Context: Habitat connectivity is essential for the long-term persistence of species, but is commonly disregarded in climate change impact studies. The Tibetan Plateau contains a biome rich in endemic ungulates, which are highly sensitive to climatic variations and deserve particular attention in conservation planning against climate change. Objectives: We evaluated the response and vulnerability of habitat connectivity to climate change for four ungulate species endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, and examined the robustness of protected areas (PAs) for the conservation of these species under climate change. Methods: For each focal species, we developed ecological niche models to predict the spatial variations in habitat under climate change and conducted a network-theoretical analysis to estimate the consequent changes in habitat connectivity. Moreover, we used the circuit theory to characterize dispersal patterns of these species and conducted gap analyses to estimate the contribution of existing PAs to the conservation of these species. Results: The four focal species will experience a remarkable connectivity loss that outpaced their habitat loss in response to climate change. Currently, 53.39 and 46.64% of the areas that could contribute to the habitat suitability and connectivity, respectively, of these species are unprotected. These values could further increase under future climate conditions. Conclusions: Climate-driven habitat variations may lead to the loss of key connectivity areas between the habitats of ungulates, causing disproportionate decrease in habitat connectivity. The existing PAs on the Tibetan Plateau are not robust for the conservation of the four ungulates. Adjustment of certain key PAs may help to address the conservation gaps.

Lycodon gammiei (Blanford, 1878), a rarely encountered species of Asian snake, is characterized by ambiguous systematics and biology. Based on a sole specimen of L. gammiei rediscovered in southeastern Xizang, China, we conduct a detailed morphological examination and description, and investigate the systematic position of this species. Morphologically, the newly collected specimen is closely aligned with specimens previously described. Mitochondrial DNA-based phylogenetic analyses reveal that L. gammiei constitutes an independent evolutionary lineage, forming a clade with L. fasciatus (Anderson, 1879), L. gongshan Vogel & Luo, 2011, L. butleri Boulenger, 1900, and L. cavernicolus Grismer, Quah, Anuar, Muin, Wood & Nor, 2014. The closest genetic distance between L. gammiei and its congeners was 10.2%. The discovery of L. gammiei in Medog County, China, signifies an eastward expansion of its known geographical distribution.

The Himalayan shrew, Soriculus nigrescens Gray, 1842, belongs to the monotypic genus Soriculus, which is distributed mainly in the Himalayan region. Previous authors have studied its classification based on morphological and molecular data. However, no comprehensive study of the diversity and phylogeny of this species has been performed. In this study, we investigated the molecular phylogeny, genetic diversity, and species divergence of S. nigrescens based on one mitochondrial gene and three nuclear genes. A total of 124 samples from 27 sites in Southwest China were analyzed. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses and species divergence reveal non-monophyly of Soriculus, potentially representing two genera and three clades. Populations from Yunnan (Clade YN) represent the subspecies S. n. minors and should recover the full species status. Populations from Himalayas (Clade A) represent the species S. nigrescens, while populations from southeastern Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains and southern Himalayas (Clade B) represent a new cryptic and unnamed species. Species delimitation analyses and deep genetic distance analysis clearly support the species status of these three evolving clades. The putative new genus and cryptic species should be studied and identified in the future using a more extensive sampling combined with a comprehensive morphological and phylogenetic analysis.

Diet analysis of potential small mammals pest species is important for understanding feeding ecology and evaluating their impact on crops and stored foods. Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes), distributed in Southwest China, has previously been reported as a farmland pest. Effective population management of this species requires a better understanding of its diet, which can be difficult to determine with high taxonomic resolution using conventional microhistological methods. In this study, we used two DNA metabarcoding assays to identify 38 animal species and 65 plant genera from shrew stomach contents, which suggest that A. squamipes is an omnivorous generalist. Earthworms are the most prevalent (>90%) and abundant (>80%) food items in the diverse diet of A. squamipes. Species of the Fabaceae (frequency of occurrence [FO]: 88%; such as peanuts) and Poaceae (FO: 71%; such as rice) families were the most common plant foods identified in the diet of A. squamipes. Additionally, we found a seasonal decrease in the diversity and abundance of invertebrate foods from spring and summer to winter. Chinese mole shrew has a diverse and flexible diet throughout the year to adapt to seasonal variations in food availability, contributing to its survival even when food resources are limited. This study provides a higher resolution identification of the diet of A. squamipes than has been previously described and is valuable for understanding shrew feeding ecology as well as evaluating possible species impacts on crops.

The genus Tropidophorus consists of small semi-aquatic lizards that dwell in lowland forest steams (Barbour, 1921; Bauer & Jackman, 2008). Here, we designate the neotype and re-describe T. guangxiensis Wen, 1992 based on newly collected topotypic specimens. We also describe a new subspecies from Xuefeng Mountain, Hongjiang County, Hunan Province, central South China. Based on two mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), the phylogenetic position of T. guangxiensis is allocated for the first time. Additionally, our data strongly support that the new subspecies is phylogenetically closely related to T. g. guangxiensis. We also present a morphological identification key for known species and subspecies of Tropidophorus in China.

Knowledge of the mechanisms of species coexistence is crucial for biodiversity conservation. The tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), and Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) are all found in alpine ecosystems in Tibet, China. To investigate how these sympatric species achieve stable coexistence, we compared species distribution models and diurnal activity rhythms to analyze their spatial and temporal niche characteristics based on data collected from 186 camera traps set in Changdu prefecture. The results indicate he following: (1) In Changdu, the total area of suitable habitats for tufted deer, alpine musk deer and Chinese serow are 14,968 km², 41,909 km², and 36,954 km², respectively. These areas represent approximately 13.62%, 38.14%, and 33.63% of the study area, respectively. (2) The total overlapping area of suitable habitats between tufted deer and alpine musk deer is 5102 km². The total overlapping area of suitable habitats between tufted deer and Chinese serow is 6483 km². Additionally, the total overlapping area of suitable habitats between alpine musk deer and Chinese serow amounts to 26,869 km². (3) The overlap index for daily activity rhythms between tufted deer and alpine musk deer is 0.88—this difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). Similarly, the overlap index for daily activity rhythms between tufted deer and Chinese serow is 0.82—also significantly different (p < 0.001). Lastly, the overlap index for daily activity rhythms between alpine musk deer and Chinese serow is 0.76—again showing a significant difference (p < 0.001). The results provide valuable insight into conservation strategies aimed at preserving populations and habitats of tufted deer, alpine musk deer, and Chinese serow while contributing to a deeper understanding of resource partitioning mechanisms as well as population dynamics among coexisting species.