Southeastern China Research Articles

Processing Strategy for Deep Imaging Beneath Complex Shallow Structures Under Shallow Water: a Case Study in the Enping Sag

Abstract As offshore exploration targets deeper parts of shallow-water areas in the eastern South China Sea, an increasing number of hydrocarbon discoveries have been made in recent years, and the difficulty of such exploration has increased. One such challenge lies in mid-depth imaging beneath complex shallow geological structures. When a seismic wave penetrates through groups of densely distributed fractures and/or volcanic rocks, only a fraction of the energy reaches the target depth. As the ray path becomes complex, the middle to deep imaging quality becomes significantly poorer. In this study we applied three techniques: 3D joint source and receiver deghosting and zero-phasing, dynamic resolution time-lag full waveform inversion (DR-TLFWI), and least square Q-compensated Kirchhoff pre-stack depth migration (LSQPSDM), to improve the related seismic data and ultimately improve the imaging quality beneath complex shallow geological structures in the shallow-water environment of the eastern South China Sea, providing better subsurface understanding for the exploration of this area.

Machine-Learning-Based Predictive Model for Bothersome Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Parous Women in Southeastern China.

Accurate identification of female populations at high risk for urinary incontinence (UI) and early intervention are potentially effective initiatives to reduce the prevalence of UI. We aimed to apply machine-learning techniques to establish, internally validate, and provide interpretable risk assessment tools. Data from a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of female urinary incontinence conducted in 2022 were used. Sociodemographic and obstetrics-related characteristics, comorbidities, and urinary incontinence questionnaire results were used to develop multiple prediction models. Seventy percent of the individuals in the study cohort were employed in model training, and the remainder were used for internal validation. Model performance was characterized by area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curves, as well as Brier scores. The best-performing model was finally selected to develop an online prediction tool. The results showed that bothersome stress urinary incontinence (BSUI) occurred in 9.6% (849 out of 8,830) of parous women. The XGBoost model achieved the best prediction performance (training set: AUC 0.796, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.778-0.815, validation set: AUC 0.720, 95% CI: 0.686-0.754). Additionally, the XGBoost model achieved the lowest (best) Brier score among the models, with sensitivity of 0.657, specificity of 0.690, accuracy of 0.688, positive predictive value of 0.231, and negative predictive value of 0.948. Based on this model, the top five risk factors for the development of BSUI among parous women were ranked as follows: body mass index, age, vaginal delivery, constipation, and maximum fetal birth weight. An online calculator was provided for clinical use. The application of machine-learning algorithms provides an acceptable, though not perfect, prediction of BSUI risk among parous women, requiring further validation and improvement in future research.

Modeling of Stress-Strain State and Coseismic Effects of Epicentral Zone of Tangshan Earthquake (Southeastern China)

The paper presents the results of numerical modeling and analysis of stress-strain state of the epicentral zone of the strong earthquake in the north-east of China, which occurred on 27.07.1976 with Ms=7.8. Many present-day works continue to discuss the reasons for such a strong earthquake, which occurred in tectonic conditions ‒ far from interplate boundaries, inside the Tangshan tectonic block bounded by tectonic faults. However, published new geodynamic, seismological, geophysical and geodetic data provide confidence in the determining role of fault tectonics in this region. Based on the analysis of the results of modeling of the stress-strain state preceding the Tangshan earthquake with coseismic geophysical and geodetic data, we propose a model of earthquake rupture formation. The results of comparison of independent estimates of shear stresses with the results of modeling in the sources of strong earthquakes suggest that the areas of tectonic stress concentration are localized in the interfault rupture of the Tangshan fault, reaching maximum values at the termination of fault ruptures σi ≈ 50 MPa и τxy ≈ 20 MPa. The hypocenter of the main seismic event (taking into account the error of coordinate determination) is located in the region of stress intensity 35‒50 MPa and the ratio of main stresses σxx/σyy ≈ 8–10. It should be expected that these zones are the starting site of rupture, the extent of which depends on the amount of accumulated elastic potential energy of tectonic stresses in the adjacent region. For the Tangshan earthquake, this area corresponds to a high intensity of stresses exceeding 30 MPa in a band with a length more than 30 km and a width reaching 4.5 km.

