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29 February 2012, Volume 32 Issue 4

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Morphometrics study on the so called ‘Cape hare’(Lagomorpha:Leporidae:Lepus)in China

CHENG Cheng ,GE Deyan,XIA Lin,ZHOU Caiquan,YANG Qisen

2012, 32(4):  275-286. 

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In this paper,validity of the so called ‘Cape hare’in China is studied by biometric methods,using 64 linear measurements of 147 specimens. The Chinese ‘Cape hare’and African Lepus capensis are significantly different in several neurocranial -shape - related measurements,for example,the greatest length of the cranium,the greatest breadth of mastoid, the breadth of occipital condyles and so on,which indicate L. capensis probably is not a valid name for the hares in China. There are two distinct populations of L. c. lehmanni from the north and the southwest of Xinjiang respectively, which might be recognized as two species. We approve the view of Hoffmann and Smith (2005)that the population from
north of Tianshan is supposed to be L. tolai,while the population from southwest of Tianshan may belong to L. tibetanus. The populations named as subspecies L. capensis huangshuiensis and L. c. centrasiaticus [assigned by Luo (1981)], however,show little differences with the populations of L. c. tolai from Inner Mongolia both in the present principal components analysis and discriminate analysis. These populations may be categorized as L. tolai. Hares from Huangshui Valley (L. c. huangshuiensis)and Central Asia (L. c. centrasiaticus)show insignificant differences with those of L. c. tolai from Inner Mongolia. These two ‘subspecies’could be assigned to L. tolai also. Hares from Yanbian,Jilin Province are also assumed to be L. tolai rather than L. coreanus due to insignificant variances with L. c. tolai.

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Fauna and species diversity of small mammals in Jiajin Mountains,Sichuan Province,China

TU Feiyun,TANG Mingkun,LIU Yang,SUN Zhiyu,ZHANG Xiuyue,YUE Bisong,LIU Shaoying

2012, 32(4):  287-296. 

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The Jiajin Mountains,locating in the mountainous southwest of China,has been a hotbed of biodiversity research for the past several decades. We conducted a species diversity survey of small mammals at different elevation bands and in various habitat types. A total of 927 individuals were captured. These animals belonged to 4 orders,8 families,and
35 species including 16 rodents,16 insectivores,and 3 pikas. Analysis of these data indicated that:1)species number on south slopes (31)was higher than that on the north slopes (20)because of north-south climate differences;2)among the 35 species,15 species were endemic to China,and high diversity of insectivore species was obtained in this unique region; 3)Palearctic composition on north slopes is significantly higher than on the opposite slopes which might be due to northsouth migration restrictions of Oriental and Palearctic species from Jiajin Mountains;4)the highest species diversity was in the mid-altitudes (2 400 -3 000 m)in the southern part because of serious human disturbance in low altitude regions and simple vegetation types in high altitude regions,while the elevations exhibiting the highest species diversity on north slopes was higher (3 000 -3 600 m),which might be due to dry climate at low altitude regions on north slopes;The complex topographic configurations in the Jiajin Mountains contributed to species divergence and provided diversified habitats for small mammals,thus high species diversity and abundant endemic species were observed in this region. High diversity of insectivore species might be related to more evolutionary advantages in the unique area.

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Effect of food restriction on energy metabolism and thermogenesis in striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis)

ZHAO Zhijun

2012, 32(4):  297-305. 

