A new genus and species of freshwater monostiliferous hoplonemertean (Nemertea, Enopla) from the People's Republic of China

A new genus and species of freshwater monostiliferous hoplonemertean, Limnemertes poyangensis gen. et sp. nov., from Poyang Lake, People's Republic of China, is described and illustrated. The taxon is compared and contrasted with previously described freshwater hoplonemerteans. This is the fourth species of freshwater nemertean to be described from China and the first recorded from Poyang Lake.     

Grassland ecosystems in China: review of current knowledge and research advancement

Grasslands are the dominant landscape in China, accounting for 40% of the national land area. Research concerning China's grassland ecosystems can be chronologically summarized into four periods: (i) pre-1950s, preliminary research and survey of grassland vegetation and plant species by Russians, Japanese and Western Europeans, (ii) 1950-1975, exploration and survey of vegetation, soils and topography as part of natural resource inventory programmes by regional and national institutions mainly led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, (iii) 1976-1995, establishment of field stations for long-term ecological monitoring and studies of ecosystem processes, (iv) 1996-present, comprehensive studies of community dynamics and ecosystem function integrating multi-scale and multidisciplinary approaches and experimental manipulations.Major findings of scientific significance in China's grassland ecosystem research include: (i) improved knowledge on succession and biogeochemistry of the semi-arid and temperate grassland ecosystems, (ii) elucidation of life-history strategies and diapause characteristics of the native grasshopper species as one of the key grassland pests, and (iii) development of effective management strategies for controlling rodent pests in grassland ecosystems. Opportunities exist for using the natural grasslands in northern China as a model system to test ecosystem theories that so far have proven a challenge to ecologists worldwide.     

原虫穴螨属一新种(蜱螨亚纲: 虫穴螨科)

记述原虫穴螨属1新种长白原虫穴螨Prozercon changbaiensis, sp. nov..该属为我国首次记录.模式标本保存于辽宁省沈阳农业大学植物保护学院.     

湖北长阳上泥盆统一种石松植物

描述一种采自湖北上泥盆统弗拉阶黄家蹬组中的石松植物。该植物茎轴纤细。叶基纺锤形,螺旋排列。叶线形,叶缘具刺。具顶生的孢子叶球。其孢子叶匙状或披针形,边缘具刺。孢子囊呈圆形或椭圆形。植物茎具原生中柱。原生木质部呈小脊状位于中柱边缘。后生木质部管胞由梯纹分子组成,在加厚棒之间没有类似“威廉姆逊纹”的连接物。该植物与采自湖南中泥盆统基维特阶的Longostachys(Zhu,Huand Feng) Caiand Chen可比较。它们在茎轴、线形和具刺的叶、纺锤形和螺旋排列的叶基、匙状披针形的孢子叶,以及叶、叶基和孢子叶的度量等特征方面均非常相似。两者在解剖特征上存有差别,即当前植物不具次生木质部,不具髓,后生木质部加厚棒之间不具连接物。考虑到现有特征并不足以建立新属种,暂归入cf.Longostachyssp.     

Mass spectrometric U-series dating of Huanglong Cave in Hubei Province,central China: Evidence for early presence of modern humans in eastern Asia

Most researchers believe that anatomically modern humans (AMH) first appeared in Africa 160-190 ka ago, and would not have reached eastern Asia until ∼50 ka ago. However, the credibility of these scenarios might have been compromised by a largely inaccurate and compressed chronological framework previously established for hominin fossils found in China. Recently there has been a growing body of evidence indicating the possible presence of AMH in eastern Asia ca. 100 ka ago or even earlier. Here we report high-precision mass spectrometric U-series dating of intercalated flowstone samples from Huanglong Cave, a recently discovered Late Pleistocene hominin site in northern Hubei Province, central China. Systematic excavations there have led to the in situ discovery of seven hominin teeth and dozens of stone and bone artifacts. The U-series dates on localized thin flowstone formations bracket the hominin specimens between 81 and 101 ka, currently the most narrow time span for all AMH beyond 45 ka in China, if the assignment of the hominin teeth to modern Homo sapiens holds. Alternatively this study provides further evidence for the early presence of an AMH morphology in China, through either independent evolution of local archaic populations or their assimilation with incoming AMH. Along with recent dating results for hominin samples from Homo erectus to AMH, a new extended and continuous timeline for Chinese hominin fossils is taking shape, which warrants a reconstruction of human evolution, especially the origins of modern humans in eastern Asia.     

中国裸齿角石蛾属三新种(毛翅目,齿角石蛾科)

描述了裸齿角石蛾属3新种,即脊状裸齿角石蛾Psilotreta vertebrata sp.nov.(广东)、方背裸齿角石蛾Psilotreta cuboides sp.nov.(云南)和凹入裸齿角石蛾Psilotreta excavata sp.nov.(江西)。模式标本保存于南京农业大学昆虫标本馆。     

转长泥蜂属一新种：膜翅目：泥蜂科

本文记述了采自我国浙江省和安徽省的转长泥蜂属（ＴｒａｃｈｅｌｉｏｄｅｓＭｏｒａｗｉｔｚ）１新种,模式标本分别保存在中国科学院动物研究所昆虫标本馆和浙江农业大学昆虫标本室。狭臀转长泥蜂Ｔｒａｃｈｅｌｉｏｄｅｓｐｙｇｉｄｉａｌｉｓ,新种（图１～６）体长７．８ｍｍ～８．１ｍｍ。该新种与Ｔ．ｑｕｉｎｑｕｅｎｏｔａｔｕｓ（Ｊｕｒｉｎｅ）相似,但头和胸部及腹部密生刻点,领片略窄于盾片,足转节无齿突,臀板极狭长以及体色等特征明显有别。正模♀,浙江西天目山,１９９３－Ⅶ－１５,何俊华采。副模１♀,浙江杭州,１９９１－Ⅵ－２８,陈学新采;１♀,浙江西天目山,１９３７－Ⅵ－１,Ｏ．Ｐｉｅｌ采;１♀,安徽宁国,１９３０－Ⅶ－１３,ＹｕｏｗａｎＫｉａｉ采。