The response characteristics and stability evaluation of vegetated slope under strong wind

As one of the major geological disasters in southeastern China, typhoon-induced vegetation slope instability causes significant loss of life and property each year. Despite the criticality of this issue, the response mechanism of vegetated slopes to wind loading in terms of soil deformation and stability still remains unclear. This research conducted field investigations on 330 historical landslides in Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, analyzing their spatiotemporal distribution and developmental characteristics to establish a conceptual model. The influence of wind and vegetation conditions on slope dynamic parameters and soil strength parameters were subsequently determined through numerical simulations using FLAC3D software, model tests, and direct shear tests. The results show that: (1) The influence of wind on the dynamic response of vegetated slopes is significantly affected by wind speed. At wind forces ≤ 12 (hurricane: 32.7–36.9 m/s), vegetation plays a positive role in enhancing slope stability. At wind forces ≥ 13 (typhoon: 37.0–41.4 m/s), vegetation exerts a negative influence under the combined action of strong wind loads. (2) Based on the experimentally determined evolution of soil strength parameters, a formula c (v, w) was fitted to express the variation of cohesion with wind speed (v) and moisture content (w). (3) The optimized evaluation model demonstrates increased sensitivity compared to the traditional model, resulting in a 17.88% increase in sliding force and a 10.62–11.64% increase in anti-sliding force. This research accounts for both the direct and indirect effects of wind loading on vegetated slopes. The findings are expected to enhance the stability assessment of vegetated slopes under strong winds and facilitate the development of more accurate machine learning and statistical models in the future.

A Numerical Simulation of Convective Systems in Southeast China: A Comparison of Microphysical Schemes and Sensitivity Experiments on Raindrop Break and Evaporation

This study employed version 4.2.2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for this simulation and applied two microphysics schemes, the Thompson scheme (THOM) and Milbrandt–Yau scheme (MY)—which are widely used in convective simulations—to simulate a mesoscale severe convective precipitation event that occurred in southeastern China on 8 May 2017. The simulations were then compared with dual-polarization radar observations using a radar simulator. It was found that THOM produced vertical structures of radar reflectivity (ZH) closer to radar observations and accumulated precipitation more consistent with ground-based observations. However, both schemes overestimated specific differential phase (KDP) and differential reflectivity (ZDR) below the 0 °C level. Further analysis indicated that THOM produced more rain with larger raindrop sizes below the 0 °C level. Due to the close connection between raindrop breakup, evaporation rate, and raindrop size, sensitivity experiments on the breakup threshold (Db) and the evaporation efficiency (EE) of the THOM scheme were carried out. It was found that adjusting Db significantly changed the simulated raindrop size distribution and had a certain impact on the strength of cold pool; whereas modifying EE not only significantly changed the intensity and scope of the cold pool, but also had great effect on the raindrop size distribution. At the same time, comparison with dual-polarization radar observations indicated that reducing the Db can improve the model’s simulation of polarimetric radar variables such as ZDR. This paper specifically analyzes a severe convective precipitation event in the Guangdong region under weak synoptic conditions and a humid climate. It demonstrates the feasibility of a method based on polarimetric radar data that modifies Db of THOM to achieve better consistency between simulations and observations in southeast China. Since the microphysical processes of different Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) vary, the generalizability of this study needs to be validated through more cases and regions in the future.

