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Table of Content

    07 July 2008, Volume 27 Issue 3
    Hoarding of walnuts by David's rock squirrels (Sciurotamias davidianus) within enclosure
    LU Jiqi,ZHANG Zhibin
    2007, 27(3):  209-214. 
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    A variety of animals store food to cope with temporally variable or unpredictable food supplies. We have little knowledge of the food hoarding behavior of David's rock squirrels (Sciurotamias davidianus),a species endemic to China and mainly distributed in the hilly temperate zone in northern China. We constructed semi-natural enclosures in the Donglingshan mountains area in which we investigated the squirrels' food hoarding behavior by providing them with tagged walnuts (Juglans regia). The results showed that David's rock squirrels exhibited both larder and scatter oarding, and the latter seemed to be their preferred choice. Artificial pilferage of hoarded food items had no significant effect on the hoarding behavior of squirrels. Within the enclosures, squirrels tended to select certain sites to scatter hoard walnuts, and no walnuts were consumed at the location where they were provisioned. The possible factors affecting food hoarding of David's rock squirrels were discussed.
    Seasonal dynamic pattern of spacial territory in social groups of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae)
    QU Jiapeng, LI Kexin,YANG Min1, LI Wenjing,ZHANG Yanming, Andrew T. Smith
    2007, 27(3):  215-220. 
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    From May to August of 2005 and 2006,the home range and core area within social groups of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) were studied in Maqin Country,Qinghai Province,by mark-recapture and minimum convex polygon methods. Home range and core area sizes were significantly different among different months. In May and June home range sizes of adults were significantly larger than those of juveniles,but there were no significant differences in core area sizes between them;in July, home range and core area sizes of adults and first-litter juveniles were significantly larger than those of second-litters. In May and June home range sizes of adult males were significantly larger than those in July and August; in June and July,home range sizes of adult females were significantly larger than those in May and August. There was a significant positive correlation between home range or core area sizes and the number of plateau pikas within social groups. The results indicated that season and social group structure each had a great effect on spacial territory.
    Genetic diversity and differentiation in four natural populations of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)
    ZHOU Le, YANG Shengmei, YU Zhiyong, YIN Baofa, HUAI Huyin, LI Shiping,WEI Wanhong
    2007, 27(3):  221-228. 
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    The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) has a widespread distribution over the high alpine grassland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of People's Republic of China.It is one of the most dominant small mammals and plays an important role in keeping the balance of the alpine meadow ecosystem. The aim of this paper was to investigate the level of genetic diversity and also to test the hypothesis of IBD (isolation by distance) for this old species. Samples of plateau pikas were collected from four natural populations (Haiyan,Xidatan E, Xidatan W and Kunlunshan populations). Genetic diversity and differentiation were assessed with seven polymorphic microsatellite markers. The genetic diversity of plateau pika was comparatively higher than that for some other small mammals (Ho = 0. 6003, He = 0.5332). The majority of genetic variation occurred within populations (Fst = 0.0975). The levels of genetic diversity of the four populations were similar. High genetic differentiation was encountered between Haiyan population and the other three (Fst = 0.1043)probably due to the long distance between them. However, the results of mantel test showed that there was no significant correlation between geographical distance and genetic distance.
    Sperm storage in least horseshoe bat during hibernation on Hainan Island
    CHEN Zhong,HAN Wenwen,ZHANG Shucai,LI Yuchun
    2007, 27(3):  229-233. 
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    Least horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus pusillus) occurs in subtropical and tropical regions including the southern part of the mainland and Hainan Island in China. In order to examine sperm storage in least horseshoe bat during hibernation in Hainan Island,we collected adult male and adult female least horseshoe bats in hibernation to observe sperm storage in testis and epididymis of males,and ovary and uterus of females. During the hibernation,males stored sperm in epididymis for more than two months from December to February. The cross sectional areas ofeminiferous tubules,spermatids, and leydig cells significantly decreased. Spermatogonium and spermatocyte did not significantly change between December and January,but significantly increased in February. However,female bats did not store sperm in their ovary and uterus. The seminiferous tubule of male bat shrank during hibernation but spermatogonium of spermatogenic epithelium increased significantly at the end of hibernation. Primary and secondary follicles were found in the ovaries of female bats during hibernation.
    Effects of dietary protein content on social behavior and some physiological properties in male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
    CHEN Jingfeng, ZHONG Wenqin, LIU Wei, LI Yuliang,WANG Dehua
    2007, 27(3):  234-242. 
