Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cheng-He Sun, Hong-Yi Liu, Peng Xu, Chang-Hu Lu
Summary: The study on genetic variation of wild red-crowned cranes in East Asia revealed high polymorphism in the migratory population, providing valuable information for reintroduction efforts and understanding the genetic properties of the endangered crane population.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ayaka Yokokawa, Wenjing Dong, Kunikazu Momose, Hiroko Iima, Tomoo Yoshino, Kenichi Izumi, Yusuke Kawai, Tomoko Amano, Tatsuro Nakamura, Akira Sawada, Daiji Endoh, Nobuyoshi Nakajima, Hiroki Teraoka
Summary: The study analyzed the intestinal contents of red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido, Japan to determine their dietary preferences. The results showed that corn was the most consumed crop by adult and subadult cranes, followed by barley, wheat, soybean, and vegetables. Some of the detected crops were not locally grown, indicating the reliance of red-crowned cranes on dairy farmers for their feed supply. The study provides valuable insights into the feeding habits and dependencies of red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Min Xu, Zunlei Liu, Xiaojing Song, Fei Wang, Yihe Wang, Linlin Yang, Takayoshi Otaki, Jiabin Shen, Teruhisa Komatsu, Jiahua Cheng
Summary: The National Yancheng Rare Birds Nature Reserve is an important habitat for red-crowned cranes in China, but little is known about the ecology of fish larvae and juveniles that are prey for the cranes. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between tidal variations and the number of fish larvae and juveniles at different developmental stages. The results showed that the number of fish species and larvae varied with tidal height and were influenced by species and developmental stage. These findings provide valuable insights for the management of the wild population in the reserve.
Article
Ornithology
Hongyi Liu, Wei Xu, Nan Xu, Wenwen Zhang, Haoming Jiang, Yongqiang Zhao, Changhu Lu, Ying Zhu, Peng Xu
Summary: Understanding the diet of threatened wildlife is crucial for species-specific conservation and habitat management. This study used high throughput sequencing to determine the primary plant and animal food items in the diet of Red-crowned Cranes during the wintering period. The results showed a relatively broad dietary niche for this crane species, with a diverse composition of both plant and animal foods in December.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Wei Xu, Nan Xu, Qingzheng Zhang, Keyi Tang, Ying Zhu, Rong Chen, Xinyi Zhao, Wentao Ye, Changhu Lu, Hongyi Liu
Summary: This study explores the association of diet and indoor and outdoor environments with the gut microbiome of red-crowned cranes. The findings suggest that the gut microbiome of red-crowned cranes can adapt to changes in diet and environment. Therefore, reducing the proportion of live mealworms in the initial feeding stage is recommended to minimize the negative impact of high-protein and high-fat foods on the gut microbiome and growth and development of red-crowned cranes.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wentao Ye, Wei Xu, Nan Xu, Rong Chen, Changhu Lu, Hongyi Liu
Summary: In this study, the researchers sequenced the full-length unreferenced transcriptome of red-crowned cranes for the first time using a PacBio Sequel platform. After correcting the PacBio sequencing data with Illumina data, they identified important genetic information and discovered differences in the expression of lncRNAs and TFs in various tissues of the cranes, as well as enriched immune-related pathways in the spleen.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cheng Wang, Gang Wang, Lingjun Dai, Hongyu Liu, Yufeng Li, Chunqi Qiu, Yi Zhou, Hao Chen, Bin Dong, Yongqiang Zhao, Yanan Zhang
Summary: The study assessed waterbird habitat functions in Yancheng coastal wetlands using SPCA, revealing changes in habitat areas and driving factors such as habitat types, area, and diversity. Countermeasures and suggestions were proposed to maintain habitat functions and restore key nodes for waterbirds in the wetlands.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chuandong Tan, Jingwei Ma, Yusheng Yan, Ge Hong, Xuefei Wu
Summary: This study aims to prioritize wetlands in Wuhan City for waterbird conservation based on diversity, rarity, and conservation costs. The results reveal the primary environmental variables influencing the potential spatial distribution of waterbirds and identify cost-effective priority wetlands. Major wetland conservation gaps have been identified, and recommendations are made to enhance waterbird management in existing protected areas. This research provides scientific evidence and emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between conservation effectiveness and cost.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xinyi Zhao, Wentao Ye, Wei Xu, Nan Xu, Jiajun Zheng, Rong Chen, Hongyi Liu
Summary: The gut microbiota of red-crowned cranes is resilient to the avian influenza vaccine and anthelmintic treatment, even though it may be disrupted in the short term. However, it can recover and reach homeostasis over time. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota underwent changes after the treatment, but tended to stabilize in the short term. The study suggests the need for more controlled experiments to contribute to animal disease control and optimal management in zoos.
