This study explores the critical issue of understanding the potential impacts of climate change on the habitat suitability of the highly endangered forest-dwelling Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) in China. Through the application of the MaxEnt model, high-resolution bioclimatic datasets, and species occurrence data, the research aims to elucidate the spatial and temporal dynamics of P. mangshanensis distribution from the present to the years 2050 and 2070. Through the integration of three climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and exploring different shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585), the study seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the potential variations in habitat suitability under diverse future climate conditions. The methodology employed involves the construction of the MaxEnt model utilizing the BioClim dataset and 83 species occurrence points. The SSP scenarios mentioned above represent future climate change scenarios, and the accuracy of the model is evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Key findings reveal that the MaxEnt model exhibits high accuracy (AUC = 0.998), pinpointing the current suitable habitat for P. mangshanensis to be confined to the Mangshan area within the Nanling Mountains, covering an approximate area of 1023.12 km2. However, projections based on future climate scenarios suggest notable shifts in habitat suitability dynamics. While potential suitable habitats may emerge in the northwest of the current range, the existing suitable habitats are anticipated to undergo significant reduction or even complete disappearance. Notably, precipitation during the driest month emerges as a critical determinant influencing the distribution of the species. In conclusion, the study underscores the exacerbating impact of climate change on habitat deterioration and survival risks for P. mangshanensis, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation measures to safeguard the remaining suitable habitats for this endangered species. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, with the anticipated contraction of the snake’s range potentially leading to its disappearance and increased habitat fragmentation. By shedding light on the potential distributional changes of P. mangshanensis in Mangshan, the research provides valuable insights for informing targeted conservation strategies and policy interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on endangered species. © 2024 by the authors.

This study focuses on understanding the behavior and activity patterns of the critically endangered Protobothrops mangshanensis in China in order to better provide scientific data for upcoming artificial breeding and propagation efforts. We conducted a long-term observation of 15 Mangshan pit vipers at different sites in Hunan Province during the summer and autumn of 2021. Our methods involved analyzing the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and light condition on the snakes' day and night activity and behaviors. The results revealed that the wild behaviors of Protobothrops mangshanensis include resting, sunbathing, crawling, and exploring, with distinct rhythms in their diel behavior. The snakes' diel activity exhibits three peak periods which may be related to food activity and sunbathing. This study also highlights the complex interplay of environmental factors on the activity of Protobothrops mangshanensis. Relative humidity was identified as a critical factor accounting for the difference in activity between observation groups. There was little inter-individual variation among the 15 Protobothrops mangshanensis, even though these snakes used terrestrial and arboreal habitats under different environmental conditions. These findings enhance our understanding of Protobothrops mangshanensis behavior and provide a basis for effective conservation measures for this rare and critically endangered species.

We describe the advertisement call of the Nanling horned frog, Boulenophrys nanlingensis for the first time, based on recordings obtained from four individuals. One of these individuals, which was identified using its dorsum pattern, was recorded twice after nine months. Distinct shifts in the temporal parameters and call rate were observed from calls of the re-captured individual, which was suspected to be related to temperature and social context. However, due to the limited sample size, further research is needed to confirm these findings. We highlight the potential of mark-recapture method using dorsum pattern for studying and monitoring the Nanling horned frog and other megophyinid frogs.