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    In order to determine the effects of dietary protein content on the physiology,odor attraction,and social behavior in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), we fed juvenile and adult male Mongolian gerbils with high and low protein content food. Body mass,spleen mass,testis mass,serum antibody levels,social behavior and odor attractiveness were measured. There was no significant difference in physiological function and social behavior between the groups which fed with high and low protein content food. The odor attractiveness was different between adult animals fed different protein diets, impling that food quality was related to animals'mate choice.
    Feeding activity of François langurs in Karst habitat
    ZHOU Qihai,CAI Xiangwen,HUANG Chengming,LI Youbang,LUO Yaping
    2007, 27(3):  243-248. 
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    To explore the influence of habitat fragmentation on the ecology of the François langur (Trachypithecus francoisi), data on habitat use were collected from a group of François langurs living in an isolated hill in the Fusui Rare Animal Nature Reserve,Guangxi Province,between August 2002 and July 2003. Our results indicated that there was significant variation in the distribution of feeding activity in different vertical hill zones They showed preference for feeding in the middle zone. The top zone,as well as the bottom zone were used less for feeding. Langurs' feeding activities were concentrated in six patches,with a total area of 7.94 ha,which occupied 18.9% of the habitat. The densities of langurs' preferred food plants in the feeding patches were higher than that in the non-feeding patches. Langurs' diet varied according to season, even though leaves contributed a large proportion of the diet. This diet shift corresponded to seasonal variations in the utilization of feeding patches.
    Foraging characteristics and nutrition strategy of red pandas in Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve,Sichuan,China
    YANG Jiandong, ZHANG Zejun, HU Jinchu, LI Ming, WEI Fuwen
    2007, 27(3):  249-256. 
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    In order to understand the optimal foraging strategy exhibited by red pandas,field work was conducted from April to November 2002 in Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve,Sichuan Province,China. Results showed that bamboo leaves and shoots accounted for 70. 5% and 22.1% of red pandas' diet,respectively. Besides bamboo,fruits of shrubs also were frequently found in feces left by red pandas from August to early November. Red pandas subsisted almost exclusively on Bashania faberi and rejected Yushania brevipaniculata in our study area,which seemed related to the nutrition levels of the bamboo species. Diet of red pandas changes with season. For example,bamboo leaves and shoots in spring,bamboo leaves and fruits of shrubs in summer-autumn and bamboo leaves in winter. Vanderloeg and Scavia selectivity index (Ei) indicated that red pandas is preferred thick and tender shoots in spring,bamboo leaves on one-or two-years old stems from April to June,and for new leaves on old shoots from September to November. No preference was found for stem age when selecting newly formed leaves during July to August. Food selection and feeding strategy exhibited by red pandas assumed to maximize nutrient or energy intake during the foraging process.
    Analysis on wild boars home ranges in south Lesser Khingan Mountains
    WANG Wen,ZHANG Jing,MA Jianzhang,LIU Haibo
    2007, 27(3):  257-262. 
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    During the period between 15 July 2004 and 19 Jan. 2006 we monitored and analysed the home ranges of the wild boars (Sus scrofa ussuricua) in the south facing slopes of the mountains in Lesser Khingan,in the Northeast of China, trapping the wild boars and using wireless radio, R2V, ArcView and SPSS. Seasonal changes impact on the home ranges of the wild boars. The home ranges for the spring and autumn are greater than those for winter and no difference was found between spring and summer. Because of the heat period of the adult females in autumn and the separation of the immature males in spring home ranges increasing during those periods. Members of a family have bigger home ranges than do nonmembers. The ranges for subadult wild boars depend mainly on the families;if the family home range is big,correspondingly the ranges of subadult wild boars is big.
    Pathological observation on Cervus elaphus yarkandensis naturally infected with Sarcocystis sp.
    QIAO Jun,MENG Qingling,CAI Xuepeng,GAO Qinghua,LIAO Qiuping,JIA Guizhen
    2007, 27(3):  263-266. 
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    Pathological observation on Cervus elaphus yarkandensis naturally infected with Sarcocystis sp. In order to observe the pathological changes in a Cervus elaphus yarkandensis naturally infected with Sarcocystis sp. The heart, liver,spleen, lung, kidney, lymphonode, abomasum and ileum were collected from the articulo mortis Cervus elaphus yarkandensis and fixed by formaldehyde. After fixation,paraffin-embedded sections were made and stained by H.E for further observation. The pathogenic changes of inflammatory cell infiltration,congestion, and haemorrhage existed in all tissues,especially for eosinophilic cells. Moreover,the sarcocyst was observed only in skeletal muscle and it's merozoites existed in endothelial cell of glomerular arterioles,while no other developing parasites were observed in other tissues.