Article
Environmental Studies
Yuxun Wang, Liang Fang, Chao Liu, Lanxin Wang, Huimei Xu
Summary: To effectively protect the habitat of cranes, this study constructs an indicator evaluation system based on the ecology-economy-society complex system, measures the degree of coordinated development using comprehensive entropy weight method and analytic hierarchy process evaluation model, and analyzes key factors affecting habitat quality using a negative binomial regression model and support vector regression model. The results show that the coordinated development of the system has a positive impact on crane habitat, and ecological and social indicators are key factors affecting population size. Measures to improve habitat quality include wildlife conservation publicity, reducing agricultural land reclamation and pesticide pollution, and promoting coordinated development of the system.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Chen Rong, Deng Changlin, Wang Guodong, Li Meirong, Wang Shujie, Liu Hongyi, Zhu Menglin, Lu Chengping
Summary: The study on using three-dimensional printed prosthetic beaks made of titanium alloy and PEEK materials to repair a red-crowned crane with a complete fracture revealed that the PEEK prosthetic beak was superior to the titanium alloy prosthetic beak in terms of color, weight, firmness, and postoperative effects.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
J. Patrick Donnelly, Sammy L. King, Jeff Knetter, James H. Gammonley, Victoria J. Dreitz, Blake A. Grisham, M. Cathy Nowak, Daniel P. Collins
Summary: The study focused on the connectivity of avian flyways in water-limited ecosystems of western North America, utilizing GPS tagged sandhill cranes to reconstruct wetland stopover networks and evaluate their importance in migration. Results emphasized the significance of migratory efficiency and key stopover sites in minimizing movement cost and preserving flyway connectivity.$model depictions illustrated wetland declines which may reflect a new normal in landscape drying that could impact agriculture-waterbird relationships as water scarcity intensifies.
Article
Ecology
Amir Ansari
Summary: This study aimed to predict the effect of climate change on the habitat suitability of Siberian Crane in breeding and wintering ranges in Asia Wetlands. Four modeling methods were used to determine the relationships between the species occurrence and bioclimatic variables. The results showed that temperature seasonality and range had the most important role in habitat suitability, and climate change could result in significant habitat loss by 2050.
Article
Ornithology
Jonah Gula, M. Clay Green, Sarah Fritts, W. Richard J. Dean, K. S. Gopi Sundar
Summary: This study assessed distribution trends and relationships with protected area extent for six African stork species, finding widespread distribution from East to Southern Africa but highly fragmented ranges in West Africa. It also revealed a positive relationship between occurrence and protected area extent, suggesting the importance of protected habitat for storks.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Erika Kawasaki, Makoto Hasebe, Ji-Hee Hwang, Eun-Young Kim, Kisup Lee, Kunikazu Momose, Hiroki Teraoka
Summary: The endangered Red-crowned cranes have separate populations on the mainland and the island of Hokkaido. The study found different haplotypes among the island cranes and confirmed multiple haplotypes in captive and stray cranes. New haplotypes were discovered in wild crane feathers collected in South Korea, and feathers were found in a nest in northwestern Hokkaido. The results suggest crossbreeding between the island and mainland crane populations.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Ming Nie, Wenwen Liu, Steven C. Pennings, Bo Li
Article
Ecology
Xu Shi, Cheng Hu, Joshua Soderholm, Jason Chapman, Huafeng Mao, Kai Cui, Zhijun Ma, Dongli Wu, Richard A. Fuller
Summary: Interpretation of weather radar signals has been used to monitor bird migration patterns in Europe and America, but not yet in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). This study discusses the feasibility and challenges of using weather radar to complement on-ground bird migration surveys in the EAAF. The authors conclude that the weather radar network could be a powerful resource for monitoring bird movements in the EAAF, especially in remote regions.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huimin Sun, Hongyang Chen, Jintao Li, Yan Zhang, Xiang Liu, Jinquan Li, Bo Li, Shurong Zhou, Ming Nie
Summary: As climate warms, the strength of microbial thermal acclimation and its effects on soil carbon feedback may be influenced by multiple environmental factors, including nitrogen concentration and soil acidity. This study found that under warming conditions, higher nitrogen enrichment reduced the mass-specific respiration rates in alpine permafrost soils. The strength of thermal acclimation was found to increase as nitrogen enrichment increased, but the pathways by which nitrogen affects acclimation can vary.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinxin Wang, Xiangming Xiao, Xi Zhang, Jihua Wu, Bo Li
Summary: Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to sea-level rise, extreme climate, and human activities, especially in large river deltas. This study quantified the changes in area and patch number of coastal wetlands in China's four major river deltas, and assessed the effects of driving factors. It was found that the Liaohe River Delta and Yellow River Delta experienced substantial losses, while the Yangtze River Delta showed recent recoveries. The Pearl River Delta had a relatively stable area trend but an increasing patch number trend. Protected areas were effective in halting the decreasing trends in coastal wetland areas, but were counteracted by invasive plant invasions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jianshe Chen, Chunming Li, Changlu Wu, Xuena Sun, Xuesong Feng, Jiayuan Zhao, Zhijun Ma, Jihua Wu, Mark D. Bertness, Bo Li, Qiang He
