Genetic Differentiation Analyses Based on mtDNA COⅡ Gene Sequences Among Different Geographic Populations of Aphis glycines(Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Northeast China

Aphis glycines （Hemiptera： Aphididae） is considered as a cosmopolitan pest of cultivated soybean, major difficulties in its control measures may be due to its higher genetic diversity; however, the knowledge about population genetic diversity of this species is limited. This study aimed to represent the genetic differentiation among different geographic populations of soybean aphid in Northeast China. In order to investigate and assess the genetic diversity, genetic differentiation, molecular variance, population structure, ecological importance and evolutionary history of A. glycines, we sequenced a fragment of one protein-coding gene, the cytochrome c oxidase I/of mitochondrial DNA gene. The results showed that four haplotypes were defined among CO 11 gene of 180 sequences of soybean aphid in Northeast China including H1 shared by all the populations. Lower haplotype diversity （Hd=0.3590± 0.0420） and nucleotide diversity （Pi=0.0012±0.0002） were observed and high gene flow was detected in every two populations, while most of the variation （80.81%） arose from variability within A. glycines from individuals. Low genetic differentiation and high gene flow （Nm=2.106） indicated a high migration rate between the populations, which might reveal that gene flow in different geographic populations did not affect by geographical distance. The phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network ofA. glycines were obtained based on sequences of CO Ⅱ gene, there were no significant genealogical branches or clusters recognized in NJ tree, and no clear distribution, delineation of haplotypes were demonstrated in the haplotype network according to geographical location. This study rejected the vicariance hypothesis： geographic isolation could be a barrier and it restricted A. glycines gene flow among 10 populations.

Genetic Differentiation of Different Geographical Populations of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Complex

Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius） is a species complex, which includes different geographical populations with genetic differentiation. The recent progress on the genetic differentiation of various geographical populations of B. tabaci complex was introduced. The genetic differentiation was further analyzed on the basis of the sequences of mtDNA COI and rDNA ITS1 recorded in the world＇s GenBank. Five groups are defined on the basis of mtDNA COI and rDNA ITS1, including the Asia group, America group, Africa group, Australia group, and Biotype B/Mediterranean/Middle East/ Northern Africa/Biotype Ms group. There are several ungrouped geographical classifications, such as the Uganda population, Ivory Coast population, and Taiwan population. Geographical isolation may be the most important factor that contributed to the genetic differentiation of various geographical populations of B. tabaci. Many populations with biological advantages invaded new regions and caused severe economic losses within human activity. It is necessary to strengthen the research of B. tabaci biotype to prevent the spread of invaded populations and the invasion of potentially dangerous populations.

Bacterial Community in Different Populations of Rice Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens(Stl)

The structures of bacterial communities in the brown planthopper （BPH） Nilaparvata lugens （St^l） from different geographic and resistant virulent populations were analyzed by using denatured gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE）. Results showed that the bacterial communities in BPH nymph from the first to the fifth instars varied with nymphal growth and development. The bacterial communities in the first-instar BPH nymph were similar to those in adults. Nine geographic BPH populations were divided into three groups based on the cluster analysis of DGGE fingerprint. The first group was from the Philippines; the second group was from Thailand and Hainan, Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces of China; and the third group was from Vietnam and Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces of China. BPH populations adapted to different resistant rice varieties. The BPH populations from Mudgo （with resistant gene Bphl） and ASD7 （with resistant gene bph2） differed with those of the susceptible rice variety TNI.

AFLP analysis revealed differences in genetic diversity of four natural populations of Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) in China

The amplified fragment length polymorphism （AFLP） technology was used to analyze the genetic diversities in four natural populations of Manila clam （ Ruditapes philippinarum）, distributed in four sea areas of China, i.e. , the Bohai Sea, the Huanghai Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Two hundred and sixty-four AFLP loci were analysed in 195 individuals and revealed high levels of genetic diversity. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 92.13% to 96.06% and the Shannon＇ s information index was from 0.256 8 to 0. 275 6. By analyzing molecular variance （ AMOVA）, it was found that there were high levels of genetic differentiation between populations of Qingdao and the other three sea areas. Cluster analysis by Nei＇ s pairwise distances grouped specimens by geographical origin, except the population of Qingdao. A conclusion can be drawn that there are high genetic diversities in the four natural populations of Manila clam in China and some distinct differences existed among and between the four populations. The results also indicated that human cultivation activities will have great influence on the genetic structure of the population of Qingdao.

