State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution

We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of caenophidian (advanced) snakes using sequences from two mitochondrial genes (12S and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear (c-mos) gene (1681 total base pairs), and with 131 terminal taxa sampled from throughout all major caenophidian lineages but focussing on Neotropical xenodontines. Direct optimization parsimony analysis resulted in a well-resolved phylogenetic tree, which corroborates some clades identified in previous analyses and suggests new hypotheses for the composition and relationships of others. The major salient points of our analysis are: (1) placement of Acrochordus, Xenodermatids, and Pareatids as successive outgroups to all remaining caenophidians (including viperids, elapids, atractaspidids, and all other "colubrid" groups); (2) within the latter group, viperids and homalopsids are sucessive sister clades to all remaining snakes; (3) the following monophyletic clades within crown group caenophidians: Afro-Asian psammophiids (including Mimophis from Madagascar), Elapidae (including hydrophiines but excluding Homoroselaps), Pseudoxyrhophiinae, Colubrinae, Natricinae, Dipsadinae, and Xenodontinae. Homoroselaps is associated with atractaspidids. Our analysis suggests some taxonomic changes within xenodontines, including new taxonomy for Alsophis elegans, Liophis amarali, and further taxonomic changes within Xenodontini and the West Indian radiation of xenodontines. Based on our molecular analysis, we present a revised classification for caenophidians and provide morphological diagnoses for many of the included clades; we also highlight groups where much more work is needed. We name as new two higher taxonomic clades within Caenophidia, one

The success of Genome Wide Association Studies in the discovery of sequence variation linked to complex traits in humans has increased interest in high throughput SNP genotyping assays in livestock species. Primary goals are QTL detection and genomic selection. The purpose here was design of a 50-60,000 SNP chip for goats. The success of a moderate density SNP assay depends on reliable bioinformatic SNP detection procedures, the technological success rate of the SNP design, even spacing of SNPs on the genome and selection of Minor Allele Frequencies (MAF) suitable to use in diverse breeds. Through the federation of three SNP discovery projects consolidated as the International Goat Genome Consortium, we have identified approximately twelve million high quality SNP variants in the goat genome stored in a database together with their biological and technical characteristics. These SNPs were identified within and between six breeds (meat, milk and mixed): Alpine, Boer, Creole, Katjang, Saanen and Savanna, comprising a total of 97 animals. Whole genome and Reduced Representation Library sequences were aligned on >10 kb scaffolds of the de novo goat genome assembly. The 60,000 selected SNPs, evenly spaced on the goat genome, were submitted for oligo manufacturing (Illumina, Inc) and published in dbSNP along with flanking sequences and map position on goat assemblies (i.e. scaffolds and pseudo-chromosomes), sheep genome V2 and cattle UMD3.1 assembly. Ten breeds were then used to validate the SNP content and 52,295 loci could be successfully genotyped and used to generate a final cluster file. The combined strategy of using mainly whole genome Next Generation Sequencing and mapping on a contig genome assembly, complemented with Illumina design tools proved to be efficient in producing this GoatSNP50 chip. Advances in use of molecular markers are expected to accelerate goat genomic studies in coming years.

