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07 July 2008, Volume 28 Issue 1

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Gray-tailed voles prefer interior to edge habitats

WOLFF Jerry O, BOND Monica L

2008, 28(1):  1-6. 

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We examined habitat preference of the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus), in an experimental fragmented landscape to test the hypothesis that female voles prefer interior to edge habitats. One hundred percent and 76% of adult female home ranges were located in interior habitat at low and high densities,respectively. The proportion of captures of females in edge habitat was lower at both low and high densities,but this difference was most pronounced at low densities. After selective removal of some females from interior and edge habitats at high densities, 8 (62% ) of 13 females shifted their home ranges from edge to interior habitats compared to only 3 (15% ) of 20 females moving from interior to edge habitats. Reproductive rates,survival,and body mass were comparable for females in edge and interior habitats. However, home range sizes were smaller for females in edge than interior habitats. These results support descriptive studies on some other small rodents e.g, Clethrionomys sp. and some Microtus sp., but differ from those of meadow voles, M. pennsylvanicus. We conclude that gray-tailed voles prefer interior to edge habitats and that the ratio of edge to interior habitats can potentially affect habitat selection and perhaps overall demography in fragmented landscapes.

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Food habits of Asiatic black bears in the Xiao Xing'anling Mountains

WANG Wen, MA Jianzhang, YU Huiliang, HU Liqing

2008, 28(1):  7-13. 

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We collected and analyzed 51 scats from Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in the Xiao Xing'anling area of northeast of China during April 2004 to November 2005. Collection of scats was aided by radio-telemetry. Based on locations where we found and collected scats,main habitats for black bears were mixed conifer-deciduous forests (400 - 560 meter elevation) in early spring and late fall,deciduous forest and mixed conifer-deciduous forest in late spring and early summer,deciduous forest, mixed conifer-deciduous forest,and riparian forest during summer and early fall. Bears ate mainly plants,as much as 70% of their estimated diets consisted of vegetation in summer.Species and plant parts eaten varied by season. Fewest species were eaten in spring, when an index of food diversity indicator was 2.317 and an evenness index wa 0.5923. In summer,bears ate the greatest variety of food plants (diversity index = 2.628, evenness index =0.6367). In autumn,the food diversity index was 2.361 and the evenness index was 0.5173. Highly preferred foods included seeds and mast of Korean pine, Quercus mongolica,Juglans mandshurica,Actinidia kolomikta,and Prunus, Hippochaete hyemale,Gramineae,Ulmus,Carex siderosricra, Acermono, Betulla, Populus,and Salix were avoided.


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Food habits of Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni)in the Kekexili Nature Reserve

CAO Yifan,SU Jianping,LIAN Xinming,ZHANG Tongzuo,CUI Qinghu

2008, 28(1):  14-19. 

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We studied the diets of Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsoni) by fecal microhistological analysis and compared the difference of the diets between warm-season (in July)and cold-season (in January) in Kekexili Nature Reserve, Qinghai Province,where we collected fresh fecal samples from Tibetan antelopes (33 in July 2005 and 55 in January 2006). Results showed that a total of 24 species (genera)belonging to 15 families were foraged by antelopes. By checking the frequency of each plant fragments in fecal samples,we found that Gramineae, Cyperaceae, Legume, Compositae, Tamaricaceae and Scrophulariae were the main food items. Gramineae was the main food throughout the year, and accounted for 60.5% of food composition. In addition, antelopes fed on Cyperaceae, Legume, Compositae, Tamaricaceae and Scrophulariae in quite high proportions annually, accounting for 16.7%, 9.2%, 6.4%, 4.9%, and 0.9% respectively. There was significant variation in diet in different seasons. In the cold season, Cyperaceae and Tamaricaceae decreased to 7.7% and 0.8% respectively, while Gramineae, Legume and Scrophulariae increased to 70.4%, 12.6% and 2.4% respectively.

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Diurnal behavior and time budget of a Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) mother during lactation

SHU Jiakuan,JIANG Wenhua,ZHENG Bangyou,HAN Demin,YU Daoping

2008, 28(1):  20-27. 