Taxonomy and phylogeny of rodents parasitic fleas in southeastern China with description of a new subspecies of Ctenophthalmus breviprojiciens

Accurate differentiation and identification of flea species are essential for both basic and applied research on fleas, as well as for the diagnosis of flea-borne diseases. However, distinguishing between flea species can be challenging, especially among those with minimal morphological differences. Therefore, some scholars have suggested the necessity of comprehensive revisions to the classification of fleas, incorporating morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic data. In this study, we focused on classifying the rodents’ parasitic fleas in southeastern China and provided molecular and phylogenetic data. We also described a new subspecies Ctenophthalmus breviprojiciens fujiansis n. ssp. A total of 392 fleas were collected from 8 species of rodents in 10 counties. Morphologically, they belonged to 10 species, 9 genera and 5 families. Barcode identification based on COI gene and phylogenetic analysis based on five genetic markers (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, EF-1a, COI, COII) revealed that the molecular and morphological identification of Xenopsylla cheopis, Aviostivalius klossi bispiniformis, Leptopsylla segnis, Monopsyllus anisus and Ctenocephalides felis felis were consistent. The taxonomic status of Neopsylla specialis minpiensis and Peromyscopsylla himalaica sinica as subspecies is questionable due to significant intraspecific genetic distance, and further morphological and molecular data are required to determine if they should be elevated to species level. The molecular identification of C. breviprojiciens n. ssp., N. dispar fukienensis, and Nosopsyllus nicanus could not be completed at this time due to a lack of sequences for related species in existing GenBank databases. Additionally, phylogenetic relationships of 31 species from 9 genera and 5 families of Siphonaptera were inferred based on five molecular markers (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, EF-1a, COI and COII) using Maximum Likelihood analyses. The analyses revealed that various taxa of Siphonaptera are monophyletic at the subspecies, species, and genus levels. However, at the family level, Leptopsyllidae, Ceratophyllidae, Pulicidae, and Pygiopsyllidae are all monophyletic, while Ctenophthalmidae is paraphyletic. we support the view of some authors that revising the catchall group Ctenophthalmidae and elevating each of its constituent subfamilies to family status.

Terrestrial moisture sources dominate summer precipitation fluctuations in Northwest China

Abstract Northwest China (NWC), is characterized by its arid and semi-arid environment, and exhibits high sensitivity to precipitation variations. Recent research indicates a wetting tendency over NWC, yet quantifying its moisture source remains challenging. Here, employing a 40 year simulation with Community Atmosphere Model version 5.1 (CAM5.1) coupled to an atmospheric water tracer algorithm, we ascertain that the dominant source of summer moisture over NWC are from terrestrial sources (82% of vapor and 77% of precipitation), i.e. from local evaporation, North Asia (NA), Europe (EUP), the southern Tibetan Plateau (STP), and southeastern China (SEC), rather than oceanic sources. Favorable synoptic patterns over NWC enhance the precipitation-conversion efficiency from the southeasterly airflow transport (STP and SEC) compared to northwesterly airflow (NA and EUP). We also find that the fluctuations in precipitation over NWC, manifesting as alternating dry and wet summers, are primarily driven by increased moisture contributions from direct inputs from NA and re-evaporation transport from STP. Our study indicates that moisture variability in inland is predominantly driven by nearby terrestrial sources and underscores the complex mechanisms of terrestrial moisture transport.

Assessing Flood Risks in Coastal Plain Cities of Zhejiang Province, Southeastern China

Constructing a precise and effective evaluation index system is crucial to flood disaster prevention and management in coastal areas. This study takes Lucheng District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, southeastern China, as a case study and constructs an evaluation index system comprising three criterion levels: disaster-causing factors, disaster-gestation environments, and disaster-bearing bodies. The weights of each evaluation index are determined by combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the entropy method. The fuzzy matter-element model is utilized to assess the flood disaster risk in Lucheng District quantitatively. By calculating the correlation degree of each evaluation index, the comprehensive index of flood disaster risk for each street area is obtained, and the flood disaster risk of each street area is classified according to the risk level classification criteria. Furthermore, the distribution of flood disaster risks in Lucheng District under different daily precipitation conditions is analyzed. The results indicate that: (1) the study area falls into the medium-risk category, with relatively low flood risks; (2) varying precipitation conditions will affect the flood resilience of each street in Lucheng District, Wenzhou City. The flood disaster evaluation index system and calculation framework constructed in this study provide significant guidance for flood risk assessment in coastal plain cities.