Assessing genetic diversity of wild populations of Japanese flounderusing AFLP markers

Amplified fragment length polymorphism （AFLP） analysis was used to evaluate the genetic diversity of four wild geographical populations of Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus）. A total of 775 loci （58.32% of which was polymorphic） in the range between 100 and 1 300 base pairs were detected from 110 individuals using seven primer combinations. The percentage of polymorphic loci detected by single primer combination for each population was calculated, ranging from 19.59% to 53.33%. Genetic similarities within and among the populations were calculated from the binary matrices of presence - absence. Phylogenetic tree of four populations was constructed by using the UPGMA method using PHYLIP Version 3.5. According to intrapopulation genetic similarities, CW population displayed the highest genetic diversity value and KY population had the lowest genetic diversity value. The distance between CW and CF populations was the farthest, which was possibly resulted from the farthest distance of Weihai of Shandong and Fujian of China compared with the geographical distance between other locations of populations. The subpopulation differentiation value （G.,） is 0. 356 5, showing a certain extent of differentiation among the four geographical populations. AFLP technology was confirmed to be an effective tool to assess within- and among-population genetic diversity of Japanese flounder. The present survey provided significant insights for research in the Japanese flounder breeding program.

Call Characteristic Network Reveal Geographical Patterns of Call Similarity:Applying Network Analysis to Frog’s Call Research

Individual’s phenotypic traits are the results of adaptation to ecological conditions.Therefore,different selection pressures caused by heterogeneous environments may result in phenotypic difference,especially for individuals in different geographical populations.Here,we illustrated for the first time to use social network analysis(SNA)for examining whether geographical proximity predicts the similarity patterns in call characteristics among populations of an anuran species.We recorded calls from 150 male dorsal-striped opposite-fingered treefrogs(Chiromantis doriae)at 11 populations in Hainan Province and one population in Guangdong Province in China's Mainland,and we measured eight acoustic variables for each male.Mantel test didn’t show a correlation between geographical proximity and the similarity in call characteristics among populations.In addition,we failed to find correlations between a population’s eigenvector centrality and the distance to its nearest neighbor,nor between the coefficient of variation of similarity in call characteristics of a population and the average distance to all other populations.Nevertheless,three acoustic clusters were identified by the Girvan-Newman algorithm,and clustering was partially associated with geography.Furthermore,the most central populations were included in the same cluster,but the top betweenness populations were located within different clusters,suggesting that centrality populations are not necessary bridging between clusters.These results demonstrate the potential usefulness of the SNA toolbox and indicate that SNA helps to uncover the patterns that often overlooked in other analytical methods.By using SNA in frog’s call studies,researchers could further uncover the potential relationship in call characteristics between geographical populations,further reveal the effects of ecological factors on call characteristics,and probably enhance our understanding of the adaptive evolution of acoustic signals.

Genetic structure of needle morphological and anatomical traits of Pinus yunnanensis

Pinus yunnanensis Franch. is an particular conifer tree species in Yunnan-Guizhou plateau in south- west China. The morphological and anatomical traits of needles are important to evaluate geographic variation and population dynamics of conifer species. Seedlings from seven populations of P. yunnanensis were analyzed, look- ing at 22 morphological and anatomical needle traits. The results showed that variations among and within popula- tions were significantly different for all traits and the variance components within populations were generally higher than that among populations in the most tested needle traits. The proportions of three-needle fascicle were significantly different among populations. The traits related to needle size in both morphology and anatomy were positive with latitude and negative with annual temperature and precipitation. Ratio indices, including mesophyllarea/vascular bundle area, mesophyll area/resin canals area, vascular bundle area/resin canals area and mesophyU area/（resin canals area and vascular bundle area）, were negatively correlated with elevation and positively corre- lated with the annual mean temperature, showing some fitness feature for the populations. Needle traits were more significantly correlated with longitude than with other four environmental factors. Needle length was significantly correlated with almost all environmental factors. First four principal components accounted for 81.596 % of the variation with eigenvalues 〉1; the differences among populations were mainly dependent on needle width, stomatal density, section areas of vascular bundle, total resin canals, and mesophyll, as well as area ratio traits. Seven populations were divided into three categories by Euclidean distance. Variations in needle traits among the populations have shown systematic microevolution in terms of geographic impact on P. yunnanensis. This study would provide empirical data to characterize adaptation and genetic variation of P. yunnanensis, which would be helpful for management of genetic resources and reason- able utilization of them in future.