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During July 12 to November 2 in 2006,firstly the ethogram (including feeding,mother-young interaction,moving, resting, social behavior and other activities) of a Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) mother that gave birth to a calf on July 12,2006,was formulated with ad libitum and focal-animal sampling methods. The study took place in our semi-natural reserve which is formed by an old branch of the Yangtze River with 1.6 km in length and 80-200 m in width and located in Tongling Freshwater Porpoise National Nature Reserve,Tongling,China. Then particularly we concentrated on the diurnal time budget and behavior of the mother living there during lactation with the focal-animal sampling method. During the daytime,the mother spent 61.2% of time on feeding,18.8% on mother-young interaction,7.6% on moving, 6.1% on resting, 5.2% on social behavior and 1.1% on other activities. One-Way ANOVA tests indicated that difference in the accumulated diurnal times of mother-young interaction among different phases was extremely significant (P < 0.01),difference of feeding and social behavior was significant (P<0.05), difference of moving, resting and other activities was not significant (P>0.05 ), difference in the accumulated times of all the behaviors in different zones was extremely significant (P<0.01). Peaks of feeding were recorded at 06:30 - 17:30 and moving occurred smultaneously,but the mother spent less time on feeding at 06:30 - 7:30, 09:30 -10:30 and 14:30 - 15:30. Peaks of mother-young interaction and resting were recorded at 06:30 - 7:30,09:30 -10:30 and 14:30 - 15:30, and peaks of social behavior at 09:30 - 10:30,14:30 -15:30 and 16:30 - 17:30. Therefore,the differences
were significant in intensity,onset and duration of various behaviors.


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Vigilance and defensive behavior of Asiatic wild asses

BI Junhuai, HU Defu, DING Ying, JIANG Zhigang,SI Xiaoyan

2008, 28(1):  28-32. 

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Vigilance and defensive behavior of Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus hemionus)was documented at the June to December 2004 and March to July 2006 using instantaneous scanning along the Sino-Mongolia border, Darhanmaoming Banner, Baotou (N 44°36' - 46°00', E 88°30' - 90°03') and the Natione Natural Preserve of Asiatic Wild Asses,Wulate Haloxylon Ammodendron (N 41°50' - 42°27', E 106°15' - 108°00'), Inner Mongolia, China. We documented 132 instances of behavior. Eight types of defensive behaviors associated with 16 kinds of body posture were recognized,including alert and searching, alarm, hesitation, threatening, escape, protecting young, emotionally inducement, and fighting between groups. We examined gender differences of daytime time allocation of vigilance behavior using an independent t test males spent more time in vigilance behavior than females. All group members delivered warning signals by posture, movement and vocalizing. Escape was the primary way to avoid enemy's attacks. Wild asses response distance was related to the type of vehicles that the researcher used,as well as vehicle velocity. We put forward a model describing the relationship between the response distance of Asiatic wild asses and the velocity of a threat. We also observed fierce fighting and attacking behavior within a group which led to the death of a sub-adult male.

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Food habits of the Kulan (Equus hemionus)in autumn

LIU Wei,YANG Weikang, XU Wenxuan,

2008, 28(1):  33-36. 

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Based on 25 piles of faeces of Kulan (Equus hemionus) and 29 categories of plant specimen collected from Kalamaili Mountain Nature Reserve where Kulan live, the food habit of the Kulan was studied by using the faecal analysis method, and the relationship between food habits and the environment was discussed preliminarily. The results show that twenty six species of plants belonging to eight families were identified as food items. Haloxylon ammodendron, Stipa sp. and Ceratoides latens were the three major food categories in the Kulan's diet,occupying 61.3% of diet constitution of Kulan. Tmarix sp., Ceratocarpus arenarius, Artemisia sp., Reaumuria soongonica, Achnatherum splendens et al.,11 species of plants in total, constituted 33.3% of the Kulan's diet. And the other 12 species of plants,which were less eaten by Kulan, occupied 6.7% of the diet constitution. According to the family categories, Chenopodiaceae was the major food of Kulan, and Gramineae was their second choice. Kulan own broad area to seek food, including all types of habitat in the nature reserve.


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Effect of seed size on hoarding behavior of Edward's long-tailed rats(Leopoldamys edwardsi)

CHANG Gang,XIAO Zhishu,ZHANG Zhibin

2008, 28(1):  37-41. 

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We used Edward's long-tailed rats (Leopoldamys edwardsi) and Cork oak (Quercus varialilis)seeds with different seed size, a dominant granivore and tree species in the experimental forest of Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province, to test the two predictions of the Optimal Cache Spacing Model in a semi-natural enclosure: (1) The caching proportion of big seeds (high value)should be higher than that of small ones (low value); and (2) the big seeds will be cached at a longer distance from their source sites than will the small ones. The experimental results supported prediction (1): the removal proportion of big seeds (39% )was higher than that of small ones (21.5% ), and the caching proportion of big ones (16% )was also higher than that of small ones (7% ). But, there were little difference between big seeds and small ones in dispersal distance of cached seeds, so prediction (2) was not supported. Our results suggested that seed value had significant effect on hoarding behavior of rodents,but enclosure effect might prevent falsifying the prediction (2).


