Polymorphic microsatellites are among the versatile genetic markers in molecular ecology studies. In contrast to de novo isolation of microsatellites from target species, cross-species amplification is a costeffective...Polymorphic microsatellites are among the versatile genetic markers in molecular ecology studies. In contrast to de novo isolation of microsatellites from target species, cross-species amplification is a costeffective approach for a fast development of microsatellite markers from closely related taxa. In our study, we crossamplified a panel of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Blue Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum), a species endemic to China of considerable conservation concern. We obtained 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers selected from 112 candidate loci, originally isolated from other Galliforme species. This panel of makers has shown moderate to high levels of polymorphism and include a Z-chromosomal linkage locus. We carried out preliminary analyses of parentage among captive individuals with a known pedigree using this new panel of microsatellites. Our results suggest that the high utility of these markers may be powerful tools for studies in conservation genetics of eared-pheasants and other endangered Galliforme species.展开更多
Buddhism and local cultural traditions have long protected wildlife species and their habitats in Tibetan-dominated areas of western Sichuan. In Daocheng County, the White Eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) ha...Buddhism and local cultural traditions have long protected wildlife species and their habitats in Tibetan-dominated areas of western Sichuan. In Daocheng County, the White Eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) has been afforded special protection by local people because it is conspicuous and white, a color with special symbolism for Buddhists. This and other cultural reasons have led to pheasants and forests benefiting in some areas. Pheasants were found during surveys between January 2003 and June 2004 in forests with varying degrees of local (non-formal) protection. However, there were significant signs that these traditional attitudes were changing in the face of three particular pressures brought to bear by better roads, improving access to and from the rest of China. The first was the development of a significant local demand for the Chinese caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinesis), which is much sought after throughout East Asia and mushrooms. Second, and more recent, is a dramatic increase in tourism from major Chinese cities, bringing non-Tibetan values into Daocheng County and changing the local attitudes to all animals. And then, there is a rise in income of the local population, resulting in a higher timber demand for building big houses, which impact all wildlife in the forest, but local attitudes to sacred forests have been retained so far in spite of this increased timber demand. Lessons should be learnt from the impact that unregulated tourism at Chonggu monastery, the most visited area in the county, has on the surrounding forests so that other sacred and non-sacred forests can best be protected for the long term. The alternative is that several Tibetan Plateau Galliformes, currently considered non-threatened because of their extensive distribution in a remote area, cannot be guaranteed such a healthy future.展开更多
Brown eared-pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum is endemic to China, an d mainly occurs in Luliang Mountains of Shanxi, Xiaowutai of Hebei and Huanglong of Shaanxi. Reintroduction of Brown eared pheasant was carried ou...Brown eared-pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum is endemic to China, an d mainly occurs in Luliang Mountains of Shanxi, Xiaowutai of Hebei and Huanglong of Shaanxi. Reintroduction of Brown eared pheasant was carried out from April t o December in 2000. According to the criterions of release site selection in Gui delines for Reintroductions of IUCN, and habitat selection of Brown eared pheasa nt, Kuantan forestry in Wutaishan Mountains of Shanxi Province was selected as t he release site. Of the 8 released individuals, 5 wild individuals were captured in winter in Luyashan Nature Reserve of Shanxi Province, and 3 were offsprings of captive-reared individuals. Transmitters were attached when the 8 individua l s were released. Overall, 6 individuals survived for at least 1 month, and the l ongest time for survival was 155 days, except that one was confirmed as having b een killed by a raptor on the second day and one was lost on the eighth day afte r release. All moved away from the release site after release and established st able home ranges in different sites after 10 days, respectively. In early May, t he individuals again dispersed to establish new home ranges. The wandering dist ance and days of the captive individuals were longer and the home range size wer e larger than that of the wild birds, which resulted from the weak adaptability to new habitat for the captive individuals, such as recognizing and fetching foo d. For wild individuals, the second wandering distance was longer than the first . We believe the difference was related to looking for partners. After wandering , individuals established stable home ranges in different sites .展开更多
The phylogenetic relationships of the avian genus Crossoptilon were studied by comparing mitochondrial control region(D-loop)and cyt b gene nucleotide sequences,with the Lophophorus impejanus and Lophura swinhoii as t...The phylogenetic relationships of the avian genus Crossoptilon were studied by comparing mitochondrial control region(D-loop)and cyt b gene nucleotide sequences,with the Lophophorus impejanus and Lophura swinhoii as the outgroups.Using the synthesizing characters of morphology,ecology and biogeography to combine with Maximum parsimony(MP),Maximum Likelihood(ML)and Bayesin trees,we found that:① C.crossoptilon and C.harmani were closely related and C.harmani was relatively primitive;② C.auritum and C.mantchuricum had a close relationship and C.auritum was relatively primitive;③ the genus Crossoptilon could originate in the boundary region of Sichuan,Yunnan and Tibet.One branch remained near the center of origin and diverged into C.crossoptilon and C.harmani;the other branch spread towards north China and diverged into C.auritum and C.mantchuricum.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Project of the Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2012BAC01B06)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30570234)
