作者机构：
[周敏] Geriatric Department, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400030, China;[郑子光; 游宏宇] Western Investment Construction Co., LDT of CCTEB, Chengdu, 610041, China;[郭淼; 喻伟] School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China;[杨旭] School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
通讯机构：
[Yu, W.] S;School of Civil Engineering, China
期刊：
Journal of Advanced Research,2023年48:105-123 ISSN：2090-1232
通讯作者：
Xie, Na;Huang, CH;Chen, MQ
作者机构：
[Huang, Canhua; Xie, Na; Huang, CH; Duan, Jiufei; Huang, Zhao] West China Hosp, State Key Lab Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.;[Huang, Canhua; Xie, Na; Huang, CH; Duan, Jiufei; Huang, Zhao] West China Hosp, Canc Ctr, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.;[Huang, Canhua; Xie, Na; Huang, CH; Duan, Jiufei; Huang, Zhao] Sichuan Univ, West China Sch Basic Med Sci & Forens Med, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.;[Huang, Canhua; Xie, Na; Huang, CH; Duan, Jiufei; Huang, Zhao] Collaborat Innovat Ctr Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.;[Nice, Edouard C.] Monash Univ, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, Clayton, Vic, Australia.
通讯机构：
[Chen, MQ ] C;[Xie, N; Huang, CH ] W;West China Hosp, State Key Lab Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.;West China Hosp, Canc Ctr, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.;Sichuan Univ, West China Sch Basic Med Sci & Forens Med, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.
关键词：
Long noncoding RNAs;Lipid metabolism;Lipid chaperones;Lipid receptors;Therapeutic target
摘要：
Background: The investigation of lncRNAs has provided a novel perspective for elucidating mechanisms underlying diverse physiological and pathological processes. Compelling evidence has revealed an intrin-sic link between lncRNAs and lipid metabolism, demonstrating that lncRNAs-induced disruption of lipid metabolism and signaling contribute to the development of multiple cancers and some other diseases, including obesity, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease.Aimof Review: The current review summarizes the recent advances in basic research about lipid metabo-lism and lipid signaling-related lncRNAs. Meanwhile, the potential and challenges of targeting lncRNA for the therapy of cancers and other lipid metabolism-related diseases are also discussed.Key Scientific Concept of Review: Compared with the substantial number of lncRNA loci, we still know little about the role of lncRNAs in metabolism. A more comprehensive understanding of the function and mechanism of lncRNAs may provide a new standpoint for the study of lipid metabolism and signaling. Developing lncRNA-based therapeutic approaches is an effective strategy for lipid metabolism-related diseases.(c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Cairo University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
摘要：
As hotspots for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have attracted global attention. However, there lacks a sufficient metagenomic surveillance of antibiotic resistome in the WWTPs located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Here, metagenomic approaches were used to comprehensively investigate the occurrence, mobility potential, and bacterial hosts of ARGs in influent and effluent of 18 WWTPs located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The total ARG relative abundances and diversity were significantly decreased from influent to effluent across the WWTPs. Multidrug, bacitracin, sulfonamide, aminoglycoside, and beta-lactam ARGs generally consisted of the main ARG types in effluent samples, which were distinct from influent samples. A group of 72 core ARGs accounting for 61.8-95.8 % of the total ARG abundances were shared by all samples. Clinically relevant ARGs mainly conferring resistance to beta-lactams were detected in influent (277 ARGs) and effluent (178 ARGs). Metagenomic assembly revealed that the genetic location of an ARG on a plasmid or a chromosome was related to its corresponding ARG type, demonstrating the distinction in the mobility potential of different ARG types. The abundance of plasmid-mediated ARGs accounted for a much higher proportion than that of chromosome-mediated ARGs in both influent and effluent. Moreover, the ARGs co-occurring with diverse mobile genetic elements in the effluent exhibited a comparable mobility potential with the influent. Furthermore, 137 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) assigned to 13 bacterial phyla were identified as the ARG hosts, which could be effectively treated in most WWTPs. Notably, 46 MAGs were found to carry multiple ARG types and the potential pathogens frequently exhibited multi-antibiotic resistance. Some ARG types tended to be carried by certain bacteria, showing a specific host-resistance association pattern. This study highlights the necessity for metagenomic surveillance and will facilitate risk assessment and control of antibiotic resistome in WWTPs located on the vulnerable area.