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Postnatal growth and age estimation in villus noctule (Nyctalus velutinus)

SHI Hongyan,LIU Hao,WU Yi,HU Jingchu

2008, 28(1):  42-48. 

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From May to September in 1997, the postnatal growth of villus noctule (Nyctalus velutinus) was investigated by the method of mark-recapture on the campus of China West Normal University. Three hundred and eighty-eight young bats (184 males and 204 females, including recaptured ones)were observed and measured. At birth,young N. velutinus were naked and pink,with closed eyes and folded pinnae. Length of forearm and body mass for 1-day-old pups averaged 17.18±1.12 mm and 3.73 ±0.46 g, equivalent to 33.3 % and 18.0 % of the value of adults respectively. The forearm length and body mass increased in a linear pattern before day 20 at mean growth rates of 36 mm/d and 0.57g/d respectively. The regression equation is length of forearm = 15.49 + 1.36 × age days and body mass =3.05 +0.57 ×age days. Subsequently the growth reached stability. Forearm length and body weight reached 95.37% and 80.4% of adults in the fifth week after parturition when pups began to fly clumsily. The length of the total epiphyseal gap of the fourth metacarpal-phalangeal joint increased until 15 days, then decreased linearly until 76 days and thereafter closed. Of the three nonlinear growth models (Logistic,Von Bertalanffy and Compertz), the logistic equation provides the best fit to empirical curves for length of forearm, while the Von Bertalanffy equation provides the best fit to empirical curves for body mass. The equation of determining the age of N. velutinus between 1 and 76 days was found based on linear changes observed either in the length of forearm or in the length of epiphyseal gap of the 4th metacarpal-phalangeal joint. When forearm length was ≤43.32 mm,age = -10.77 + 0.71 × length of forearm, when forearm length was > 43.32 mm,age = 71.10 - 9.89 × the length of fourth epiphyseal gap of the 4th metacarpal-phalangeal joint.

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Effects of cross-fostering during early postnatal period on body weight development in root vole (Microtus oeconomus)

SUN Ping,ZHAO Xinquan,ZHAO Yajun,WANG Dehua

2008, 28(1):  49-55. 

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The laboratory population of root vole (Microtus oeconomus) was founded by cross-fostering method. In order to test the effects of fostering on body weight development, body weights of offspring and fostered offspring were measured respectively. The results showed that: There was no significant difference in male vole body weights during different developmental periods (2 - 70 age in days). There was no significant difference in female vole body weight during developmental periods (2 - 16, 25 -70 age in days) apart from 18 and 20 age in days. Before 25 age in days,there were no significant differences in body weight between male and female voles in offspring and fostered offspring separately. The differences of body weight between different sexes reached to the significant level from 25 ages in days. With the increase of age in days, the descendant tendencies of increasing ratio per day were evident among 4 groups of root voles. The regress equations were non-linear. It indicated that the fostering experience had transient influence (3d ≤ T < 9 d)on female rather than on male voles. Sexual dimorphisms of body weight were formed at the age of about 25 days in offspring and fostered offspring. Increasing ratio per day of 4 groups of root voles showed similarly descending tendency.


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Estimation of winter carrying capacity of wapiti in the Eastern Wandashan Mountains,Heilongjiang Province,China

ZHANG Minghai,LIU Qunxiu

2008, 28(1):  56-64. 

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We sampled the forage resources of the eastern forests of Wandashan Mountains in Heilongjiang during winters 2005 and 2006 in order to quantify forage available to wapiti (Cervus elaphus). Nutritient composition of food items was analyzed to estimate wapiti carrying capacity. Feeding experiments were conducted on 3 captive wapiti (2 ♂,1 ♀) to estimate daily nutrient requirements in winter. We estimated winter carrying capacity of Wandashan Mountains as 11 115±1 419 based on mass (dry weight),as 5 845±1 077 based on metabolizable energy,and as 16 958 ±2 983 based on nitrogen. By determining the nutrient composition of principal forages ingested by wapiti,we found that the content density of nitrogen was higher than the amount required by wapiti,whereas metabolizable energy was lower. Therefore we conclude that metabolizable energy limits wapiti during winter. Additionally,we found that yearly variation in snow depth,biomass of food plants,and solar radiation caused detectable differences in yearly carrying capacity.


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Evaporative water loss and body temperature regulation in Eothenomys iletus and Apodemus chevrieri

ZHU Wanlong,YANG Yonghong,JIA Ting,LIAN Xiao,WANG Zhengkun,GONG Zhengda,GUO Xianguo

2008, 28(1):  65-74. 