    Observations on a captive giant panda nursing twin cubs
    HUANG Xiangming,ZHANG Zhihe,WANG Chengdong,YU Xinming,LAN Jinchao, LI Mingxi,Koji Imazu,Tatsuko Nakao,Toshi Watanabe,Injen Pan
    2007, 27(3):  267-273. 
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    Captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) can have 1-2 cubs per litter; twins occur in 46.4% of births. In the case of twins,it is often difficult for the mother to nurse both cubs,thus she chooses one and rejects the other. In 2003, the captive giant panda “Meimei”(Stud No. 343)successfully nursed and raised twin male cubs (Longbin and Qiubin), the first known instance of this. We noted the following behaviors during the 6-month period after birth: The mother predominantly used 2 methods to pick up the cubs:holding both cubs in her mouth,and holding one in her mouth and placing the other beside her face. During the first 60 days,she nursed predominantly in an upright seated position. Her next most frequent position was lying on her side with the head and feet in contact with each other. Other behavioral positions were infrequent. The mother's activity level peaked on the day of birth and decreased dramatically to 35.2 ± 0.6% over the next 46 days. At 47 - 108 days, her activity increased to 42.2 ±0.6% and 109 - 180 days later,increased to 54.8± 0.9% . There was no significant ifference between cubs in the number of times/ day the mother nursed each or the duration of each nursing session. During the first 7 days,both cubs either leaned against the mother or were held by her (behavior B). At 7 -10 days, behavior B began to gradually decrease while three other behaviors emerged. At 21 - 23 days, behavior B significantly decreased while the behaviors of the mother covering the cubs (behavior C),remaining beside the cubs (behavior S)and being naturally apart from the cubs (behavior N)significantly increased. After 32 days,the time spent on behavior C decreased again; During the observation periods the time spent on behavior B,C,S,and N were not significantly different between the two cubs (P > 0.05). The mother's activity level,number of nursing sessions,and time spent on behavior N fluctuated daily during the observation periods. As the cubs grew stronger and more active,the distance they traveled away from the nest increased. This distance differered between the two cubs. The mother spent more time interacting with Longbin than with Qiubin. There was no difference between the 2 cubs in the amount of time spent playing by themselves. The amount of time the cubs spend playing with each other plus the time by themselves was greater than time spent with the mother. This research helped gain a new perspective on the giant pandas maternal behavior and also on the nursing and raising behavior of giant panda twin cubs.
    Diversity of large and medium sized mammals in the Haizishan Nature Reserve,Sichuan Province
    SUN Zhiyu,LIU Shaoying,LIU Yang,ZHAO Jie,XU Mingyou,NI Gang,YANG Zhiheng
    2007, 27(3):  274-279. 
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    Two surveys of the diversity of large and medium sized mammal species of the Haizishan Nature Reserve,Sichuan Province,China were conducted in 2003 - 2004. Thirty-four mammal species and 475 trails or individuals were documented along 70 routes. Mammals were most abundant in alpine shrub habitat. At higher elevations,we noted a trend toward a gradually increasing proportion of Palearctic mammal species and a decreasing proportion of Oriental mammal species; this change occured between 3 800 -4 400 m. Between 4 400 - 4 700 m, 62% of the mammal fauna is of Palearctic origin; above 4 700 m the fauna is exclusively Palearctic. Among the 34 mammal species, the Wapti, Serow, Goral and Blue sheep have the broadest elevational ranges and are widely distributed in the area. During these surveys,the Roan musk deer was found to be the most common species in the area.
    Sexual dimorphism and comparisons of skull morphology among three rodent species in Raoyang county,Hebei Province,China
    XIONG Wenhua,ZHANG Zhibin
    2007, 27(3):  280-283. 
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    To investigate differences of size and shape of skulls among rodent species and between male and female,we radiographed specimens and measured parameters of skulls of three species (Tscherskia triton,Cricetulus barabensis and Apodemus agrarius) collected from the Raoyang country,Hebei Province,China. The data was analyzed with MANOVA in general linear models by SPSS 13.0 for windows. The results showed that: The three rodent species were significantly different in SL, SW,GBS, FL, RBCL, RSL, RSW and RFL, SL, SW and GBS of Cricetulus barabensis were smaller than other two species. Tscherskia triton had dumpy skull according as the ratio of skull length and skull width was smallest among the three species. Male and female were different in SL, SW,R SW and RFL. Males were larger than female in many parameters of skull relative size. Species and sex factors had interaction effect on SL,GBS, GBS/ SW and BCL/ SW. The observed differences of skull size and shape among the three species and between genders can be used to distinguish the species and gender.