期刊：
Research in Microbiology,2023年:104173 ISSN：0923-2508
通讯作者：
Yang, Hong
作者机构：
[Qiu, Zhengyong; Mei, Cheng; Wang, Yu] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China;[Shi, Yu] College of Food and Biotechnology, Wuhan Institute of Design and Sciences, Wuhan 430079, PR China;[Yang, Hong] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China. Electronic address: hyang@ccnu.edu.cn
通讯机构：
[Yang, Hong] H;Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China. Electronic address:
摘要：
Verrucomicrobiota is widely distributed in various habitats including insect guts. It was found to be prevalent in almost all investigated termite guts, whereas their physiological functions are not very clear. In this study we characterized the physiological and genomic properties of Verrucomicrobiota strain TSB47(T) isolated from Reticulitermes chinensis. The cells of strain TSB47(T) were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, and non-spore-forming coccoid with one or more warts. 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the closest relatives of strain TSB47(T) were Opitutaceae strain TAV1 and Ereboglobus luteus Ho45(T) (98.3% and 95.4% sequence similarity, respectively). Whole genome analysis revealed that there are a large number of glycoside hydrolase genes, amino acid metabolism genes, complete Mo-Fe nitrogenase and Fe-Fe nitrogenase gene clusters, as well as cbb(3)-type cytochrome oxidase gene in the genome of strain TSB47(T). Strain TSB47(T) grows well under anaerobic and microaerophilic conditions with a strong tolerance to oxygen. Physiological and genomic characters of strain TSB47(T) indicated its high adaptability to termite gut ecosystem. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, we suggest strain TSB47(T) as the type species of a novel genus in the family Opitutaceae, for which the name Termitidicoccus mucosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TSB47(T) (CCTCC AB2022447(T); KCTC 102044(T)).
作者机构：
[Cheng, Ying; Liao, Chongyu; Xiao, Yutao] Chinese Acad Agr Sci, Agr Genom Inst Shenzhen, Minist Agr,Genome Anal Lab, Shenzhen Branch,Guangdong Lab Lingnan Modern Agr, Shenzhen 518120, Peoples R China.;[Wu, Kongming; Zhang, Dandan] Chinese Acad Agr Sci, Inst Plant Protect, State Key Lab Biol Plant Dis & Insect Pests, Beijing 100089, Peoples R China.;[Liu, Kaiyu; Yang, Yongbo] Cent China Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Wuhan, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Kongming Wu; Kongming Wu Kongming Wu Kongming Wu] T;[Yutao Xiao; Yutao Xiao Yutao Xiao Yutao Xiao] S;The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China<&wdkj&>Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
摘要：
Evolution of resistance to Cry proteins in multiple pest insects has been threatening the sustainable use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic crops. Better understanding about the mechanism of resistance to Cry proteins in insects is needed. Our preliminary study reported that the transcription of HaABCC3 was significantly decreased in a near-isogenic line (LFC2) of a Cry1Ac-resistant strain (LF60) of the global pest Helicoverpa armigera. However, the causality between HaABCC3 down-regulation and resistance to Cry1Ac remains to be verified, and the regulatory mechanism underlying the HaABCC3 down-regulation is still unclear. In this study, our data showed that both HaABCC3 and HaABCC3 down-regulation were genetically linked to resistance to Cry1Ac in LF60. However, no InDels were observed in the coding sequence of HaABCC3 from LF60. Furthermore, F1 offspring from the cross of LF60 and a HaABCC2/3-knockout (KO) mutant exhibited moderate resistance to Cry1Ac toxin; this indicated that the high resistance to Cry1Ac toxin in LF60 may have resulted from multiple genetic factors, including HaABCC2 mis-splicing and HaABCC3 down-regulation. Results from luciferase reporter assays showed that promoter activity of HaABCC3 in LF60 was significantly lower than that in the susceptible strain, which indicated that HaABCC3 down-regulation was likely mediated by promoter variation. Consistently, multiple variations of the GATA- or FoxA-binding sites in the promoter region of HaABCC3 were identified. Collectively, all results in this study suggested that down-regulation of HaABCC3 observed in the H. armigera LF60 strain, that is resistant to Cry1Ac, may be mediated by a cis-regulatory mechanism. Down-regulation of HaABCC3 was genetically linked with resistance to Cry1Ac toxin. Offspring from cross of LF60 and HaABCC2/3-KO exhibited resistance to Cry1Ac toxin. Down-regulation of HaABCC3 was potentially mediated by cis-regulatory mechanism. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
期刊：
Journal of Phycology,2023年59(2):370-382 ISSN：0022-3646
通讯作者：
Renhui Li<&wdkj&>Bao-Sheng Qiu
作者机构：
[Zhang, Lu-Dan; Shen, Li-Qin; Huang, Li; Qiu, Bao-Sheng; Zhang, Zhong-Chun] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Zhang, Lu-Dan; Shen, Li-Qin; Huang, Li; Qiu, Bao-Sheng; Zhang, Zhong-Chun] Cent China Normal Univ, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Yu, Gongliang] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Hydrobiol, Key Lab Algal Biol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Chen, Min] Univ Sydney, Sch Life & Environm Sci, Sydney, NSW, Australia.;[Li, Renhui] Wenzhou Univ, Coll Life & Environm Sci, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Renhui Li] C;[Bao-Sheng Qiu] S;School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China<&wdkj&>College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Zhejiang, China