Update on the status of wolverines in China

The wolverine, Gulogulo, is an endangered species in China. This is the first report of the overall status of wolverines in China. The geographic distribution and population sizes of wolverines in the Greater Khingan and Altai Mountains were surveyed by line transect from1996–2000 and in 2011, respectively. We identified two geographically distinct groups in the Great Khingan Mountains, with a total population size of about 200 individuals throughout the region（approximately80,000 km^2）. Wolverines were also confirmed to be present in the Altai Mountains, where about 100 individuals occupied approximately 28,000 km^2 of mountain forest and tundra. Prey depletion and habitat loss, which are correlated with increasing human activities, are the main reasons for wolverine population declines in China.

Geographic variation in photoperiodic diapause induction and diapause intensity in Sericinus montelus （Lepidoptera Papilionidae）

Due to the risk of extinction and ornamental value of the swallowtail butterfly, Sericinus montelus Gray （Lepidoptera： Papilionidae） in China, knowledge about local adaptations is important for the conservation and economical utilization of the species. In the present study, photoperiodie diapause induction and diapause intensity of S. montelus populations from Jiamusi （46°37＇N）, Beijing （40° 15＇N）, Zibo （36°48＇N）, Fangxian （32°36＇N）, Wuhan （30°33＇N） and Huaihua （27°33＇N） were characterized at 25℃. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant population x hours of light interaction, confirming that photoperiodic responses varied among populations. The critical photoperiod was positively correlated with latitude and increased toward the north at a rate of about 1 h for each 6.67 degrees of latitude. Survival analyses indicated that survival time of diapausing pupae before adult eclosion differed significantly among populations at 25℃ and 16 ： 8 L ＂D h. The mean duration of pupal diapause was also positively correlated with latitude. Our study reveals geographic variation in the critical photoperiod for diapause induction and in diapause intensity of S. montelus. These results provide useful information for our general understanding about seasonal adaptation in insects and may also be used to predict how geographic populations respond to climate warming.

Seasonal and geographical variation in diapause and cold hardiness of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis

Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis （Guenee）, is a key corn pest in the Asian-Western Pacific countries. It overwinters as flail-grown larvae in plant stalks or in a spun-silk covering located in the plant debris in the temperate regions of China. Supercooling point （SCP） and survival rate after low sub-zero temperature treatment were assessed for field-collected populations in the laboratory using a cool bath with a 1 ℃/min cooling rate until -40℃. Mean SCPs were varied among geographical populations, with a significant decline from -22.7℃ of Haikou, the multivoltine tropical population in the south, to -28.5℃ of Gongzhuling, the univoltine temperate population in the northeast of China. In addition, there was more than 1℃ difference in SCP between Gongzhuling univoltine and bivoltine populations that were from the same geographic origin. Mean SCPs of the Guangzhou population fluctuated over the year, with significantly lower SCPs in winter than in other seasons, which correlated with a significantly higher proportion of diapausing larvae in winter than in other seasons. Over 41% of overwintering larvae from the northeast population could withstand to be supercooled for a few minutes to the low sub-zero temperature of-40℃, but only 6.7% of their southern counterparts did so. The findings from this study suggest that O. furnacalis mostly takes advantage of freeze avoidance as diapausing larvae for overwintering in the southern region, whereas it exhibits freeze tolerance in diapause in the northeastern region.