    Seasonal variations in digestive tract length and weight in Eothenomys
    WANG Xiaolin, BAO Yixin,ZHENG Rongquan,WU Yueling,LU Xiaowei
    2007, 27(3):  284-287. 
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    From 2003 to 2004,the seasonal changes in digestive tract morphology in Eothenomys melanogaster from Yiwu, Zhejiang Province were determined. Significant seasonal variations were found in length,wet and dry weight of total gut. The results howed:winter > spring > summer > autumn in length;spring > winter > autumn > summer in wet weight; and winter > spring > autumn > summer in dry weight. For the separate organs of the total gut,stomach did not change seasonally except for length which was the longest in winter. The wet and dry weights of small intestine showed significant changes among different seasons. The results were:spring > autumn > winter > summer in wet weight;and winter > spring > autumn > summer in dry weight. No significant seasonal variation was found in length for small intestine. The wet weight of caecum showed significant seasonal changes and increased significantly in winter and spring. No significant seasonal variations were found in dry weight and length for caecum. Seasonal acclimatization caused large intestine to change dramatically,being larger in spring and winter than in the other two seasons. Our results showed that different organs showed different responses and changed by different magnitudes,to the seasonal acclimatization. This suggests that the adjustments in capacity and size of the gastrointestinal tract play an important role in their digestive strategies of Eothenomys melanogaster in the natural environment.
    Identification of Balaenoptera omurai from an unknown whale vertebra based on Cyt b gene sequence
    MA Mu,ZHU Qian, LI Xiang, SUN Yumiao, LIU Yingying, LIU Yanan, TAO Cuihua
    2007, 27(3):  288-292. 
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    In order to identify an unknown whale vertebra's species,genomic DNA is extracted from the bone powder by proteinase K and phenol /chloroform,and a partial Cyt b gene sequence as long as 565 bp is amplified by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). The blasting result in GenBank shows that the vertebra sample has maximal similarity with Balaenoptera omurai, it is 99%. It indicates that the vertebra is Balaenoptera omurai. The phylogenetic tree based on UPGMA is consistent with the blasting result. Analysis of software MEGA shows that the Cyt b gene sequence of the vertebra sample has 1 -2 nucleotides which are different from the homologous sequence of B. omurai (accession AB201257,AB201256), thus, the sequence is a new haplotype This is the first record of B. omurai which distributes in the South China Sea.
    Establishment and preliminary application of a TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR method for detection of canine distemper virus
    LU Pin, HU Chuanwei, XIE Zhijing, YANG Dubao, REN Yue
    2007, 27(3):  293-297. 
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    To establish a TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR method for detection of canine distemper virus,the pair of primers and the TaqMan-based probe were designed according to the M protein genes of canine distemper virus strains. The reactive conditions were optimized to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the method. The specificity and sensitivity of the method were high. Canine distemper virus in the thirty-eight samples had been tested by the TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR, the common RT-PCR and electron microscopy. The sensitivity of the TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR was higher than the common RT-PCR and electron microscopy. This suggests that the method may be used in clinical diagnosis,epizootic study and aboratory research.
    Adaptation of migration of female Tibetan antelope for precipitation distribution on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
    WU Yonghua
    2007, 27(3):  298-307. 
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    Female Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni), migrate seasonally,and follow specific routes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the course of a migration. Female antelopes leave their winter ranges with plentiful food resource and travel to relatively barren breeding grounds for breeding,such as Zhuonai Lake,Taiyang Lake in Kekexili Nature Reserve and Muztag Feng in Arjin Shan Nature Reserve;and after breeding,they return to their winter ranges. It remains unclear why they migrate to breeding grounds for breeding. Although a variety of explanations have been offered,most of them fail to give sufficient illustration and proof. Here we propose a hypothesis for their migration,taking into consideration of both the snowfall cline and the geological vegetation evolution of its habitats——Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,where snowfall makes main type of precipitation owing to its high elevation and low temperature. In our hypothesis,the breeding grounds are possible the original habits of Tibetan antelope according to the geological egetation evolution of Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Because snowfall decreases gradually from southeast to northwest within the Qinghai-Tibet plateau,we hypothesize that female Tibetan antelope migrate from winter ranges (in the southeast)to breeding grounds (in the northwest)to avoid relatively high snowfall. We hypothesize that the climatic conditions in breeding grounds favor survival of newborns.