Hospitalization costs in patients with stroke in southeastern China: a retrospective population-based cohort study, 2019-2022.

Stroke remains a predominant cause of mortality and accounts for one-third of all stroke-related fatalities worldwide. Increasing expenses associated with stroke are a matter of significant concern; however, this aspect has been insufficiently examined. The purpose of this study was to analyze in-hospital stroke costs and explore potential factors influencing them across stroke subtypes. The records of stroke patients from 50 hospitals in southeastern China between 2019 and 2022 were reviewed using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. We focused on the cost patterns of four stroke types and used multivariate linear regression to identify cost determinants. A total of 417 (1.1%) patients had subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 9309 (25.9%) had intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), 22,248 (61.8%) had ischemic stroke (IS), and 4025 had transient ischemic attack (TIA). The number of stroke patients has sharply increased since the onset of COVID-19, with a majority of them being male (72.2%). Despite the fact that hospitalization costs are highest in tertiary hospitals (Chinese yuan [CNY] 30610.8/United States dollar [USD] 4551.0, interquartile range [IQR] 9944.9, 29668.4/1478.6, 4410.9), the majority of patients are admitted to tertiary hospitals (74.6%) or public hospitals (90.2%). Across all stroke subtypes, patients with SAH had the highest costs (CNY 93,454.9/USD13894.4, IQR 12273.2, 169920.0/1824.7, 25262.8), followed by those with ICH (CNY 48,724.2/USD 7244.0, IQR 16789.6, 57540.7/2496.2, 8554.8), IS (CNY 26,550.3/USD3947.4, IQR 8684.2, 28697.7/1291.1, 4266.6), and TIA (CNY 11,170.1/USD1660.7, IQR 6823.7, 12965.2/1014.5, 1927.6). Therapy fees comprised a significant portion of costs in ICH and IS cases (47.9% and 42.7%, respectively). Materials accounted for the highest proportion of expenses for SAH (56.1%), whereas patients with TIA spent more time on examinations (34.1%). Linear regression analysis revealed that length of stay (LOS), stroke subtype, hospital level, and stroke type were key factors influencing hospitalization costs. The visiting rate and charges were highest in tertiary public hospitals, and hospitalization costs were higher in hemorrhagic types of stroke than in ischemic types of stroke; the proportion of hospitalization cost categories varied among different types of stroke, with LOS, hospital type, and level substantially affecting hospitalization costs. Enhancing medical insurance reimbursement rates for hemorrhagic strokes, implementing a hierarchical medical system, tailoring cost categories to accommodate varying stroke subtypes, and shortening LOS may help alleviate the economic burden of stroke.

Iron-bound organic carbon declined after estuarine wetland reclamation into paddy fields

Iron-bound organic carbon (Fe-OC) is a main pathway for the long-term maintenance of soil organic carbon (SOC), but research on its mechanism is still relatively weak. We investigated the coupling relationships among iron (Fe), carbon (C) and Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB) in the soil of a reclaimed paddy field in comparison with natural Phragmites australis wetland in the Minjiang River estuary in southeastern China. The results showed that conversion of P. australis wetland to paddy cultivation changed the soil redox process. After reclamation, soil Fe(II), Fe(III), HCl-Fet, free iron oxide (Fed) and amorphous iron (Feo) contents and Fe(III)/Fe(II) decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while the content of complexed iron (Fep) increased. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) demonstrated variability in FeRB across soil types (r = 0.900, p = 0.001). The lower Fe-OC concentration in soil after wetland reclamation may be the result of Fe reduction by dissimilatory FeRB (e.g., Bacillus, Anaeromyxobacter). On average, both Fe-OC and SOC contents decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while the contribution of Fe-OC to total SOC (fFe-OC) increased significantly (p < 0.05), after conversion to paddy cultivation. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that SOC, dissolved organic C, and Fe-OC were affected by FeRB and the speciation of Fe. In addition, Fe (III) concentration affected SOC concentration (r = 0.60, p < 0.05) and DOC concentration (r = 0.58, p < 0.05), and Fed affected DOC concentration (r = 0.69, p < 0.05). We conclude that after rice field reclamation in estuarine wetlands, Fe-reducing bacteria can mediate iron-bonded organic C decoupling, affecting SOC stabilization.