Summary: Large animals, including waterbirds, have long been considered as passengers in wetland ecosystems, but this study reveals that they play a more diverse and important role. Waterbirds were found to have both negative and positive effects on wetland macrofauna, influencing their abundance, biomass, and diversity. These findings suggest that the driver roles of waterbirds in shaping wetland ecosystems should be considered in conservation decisions.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Yaolin Guo, Youzheng Zhang, Jihua Wu, Christina L. Richards, Oliver Bossdorf, Bo Li, Rui-Ting Ju
Summary: This study compared the effects of latitudinal variation on leaf litter chemistry and palatability to detritivores between invasive and native plants, and investigated the relationships between chemical traits, climate, and detritivory. The results showed geographic clines in litter traits and palatability, with strong links between climate, litter chemistry, and detritivory.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuanfei Pan, Mu Liu, Alejandro Sosa, Bo Li, Mang Shi, Xiaoyun Pan
Summary: This study investigates the metacommunities of endophytic fungi in the leaves of an invasive plant and finds that the structure of these fungal communities is influenced by multiple spatial scales and different drivers. These findings are important for understanding the global patterns of fungal diversity.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip A. Martin, Alec P. Christie, Gorm E. Shackelford, Amelia S. C. Hood, Shengyu Wang, Bo Li, William Morgan, Madeleine Lee, David C. Aldridge, William J. Sutherland
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shangxiao Cai, Tong Mu, He-Bo Peng, Zhijun Ma, David S. Wilcove
Summary: Understanding species distribution patterns and their determinants is crucial for effective conservation planning and management. Loss of stopover habitat in the Yellow Sea region is believed to be the main cause of population decline in shorebirds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). This study reveals that the heterogeneity of sediment characteristics and invertebrate prey plays a significant role in explaining the distribution patterns of shorebird species in a key stopover site in eastern China.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shiyun Qiu, Qun Zhang, Xiao Xu, Xincheng Li, Chenhao Zhou, Ji Yang, Wenneng Zhou, Bo Li
Summary: The effects of nutrient enrichment on the reproductive differences between invasive and native plants were studied. Nutrient enrichment generally reduced the reproduction of native plants but increased that of invasive plants. This study shows that nutrient enrichment can confer the invasive plant a reproductive advantage, demonstrating an overlooked pathway for biological invasions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Danfeng Liu, Yunshan Liu, Maoye Liu, Yupeng Geng, Yongjun Zhang, Evan Siemann, Bo Li, Yi Wang
Summary: The chemical defenses of invasive plant Phytolacca americana and noninvasive Phytolacca icosandra against herbivore Spodoptera litura were compared. It was found that P. americana repelled S. litura when free from attack, but formed an ecological trap after being infested. The study revealed that P. americana attracted herbivores with released (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, but repelled them with herbivore-induced volatile DMNT.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Yanlin Cui, Yanan Tang, Sen Yang, Wei Wu, Xuesong Feng, Qiang Ma, Dongliang Niu, Jun Ma, Zhijun Ma
Summary: This study investigated the population and habitat changes of wintering Hooded Cranes in Chongming Dongtan, China from 2000 to 2021. The results showed that the tidal wetland has undergone significant changes, affecting the food availability and habitat quality for the cranes. It is suggested that active intervention measures be taken to restore the food source on the tidal wetland and reduce human disturbance in farmland to improve the habitat quality for the wintering Hooded Crane.
Article
Remote Sensing
Xi Zhang, Xiangming Xiao, Xinxin Wang, Xiao Xu, Shiyun Qiu, Lianghao Pan, Jun Ma, Ruiting Ju, Jihua Wu, Bo Li
Summary: Biological invasions, especially by Spartina alterniflora, are significantly impacting the structure and functions of coastal ecosystems in China. Urgent efforts to control the spread of this invasive species are hindered by the lack of time-series data. By using satellite images, this study successfully generated annual maps of Spartina saltmarshes from 1985 to 2020, revealing a continuous expansion of Spartina along the coast. The invasion history and frequency of changes were found to be influenced by latitude, with low latitudes experiencing longer and more frequent invasions. Human interventions have contributed to the decline in certain areas, but natural spread remains the primary driver of its extensive invasion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Zhijun Ma, Chi-Yeung Choi, Xiaojing Gan, Jing Li, Yang Liu, David S. Melville, Tong Mu, Theunis Piersma, Zhengwang Zhang
Summary: This article reviews the conservation measures taken to protect waterbirds in China's coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future actions. While progress has been made with the implementation of conservation legislation and regulations, there are still critical issues related to habitat conservation and management. Protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are emphasized as crucial for the conservation of coastal waterbirds.