Age of the earliest african anthropoids

The earliest fossil record of African anthropoid primates (monkeys and apes) comes from the Jebel Qatrani Formation in the Fayum depression of Egypt. Reevaluation of both geologic and faunal evidence indicates that this formation was deposited in the early part of the Oligocene Epoch, more than 31 million years ago, earlier than previous estimates. The great antiquity of the fossil higher primates from Egypt accords well with their primitive morphology compared with later Old World higher primates. Thus, the anthropoid primates and hystricomorph rodents from Fayum are also considerably older than the earliest higher primates and rodents from South America.     

西南大学校园鸟类区系与资源初报

对西南大学校园鸟类进行调查,共记录到鸟类96种,隶属11目、27科.其中留鸟56种,约占58.33%;冬候鸟12种,约占12.50%;夏候鸟21种,约占21.88%,旅鸟7种,约占7.29%.雀形目鸟类67种,约占69.79%,国家重点保护鸟类（Ⅱ级）7种,约占7.29%.区系分析表明东洋种45、古北种28种、广布种23种,分别占46.88%、29.17%、23.96%.具有明显的东洋界特征.分析了多年来种群消长情况及原因,提出保护校园鸟类的若干建议.     

浙江省鸟类的生态地理初步研究

浙江省鸟类计410种,隶属19目63科203属。本文对浙江鸟类的生态群和地理分布进行叙述和讨论,初步建议浙江省境内的鸟类区系划分为6省2州。     

宁夏贺兰山国家级自然保护区鸟类区系组成及其特征研究

对宁夏贺兰山国家级自然保护区的鸟类进行了调查,共记录到鸟类196种,隶属17目41科。其中留鸟54种,夏候鸟84种,旅鸟53种,冬候鸟5种。繁殖鸟(夏候鸟和留鸟)138种。记录鸟类种数占宁夏地区鸟类总数的61.3%。鸟类区系组成以古北界种类为主,共160种,东洋界鸟类24种,广布型11种。古北界成分以北方型和中亚型占优势,有一定东北型成分,反映出蒙新区西部荒漠亚区特点。     

庆阳市鸟类资源调查

2009～2011年采用固定半径样点法和样线法对甘肃省庆阳市的鸟类资源现状进行了调查。共记录到鸟类124种,隶属于16目48科。其中,雀形目鸟类68种,占鸟类总数的54.8%,非雀形目鸟类56种,占45.2%;候鸟67种,留鸟57种;国家I级保护鸟类有5种,国家Ⅱ级保护鸟类有11种。98种繁殖鸟中,属于北方型的有62种,占63.3%,反映出较明显的北方型鸟类区系特征。     

永康市鸟类区系研究

永康市共有鸟类１５６种，隶属１６目４０科。繁殖鸟（留鸟和夏候鸟）有１０１种，占鸟类总数的６４．７４％。其中东洋界鸟类占８３．１７％，古北界鸟类占１１．８８％。该区鸟类区系组成与华南区更为相似。文中对鸟类标本进行了测量和描述。     

永康市鸟类区系研究

永康市共有鸟类156种,隶属16目4。科。繁拉鸟(留鸟和夏候鸟)有101种,占鸟类总数的64.74%。其中东洋界鸟类占83.17%,古北界鸟类占11.88%。该区鸟类区系组成与华南区更为相似。文中对鸟类标本进行了测量和描述。     

杭州市鸟类区系研究

杭州市有鸟类306种，隶属17目49科，占浙江省鸟类种数的69．23％。其中留鸟124种，占40．52％；夏候鸟45种，占14．71％；冬候鸟96种，占31．37％；旅鸟40种，占13．07％；迷鸟1种，占0．33％。分析了鸟类迁徙及环境变化对鸟类的影响。在动物地理分布上，杭州市属东洋界华中区接近古北界南缘，鸟类组成具有东洋界向古北界过渡的特征，但仍偏向东洋界。表5参23     

A fossil lemur from the Oligocene of Pakistan

In the absence of a comprehensive fossil record, the origin and early evolution of Malagasy lemurs have been subject to much uncertainty. We report here the discovery of a strepsirrhine fossil with strong cheirogaleid lemur affinities, Bugtilemur mathesoni gen. et sp. nov., from early Oligocene deposits of the Bugti Hills (Balochistan, Pakistan). Bugtilemur represents the earliest record of Lemuriformes, which hence appear to have already diversified outside of Madagascar at least 30 million years ago. This fossil clearly enhances the critical role of the Indian subcontinent in the early diversification of lemurs and constrains paleobiogeographic models of strepsirrhine lemur evolution.     