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The evaporative water loss (WEL) and energy metabolism were measured in different temperatures in Eothenomys miletus and Apodemus chevrieri in laboratory. The thermal neutral zone (TNZ)of Eothenomys miletus was 22.5 - 30℃ nd of Apodemus chevrieri was 25 -30℃. Mean body temperature were for two species were 36.12℃ and 36.17℃. Basal metabolic rates (BMR) were 2.99±0.48 l O₂ /g· h and 4.24±0.50 l O₂ /g·h,respectively. Average minimum thermal conductance (C_m )was 0.26±0.038 ml O₂ /g·h·℃ and 0.32±0.034 ml O₂ /g·h·℃ . Evaporative water loss in E. miletus and A. chevrieri increased when the temperature enhanced,the maximal evaporative water loss was 10.32 mg H₂ O/g·h in 30℃ in E. miletus,and was 14.57mg H₂ O/g·h in 35℃ in A. chevrieri. Percentage of evaporative heat loss to total heat production (EHL / HP) increased when the temperature enhanced,the maximal EHL/ HP was 34.6% in 30℃ in E. miletus,and in A. chevrieri was 37.5% in 35℃ . The results may reflect features of small rodents in the Hengduan mountains region: both Eothenomys miletus and Apodemus chevrieri have high levels of basal metabolic rate and high levels of total thermal conductance,compared with the predicted values based on their body masses while their body temperatures are relatively low. Evaporative water loss plays an important role in temperature regulation.


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cDNA cloning and sequences analysis of acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P1(RPLP1)from giant panda

DU Yujie,HOU Wanru,PENG Zhengsong,ZHOU Caiquan

2008, 28(1):  75-80. 

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The cDNA of acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P1 (RPLP1)was cloned successfully from the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) using RT-PCR technology,which was also sequenced,analyzed preliminarily. The result shows that the cDNA fragment cloned is 449 bp in size,and it contains an open reading frame of 344 bp encoding 114 amino acids.The deduced protein sequence shows that the protein is composed of 114 amino acids and its estimated molecular weight is 11.566 kDa with a pI of 4.4. Alignment analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence are highly conserved to other five species studied,including Homo sapiens,Mus musculus,Rattus norvegicus,Bos taurus and Sus scrofa. The homologies for nucleotide sequences of giant panda PPLP1 to that of these species are 92.4% , 89.8%,89.0% ,91.3% and 87.5%,while the homologies for amino acid sequences are 96.5% ,94.7% ,95.6%, 96.5% and 88.6%. Topology prediction showed there are three Casein kinase II phosphorylation sites and two N-myristoylation
sites in the RPLP1 protein of the giant panda.


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Diagnosis and etiopathogenesis analysis on Sichuan golden monkey with myocarditis

HE Wenqi,LU Huijun,SONG Deguang,CHENG Jun,GAI Xianying,CHEN Qijun, GAO Feng

2008, 28(1):  81-86. 

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In order to determine the cause of death of a Sichuan golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellanao),Necropsies were carried out according to a standard protocol. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution and embedded in paraffin. The 4 μm sections were deparaffinized,stained and processed routinely for pathohistology analysis. Most samples were examined for detecting bacteriums by inoculating into the broth medium and viruses by Vero,PK-15,BHK-21 cells culture,morphology and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Then the KM mice regression test were carried out by the intraperitoneal injection with different isolated strains. The results showed that Cardiac pericardium,epicardium,and endocardium appeared bleeding point and ecchymosis;cardiac muscle appeared white necrotic focus;lungs were swollen and congestive. Cardiac muscle fiberes were abound with inflammatory cell infiltrate;parts of them were broke,degenerated. The heart appeared typical myocarditis changes in which the blood capillary of alveolar wall highly stretched and congested. The viruses (Picornaviridae-like morphous)and bacteria (Bacillus coli) were isolated from the samples of golden monkey. The KM mice regression test showed that the bacteria had no pathogenicity on mice.
However,the viruses isolated could make mice infected,and it also showed the similar pathologic symptoms with the Sichuan golden monkey. The RT-PCR performed on an extract of cardiac muscle tissue revealed a DNA sequence specific for Coxsackievirus B. Our results indicated that the myocarditis caused by the Coxsackievirus B resulted in Sichuan golden monkey's death.


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Isolation and identification of rotavirus from giant panda cubs

WANG Chengdong,YAN Qigui,ZHANG Zhihe,LUO Li,FAN Wenqiao,YANG Zhi,LAN Jingchao,HUANG Xiangming,LI Mingxi

2008, 28(1):  87-91. 