动物的生境选择（Habitat selection）是指动物对可利用生境的挑选,该行为可发生在景观、家域和微生境层次上,因此对“动物与生境”的关系在景观、家域和微生境层次上进行生境选择研究与分析,有助于揭示动物对复杂环境的适应策略。尽管多层次分析方法近年来常用于评估野生动物与生境的关系,但很少有研究在同一层次上同时考虑多个空间尺度和多个时间尺度的影响,这可能会导致对“动物与生境”关系的错误推断。莽山烙铁头蛇（Protobothrops mangshanensis）为我国特有的大型剧毒蛇,其种群数量稀少、地理分布狭窄、处于极危状态,亟需加强保护。对该蛇开展多层次多尺度的生境选择研究,有助于探讨其生境喜好,揭示其生境选择机制,促进该濒危蛇类的科学保护。2016年7月-2020年6月,采用样带调查法并结合自然保护区野外巡护调查,获取莽山烙铁头蛇的分布位点,运用3S技术、“利用-随机”分析法、随机森林模型、广义线性模型和广义线性混合模型等方法,在景观层次（不同空间尺度）、家域层次、微生境层次（不同季节）,对该蛇的生境选择机制开展了研究。此外,本研究还在2018年6-9月份,对3条莽山烙铁头蛇成年个体进行了跟踪观察,评估了它们的移动模式和家域大小。主要研究结果如下:（1）通过在2018年6-9月份对3条莽山烙铁头蛇的跟踪观察发现,其最小位移距离为219.6 m,最大位移距离为435.1 m。基于莽山烙铁头蛇的移动情况,本研究选择100 m、200m、300m、400m和500m共5个空间尺度,对该蛇的景观层次生境选择进行研究。当空间尺度为100 m和200 m时,平均树高和针叶林百分比是影响该蛇景观生境选择的重要变量;当空间尺度为300 m、400 m和500 m时,平均树高和平均坡度是影响该蛇景观生境选择的重要变量;另外,当空间尺度为400 m和500 m时,平均海拔也是影响该蛇景观生境选择的重要变量。当空间尺度为200 m时,重要模型的平均支持率（Akaike Weight）最高,故采用该空间尺度研究莽山烙铁头蛇景观层次生境选择较合适。（2）在景观层次上（空间尺度为200m）,随机森林模型分析表明,平均树高、平均坡向、平均坡度、平均海拔和针叶林百分比是排名较高的重要生境变量。广义线性模型分析表明,平均树高和针叶林百分比是影响莽山烙铁头蛇景观层次生境选择的重要变量。当平均树高＞12 m、针叶林百分比＜27%、18°＜平均坡度＜30°、1000 m＜平均海拔＜1300 m以及坡向为阳坡和半阳坡时,莽山烙铁头蛇的预测值较高（＞0.5）。（3）通过对3条莽山烙铁头蛇为期近4个月的追踪,由最小凸多边形法（Minimum Convex Polygon,MCP）计算得知,该蛇的家域大小为 3.9±2.3 hm2。在家域层次上,随机森林模型分析表明,该蛇生境选择的重要预测变量为距溪沟距离、距人为干扰距离、距灌木距离、距树冠间隙距离和距乱石堆距离。广义线性模型分析表明,距溪沟距离和距树冠间隙距离是影响该蛇家域层次生境选择的重要变量。当距溪沟距离＜48 m、距林冠间隙＞52 m、距乱石堆距离＜46 m、距灌木距离＜47m、90m＜距人为干扰距离＜117m时,该蛇的预测值较高（＞0.5）。（4）影响莽山烙铁头蛇微生境层次生境选择的主要因素随季节发生变化:春季时,该蛇喜欢选择倒木盖度、灌木盖度、草本盖度、岩石盖度较大,而郁闭度较小的生境;夏季时,该蛇喜欢选择倒木盖度、灌木盖度、落叶盖度较大,小树棵数较多,而岩石盖度较小的生境;秋季时,该蛇的出现与较高的灌木盖度、倒木盖度、大树棵数、草本盖度和细木质残体盖度有关。季节是影响该蛇与微生境关系的重要因素,对于每一个微生境变量,利用样方与随机样方之间至少在一个季节上存在显著性差异（P＜0.05）。（5）在微生境层次上,将莽山烙铁头蛇春季、夏季和秋季微生境数据汇总为一个数据集后分析发现,灌木盖度、倒木盖度、岩石盖度、草本盖度、小树棵数、大树棵数和郁闭度是排名较高的重要预测变量。广义线性混合模型分析表明,倒木盖度、灌木盖度、草本盖度、大树棵数和小树棵数是影响该蛇微生境选择的重要变量。当倒木盖度＞22%、灌木盖度＞30%、草本盖度＞18%、大树棵数＞16棵、小树棵数＞10棵、郁闭度＜76%或＞87%、10%＜岩石盖度＜17%、或当岩石盖度＞26%时,该蛇的预测值较高（＞0.5）。本研究显示,多层次多尺度分析可有序地揭示莽山烙铁头蛇与其生境的关系。景观层次上,影响莽山烙铁头蛇生境选择的重要因素随选取的空间尺度的变化而变化,空间尺度为200 m时研究该蛇的景观层次生境选择较为合适;家域层次上,该蛇的生境选择主要与距溪沟距离和距树冠间隙距离有关;微生境层次上,季节是该蛇生境选择的重要影响因素,不同季节该蛇与微生境的关系不同。根据研究结果,提出如下保护建议:（1）在景观层次上,保护原生阔叶林,科学管理次生植被;控制针叶林面积,使破碎的斑块镶嵌体逐渐趋向于连续的整体;科学选择人工繁育地点和野外放归地点。（2）在家域层次上,保持溪流的流量和自然分布,使溪流发挥应有的生态功能;保护乔木林冠,提高莽山烙铁头蛇迁移效率;注重对乱石堆及周围生境的管理和监测。（3）微生境层次上,加强对重要微生境要素的保护,关注微生境选择的季节性变化。

We described a new species of the Amolops mantzorum group (Anura: Ranidae) from northwestern Hunan Province, China based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: moderate body size of SVL 40.3-40.9 mm in adult males (N=3), and 52.6-57.7 mm in adult females (N=3); head length about equal to or larger than head width (HDL/HDW 1.01-1.03); skin on dorsum smooth; dorsolateral folds absent, but developed a series of elongated glands forming an incomplete line; dense small spiny tubercles on lower flanks, and sparse flat tubercles on upper flanks; skin on belly slightly granular, posterior half of ventral surface of thigh glandular; tympanum indistinct, small, covered by glandular skin; presence of dense spiny tubercles around the mouth corner; vomerine teeth present, attached on two oblique ridges; presence of supernumerary tubercles below the bases of fingers II, III and IV; several protruding tubercles around the cloacal region, with a pair of larger tubercles on sides of the anus; webs on each side of toe IV reaches the region between third subarticular tubercle and digit; and absence of vocal sacs and linea masculine in males.

