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The protection efficacy of nature reserves is a key element in achieving targets of biodiversity conservation. It is therefore very important to develop a scientific, systematic, and accurate index system for evaluating the protection efficacy of national nature reserves in China. Using methods of frequency statistics, expert consultation, analytic hierarchy process, and demonstration survey, we present a novel index system for evaluating the protection efficacy of Chinese national nature reserves for terrestrial vertebrates (excluding migratory birds) over a 10-year period. The indicator system included one target layer, two system layers, nine factor layers, and forty index layers. The system layer included ecological effectiveness evaluation ( with a score of 60%) and management effectiveness evaluation ( score of 40%). The ecological effectiveness evaluation was a comprehensive, dynamic evaluation of the target species, population, habitat, and ecological system. The management effectiveness evaluation was focused on the effectiveness of patrol and monitoring. The additional part aimed to analyze the impact of humans on the target species, population and nature resources of the nature reserve. This study combined the ecological effectiveness evaluation and the management effectiveness evaluation for the first time, highlighted the importance of time and space changes, distinguished the influence of natural factors from human factors, and integrated them into the evaluation results. By emphasizing quantifiable indicators, this evaluation index system could vastly assist the protection of nature reserves by improving management effectiveness, biodiversity conservation, and macroscopic decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Endangered Mangshan pit viper Protobothrops mangshanensis is endemic to the Nanling Mountain Range of China. It has been targeted for exploitation to satisfy the international pet trade and zoological collections since it was described. Long-term intensive exploitation and habitat destruction have resulted in drastic reductions in wild populations, pushing this rare species towards extinction. Since 1990 only limited investigations have been conducted and the most optimistic estimation of the population size was 300–500 individuals, in 2000. Since then, however, there have been no updates on the population status of this snake in the wild. To provide baseline data for effective conservation of this species we conducted a study of its status and distribution, during 2007–2010. Only eight individuals were found during fieldwork and we documented the illegal harvesting of >30. The total population of the species was estimated to be 462, occupying c. 105 km2 in the Nanling Mountain Range. The black market price of a Mangshan pit viper is currently >USD 1,000 kg−1 and illegal trade has led to over-harvesting, which is the greatest threat to the species. Our study indicates that protected areas cannot effectively protect this pit viper if the trade in this species cannot be controlled. Based on the results of our study we present five recommendations for conservation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming in the last few decades had strong impacts on biodiversity and geographi-cal distribution of different animal species worldwide, especially amphibians. Rana hanluica , a frog species endemic in China, is still classified as Least Concerned in the Red List of Threatened Species because few studies have been conducted on this species. To understand the survival of Rana hanluica population, we used maximum entropy models (MaxEnt) to analyze its distribution across regions under current climatic conditions based on 47 distribution records and 20 environmental factors. We investigated the changes in distribution of this species under different climate scenarios in China (2050s and 2070s). Finally, current and future suitable habitats for R. hanluica were mode-led, and the impacts of environmental factors in shaping its distribution were evaluated. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of the MaxEnt model was high, and AUC value of the receiver operating curve was 0.993. The total suitable habitat area for R. hanluica was 36.36×10 4 km 2 , mainly located in Hunan and Guizhou provinces in China. The major environmental factors influencing the geographic distribution of R. hanluica were precipitation of dryest month and altitude. Under the future climate scenario (2050 and 2070) with two representative concentration pathways (RCPs, SSP1-2.5, SSP5-8.5), the suitable habitat of R. hanluica was reduced in different degrees, resulting in a decreasing trend of the total suitable habitat area. The center of gravity in highly suitable habitat of R. hanluica shifted to high-latitude regions, with the core distribution area in Hunan Province.

A new species of Leptobrachella, Leptobrachella wulingensis sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from the Wuling mountains in Hunan Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of having a SVL body size range of 24.5-32.8 mm in four adult males and 29.9-38.5 mm in three adult females; dorsal surface brown to reddish brown with indistinct markings; ventral surface creamy white, often with pale brown speckling on chest and margins; flanks with small to moderate black spots; skin on dorsum shagreened with sparse large warts, sometimes with short longitudinal ridges; toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral fringes; dermal ridges under toes interrupted at the articulations; and iris bicolored with a bright orange or golden upper half, fading to silver in the lower half. Uncorrected sequence divergence between L. wulingensis sp. nov. and homologous 16S rRNA sequences available for all known species in the genus are ≥ 2.3%-2.9%.

