Grus Japonensis Research Articles

Prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. infection in zoo animals in three cities in China.

Blastocystis is a highly prevalent eukaryotic parasite of many animals and humans worldwide. It can compromise the gastrointestinal tract and cause gastrointestinal symptoms, constituting a serious threat to human health and animal growth. Many animals are potential sources of Blastocystis infection in humans. However, limited data are available regarding the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis infection among zoo animals in China. Therefore, the present study examined the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis in zoo animals in Hangzhou, Dalian, and Suzhou cities, China. Of 450 fecal samples from zoo animals, 27 (6.0%) were PCR-positive for Blastocystis, with 7.7% (8/104), 11.3% (7/62), 16.7% (3/18), 1.8% (2/114), 6.3% (1/16), 9.5% (2/21), and 3.6% (4/109) in artiodactyla, aves, rodentia, nonhuman primates, perissodactyla, marsupialia, and carnivora, respectively. Significant differences in the prevalence of Blastocystis were found among different animal groups (P <0.05). Sequence analysis showed 7 known subtypes (ST2, ST4, ST5, ST7, ST8, ST10, and ST14) of Blastocystis in the present study, with ST10 (10/27) as the predominant subtype in all three of the examined zoos. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Blastocystis infection in Damaliscus dorcas, Cervus elaphus, Macropus rufogriseus, Grus japonensis, Trichoglossus haematodus, Panthera tigris ssp. tigris (white), Panthera tigris ssp. altaica, Lycaon pictus, Suricata suricatta, and Dolichotis patagonum in China. These results demonstrate the presence of Blastocystis infection in zoo animals and provided baseline data for preventing and controlling Blastocystis infection in zoo animals and humans in China.

Habitat quality of overwintering red-crowned cranes based on ecological niche modeling

Ecological niche modeling is particularly valuable for predicting the true and potential distribution of wild birds. The core zone of the Yancheng National Nature Reserve (YNNR) is the largest overwintering habitat of red-crowned cranes in the world. Based on a GF-2 image in 2015 and field data related to micro-habitats of cranes, five functional factors were selected and analyzed with maximum entropy (MaxEnt) and boosted regression tree (BRT) models. The prediction results of the MaxEnt and BRT algorithms reached outstanding levels. Landscape type was the most important environmental factor affecting the habitat quality of overwintering cranes, while distance to water sources was the least contributing factors in both models. The response curve of the BRT was more reasonable than the MaxEnt at explaining habitat selection and utilization by cranes. It revealed that superior habitats are principally distributed in Suaeda salsa in natural wetlands. This habitat currently faces serious fragmentation and islandization. This study evaluates the quality of overwintering habitat for red-crowned cranes based on ecological niche modeling. The results provide a scientific basis for the protection of the overwintering habitat of this species of crane, and it is critical for species protection and management planning of nature reserves.

Using MaxEnt Model to Guide Marsh Conservation in the Nenjiang River Basin, Northeast China

Incorporating private and working lands into protected area networks could mitigate the isolation state of protected areas (PAs) and improve the efficiency of conservation. But how to select patches of land for conservation is still a troublesome issue. In this study, the MaxEnt model and irreplaceability index were applied to guide marsh conservation in the Nenjiang River Basin, Northeast China. According to the high accuracy of the MaxEnt model predictions (i.e., the average AUC value = 0.933), the Wuyuer River and Zhalong marshes in the downstream reaches of Wuyuer River are the optimal habitat for the Red-crowned crane and migratory waterfowls. There are 22 marsh patches selected by the patch irreplaceability index for conservation, of which 12 patches had been included in the current network of protected areas. The other 10 patches of marsh (amounting to 1096 km2) far from human disturbances with high NDVI (up to 0.8) and close distance to water (less than 100 m), which are excluded from the existing network of PAs, should be implemented conservation easement programs to improve the protection efficiency of conservation. Specifically, the marshes at Taha, Tangchi, and Lamadian should be given priority for conservation and restoration to reintroduce migratory waterfowls, as this would lessen the current isolation state of the Zhalong National Nature Reserve.

