In the present study, postnatal ontogenetic size and shape changes in the cranium of two lagomorph species, the plateau pika （Ochotona curzoniae） and woolly hare （Lepus oiostolus）, were investigated by geometric m...In the present study, postnatal ontogenetic size and shape changes in the cranium of two lagomorph species, the plateau pika （Ochotona curzoniae） and woolly hare （Lepus oiostolus）, were investigated by geometric morphometrics. The ontogenetic size and shape changes of their cranium exhibited different growth patterns in response to similar environmental pressures on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The overall size change in the cranium of the plateau pika was slower than that of the woolly hare. The percentage of ontogenetic shape variance explained by size in the woolly hare was greater than that in the plateau pika. The overall shape of the cranium was narrowed in both species, and morphological components in relation to neural maturity showed negative allometry, while those responsible for muscular development showed isometric or positive allometry. The most remarkable shape variations in the plateau pika were associated with food acquisition （temporalis development）, though other remarkable shape variations in the incisive and palatal foramen in the ventral view were also observed. The most important shape change in the woolly hare was demonstrated by the elongation of the nasal bones, expansion of the supra-orbital process and shape variation of the neurocranium.展开更多
Animal models are live subjects applied to translational research.They provide insights into human diseases and enhance biomedical knowledge.Livestock development has favored the pace of human social development over ...Animal models are live subjects applied to translational research.They provide insights into human diseases and enhance biomedical knowledge.Livestock development has favored the pace of human social development over millennia.Today's society is more aware of animal welfare than past generations.The general public has marked objections to animal research and many species are falling into disuse.The search for an ideal methodology to replace animal use is on,but animal modeling still holds great importance to human health.Bone research,in particular,has unmet requirements that in vitro technologies cannot fully address.Standardizing novel models remains necessary and rabbits are gaining in popularity as potential bone models.Our aim here is to provide a broad overview of animal modeling and its ethical implications,followed by a narrower focus on bone research and the role rabbits are playing in the current scenario.展开更多
Of the approximately 30 extant species of pika(Ochotona;Ochotonidae;Lagomorpha),at least 23 occur in China.Of these,8 are endemic,and 3 are classified as Endangered by the IUCN.Research into most Chinese species is sca...Of the approximately 30 extant species of pika(Ochotona;Ochotonidae;Lagomorpha),at least 23 occur in China.Of these,8 are endemic,and 3 are classified as Endangered by the IUCN.Research into most Chinese species is scarce,and there is much to learn about basic aspects of their ecology.We reviewed the literature on the 23 Chinese Ochotona species,with the aim of highlighting knowledge gaps and biases in research allocation.Specifically,we identify(1)which pika species receive the most attention from researchers,(2)which topics are the most frequently studied,and(3)how well research satisfies conservation priorities.We covered a total of 879 articles,most of which were written in English or Chinese.Around 75%of all publications focused on the plateau pika Ochotona curzoniae.Seven species were represented by 10 or fewer publications each.Endangered and endemic species were particularly poorly represented.204 papers treated pikas as a pest,while 13 studied conservation issues.Nine species were considered possible targets for pest control,including some poorly known endemics.We make some recommendations on how research into Chinese Ochotona could be improved,including:(1)recognizing that the current species-level taxonomy may be an ineffective way to prioritize conservation research in Ochotona,(2)directing more research toward threatened and endemic species,subspecies,and populations,(3)researching the ecosystem engineering effects of pikas,(4)collecting basic data on natural history of the many understudied species,and(5)researching threats,including climate change and pest control campaigns.展开更多
Orogenesis of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,which occurred in a stepwise manner,contributed to the extreme aridity of the Tarim Basin,resulting in vulnerable and unstable ecosystems.Quaternary climatic oscillations may ...Orogenesis of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,which occurred in a stepwise manner,contributed to the extreme aridity of the Tarim Basin,resulting in vulnerable and unstable ecosystems.Quaternary climatic oscillations may have affected the ecosystems and,consequently,the distributions and genetic structuring of the Tarim Basin's biota.We used nucleotide sequence data from 2 mitochondrial (mt) DNA genes (Cyt b and the D-loop) to test hypotheses associated with the matrilineal and demographical histories of the Tarim Basin's endemic Yarkand hare (Lepus yarkandensis).Range-wide sampling involving 20 populations and 224 individuals detected 126 haplotypes that clustered into 5 major lineages in both the phylogenetic tree and median-joining network.Populations from the northern and eastern Tarim Basin shared a similar history,as did those from the western and southern regions.Demographical analysis and genetic diversity estimations suggested that the western and southern regions might have served as glacial refugia for the Yarkand hare during Quaternary climatic oscillations.The distribution of the Yarkand hare,especially in the northern and eastern parts,probably represented 3 postglacial colonization events,dated to 0.21,0.090 and 0.054 MYA,which corresponded to known interglacial periods.Given the relatively complete geographic isolation between the eastern and southern populations,the Yarkand hare likely dispersed during postglacial periods from the southwest to the north,and then onward to the east.The absence of water likely forced the species into refugia,and this differed from other Pleistocene biogeographical drivers.The demographical and historical patterns have important implications for conservation.展开更多
基金supported by a grant(Y229YX5105)from the Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe National Science Foundation of China(31101629)
文摘In the present study, postnatal ontogenetic size and shape changes in the cranium of two lagomorph species, the plateau pika （Ochotona curzoniae） and woolly hare （Lepus oiostolus）, were investigated by geometric morphometrics. The ontogenetic size and shape changes of their cranium exhibited different growth patterns in response to similar environmental pressures on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The overall size change in the cranium of the plateau pika was slower than that of the woolly hare. The percentage of ontogenetic shape variance explained by size in the woolly hare was greater than that in the plateau pika. The overall shape of the cranium was narrowed in both species, and morphological components in relation to neural maturity showed negative allometry, while those responsible for muscular development showed isometric or positive allometry. The most remarkable shape variations in the plateau pika were associated with food acquisition （temporalis development）, though other remarkable shape variations in the incisive and palatal foramen in the ventral view were also observed. The most important shape change in the woolly hare was demonstrated by the elongation of the nasal bones, expansion of the supra-orbital process and shape variation of the neurocranium.
