Introduction：
The Animal Breeding and Ecology Research Center (ABERC) carries out applied and fundamental research with special economic animals (turtles, crocodiles, snakes, giant salamander and frogs etc), including industrial farming, germplasm resources, genetics and breeding, medicine value, classification, ecology and conservation biology, invasion biology. In recent years, the ABERC has conducted more than 30 major scientific research projects, including some projects of international foundation, projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, projects of National Key R&D Program of China, projects of Scientific and Technological Program of Guangdong Province. Moreover, the ABERC has published over 50 papers in international/national academic journals, such as “Current Biology”, “Science of the Total Environment”, “Amphibia-Reptilia”, “Journal of parasitology” and “Oryx”. At present, the ABERC won 8 national invention patents, and 4 provincial and ministerial level scientific and technological awards.

Key projects undertaken by the ABERC ：
1. Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31471966):　　Study on the taxonomy and molecular phylogeography of the genus Platysternon in Asia.
2. Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31401053): Epigenetic regulation of sex determination in the Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis.
3. Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31071935): Study of the mating system and its formation mechanism of the endangered species Platysternon megacephalum.
4. Project of National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC1201100): Study of the ecological hazard assessment of main invasive organisms and ecological remediation technology (Subproject: regarding Trachemys scripta elegans).
5. Projects of Scientific and Technological Program of Guangzhou, China (No.2011J2200025): Study on the cultivation and key techniques of ecological farming of the new variety of turtles, Platysternon megacephalum.

Research Areas ：
The research center puts emphasis on the areas of ecology, genetics and breeding, germplasm resources, reproduction and nutrition of special animals, including turtles, crocodiles, snakes, giant salamander and frogs etc.
Research Team：
PI: Prof.Dr. Shiping Gong
Assistant Professor: Dr. Weiye Li, Dr. Dainan Cao, Dr. Xiaojuan Wan,
Dr. Liushuai Hua
Research Assistant: Ms. Yan Ge, Mr. Jiangbo Yang
Students: Yufeng Wei (Ph.D. candidate), Haoran Duan (Master Degree Candidate), Hongxia Chen (Master Degree Candidate).

Representative publications：
1. Gong SP, Shi HT, Jiang AW, Fong JJ, Gaillard D, Wang JC. 2017. Disappearance of endangered turtles within China’s nature reserves. Current Biology，27(5): 170–171.
2. Gong SP, Wang FM, Shi HT, Zhou P, Ge Y, Hua LH, Liu WH. 2014. Highly pathogenic Salmonella Pomona was first isolated from the exotic red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the wild in China: Implications for public health. Science of The Total Environment, 468: 28–30.　　
3. Gong SP*, Yang DD, Chen YH, Lau M, Wang FM. 2013. Population status, distribution and conservation needs of the Endangered Protobothrops mangshanensis of China. Oryx, 47(1):122–127.　　
4. Wang FM, Li WY, Hua LS, Gong SP*, Xiao JJ, Hou FH, Ge Y, Yang GD. 2014. Spirometra (Pseudophyllidea, Diphyllobothriidae) severely infecting wild-caught snakes from food markets in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Guangdong, China: implications for public health. Scientific World Journal, 2014: 1–5.
5. Fritz U, Gong SP, Auer M, Kuchling G, Schneeweiss N, Hundsd?rfer A K. 2010. The world’s economically most important chelonians represent a diverse species complex (Testudines: Trionychidae: Pelodiscus). Organisms, Diversity & Evolution, 10: 227–242.
6. Wei YF, Gong SP *, Shi HT * & Li WY. 2016. Quantitative analysis of courtship and mating behaviours in the big-headed turtle, Platysternon megacephalum. Herpetological Journal, 26 (1): 85–91.
7. Gong SP, Shi HT, Mo YM, Auer M, Mario VR., Hundsd?rfer AK, Fritz U. 2009. Phylogeography of the endangered black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) and conservation implications for other chelonians. Amphibia-Reptilia, 30: 57–62.
8. Gong SP, Chow AT, Fong JJ, Shi HT. 2009. The chelonian trade in the largest pet market in China: scale, scope, and impact on turtle conservation. Oryx, 43(2), 213–216.
9. Li W, Gong SP*,Hua LS, Ge Y, Wang FM, Hou FH. 2015. Complete mitochondrial genome sequence for the Malayan Pangolin Manis javanica (Pholidota, Manidae). Conservation Genetics Resources, 7:685–687.
10. Li WY, Gong SP*, Hua LS. 2014. Isolation and Characterization of Microsatellite Markers from the Chinese Endemic Species, Beal's-eyed Turtle (Sacalia bealei). Conservation Genetics Resources, 6(2): 437–438.