Comparative phylogeography of two sister species of snowcock: impacts of species-specific altitude preference and life history

Background: Phylogeographical patterns and population dynamics are usually interpreted by environmental disturbances and geographic barriers of the past. However, sister species may exhibit disparate patterns of genetic structures and population dynamics due to their habitat preference and altitude segregation. In this study, we tested how species-specific altitude habitat affected phylogeographical patterns in two sister snowcock species, Tibetan(Tetraogallus tibetanus) and Himalayan Snowcocks(T. himalayensis).Methods: A panel of seven microsatellite loci and a fragment of Mitochondrial DNA Control Region were used to investigate genetic structures and population dynamics in hope of revealing the underlying evolutionary processes through the identification of possible past demographic events.Results: Our results suggest that T. himalayensis showed a significant phylogeographical signal in mtDNA(FST microsatellite(F the glacial-interglacial cycles in the = 0.66, p < 0.001) and ST Pleistocene and followed demog= 0.11, p < 0.001) data and is stable duringraphic contraction until 0.003 million years(Mys) ago. The phylogeographical signal of T. tibetanus is lower than the level of genetic difference among populations in mtDNA(FST icrosatellite(F= 0.41, p < 0.001) and mST s been experien= 0.09, p < 0.001) data, likely benefiting from stable habitats over a long period of time. T. tibetanus hacing expansion since 0.09 Mys ago. However, an abnormally haplotype H9 from T. himalayensis clustering with T. tibetanus was spotted.Conclusion: Our results indicate that differences in habitat preference and altitude specialities were reflected in the genetic structure patterns and population dynamics of these two species. These dissimilarities in life history traits might have affected the dispersal and survival abilities of these two species differently during environmental fluctuations. The results of this study also enriched our knowledge on population differentiation and connectivity in high altitude mountain ecosystems.

Variation in egg and clutch size of the Black Redstart(Phoenicurus ochruros) at the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Background: In birds, the trade-off between the quality and number of nestlings is one of the most important theories of the evolution of life history of birds, which is closely related with climate. We investigated variation in egg and clutch size of the Black Redstart(Phoenicurus ochruros) on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in order to explore and test the relation between egg size and clutch size and the rules governing the variation in these two components with climate change.Methods: We monitored each located nest daily to determine the exact laying order of the eggs and measured their sizes. The variations in egg volume and clutch size between 2008 and 2009 were studied by independent sample t tests. The difference in egg volume in the sequence of the laying order was tested by Kendall's W test and we employed Pearson correlations to investigate the relation between egg size and laying order. All statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics, version 19.0Results: In 2008, the mean egg volume of the Black Redstart was 2.40 and clutch size wer± 0.20 cm^3(n e 2.26 = 50), and the mean clutch size 4.90 ± 0.57(n = 11). In 2009, the mean egg volumeation between eg± 0.18 cm^3(n g size and layin= 74) and 5.20 g order(r ± 0.26(n = 15) respectively. We found a significantly positive correl, while egg size was strongly and negatively correlated with clutch size(r = 0.397, p = 0.030) smaller eggs but a larger clutch in a brood in a resource-rich year, w= h-0.274, p ereas large= 0.002). Black Redstarts tend to layr eggs but smaller clutches are produced in a harsh year.Conclusions: The Black Redstart adopted a "brood survival strategy" to ensure that more offspring could survive. The Black Redstart' trade-off in egg volume and clutch size would guarantee that it will gain maximum benefit in any case.

Effects of Volcanic Activity on Organic Matter Sources and the Paleoenvironment:Geochemical Evidence from Upper Carboniferous Source Rocks(Batamayineishan Formation)in Eastern Junggar,NW China

The mudstone,gray tuffite and carbonaceous shale in the Upper Carboniferous Batamayineishan Formation(Bashan Formation)are essential source rocks for the volcanic reservoir in eastern Junggar,northwestern China.The kerogen components,vitrinite reflectance,Rock-Eval pyrolysis,lipid biomarkers and isotope compositions were measured to understand the provenance and depositional environment of Bashan Formation under the background of volcanic activities.There were 10 and 4 periods of volcanic eruptions identified in the wells CS and DZ,respectively.The source rocks developed in the late or intermittent phase of volcanic activity.The original island arcs of the Early Carboniferous evolved into the Wucaiwan sag and the Dishuiquan sag in the Bashan Formation.The Wucaiwan sag inherited the restricted,closed residual sea,which had a slightly anoxic and hypersaline environment.The Dishuiquan sag was generally an oxidizing lacustrine environment,influenced by a marine transgression that may have occurred at the end of the DZ_(Ⅲ)period during the Late Carboniferous.Although the total organic matter decreased due to the volcanic eruption,ash could cause an increase of aquatic organisms,coinciding with increases in salinity and reducibility in the Dishuiquan sag.

Projections from D2 Neurons in Different Subregions of Nucleus Accumbens Shell to Ventral Pallidum Play Distinct Roles in Reward and Aversion

The nucleus accumbens shell(NAcSh) plays an important role in reward and aversion. Traditionally, NAc dopamine receptor 2-expressing(D2) neurons are assumed to function in aversion. However, this has been challenged by recent reports which attribute positive motivational roles to D2 neurons. Using optogenetics and multiple behavioral tasks, we found that activation of D2 neurons in the dorsomedial NAcSh drives preference and increases the motivation for rewards, whereas activation of ventral NAcSh D2 neurons induces aversion. Stimulation of D2 neurons in the ventromedial NAcSh increases movement speed and stimulation of D2 neurons in the ventrolateral NAc Sh decreases movement speed. Combining retrograde tracing and in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the ventral pallidum receive inputs differentially from the dorsomedial and ventral NAcSh. All together, these findings shed light on the controversy regarding the function of NAcSh D2 neurons, and provide new insights into understanding the heterogeneity of the NAcSh.

