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.

Bird species composition and conservation challenges in the Gaoligong Mountains, one of the most diverse bird areas in the world

The Gaoligong Mountains(GLGM),located in southwestern China,extend north to south along the western border of the Hengduan Mountains,spanning approximately 600 km.In this study,we consolidated findings from 17 bird surveys conducted in the GLGM between 2010 and 2022.We found that the GLGM harbors tremendous bird diversity,with a total of 796 documented bird species in the region.Nearly a quarter(23.0%)of these species are listed as state key protected species or as Chinese and global threatened species.Analysis of species richness at the county level showed a decreasing trend with increasing latitude,with the greatest diversity in Yingjiang(661 species).Observations indicated that the GLGM belongs to the Oriental realm,primarily composed of bird species from southern and southwestern China.The GLGM plays an important role in avian conservation by sheltering exceptional bird diversity,providing corridors and flyways for bird migration and dispersal,and mitigating the effects of climate change.In response to the conservation needs of birds and other wildlife,the Chinese government has established numerous protected areas within the GLGM.Despite these efforts,avian conservation still faces considerable challenges in the GLGM due to limitations in the protected area network,transboundary nature of the regions,and existing gaps in monitoring and research.

Molecular Chaperone-Dependent Polymer Translocation through Nanopores: The Effects of Chaperone Concentration and Chaperone-Polymer Interaction

The polymer translocation through a nanopore from a donor space(or named cis side) to a receiver space(trans side) in the chaperone-induced crowded environment has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to its significance in biological systems and technological applications. In this work, we mainly focus on the effects of chaperone concentration and chaperone-polymer interaction on the polymer translocation. By assuming the polymer translocation to be a quasi-equilibrium process, the free energy F of the polymer can be estimated by Rosenbluth-Rosenbluth method and then the translocation time τ can be calculated by Fokker-Plank equation based on the obtained free energy landscape. Our calculation results show that the translocation time can be controlled by independently tuning the chaperone concentration and chaperone-polymer interaction at the cis side or the trans side. There exists a critical chaperone-polymer attraction ε~*=-0.2 at which the volume exclusion and interaction effects of the chaperone can balance each other. Additionally, we also find that at large chaperone-polymer attraction, the translocation time is mainly governed by the diffusion coefficient of the polymer.