The unique environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau provides a great opportunity to study how primate intestinal microorganisms adapt to ecosystems. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metagenome analysis were conducted to investigate the correlation between gut microbiota in primates and other sympatric animal species living between 3600 and 4500 m asl. Results showed that within the same geographical environment, Macaca mulatta and Rhinopithecus bieti exhibited a gut microbiome composition similar to that of Tibetan people, influenced by genetic evolution of host, while significantly differing from other distantly related animals. The gut microbiota of plateau species has developed similar strategies to facilitate their hosts’ adaptation to specific environments, including broadening its dietary niche and enhancing energy absorption. These findings will enhance our comprehension of the significance of primate gut microbiota in adapting to specific habitats. Analyses of gut microbiomes from sympatric animals of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and comparison with Tibetan human gut microbiomes reveals the impact of host phylogeny on gut microbiota composition.

The responses of nonhuman primates towards conspecific deaths in the wild, and the activities of carnivores scavenging the corpses, are different but interconnected thanatological and ecological aspects of wildlife mortality. We report the first thanatological events observed in a wild, multilevel group of Myanmar or black snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus strykeri [R. strykeri]) and mesocarnivores scavenging on a monkey carcass in the Pianma region, near the China-Myanmar border. We detected two freshly deceased carcasses during field surveys. The group members visited the location of their recently deceased conspecific twice and variously looked down at the carcass, emitted alarm calls and unusual contact calls, hugged social partners and prevented approaches by individuals from other social units. These behaviors suggest strong bonds and emotional reactions to the death of a companion in R. strykeri. Infrared camera trapping revealed the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) as the principal scavenger on the carcass, followed by the yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula). Siberian weasels showed greater activity levels and time spent feeding on the R. strykeri carcass when it was fresh, while remaining vigilant for potential competitors and predators. After the carcass was largely consumed and decayed, both frequency and duration of feeding and vigilance behaviors decreased.

DEAR EDITOR,The Myanmar or black snub-nosed monkey（Rhinopithecus strykeri） is a recently discovered and critically endangered colobus primate with an unknown gut microbiota. Here, we characterized and compared the gut microbiota of R. strykeri with those of two closely related snub-nosed monkey species,

调查自然保护地内的生物多样性现状,对了解当地野生动物种群动态和分布,并制订有效保护对策非常重要.由于地形复杂、植被浓密且缺乏系统调查,云贵高原东北边缘武陵山区的兽类和鸟类多样性数据较为缺乏.2017年3月-2018年12月,对位于武陵山区的湖南八大公山国家级自然保护区的地栖兽类和鸟类多样性现状、群落组成和行为节律进行了红外相机调查,以补充该区域鸟兽多样性本底资料.调查期内共监测了60个相机位点,累计18 525个相机日,拍摄到2 865张独立有效照片,包括8目25科37属,共15种兽类和35种鸟类,其中褐胁雀鹛(Schoeniparus dubius)、褐头鸫(Turdus feae)和白眉鹀(Emberiza tristrami)为保护区鸟类新记录种,相对多度指数较高的动物类群为啮齿目、鲸偶蹄目、食肉目、鸡形目和雀形目.对8种分布广泛、多度指数较高物种日活动节律分析发现:(1)红腿长吻松鼠(Dremomys pyrrhomerus)和花面狸(Paguma larvata)分别为典型的昼行性和夜行性动物,且与其他地区种群的日活动节律高度相似;(2)毛冠鹿(Elaphodus cephalophus)和野猪(Sus scrofa)均为昼夜兼性动物,但两者日活动节律存在显著差异;(3)红腹角雉(Tragopan temminckii)和红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)、眼纹噪鹛(Garrulax ocellatus)和红嘴相思鸟(Leiothrix lutea)之间均存在不同程度的日活动节律差异.本研究补充了湖南八大公山国家级自然保护区地栖兽类和鸟类多样性现状的基础数据以及常见物种的活动节律,有助于今后深入推进本地区生物多样性保护与研究工作.