摘要：
Chlorophyll (Chl) f was recently identified in a few cyanobacteria as the fifth chlorophyll of oxygenic organisms. In this study, two Leptolyngbya-like strains of CCNU0012 and CCNU0013 were isolated from a dry ditch in Chongqing city and a brick wall in Mount Emei Scenic Area in China, respectively. These two strains were described as new species: Elainella chongqingensis sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) and Pegethrix sichuanica sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) by the polyphasic approach based on morphological features, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene and secondary structure comparison of 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer domains. Both strains produced Chl a under white light (WL) but additionally induced Chl f synthesis under far-red light (FRL). Unexpectedly, the content of Chl f in P. sichuanica was nearly half that in most Chl f-producing cyanobacteria. Red-shifted phycobiliproteins were also induced in both strains under FRL conditions. Subsequently, additional absorption peak beyond 700 nm in the FRL spectral region appeared in these two strains. This is the first report of Chl f production induced by FRL in the family Oculatellaceae. This study not only extended the diversity of Chl f-producing cyanobacteria, but also provided precious samples to elucidate the essential binding sites of Chl f within cyanobacterial photosystems.
期刊：
Food and Chemical Toxicology,2023年182:114188 ISSN：0278-6915
通讯作者：
Ding, Shumao
作者机构：
[Wu, Min; Wan, Jian; He, Suli; Peng, Haiyan; Zhang, Hongmao; Yan, Chao] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China;[Ye, Xin] Liquor Marking Biological Technology and Application of Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Bioengineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Yibin, 644000, China;[Ding, Shumao] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China. Electronic address: dingsm@ccnu.edu.cn
通讯机构：
[Ding, Shumao] H;Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China. Electronic address:
摘要：
Previous work has shown that mice exposed to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) adsorbed onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), via tail vein injection, displayed black lesions in their lungs. To investigate the mechanism causing this toxicity in the lung tissue, we performed an experiment with rats, exposing them to DBP adsorbed onto MWCNTs via a tail vein injection for 14 days. The results revealed pulmonary edema and greyish-black lung tissue in the MWCNTs and the MWCNTs+DBP combined exposure groups. In the combined exposure group there was evident alveolar fragmentation and adhesion, and lung tissue sections showed significant levels of black particles. Sections of the non-cartilaginous region of the trachea had significant folding of the pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium and marked thickening of the submucosa. In broncho alveolar lavage fluid, the number of leukocytes (WBC), lymphocytes (Lym), neutrophils (Neu), and eosinophils (Eos), as well as levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were all significantly higher. TNF-α, IL-6, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA expression were all elevated in the lung tissue. The combined exposure group, which had considerable airway remodeling, had a greater degree of tracheal constriction and luminal narrowing, according to the results of the α-SMA immunofluorescence assay. According to these experimental findings, the exposure to both MWCNTs and DBP seemed to have a synergistic effect and exacerbated rats' impaired respiratory function that resulted from exposure to MWCNTs alone.
摘要：
Hipposideros pratti called at higher intensities while keeping the constant frequencies of their echolocation pulses consistent under spectrally non-overlapping background noise conditions. The noise could decrease auditory sensitivity and sharp intensity tuning, suggesting an acoustic masking effect. These results provide further evidence of negative consequences of anthropogenic noise. The environment noise may disturb animal behavior and echolocation via three potential mechanisms: acoustic masking, reduced attention and noise avoidance. Compared with the mechanisms of reduced attention and noise avoidance, acoustic masking is thought to occur only when the signal and background noise overlap spectrally and temporally. In this study, we investigated the effects of spectrally non-overlapping noise on echolocation pulses and electrophysiological responses of a constant frequency-frequency modulation (CF-FM) bat, Hipposideros pratti. We found that H. pratti called at higher intensities while keeping the CFs of their echolocation pulses consistent. Electrophysiological tests indicated that the noise could decrease auditory sensitivity and sharp intensity tuning, suggesting that spectrally non-overlapping noise imparts an acoustic masking effect. Because anthropogenic noises are usually concentrated at low frequencies and are spectrally non-overlapping with the bat's echolocation pulses, our results provide further evidence of negative consequences of anthropogenic noise. On this basis, we sound a warning against noise in the foraging habitats of echolocating bats.