Constraining timing of Proterozoic fault movement in the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia

Ancient faults dissect low-grade Mesoproterozoic sedimentary rocks of the 1673–1455 Ma Edmund Basin and the 1455–1075 Ma Collier Basin in the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia, and reveal a protracted history of basin formation and subsequent deformation. K–Ar dating of illite from fine-grained fault gouge separates (ideally <0.1 µm) provide robust dates of the most recent fault movement. From the Godfrey–Mount Vernon Fault, a sample of siltstone from the Kiangi Creek Formation (1590–1514 Ma) in the Edmund Basin, which was collected adjacent to faulting, provided a whole-rock date of 1506 ± 30.2 Ma. This is interpreted as a mixed age, encompassing modification of the depositional age by subsequent faulting during the extensional opening of the Edmund Basin. A fault gouge sample dated at 1141.4 ± 58.6 Ma, also from the Godfrey–Mount Vernon Fault, is consistent with the tectono-thermal 1321–1171 Ma Mutherbukin Tectonic Event identified in underlying high-grade Gascoyne Province basement rocks. Fault gouge sample dates of 885.5 ± 45.9 Ma from the Godfrey–Mount Vernon Fault and 782.2 ± 40.1 Ma from the Quartzite Well Fault define the younger newly identified crustal shortening during the Kuparr Tectonic Event. Concomitant tectonic activity in eastern Australia and South China has been considered as a possible precursor of the breakup of Rodina. In southern Africa, the Zambezi Supracrustal Sequence has been dated at 880–820 Ma and the Munali Intrusive Complex at 862–857 Ma also identified as rift-related.

Projecting dry-wet abrupt alternation across China from the perspective of soil moisture

Under a warmer climate, the enhancement of dry-wet abrupt alternation (DWAA) risk poses a great challenge for sustainable development. Here, we introduce a novel framework for DWAA detection based on our proposed soil moisture concentration index. By the end of this century, over humid southern China, the shift of soil moisture time series from anomalously wet to anomalously dry pattern, or the other way around, will be more abrupt. In addition, the proposed framework driven by Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 simulations projects more widespread DWAA-affected areas over southwestern China, coastal regions of southeastern China, and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially under a high emission scenario. The framework proposed in this study provides an efficient system for DWAA detection and prediction, and the findings of this study provide a reference for upgrading hydraulic infrastructure and mitigating future DWAA events.

Multiple Genotypes and Reassortants of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Co-Circulating in Hangzhou in Southeastern China, 2013-2023.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV), is becoming a significant public health threat due to its high mortality rate. Knowledge of SFTSV in southeastern coastal China is limited. The whole genomes of 66 SFTSV strains collected from 2013 to 2023 in Hangzhou, a coastal city in China, were amplified and sequenced to elucidate the geography-related genetic and pathogenic diversity. Hangzhou SFTSVs could be classified into five pure genotype groups (A, B-2, D, E, and F); genotype A was dominant, and genotype E was significantly associated with SFTS fatality. An unclassified sublineage of the L segment was proposed as a novel B-4 subgenotype. Seven types of genetic reassortants (abbreviated as B-3B-3B-1, CCA, B-2AB-2, B-2CB-2, DFD, B-4FF, and B-4B-2B-1 for the L, M, and S segments) were identified, including three novel forms. Six recombination events and ten amino acid substitutions were identified in the Hangzhou viruses. Collectively, our results demonstrated that all known SFTSV genotypes co-circulated in Hangzhou, leading to a gradual increase in genetic diversity and the generation of novel reassortants. Increased surveillance is urgently needed in Hangzhou, a critical region for SFTSV genetic exchange.