杭州市鸟类区系研究

杭州市有鸟类306 种, 隶属17 目49 科, 占浙江省鸟类种数的69.23 %。其中留鸟124种, 占40.52 %;夏候鸟45 种, 占14.71 %;冬候鸟96 种, 占31.37 %;旅鸟40 种, 占13.07 %;迷鸟1 种, 占0.33 %。分析了鸟类迁徙及环境变化对鸟类的影响。在动物地理分布上, 杭州市属东洋界华中区接近古北界南缘, 鸟类组成具有东洋界向古北界过渡的特征,但仍偏向东洋界。表5 参23     

黄岩市鸟类研究

1990年1月至1991年5月,在浙江黄岩市进行了鸟类调查,采集标本175号,经鉴定隶属16目35科93种。其中国家保护鸟类13种;属于中日候鸟保护协定鸟类35种;食鼠鸟类11种,食虫鸟类42种。紫寿带鸟等16种为浙江中部沿海鸟类新纪录。     

Paleontology. Shaking the earliest branches of anthropoid primate evolution

Primates living today are believed to share a common ancestor that originated in either Africa or Asia. Fossil examples of such anthropoid ancestors have been found in both continents, so pushing back the origins to a single location has been controversial. In their Perspective, Jaeger and Marivaux discuss results reported in the same issue by Seiffert et al. that may put part of the controversy to rest. Seiffert et al. describe the earliest and most complete African anthropoid fossils from the Fayum desert region of Egypt. Cranial and dental fossils of two different small species were found, and their character, especially the features of the fossil teeth, suggests an ancient evolutionary history in Africa. At the same time, the phylogenetic analysis of Seiffert et al. is consistent with the view that African anthropoids immigrated from Asia at a very early date, probably before the late Paleocene (60 million years ago), possibly followed by later waves of immigration.     

九岭山国家级自然保护区鸟类资源的研究

2009年5月～2010年12月,对江西省九岭山国家级自然区鸟类多样性进行了初步调查,共记录鸟类94种。其中,CITES收录的鸟类有2种:黑翅鸢(Elanus caeruleus)和白鹤(Grus leucogeranus);国家I级保护动物有2种:中华秋沙鸭(Mergus squamatus)和白鹤;国家II级保护动物8种。从居留型组成来看,留鸟55种,冬候鸟17种,夏候鸟19种,旅鸟3种。从鸟类区系组成来看,东洋界鸟类36种,古北界鸟类28种,广布种30种。     

Fossil counterparts of giant penguins from the north pacific

New fossils of giant, flightless penguinlike birds have been found in late Oligocene and early Miocene rocks in Japan and in the state of Washington. These birds belong to the order Pelecaniformes, in the extinct family Plotopteridae, previously known by a single fragment of bone from California. Hindlimb and pelvic morphology is most similar to that of Recent anhingas, but the wing is paddlelike and remarkably convergent toward penguins and flightless auks. Both the Plotopteridae and the giant penguins became extinct by the middle Miocene, possibly because of competition from seals and porpoises.     

河北省承德避暑山庄鸟类区系及类群多样性研究

2004—2006年,对河北省承德市避暑山庄的鸟类物种组成、区系型、居留期、区域分布、相对数量、珍稀种类等进行了调查。共记录到鸟类117种,隶属于13目38科117种,其中古北种74种(63.25%),东洋种11种(9.40%),广布种32种(27.35%);夏候鸟37种(31.62%),冬候鸟4种(3.42%),旅鸟38种(32.48%),留鸟38种(32.48%);国家Ⅱ级保护鸟类13种,河北省重点保护鸟类32种;鸟类区系具有明显的古北界特征,以中、小型鸟类为主体的雀形目对该地区鸟类多样性的贡献最大。从生境分布上看,平原区和山区鸟类资源最为丰富。     