摘要：
This study investigated whether using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a carrier for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) could delay the degradation rate of DBP in mice and increase its estrogen-like interference effect. Pregnant Balb/C mice were divided into four groups and exposed to different treatments via tail-vein injection every 3 days until gestational day 20. The female and male mice were then sacrificed for toxicological study. The results showed that the combination of MWCNTs and DBP resulted in a higher fetal mortality rate than if the mice were exposed to MWCNTs or DBP alone. H & E staining showed that the estrous period of the exposed mice was delayed, the development of oocytes was blocked in the combination group, the number of spermatogenic cells decreased, and the quality of sperm decreased. Our experiment showed that the expression levels of the genes involved in sex hormone synthesis in the testis and ovaries were significantly increased after combined treatment compared with the MWCNT group (p < 0.01). The study suggests that DBP degradation is delayed when absorbed on MWCNTs, which increases its estrogen-like interference and interferes with fetal development, ultimately leading to increased fetal mortality.
作者机构：
[Huang, Shuang-Quan; Feng, Hui-Hui] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Inst Evolut & Ecol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Xiao-Yue] Guizhou Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Key Lab State Forestry Adm Biodivers Conservat Ka, Guiyang 550025, Peoples R China.;[Luo, Yi-Bo] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Bot, State Key Lab Systemat & Evolutionary Bot, Beijing 100093, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Shuang-Quan Huang; Shuang-Quan Huang Shuang-Quan Huang Shuang-Quan Huang] I;Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079 China
关键词：
floral color change;floral scent change;Linalool;Lonicera japonica;nectar dynamics;scent emission rhythm.
摘要：
Flowers in the gold‐and‐silver honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) are white on opening at night (N1) and become light yellow the following day (D1), yellow on the second night (N2), and golden on the second day of flowering (D2). Our measurements in the four stages of anthesis indicated that nectar production decreased significantly from N1 and D1 to N2 and D2, tracking the floral color change. However, both total scent emission of floral scent and scent emission of three major compounds were significantly higher in N2 than in the other three stages, suggesting that floral scent does not always co‐vary with floral color. Abstract Floral color change in diverse plants has been thought to be a visual signal reflecting changes in floral rewards, promoting pollinator foraging efficiency as well as plant reproductive success. It remains unclear whether olfactory signals co‐vary with floral color change. We investigated the production rhythms of floral scent and nectar associated with floral color change in Lonicera japonica. The flowers generally last 2–3 days. They are white on opening at night (N1) and become light yellow the following day (D1), yellow on the second night (N2), and golden on the second day of flowering (D2). Our measurements in the four stages indicated that nectar production decreased significantly from N1 and D1 to N2 and D2, tracking the floral color change. A total of 34 compounds were detected in floral scent and total scent emission was significantly higher in N2 than in the other three stages. The scent emission of three major compounds, Linalool, cis‐3‐Hexenyl tiglate, and Germacrene D was also significantly higher in N2, but the relative content of Linalool decreased gradually, cis‐3‐Hexenyl tiglate increased gradually, and the relative content of Germacrene D did not differ among the four measured stages. Greater scent emission by night than by day suggested a strong olfactory signal to attract nocturnal hawkmoths, the effective pollinators. However, floral scent rhythms in the four stages did not match the color change and nectar secretion, suggesting that floral color (visual) and scent (olfactory) in this species may play different roles in attracting or filtering various visitors.
作者机构：
[Sun, Qian; Wang, Dong; Wang, D; Xu, Xiaodong] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Dong; Wang, D] Shaanxi Univ Technol, Bioresources key Lab Shaanxi Prov, Hanzhong 723001, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.;[Li, Niya] Wuhan Sinoeco Ecol Sci & Technol Co Ltd, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Liang] Lanzhou Univ, Sch Ecol, Lanzhou, Gansu, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Liang] Adm Gansu Anxi Extraarid Desert Natl Nat Reserve, Guazhou, Gansu, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Wang, D ] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, Peoples R China.;Shaanxi Univ Technol, Bioresources key Lab Shaanxi Prov, Hanzhong 723001, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.
