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A new species, Wikstroemia fragrans (Thymelaeaceae, Daphneae), from Danxiashan National Park, Shaoguan, Guangdong of China is described and illustrated. It is similar to the sympatric W. trichotoma, but can be differentiated easily from the latter by its shorter racemose inflorescences, yellowish green calyx tube, and smaller leaves. It also resembles the allopatric W. fargesii, but differs from it by its strigose-pubescent ovary and disk scale that is 2- or 3-dentate apically. Phylogenetic analysis using the nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that W. fragrans falls within the Wikstroemia clade; based on current sampling, W. fragrans is closely-related to W. capitata. It is also the first species of Wikstroemia known to be endemic to the Danxia landform and is classified provisionally as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viola huizhouensis (Violaceae), a new species from Xiangtoushan National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province in China, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to V. guangzhouensis, but it can be easily distinguished by its much stouter rhizome, lack of aerial stem, dense pubescence of the basal pedicel and the whole plant. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms that the new species belongs to V. sect. Diffusae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental variation associated with season length is likely to promote differentiation in lifehistory traits, but has been little studied in natural populations of ectotherms. We investigated patterns of variation in egg size, clutch size, age at sexual maturity, maximum age, mean age, growth rate and adult body size in relation to growth season length among 17 populations of Andrew's toad (Bufo andrewsi) at different latitudes and altitudes in the Hengduan Mountains, western China. Results: We found that egg size, age at sexual maturity, and mean age increased with decreasing length of the growth season, whereas clutch size showed a converse cline. Body size did not increase with decreasing length of the growth season, but was tightly linked to lifetime activity (i.e. the estimated number of active days during lifetime). Males and females differed in their patterns of geographic variation in growth rates, which may be the result of forces shaping the trade-off between growth and reproduction in different environments. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that growth season plays an important role in shaping variation in life-history traits in B. andrewsi across geographical gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eriobotrya fulvicoma W.Y. Chun ex W.B. Liao, F.F. Li & D.F. Cui, a new species endemic to Xinyi, Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated. It differs from the morphologically close E. delexa by having papery leaves (vs. leathery in E. delexa), leaf margin shallowly but sharply serrate and not revolute (vs. coarsely obtusely serrate and revolute), 1-2 cm long petioles (vs. 2-6 cm), 8-10.5 mm long petals (vs. 5 mm), and ca. 4.5-6 mm long styles (vs. 2-3 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bergmann's rule states that, within species of endotherms, individuals tend to be larger in cooler environments, and has been reputed to apply to some ectotherms including amphibians. However, the validity of the rule has been debated, questioning whether Bergmann's dines are generally present in anurans. In the view, we studied altitudinal variation in body size in the rice frog (Rana limnocharis) among populations from Sichuan province located at three altitudes to find if there exist any differences in a relatively small altitudinal range (290-375 m). The results showed that individuals from higher altitudes tended to be larger in body size than lower altitudes, which was consistent with Bergmann's dine. Moreover, when the effect of age was removed, variation in body size of the frogs across altitudes still remained. Our findings suggested that age affected the pattern of variation in body size across the altitudinal dine, we also discussed that factors other than age also contributed to size differences among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I used mark-recapture technique to estimate site fidelity in a subtropical high-elevation torrent frog (Amolops mantzorum) during the breeding season in Fengtongzhai National Nature Reserve in western China. I captured, measured, and individually marked 30 males and 15 females in 20 May 2007. I recorded each individual's initial positions using a Global Positioning System (GPS). For each night from 21 May to 10 June 2007, I recaptured the marked individuals and recorded capture points. The results showed that 16 males and 4 females were never recaptured in the field experiment. Most of the remaining individuals were recaptured only one time. Males and female were recaptured more than 2 and 8 times, respectively. Males and females were recaptured from subsequent positions as far apart as 55 m and 30 m, as close as 0,2 m and 0.1 m. Average neighbor distances on successive capture positions of males recaptured was 10.1 m, and that of females was 4.2 m, suggesting that there were significant difference in site fidelity between females and males. However, there was not significant average activity distance between the sexes. For females, small average activity areas were 10.9 ± 14.9 m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I used skeletochronology to estimate age structure of the Siberian Wood Frog, Rana amurensis, from northeastern China. Average age did not differ significantly between males and females. Age at sexual maturity in both males and females was 1 year. For both sexes the maximum age observed was 4 years. Average body size differed significantly between the sexes, with males being larger than females. A significantly and positively correlation between body size and age was found within each sex in the population. When the effect of age was controlled, males also had larger size than females, suggesting that sexual selection for larger males might improve male mating success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age structure and body size of a population of the China Wood Frog (Rana chensinensis) in northeastern China were determined by using skeletochronology. Lines of arrested growth (LAGs) recorded in phalanges were used to estimate the age of adults. Results showed that average age did not differ significantly between males and females. Age at sexual maturity in both sexes was 1 yr. The maximum observed longevity was 5 yrs in males and 4 yrs in females, respectively. Average body size of females was significantly larger than males. A non-significant negative correlation between body size and air temperature was found among the seven populations when the effect of altitude, latitude and age was controlled, suggesting that latitudinal variation in body size of Rana chensinensis across different temperature environment do not follow Bergmann's rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature change may affect physiology, distribution, morphology and adaptation of animals. Using individuals captured in Nanchong and Laojunshan Nature Reserve of Sichuan province in western China, we tested head-body length variation in the mole-shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) in relation to annual temperature and elevation. Our results indicate that head-body length of both males and females decreases with decreasing ambient temperature along an altitudinal gradient. Likewise, there is significant monthly variation in head-body length, with individuals in warmer months being larger than that colder ones. The seasonal variation in head-body length suggests the higher predator risk and lower food availability in cold months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Chiritopsis (Gesneriaceae), C. danxiaensis W. B. Liao, S. S. Lin & R. J. Shen, is described and illustrated from Mount Danxiashan, Guangdong Province, China. The new species is morphologically closely related to C. lobulata and C. cordifolia, but is characterized by having denticulate bracts, yellowish corolla, 2 glabrous staminodes and longer style. A revised key to all species of the genus is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age determination in amphibians is crucial to investigation of life-history traits. In this context, we studied age structure of the Guenther's frog, Hylarana guentheri, population from southwestern China located at an altitude of 300 m using skeletochronological method. Our results showed that age in adult males ranged from 1 to 4 years, and from 2 to 6 years in adult females. Average age in females was significantly older than males in 2008 and 2009. Also, females had significantly larger average body size than males in both years. A significant relationship between age and body size within each sex was found in this species for both years. The ANCOVA analysis revealed that there was significant difference in body size between sexes when the effect of age was removed. The von Bertalanffy's model showed that females had larger [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]