Population viability analysis(PVA) is a tool to evaluate the risk of extinction for endangered species and aid conservation decision-making.The quality of PVA output is dependent on parameters related to population dy...Population viability analysis(PVA) is a tool to evaluate the risk of extinction for endangered species and aid conservation decision-making.The quality of PVA output is dependent on parameters related to population dynamics and life-history;however,it has been difficult to collect this information for the giant panda(Aliuropoda melanoleuca),a rare and endangered mammal native to China,confined to some 30 fragmented habitat patches.Since giant pandas are long-lived,mature late,have lower reproductive rates,and show little sexual dimorphism,obtaining data to perform adequate PVA has been difficult.Here,we develop a parameter sensitivity index by modeling the dynamics of six giant panda populations in the Minshan Mountains,in order to determine the parameters most influential to giant panda populations.Our data shows that the giant panda populations are most sensitive to changes in four female parameters:initial breeding age,reproductive rate,mortality rate between age 0 and 1,and mortality rate of adults.The parameter sensitivity index strongly correlated with initial population size,as smaller populations were more sensitive to changes in these four variables.This model suggests that demographic parameters of females have more influence on the results of PVA,indicating that females may play a more important role in giant panda population dynamics than males.Consequently,reintroduction of female individuals to a small giant panda population should be a high priority for conservation efforts.Our findings form a technical basis for the coming program of giant panda reintroduction,and inform which parameters are crucial to successfully and feasibly monitoring wild giant panda populations.展开更多
Identifying the life-history strategies of fish and their associations with the surrounding environment is the basic foundation in the conservation and sustainable utilization of fish species.We examined the age,growt...Identifying the life-history strategies of fish and their associations with the surrounding environment is the basic foundation in the conservation and sustainable utilization of fish species.We examined the age,growth,and reproduction of Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis using 352 specimens collected monthly from May 2009 to April 2010 in the Qingyi Stream.We found the sex ratio of this study population was 0.58:1(female:male),significantly different from expected 1:1.Females and males both comprised four age groups.The annuli on the scales were formed during February and March.No obvious between-sex difference was observed in length-weight and length-scale-radius relationships.The total length in back-calculation significantly increased with age for both sexes,but did not differ significantly at each age between the two sexes.An inflection point was observed in the growth curves given by the von Bertalanffy growth function for total weight.At this inflection point,fish were 3.95 years.Both sexes reach their 50% sex maturity at age 2,when females and males were 94.7 mm and 103.0 mm total length.The temporal pattern of the gonado-somatic index corresponded to a spawning period that occurred from April through July.The non-synchronicity of egg diameter in each mature ovary during the breeding period suggested these fish may be batch spawners.The absolute fecundity increased significantly with total length and weight,whereas no significant correlation was observed between the relative fecundity and body size.展开更多
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Packaging and storage of glutamate into glutamatergic neuronal vesicles require ATP-dependent vesicular glutamate uptak...Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Packaging and storage of glutamate into glutamatergic neuronal vesicles require ATP-dependent vesicular glutamate uptake systems, which utilize the electrochemical proton gradient as a driving force. Three vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT1-3) have been recently identified from neuronal tissue where they play a key role to maintain the vesicular glutamate level. Recently, it has been demonstrated that glutamate signaling is also functional in peripheral neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, and occurs in sites of pituitary, adrenal, pineal glands, bone, GI tract, pancreas,skin, and testis. The glutamate receptors and VGLUTs in digestivesystem have been found in both neuronal and endocrinal cells. The glutamate signaling in the digestive system may have significant relevance to diabetes and GI tract motility disorders. This review will focus on the most recent update of molecular physiology of digestive VGLUTs.展开更多
Using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy,we studied the structure of the integument and wax glands of the mealybug,Phenacoccus fraxinus Tang(Hemiptera:Coccoidea:Pseudococcidae).We observed the ultrast...Using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy,we studied the structure of the integument and wax glands of the mealybug,Phenacoccus fraxinus Tang(Hemiptera:Coccoidea:Pseudococcidae).We observed the ultrastructure of four wax pores including trilocular,quinquelocular,and multilocular pores as well as tubular ducts,recording characteristics of their structure,size and distribution.We found that that the integument of the mealybug consists of three main layers-the procuticle,epidermis and basement membrane-and four sub-layers of the procuticle-the epicuticle,exocuticle,endocuticle and formation zone.The waxsecreting gland cells were closely arranged in epidermis.All of them were complex and composed of one central cell and two or more lateral cells.These complex cells possess a large common reservoir for collection and storage.Synthesized by the glandular cells,the wax is excreted outside integument through canals.展开更多
Effects of acupuncture on the levels of neurotransmitters in the raphe nuclei were investigated in obeserats.It was found that the levels of tryptophan (Trp) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) wereincreased,and 5...Effects of acupuncture on the levels of neurotransmitters in the raphe nuclei were investigated in obeserats.It was found that the levels of tryptophan (Trp) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) wereincreased,and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio decreased in the raphe nucleiof the obese group as compared with the normal group;and that acupuncture could produce weightreduction,increase the 5-HT level and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio,and decrease the contents of Trp and5-HIAA,but did not change the levels of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA).It is indicated thatbenign regulative action of acupuncture on 5-HT and its metabolism in the raphe nuclei is possibly oneof the factors for reducing weight by acupuncture.展开更多