OBJECTIVE: In Old World monkeys, the tripartite motif 5alpha (TRIM5alpha) protein confers resistance to HIV-1 infection following virus entry into host cells. However, the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) is an exception and is susceptible to HIV-1 infection. This study dissects the molecular mechanism of the pig-tailed macaque's susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. METHODS: Genomic sequencing and expression analysis of the TRIM5alpha gene was conducted in the pig-tailed macaque. A novel TRIM5-Cyclophilin A fusion gene isoform was identified and subsequently cloned into the pcDNA3.1(+) expression vector. This construct was transfected into HeLa-T4 or HeLa cells which were then infected with the HIV-1IIIB or HIV-GFP-VSVG pseudotyped virus, to examine the effects of the TRIM5-Cyclophilin A fusion protein on HIV-1 infection. RESULTS: A novel TRIM5-Cyclophilin A fusion gene (mnTRIMCyp) in the pig-tailed macaque was found and its fusion pattern is different from the known fusion gene in the owl monkey (owlTRIMCyp). TRIMCyp protein expression in transfected cells was confirmed by western blotting. The tests using HIV-1IIIB and HIV-GFP-VSVG pseudotyped virus indicated that mnTRIMCyp did not inhibit HIV-1 replication at various multiplicities of infection. CONCLUSIONS: The mnTRIMCyp fusion protein does not restrict replication of HIV-1, which provides a potential molecular mechanism that might explain why the pig-tailed macaque is prone to HIV-1 infection, the only known exception in Old World monkeys.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a crucial component of the vertebrate immune system and shows extremely high levels of genetic polymorphism. The extraordinary genetic variation is thought to be ancient polymorphisms maintained by balancing selection. However, introgression from related species was recently proposed as an additional mechanism. Here we provide evidence for introgression at the MHC in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex). At a usually very polymorphic MHC exon involved in pathogen recognition (DRB exon 2), Alpine ibex carried only two alleles. We found that one of these DRB alleles is identical to a DRB allele of domestic goats (Capra aegagrus hircus). We sequenced 2489 bp of the coding and non-coding regions of the DRB gene and found that Alpine ibex homozygous for the goat-type DRB exon 2 allele showed nearly identical sequences (99.8%) to a breed of domestic goats. Using Sanger and RAD sequencing, microsatellite and SNP chip data, we show that the chromosomal region containing the goat-type DRB allele has a signature of recent introgression in Alpine ibex. A region of approximately 750 kb including the DRB locus showed high rates of heterozygosity in individuals carrying one copy of the goat-type DRB allele. These individuals shared SNP alleles both with domestic goats and other Alpine ibex. In a survey of four Alpine ibex populations, we found that the region surrounding the DRB allele shows strong linkage disequilibria, strong sequence clustering and low diversity among haplotypes carrying the goat-type allele. Introgression at the MHC is likely adaptive and introgression critically increased MHC DRB diversity in the genetically impoverished Alpine ibex. Our finding contradicts the long-standing view that genetic variability at the MHC is solely a consequence of ancient trans-species polymorphism. Introgression is likely an underappreciated source of genetic diversity at the MHC and other loci under balancing selection.

A general south-north genetic divergence has been observed among Han Chinese in previous studies. However, these studies, especially those on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), are based either on partial mtDNA sequences or on limited samples. Given that Han Chinese comprise the world's largest population and reside around the whole China, whether the north-south divergence can be observed after all regional populations are considered remains unknown. Moreover, factors involved in shaping the genetic landscape of Han Chinese need further investigation. In this study, we dissected the matrilineal landscape of Han Chinese by studying 4,004 mtDNA haplogroup-defining variants in 21,668 Han samples from virtually all provinces in China. Our results confirmed the genetic divergence between southern and northern Han populations. However, we found a significant genetic divergence among populations from the three main river systems, that is, the Yangtze, the Yellow, and the Zhujiang (Pearl) rivers, which largely attributed to the prevalent distribution of haplogroups D4, B4, and M7 in these river valleys. Further analyses based on 4,986 mitogenomes, including 218 newly generated sequences, indicated that this divergence was already established during the early Holocene and may have resulted from population expansion facilitated by ancient agricultures along these rivers. These results imply that the maternal gene pools of the contemporary Han populations have retained the genetic imprint of early Neolithic farmers from different river basins, or that river valleys represented relative migration barriers that facilitated genetic differentiation, thus highlighting the importance of the three ancient agricultures in shaping the genetic landscape of the Han Chinese.

Spermiogenesis is a unique process in mammals during which haploid round spermatids mature into spermatozoa in the testis. Its successful completion is necessary for fertilization and its malfunction is an important cause of male infertility. Here, we report the high-confidence identification of 2116 proteins in mouse haploid germ cells undergoing spermiogenesis: 299 of these were testis-specific and 155 were novel. Analysis of these proteins showed many proteins possibly functioning in unique processes of spermiogenesis. Of the 84 proteins annotated to be involved in vesicle-related events, VAMP4 was shown to be important for acrosome biogenesis by in vivo knockdown experiments. Knockdown of VAMP4 caused defects of acrosomal vesicle fusion and significantly increased head abnormalities in spermatids from testis and sperm from the cauda epididymis. Analysis of chromosomal distribution of the haploid genes showed underrepresentation on the X chromosome and overrepresentation on chromosome 11, which were due to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation and expansion of testis-expressed gene families, respectively. Comparison with transcriptional data showed translational regulation during spermiogenesis. This characterization of proteins involved in spermiogenesis provides an inventory of proteins useful for understanding the mechanisms of male infertility and may provide candidates for drug targets for male contraception and male infertility.