RUNOFF SHRINKAGE IN THE WUYUR RIVER BASIN, NORTH‐EAST CHINA, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE SUCCESSION OF SALINE MARSH IN THE LOWER REACHES

AbstractDrought induced by global climate change and local human disturbance is having a significant impact on the succession of inland saline marshes. This study aims to examine the causes of rapid land degradation in China's Zhalong wetland over the past 65 years (1951–2015) using the Mann–Kendall rank test. Results indicate that local human disturbance (mainly water diversion) is the key detrimental factor in marsh degradation. Water diversion in the upper reaches of the Wuyur river basin has changed the hydrological regime and caused significant water deficit in the Zhalong wetland, thereby leading to rapid shrinkage of the marsh. An increasing runoff trend with an average of 7.44 × 108 m3 was observed in the upper reaches from 1983 to 2015. In contrast, the runoff in the lower reaches had significantly decreased from 8.5 × 108 m3 to 3 × 108 m3 in recent years (P &lt; 0.05), given the water consumed by local anthropogenic activities in the upper reaches. The large water deficit in the lower reaches reduced water storage and caused rapid development of soil sodification, that is, the area of Halaquepts increased from 170 km2 in 1979 to 260 km2 in 2010, in which large areas emerged in the core area of the wetland. Land degradation decreased the habitat of the red‐crowned crane (Grus japonensis). This condition may be an important contributor to the population decline of rare birds and biodiversity loss. © 2019 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Development and characterization of 33 SNP markers for the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach

The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is an endangered wading bird distributed in northeast Asia. The population of G. japonensis is continuing to decline owing to the loss and degradation of habitats. In order to protect G. japonensis, we developed 33 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for this species using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach. The minor allele frequency ranged from 0.033 to 0.483, the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.067 to 0.833, the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.066 to 0.508, and the polymorphism information content ranged from 0.062 to 0.375. Among these SNPs, two loci showed deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05). The novel polymorphic SNPs can lay the foundation for future studies on evolution and conservation genetics of G. japonensis.

Hepatic transcriptional profile and tissue distribution of cytochrome P450 1-3 genes in the red-crowned crane Grus japonensis

The endangered red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is a protected species in eastern Hokkaido and injured specimens are treated with medication. The present study aimed at understanding the expression profiles of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1-3 genes in red-crowned crane tissues. We used 14 individuals found dead in the wild in eastern Hokkaido or in Kushiro City Zoo. Nine CYP1-3 genes expressed in the liver of the red-crowned crane were identified by high-throughput sequencing, and phylogenetically classified as CYP1A5, CYP2C23, CYP2C45, CYP2D49, CYP2G19, CYP2U1, CYP2AC1, CYP3A37, and CYP3A80. Based on the quantitative real-time PCR of 13 samples, the rank order of their median expression levels was as follows: CYP3A37 > CYP2AC1 > CYP2C45 > CYP2D49 > CYP2G19 > CYP1A5 > CYP3A80 > CYP2C23. The tissue distribution of the CYP transcripts indicated that many of the CYP1–3 genes examined were mainly expressed in the tissues where drug metabolism occurs, such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs. We found that CYP3A37 was dominant at the transcript level in the liver, indicating it might play a crucial role in liver physiology and xenobiotic metabolism. Similarly, an “orphan” CYP2AC1 was expressed at relatively high levels in the kidneys and liver, suggesting a possible role in renal and liver physiology and xenobiotic metabolism. Our results establish a foundation for future studies on red-crowned cranes aiming to further understand drug sensitivity and develop medication protocols, but also contribute to national and local projects for the conservation of red-crowned crane.

Effects of land-use change on the distribution of the wintering red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) in the coastal area of northern Jiangsu Province, China

