Effective conservation of range-restricted reptiles requires a detailed understanding of their ecological traits and behavioural ecology. The mountain dragon lizard (Diploderma batangense), a narrow-range endemic restricted to western China and classified as a National Class II Protected species, remains poorly studied, and conservation efforts have been limited. From 2021 to 2025, extensive field investigations were undertaken to assess its population structure, habitat preferences, trophic ecology, behavioural repertoire and diel activity patterns. The population exhibited a balanced sex ratio across ontogenetic stages, a marked decline in total captures (approximate to 27% from 2021 to 2025) and an age structure skewed towards adults (subadult-to-adult ratio of 1:2.5). Both sexes predominantly occupied exposed rocky substrates yet exhibited marked intersexual divergence in microhabitat selection. The species was broadly omnivorous, feeding primarily on lepidopterans and hemipterans, with occasional consumption of Fabaceae flowers. Reproductive activity peaked in late May, with oviposition occurring from late July to early August, during which females exhibited characteristic nesting behaviours. Visual signalling, most notably push-up displays, dominated social interactions and served critical roles in both courtship and territorial defence. Activity patterns varied by season and sex, with both sexes roosting nocturnally on shrub branches during summer. These findings establish the first comprehensive ecological baseline for D. batangense, providing essential data for informed conservation and habitat management strategies.

Understanding how closely related taxa diverge and persist in spatial contact zones is central to explaining biodiversity dynamics. Habitat heterogeneity can promote lineage divergence through disruptive ecological pressures that favor differentiation in morphology, behavior, and ecological traits. This study focused on two closely related parapatric species, Diploderma yangi and D. slowinskii, which occupy contrasting microhabitats across the Nujiang River Basin in western China. The analysis integrated environmental, morphological, and dietary datasets to elucidate how niche differentiation stabilizes species boundaries in a landscape characterized by pronounced heterogeneity. Altitudinal and microhabitat features, including substrate composition and stone size, clearly delineated their distributions. The arboreal species, D. slowinskii, exhibited a larger overall body size, elongated limbs, and an extended tail relative to the saxicolous-terrestrial taxon D. yangi, consistent with biomechanical demands of climbing rather than ground-based movement. Despite both taxa functioning as arthropod generalists, trophic profiles diverged markedly: D. yangi primarily consumes smaller prey, whereas D. slowinskii targets larger arthropods. This divergence in trophic niche breadth is potentially driven by habitat-specific prey structure, a hypothesis that warrants further validation through assessments of prey abundance across varying habitats. These results suggest that strong environmental gradients within a narrow contact zone generate persistent ecological divergence, with coordinated shifts in habitat use, morphology, and diet. Collectively, this study supports a mechanistic model of parapatric diversification and underscores the role of fine-scale habitat complexity in sustaining high species richness across the Hengduan Mountains.

Age structure provides a vital perspective for understanding population ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. Here, we compiled data on maximum age, average age, and age at sexual maturity for 184 anuran species across 22 families from published literature. We evaluated the effects of climate factors, geographical gradients, habitat types, and body size on age-structure traits. Furthermore, we projected future trends in age structure under various climate change scenarios. Our results indicate that broad habitat categories did not significantly influence age-related traits, likely due to the buffering capacity of microhabitats, which mitigates climate-related differences across habitats. In contrast, age traits exhibited sex-specific responses to environmental drivers, potentially reflecting divergent reproductive energy allocation strategies and metabolic trade-offs between males and females. Future projections suggest that climate change will lead to a widespread decline in both lifespan and average age across anurans, resulting in a shift toward younger populations with shorter lifespans and a general trend toward smaller body size. These findings deepen our understanding of how anurans respond to environmental changes and provide a scientific foundation for developing effective conservation strategies.

The genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 of the family Scincidae currently includes 50 species. However, due to challenges in sample collection, the taxonomy and phylogeny of this genus remain poorly resolved. This study conducted a taxonomic study of the genus Scincella based on three mitochondrial gene fragments (12S, 16S, COI) combined with morphological comparisons. The results indicated the specimens collected in Heishui County, Sichuan Province, China, represented a previously undescribed species. This new taxon is formally described as Scincella heishuiensis sp. nov. Phylogenetically, the new species is most closely related to S. wangyuezhaoi, which is another species recently described in Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. As a new species, the uncorrected genetic distance between this new species and its closest relative within the genus, as calculated based on 16S rRNA, is 5.45%. The new species can be distinguished from other closely related species by the following morphological characters: (1) 4 dorsal scale rows between dorsolateral stripes; (2) 5-7 superciliary; (3) 28 midbody scale-rows; (4) 24-25 gulars; (5) during the breeding season, the ventral scales and preanal exhibit a reddish-brown color; and (6) a black lateral stripe extends from behind the eye to the posterior third of the tail near the cloaca. In the phylogenetic analysis, the new species and S. wangyuezhaoi form an independent lineage, distinctly separate from all other taxa included in the study. The new species has currently been recorded and discovered in Heishui County in Sichuan Province, China. This description thus increases the number of members in the genus Scincella in China to 17 species.

Sexual dimorphism is prevalent among animals, influencing both functional morphological traits and behavioral performances. In this study, we investigated the sexual differences in the morphological parameters of Kaloula borealis (Anura, Microhylidae) during the breeding season using 48 specimens. Our results reveal that among the 16 external morphological traits, females had significantly larger snout-vent length and eye diameter than males. The former presumably contributes to enhancing fertility, while the latter is associated with larger body size. Males exhibited significantly greater head width and thigh width than females, which may be related to accessing a wider range of food sources and enhancing their locomotor ability, respectively. Among the 32 appendicular muscles, 10 displayed significant sexual dimorphism in dry mass, suggesting divergent reproductive strategies between the sexes. Among the eight internal organs analyzed, males possessed significantly heavier hearts and lungs than females, which is likely an adaptation to higher metabolic demands and calling behavior. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that sex-specific differences in external morphology, muscle mass, and internal organ mass reflect distinct ecological and reproductive adaptations between males and females and contribute to the phenotypic diversities in Anura.

Skeletons serve as the body’s fundamental structure and perform multiple vital functions, and thus even subtle modifications can lead to functional changes. However, studies on sexual shape dimorphism in the appendicular skeletons of anurans remain scarce, especially for fossorial species. Herein, we investigated the sexual differences in the external morphology and internal skeletal shape of girdles and limbs of fossorial Kaloula rugifera during the breeding season. The results reveal the following: (1) Males exhibit significantly longer forelimbs and hindlimbs, suggesting advantages in male—male competition and amplexus. (2) Males possess more curved and dilated coracoids and broader pubis-ischium regions, which may enhance forelimb contraction efficiency and hindlimb locomotor performance. (3) Males feature a more developed crista ventralis, likely enhancing forelimb flexion for tightly grasping females during mating. In contrast, females display a torsioned femur and robust hindlimb morphology, suggesting adaptations for digging and load-bearing. These findings provide insights into how anurans optimize reproductive fitness and ecological adaptations through morphological specialization. To our knowledge, this study presents the first examination of sexual shape dimorphism in anuran appendicular skeletons utilizing three-dimensional geometric morphometrics.

