12S rDNA sequences. Our results indicate that the taxon is divided into two distinct lineages. One lineage is formed of T. c. cancriformis populations and samples from northern Spain that had been classified as T. c. simplex in the most recent literature. The second lineage comprises all populations of T. c. mauritanicus and northern African populations of T. c. simplex . These two main lineages separated 2.3 to 8.9 million years ago, based on the range of inferred molecular clocks recognized for crustacean mtDNA sequence divergence. Percentages of divergence are in the range reported for recognized species in other notostracan lineages and we therefore propose to recognize them as two species, Triops cancriformis and Triops mauritanicus . The latter would comprise two subspecies in northern Africa, one consisting of the Moroccan populations of the former T. c. mauritanicus , the other comprising the African populations of the former T. c. simplex . It also includes three as-yet unnamed lineages. A comparison of morphological characters with the molecular data revealed that the former T. c. simplex cannot be reliably separated from T. c. cancriformis , using morphological characters that have hitherto been used to distinguish among subspecies of T. cancriformis . Our investigation is the first to demonstrate the presence of T. c. cancriformis in Africa (Tunisia). The genetic haplotypes of these populations are identical with haplotypes also occurring in Central and Western Europe, as well as in Sicily. Therefore, we hypothesize that the African populations of T. c. cancriformis represent a result of repeated long-distance dispersal across the Mediterranean Sea.     

Typological thinking and the conservation of subspecies: the case of the San Clemente Island loggerhead shrike

Abstract.  Hybridization with closely related taxa poses a significant threat to endangered subspecies (e.g. outbreeding depression, inbreeding) and confounds efforts to manage and conserve these taxa through a loss of taxonomic identity, in part because of the practical necessity of defining subspecies in a typological manner. We examined nine morphological characters in 167 post-juvenile museum specimens to determine if loggerhead shrikes Lanius ludovicianus Linnaeus 1766 on San Clemente Island (off the coast of California) remain diagnosable as L. l. mearnsi Ridgway (1903); an island endemic listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Four recent shrike specimens from the island were compared to historical specimens using a bivariate scatter plot and a discriminant function (the latter was used to classify recent specimens post hoc). The few recent specimens were not diagnosable as L. l. mearnsi , but instead appear to be intergrades between L. l. mearnsi and L. l. anthonyi Mearns 1898 (the subspecies endemic to Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina, Santa Rosa and Anacapa islands), and are perhaps closer to pure anthonyi . Our data and the species' natural history and distribution suggest that shrikes currently on San Clemente Island are the result of genetic 'swamping' of mearnsi by anthonyi . Under a necessarily typological definition of a subspecies, it is evident that mearnsi is probably no longer diagnosable. However, we conclude that protection of the entire Channel Islands population of the loggerhead shrike would be the best management strategy, as the species has declined drastically throughout the islands.     

桂西南喀斯特山地雉类的生态分布和空间生态位分析

桂西南喀斯特地区位于中国广西的西南部,属于全球生物多样性热点地区。通过自2003年以来,对该地区雉类进行的调查,共记录到7种雉类,分别是中华鹧鸪(Francolinus pintadeanus)、褐胸山鹧鸪(Arborophila brunneopectus)、棕胸竹鸡(Bambusicola fytchii)、灰胸竹鸡(Bambusicola thoracica)、原鸡(Gallus gallus)、白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)和环颈雉(Phasianus colchicus)。对该地区雉类的生态分布状况及栖息地的植被类型和坡位等空间生态位进行分析和比较的结果表明,原鸡的综合生态位最宽,灰胸竹鸡第二,最窄为中华鹧鸪。综合生态位重叠值最大的是中华鹧鸪--环颈雉和灰胸竹鸡--原鸡。分布范围狭窄、种群数量相对较少及生态适应性较低的褐胸山鹧鸪应该是该地区最易受到威胁的种类。     

Association of Mc1r variants with ecologically relevant phenotypes in the European ocellated lizard, Lacerta lepida

A comprehensive knowledge on the genetic basis of coloration is crucial to understand how new colour phenotypes arise and how they contribute to the emergence of new species. Variation in melanocortin‐1 receptor (Mc1r), a gene that has been reported as a target for repeated evolution in a wide range of vertebrate taxa, was assessed in European ocellated lizards (Lacerta lepida) to search for associations with melanin‐based colour phenotypes. Lacerta lepida subspecies’ distribution is associated with the three major bio‐climatic regions in the Iberian Peninsula. A nonconserved and derived substitution (T162I) was associated with the L. l. nevadensis phenotype (prevalence of brown scales). Another substitution (S172C) was associated with the presence of black scales in both L. l. lepida and L. l. iberica, but no mutations were found to be associated with the higher proportion of black in L. l. iberica. Extensive genotyping of Mc1r along the contact zone between L. l. nevadensis and L. l. lepida revealed low gene flow (only two hybrids detected). The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of previous knowledge about the evolutionary history of ocellated lizards.