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To examine the relationship between the energy strategy in response to food restriction and the levels of metabolism in small mammals,body mass,basal metabolic rate (BMR)and nonshivering thermogenesis (NST)were measured in striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)that were subjected to different levels of food restriction (FR). The data showed
that BMR,NST and cytochrome c oxidase activity of brown adipose tissue all were significantly decreased in FR hamsters. Eighty percent of hamsters survived for 4 weeks after being restricted to 90% of ad libitum food intake,but survival rate was 30% in hamsters restricted to 60% of ad libitum food intake. Cold-exposed hamsters had significantly increased BMR and NST,but had decreased body mass and survival rate after being restricted to 80% of ad libitum food intake compared with their counterparts maintained at room temperature. Hamsters with higher BMR consumed 23.8% higher food than individuals with lower BMR,whereas no differences were observed in body mass and survival rate between the two groups after being restricted to 80% of ad libitum food intake. This suggests that striped hamsters characterized by higher levels of metabolism are sensitive to periods of FR,providing a support for the ‘metabolism switch hypothesis’. Finally,the present study is consistent with the prediction that small mammals showing food shortage behavior may have less ability to cope with decreases in food availability.

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The seasonal changes of plant secondary metabolites and their influence on the food selection of plateau pika

DAI Xin,GU Xinzhou,SHI Jia,YUAN Fei,YIN Baofa,WANG Aiqin,WEI Wanhong,YANG Shengmei

2012, 32(4):  306-317. 

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The research was carried out from June to September 2008 in the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station,Chinese Academy of Science,Qinghai Province. Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae)were fed 20 different plants and the amounts of consumed food were measured using a cafeteria preference test. Seasonal changes of 4 plant secondary metabolites (PSMs),flavonoids,condensed tannins,simple phenols and total phenols in the 20 plants were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The results for the 20 plants showed that the groups of favored plants and edible plants for plateau pikas comprised 7 species each,the remaining 6 species were anorectic plants. There were some differences between plant species for the 4 PSMs some of which showed seasonal changes - they tended to be the lowest in the beginning of growing season and gradually increased in the following months. The contents of condensed tannins in the favored group was significantly lower than in the edible group,and the content of flavonoids in the favored group was significantly lower than in the anorectic group. There was a significant negative correlation between the amount of food intake and the contents of flavonoids in all 20 plants. Within the favored plant group,the plant intake amount was negatively correlated with simple phenols and total phenols content. The results partly verified the hypothesis that plant secondary metabolites serve a defense strategy that could significantly influence the plants’selection as food by Ochotona curzoniae. Flavonoids were the
factor which significantly restrained the plant food selection of plateau pikas and condensed tannins could deter the plant food selection of plateau pikas in some extent,and results demonstrated that plateau pikas might have a food selection strategy
to forage on the plants with high contents of simple phenols or total phenols in relative small quantities,but avoid foraging
them in large doses

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Distribution and group size of red deer (Cervus elaphus)in Ningxia He- lan Mountain National Nature Reserve,China

ZHANG Mingchun,LI Zhigang,HU Tianhua,WANG Jifei,WANG Xiaoming

2012, 32(4):  318-324. 

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Using 107 active points and 572 points (active and feces points)obtained in 2009 in Ningxia Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve we estimated the distribution area of red deer (Cervus elaphus)with 95% FKE (Fixed kernel estimation) and 100% MCP (Minimum convex polygon). We found the FKE and more GPS points resulted in a more accurate
estimation.This method indicated that the distribution area of red deer was 642. 33 km2 ,between Xiaoshuigou and Yushugou (38°23′33″ - 38°56′22″N,105°33′36″ - 106°12′22″E);this area represents 33% of the total area of the reserve. Chaqikou and Dashuigou are the two highest density areas for red deer. Of the 37 line transects conducted,19 line
transects lie in the distribution area. Red deer were not encountered in Huangqikou and Xiaokouzi and these areas have the highest levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Using Distance 6. 0 (model:Uniform + Simple polynomial),we estimated the population size to be 1 420 (880 -2 300)in the reserve Red deer inhabited different elevations in different seasons and the lowest elevation was inhabited in winter. It was difficult to detect red deer in spring,summer and autumn because of vegetation cover and higher elevation areas. Red deer maintained small group sizes (3. 50 ± 2. 76,range:1 - 13,n = 107), but group size varied with season;bigger groups formed (4. 26 ± 3.09)in winter.Red deer inhabited forest with less anthropogenic disturbance. Our findings show that reserve managers should minimize human disturbance in certain areas to attract more red deer.

