Yingxiang Wang

Evolution and Biogeography of Talpid Moles from Continental East Asia and the Japanese Islands Inferred from Mitochondrial and Nuclear Gene Sequences

Abstract We sequenced the cytochrome b gene from two little-studied mammal species from the highlands of Southwest China, the long-tailed mole Scaptonyx fusicaudus and the gracile shrew-like mole Uropsilus gracilis. This data was used to examine the phylogenetic relationships among 19 talpid species within the family Talpidae (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla). Cytochrome b gene trees supported a basal placement of shrew-like moles (Uropsilus) within the Talpidae, and suggested that fossorial specializations arose twice during talpid evolution. To assess the evolutionary relationships of moles endemic to this region, we additionally sequenced the 12S rRNA gene and the nuclear recombination-activating gene-1 from eight and ten East Asian taxa, respectively. Analyses of these single and concatenated data sets suggested that East Asian shrew moles diverged prior to the evolution of fossorial Eurasian moles. However, we were unable to determine whether semi-fossorial shrew moles are monophyletic. In contrast, fossorial Eurasian genera (Talpa, Mogera and Euroscaptor) were consistently found to form a monophyletic clade, with Mogera and Euroscaptor representing sister taxa. Furthermore, this fossorial clade grouped with the semi-aquatic Desmana, although with fairly low (35–62%) bootstrap support. Mogera imaizumii was found to be more closely related to M. wogura than to M. tokudae. This implies that the ancestors of these three species entered Japan from the Asian continent in this order via a series of migration events, suggesting that the Japanese Islands have played an important role in preserving mole lineages from ancient to recent times.

A multi-locus phylogeny of Nectogalini shrews and influences of the paleoclimate on speciation and evolution.

Nectogaline shrews are a major component of the small mammalian fauna of Europe and Asia, and are notable for their diverse ecology, including utilization of aquatic habitats. So far, molecular phylogenetic analyses including nectogaline species have been unable to infer a well-resolved, well-supported phylogeny, thus limiting the power of comparative evolutionary and ecological analyses of the group. Here, we employ Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of eight mitochondrial and three nuclear genes to infer the phylogenetic relationships of nectogaline shrews. We subsequently use this phylogeny to assess the genetic diversity within the genus Episoriculus, and determine whether adaptation to aquatic habitats evolved independently multiple times. Moreover, we both analyze the fossil record and employ Bayesian relaxed clock divergence dating analyses of DNA to assess the impact of historical global climate change on the biogeography of Nectogalini. We infer strong support for the polyphyly of the genus Episoriculus. We also find strong evidence that the ability to heavily utilize aquatic habitats evolved independently in both Neomys and Chimarrogale+Nectogale lineages. Our Bayesian molecular divergence analysis suggests that the early history of Nectogalini is characterized by a rapid radiation at the Miocene/Pliocene boundary, thus potentially explaining the lack of resolution at the base of the tree. Finally, we find evidence that nectogalines once inhabited northern latitudes, but the global cooling and desiccating events at the Miocene/Pliocene and Pliocene/Pleistocene boundaries and Pleistocene glaciation resulted in the migration of most Nectogalini lineages to their present day southern distribution.

Coexistence of monogamy and polygyny in black-crested gibbon (Hylobates concolor)

All gibbons are monogamous and territorial with the exception ofHylobates concolor. This paper reports the coexistence of monogamy and polygyny in black-crested gibbons. Based on the fact of two adult females and two offspring of the same age category in one group and other reasons, we suppose that the two adult females have bred in a single group, i.e. a polygynous one. The other main reasons are: (1) a large home range makes it possible for more individuals to live in one group; (2) mutual tolerance among two females; and (3) selection pressure favouring polygyny.

