Mammals of Gaoligong Mountain in China:Diversity,distribution,and conservation

Gaoligong Mountain(hereafter,GLGM)is located at the intersection of Myanmar and China’s Yunnan Province and Xizang Zizhiqu,and spans three globally significant biodiversity hotspots:the Himalayas,Indo-Burma,and the Mountains of Southwest China.Although surveys of mammals in this ecologically important region have a long history,there is no comprehensive systematic checklist and distribution account of the mammals of GLGM.Here,we compiled a mammal species checklist of GLGM based on thorough field investigations and literature reviews.We also examined specimen collections and applied camera trapping surveys to explore the region’s mammal diversity and distribution patterns.We recorded 212 mammal species in nine orders,33 families,and 119 genera,which accounts for 30.5%of China’s mammal species,and a high proportion of nationally protected(50)and globally threatened(29)species.Mammal species richness showed a symmetrical unimodal curve along the elevation gradient,peaking at intermediate elevations(2000 to 2500 m above sea level(asl)),and increasing generally from south to north,slightly higher in the east slope than in the west.Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed three distinct elevational assemblages(<900 m asl.,900-3500 m asl.,and>3500 m asl)and significant south-to-north variation,but no substantial differences between the east and west slopes.The GLGM present a unique conservation value due to the high proportions of rare and endangered mammal species,complex faunal composition,high endemism,and being the distribution boundary for many species.This study is an important phased account of mammal diversity in GLGM and makes a prospect for future research.

Phylogenetic and morphological significance of an overlooked flying squirrel(Pteromyini,Rodentia)from the eastern Himalayas with the description of a new genus

The flying squirrels(Pteromyini,Rodentia)are the most diverse and widely distributed group of gliding mammals.Taxonomic boundaries and relationships within flying squirrels remain an area of active research in mammalogy.The discovery of new specimens of Pteromys(Hylopetes)leonardi Thomas,1921,previously considered a synonym of Hylopetes alboniger,in Yunnan Province,China allowed a morphological and genetic reassessment of the status of this taxon.Phylogenetic reconstruction was implemented using sequences of two mitochondrial(12S ribosomal RNA and 16S ribosomal RNA)and one nuclear(interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein)gene fragments.Morphological assessments involved examinations of features preserved on skins,skulls,and penises of museum specimens,supplemented with principal component analysis of craniometric data.Together these assessments revealed that this taxon should be recognized not only as a distinct species,but should also be placed within a new genus,described here as Priapomys gen.nov.

Isolated alpine habitats reveal disparate ecological drivers of taxonomic and functional beta-diversity of small mammal assemblages

The interpretation of patterns of biodiversity requires the disentanglement of geographical and environmental variables.Disjunct alpine communities are geographically isolated from one another but experience similar environmental impacts.Isolated homogenous habitats may promote speciation but constrain functional trait variation.In this study,we examined the hypothesis that dispersal limitation promotes taxonomic divergence,whereas habitat similarity in alpine mountains leads to functional convergence.We performed standardized field investigation to sample non-volant small mammals from 18 prominent alpine sites in the Three Parallel Rivers area.We estimated indices quantifying taxonomic and functional alpha-and beta-diversity,as well as beta-diversity components.We then assessed the respective importance of geographical and environmental predictors in explaining taxonomic and functional compositions.No evidence was found to show that species were more functionally similar than expected in local assemblages.However,the taxonomic turnover components were higher than functional ones(0.471±0.230 vs.0.243±0.215),with nestedness components showing the opposite pattern(0.063±0.054 vs.0.269±0.225).This indicated that differences in taxonomic compositions between sites occurred from replacement of functionally similar species.Geographical barriers were the key factor influencing both taxonomic total dissimilarity and turnover components,whereas functional betadiversity was primarily explained by climatic factors such as minimum temperature of the coldest month.Our findings provide empirical evidence that taxonomic and functional diversity patterns can be independently driven by different ecological processes.Our results point to the importance of clarifying different components of beta-diversity to understand the underlying mechanisms of community assembly.These results also shed light on the assembly rules and ecological processes of terrestrial mammal communities in extreme environments.

Massive migration promotes the early spread of COVID-19 in China: a study based on a scale-free network

Background The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic met coincidentally with massive migration before Lunar New Year in China in early 2020.This study is to investigate the relationship between the massive migration and the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic in China.Methods The epidemic data between January 25th and February 15th and migration data between Jan 1st and Jan 24th were collected from the official websites.Using the R package WGCNA,we established a scale-free network of the selected cities.Correlation analysis was applied to describe the correlation between the Spring Migration and COVID-19 epidemic.Results The epidemic seriousness in Hubei(except the city of Wuhan)was closely correlated with the migration from Wuhan between January 10 and January 24,2020.The epidemic seriousness in the other provinces,municipalities and autonomous regions was largely affected by the immigration from Wuhan.By establishing a scale-free network of the regions,we divided the regions into two modules.The regions in the brown module consisted of three municipalities,nine provincial capitals and other 12 cities.The COVID-19 epidemics in these regions were more likely to be aggravated by migration.Conclusions The migration from Wuhan could partly explain the epidemic seriousness in Hubei Province and other regions.The scale-free network we have established can better evaluate the epidemic.Three municipalities(Beijing,Shanghai and Tianjin),eight provincial capitals(including Nanjing,Changsha et al.)and 12 other cities(including Qingdao,Zhongshan,Shenzhen et al.)were hub cities in the spread of COVID-19 in China.