To whom it may concern:Co-organized by the Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province and Zoological Research,two special issues for Primates ...To whom it may concern:Co-organized by the Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province and Zoological Research,two special issues for Primates and Animal models of Human diseases [32(1),2011 & 33(1),2012] have been released.The first special issue [32(1),2011] has significantly increased the journal hits on PubMed(500 times more than last month) and during the next couple of months,the editorial展开更多
基金funded by the State Forestry Administration,China
文摘Population viability analysis(PVA) is a tool to evaluate the risk of extinction for endangered species and aid conservation decision-making.The quality of PVA output is dependent on parameters related to population dynamics and life-history;however,it has been difficult to collect this information for the giant panda(Aliuropoda melanoleuca),a rare and endangered mammal native to China,confined to some 30 fragmented habitat patches.Since giant pandas are long-lived,mature late,have lower reproductive rates,and show little sexual dimorphism,obtaining data to perform adequate PVA has been difficult.Here,we develop a parameter sensitivity index by modeling the dynamics of six giant panda populations in the Minshan Mountains,in order to determine the parameters most influential to giant panda populations.Our data shows that the giant panda populations are most sensitive to changes in four female parameters:initial breeding age,reproductive rate,mortality rate between age 0 and 1,and mortality rate of adults.The parameter sensitivity index strongly correlated with initial population size,as smaller populations were more sensitive to changes in these four variables.This model suggests that demographic parameters of females have more influence on the results of PVA,indicating that females may play a more important role in giant panda population dynamics than males.Consequently,reintroduction of female individuals to a small giant panda population should be a high priority for conservation efforts.Our findings form a technical basis for the coming program of giant panda reintroduction,and inform which parameters are crucial to successfully and feasibly monitoring wild giant panda populations.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China(2009CB119200)Natural Science Foundation of China(31172120)Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(090413080)
文摘Identifying the life-history strategies of fish and their associations with the surrounding environment is the basic foundation in the conservation and sustainable utilization of fish species.We examined the age,growth,and reproduction of Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis using 352 specimens collected monthly from May 2009 to April 2010 in the Qingyi Stream.We found the sex ratio of this study population was 0.58:1(female:male),significantly different from expected 1:1.Females and males both comprised four age groups.The annuli on the scales were formed during February and March.No obvious between-sex difference was observed in length-weight and length-scale-radius relationships.The total length in back-calculation significantly increased with age for both sexes,but did not differ significantly at each age between the two sexes.An inflection point was observed in the growth curves given by the von Bertalanffy growth function for total weight.At this inflection point,fish were 3.95 years.Both sexes reach their 50% sex maturity at age 2,when females and males were 94.7 mm and 103.0 mm total length.The temporal pattern of the gonado-somatic index corresponded to a spawning period that occurred from April through July.The non-synchronicity of egg diameter in each mature ovary during the breeding period suggested these fish may be batch spawners.The absolute fecundity increased significantly with total length and weight,whereas no significant correlation was observed between the relative fecundity and body size.
基金Supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases Grant R01-DK063142 and R01-DK33209
文摘Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Packaging and storage of glutamate into glutamatergic neuronal vesicles require ATP-dependent vesicular glutamate uptake systems, which utilize the electrochemical proton gradient as a driving force. Three vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT1-3) have been recently identified from neuronal tissue where they play a key role to maintain the vesicular glutamate level. Recently, it has been demonstrated that glutamate signaling is also functional in peripheral neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, and occurs in sites of pituitary, adrenal, pineal glands, bone, GI tract, pancreas,skin, and testis. The glutamate receptors and VGLUTs in digestivesystem have been found in both neuronal and endocrinal cells. The glutamate signaling in the digestive system may have significant relevance to diabetes and GI tract motility disorders. This review will focus on the most recent update of molecular physiology of digestive VGLUTs.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31070584)Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province(2010011042-12011021029-2)
文摘Using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy,we studied the structure of the integument and wax glands of the mealybug,Phenacoccus fraxinus Tang(Hemiptera:Coccoidea:Pseudococcidae).We observed the ultrastructure of four wax pores including trilocular,quinquelocular,and multilocular pores as well as tubular ducts,recording characteristics of their structure,size and distribution.We found that that the integument of the mealybug consists of three main layers-the procuticle,epidermis and basement membrane-and four sub-layers of the procuticle-the epicuticle,exocuticle,endocuticle and formation zone.The waxsecreting gland cells were closely arranged in epidermis.All of them were complex and composed of one central cell and two or more lateral cells.These complex cells possess a large common reservoir for collection and storage.Synthesized by the glandular cells,the wax is excreted outside integument through canals.
文摘Effects of acupuncture on the levels of neurotransmitters in the raphe nuclei were investigated in obeserats.It was found that the levels of tryptophan (Trp) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) wereincreased,and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio decreased in the raphe nucleiof the obese group as compared with the normal group;and that acupuncture could produce weightreduction,increase the 5-HT level and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio,and decrease the contents of Trp and5-HIAA,but did not change the levels of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA).It is indicated thatbenign regulative action of acupuncture on 5-HT and its metabolism in the raphe nuclei is possibly oneof the factors for reducing weight by acupuncture.
文摘To whom it may concern:Co-organized by the Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province and Zoological Research,two special issues for Primates and Animal models of Human diseases [32(1),2011 & 33(1),2012] have been released.The first special issue [32(1),2011] has significantly increased the journal hits on PubMed(500 times more than last month) and during the next couple of months,the editorial
