This study investigated the acoustic variation of songbirds’ vocalization during mobbing event in the sub-alpine forests using playback experiment and automatic acoustic recording (AAR). We played Glaucidium brodiei vocalization and Phylloscopus trochiloides alarm call to induce songbirds’ mobbing behavior and recorded their response vocalizations using automatic acoustic recorders in the Abies-Picea dark coniferous forest in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, during the summer of 2021. Altogether 24 experiments were performed on 12 experiment sites, with a total length of 1057 min acoustic recordings, including 12 G. brodiei vocalization experiments, and 12 P. trochiloides alarm call experiments. A total of 28 species of birds belonging to 17 families and 3 orders were observed to participate in mobbing behavior. By analyzing the acoustic indexes of recordings, it was concluded that 1) both G. brodiei vocalization and P. trochiloides alarm call could trigger mobbing event, during which Phylloscopidae and Paridae species were the majority being involved; 2) during playback period, songbirds’ vocalizations are more intense (G. brodiei experiments: SPL_avg=−31.02±4.87 dB vs −42.74±4.68 dB, p = 0.001; P. trochiloides experiments: SPL_avg = −33.26±4.05 dB vs −46.38±4.54 dB, p = 0.001) and less complicated (G. brodiei experiments: H = 0.76±0.02 vs 0.80±0.03, p = 0.001; P. trochiloides experiments: H = 0.77±0.02 vs 0.82±0.02, p = 0.001) than that of pre-playback period; 3) the variability of acoustic indices from pre-playback to during-playback didn’t change significantly between G. brodiei experiments and P. trochiloides experiments. The results provide a new insight into avian behavior studies in the acoustic aspect, and novel behavioral application scenarios for large-scale soundscape monitoring data. 

To provide genetic tools for individual identification of the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) through DNA analysis, we selected a tissue sample from Laohegou Nature Reserve in Sichuan for constructing microsatellite library by FIASCO. Altogether 250 clones were sequenced and 147 sequences were found containing microsatellite motifs, in which there were 42 sequences with >10 motif repeats. Primer pairs were designed based on these 42 sequences. Through tests for amplification and polymorphism using additional 21 samples of masked palm civets, 5 polymorphic microsatellite markers were obtained. In the meantime, 13 microsatellite markers published previously were tested for the masked palm civet, and found 5 of them polymorphic. Collectively, these 10 markers showed relatively high polymorphism (number of alleles was 2–11, observed heterozygosity was 0.286–0.737, and expected heterozygosity was 0.358–0.906). The values of PID and PID-sib indicated that there would be individuals with completely identical genotypes in about 10⁹ unrelated individuals or 10⁴ related individuals. As the size of wild populations in a particular region was greatly lower than this number, these 10 microsatellite markers were sufficient for individual identification for the masked palm civet.

A systematic survey was conducted in Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve (TNNR) in Sichuan Province from mid-April to late October, 2014 (13 repeats altogether, about 15 days between repeats). 244 butterfly species were found in total belonging to 12 families and 116 genera, in which the richness of Nymphalidae was the highest (40.2%). There were 4 species protected by Chinese law, and 2 species assessed globally as “least concern” by IUCN Red List. The proportion of Palearctic, Oriental, and Palearctic-Oriental species was 3.3%, 26.7%, and 70%, respectively. There were more butterfly species from June to September. Butterfly species richness increased with elevation rising in 1100–1400 m, and decreased significantly above 1400 m. There were 185 species in common between Tangjiahe Nature Reserve and Laohegou Nature Reserve (LNR), in the context of their adjacency. There were 59 species found exclusively in TNNR, including 30 species with only 1 catching record. There were 67 species found exclusively in LNR, including 36 species with 1 catching record. Difference in geography and management between the two areas may provide specific habitat for the endemic species.

A systematic survey was conducted in Laohegou Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province from mid-April to late October, 2013 (13 repeats altogether, about 15 days between repeats). Supplementary surveys were carried out in 2014 and 2015. 252 species of butterfly were found in total belonging to 12 families and 117 genera, in which the richness of Nymphalidae is the highest (33.3%). During the systematic survey in 2013, there were 235 species found, and 17 species were newly recorded in 2014 and 2015, indicating that almost complete information may be obtained based on our survey protocol. There were 3 species assessed globally as “least concern” by IUCN Red List, and 5 species protected by Chinese law. The proportion of Palearctic, Oriental, and Palearctic-Oriental species was 3.3%, 32.9%, and 63.8%, respectively. Taking the butterfly fauna composition of other districts into account, Qinling and Minshan mountains were found to serve as geographical barrier to the dispersal of Palearctic and Oriental species. The butterfly richness was the highest from June to September. Butterfly species richness was unimodal in general with elevation rising. The highest was in 1500–1600 m, and there was a minor peak in 1000–1100 m, in which the transect lied in a village near the boundary of the reserve, indicating that moderate interference by human activity was conducive to the conservation of butterfly diversity. This work provides an optimized protocol for butterfly monitoring survey.