The coastal area of northern Jiangsu (CNJ) is the largest silt coastal zone along the western Pacific Coast. This area is a newly established world natural heritage site and is also the largest winter habitat for the red-crowned crane in the world. However, rapid economic development in the study area has led to great changes in the types and intensities of land-use, which has had an effect on the distribution of wintering red-crowned cranes. In this paper, we first analyzed land-use change and determined the spatiotemporal evolution of land-use types and intensities in the study area. Then, the distribution of the red-crowned cranes was analyzed over various years. Finally, a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was adopted to study the spatial differences in the effects of land-use types and intensity changes on the distribution of the cranes. The results showed that salt marsh (p<0.01), salt field (p<0.05) and paddy field (p<0.05) were positively correlated with red-crowned cranes. Dry land (p<0.05), construction land (p<0.01) and aquaculture pond (p<0.05) were negatively correlated with red-crowned cranes. There was a strongly negative correlation between land-use intensity and the red-crowned cranes (p<0.01). These positive and negative factors had significant spatial heterogeneity. Given these differences and the current local economic and land policies, we proposed the concrete countermeasures for red-crowned crane habitat protection and established a “friendly” land-use pattern that is beneficial for the protection of the crane population and restoration of its habitat.

Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) prefers postharvest reed beds during winter period in Yancheng National Nature Reserve.

Reed beds represent an important habitat for the survival of birds by providing favorable foraging and reproduction conditions. Reed management, as a traditional agricultural activity, primarily includes water level control and vegetation removal by cutting. Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is one of the most endangered cranes, and their population continues to decline due to habitat loss caused by artificial activities. A lack of research relating to how reed management affects crane habitat distribution patterns throughout the wintering period hinders our ability to offer conservation recommendations. In the present study, we explored the effect of reed management on the habitat distribution patterns and analyzed the food resources of red-crowned crane in the Yancheng National Nature Reserve (YNNR). According to the reed management activities in December, we divided the wintering period into two phases: the preharvest period and the postharvest period. Throughout the wintering period, the number of cranes recorded in the common seepweed (Suaeda glauca) tidal flats remained stable, but cranes were rarely recorded in the smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) tidal flats and aquaculture fish ponds. The number of cranes, however, showed a noticeable fluctuation in the reed beds during the two periods. Before the reed harvest, only a small proportion of cranes were recorded in the reed beds (relative abundance = 2.9%). However, more cranes (relative abundance = 61.0%) were recorded after the reed harvest. Water was introduced from adjacent rivers and fish ponds to submerge the cut reed beds. Changes in potential animal food resources (items and biomass) might be one of the vital reasons for the preference of cranes to the postharvest reed beds. Our results suggest that traditional reed management in the YNNR could benefit this flagship crane species that winters in the wetland system. However, as reed harvest has been forbidden in the core zone for conservation purposes since 2016, further research is needed to verify whether forbidding the harvest of reeds is reasonable.

Body size and first-winter survival of Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis chicks

ABSTRACTAn analysis of the biometrics of 187 individually marked Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis chicks from Japan revealed that larger chicks were more likely to seen alive in their first-winter. Male chicks were larger than females but sex did not influence apparent survival, nor did brood size determine body size.

Potential habitat and priority protection area of cranes with climate change in the Great Xing'an Mountains, China

To clarify the impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of six crane species in the Great Xing'an Mountains region, and promote the effective protection of these species, we selected key environmental variables such as climate, topography, and vegetation type based on Pearson correlation and Jackknife analysis, and modeled the potential distribution of six crane species in the Great Xing'an Mountains using MaxEnt with the current and the future climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). We identified the priority protection areas (PPAs) and the target PPAs by zonation and ArcGIS. The results showed that with the current climate condition, the sui-table habitats of these species were mainly distributed in the central and the northwest part of the Great Xing'an Mountains. With RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the suitable habitats of Grus monacha, Grus japonensis, Grus vipio, Grus grus and Anthropoides virgo would decrease, while that of Grus leucogeranus would expand by 5.4%-6.3%. With current and the future climate change scenarios, the PPAs of these species were mainly distributed in the northwest, southeast and west-central parts of the Great Xing'an Mountains. The protect rate could reach about 20.1%-23.8% of the target PPAs conserved by protected areas (PAs). The protection gaps were mainly distributed in the west of Mohe County, the north-central of Ergun, the central and east of Genhe, the northeast of Yakeshi, and the south of Oroqen Autonomous Banner. We proposed to expand PAs to provide a strong guarantee for the effective protection of cranes species.

Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on quality of the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) wintering habitat.