TAXONOMY, DISTRIBUTION, AND STATUS OF GIBBONS (HYLOBATES) IN SOUTHERN CHINA AND ADJACENT AREAS

Gibbons are small and arboreal apes restricted to southeastern tropical and southern subtropical regions in Asia. They are distributed from Assam in the northwest, eastward to south China and Vietnam, south through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and the Mentawai Islands. Twenty-two genetically distinct populations of gibbons are generally recognized.Gibbons were once widely distributed in China; however, they are now primarily restricted to southern and southwestern Yunnan and Hainan Island. Their widest distribution and greatest species diversity is in Yunnan Province. Gibbons are rare in China and are now listed as a first class endangered species.Four gibbon species inhabit Yunnan Province in southern China. They areH. hoolock, H. lar, H. leucogenys, andH. concolor. There are three subspecies ofH. leucogenys: H. l. leucogenys, H. l. siki, andH. l. gabriellae. OnlyH. l. leucogenys inhabits China. Four subspecies ofH. concolor inhabit China. These areH. c. concolor, H. c. jingdongensis, H. c. furvogaster, andH. c. hainanus. The first three subspecies inhabit Yunnan andH. c. hainanus is found only on Hainan Island.H. lar yunnanensis is the subspecies ofH. lar in southern China.H. hoolock leucogenys is the subspecies ofH. hoolock in southern China.H. concolor jingdongensis, H. concolor furvogaster, andH. lar yunnanensis are all newly proposed subspecies byMa andWang (1986).The data on southern China gibbons presented here is based on an analysis of the skeletons and skins of 49 specimens held at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan.

A New Species from Southwestern China in the Afro-Palearctic Lineage of the Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus)

Abstract A new species of horseshoe bat (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) is described from southwestern China. The presence of a wedge-shaped sella and pointed connecting process of the nose leaf aligns the new species to the landeri group in the Afro-Palearctic lineage of Rhinolophus. However, the new species is distinctly separable from these allopatrically distributed species by its noticeably larger body size. Other sympatric large-sized species of Rhinolophus have rounded connecting processes. Molecular systematic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome-b sequences confirmed the affinity of the new species to the Afro-Palearctic lineage, but in a clade most closely related to the ferrumequinum, fumigatus, and maclaudi groups. Of these species, only R. ferrumequinum ranges into Asia and overlaps in distribution with the new species. R. ferrumequinum is similar in general body size and external appearance; however, the new species is distinct in the characteristics of the nose leaf, skull, and baculum. The presence of a new species from southwestern China in the Afro-Palearctic lineage indicates a more complex historical biogeographic scenario within Rhinolophus than previously known. The difficulties found in allocating the new species to one of the phenetically described traditional species groups stress the convenience of using a phylogenetically based systematic organization of the genus Rhinolophus.

An Estimation of Erinaceidae Phylogeny: A Combined Analysis Approach

Background Erinaceidae is a family of small mammals that include the spiny hedgehogs (Erinaceinae) and the silky-furred moonrats and gymnures (Galericinae). These animals are widely distributed across Eurasia and Africa, from the tundra to the tropics and the deserts to damp forests. The importance of these animals lies in the fact that they are the oldest known living placental mammals, which are well represented in the fossil record, a rarity fact given their size and vulnerability to destruction during fossilization. Although the Family has been well studied, their phylogenetic relationships remain controversial. To test previous phylogenetic hypotheses, we combined molecular and morphological data sets, including representatives of all the genera. Methodology and Principal Findings We included in the analyses 3,218 bp mitochondrial genes, one hundred and thirty-five morphological characters, twenty-two extant erinaceid taxa, and five outgroup taxa. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using both partitioned and combined data sets. As in previous analyses, our results strongly support the monophyly of both subfamilies (Galericinae and Erinaceinae), the Hylomys group (to include Neotetracus and Neohylomys), and a sister-relationship of Atelerix and Erinaceus. As well, we verified that the extremely long branch lengths within the Galericinae are consistent with their fossil records. Not surprisingly, we found significant incongruence between the phylogenetic signals of the genes and the morphological characters, specifically in the case of Hylomys parvus, Mesechinus, and relationships between Hemiechinus and Paraechinus. Conclusions Although we discovered new clues to understanding the evolutionary relationships within the Erinaceidae, our results nonetheless, strongly suggest that more robust analyses employing more complete taxon sampling (to include fossils) and multiple unlinked genes would greatly enhance our understanding of the Erinaceidae. Until then, we have left the nomenclature of the taxa unchanged; hence it does not yet precisely reflect their phylogenetic relationships or the depth of their genetic diversity.