Drying trend in land and sea in East Asia during the warm season over the past four decades

Abstract The East Asian region is typically characterized by warm and humid conditions from late spring to summer. However, in recent decades, this region has experienced an increase in severe drying conditions, deviating from historical climatological patterns. This study investigated the precipitation − evaporation (P − E) trends across land and sea regions in East Asia (EA) during the extended summer season (April–September) from 1980 to 2022, and the key physical processes driving these trends through moisture budget decomposition and numerical experiments. The results reveal pronounced drying trends in southeastern China and the Yellow Sea and parts of the Korea Strait and Korean Peninsula over the past 43 years. The underlying physical processes driving these drying conditions differ between land and sea in EA. In southeastern China, the drying is driven by dynamic processes, particularly moisture divergence related to wind changes. This is linked to anomalous strengthening of descending motion due to the Indo-Pacific warm pool warming induced by both anthropogenic global warming and natural Pacific Decadal Oscillation-like sea surface temperature (SST) patterns. Conversely, drying in the Yellow Sea and adjacent areas is influenced by thermodynamic moisture advection. The altered humidity distribution due to global warming-induced SST patterns, which are higher over the Northwest Pacific marginal sea and lower in inland China, drives dry air transport from inland China to the Yellow Sea via background southwesterly wind. These findings enhance our understanding of the drying trend and their distinct processes in EA’s land and sea areas during the extended summer.

Crossing Spatial Boundaries: A Study on the Impact of Green Human Resource Management on Employees’ Household Pro-Environmental Behaviors

To respond more effectively to the current increasingly serious environmental problems, the boundary of corporate social responsibility is expanding. In this context, how to take green responsibility for each stakeholder has become a topic of concern for all sectors of society. However, there is still a gap in research on how green human resource management (GHRM) affects employees’ household pro-environmental behavior (PEB) from a cross-domain work–family perspective to achieve CSR more comprehensively. Our study argues that companies can use GHRM across the work–family boundary to influence employees’ household pro-environmental behaviors to achieve positive contributions to the social environment. Our study uses 310 questionnaires collected in southeastern China to conduct an empirical analysis and concludes that GHRM can positively shape green attitudes, help employees perceive green subjective norms, and develop green self-efficacy. Consistent with the findings of the Theory of Planned Behavior, individuals’ green attitudes, green subjective norms, and green self-efficacy can effectively enhance individuals’ household pro-environmental behavioral intentions, which in turn enables the prediction of individuals’ household pro-environmental behaviors. In conclusion, our study extends the influence of GHRM to a wider range of non-work domains and points the way to the full realization of corporate social responsibility by companies. In addition, our study emphasizes that with the subtle cultivation of companies, individuals can become fans of green and low-carbon behaviors, and through the widespread implementation of pro-environmental behaviors, it can reach a virtuous circle of environmental protection as a whole.

Identifying key monitoring areas for tree insect pest risks in China under climate change.

Climate change can exacerbate pest population growth, posing significant threats to ecosystem functions and services, social development, and food security. Risk assessment is a valuable tool for effective pest management that identifies potential pest expansion and ecosystem dispersal patterns. We applied a habitat suitability model coupled with priority protection planning software to determine key monitoring areas (KMA) for tree insect pest risks under climate change and used forest ecoregions and nature reserves to assess the ecological risk of insect pest invasion. Finally, we collated the prevention and control measures for reducing future pest invasions. The KMA for tree insect pests in our current and future climate is mainly concentrated in eastern and southern China. However, with climate change, the KMA gradually expands from southeastern to northeastern China. In the current and future climate scenarios, ecoregions requiring high monitoring levels were restricted to the eastern and southern coastal areas of China, and nature reserves requiring the highest monitoring levels were mainly distributed in southeastern China. Tree insect pest invasion assessment using ecoregions and nature reserves identified that future climates increase the risk of pest invasions in forest ecoregions and nature reserves, especially in northeastern China. The increased risk and severity of tree insect pest invasions require implementing monitoring and preventative measures in these areas. We effectively assessed the pest invasion risks using forest ecoregions and nature reserves under climate change. Our assessments suggest that monitoring and early prevention should focus on southeastern and northeastern China.

