Six Thallus Surface Types of Coralline Algae with Descriptions of Two New Records of Amphiroa beauvoisii and Neogoniolithon setchellii in Sanya reef, China

Coralline algae are globally distributed calcifying species and play critical ecological roles to marine ecosystems by contributing significantly to their structural complexity and diversity. Thallus surface types of historical samples in Sanya coral reef reserve were studied based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) method. Our results show six thallus surface types within the study area: Corallina-type, Jania-type, Leptophytum-type, Phymatolithon-type, Pneophyllum-type, and Spongites-type. The Phymatolithon-type is the dominant surface type in Sanya reefs. Two new record species in the region are described: Amphiroa beauvoisii and Neogoniolithon setchellii. Although thallus surface types provide useful diagnostics characters for distinguishing coralline algae at tribe or subfamily level, species identification needs to refer to the reproductive features. This is the first surface study of coralline algae in the South China Sea. This result provides the baseline data needed for the monitoring and management of reef-building organisms of coral reef in China

Effects of 20-day litter weight on weaned piglets’ fighting behavior after group mixing and on heart rate variability in an isolation test

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 20-day litter weight on behavior and heart rate variability (HRV) of piglets under stress. Methods Forty four original litters were categorized as high litter weight (HW) litters (n = 22) and low litter weight (LW) litters (n = 22) by 20-day litter weight. From each original HW litter, three males and three females were randomly selected after weaning and the 12 piglets from two original litters with similar age of days were regrouped into one new high litter weight (NHW) litter (11 NHW litters in total). The original LW litters were treated with a same program, so that there were 11 new low litter weight (NLW) litters as well. The latencies to first fighting, fighting frequencies and duration within three hours were recorded after regrouping and the lesions on body surface within 48 hours were scored. Besides, HR (heart rate, bpm, beats per minute) and activity count (ACT), time domain indexes and frequency domain indexes of the piglets were measured in an isolation trial to analyze the discrepancy in coping with stress between the original HW and LW litters. Results The results exhibited that piglets from the HW litters launched fighting sooner and got statistically higher skin lesion score than those from the LW litters (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Regarding the HRV detection, compared with the HW litters, the LW litters exhibited a lower mean HR (p<0.05). In the isolation test, a highly significant higher ACT value was observed between the HW litters, compared to the LW litters (p<0.01). Significant differences were observed in standard deviation of R-R intervals, standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals, and most frequency-domain indicators: very low-frequency, low-frequency, and high frequency between the HW and LW litters as well. The difference in LF:HF was not significant (p = 0.779). Conclusion This study suggests that compared with litters of low 20-day litter weights, litters with higher 20-day litter weight take more positive strategies to cope with stress and have stronger HRV regulation capacity; HW litters demonstrate better anti-stress and adaptation capacity in the case of regrouping and isolation

Road proximity and traffic flow perceived as potential predation risks: evidence from the Tibetan antelope

Abstract Context. The risk-disturbance hypothesis predicts that animals exhibit risk-avoidance behaviours when exposed to human disturbance because they perceive the disturbance as a predatory threat. Aims. This study aimed to examine whether Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsoni) exhibit risk-avoidance behaviour with proximity to a major highway and with increasing traffic flow consistent with the risk-disturbance hypothesis. Methods. Focal-animal sampling was used to observe the behaviour of Tibetan antelopes. The behaviours were categorised as foraging, vigilance, resting, moving, or other. The time, frequency, and duration of foraging and vigilance were calculated. Key results. As distance from the road increased, time spent foraging and foraging duration increased while foraging frequency, time spent being vigilant and vigilance frequency decreased, indicating that there is a risk perception associated with roads. Tibetan antelopes presented more risk-avoidance behaviours during high-traffic periods compared with lowtraffic periods. Conclusions. Tibetan antelopes exhibited risk-avoidance behaviour towards roads that varied with proximity and traffic levels, which is consistent with the risk-disturbance hypothesis. Implications. The consequences of risk-avoidance behaviour should be reflected in wildlife management by considering human disturbance and road design

Measurement report: Molecular characteristics of cloud water in southern China and insights into aqueous-phase processes from Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Characterizing the molecular composition of cloud water could provide unique insights into aqueous chemistry. Field measurements were conducted at Mt. Tianjing in southern China in May, 2018. There are thousands of formulas (C$_{5-30}$H$_{4-55}$O$_{1-15}$N$_{0-2}$S$_{0-2}$) identified in cloud water by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). CHON formulas (formulas containing C, H, O, and N elements; the same is true for CHO and CHOS) represent the dominant component (43.6 %–65.3 % of relative abundance), followed by CHO (13.8 %–52.1%). S-containing formulas constitute ∼5 %–20 % of all assigned formulas. Cloud water has a relative-abundance-weighted average O/C of 0.45–0.56, and the double bond equivalent of 5.10–5.70. Most of the formulas (>85 %) are assigned as aliphatic and olefinic species. No statistical difference in the oxidation state is observed between cloud water and interstitial PM$_{2.5}$. CHON with aromatic structures are abundant in cloud water, suggesting their enhanced in-cloud formation. Other organics in cloud water are mainly from biomass burning and oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds. The cloud water contains more abundant CHON and CHOS at night, which are primarily contributed by −N$_{2}$O$_{5}$ function and organosulfates, demonstrating the enhanced formation in dark aqueous or multi-phase reactions. While more abundant CHO is observed during the daytime, likely due to the photochemical oxidation and photolysis of N- or S-containing formulas. The results provide an improved understanding of the in-cloud aqueous-phase reactions

