Ecological Survey and Conservation of Legume-Symbiotic Rhizobia Genetic Diversity in Southern China and Northern Laos, 2004

A field survey was conducted in southern China (Wenshan district of Yunnan province) from October 10 to 22, 2004 and in northern Laos (Udom Xai, Luang Nam Tha and Phongsali provinces) from November 6 to 22, 2004. In Yunnan, Vigna umbellata, V. angularis, V. unguiculata, V. hirtella, Lablab purpureus, Glycine max, and Phaseolus vulgaris were collected. In northern Laos, Vigna reflexo-pilosa, V. unguiculata, V. minima, V. umbellata, V. hirtella, V. tenuicaulis, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Lablab purpureus, and Glycine max were collected. In both areas, the most important traditional leguminous crop among minor ethnic groups was found to be the rice bean (V. umbellata). A high level of seed color variation in rice bean landraces was observed in northern Laos, while creamy tan seed color rice bean was predominant in Yunnan. Rice bean had already been harvested in mid-October in Yunnan, while most of the rice bean plants were still in the shifting cultivation fields when we visited (mid-November) in northern Laos. Seed samples as well as root nodules were collected when they are available and were deposited in each country of origin.中国雲南省から東南アジア大陸部北部山岳地帯は, 照葉樹林文化の中核に当たる地帯であり, 古くから焼畑農耕を生産基盤にした多様な民族が暮らしてきた場所である. 農耕の長い歴史のもとに, 多様な民族がそれぞれに独自の栽培品種を成立させてきたものと考えられるため, 在来作物の高い遺伝的多様性が期待できる. 本調査では, 中国雲南省文山壮族苗族自治州およびラオス北部の Luang Prabang 県, Udomxai 県, Luang Nam Tha 県, Phongsali 県を探索し, 伝統的マメ科作物, その近縁野生種および共生している根粒菌の収集保全を行った

Diet, prey selection, and activity of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in northern Laos

The Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) occurs in small, declining, and highly fragmented populations throughout Southeast Asia, whereas the smaller leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is common and widespread. In contrast to leopard cats, little is known about the ecology of Asian golden cats, and resource partitioning between these species has not been studied. We used DNA-confirmed scats, camera-trap data, and prey surveys, to determine the diet, prey selection, and activity, of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in a protected area in northern Laos. The two felids had different diets: Asian golden cats consumed mostly ungulates (35% biomass consumed), murid rodents (23%), and carnivores (15%), whereas leopard cats consumed mostly murid rodents (79%). Asian golden cats were not random in their consumption of ungulates, because muntjac (Muntiacus spp.) were selectively consumed over larger ungulates, indicating muntjac were preyed upon rather than scavenged. Dietary overlap between the two felid species was moderate (R0 = 0.60), and the dietary niche breadth of Asian golden cats (B = 8.44) was nearly twice as high as that of leopard cats (4.54). The mean (± SD) scat diameter was greater for Asian golden cats (2.1 ± 0.3 cm) than leopard cats (1.8 ± 0.2 cm), although diameters of leopard cat scats were considerably larger than previously assumed for this species. The felid species differed in their activity patterns, because Asian golden cats were diurnal, whereas leopard cats were nocturnal, although they did not differ in their use of elevation, suggesting there was no habitat segregation. Overall, leopard cats appeared to coexist with Asian golden cats, a potential predator and competitor, by exhibiting dietary and temporal partitioning. Our results showed that muntjac were important prey of Asian golden cats, suggesting the management of muntjac might be important for conserving populations of Asian golden cats