Redefinition of the Odorrana versabilis Group,with a New Species from China(Anura,Ranidae,Odorrana)

Taxonomic studies of the Odorrana versabilis group have been consistently disorganized,and they have often been incorrectly associated with an abandoned subgenus or genus Bamburana in existing literature.In this study,we conducted an integrative taxonomic analysis using molecular phylogenetic analysis of two mitochondrial gene fragments(16S rRNA and CO1)and morphological examination of 41 specimens collected during herpetological surveys in southern China.Our results confirmed the monophyly of O.versabilis group which exhibited distinct morphological traits.We also identified a cryptic lineage sister with O.exiliversabilis.Additionally,our study revealed that O.trankieni was nested within O.nasuta.Consequently,we redefined the morphological characteristics of the O.versabilis group,described a new species in this group,O.confusa sp.nov.,and proposed that O.trankieni be considered a junior synonym of O.nasuta.One of the most significant findings of this study was the observation of distinct morphological changes in adult males across all species within the O.versabilis group between the non-breeding and breeding seasons.This study contributes to research on various aspects of Asian amphibian fauna,including taxonomy,ecology,evolution,and physiology.

Temporal patterns of three sympatric pheasant species in the Nanling Mountains: N-mixture modeling applied to detect abundance

Background:The reliability of long-term population estimates is crucial for conservation and management purposes.Most previous studies assume that count indices are proportionally related to abundance;however,this assumption may not hold when detection varies spatially and temporally.We examined seasonal variations in abundance of three bird species(Cabot’s Tragopan Tragopan caboti,Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera,and Whitenecklaced Partridge Arborophila gingica) along an elevational gradient,using N-mixture models that take into account imperfect detection in our bird data.Methods:Camera-trapping was used to monitor temporal activity patterns of these species at Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve from December 2013 to November 2017(4 seasons per year).For abundance analysis(N-mixture modeling),we divided a year into 4 seasons,i.e.3 months per season,and performed the analysis by season.Elevation was incorporated into the N-mixture model as a covariate that may affect abundance.We compared the N-mixture model with a null model(no covariate model) and selected the better model based on AIC values to make an inference.Results:From 24 sampling sites,we obtained 6786 photographs of 8482 individuals of 44 bird species and 26 mammal species.Silver Pheasant was photographed much more frequently and showed higher temporal activity frequency than White-necklaced Partridge or Cabot’s Tragopan.Silver Pheasant was camera-captured most frequently in summer,and other two species in winters.All three species had two daytime activity peaks:between 6:00 a.m.and 10:00 a.m.,and between 5:00 p.m.and 7:00 p.m.,respectively.Our estimated abundance and detection probability from the N-mixture model were variable by season.In particular,all three species showed greater abundance in summer than in winter,and estimated abundance patterns of all three species were more similar with observed cameratrapping counts in summers.Moreover,in winter,elevation had a positive impact on abundance of Silver Pheasant and Cabot’s Tragopan,but not on White-necklaced Partridge.Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that the N-mixture model performed well in the estimation of temporal popu lation abundance at local fixed permanent plots in mountain habitat in southern China,based on the modeling of repeated camera-trapping counts.The seasonal differences in abundance of the three endemic bird species and the strong effect of elevation on abundance of two species in winter were only indicative of variations in spatio-tempora distribution within species and between species.In identifying suitable habitat for endemic pheasants,the positive elevational effect also suggests that more attention should be paid to conservation of areas with higher elevation in the Nanling Mountains.

基于红外相机监测的广东南岭国家级自然保护区鸟兽多样性及其垂直分布特征

生物多样性的海拔格局一直是生态学、生物地理学和保护生物学研究的核心问题之一。本研究利用红外相机对广东南岭国家级自然保护区完整垂直带的兽类和鸟类开展连续10年的野外监测,分析了保护区当前鸟兽多样性及受胁情况,并通过整合水平与垂直分布的多样性格局开展热点与空缺分析。2012–2021年间共设置了116个红外相机点位,相机累计拍摄85,164个工作日,获得可识别独立有效照片21,194张,共记录到兽类24种,鸟类50种。兽类受威胁物种比例较高,为45.83%。相对多度指数(relative abundance index,RAI)最高的5种兽类为赤麂(Muntiacus vaginalis)、小麂(M.reevesi)、红腿长吻松鼠(Dremomys pyrrhomerus)、鼬獾(Melogale moschata)和藏酋猴(Macaca thibetana);而红颊獴(Herpestes javanicus)和水鹿(Rusa unicolor)RAI最低,仅各拍摄到1次。RAI最高的4种鸟类是白鹇(Lophuranycthemera)、紫啸鸫(Myophonuscaeruleus)、黄腹角雉(Tragopan caboti)和白眉山鹧鸪(Arborophila gingica),有42种鸟类的RAI指数小于1,主要来自雀形目、鴷形目和鸮形目。广义加性模型结果表明,兽类和鸟类的物种丰富度与海拔显著相关,呈典型的“中峰格局”,中海拔(1,000–1,400 m)物种丰富度较高。β多样性分析表明低海拔和高海拔与其他海拔段之间的分类相异性最高,中海拔段之间的相异性相对较小。热点与空缺分析表明,广东南岭国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类主要集中分布在3个热点地区,且全部分布于中高海拔;同时部分区域具有较高的鸟兽多样性,但并未包含在保护区范围内。总体看来,当下广东南岭国家级自然保护区野生动物仍面临较为严峻的保护压力。在南岭国家公园建设大背景下,我们建议当地管理部门:(1)以物种为单元,针对重点物种制定保护管理政策,特别是大中型兽类;(2)充分重视保护区中高海拔地段的生境管理,维持区内完整的气候与生物垂直带谱;(3)建立多营养级生物多样性监测网络,关注人为干扰、环境因子、功能特征、种间互作网络和进化历史等综合因素对野生动物分布格局的长期影响。

红外相机技术与其他几种森林鸟类多样性调查方法的比较

为了探讨红外相机技术、网捕法、固定距离样线法和固定半径样点法对森林鸟类多样性调查的有效性和实用性,我们于2011–2016年,用这几种方法调查了广东南岭国家级自然保护区和车八岭国家级自然保护区的鸟类多样性。在南岭,固定距离样线法和固定半径样点法记录鸟类222种,网捕鸟类43种,红外相机拍到鸟类47种;其中1种鸟仅网捕到,6种鸟仅被红外相机拍到,164种鸟仅被固定距离样线法和固定半径样点法记录到。在车八岭,固定距离样线法和固定半径样点法记录鸟类109种,网捕鸟类42种,红外相机拍到鸟类27种,其中9种鸟仅网捕到,3种鸟仅被红外相机拍到,97种鸟仅被固定距离样线法和固定半径样点法记录到。随着鸟类的体重、体长、翅长和跗蹠增加,网捕到的鸟类个体数量减少,鸟类身体大小与网捕到的鸟类数量呈显著负相关;而红外相机拍到的鸟类数量随鸟类的身体大小增大而增加,并且呈显著的正相关。本文的结果显示,网捕法和红外相机技术针对不同类群的鸟类调查效力不同,但都是固定距离样线法和固定半径样点法的有效补充。建议今后开展森林鸟类多样性调查与监测时,尽量采用多种研究方法相结合,以求达到最优的效果。