The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), a small burrowing lagomorph that occupies the high alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), has been subject to a massive eradication campaign in China since the late 1950′s under the assumption that it promotes grassland degradation. However, mounting evidence suggests that pikas are a keystone species that provide critical ecological services in the alpine meadow ecosystem. Since the implementation of pika control programs, few studies have investigated the potential impacts of pika poisoning on native carnivore species. In 2007 we investigated the impact of pika poisoning on carnivores in southern Qinghai Province, China. Our results show a decrease in the abundance of carnivores from areas where pikas had been poisoned compared with non-poisoned sites, suggesting that the eradication of pikas at regional scales may alter or disrupt ecological communities on the QTP.

We conducted several trials to improve and evaluate an identification technique of mesocarnivore individuals using noseprint photos. Our method used the image analysis software to match a partial noseprint pattern. By comparing flash and non-flash photos of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes schrencki, non-flash photos resulted in higher identification success than did flash photos. Similarity scores, which show the correspondence between reference and check images, were also higher for non-flash photos. A searching image size of 30 × 30 pixels was more effective than larger searching image. The noseprint method yielded high similarity scores and success rates in the identification of individuals of four mesocarnivore species: the red fox, Vulpes vulpes schrencki (n = 42); the raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides albus (n = 10); the Japanese sable, Martes zibellina brachyura (n = 17); and the masked palm civet, Paguma larvata (n = 12). Identification rates for the same individual from all photos of the same species were 95.2% for the red fox, 100.0% for the raccoon dog, 94.4% for the Japanese sable, and 91.7% for the masked palm civet. The identification of mesocarnivore individuals using noseprint photos is easy and a possible method to use in field studies.

The chromosomal relationships between the Japanese water shrew Chimarrogale platycephalus and the Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens were investigated by conventional and differential staining. From the side-by-side analysis of matching G-banding patterns from the two species, a high degree of G-band homology was recognized in most of the chromosomes that were compared, although the extent of such homology was unclear in several small chromosomes. In C. platycephalus, large blocks of C-heterochromatin (C-blocks) were found in pair nos. M1, M8, M10 and ST23 and in the Y chromosome as conspicuous C-bands, while N. fodiens had no such C-blocks, having centromeric C-bands on most chromosomes with the exception of several small pairs, which included ST1 and ST23. Silver-stained nucleolus organizers (Ag-NORs) were found only on the secondary constriction of pair no. 1 in C. platycephalus and on the minute short arms of ST23 and ST24 in N. fodiens. A discussion of interspecific differences in C-banding patterns, as well as in the locations of Ag-NORs, is presented, focusing on the direction of alterations in these cytogenetic features. We propose that Chimarrogale might have differentiated from a fodiens-like ancestor through chromosomal alterations, such as formation of C-blocks, translocation of NORs, and other rearrangements.

We researched seasonal reproductive activity in the lesser Japanese mole, Mogera imaizumii, by morphometrical and histological methods for male internal genitalia using samples from Kanagawa Pref., central Honshu, Japan. On the basis of the weights of testis and the epididymis, we determined that their weights become higher during February–April. On the other hand, the histological profiles of seminiferous tubules showed variable states annually. In the late winter, a seminiferous tubule profile was mainly occupied with spermatocytes. In addition, in the spring, the profile was also occupied with spermatids increased in the profile. Moreover, from the early summer to the early winter, spermatogonia occupied and this status indicates lower reproductive activity. Accordingly, current results indicated that breeding behavior would be active during the late winter through spring in our research locality.

Relatively little is known about desert kit fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus) reproductive parameters in California when compared to the federally threatened San Joaquin kit fox (V. m. mutica). This paucity of regional information limits policy makers and resource manager's ability to accurately assess potential impacts to these populations. To address regional knowledge gaps I conducted a 2-year desert kit fox study in the Upper Chuckwalla Valley, California from 2012–2014. Sixteen radio collared desert kit fox females were monitored during the 2013 and 2014 reproductive season with eight females successfully reproducing each year. Mean litter size was 2.69 ± 0.30 (SE, range 1–6) with a mean reproductive rate of 1.35. Mean litter size and reproductive rates during this study were within the known reported range for the species, but lower than previously reported in California.

During the field surveys, held in the framework of activities of the Vietnamese-Russian Tropical Center, two remarkable bat records were made in Vietnamese provinces Dong Nai and Kon Tum. Adult female of Hipposideros swinhoei was captured in Cat Tien National Park, more than in 1,000 km south from previously known localities. Adult females of Nyctalus cf. labiata were captured in Kon Plong forestry, representing probably the first exact Indochinese locality for this species. Both records provide new valuable information about distribution of Palaearctic faunal elements in Asian tropical areas.

The desert kit fox occupies an estimated 101,800 km² in California. Four previous studies have been conducted on this species with none reported seasonal or annual survival rates. We captured and fitted mortality-sensitive radio collars to 56 desert kit foxes between October 2012 and August 2014 to estimate seasonal and annual survival rates. Predation was the most common mortality source, with 11 of 15 mortalities identified as predation, which is consistent with previous studies elsewhere in the kit foxes range. We found no difference in seasonal (range 0.836–1.000) or annual (0.809) survival rates between male and female foxes. Our study represents the first survival estimate for desert kit foxes in California and fills critical regional life history knowledge gaps.