Abstract The basal cell compartment in many epithelial tissues is generally believed to serve as an important pool of stem cells. However, basal cells are heterogenous and the stem cell subpopulation within basal cells is not well elucidated. Here we uncover that the core epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer Zeb1 is expressed in a prostate basal cell subpopulation. The Zeb1 + prostate epithelial cells are multipotent prostate basal stem cells (PBSCs) that can self-renew and generate functional prostatic glandular structures at the single-cell level. Genetic ablation studies reveal an indispensable role for Zeb1 in prostate basal cell development. Utilizing unbiased single-cell transcriptomic analysis of over 9000 mouse prostate basal cells, we confirm the existence of the Zeb1 + basal cell subset. Moreover, Zeb1 + epithelial cells can be detected in mouse and human prostate tumors. Identification of the PBSC and its transcriptome profile is crucial to advance our understanding of prostate development and tumorigenesis.

The geographic origin and migration of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) remain subjects of considerable debate. In this study, we sequenced whole genomes of 110 wild brown rats with a diverse world-wide representation. We reveal that brown rats migrated out of southern East Asia, rather than northern Asia as formerly suggested, into the Middle East and then to Europe and Africa, thousands of years ago. Comparison of genomes from different geographical populations reveals that many genes involved in the immune system experienced positive selection in the wild brown rat.

Empirical observations have shown that cooperative partners can compete for common resources, but what factors determine whether partners cooperate or compete remain unclear. Using the reciprocal fig-fig wasp mutualism, we show that nonlinear amplification of interference competition between fig wasps-which limits the fig wasps' ability to use a common resource (i.e. female flowers)-keeps the common resource unsaturated, making cooperation locally stable. When interference competition was manually prevented, the fitness correlation between figs and fig wasps went from positive to negative. This indicates that genetic relatedness or reciprocal exchange between cooperative players, which could create spatial heterogeneity or self-restraint, was not sufficient to maintain stable cooperation. Moreover, our analysis of field-collected data shows that the fitness correlation between cooperative partners varies stochastically, and that the mainly positive fitness correlation observed during the warm season shifts to a negative correlation during the cold season owing to an increase in the initial oviposition efficiency of each fig wasp. This implies that the discriminative sanction of less-cooperative wasps (i.e. by decreasing the egg deposition efficiency per fig wasp) but reward to cooperative wasps by fig, a control of the initial value, will facilitate a stable mutualism. Our finding that asymmetric interaction leading to an indeterminate fitness interaction between symbiont (i.e. cooperative actors) and host (i.e. recipient) has the potential to explain why conflict has been empirically observed in both well-documented intraspecific and interspecific cooperation systems.

<italic>Allomerus</italic> ants cultivate fungus to fabricate their insect traps. Speculation is that the ants employ actinomycetes to help achieve fungal monoculture. From an associated actinomycete we identify the first antifungal compounds and encoding genes.

The emergence of social organization (eusociality) is a major event in insect evolution. Although previous studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying caste differentiation and social behavior of eusocial insects including ants and honeybees, the molecular circuits governing sociality in these insects remain obscure. In this study, we profiled the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of brain tissues in three Monomorium pharaonis ant castes: queens (including mature and un-mated queens), males and workers. We provide a comprehensive dataset including 16 RNA-sequencing and 16 assay for transposase accessible chromatin (ATAC)-sequencing profiles. We also demonstrate strong reproducibility of the datasets and have identified specific genes and open chromatin regions in the genome that may be associated with the social function of these castes. Our data will be a valuable resource for further studies of insect behaviour, particularly the role of brain in the control of eusociality.

Previous molecular genetic studies of the goat hair life cycle have focused primarily on a limited number of genes and proteins. To identify additional genes that may play important roles in hair follicle cycle regulation, Illumina sequencing technology was used to catalog differential gene expression profiles in the hair growth cycle (anagen to catagen) of goat, comparing the primary hair follicle with the secondary hair follicle. There were 13,769 and 12,240 unigenes assembled from the reads obtained from primary hair follicle and secondary hair follicle, respectively. Genes encoding keratin proteins and keratin-associated proteins were the most highly expressed. A total of 5899 genes were differentially expressed in anagen vs catagen primary hair follicles, with 532 genes up-regulated and 5367 genes down-regulated. A total of 5208 genes were differentially expressed in anagen vs catagen secondary hair follicle, including 545 genes that were up-regulated and 4663 genes that were down-regulated. Numerous hair growth genes are expressed in the goat hair follicle, of which 73 genes showed co-up-regulation in both hair follicles during the anagen stage. Many of these up-regulated genes, such as STC2, VEGFR, and ROR2, are known to be transfactors in the process of cell differentiation and in the cell cycle. The differential gene expression profiles between primary hair follicles and secondary hair follicles obtained provide a foundation for future studies examining the network of gene expression controlling hair growth cycle in Cashmere goat.