Gut microbiome gene catalogues have advanced the knowledge of host-microbiome interactions in many mammals. Snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus spp) are folivores with foregut fermentation which is similar to ruminants, but their gut microbiota lacks a comprehensive description. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive gene catalogue by performing metagenomic analysis on 143 wild snub-nosed monkeys and compare it to that of ruminants and monogastric animals. Our results demonstrate the classification and functional characteristics of the gut microbiome of snub-nosed monkeys and identified a set of core genera in these mammals. Moreover, we found that the gut of snub-nosed monkeys and other herbivores was enriched with more bacteria and enzymes related to the degradation of structural carbohydrates, indicating the importance of gut microbiota for dietary adaptation. Our study expands resources for gut microbiome studies of nonhuman primates and provide new insights into the evolutionary route of foregut fermenting animals during dietary adaptation.

We examined the distribution, population, and conservation status of the critically endangered Myanmar or black snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus strykeri ) via field surveys over 26 months (2019–2021) in the Pianma region of the China-Myanmar border. Contrary to previous reports, we only identified one group in the region, which was a cross-border group occupying a multi-year home range of 51.50–57.02 km². The current group size was much larger (155–160 individuals) than that in 2012–2014 ( ca 100 individuals), and the group appeared to be growing. However, confirmed poaching, mining, and transboundary forest fires on the Myanmar side of the border threaten their survival. Our findings provide the latest information on the distribution and population demography of the imperiled R. strykeri , signifying new hope for population recovery of this rare primate species. We highlight cross-border challenges to their conservation and call for transboundary actions between China and Myanmar to protect R. strykeri . individuals

Surveying the activity rhythms of sympatric herbivorous mammals is essential for understanding their niche ecology, especially for how they partition resources and their mechanisms of coexistence. Over a five-year period, we conducted infrared camera-trapping to monitor the activity rhythms of coexisting red serow (Capricornis rubidus) and Chinese serow (C. milneedwardsii milneedwardsii) in the remote mountainous region of Pianma, Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China. Cameras captured images of red serow and Chinese serow on 157 and 179 occasions, respectively. We used circular kernel density models to analyze daily activity rhythms and how temporal variations in activity ensure their co-existence. Although their overall activity levels and patterns were similar, temporal activity and behavior partitioning among the two species occurred during the wet season. Compared with Chinese serows, red serows exhibited less variable daily activity levels, patterns, as well as feeding and vigilance behaviors between seasons. When the two species occasionally ranged together, red serows tended to alter their activity pattern while Chinese serows significantly increased their activity level. Red serow and Chinese serow are exploitative competitors but coexist by altering their daily activity rhythms when in contact and changing activity patterns during the wet season, enabling their coexistence.

Relaxed open-mouth display serves important social functions in relation to submission, reconciliation, affiliation and reassurance among non-human primate societies; however, quantitative evidence on this behavior remains insufficient among multi-level social groups. From July to November 2016, we examined four potential functions of the relaxed open-mouth display during pairwise, intra-unit social interactions among 18 free-ranging adult and sub-adult golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) who belonged to three one-male, multi-female units (OMU) at Dalongtan, Shennongjia National Park, China. Results showed that: compared with no relaxed open-mouth display, (1) the occurrence of displacement by a dominant individual approaching a subordinate was lower and the distance of the subordinate to the approaching dominant was shorter when the subordinate showed open-mouth display; (2) relaxed open-mouth display reduced the probability of continued attack for victims of aggression and allowed victims to achieve closer proximity to the aggressor during post-conflict periods; (3) relaxed open-mouth display by dominant individuals allowed them to achieve closer proximity to subordinates; and (4) the exchange of relaxed open-mouth display had a greater impact on the outcome of interactions than one individual alone giving this signal. These findings suggest that relaxed open-mouth display serves important functions regarding submission, reconciliation, affiliation and reassurance in coordinating social interactions within OMUs in golden snub-nosed monkeys.