The core zone of the Yancheng National Natural Reserve (YNNR) in China is the largest wintering habitat of red-crowned cranes (cranes) in the world. However, the invasion of Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) not only changed the original landscape structure of the wetlands but also impacted the cranes' habitats in the YNNR. In this paper, field investigation data and landscape pattern indices were used to analyze the effects of the S. alterniflora invasion on the habitat quality of wintering cranes. The results indicate that the seep weed (Suaeda salsa) in the natural wetland and the common reed (Phragmites australis) in the managed wetland both provide suitable habitats for cranes. However, the cranes prefer the natural wetland more. The explosive growth of S. alterniflora in the natural area has led to a significant reduction of the cranes' habitat. The area of crane habitat decreased from 52.07km2 in 2000 to 22.36km2 in 2015. As a result of the S. alterniflora invasion, the benthic biomass has declined, which has negatively impacted the quantity and structure of the food utilized by the cranes. This study has both theoretical and practical significance and provides a scientific basis for protecting the wintering habitat of the red-crowned cranes.

Red-Crowned Cranes in Autumn Migratory Flight.

Red-crowned cranes (丹顶鹤), also known as Manchurian or Japanese cranes, are the largest, heaviest, and rarest of cranes in the world, typically measuring about 155 cm in height, 125 cm in length from bill to tail-tip, 235 cm of an average wingspan, and up to 11 kg in weight. Currently, these cranes are found in only China (north-eastern region), Russia (bordering China), Mongolia, North and South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. The International Crane Foundation has estimated that the present numbers are only about 3000 and these appear to be declining. This crane is now an endangered species. The cranes owe their name to a unique patch of red bare skin on the crown, which becomes brighter …

편대비행 두루미의 에너지 절감 메커니즘

A flapping flight mechanism of a Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) in migration was estimated using a two-jointed arm model having an unsteady aerodynamic performance. Inverse drag forces were generated and lift forces were enhanced during downstroke. A pair of flapping advantage vortices (FAV) was generated alternatively in the wake. The first fully developed FAV was developed around 6.6 m from the wing tip of the crane ahead. The width of FAV, corresponding to the wing tip spacing was about 0.62 m in the spanwise section. A crane behind saved about 18.5% of energy by using the induced power caused by FAV in V-formation and by changing wing morphology. Phase difference of flapping between the crane ahead and behind was estimated to be around 68.14° to use aerodynamic benefit caused by FAV. Our results can be applied to engineering flying devices.

A novel picornavirus in feces of a rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) shows a close relationship to members of the genus Avihepatovirus.

A novel picornavirus, named "lorikeet picornavirus 1" (LoPV-1), was detected in a fecal sample from rainbow lorikeets using viral metagenomic analysis, and its complete genome sequence was determined and analyzed. The genome of LoPV-1 is 7862 nt long, including a 617-nt 5' UTR, a type IV IRES 5'UTR with an '8-like' motif, a 7032-nt polyprotein ORF, and a 213-nt 3' UTR. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise asequence comparisons based on the amino acid sequences of P1, P2, and P3 indicated that LoPV-1 showed the closest relationship to two picornaviruses that were isolated recently from red-crowned cranes and clustered together with members of the genus Avihepatovirus.

2000-2015年丹顶鹤重要繁殖地景观格局变化研究

2000-2015年丹顶鹤重要繁殖地景观格局变化研究

Wintering Habitat Use Pattern of Red-Crowned Cranes in the Korean Demilitarized Zone

The study was the first attempt to identify the habitat use pattern of red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) around the demilitarized zone (DMZ) by overlapping coordinates with the land cover classification (LCC). Daily habitat use pattern was highly different (P = 0.000) between daytime (06:00–18:00) and nighttime (18:00–06:00). Cranes in Cheolwon used agricultural paddies more frequently in the daytime (P = 0.002), and forest areas at night and this indicated that cranes presumably use rice paddies for feeding and forests for resting, respectively. Cranes night time in Paju used wetlands more often than random expectation based on the available wetland surface area (P = 0.017). This indicated a different habitat use pattern between coastal (Paju) and inland (Cheolwon) areas. Securing agricultural paddies is important for providing crucial areas for feeding, and forests should be important for rest during the night time in Cheolwon, which support crane populations during their wintering migration in Korea.