Arthropods contribute importantly to ecosystem functioning but remain understudied. This undermines the validity of conservation decisions. Modern methods are now making arthropods easier to study, since arthropods can be mass-trapped, mass-identified, and semi-mass-quantified into ‘many-row (observation), many-column (species)‘ datasets, with homogeneous error, high resolution, and copious environmental-covariate information. These ‘novel community datasets’ let us efficiently generate information on arthropod species distributions, conservation values, uncertainty, and the magnitude and direction of human impacts. We use a DNA-based method (barcode mapping) to produce an arthropod-community dataset from 121 Malaise-trap samples, and combine it with 29 remote-imagery layers using a deep neural net in a joint species distribution model. With this approach, we generate distribution maps for 76 arthropod species across a 225 km 2 temperate-zone forested landscape. We combine the maps to visualize the fine-scale spatial distributions of species richness, community composition, and site irreplaceability. Old-growth forests show distinct community composition and higher species richness, and stream courses have the highest site-irreplaceability values. With this ‘sideways biodiversity modelling’ method, we demonstrate the feasibility of biodiversity mapping at sufficient spatial resolution to inform local management choices, while also being efficient enough to scale up to thousands of square kilometres. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring’.

We examined the cytogenetics of mithun (Bos frontalis), a domesticated version of the Asian gaur, and hybrids (F(1) generation) produced by artificial insemination of Brahman cows (Bos indicus) with mithun semen. Reproductive potential was also examined in the F(1) generation and a backcrossed heifer for utilization of heterosis. Metaphase chromosome spreads were examined by conventional staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization hybridized with the entire chromosome 1 of mithun as a specific probe. Chromosome 1 of mithun was found to be equivalent to Bos taurus chromosomes 2 and 28. The karyotype of the female mithun (N = 4) comprised 58 chromosomes, including 54 acrocentric and four large submetacentric chromosomes, without the four acrocentric chromosomes found in the domesticated species B. indicus. However, one of the four female mithuns with a normal mithun phenotype had an abnormal karyotype (2n = 59), indicating introgression from B. taurus or B. indicus. The F(1) karyotypes (N = 6, 3♂3♀) of the mithun bull × Brahman cow cross had 2n = 59, intermediate between their parents; they were consistent heterozygous carriers with a centric fusion involving rob(2;28), as expected. Two pronounced red signals were seen in the mithun karyotypes, three red signals in the mithun × Brahman hybrids, and four red signals in the Brahman cattle, in good agreement with centric fusion of bovine rob(2;28). The female backcross hybrid (N = 1) with 2n = 59 had a similar chromosome configuration to the F(1) karyotypes and had rob(2;28). Such female backcross hybrids normally reproduce; however, the F(1) bulls (N = 3) had not yet generated normal sperm at 24 months.

We describe a new species of frog of the genus Kaloula (family Microhylidae) from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia based on morphological evidence. The new species has previously been mistaken with K. baleata, which it most closely resembles. Kaloula indochinensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum snout–vent length 53.7 mm; finger tips expanded into wide discs; the majority of specimens with two subarticular tubercles on the fourth toe; inner and outer metatarsal tubercle slightly raised, inner metatarsal tubercle shorter than first toe; absence of dorsolateral stripe; and large, bright, orange-yellow axillary and inguinal spots.