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11 giant panda cubs (age ranged from 5 to 11 months)suffered an acute,obstinate and infectious diarrhea,1 panda cub aged 6 months died just 4 days after the onset of clinical signs. All of the sick cubs were these animals weaned from their mothers. Their peers who were still being nursed by their mothers seemed unaffected even in the same environment. Samples from all of these sick panda cubs had been cultured for bacteria and examined for parasites,but results of these examinations were negative. In a survey performed for viral pathogens,feces from 8 of the 11 panda cubs were tested for rotavirus by an ELISA kit,most of the samples from each of the 8 cubs were positive. Fecal samples were collected for isolation of virus. Rotavirus was isolated from these samples and identified by electronic microscopy,physical and chemical characteristics,and serumneutralization test.


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Clinical investigation of toxic hepatitis of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)induced by mycotoxins in diet

XIU Yunfang, SHAO Liangping, XU Suhui, WANG Dechun,CHEN Ting, WENG Nina,CHEN Yucun

2008, 28(1):  92-95. 

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Cases of toxic hepatitis of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) induced by mycotoxins in diet were reported in this paper.21 red panda were suffered and 5 died among 35 animals. Composition and mycotoxins of diet,pathogens,clinical signs, bloodparameters,necropsy and histopathological findings were investigated and recorded. And experimental toxicosis of mice was conducted by feeding the contaminated diet. Treatment was implemented guided by the result of investigation and prognosis was good. The study indicates that there should have toxicological interactions between DON and F-2 toxin in diet and their target organs are liver and kidney. The tolerance to mycotoxins of red pandas was certainly related to their adaptability to environment and stressors would increase the susceptibility of mycotoxins in red pandas and it is necessary to pay attention that the animal is very susceptible to mycotoxins.


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Discovery of Isospora from Panthera tigris altaica

HOU Zhijun,HUA Yuping,LIU Jianli,ZENG Xiangwei,CHAI Hongliang,SUN Ying,LIU Dan,XIA Xianzhu

2008, 28(1):  96-100. 

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Coccidia oocysts were obtained from Panthera tigris altaica infected naturaly. The morphology of the oocysts were observed as well as the morphology of varied stages by incubated it in the laboratory. Based on the sequence of Isospora felis (L74671)published on the Genbank,a pair of specific primers were designed. By PCR amplification,a 360 bp DNA from 18S rDNA of coccidia from Panthera tigris altaica was produced,and the purified product was directly sequenced. Based on the results of morphology,sporalation and phylogenetic analysis,it was concluded that the coccidia from Panthera tigris altaica was Isospora.


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Serological survey of feline panleukopenia virus in felines

YANG Songtao, ZHOU Ming,WANG Tiecheng,WANG Ligang,WANG Shujun, LIU Dan, HUANG Geng,WANG Wei,XIA Xianzhu

2008, 28(1):  101-104. 

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Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV),belonging to the genus Parvovirus within the family Parvoviridae,infects and causes disease in carnivore species throughout the world. However,few epidemiological studies of this virus have been done in wildlife in China. The aims of this study were to determine the infection rate of FPV in captive tigers,lions and domestic cats. Serum samples were obtained from 207 tigers and 4 lions between 2002 and 2006 in different wildlife zoos of China,and 23 domestic cats,and further tested for antibodies against FPV by serum neutralization (SN)assay and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI)assay,whose results are consistent A seropositive rate of 53..1% was found in tigers, 25% in lions and 26% in cats. These results indicated that most of the felines had been infected with feline panleukopenia virus,and the virus may cause disease in carnivore species in China.


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Some measurements of the rare false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

ZHU Qian,LI Xiang,MA Mu,SUN Yumiao

2008, 28(1):  105-108. 

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One false killer whale was caught by bycatch in October,2005 in Rongcheng,Weihai,Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. Some photographs and measurements (biological and morphological data)of the false killer whale was taken. It is interesting to note that the shape of right and left flippers is different. The right flipper is a typical one and the left flipper has a gap. Right angle of gape is strange,looks like that of the baleen whale. These are probably healed wounds entangled in a fishing gear or something else. These two strange shapes could be results of these injuries in the very early stage of this animal's life. By examing them carefully,it is found that they are very smooth at the surface, these could be morphological malformation. This killer whale is a female with body length 4.18 m and weight 780 kg. She is pregnant,and the fetus is a male with body length 1.8 m and weight 40 kg,but no nipple in the mammary slit.