Optimizing livestock carrying capacity for wild ungulate-livestock coexistence in a Qinghai-Tibet Plateau grassland.

Wild ungulates are an important part of terrestrial ecosystems and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health and integrity. In many grassland ecosystems that are habituated by wild ungulates, the coexistence of domestic ungulates has created a conflict over grazing resources. Solving this conflict requires a balanced and sustainable policy that satisfies both the needs of wildlife protection and food production. Here, we assess the optimal grassland livestock carrying capacity of an alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, given the coexistence of wild populations of kiangs (Equus kiang) and Tibetan gazelles (Procapra picticaudata), two key species grazing in this region. We use kriging and the MaxEnt method to estimate the population sizes of kiangs and Tibetan gazelles in Maduo County, Qinghai Province. We then convert the estimated population size of the two species into sheep units and calculate the residual carrying capacity for livestock grazing. We show that after accounting for the grazing need for kiangs and Tibetan gazelles, grassland in Maduo is capable of supporting 420,641 sheep units, which is slightly more than the current livestock population. However, the residual carrying capacity is highly uneven across the region, and overgrazing is found in many areas of Maduo, especially in northern Maduo. This research provides a useful framework for planning sustainable livestock farming for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other regions facing wildlife-livestock conflict.

Gap analysis and implications for seasonal management on a local scale.

BACKGROUND: Identifying biodiversity hotspots on a local scale, using multiple data sources, and ecological niche modeling, has the potential to contribute to more effective nature reserve management. METHODS: In this study, we used infrared-triggered camera trapping, field surveys, and interviews to create a dataset on the distribution of species (mammals and birds) in Hebei Wulingshan Nature Reserve (Hebei Province, China). RESULTS: We identified 101 species (14 orders, 38 families), 64 of which (2,142 effective records) were selected for environmental niche modeling. All results were reclassified into three groups: "priority areas" (areas including the potential distributions of over 80% of species), "important areas" (those with 50% of species), and "normal areas" (all other areas). Our results show that priority areas (1.31-1.82 km2) and important areas (7.73-21.44 km2) for conservation were mainly covered by the core and experimental zones of the reserve; additionally, a kilometer-wide margin around the outside of the nature reserve seems to be important to maintaining biodiversity. DISCUSSION: We close by suggesting some actions for enhancing conservation of biodiversity in the reserve, including monitoring, strengthen law enforcements, introducing popular science, and co-operating with local people.

Reconstructing the historical distribution of the Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) in Northeast China based on historical records.

The range of the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) has decreased dramatically over the last 100 years. This species is still under extreme risk of extinction and conservation efforts are rigorous. Understanding the long-term dynamics of the population decline would be helpful to offer insight into the mechanism behind the decline and endangerment and improve conservation perspectives and strategies. Historical data collection has been the challenge for reconstructing the historical distribution. In China, new gazetteers having systematic compilation and considerable local ecological data can be considered as an important complementary for reconstruction. Therefore, we have set up a data set (mainly based on the new gazetteers) in order to identify the historical range of the Amur Leopard from the 1950s to 2014. The result shows that the Amur leopard was historically widely distributed with large populations in Northeastern China, but it presented a sharp decline after the 1970s. The decline appeared from the plains to the mountains and northeast to southwest since the 1950s. Long-term historical data, mainly from new gazetteers, demonstrates that such resources are capable of tracking species change through time and offers an opportunity to reduce data shortage and enhance understanding in conservation.

Renal phospholipase A2 receptor in hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the expression of renal phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in idiopathic and secondary membranous nephropathy (MN). METHODS: Patients with biopsy-proven MN and non-MN were enrolled. Renal PLA2R was examined using an anti-PLA2R antibody (anti-PLA2R-Ab), and circulating PLA2R-Ab was detected by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Renal PLA2R was detected along the capillary loop in 84% patients with idiopathic MN but not in those with any other primary glomerulonephritis. Only 1 of 38 patients with class V lupus nephritis showed renal PLA2R positive. In hepatitis B virus-associated MN (HBV-MN), 64% showed renal PLA2R positive, and PLA2R overlapped with HBsAg along the capillary loop. In addition, renal PLA2R positivity was closely associated with serum PLA2R-Ab. Renal PLA2R positive was present in all the patients with serum PLA2R-Ab positive and in 53% of patients with serum PLA2R-Ab negative. However, in patients with renal PLA2R negative, serum PLA2R-Ab was all negative. CONCLUSION: Renal biopsy PLA2R positivity was common in idiopathic MN and HBV-MN but rare in lupus-associated MN, and it was closely associated with serum PLA2R-Ab production. Further studies examining the association between PLA2R and HBV-MN may shed light on the mechanism of idiopathic MN or HBV-MN. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Sirt1 activation ameliorates renal fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-ß/Smad3 pathway.

TGF-ß signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Smad3, a transcription factor, is a critical fibrogenic mediator of TGF-ß. Sirt1 is a NAD(+) -dependent deacetylase that has been reported to modify a number of transcription factors to exert certain beneficial health effects. This study examined the effect of Sirt1 on Smad3 and its role in CKD. Resveratrol attenuated the expression of extracelluar matrix proteins in both the remnant kidney of 5/6th nephrectomized rats and cultured mesangial cells (MMCs) exposed to TGF-ß1. The effect of resveratrol was substantially attenuated in cultured MMCs for which Sirt1 had been knocked down by an shRNA lentivirus. Overexpression of Sirt1 attenuated TGF-ß1-induced extracelluar matrix expression in cultured cells. Co-immunoprecipitation studies suggested that Sirt1 could bind with Smad3. Resveratrol treatment enhanced this binding and reduced acetylation levels of Smad3. Resveratrol inhibited the transcription activity of Smad3. Knockdown of Sirt1 increased acetylated Smad3 and substantially enhanced the transcriptional activity following TGF-ß1. Finally, Sirt1 deficiency aggravated renal function damage and markedly enhanced fibrosis in the remnant kidney of 5/6 nephrectomized mice. Taken together, these results identify Sirt1 as an important protective factor for renal fibrosis in a CKD rodent model, and the protective function of Sirt1 is attributable to its action on TGF-ß/Smad3 signaling. Therefore, we suggest that Sirt1 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CKD.