Changes in the strength of trophic cascades over time have been associated with dramatic shifts in community structure and function. However, the pattern, process, and potential underlying mechanism of temporal variation in trophic cascades remains relatively unexplored. A top–down trophic cascade has been documented for the effects of predacious weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina on the success of fig tree Ficus racemosa seed production. Ants cause high mortality of non‐pollinating fig wasps Sycophaga mayri that parasitize fruits, leading to greater success for the pollinating fig wasp–fig tree mutualists. Here, using a design in which pairs of branches were selected on a tree, and ants were excluded from one of each pair, we quantified the magnitude of the trophic cascade in the cool–dry, hot–dry and rainy (hot–wet) seasons in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. We also recorded the daily behavioral dynamics of ants and fig wasps in different seasons and analyzed the correlation between behavioral, activity and trophic cascade strength. We found that the strength of the trophic cascade was strong in the hot–dry season, diminished in the rainy season and disappeared in the cool–dry season in this system. The strength of species interactions between ants and non‐pollinating fig wasps, is positively correlated with trophic cascade strength, indicating that trophic cascade strength is determined by a top–down process when the community is well established. Moreover, because pollinating fig wasps, Ceratosolen fusciceps , play a central role in the establishment of fig wasp communities, when C. fusciceps wasps are absent, the community quickly disassembles as is the case in the cool–dry season. In summary, the strength of the trophic cascade is triggered by top–down processes, however, the occurrence of the trophic cascade is determined by a keystone species that plays a central role in assembly of the community.

Channa shingon, new species, is described from small mountainous rivulets associated with the Irrawaddy drainage in western Yunnan Province, China. Its maximum SL of about 100 mm makes it the smallest pelvic-fin bearing dwarf snakehead. Further specific characters are lateral head length 27 – 30 % SL; interorbital width 33 – 35 % HL; 25 – 27 anal-fin rays; 44 – 45 lateral-line scales; 4 – 5 scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line; 8 – 9 scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin; 1 mandibular scale; 43 – 44 vertebrae; inferomesial process of parasphenoid very shallow and straight; dorsal profile conspicuously bulging in front of dorsal fin; juveniles without ocellus-like mark on posterior part of dorsal fin; and a pectoral-fin pattern of 3 – 4 broad gray to black bands alternating with cream to white interspaces, bands increasingly wide towards distal edge of the fin, interspaces equally wide as bands or narrower.

To the Editor: China has experienced population aging with the rapid economic growth, which results in a sharply greater burden of major age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, but nonagenarians and centenarians have generally been spared these diseases. In China, the proportion of nonagenarians and centenarians to total population is approximately 0.78%, and they are located mostly in rural China. Reports of the ages of the oldest Han Chinese people have been proved to be convincing.1 Until now, many surveys of lifestyle and epidemics in nonagenarians and centenarians have been conducted in cities, such as Shanghai, and a few rural regions where minorities live.2,3 Little information about lifestyle and epidemics is available in a long-lived rural Han Chinese population. A survey of lifestyle and epidemics in long-lived rural Han Chinese population (aged ≥90) was conducted during 2006 to 2007 in the Yuxi area of southwest China. Age was validated using a method previously developed.4 Physicians interviewed door to door and diagnosed all 325 nonagenarians and centenarians. A questionnaire was used for quick and easy intercommunication with the oldest old or their proxies. The questionnaire contained questions about sociodemographic characteristics of the subjects (name, sex, place of birth, date of birth, address, marital status, childbearing history, persons with whom the subject was living, educational level, and occupation), anthropometric characteristics (height and weight), lifestyle (nutritional habits, outdoor activity, smoking, alcohol, and farm and house work), and health disorders (hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg), arthritis, fractures, and severe vision and hearing disorders). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS for Windows (version 10.0.1, SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). A previous survey indicated that mortality is lower in women than in men and that the male:female ratio is approximately 1:3 in long-lived populations.5 The current survey supported these previous results in a long-lived rural Han Chinese population. There were also significant sex differences in civil status; 80.0% of the men and 95.1% of the women were widowed, and 10.0% of the men and 2.8% of the women were single. Additionally, the results showed that 99.9% of nonagenarians and centenarians lived with their male offspring. Hence, the family plays the most important role in providing life support and health care for the oldest old in rural China. This situation might lead to and imbalance of sex ratio, more children, and gender inequality in rural China. As to the social inequity between the sexes, this survey also showed that more men than women smoke, drink alcohol, and participate in outdoor activity. Moreover, 10.0% of men and 0.8% of women had less than 6 years of education, which was significantly lower than that in Western countries.5 In Bama, China, a study has showed that long-term moderate work was sustained in long-lived Zhuang people,6 but the results of the current study indicated that more than 68.0% of the long-lived individuals had no pertinent farm or house work. Concerning nutritional habits, the long-lived Han Chinese people preferred a cereal-based, vegetable, sweet, low-salt, low-fat food pattern, which might be one of the causes of their low body mass index (18.5 kg/m2 for men and 17.78 kg/m2 for women). Generally, the major age-related diseases in the oldest old (≥85) are respiratory disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart disease in China.7 In rural China, the proportion of awareness, control, and treatment of diseases is low. Making home visits made possible only the simplest tests for a few diseases, such as severe vision disorders, severe hearing disorders, hypertension, fracture, and arthritis. Previous studies have also shown that an abstinent life-style and low body mass index were associated with low prevalence of hypertension,8–10 but in the current study, the prevalence of hypertension in nonagenarians and centenarians was more than 60.0% (62.9% for men and 65.9% for women). Arthritis (18.8%), fracture (27.7%), severe hearing impairment (25.2%), and vision impairment (16.9%) were also prevalent. Fracture was more prevalent in women than in men (31.8% vs 15.0%). This investigation shows that there is a significant sex difference in sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle, and prevalence of fracture in a long-lived rural Han Chinese population. Different from previous data, age-related diseases such as hypertension, fracture, arthritis, and severe hearing and vision impairment were prevalent in a long-lived rural Han Chinese population. Therefore, further surveys with larger coverage should be done. These authors would thank Drs. Yu-Fang Ma and Gui-Sheng Wu for their help in preparing the paper. Conflict of Interest: The editor in chief has reviewed the conflict of interest checklist provided by the authors and has determined that the authors have no financial or any other kind of personal conflicts with this paper. The study was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2007CB507405). Author Contribution: J-J Ye and Y-Y Gong: had equal contribution to this study, collected the information, conceived the study, and wrote the manuscript. L Xie, J-C Li, L Peng, S-G Lian, Z Yang, and Y-F Zhou collected the information. Sponsor's Role: The funding source had no role in the design, methods, subject recruitment, data collect, analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.