Bufotes taxkorensis and B. zamdaensis are toads endemic to China. Both species inhabit highelevation and saline environments, and so provide a unique opportunity to investigate the adaptive responses of amphibians to extreme habitats. In the present study, we first observed and measured the histological structures of their skin and kidney in B.taxkorensis and B. zamdaensis. We then compared these results with similar findings for the low-elevation seawater dweller Fejervarya cancrivora and, finally,contrasted them with available data on species living in diverse habitats. Our results revealed the following adaptations:(1) In the Bufotes species, the epidermis and dermis both contain capillary vessels, facilitating blood-gas exchange and promoting adaptation to high-elevation hypoxia. The thick pigment layers present in the ventral skin of B. taxkorensis also help in adaptation to lower temperatures. In addition, the relative epidermis thickness of the dorsal and ventral skin is significantly greater in Bufotes species than in F.cancrivora, indicating adaptation to a terrestrial habitat.Comparing the terrestrial and semiaquatic species, we find that total dorsal and ventral thicknesses are both significantly greater in terrestrial than in semiaquatic species, helping to reduce water evaporation and damage from crawling, and thus promoting adaptation to terrestrial life.(2) The relative kidney filtration area of the Bufotes species is not significantly different from that of F. cancrivora, but accounts for only half that of terrestrial Bufo species. This lower total relative filtration area prevents excessive urea from being filtered out, avoiding excessive loss of body water and promoting adaptation to saline conditions. At the same time, the relative diameter of the proximal segment of Bufotes species is found to be similar to that of the semiaquatic F. cancrivora,facilitating the resorption of water and ions to increase plasma osmolality and promoting adaptation to saline environments. The findings of the present study offer insights into the adaptive mechanisms of amphibians in extreme environments and different habitats.

Lizards exhibit sexual dimorphism in various phenotypic traits and capability performance (e.g. bite force), while the patterns of sexual dimorphism vary among genera and species. The relationship between morphology and function is dynamic, and selective pressures can differentially affect bite performance in different sexes. Here, we analyzed sexual dimorphism in morphological traits and bite force and explored the determinants of bite force in the mountain dragon (Diploderma batangense) from western China. A total of 135 individuals were collected, and nine morphological characteristics and bite force were measured. We found a significant male bias in morphology and bite force performance, with males found to be larger than females in regard to head size, body size, limb length, tail length and bite force, which could be explained by sexual selection. Results also showed that bite force was positively correlated with head size, with the determinant affecting bite force differing between males( mouth length) and females( head width), which may be related to their different roles in reproduction. This study provides a reference for understanding the ecological adaptability of mountain dragons in the field and lays a foundation for revealing the mechanism of bite force variation between the sexes.

辽宁省林蛙资源十分丰富,是华北区和东北区林蛙分布最多的省份,省内分布的林蛙有东北林蛙Rana dybowskii、黑龙江林蛙R.amurensis、太行林蛙R.taihangensis、桓仁林蛙R.huan-rensis和韩国林蛙R.coreana.为进一步加强对野生林蛙资源的保护和利用,该文对分布在辽宁省内的几种林蛙进行分类历史和分布范围的整理总结,以期对林蛙资源的保护、利用以及相关研究提供依据.

逃逸行为是野生动物反捕食策略的重要组成部分,开展逃逸行为研究对评估人类干扰对野生动物的影响具有重要意义.雌雄两性由于生理和繁殖角色的差异,逃逸行为可能表现出差异性.本研究选择金沙江上游2种近缘龙蜥物种(巴塘龙蜥Diploderma batangense和丽喉龙蜥D.formosgulae)为研究对象,从种内(两性)和种间2个层次对其逃逸行为进行对比研究.结果显示:2种龙蜥的逃逸行为模式表现出一致性,均为"探视-姿势变化-逃逸";丽喉龙蜥雄性的逃逸距离显著大于雌性,而逃逸起始距离和避难所使用比例未表现出差异性;巴塘龙蜥雌雄两性的逃逸起始距离、逃逸距离和避难所使用比例均未表现出差异性;从种间比较来看,2种龙蜥逃逸行为也未表现出差异性,表明近缘物种的逃逸行为可能具有较大的相似性;此外,2种龙蜥社会交流过程中频繁使用的动作信号均不具有反捕食功能.本研究可为横断山区龙蜥物种的保护提供一定的依据.

Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve (JNNR) is a renowned World Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO-designated World Nature Heritage Site. The age structure and body size of a population are crucial for assessing the quality of habitats in which a population lives and are essential for the vertebrate conservation and management, especially for amphibians. Unfortunately, information about the life history traits of amphibians is currently unavailable in JNNR. Herein, we first estimated the age structure and body size of Rana kukunoris, which is endemic to the Eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Then, we compared our data with 28 reported populations along an elevation gradient (1797–3450 m) and investigated how life history traits respond to climatic variations. Our results indicated the following: (1) For individuals from JNNR, the maximum longevity is 8 years, age at sexual maturity (ASM) is 2 years, suggesting a favorable ecological environment in JNNR. Notably, females are significantly larger than males due to the age factor. (2) The average age and ASM show a positive correlation with elevation. However, when the elevation exceeds 3000 m, the average SVL initially increases and then decreases due to the harsh environmental conditions at higher elevation. (3) Temperature and/or UV-B have a significant impact on the average age, ASM, and average SVL variations of R. kukunoris, suggesting adaptive potential of this species via life history variations in light of environmental changes. These accounts provide antecedent information about the life history traits of amphibians in JNNR, and provide insights into the driving factors of the life history variations of the plateau brown frog.

该文通过收集、整理和分析爬行动物研究文献,并结合相关分类网站进行系统总结,对辽宁省爬行动物名录进行厘定.截至2021年底,辽宁省共记录爬行动物2目10科18属32种.与原名录相比,更改了 2目、5科、10属、21种共38处,同时,简要叙述了分类变动史.

该文通过收集、整理和分析两栖动物研究文献,结合相关分类网站进行系统总结,对辽宁省两栖动物名录进行厘定.截至2020年底,共记录辽宁省两栖动物2目6科11属16种.与原名录相比,更改了1科、3属、8种共12处,新增花蟾属、腺蛙属、侧褶蛙属3属,辽宁爪鲵、桓仁林蛙2新种.同时,简要叙述了分类变动史.

Based on molecular evidence and morphological data, we describe a new species Raorchestes yadongensis sp. nov. from Yadong County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. The new species can be distinguished based on a combination of the following characters: (1) small body size, SVL 17.8-24.1 mm in adult males; (2) head wider than long; (3) eye diameter about three times as much as tympanum diameter; (4) tympanum distinct; (5) fingers with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral dermal fringes; relative finger lengths I < II < IV < III; number of subarticular tubercles in fingers 1, 1, 2, 1; (6) toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral dermal fringes; relative toe lengths I < II < III < V < IV; number of subarticular tubercles in toes 1, 1, 2, 3, 2; inner metatarsal tubercle distinct, outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (7) tips of fingers and toes present discs, and discs pale brown or yellow in life; (8) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the tip of snout when adpressed; (9) milky nuptial pad present on the dorsal surface of first finger; (10) dorsal surface light brown with white warts, ventral surface with irregular white patches. The new species is currently known in Yadong County, Xizang, China, but may also occur in neighboring Bhutan and India. A key to Chinese species of the genus Raorchestes is also provided.

为探究帕米尔漠蟾蜍(Bufotes taxkorensis)对高原环境的适应特征,观察了其皮肤、肾和肝的组织结构,并对躯干和胫部的皮肤总厚度、表皮层厚度、真皮层厚度和相对腺体数量,肾的肾小球密度、肾相对总滤过面积、远端小管和近端小管的相对管径在SPSS 25.0中做了独立样本t检验分析.结果显示:(1)帕米尔漠蟾蜍皮肤粗糙,布满皱褶,由表皮和真皮组成.皮肤厚度存在部位和性别差异.雌雄性躯干和胫部的皮肤总厚度及真皮层厚度均背部显著大于腹部.雌雄性躯干的表皮层为背部显著小于腹部.雄性胫背部表皮层厚度显著大于腹部,而雌性胫背腹部表皮层厚度差异不显著.黏液腺分布于体背和体腹的真皮疏松层,颗粒腺主要分布于体背真皮疏松层.色素呈不规则网状分布于疏松层,背部较腹部多,部分黏液腺和颗粒腺被不连续的色素层包绕.真皮层中存在大量毛细血管,并可见部分毛细血管突入表皮.帕米尔漠蟾蜍的皮肤组织结构体现了对干燥、低温、强紫外线辐射和低氧生活环境的适应,与同样生活在高原环境中的多数无尾两栖类相似.(2)肾呈饱满长条状.肾小体主要分布于肾中央,部分肾小体中肾小球较小,鲍曼囊较宽阔.肾远端小管数量多于近端小管.管周毛细血管分布密集.帕米尔漠蟾蜍肾的总相对滤过面积介于陆栖与水栖无尾两栖类之间,且其肾组织结构体现了对干燥和盐碱环境的适应.(3)肝内结缔组织较少,相邻肝小叶之间界限不清.肝细胞中可见明显的空泡或间隙,细胞核大多位于细胞一侧.肝实质中存在大量黑色素团块.帕米尔漠蟾蜍的肝组织结构体现了对低温和低氧环境特征的适应.