Study on Characteristics of Coastal Evolution Based on Remote Sensing Geomorphic Feature Line — A Case Study of Central Jiangsu Province, China

Coastal evolution is of great significance for the protection and utilization of coastal spatial resources. Taking the coast of central Jiangsu Province as the research area, three typical coastal geomorphic lines such as seawall, vegetation line and low tide waterside line were extracted with remote sensing technology, and their temporal and spatial evolution characteristics were analyzed. The results show that due to the influence of human activities, the coast of central Jiangsu is markedly propelled to the sea. In two periods, the total newly added reclamation could reach 888.7km2, and the seawall line is averagely propelled 8079.4m to the sea. The differences in spatial distribution are significant, and the high-value area can reach 14000.0m, distributed in the bank between the Doulonggang estuary and the Chuandonggang estuary. The low-value area is only 2000m, distributed in the Red-crowned Crane Nature Reserve. The estuary is relatively low due to the external migration of the tidal gate in the early stage. The vegetation line is averagely propelled 4433.9m to the sea, and the differences in spatial distribution are relatively small, showing the high value in the center and a gradual decrease of north and south sides. The overall shape of the waterside waterline is stable, showing a backward trend of the shore; the low tide waterline is large. The retreat of low tide waterside waterline and the propel of seawall line to the sea has dramatically increased the shrinkage of the intertidal tidal flat. From 1973 to 2017, the intertidal tidal flat area decreased by 1056.7 km2.

The fecal virome of red-crowned cranes

The red-crowned crane is one of the rarest crane species, and its population is decreasing due to loss of habitat, poisoning, and infections. Using a viral metagenomics approach, we analyzed the virome of feces from wild and captive red-crowned cranes, which were pooled separately. Vertebrate viruses belonging to the families Picornaviridae, Parvoviridae, Circoviridae, and Caliciviridae were detected. Among the members of the family Picornaviridae, we found three that appear to represent new genera. Six nearly complete genomes from members of the family Parvoviridae were also obtained, including four new members of the proposed genus “Chapparvovirus”, and two members of the genus Aveparvovirus. Six small circular DNA genomes were also characterized. One nearly complete genome showing a low level of sequence identity to caliciviruses was also characterized. Numerous viruses believed to infect insects, plants, and crustaceans were also identified, which were probably derived from the diet of red-crowned cranes. This study increases our understanding of the enteric virome of red-crowned cranes and provides a baseline for comparison to those of other birds or following disease outbreaks.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00705-018-4037-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Next-generation sequencing yields the complete mitogenome of red-crowned crane (G. japonensis)

In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of red-crowned crane (G. japonensis) has been decoded by next-generation sequencing and genome assembly. The assembled mitogenome, consisting of 16,727 bp, has unique 14 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs genes. The complete mitogenome provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis for red-crowned crane phylogeny.

Maximum Entropy modeling for habitat suitability assessment of Red-crowned crane

Habitat suitability assessment is an important approach for conserving and restoring biodiversity and waterfowl’s habitats. Previous habitat suitability index (HSI) models define the weights of each habitat feature subjectively in their approach. To address this problem, we utilized a data-driven Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model to assess the fine-scaled habitat suitability of Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) in the breeding period based on the occurrence locations of Red-crowned crane and the habitat features derived from optical, radar imagery and topographical ancillary data. Results of this research show that the developed MaxEnt model improves the performances of previous HSI models. The MaxEnt model could identify the influences of the selected habitat features on the habitat suitability of the species and quantify the optimal habitat conditions for the Red-crowned cranes automatically. We found that habitat composition, water depth, and distance to roads and ditches were most important habitat features for Red-crowned cranes in the breeding period. The optimal conditions for each selected habitat features were recognized according to the response curves of environmental variables to occurrence probability of the species. For the breeding Red-crowned cranes, the desirable land cover type of breeding habitat is reed swamp; the suitable depth of water under the canopy is between 15 and 30 cm approximately; the selected vegetation cover is about 47.5%–74.5%; and the suitable distance from human disturbances is above 2500 m. This study demonstrated the practicability of the developed species distribution model (MaxEnt) on habitat suitability assessment for Red-crowned cranes, and provided a quantitative and automatic habitat suitability evaluation method for endangered waterfowl’s protection.