＜正＞家域的大小与变化是衡量动物生境质量及承载量、估测保护有生存力的最小种群所需生境面积的重要参数。2016年3月3日,来自江苏大丰麋鹿国家级自然保护区的16只麋鹿Elaphurus davidianus在湖南东洞庭湖国家级自然保护区实施野外放归。开展洞庭湖区麋鹿野外放归初期家域,有利于促进野外放归麋鹿种群的就地保护和生境监测。2016年3月3日—2017年2月28日,借助GPS卫星跟踪技术,结合地面直接跟踪观测法,对野外放

The study of home range utilization of rewilded animals is important for informed reintroduction management. Sixteen Milu adult individuals (5 male 11 female) were reintroduced from Jiangsu Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve to Hunan East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve on February 28, 2016, out of which 11 Milu individuals (1 male 10 female) were wearing GPS satellite tracking collars. Subsequently, with the aid of GPS collar technology, combined with on-ground tracking observations, we tracked the reintroduced Milu for one year from March 2016 to February 2017. We used the dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Model to estimate the individual home range of the 10 rewilded Milu (1 male 9 female, 1 female individual was eliminated because its collar fell off) and seasonal home range of 5 rewilded female Milu (all tracked for up to one year). 95% level represented the home range, and 50% level represented the core areas. Temporal variation in normalized difference vegetation index were used to quantify changes in food availability. We also quantified resource use of rewilded Milu by calculating the selection ratio for all habitats within their core areas. The results showed that: (1) a total of 52,960 coordinate fixes were collected; (2) during the early stage of rewilding, the average home range size of the rewilded Milu was 17.62 +/- 3.79 km(2) and the average core areas size was 0.77 +/- 0.10 km(2); (3) the annual average home range size of the female deer was 26.08 +/- 5.21 km(2) and the annual average core areas size was 1.01 +/- 0.14 km(2) at the early stage of rewilding; (4) during the early stage of rewilding, the home range and core areas of the rewilded Milu were significantly affected by season, and the difference between summer and winter was significant (home range: p = 0.003; core areas: p = 0.008); (5) home range and core areas of the rewilded female deer in the Dongting Lake area in different seasons showed significant negative correlation with NDVI (home range: p = 0.000; core areas: p = 0.003); (6) Most rewilded female Milu showed a high preference for farmland in all seasons except winter, when they focused on using lake and beach. The home range of the rewilded Milu in the Dongting Lake area at the early stage of rewilding experienced significantly seasonal changes. Our study reveals seasonal differences in the home ranges of rewilded Milu and the resource use strategies of individual Milu in response to seasonal changes. At last, we put forward the following management recommendations: (1) to establish habitat islands; (2) to implement community co-management; (3) to reduce human disturbance; (4) to strengthen population monitoring for formulating species conservation plans.

Sympatric distribution and potentially long larval development time make the assignment of tadpoles confusing in Asian-horned frogs of the subfamily Megophryinae. In this study, we used molecular data to identify four syntopic megophryinid tadpoles from Mangshan on the border between Hunan and brophila, and Bo. nanlingensis. A detailed re-description of the Br. popei tadpoles is provided as well as the first descriptions of three Boulenophrys tadpoles based on external morphology and coloration. An effort is attempted to distinguish these tadpoles by coloration patterns: the dorsal pattern, ventral pattern, and pattern on tail are useful for field identification of these tadpoles. However, the variation of color pattern could sometimes make species delineation difficult. Researchers are encouraged to document coloration in life with photographs and the collection of tadpoles of different development stages and sizes advocated in order to better understand how color may change during larval development.

Gut microbiota play important roles in the immunity, digestion, and energy metabolism of their reptile hosts. Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) is a critically endangered snake species that is a Class I national protected species in China. Little is known regarding the relationship between P. mangshanensis and their gut microbial communities. In this study, the gut microbiota of wild P. mangshanensis individuals, artificially hibernating captive individuals, and non-hibernating captive individuals were compared across nine samples. Comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis was used to investigate the taxonomic composition, diversity, and function of P. mangshanensis gut microbial communities and assess whether their gut microbiomes were affected by their living environments and captivity conditions. The dominant phyla within P. mangshanensis gut microbial communities were Proteobacteria (65.55%), Bacteroidetes (15.97%), and Firmicutes (8.11%). Enriched functional pathways within the gut microbiota included metabolism (54.9%), environmental information processing (9.67%), and genetic information processing (9.37%). Wild snake gut communities exhibited higher microbial diversity than the other two groups. The gut microbiomes of wild and hibernating captive snakes may be more reflective of healthy intestinal homeostasis than that in non-hibernating snakes. Specifically, non-hibernating snakes exhibited increased levels of potentially pathogenic populations and functional specialization within gut microbial communities. Thus, different living environments and captivity methods may correspond to major shifts in microbiota composition, diversity, and function within P. mangshanensis. This study provides important insights to help guide the conservation of P. mangshanensis, while also carrying broad implications for our understanding of the effects of living environments and non-hibernating captivity conditions on the gut microbiota of snakes.