Semblis atrata is one of three Semblis species distributed in clean brooks and streams in northern Eurasia. Genomic DNA of an S. atrata sample was extracted and sequenced for assembly and annotation of its complete mitogenome. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. atrata was 14,909 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The S. atrata COX1 gene features a CGA start codon, and COX1, COX2, ND1, and ND5 exhibit incomplete stop codons that are presumed to be completed by the addition of 3' A residues to the mRNA. The nucleotide composition was highly AT biased, accounting for 77.71% of the whole mitogenome. Phylogenetic analysis placed Semblis as sister to Eubasilissa. The complete mitochondrial genome will be helpful for further studies on the population genetics of this species and phylogenetic analyses of Trichoptera.

本文梳理了新形势下高校大学生创新能力不足的原因,根据沈阳师范大学生命科学学院多年来对生物类本科生创新能力培养的探索与实践,形成了"科研引领、平台支撑、贯穿始终"的生物类本科生创新能力培养模式.该模式通过一系列改革和实践举措,在创新能力培养课程体系完善、创新教育平台搭建、指导教师团队建设、本科生创新立项和竞赛等方面取得了丰硕的成果,实现了将科研资源和优势转化为教学优势和育人成果,提高了本科生创新意识和创新能力,提升了本科生培养质量和专业建设水平.该模式对于地方院校本科生创新能力培养具有一定的借鉴意义.

以社会需求为导向的创新实践教育是现代生物技术专业人才培养的核心任务,强化专业素养与创新教育的有效融合成为创新人才培养亟需解决的问题.沈阳师范大学生物技术专业立足行业发展需求,以深入开展校企联合培养为抓手,针对创新实践人才培养体系进行改革与实践.通过凝练专业特色优化培养方案,保障人才培养有序进行;建立专业科研素养与专业职业素养相结合的双轨创新实践培养模式,促进“产、学、研”有效结合;通过系统化保障制度、个性化实践内容及多样化评价机制等措施对校企联合创新实践体系进行了全面建设;以“课程群”为切入点改革校内课程体系,形成校内外相呼应的创新实践能力闭环培养.目前,满足生物技术专业个性化人才培养的创新实践模式己基本构建形成.

2020年9月中下旬于四川省宜宾市翠屏区菜坝村(28°48′18.64″N,104°32′45.08″E)记录到2只小型鹬类水鸟,经鉴定,为小滨鹬(Calidris minuta),系四川省鸟类新纪录.该鸟为四川地区的迁徙旅鸟.

应用本研究组开发的15个微卫星位点分析长白山南部东北林蛙种群遗传变异和种群动态.采集吉林长白山南部东北林蛙样本11个,辽宁辽东山地样本17个,辽宁千山山地样本8个.研究结果表明,长白山南部东北林蛙种群具有中等水平遗传多样性,三个种群无显著遗传分化,遗传变异主要来自于个体间;种群异质化程度有所提高,存在一定近交现象;在100 km距离内东北林蛙呈现正的空间遗传相关性;长白山南部东北林蛙经历过短期瓶颈效应.在种质资源保护对策上应将本区东北林蛙种群作为一个保护单元.