文摘Polymorphic microsatellites are among the versatile genetic markers in molecular ecology studies. In contrast to de novo isolation of microsatellites from target species, cross-species amplification is a costeffective approach for a fast development of microsatellite markers from closely related taxa. In our study, we crossamplified a panel of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Blue Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum), a species endemic to China of considerable conservation concern. We obtained 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers selected from 112 candidate loci, originally isolated from other Galliforme species. This panel of makers has shown moderate to high levels of polymorphism and include a Z-chromosomal linkage locus. We carried out preliminary analyses of parentage among captive individuals with a known pedigree using this new panel of microsatellites. Our results suggest that the high utility of these markers may be powerful tools for studies in conservation genetics of eared-pheasants and other endangered Galliforme species.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30800101)the Chicago Zoological Society, the World Pheasant Association and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership FundPeter Garson (Chair,WPA-IUCN Pheasant Specialist Group) provided constructive advice on the work and helped facilitate financial support
文摘Buddhism and local cultural traditions have long protected wildlife species and their habitats in Tibetan-dominated areas of western Sichuan. In Daocheng County, the White Eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) has been afforded special protection by local people because it is conspicuous and white, a color with special symbolism for Buddhists. This and other cultural reasons have led to pheasants and forests benefiting in some areas. Pheasants were found during surveys between January 2003 and June 2004 in forests with varying degrees of local (non-formal) protection. However, there were significant signs that these traditional attitudes were changing in the face of three particular pressures brought to bear by better roads, improving access to and from the rest of China. The first was the development of a significant local demand for the Chinese caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinesis), which is much sought after throughout East Asia and mushrooms. Second, and more recent, is a dramatic increase in tourism from major Chinese cities, bringing non-Tibetan values into Daocheng County and changing the local attitudes to all animals. And then, there is a rise in income of the local population, resulting in a higher timber demand for building big houses, which impact all wildlife in the forest, but local attitudes to sacred forests have been retained so far in spite of this increased timber demand. Lessons should be learnt from the impact that unregulated tourism at Chonggu monastery, the most visited area in the county, has on the surrounding forests so that other sacred and non-sacred forests can best be protected for the long term. The alternative is that several Tibetan Plateau Galliformes, currently considered non-threatened because of their extensive distribution in a remote area, cannot be guaranteed such a healthy future.
文摘Brown eared-pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum is endemic to China, an d mainly occurs in Luliang Mountains of Shanxi, Xiaowutai of Hebei and Huanglong of Shaanxi. Reintroduction of Brown eared pheasant was carried out from April t o December in 2000. According to the criterions of release site selection in Gui delines for Reintroductions of IUCN, and habitat selection of Brown eared pheasa nt, Kuantan forestry in Wutaishan Mountains of Shanxi Province was selected as t he release site. Of the 8 released individuals, 5 wild individuals were captured in winter in Luyashan Nature Reserve of Shanxi Province, and 3 were offsprings of captive-reared individuals. Transmitters were attached when the 8 individua l s were released. Overall, 6 individuals survived for at least 1 month, and the l ongest time for survival was 155 days, except that one was confirmed as having b een killed by a raptor on the second day and one was lost on the eighth day afte r release. All moved away from the release site after release and established st able home ranges in different sites after 10 days, respectively. In early May, t he individuals again dispersed to establish new home ranges. The wandering dist ance and days of the captive individuals were longer and the home range size wer e larger than that of the wild birds, which resulted from the weak adaptability to new habitat for the captive individuals, such as recognizing and fetching foo d. For wild individuals, the second wandering distance was longer than the first . We believe the difference was related to looking for partners. After wandering , individuals established stable home ranges in different sites .
文摘The phylogenetic relationships of the avian genus Crossoptilon were studied by comparing mitochondrial control region(D-loop)and cyt b gene nucleotide sequences,with the Lophophorus impejanus and Lophura swinhoii as the outgroups.Using the synthesizing characters of morphology,ecology and biogeography to combine with Maximum parsimony(MP),Maximum Likelihood(ML)and Bayesin trees,we found that:① C.crossoptilon and C.harmani were closely related and C.harmani was relatively primitive;② C.auritum and C.mantchuricum had a close relationship and C.auritum was relatively primitive;③ the genus Crossoptilon could originate in the boundary region of Sichuan,Yunnan and Tibet.One branch remained near the center of origin and diverged into C.crossoptilon and C.harmani;the other branch spread towards north China and diverged into C.auritum and C.mantchuricum.