A nearly modern amphibious bird from the Early Cretaceous of northwestern China

Three-dimensional specimens of the volant fossil bird Gansus yumenensis from the Early Cretaceous Xiagou Formation of northwestern China demonstrate that this taxon possesses advanced anatomical features previously known only in Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic ornithuran birds. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Gansus within the Ornithurae, making it the oldest known member of the clade. The Xiagou Formation preserves the oldest known ornithuromorph-dominated avian assemblage. The anatomy of Gansus, like that of other non-neornithean (nonmodern) ornithuran birds, indicates specialization for an amphibious life-style, supporting the hypothesis that modern birds originated in aquatic or littoral niches.     

A primitive enantiornithine bird and the origin of feathers

A fossil enantiornithine bird, Protopteryx fengningensis gen. et sp. nov., was collected from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Northern China. It provides fossil evidence of a triosseal canal in early birds. The manus and the alular digit are long, as in Archaeopteryx and Confuciusornis, but are relatively short in other enantiornithines. The alula or bastard wing is attached to an unreduced alular digit. The two central tail feathers are scalelike without branching. This type of feather may suggest that modern feathers evolved through the following stages: (i) elongated scale, (ii) central shaft, (iii) barbs, and finally (iv) barbules and barbicel.     

Ingestion of petroleum by seabirds can serve as a monitor of water quality

The ingestion by seabirds of fossil fuel hydrocarbons and other pollutants has been of great interest. This paper reports that storm-petrels ingest petroleum at sea and that residues can be detected in their stomach oil. The incidence of gut samples containing fossil fuel hydrocarbons (dirty samples) increased significantly after oil spills, and significantly more birds regurgitated dirty samples after large nearby spills than small distant ones. This appears to be one of the first reported instances where individuals of a natural population of marine birds have been shown to ingest sublethal doses of oil from sources of low-level, long-term pollution or from oil spills. Because of certain natural traits, Procellariiformes could serve as monitors of pollutants in the marine environment.     

南矶山国家级自然保护区冬季水鸟多样性初步研究

2007年12月～2008年3月,对南矾山国家级自然保护区内4个湖泊（战备湖、常湖、三泥湾和凤尾湖）的水鸟多样性进行了初步调查,共记录水鸟28种。其中,留鸟1种、冬候鸟26种、旅鸟1种。在鸟类区系组成上,古北界鸟类24种,广布种4种,提示保护区内越冬水鸟以古北界为主。4个湖泊鸟类种类组成和多样性差异显著,其中,常湖鸟类种类和濒危鸟类种类较多,且每年濒危鸟类种群相对稳定．应对其加强保护。     

北京静福寺侧柏古树林鸟类群落多样性研究

2011 年4 月至2012 年4 月,采用固定样带法对北京静福寺侧柏古树林区的侧柏古树林、针阔混交林和落叶 阔叶林3 种林型进行鸟类群落调查。共记录到鸟类65 种,隶属8 目27 科,留鸟28 种,夏候鸟23 种,冬候鸟5 种, 旅鸟9 种,国家域级重点保护鸟类4 种;鸟类区系组成以古北界种类为主,共44 种(占67.69%),东洋界鸟类9 种 (占13.85%),广布种12 种(占18.46%);优势种为大山雀、喜鹊、灰喜鹊、大嘴乌鸦和红嘴蓝鹊。调查结果显示:3 种林型鸟类种类、数量与多样性指数变化不一致,其中侧柏古树林的鸟类种类和数量最少,落叶阔叶林鸟类种类和 数量最多;而侧柏古树林多样性指数、均匀度指数最低,但优势度指数最大;落叶阔叶林的鸟类多样性指数最高,针 阔混交林的均匀度指数最高。调查结果反映出侧柏古树林鸟类分布最均匀,鸟类优势现象最明显。不同林型鸟类 食物功能团组成不一致,其中侧柏古树林鸟类包括4 种食物功能团,针阔混交林鸟类包括5 种食物功能团,落叶阔 叶林包括6 种食物功能团,反映出鸟类对不同林型生境的适应性。