摘要：
Corydalis mianxianensis, a new species of C. sect. Cheilanthifoliae Liden (Papaveracae), is described from Qinling-Daba mountains and adjacent Minshan mountains, central China. It is similar to C. moupinensis Franch., but it differs from the latter in racemes with 30-50(-70) flowers, spur being much shorter than limb of upper petal, and arcuate to strongly contorted fruits. These two species are also much different in stigma and ecology as well. In addition, we confirmed that the record of C. saxicola G.S.Bunting in Shaanxi Province as documented in the Chinese floras was a misidentification of this new species.
摘要：
The predation and/or dispersal of Quercus seeds by rodents play an important role in the creation of the tree species. The present study examined the effects of community habitats on the predation and dispersal of Quercus wutaishanica seeds by rodents. We released seeds with densities set at 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 seed square meter with litter cover, soil burial, and bare ground in the Liupan Mountains National Nature Reserve in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest China. The results showed that (1) the litter cover and soil burial significantly increased the seed survival probability compared with bare ground treatments, especially the predation in situ (PIS) (p < 0.05). Both the scatter hoarding (SH) and larder hoarding (LH) for litter cover and soil burial were significantly increased compared with bare ground (p < 0.05). (2) The large seeds are preferentially predated after dispersal and their long-distance dispersal (>5 m) was significantly greater than that of small seeds (p < 0.05), while small seeds are more likely to be preyed on in situ or during short-distance dispersal (<3 m). (3) The Q. wutaishanica seed predation by rodents increased at a high density rather than at a low density, indicating a negative density-dependent predation. These findings provide insights into the ecological characteristics of Quercus tree regeneration and shed light on the coexistence between rodents and different-sized seeds.
摘要：
West of Beijing, Chinese white‐bellied rats (Niviventer confucianus, CWR) and Korean field mice (Apodemus peninsulae, KFM) are common and share similar habitat, diet, and activity, but differ in body size (CWR are bigger than KFM), food hoarding habit, and ability to protect caches. Intense asymmetric competition for food exists between the 2 rodent species, in that CWR have distinct advantage than KFM. However, how KFM coexists with CWR is less known. By tracking seed competition of 15 pairs of CWR–KFM over a 10‐day period for each under enclosure conditions, we found KFM could not compete over CWR at the seed source, but in terms of relative number (seed number/2) and relative energy of seeds (seed energy/3), they hoarded more seeds than CWR at the end of the trials. These results may promote their coexistence under the conditions of asymmetric competition. Abstract Asymmetric competition occurs when some species have distinct advantages over their competitors and is common in animals with overlapping habitats and diet. However, the mechanism allowing coexistence between asymmetric competitors is not fully clear. Chinese white‐bellied rats (Niviventer confucianus, CWR) and Korean field mice (Apodemus peninsulae, KFM) are common asymmetric competitors in shrublands and forests west of Beijing city. They share similar diet (e.g. plant seeds) and activity (nocturnal), but differ in body size (CWR are bigger than KFM), food hoarding habit (CWR: mainly larder hoarding; KFM: both larder and scatter hoarding), and ability to protect cached food (CWR are more aggressive than KFM). Here, we tested seed competition in 15 CWR–KFM pairs over a 10‐day period under semi‐natural enclosure conditions to uncover the differences in food hoarding, cache pilferage, and food protection between the 2 rodents, and discuss the implication for coexistence. Prior to pilferage, CWR harvested and ate more seeds than KFM. CWR tended to larder hoard seeds, whereas KFM preferred to scatter hoard seeds. Following pilferage, CWR increased consumption, decreased intensity of hoarding, and pilfered more caches from KFM than they lost, while KFM increased consumption more than they hoarded, and they preferred to hoard seeds in low and medium competition areas. Accordingly, both of the 2 rodent species increased their total energy consumption and hoarding following pilferage. Both rodent species tended to harvest seeds from the source, rather than pilfer caches from each other to compensate for cache loss via pilferage. Compared to CWR, KFM consumed fewer seeds when considering seed number, but hoarded more seeds when considering the seeds’ relative energy (energy of hoarded seeds/rodent body mass2/3) at the end of the trials. These results suggest that asymmetric competition for food exists between CWR and KFM, but differentiation in hoarding behavior could help the subordinate species (i.e. KFM) hoard more energy than the dominant species (i.e. CWR), and may contribute to their coexistence in the field.