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The sympatric distribution pattern and tempo-spatial variation of Indo- Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises at Shatian,Beibuwan Gulf

2012, 32(4):  325-329. 

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The Beibuwan Gulf represents a crucial distribution area of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides)in China. However,the systematic research on the distribution pattern and its tempo-spatial variation of these two species in this waters is still deficient,and it is still unclear whether they are overlapped with each other. In 2003 - 2004 and 2011 - 2012 surveys,we conducted boat-based surveys twice at Shatian, Beibu Gulf with 4 876.8 km survey route in total,and collected the spatial distribution data of both species. Only humpback dolphins were sighted in 2003 -2004,whereas both species were sighted in 2011 - 2012. Compared with the result of April and May 2003 - 2004,the encounter rate of humpback dolphins in April-May,2011 was significantly higher (0. 152 vs 0. 028 individuals/ km survey line). The Minimum convex polygon (MCP),95% Fixed kerne (FK)home range and 50% FK core range of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins were 162.6 km² ,271. 35 km² and 56.78km²,respectively. From 2003 -2004 to 2011 -2012,the 50% FK core range enlarged and moved eastward. The MCP,95% FK home range and 50% FK core range of finless porpoises were 97.21 km² ,318. 72 km² and 38. 18km² respectively. The finless porpoise is mainly distributed in the periphery of the distribution area of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins,and a small part of distribution area of both species is overlapped. Based on the analysis of some possible factors,it was suggested that finless porpoises possibly migrate inshore-toward seasonally,whereas Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins have preference to the estuary area,which might have led to the different distribution pattern of both species.

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Impact of river training on the population abundance of Yangtze finless porpoises in Dongliu section of the Yangtze River

2012, 32(4):  330-334. 

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The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)is an endemic mammal in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River,and generally appears around river bars and shallow edge beaches. The river training produces negative impacts on the cetacean because of alteration of the hydrological environment for fishes. Using three surveys in the Dongliu section of the Yangtze before the river training project and another three surveys after the project group structure and size of the porpoise in three flow patterns were compared. The results showed that the Yangtze finless porpoise were found mostly in separations near side bars,and secondly in bifurcations above a bar before river training.After implementation,the annual rate of decrease of the porpoise was about 8.9% .The Yangtze finless porpoise has vanished in the bifurcation zone,and is less dense in the separation zone while rapidly shifting among flow patterns in the regulated river.The results of this study also suggest that the Yangtze finless porpoise is exposed to more and more difficulty in the mainstream of the river.It is urgently that the Yangtze finless porpoise be translocated into an old channel from the mainstream of the Dongliu section.

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Construction of a lentiviral vector to target expression of S100A4 of sika deer (Cervus nippon)

WEI Mingli,CHU Wenhui,ZHAO Haiping,WANG Datao,SUN Hongmei,LI Chunyi

2012, 32(4):  335-339. 

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In this study,a number of sequences of small interfering RNA targeting S100A4 gene of sika deer (Cervus nippon)were synthesized and screened,among which two were confirmed by BLAST search to be suitable for the purpose. Oligo DNAs containing either sense or antisense strands were ligated into the lentiviral plasmids (pLVTHM)using T4 DNA ligase. Positive clones were identified based on the results of both PCR and sequencing. Each positive plasmid was cotransfected into 293T cells with the plasmids pCMV-dr 8. 91 and pMD2. G. Twenty-four hours after the co-transfection, green fluorescence of the 293 T cells could be observed under the inverted microscope. Therefore,we successfully constructed recombinant lentiviral system targeting sika deer S100A4 gene. This work would lay the foundation for revealing the regulatory mechanism of S100A4 underlying antler generation and regeneration.

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Establishment and characteristics of a Bactrian camel fetal ear marginal fibroblast cell line

DIAO Ruixin, ZHANG Yong, HU Junjie, CHANG Weihua, LIN Tao, ZHANG Zhiqiang,XU

2012, 32(4):  340-345. 