Cloud computing is evolved from grid computing with a key support from the rapidly expanding virtualization technology. We argue that clouding computing is particularly suitable for supporting emergency response and management (ERM) because of some of its unique features such as rapid setup and deployment on ad hoc basis, highly flexible platforms (PaaS: Platform as a Service) and application services (SaaS: Software as a Service) with little time-space constraints. ERM is one of the seven critical national infrastructures and services mandated to protect by the 1999 US President's Executive Order (PCCIP). The paradigm of survivability and survivable network systems was a response of academia to the president's executive order. We concur that survivability should be the lifeline of any ERM, including the cloud computing supported (CCS) ERM systems. In this article, we present a research agenda that is aimed at developing a survivability-centered architecture for evolving reliable and survivable CCS-ERM systems. The research agenda suggests that biological and computational evolutions should be rich sources of biological inspirations as well as powerful optimization algorithm for designing (evolving) the ERM systems. The proposed research agenda advocates the application of three-layer survivability analysis, dynamic hybrid fault models, and extended evolutionary game theory modeling developed by Ma & Krings [Ma & Krings (2008a-e, 2011), Ma et al. (2009a), Ma (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011a,b). We use banking system survivability as an example to illustrate the proposed research agenda.

Poultry products contribute substantial proportion of animal protein consumed in Nigeria. These products are derived from both indigenous and exotic breeds of available species. The present study investigated the determinants of adoption of exotic ducks in south-west Nigeria through the application of classification regression tree (CRT) and binary logistic regression (BLR) model. Besides, the implication of adoption of improved breeds of duck on indigenous duck genetic resources was also considered. Multi-stage, stratified and cluster sampling methods were used to collect primary data from 524 respondents through structured questionnaires in three south-west states of Nigeria. About half (51.50%) of respondents indicated interest to adopt exotic ducks. In addition, the results of CRT (risk value = 33.6) and BLR (X2=0.727, P=0.197) were in consonance and both multivariate statistical techniques identified consumption of duck products followed by duck keeping as the principal determinants of exotic duck adopters among the respondents. The two principal indicators of potential exotic duck adopters could aid in guiding animal breeders, extension agents and stakeholders involved in animal agriculture in identifying potential adopter of exotic ducks in south-west Nigeria. Considering the expressed interest of the respondents to adopt improved breeds of ducks, this suggests the need for concerted effort of animal breeders and other stake holders involved in livestock production to guard against possible ‘genetic erosion’ of the valuable germplasm inherent in indigenous ducks via neglect through conservation.