Variability in soil characteristics in the field–bund transition area increases water loss potential in paddy fields

Water loss in paddy fields occurs through various pathways, and previous studies have primarily focused on water seepage in the field, often overlooking the potential for the field-bund area. In this study, 3 typical paddy fields in the plain river network area of southeastern China were selected to clarify the differences in the soil structure and hydraulic characteristics at different positions within the field–bund area: the field, inner bund, middle bund and outer bund. The interactions between basic soil properties and hydraulic characteristics were also evaluated. The results revealed that the outer bund presented the lowest soil porosity (6.92 %), followed by the field (7.52 %), middle bund (7.77 %), and inner bund (8.09 %). The soil pores in the field presented the smallest mean diameter and fractal dimension and the highest degree of anisotropy. The deep layer of the bund contained more macropores, and the soil pores exhibited greater spatial distribution heterogeneity. The bottom layer in the field and bund presented the lowest average Ks value of only 0.05 mm min−1, indicating the presence of a plow pan and a notable tendency for lateral seepage. Differences in the soil structure and hydraulic parameters between the field and bund created a driving force for lateral seepage and rendered the field–bund area a hotspot for water loss. For the analysis of the underlying water loss mechanism, the structural equation model represented 65 % of the total variance in the hydraulic parameters. The micropore characteristics had the greatest positive direct effect on the hydraulic parameters, with a standardized path coefficient of 0.39 (p < 0.001). The soil physical properties were not directly related to the hydraulic parameters but exerted an indirect effect through aggregate stability and micropore and macropore characteristics, with a total indirect standardized path coefficient of −0.41.

Genotyping-by-sequencing reveals the genetic diversity of Cryptomeria japonica var. Sinensis in southeastern China

Genotyping-by-sequencing reveals the genetic diversity of Cryptomeria japonica var. Sinensis in southeastern China

A review of Plateros Bourgeois, 1879 (Coleoptera: Lycidae) from southeastern China, with descriptions of six new species from the Nanling Mountains

We review the species of the lycid genus Plateros Bourgeois, 1879 from Southeast China in this study. Six new species are described, including P. flavihumeralis sp. nov., P. incurvusimimus sp. nov., P. dinghuensis sp. nov., P. gracilis sp. nov., P. nanlingensis sp. nov., and P. nigripennis sp. nov. P. laocaensis Kazantsev, 2011 is recorded to China for the first time. Five previously known species, including P. chinensis Waterhouse, 1879, P. planatus planatus Waterhouse, 1879, P. propinquus (Waterhouse, 1879), P. incurvus (Bocáková, 1997) and P. laocaensis are illustrated with macrophotographs of habitus and aedeagi to make comparison with new species. In addition, a distribution map and a key to species of Plateros from Southeast China are provided.

Notes on Aulaconotus Thomson, 1864 from China, with description of one new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Agapanthiini)

The male of the little-known species Aulaconotus incorrugatus Gressitt, 1939 is reported for the first time, and its male genitalia compared with the most similar congener, A. semiaulaconotus (Hayashi, 1974). A few new provincial records for A. incorrugatus are given. A new species closely related to the above taxa, A. yangi Bi &amp; Lin sp. nov., is described from southeastern China. Illustrations of the habitus and major diagnostic characters, including endophallic structure, of these three species are provided.