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The experiment was conducted to establish a Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)fetal ear marginal fibroblast cell line. The Bactrian camel fetal ear marginal tissue was cultured with explants or trypsinization,which then was subcultured and purified through trypsin digestion and differential anchoring velocity. Analysis on cell morphology,cell viability,
growth dynamics,immunocytochemistry,karyotype,transfection and expression of green fluorescent protein marker plasmid (GFP),and microbial contamination were carried out. The results showed that the population doubling time (PDT) of the cells was 47 2 h;the majority chromosome number was 74;the immunocytochemistry was positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin;an exogenous plasmid could integrate and express in the cells;detection for microbial contamination was negative. As a consequence,we succeeded in establishing the fibroblast cell line of Bactrian camel on cell level which is a significant national germplasm resource,providing ideal experimental material for future studies of the gene bank and somatic cell cloning,etc.

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Morphological study on the lung of the fetal yak

YANG Kun,YU Sijiu,HE Junfeng,CUI Yan

2012, 32(4):  346-355. 

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Lung tissue from 40 yak fetuses of different age groups were collected to investigate their development process using histological and histochemical methods. The aim is to provide morphological data on developmental biology and find the hypoxia adaptive structure of the lung in yak fetus.The results showed that the developmental period of yak lung can be divided into five stages. (1)Embryologic stage (30 -50 days):a lung bud was found. Its branches formed into the primary bronchi,and then into the lobar bronchus.The bud had the pseudostratified columnar epithelium. (2)Pseudoglandular stage (50 - 120 days):the bronchial tree clearly developed and its terminal bud shaped like the gland.The bud possessed the pseudostratified columnar epithelium. (3)Canalicular stage (120 - 180 days):the respiratory region has rapidly grown,no glandular structure is found in terminal buds. There were many tubular branches with the single-walled columnar epithelium or cuboid epithelium. (4) Saccular stage (180 - 220 days):terminal sac (original alveolar)was formed by the ridge of dissepiment,and a few primitive alveoli epithelia differentiated into flat type I alveolar cells and cubical type Ⅱ alveolar cells.(5) Alveolar stage (220 - 260 days):the alveolus was formed. Much of the epithelium differentiated into flat type I alveolar cells and cubical type Ⅱ alveolar cells. We concluded from the present study that the epithelium of bronchial and terminal buds were full of glycogen in the Embryologic stage and the Pseudoglandular stage,and beginning from the Canalicular stage,the glycogen declined sharply. Several epithelium cells in the air conductivity portion were positive for PAS in the later stages.The developmental process of lung in yak fetuses is similar to that in cattle,although the yak has a longer saccular stage and a shorter alveolar stage The results suggest that the lung of yak fetus matures even earlier than that of cattle.

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The artificial feeding,breeding and research on hibernation bouts of the Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus)

SUN Xiaoyong,GAO Yunfang ,WANG Qi ,JIANG Shanfeng ,GUO Shupan ,LIU Kun

2012, 32(4):  356-361. 

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Our goal was to establish an appropriate way of feeding and breeding of Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus)in the laboratory and to investigate the rules of its hibernation bouts. The hibernation room was made according to the parameters of wild Daurian ground squirrels’caves in the field,and the hibernation bouts were monitored by the traditional sawdust method. Results:(1)The animals were fed with mainly standard rat chow and some fruits and vegetables were provided in the spring breeding season;rat chow mixed with rabbit chow was supplied in the summer,along with fruits and vegetables rich in water;in the fattening period of Autumn,in addition to rat chow,some peanuts,and beans rich in fat and protein also were necessary. (2)The pregnancy of female animals was about 28 days and lactation was a month. Females gave birth 4 to 8 offspring per brood,with an average of 5. 52;As the newborn’s bedding should not be changed for at least the first two weeks,abnormal flavor must be avoided in the nest. (3)The hibernation period of the animals was from late November to early March of the next year,the average time of hibernation was 93.95 days. Hibernation bouts occured on 89.9% of the days of the whole hibernation time. The average days of dormancy for each hibernation bout was 7.44 and the arousal from hibernation bout was 1 36 days. In total there were 7.55 hibernation bouts during the hibernation period. (4)Between 2009 and 2011,185 animals were recaught from the wild,146 survived,a survival rate of 78.9% . In the breeding seasons of 2006,2009 and 2011,25 pairs were matched and 138 babies were born with 92 surviving,a survival rate of 66.7% . The results showed that wild Daurian ground squirrel can be successfully bred and fed in lab condition and can achieve their hibernating period in artificial hibernation room.