基金sponsored by a grant from the 46th Chinese postdoctoral science foundation,the Natural Science Foundation of China(31101629 and 31172065)the Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(O529YX5105)
基金Major project of science and tech-knowledge of Xizang Autonomous Region(XZ201801-GA-10)Network for Co-operation Tibet-Norway,Himlaian scholar(2014)NO:108
文摘Animal models are live subjects applied to translational research.They provide insights into human diseases and enhance biomedical knowledge.Livestock development has favored the pace of human social development over millennia.Today's society is more aware of animal welfare than past generations.The general public has marked objections to animal research and many species are falling into disuse.The search for an ideal methodology to replace animal use is on,but animal modeling still holds great importance to human health.Bone research,in particular,has unmet requirements that in vitro technologies cannot fully address.Standardizing novel models remains necessary and rabbits are gaining in popularity as potential bone models.Our aim here is to provide a broad overview of animal modeling and its ethical implications,followed by a narrower focus on bone research and the role rabbits are playing in the current scenario.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31470567)the 2nd National Assessment on terrestrial wildlife resources,Launched by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration(Grant No.012-LYSJWT-29 and 2017092302)。
文摘Of the approximately 30 extant species of pika(Ochotona;Ochotonidae;Lagomorpha),at least 23 occur in China.Of these,8 are endemic,and 3 are classified as Endangered by the IUCN.Research into most Chinese species is scarce,and there is much to learn about basic aspects of their ecology.We reviewed the literature on the 23 Chinese Ochotona species,with the aim of highlighting knowledge gaps and biases in research allocation.Specifically,we identify(1)which pika species receive the most attention from researchers,(2)which topics are the most frequently studied,and(3)how well research satisfies conservation priorities.We covered a total of 879 articles,most of which were written in English or Chinese.Around 75%of all publications focused on the plateau pika Ochotona curzoniae.Seven species were represented by 10 or fewer publications each.Endangered and endemic species were particularly poorly represented.204 papers treated pikas as a pest,while 13 studied conservation issues.Nine species were considered possible targets for pest control,including some poorly known endemics.We make some recommendations on how research into Chinese Ochotona could be improved,including:(1)recognizing that the current species-level taxonomy may be an ineffective way to prioritize conservation research in Ochotona,(2)directing more research toward threatened and endemic species,subspecies,and populations,(3)researching the ecosystem engineering effects of pikas,(4)collecting basic data on natural history of the many understudied species,and(5)researching threats,including climate change and pest control campaigns.
基金supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (2007CB411600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30500061 and 31060152)+1 种基金the Research Start-up Fund of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region for Young Teachers in University (XJEDU2008S03)the College-University United Project of Xinjiang University (XY080117)
文摘Orogenesis of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,which occurred in a stepwise manner,contributed to the extreme aridity of the Tarim Basin,resulting in vulnerable and unstable ecosystems.Quaternary climatic oscillations may have affected the ecosystems and,consequently,the distributions and genetic structuring of the Tarim Basin's biota.We used nucleotide sequence data from 2 mitochondrial (mt) DNA genes (Cyt b and the D-loop) to test hypotheses associated with the matrilineal and demographical histories of the Tarim Basin's endemic Yarkand hare (Lepus yarkandensis).Range-wide sampling involving 20 populations and 224 individuals detected 126 haplotypes that clustered into 5 major lineages in both the phylogenetic tree and median-joining network.Populations from the northern and eastern Tarim Basin shared a similar history,as did those from the western and southern regions.Demographical analysis and genetic diversity estimations suggested that the western and southern regions might have served as glacial refugia for the Yarkand hare during Quaternary climatic oscillations.The distribution of the Yarkand hare,especially in the northern and eastern parts,probably represented 3 postglacial colonization events,dated to 0.21,0.090 and 0.054 MYA,which corresponded to known interglacial periods.Given the relatively complete geographic isolation between the eastern and southern populations,the Yarkand hare likely dispersed during postglacial periods from the southwest to the north,and then onward to the east.The absence of water likely forced the species into refugia,and this differed from other Pleistocene biogeographical drivers.The demographical and historical patterns have important implications for conservation.