Limited gene flow and partial isolation phylogeography of Himalayan snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis based on part mitochondrial D-loop sequences

Himalayan snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis are distributed in alpine and subalpine areas in China. We used mi- tochondrial DNA control-region data to investigate the origin and past demographic change in sixty-seven Himalayan snowcock T. himalayensis. The fragments of 1155 nucleotides from the control region of mitochondrial DNA were sequenced, and 57 poly- morphic positions defined 37 haplotypes. A high level of genetic diversity was detected in all populations sampled and may be associated isolation of the mountains and habitat fragmentation and deterioration from Quaternary glaciations. In the phylogenetic tree, all haplotypes grouped into four groups： clade A （Kunlun Mountains clade）, clade B （Northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau clade）, clade C （Tianshan Mountains clade） and clade D （Kalakunlun Mountains clade）. We found a low level of gene flow and significant genetic differentiation among all populations. Based on divergence time we suggest that the divergence of Himalayan snowcock occurred in the middle Pleistocene inter-glaciation, and expansion occurred in the glaciation. Analysis of mtDNA D-loop sequences confirmed demographic population expansion, as did our non-significant mismatch distribution analysis. In conclusion, limited gene flow and a pattern of partial isolation phylogeographic was found in geographic populations of T. hima- layansis based on the analysis on mtDNA D-loop sequences [Current Zoology 57 （6）： 758-767, 2011].

Population structure and demographic history of the chukar partridge Alectoris chukar in China

Pleistocene climate fluctuations have shaped the patterns of genetic diversity observed in extant species. Although the effects of recent glacial cycles on genetic diversity have been well studied on species in Europe and North America, genetic legacy of species in the Pleistocene in north and northwest of China where glaciations was not synchronous with the ice sheet development in the Northern Hemisphere or or had little or no ice cover during the glaciations＇ period, remains poorly understood. Here we used phylogeographic methods to investigate the genetic structure and population history of the chukar partridge Alec- toris chukar in north and northwest China. A 1,152 - 1,154 bp portion of the mtDNA CR were sequenced for all 279 specimens and a total number of 91 haplotypes were defined by 113 variable sites. High levels of gene flow were found and gene flow esti- mates were greater than 1 for most population pairs in our study. The AMOVA analysis showed that 81% and 16% of the total genetic variability was found within populations and among populations within groups, respectively. The demographic history of chukar was examined using neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses and results indicated Late Pleistocene popula- tion expansion. Results revealed that most populations of ehukar experienced population expansion during 0.027 - 0.06 Ma. These results are at odds with the results found in Europe and North America, where population expansions occurred after Last Glacial Maximum （LGM, 0.023 to 0.018 Ma）. Our results are not consistent with the results from avian species of Tibetan Plateau, either, where species experienced population expansion following the retreat of the extensive glaciation period （0.5 to 0.175 Ma）

Are microbes and metabolites influencing the parental consumption of nestlings’feces in gray-backed shrikes?

The behavioral video recordings of the gray-backed shrike Lanius tephronotus revealed that parent birds eat the feces produced by their nestlings.“Parental nutrition hypothesis”attributes the origin of this behavior to nutrition-recovery and cost-saving,respectively.However,the presence of usable nutrients in the nestlings’feces is unknown because of traditional technology.In this study,we analyzed all the metabolites and the variations in the diversity and content of microbes in the feces of gray-backed shrike nestlings.We aimed to report the changes in microbes and metabolites with the age of nestlings and point out that the parent birds that eat the feces may gain potential nutrition benefits.The results showed that the relative abundances of Proteobacteria,Firmicutes,and Bacteroidota,changed significantly when the nestlings were 6 days old.The relative abundances of 6 probiotics,which are involved in digestion,metabolism,and immunity-related physiological functions,decreased in the nestlings’feces gradually with age;therefore,these probiotics may be obtained by parent birds upon ingestion of the feces of young nestlings.Among the metabolites that were detected,20 were lipids and some had a role in anti-parasitic functions and wound healing;however,their relative contents decreased with age.These beneficial substances in the nestlings’feces may stimulate the parents to swallow the feces.Moreover,there were many aromatic metabolites in the newly hatched nestlings’feces,but the content of bitter metabolites increased as they grew up.Therefore,our results are in accordance with the nutritional hypothesis.

pH-Switched fluorescent pseudorotaxane assembly of cucurbit[7]uril with bispyridinium ethylene derivatives

The host-guest properties of cucurbit[7]uril （0_[7]） and bispyridinium ethylene derivatives have been studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectra, and fluorescence emission analysis. The proton shifts associated with the guest encapsulated by the host suggested that the Q[7]-based [2] pseudorotaxane behaves like a fast molecular shuttle along the bispyridinium ethylene axle of the guest upon protonation and deprotonation of the terminal carboxylates. In particular, the distinct fluorescent response signals indicated that the bispyridinium component for the pseudorotaxane system, but also ~uest comDlexation. ethylene moiety not only behaves as the axle acts as an optical reporting unit during the host-