Objective: To study the effects of Germanium (Ge) concentration on Ge accumulation and biotransformation of polysaccarified Ge (PG) in Cordyceps militaris., Methods: Solid and liquid culture were used in this study., Results: In the solid culture conditions, when the Ge concentration of medium was 200 mg/L, the sporophore biomass of Cordyceps militaris was the maximum; and when Ge concentration was 300 mg/L,the amount of biotransformation of PG in sporophore was the highest; and when the Ge concentration is 250 mg/L, conversion rate of organic germanium (OG) in sporophore reached the highest value. In the liquid culture conditions, when the Ge concentration was 250 mg/L, the mycelium biomass of Cordyceps militaris was the maximum; and when Ge concentration was 150 mg/L, the amount of organic conversion of PG in mycelium was the most; and conversion rate of OG in mycelium was the highest in media with the Ge concentration of 200 mg/L. This study showed the germanium concentrations in 150 - 300 mg/L was more suitable for Ge accumulation and biotransformation of PG in Cordyceps militaris. In general, the biotransformation capacity to germanium of sporophore was stronger than that of mycelium of Cordyceps militaris., Conclusion: Germanium can significantly affect Ge accumulation and biotransformation of PG in Cordyceps militaris (P < 0.05) at different concentration. This result has practical value for Ge enriched cultivation of fruiting body in Cordyceps militaris.

The protection efficacy of nature reserves is a key element in achieving targets of biodiversity conservation. It is therefore very important to develop a scientific, systematic, and accurate index system for evaluating the protection efficacy of national nature reserves in China. Using methods of frequency statistics, expert consultation, analytic hierarchy process, and demonstration survey, we present a novel index system for evaluating the protection efficacy of Chinese national nature reserves for terrestrial vertebrates (excluding migratory birds) over a 10-year period. The indicator system included one target layer, two system layers, nine factor layers, and forty index layers. The system layer included ecological effectiveness evaluation (with a score of 60%) and management effectiveness evaluation (score of 40%). The ecological effectiveness evaluation was a comprehensive, dynamic evaluation of the target species, population, habitat, and ecological system. The management effectiveness evaluation was focused on the effectiveness of patrol and monitoring. The additional part aimed to analyze the impact of humans on the target species, population and nature resources of the nature reserve. This study combined the ecological effectiveness evaluation and the management effectiveness evaluation for the first time, highlighted the importance of time and space changes, distinguished the influence of natural factors from human factors, and integrated them into the evaluation results. By emphasizing quantifiable indicators, this evaluation index system could vastly assist the protection of nature reserves by improving management effectiveness, biodiversity conservation, and macroscopic decision-making.

Objective: To study effects of blue light irradiation on monosaccharide composition of intracellular polysacchride and contents of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris., Methods: The monosaccharide composition of intracellular polysacchride of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris as materials were determined by gas chromatography after 144 h blue light irradiation. The contents of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris were detected at different blue light irradiation periods. At the same time, the growth of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris were observed during blue light irradiation., Results: Mycelium polysaccharide in Cordyceps militaris was a kind of heteropolysaccharide containing four kinds of monosaccharide and fruiting body polysaccharide was a kind of heteropolysaccharide containing five kinds of monosaccharide. Whether blue light irradiation or dark culture, the content changes of cordyceps polysacchride in two groups showed similar patterns in the test of mycelium polysaccharides. The content changes of cordyceps polysacchride in two groups were basically the same in the detection of sporocarp polysacchride. Cordycepin content in the two set of experiments of blue light irradiation all showed a clear upward trend in the detection of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris., Conclusion: The blue light irradiation has certain effect on the species and quantity of monosaccharide in intracellular polysaccharide. The content increase of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride in Cordyceps militaris are promoted by blue light irradiation. Blue light can help the morphogenesis and promote the differentiation and growth of sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris. This study is the first report about the effect of blue light on the type and quantity of the monosaccharide composition in polysaccharide of Cordyceps militaris, which will lay the foundation for further study on the metabolism of active substance in Cordyceps militaris by blue light irradiation.