Meta-analyses reveal the large-scale spatial patterns of genetic and phylogenetic diversity for Chinese terrestrial vertebrates.

Despite 40 years of conservation of the critically endangered Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis ), the genomic underpinnings of its status remained uncharted. Genome sequencing data of 244 individuals uncovered relatively low overall genomic diversity/heterozygosity and long runs of homozygosity, with captive populations exhibiting higher heterozygosity and smaller inbreeding coefficients compared to wild individuals. The decreased level of inbreeding in the captive population demonstrates the contribution of the large captive breeding population. The estimated recent effective population size was around a few dozen. To combat challenges of inbreeding depression and reduced adaptability, we used genome-wide SNP-based kinship analysis on captive populations to enable a genome-informed breeding program that minimizes inbreeding. Long-term field monitoring revealed that the Chinese government greatly advanced the conservation of A. sinensis through conservation measures and reintroduction programs. Our research enriches the understanding of the Chinese alligator’s genetic landscape, offering invaluable genomic resources for breeding and conservation strategies.

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis), found only in a small region in southeastern Anhui Province, is listed as critically endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to its current declining population trend. Any abnormalities in the physical properties of an egg can decrease the hatching rate. In particular, eggshells play an essential role in embryo development, motivating us to analyze the microstructures of the eggshells of Chinese alligators. In this study, we categorized the eggshells into two groups, based on the hatching rates, and analyzed the relationship between the eggshell parameters (eggshell thickness, calcium content, and number of pores in erosion craters) and the hatching rate, as well as the relationships between the eggshell parameters. We found that the shells of the eggs with high hatching rates were thicker than those of the eggs with low hatching rates. There were also fewer erosion-crater pores on the surfaces of the eggs with high hatching rates than on the surfaces of the eggs with low hatching rates. Moreover, the shell Ca content was significantly higher in the eggs with high hatching rates than in the eggs with low hatching rates. Cluster modeling indicated that the highest hatching rate occurred when the eggshell thickness was 200–380 µm and there were 1–12 pores. These results suggest that eggs with adequate Ca contents, thicker shells, and less air permeability are more likely to hatch. Furthermore, our findings can inform future studies, which will be vital for the survival of the critically endangered Chinese alligator species.

Amphibians and reptiles, especially the critically endangered Chinese alligators, are vulnerable to climate change. Historically, the decline in suitable habitats and fragmentation has restricted the distribution of Chinese alligators to a small area in southeast Anhui Province in China. However, the effects of climate change on range‐restricted Chinese alligator habitats are largely unknown. We aimed to predict current and future (2050s and 2070s) Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. We employed species distribution models, barycenter migration analyses, and the Marxian model to assess current and future Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. The results showed that the lowest temperature and rainfall seasonality in the coldest month were the two most important factors affecting the distribution of Chinese alligators. Future predictions indicate a reduction (3.39%–98.41%) in suitable habitats and a westward shift in their distribution. Further, the study emphasizes that suitable habitats for Chinese alligators are threatened by climate change. Despite the impact of the Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve, protection gaps persist, with 78.27% of the area lacking priority protected area. Our study provides crucial data for Chinese alligator adaptation to climate change and underscores the need for improved conservation strategies. Future research should refine conservation efforts, consider individual plasticity, and address identified limitations to enhance the resilience of Chinese alligator populations in the face of ongoing climate change.

Meningitis-like infectious disease (MID) (also known as frog cataract and torticollis) is a disease prone to occur in amphibians and reptiles. It is highly contagious and has a high mortality rate. In this study, we sampled and sequenced microbiomes from oral and intestinal samples of five normal and five diseased bullfrogs. The analysis found that the richness, uniformity, and abundance of the microbial community of the diseased bullfrogs were significantly higher than those of the normal bullfrogs in both the oral cavity and the gut. In the diseased group, the abundance of Elizabethkingia significantly increased and that of Lactococcus significantly decreased. It showed that the structure of the microbial community had changed a lot in diseased frogs. After the pathogenic bacteria infected the body, it might be make the decline in the immune function of the body declined, and resulting in some conditional pathogenic bacteria in the water body further infecting the body. As a result, the richness and composition of the microbial community significantly changed. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the control of MID of bullfrogs.

The Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) is an endangered species, which is distributed on the plateau and mountains, mainly in Neimenggu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other places. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of M. chrysogaster. The circle genome was 16,354 bp and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 control region (CR). The CR was located between the tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes and is 924 bp in length. Overall base composition of the complete mitochondrial DNA was 34.0% A, 28.0% T, 25.1% C, and 12.9% G. The M. chrysogaster mitochondrial genome had 21 tRNA genes folded in the typical cloverleaf structure, with a unique exception of tRNA^Ser.