The Chinese zokor (Myospalax fontanierii) affects the physical and chemical properties of soil and the evolution of vegetation. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of zokors on soil erosion. In this study, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was planted in tanks to quantify the effects of zokor excavation activities on runoff and soil erosion rate. Three slope gradients of 5°, 10°, and 15° were set, two soil tanks (with and without a zokor) were used for each gradient, and six soil tanks were prepared in total. Laboratory simulated rainfall was applied using a side-spray simulation system, and the rainfall intensity was set to 80 mm h−1 with the rainfall duration of 60 min after runoff generation. Results showed that the soil bulk density of fresh zokor mounds was 0.82 ± 0.02 g cm−3, which was 39% lower than that of the soil matrix (1.35 g cm−3). The vegetation coverage decreased to 32%, 45%, and 43% respectively, after 3 days of disturbance by zokor, compared with 87%, 90%, and 92% in the tanks without zokor. The presence of zokor reduced the runoff rate by 88% on the lowest gradient to 21% on the steepest gradient, and increased the water infiltration and soil water storage within 90 cm depth. The soil mounds and herbivorous tunnel changed the microtopography and consequently the runoff pathway, increased the sediment yield, and intensified soil erosion, especially at a steep slope gradient. Although the activity of zokors does not directly increase soil erosion, and the tunnel system can facilitate water infiltration and lessen runoff, the mounds they create provide loose and erodible materials. The destruction of vegetation by zokors would facilitate soil erosion and reduce the benefit of vegetation restoration. This study provides insights into the effects of subterranean rodents on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau.

Chinese zokor (Myospalax fontanierii) excavating activities lessen runoff but facilitate soil erosion – A simulation experiment

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the zona pellucida 3 gene is associated with the first parity litter size in Hu sheep.

The zona pellucida 3 (ZP3) plays a crucial role in reproductive immunology. We obtained a full-length cDNA encoding Chinese zokor ZP3, using rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR). The cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1269 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 422 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence has a high degree of homology with those of hamster (78%), mouse (76%), and rat (74%). XhoI and SacI sites after restriction give an1158 bp fragment of zokor ZP3 cDNA, excluding the signal sequence and transmembrane-like domain, which was cloned under the phage T7 promoter-lac operator control in the pET-28a(+) vector. Recombinant pET-zokorZP3(r-ZP3) was expressed as a poly-histidine fusion protein in E. coli strain BL21 (DE3). Optimum expression of r-ZP3 was observed at 28°C, 1 mM IPTG and 2 h of inducing. The purified protein was tested by Western blot.

[Molecular cloning, structural analysis, and expression of zona pellucida glycoprotein ZP3 gene from Chinese zokor, Myospalax fontanierii].

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[Molecular cloning, structural analysis, and expression of zona pellucida glycoprotein ZP3 gene from Chinese zokor, Myospalax fontanierii].