高黎贡山地区属于全球生物多样性热点地区之一。长期以来,受地形复杂且植被浓密等限制,对该地区生物多样性现状缺乏全面深入的调查。2013年11月至2015年9月期间,通过布设红外相机,我们对云南高黎贡山国家级自然保护区西坡怒江州泸水县片马区域的兽类和鸟类多样性进行了初步调查,试图进一步补充该区域兽类和鸟类多样性本底资料。调查期内共监测41个不同相机位点,累计9 503个相机日,拍摄到808组独立有效照片。经鉴定包括兽类21种和鸟类24种,分属于10目21科38属,其中怒江金丝猴（Rhinopithecus strykeri）是近年来在高黎贡山地区新发现的灵长类动物。灵长目、肉食目、偶蹄目、雀形目、鸡形目和啮齿目等类群的相对多样性指数较高,且分布广泛。进一步对7种丰富度较高物种的出现时间段分析发现:（1）熊猴（Macaca assamensis）、怒江金丝猴和血雉（Ithaginis cruentus）的日活动规律峰值出现在上午和下午;（2）橙腹长吻松鼠（Dremomys lokriah）和紫啸鸫（Myophonus caeruleus）的日活动高峰出现在中午,但前者在黄昏活动相对较多;（3）黄喉貂（Martes flavigula）和野猪（Sus scrofa）具有一定的夜行性,但野猪的夜行性更强。本研究提供了高黎贡山中段西坡兽类和鸟类多样性现状的基础数据,有助于今后深入研究和推进本地区生物多样性保护。

The Burmese snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri) is one of the most recently discovered primate species, and occurs only along the border of Myanmar and China. Its ecology is largely unknown owing to its harsh and remote habitat. However, study of this new species can contribute to our understanding of how primates adapt to a high-altitude lifestyle. We here describe our preliminary study of a group of R. strykeri, using a mix of direct observation and camera traps, at Pianma, Yunnan, China. From May 2013 to May 2014, we conducted direct observation and deployed 30 camera traps to examine the social characteristics of R. strykeri, estimate group home range via the modified minimum convex polygon method, and estimate the vertical range used. We achieved direct observation on 8 days and obtained 222 camera trap images triggered by the passing of R. strykeri. The cameras captured five one-male, multifemale units and one all-male unit. We observed fusion of units without aggression during both direct observation and camera trapping, suggesting that R. strykeri lives in a multilevel society, similarly to the other members of the genus. The ratio of adults to immatures was high relative to stable populations of Rhinopithecus, suggesting the population is in decline. We estimated the group’s home range to be 22.9 km2 and found that R. strykeri occurred at 2400–3300 m. Our work shows that camera traps can be used effectively to survey rare primates.

由于较难到达等客观原因,以往对高黎贡山中段的鸟类调查比较缺乏.2011年8月至2014年7月,采用样线法对高黎贡山中段六库-姚家坪-风雪垭口-片马一线鸟类多样性进行了调查,旨在完善该区域不同海拔和生境的鸟类信息.野外共观察到225种鸟类,其中有3个高黎贡山新纪录鸟种.结合以往资料,高黎贡山中段共记录鸟类357种,隶属于18目60科,占云南省鸟类903种的39.53％.其中,留鸟282种,占78.99％.该区鸟类垂直分布呈单峰型,以2300～2800 m的中山湿性常绿阔叶林中分布的种类最多.该区域鸟类G-F指数高,多样性十分丰富,而且受危和特有现象明显,保护鸟类42种,横断山区特有鸟类57种,分别占所记录鸟类的1 1.76％和15.97％.结合该区域鸟类的垂直分布特征,提出保护中山湿性常绿阔叶林对该区域鸟类多样性的保护至关重要.此外,我们建议以后也应对该区域低海拔生境的鸟类进行调查.

2011年10月至2013年10月在云南高黎贡山自然保护区泸水县片马镇地区对一群怒江金丝猴的社会组织进行研究,基于野外实地记录与获得的视频资料统计猴群的个体数量,研究群数量初步估计为100只。根据体型、毛色及是否携带婴猴等特征来划分所有个体的性别年龄组,依据单元内个体通过林窗时移动的时间间隔比单元间短的原则来划分不同繁殖单元及全雄群。所有视频中共发现22个一雄多雌单元（OMU）和1个全雄群（AMU）,因此怒江金丝猴的社会组织与其他金丝猴物种相似,由多个一雄多雌及其后代组成繁殖单元（OMUs）与雄性个体组成全雄群（AMU）组成重层社会（Modular society）;另外基于GPS位点初步确定猴群活动的海拔范围为1 900-3 700 m,猴群生境面积约为12 km2,初步获得猴群的密度为8只/km2,比缅甸的种群密度（1只/km2）大得多。基于种群性别年龄计算种群动态参数,雄雌比为1∶2.1,婴雌比为1∶4.7,成幼比为2.5∶1。与滇金丝猴种群相比,该种群有很低的婴雌比和很高的成幼比。