We studied frog biodiversity along an elevational gradient in the Hengduan Mountains, China. Endemic and non‐endemic elevational diversity patterns were examined individually. Competing hypotheses were also tested for these patterns. Species richness of total frogs, endemics and non‐endemics peaked at mid‐elevations. The peak in endemic species richness was at higher elevations than the maxima of total species richness. Endemic species richness followed the mid‐domain model predictions, and showed a nonlinear relationship with temperature. Water and energy were the most important variables in explaining elevational patterns of non‐endemic species richness. A suite of interacting climatic and geometric factors best explained total species richness patterns along the elevational gradient. We suggest that the mid‐domain effect was an important factor to explain elevational richness patterns, especially in regions with high endemism.

Background: HJURP is a molecular chaperone essential for the deposition of the centromere marker CENP-A. Results: Mis18␤ binds with and specifies the centromere localization of HJURP. Conclusion: Mis18␤ governs centromere assembly via the Mis18␤-HJURP-CENP-A axis. Significance: Our finding reveals a novel mechanism underlying CENP-A incorporation into the centromere.

Aim To document patterns in diversity, altitudinal range and body size of freshwater fishes along an elevational gradient in the Yangtze River basin.Location The Yangtze River basin, China.Methods We used published data to compile the distribution, altitudinal range and body size of freshwater fishes. Correlation, regression, clustering and graphical analyses were used to explore patterns in diversity, altitudinal range and body size of freshwater fishes in 100-m elevation zones from 0 to 5200 m. ResultsSpecies richness patterns across the elevational gradient for total, nonendemic and endemic fishes were different. The ratio of endemics to total richness peaked at mid elevation. Land area on a 500-m interval scale explained a significant amount of the variation in species richness. Species density displayed two peaks at mid-elevation zones. The cluster analysis revealed five distinct assemblages across the elevation gradient. The relationship between elevational range size and the midpoint of the elevational range revealed a triangular distribution. The frequency distribution of log maximum standard length data displayed an atypical right-skewed pattern. Intermediate body sizes occurred across the greatest range of elevation while small and large body sizes possessed only small elevational amplitudes. The sizeelevation relationship between the two major families revealed a very strong pattern of body size constraint among the Cobitidae with no corresponding elevational constraint and a lot of body size and elevational diversification among the Cyprinidae. Main conclusionThe data failed to support either Rapoport's rule or Bergmann's rule.

Aim We studied elevational species richness patterns of Schizothorax fishes and identified the roles of ecological and evolutionary factors in shaping the patterns of elevational diversity. LocationThe Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent regions. MethodsWe assembled distribution and altitude data for all Schizothorax species using the literature. We merged ecological and evolutionary approaches to test the relationships between species richness and ecological factors (climate, area, the middomain effect) or evolutionary factors (diversification rates and time of colonization). ResultsWe found that species richness of Schizothorax fishes peaked at mid-elevations. Rainfall, area, the mid-domain effect and diversification rate were weak predictors of the richness pattern. Temperature showed a nonlinear relationship with species richness. Temperature and time of colonization were the most important variables in explaining the elevational diversity pattern. Main conclusionOur findings indicate that the time-for-speciation effect and niche conservatism play important roles in variation of species richness.

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The F 4 generation of human growth hormone (hGH) transgenic red common carp Cyprinus carpio had significantly higher growth rates than the non-transgenic controls. Protein and energy intakes were significantly higher in the transgenic carp than in the controls fed the 20% protein diet, but were not different between the two strains fed diets with 30 and 40% protein.Faecal protein loss, as a proportion of protein intake, was significantly lower in the transgenics than in the controls fed diets with 20 and 30% protein, but was not different between the two strains fed diet with 40% protein. Faecal energy loss, as a proportion of energy intake, was significantly lower in the transgenics than in the controls fed diet with 20% protein, but was not different between the two strains fed diets with 30 and 40% protein. Recovered protein, as a proportion of protein intake, was significantly higher in the transgenics than in the controls fed all diets, whereas recovered energy was significantly higher in the transgenic fish fed the 40% protein diet. For fish fed each diet, the transgenics had significantly higher body contents of dry matter and protein, but lower contents of lipid than the controls. It was concluded that transgenics were more efficient in utilizing dietary protein than the controls. At a lower dietary protein level, transgenics achieved higher growth rates mainly by increasing feed intake; at higher levels of dietary protein, transgenics achieved higher growth rates mainly through a higher energy conversion efficiency. 1998 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Comparing elevational gradients across a wide spectrum of climatic zones offers an ideal system for testing hypotheses explaining the altitudinal gradients of biodiversity. We document elevational patterns of lizard and snake species richness, and explore how land area and climatic factors may affect species distributions of lizards and snakes. Our synthesis found 42 lizard species and 94 snake species known from the Hengduan Mountains. The lizards are distributed between 500 and 3500 m, and the snakes are distributed between 500 and 4320 m. The relationship between species richness and elevation for lizards and snakes is unimodal. Land area explains a significant amount of the variation in lizard and snake species richness. The cluster analysis reveals pronounced distinct assemblages for lizards and snakes to better reflect the vertical profiles of climate in the mountains. Climatic variables are strongly associated with lizard and snake richness along the elevational gradient. The data strongly implicate water availability as a key constraint on lizard species richness, and annual potential evapotranspiration is the best predictor of snake species richness along the elevational gradient in the Hengduan Mountains.