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Sleeping behavior of wild Franois’langur (Trachypithecus francoisi)at Mayanghe Nature Reserve in summer,Guizhou China

HAN Jialiang ,HU Gang

2012, 32(4):  362-367. 

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During the period from July to August 2011,we recorded the sleeping behavior,including the time allotted to enter and exit the sleeping site,pre-sleeping and sleeping,of two groups of wild Francois’langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) at Mayanghe Nature Reserve via focus animal sampling. Results indicated that:1)the langurs spent the most time (583.1min on average)sleeping,and the time allotted to exit the sleeping site and pre-sleeping were 22. 9 and 17.7 minutes respectively. They spent the least time (8 minutes)for enter into the sleeping site;2)the time allotted for sleeping was significantly negatively correlated with the length of daytime. The group the inhabited more disturbed habitat (XGB) spent significantly more time entering the sleeping site,and less time pre-sleeping and sleeping than did the group in less disturbed habitat (LYY),and XGB animals also spent more time exiting the sleeping site in the morning that LYY,though the difference is not significant. These differences may indicate that groups in disturbed habitats may have to allot more time to alertness for potential disturbances,and thus reasonably reduce the time for pre-sleeping and sleeping;4)sleeping behavior was also influenced by weather conditions:the langurs allotted significantly less time for sleeping and exiting the sleeping site,and more time for entrance to the sleeping site and pre-sleeping on sunny days than they did on rainy days, though the differences of the latter two categories were not significant. This may be because,in comparison with outside ambient conditions,the sleeping site is more comfortable on rainy days,and the langurs reasonably spent more time resting and less time for activity. This assumption is according to the ‘Comfort Hypothesis’, which asserts that primates take sleeping sites as shelter from extreme weather conditions.

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Activity rhythms of black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifron)revealed with infrared camera

ZHANG Shusheng,BAO Yixi,WANG Yanni,FANG Pingfu,YE Bin

2012, 32(4):  368-372. 

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From June 2010 to August 2011,we deployed 58 infrared cameras along 300 - 1 100 m altitude in Gutianshan National Natural Reserve to monitor the seasonal changes in the activity pattern of black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons). Three activity indices (daily-discrepancy index α,diurnal-nocturnal index β and seasonal-activity index γ)were used to
analyze seasonal changes in the activity patterns of black muntjac.Results showed that the daily-discrepancy index α differed between months (P < 0. 01). The α value in winter was higher than in the other three seasons,which indicates that the daily activity time of black muntjac in winter is not even distributed,and shows a single peak each day. The α values in the summer months were lower than those in the other three seasons,which shows that the distribution of daily activity time in summer months was relatively uniform.Diurnal-nocturnal index β also differed between months (P < 0. 01),and also β value was 0.55 > 13 /24,which indicate that black muntjac is strictly diurnal animal. In the summer,the black muntjac reduced activity during the day owing to direct solar radiation and high temperature,but increased activity during the night.Black muntjac was not active between 11∶ 00 and 15∶ 00,and between 1∶ 00 and 4∶ 00,the γ value also showed no significant difference (P > 0. 05). There were two high peaks of the daily activity in summer months - between 6∶ 00 and 8∶ 00,and between 17∶ 00 and 20∶00.In spring,summer and autumn,the activity pattern showed a double-peak pattern, but in winter,it became a single-peak.