Studies on the chromosomes of genus Nycticebus

The karyotypes of three species (N. coucang, N. intermedius, andN. pygmaeus) of genusNycticebus, collected from the southern Yunnan of China, have been studied. All individuals from three species possess 2n=50 chromosomes, and all chromosomes in their complement are biarm chromosomes. The karyotype of slow loris (N. coucang) is characterized by having a secondary constriction and Ag-NORs in the short arms of pair No. 1. The G-banding patterns of three species are very similar. Three species are found to have multiple Ag-NORs. InN. coucang, NORs were observed on five pairs (Nos. 1, 6, 9, 15, and 23) and inN. intermedius andN. pygmaeus, NORs were found on four pairs (Nos. 6, 9, 15, and 20). This finding indicates that slow lorises, as primitive primates, also have multiple NOR-bearing chromosomes. Finally, the classification of genusNycticebus by karyotype analysis is discussed, and our results suggest that there are at least two valid species, namely:N. coucang andN. pygmaeus.

Low Genetic Variation of the Yunnan Hare (Lepus comus G. Allen 1927) as Revealed by Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

The Yunnan hare belongs to the genus Lepus, the family Leporidae, Lagomorpha. It is a mountainous species that occurs only throughout the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau except southwest of the Mekong River. It was recognized as a valid species based on some specimens collected from Teng-chong, west of Yunnan Province, by Allen (1927). Since then, few studies were done until Wang et al. (1985) reported their results on morphological analysis. Based on the skeletal characters (supraorbital process and frontal width) and many measurements of different regional populations, Wang et al. recognized three subspecies: L. c. comusin west Yunnan Province (to the west of the Nu River), L. c. penifrom the east and north of Yunnan to west Guizhou Province, and L. c. pygmaeusfrom the north of Yunnan (Lijiang) near the Yangtse River to central Yunnan (Jingdong and Jinggu).L. c. comusis large, with a total skull length of over 88 mm. The nose extends forward, reaching the front of the upper incisor, and the height of the zygoma arch is under 7.0 mm. L. c. pygmaeushas the smallest size, narrowest frontal aspect, and longest snout among the three subspecies. Some authorities still recognize the Yunnan hare as a subspecies of the woolly hare ( Lepus oiostolus). As far as we know, no study on population genetics has been reported. Mitochondrial DNA is a valuable genetic marker for studies of evolutionary relationships and the population genetic structure of species (Harrison, 1989; Irwin et al., 1991; Zhang and Shi, 1992). The mitochondrial cytochrome b g ne

Molecular phylogeny of five species of Dremomys (Rodentia : Sciuridae), inferred from cytochrome b gene sequences

Analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) showed that Dremomys lokriah, D. pernyi, D. pyrrhomerus, D. rufigenis and D. gularis all are separate species. Dremomys pyrrhomerus showed 8.5% sequence variation from D. rufigenis, and the level of estimated sequence divergence observed among D. gularis, D. lokriah and D. pernyi was > 11%. With Tamiops and Callosciurus as the outgroup taxa, in both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses, the five Dremomys species formed one strongly supported monophyletic group and D. pyrrhomerus is closely related to D. rufigenis. The derived divergence times and fossil record suggested that the present geographical distributions of Dremomys owe much to the uplifting of the Himalayas and the successive glacial and interglacial in the Pliocene–Pleistocene.

A New Species of Bamboo Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Tylonycteris) from Southwestern China

Abstract Bamboo bats are a group of small bats with unique skull and morphology. They roost inside hollow bamboo stems in tropical and subtropical Asia and the Ambon Islands (Moluccas). We examined 53 specimens of Tylonycteris from southern and southwestern China. Comparisons of skull and external characteristics, pelage color, shapes of thumbpads and footpads, and statistical analysis of cranial measurements revealed that specimens from Damenglong, Jinghong County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, are distinctly different from the other two species of Tylonycteris described so far. The Yunnan specimens are the smallest in size; have dark blackish brown pelage color; and have larger upper premolars, smaller first lower premolars, and longer C-M3. They are sympatric with the previously described species. Here we review the genus Tylonycteri and describe a new species, Tylonycteris pygmaeus, from the Yunnan material.