Impact of in-cloud aqueous processes on the chemical compositions and morphology of individual atmospheric aerosols

The composition, morphology, and mixing structure of individual cloud residues (RES) and interstitial particles (INT) at a mountaintop site were investigated. Eight types of particles were identified, including sulfate-rich (S-rich), S-organic matter (OM), aged soot, aged mineral dust, aged fly ash, aged metal, refractory, and aged refractory mixture. A shift of dominant particle types from S-rich (29 %) and aged soot (27 %) in the INT to aged refractory mixture (23 %) and S-OM (22 %) in the RES is observed. In particular, particles with organic shells are enriched in the RES (27 %) relative to the INT (12 %). Our results highlight that the formation of more oxidized organic matter in the cloud contributes to the existence of organic shells after cloud processing. The fractal dimension (D$_{f}$), a morphologic parameter to represent the branching degree of particles, for soot particles in the RES (1.82 ± 0.12) is lower than that in the INT (2.11 ± 0.09), which indicates that in-cloud processes may result in less compact soot. This research emphasizes the role of in-cloud processes in the chemistry and microphysical properties of individual particles. Given that organic coatings may determine the particle hygroscopicity, activation ability, and heterogeneous chemical reactivity, the increase of OM-shelled particles upon in-cloud processes should have considerable implications

Community structure of coralline algae and its relationship with environment in Sanya reefs, China

Coralline algae are an important functional group in coral reef ecosystems. Despite the importance of coralline algae, little is known about their abundance and community structure, especially within Sanya reefs. It was fundamental to study coralline algae species abundance and distribution, and evaluate the effects of environmental factors on the species composition and abundance in Sanya reefs. A total of 24 species in 10 genera were identified based on 11 sampling stations, with the family Corallinaceae being dominant within the study area. The 7 dominant species, which constituted 62.4% of the overall collection, were Amphiroa ephedraea (16.8%), Mesophyllum simulans (11.1%), Porolithon onkodes (9.8%), Neogoniolithon fosliei (7.5%), Mesophyllum mesomorphum (6.6%), Pneophyllum conicum (6.6%) and Hydrolithon boergesenii (4.0%). There was significant spatial variability in the species composition and abundance of coralline algae (ANOSIM: R = 0.356, P = 0.013). The correlation analysis between biotic and abiotic variables indicated that the turbidity had a negative effect and salinity had a positive correlation on the pattern of coralline algae assemblages (global = 0.486, BIOENV analysis). The living cover of coralline algae was greater in deep water than in shallow water at the same sites. This suggests that physical disturbance, either natural or anthropogenic, is more important in regulating the coralline algae community structure in Sanya reefs

Adaptation of migratory Tibetan antelope to infrastructure development

The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is a migratory ungulate species that inhabits the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. In recent years, the population of Tibetan antelope has steadily increased owing to rigorous protection measures to safeguard the species from commercial poaching. Currently, infrastructure development, competition with domestic livestock, and predation are the principal factors threatening the survival of Tibetan antelope. Our study found that migratory Tibetan antelope can adapt to the development of infrastructure over time, decreasing the potential negative impacts of such developments. We, therefore, urge infrastructure development companies to incorporate wildlife corridors that enable free movement of wildlife populations, particularly for migratory species

Concentration, size distribution and dry deposition of amines in atmospheric particles of urban Guangzhou, China

Size-segregated PM10 samples were collected in Guangzhou, China during autumn of 2014. Nine amines, including seven aliphatic amines and two heterocyclic amines, were detected using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer after derivatization by benzenesulfonyl chloride. The total concentration of the nine amines (amines) was 79.6-140.9 ng m(-3) in PM10. The most abundant species was methylamine (MA), which had a concentration of 29.2-70.1 ng m(-3). MA, dimethylamine (DMA), diethylamine (DEA) and dibutylamine (DBA) were the predominant amines in the samples and accounted for approximately 80% of amines in each size segment. Two heterocyclic amines, pyrrolidine (PYR) and morpholine (MOR), were detected in all samples and had average concentrations of 1.14 +/- 0.37 and 1.89 +/- 0.64 ng m(-3), respectively, in particles with aerodynamic diameters &lt; 3 mu m. More than 80% of Eamines were found in particles with diameters &lt; 1.5 mu m, indicating that amines are mainly enriched in fine particles. All amines exhibited a bimodal distribution with a fine mode at 0.49-1.5 pm and a coarse mode at 7.2-10 mu m. The maximum contributions of amines to particles (0.21%) and amines-N to water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) (3.1%) were found at the sizes &lt; 0.49 mu m. The maximum contribution of amines-C to water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was 1.6% over the size range of 0.95-1.5 mu m. The molar ratio of amines to ammonium ranged from 0.0068 to 0.0107 in particles with diameters &lt; 1.5 mu m, and the maximum ratio occurred in the smallest particles (diameter &lt; 0.49 mu m). The average dry deposition flux and velocity of Eamines in PM10 were 7.9 1.6 mu g m(-2) d(-1) and 0.084 +/- 0.0021 cm s(-1), respectively. The results of this study provide essential information on the contribution of amines to secondary organic aerosols and dry removal mechanisms in urban areas