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07 July 2008, Volume 25 Issue 4

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Geographical Variations of Skull Morphology in Red Deer(Cervus elaphus) in Xinjiang, China

Mahtmut.ALIKI,Anwar.TUMUR,Omar.ABLIZ, Noriyuki Ohtaishi

2005, 25(4):  313-318. 

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There are 3 subspecies of red deer in Xinjiang. The data of skull morphology on Cerrnrs elaphus yarkoodensis, Cenrus elaphia songaricus, Cermrs elaphus sibiricus were reported in this paper, which involved the measurement and comparison of skul variables of the 3 subspecies. Measured variables include the greatest length of the cranium, facial lengl，greatest length of the nasals, median frontal length, greatest inner width m inhambital gland fossa, condylobasal length: aboml border of the occipital condyles-Prosthion, Graetest palatal breadth, premolare-prosihion length, zygomatic breadth, aboral height of the comnoid pmcess-gomon ventrale-Common, aboml height of the vertical minus: gonion venuale-highest point of the condyle process, diastenia height, Height of the mandible in brut of P₂, height of mandible behind M₃. All variables measured werecompared respectively between the 3 subspecies. The results showed that: 1) The deer hour the Altai tended to have greater length and height of skull mid smaller width than that fmrn the Tarim. 2) Skuls of the Tiaushan were intermediate between Tarim and Altai, but there tended to be no significant difference. 3) The skal morphological measurements of die Altai and Tiarshan subspecies were close to each other, and the Tarim sanple was located rather distant from the former two. The variations of the skul morphological char, actem of reel deer in Xinjang are caused mainly by habitat and climatic diferences of these subspecies. Altai and Tiaushan subspee: ies inhabit in the, coniferous forests with a cold climate, whereas that of the Tarim inhabit the riparian poplar forests along the river in desert region, which become very ha in summer. The morphological similarities between red deer Grnn the Altai and Tianshan may reflect similarities in habitats, while the unique morphological characteristics of the Tarim red deer may reflect adaptations to a desert climate. Therefore, the Tarim subspecies is unique and should he protected.



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Trend Monitoring of Large Mammals: Two Case Studies

Richard B. HARRIS，ALI Abutalipu，Chris LOGGERS

2005, 25(4):  319-325. 

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In an ideal world, estimation of wildlife populations would always use rigorous methods and statistically valid sampling. Unfortunately, field conditions sometimes make violating important model assumptions unavoidable or obtaining random samples impossible. In such cases, proceeding as though these difficulties did not exist and reporting unreliable results as though they arose from rigorous procedures can be worse than having no data at all. For some management objectives however, it is not necessary to obtain accurate enumerations of an entire population; rather, the long-term population trend is sufficient to guide managers. In China, objective and quantitative long-term monitoring of large mammal species has not often been conducted. Here, we provide an overview of 2 long-term trend monitoring programs focusing on wild ungulates of the Tibetan plateau in Qinghai and Gansu provinces. We stress the importance of maintaining consistency in methods among years, and in understanding that numerical results contain uncertainty. Despite this uncertainty, large changes in abundance are very likely to be detected using such trend monitoring, and can help managers respond appropriately.

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Effects of Tannic Acid Food on Energy Metabolism in Brandt's Voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)

CHEN Jingfeng,ZHONG Wenqin,WANG Dehua

2005, 25(4):  326-332. 

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Plant secondary metabolites affect the survival, reproduction, and distribution of herbivores. In order to test the effects of plant secondary metabolite on energy metabolism and thermogenesis, we examined the changes in basal metabolic rate (BMR), energy intake and nonshivering thermogenesis（NST） in captive Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys bandtii，formerly Microtus brandti ) fed diets containing 0, 3.3% and 6.6% tannic acid respectively. Metabolic trials were performed by using the closed-circuit respirometer, and nonshivering themogenesis was induced by subcutaneous injection of norepinephrine. The energy intakes were estimated with food trials. Voles fed the diets with 6.6% tannic acid increased basal metabolic rate compared with control at 10 days, and reduced the gross energy intake and digestible energy intake. After 20 days, voles fed diets containing tannic acid showed no significant changes in basal metabolic rate, gross energy intake and digestible energy intake. The apparent digestibility was kept stable during the experiment. These results indicated that tannic acid can increase basal metabolic rate and energy intake within a short period and the changed physiological function returned to baseline for a long period. Tannic acid has no effect on body mass and no significant difference was detected in nonshivering thermogenesis between pre- and the end of experiment in Brandt's voles. Brandt's voles can adjust their physiological functions to match the changes in food conditions.

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Time Alocation of Territorial Activity and Adaptations to Environment of Predation Risk by Plateau Pikas

ZHANG Yanming, ZHANG Zhibin, WEI Wanghong, CAO Yifan

2005, 25(4):  333-338. 

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Time allocation of activities on the surface and in burrows, and the fiequencies of entering and emerging from burrows were compared by age and gender in plateau pikas(Ochotona curzoniae) using directly observations in the field. The results showed thatfrom 07: 00一18: 00 males spent 87.09% and females spent 85.22% of total time on the surface. Although there were no significant gender differences in time spent on the surface, significant seasonal variations were found. In the early breeding season, adult females spent more time on the surface than they did during the later breeding season.The juveniles of the sewed litter spent much less time on the surface than did those of the first litters. The frequencies of burrow entering differed significantly depending on age and gender in the pikas. The highest burrow entering frequency was found in May for female adults, whereas,the lowest in April for male adults. Our results provide evidence to support the hypothesis that predation risk can restrain the territorial activity and time allocation and that living in a high risk environment will facilitate utilization of burrows small mammals.


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An Improved Method for Isolation of Microsatellite DNA and Application in Red Panda(Ailurus fulgens)

YAN Li,LIU Zhijin,WEI Fuwen,LI Ming

2005, 25(4):  339-344. 

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Microsatellite loci have become one of the most popular molecular markers used in many genetics fields. However, it is crucial that polymorphic microsatellite loci need to be selected or isolated for the studied species at first. The task of microsatellite isolation can be quite involving in terms of effort and time because it traditionally consists of screening genomic libraries with appropriate probes. The number of positive clones that can be obtained by means of this traditional method usually ranges from 12% to less than 0.04%. Several new protocols, based on the "enrichment" protocol, have appeared in the last few years, which can increase the number of positive clone, but the high cost and complexity counteract their applicability. Thus, we proposed an economical and easy protocol, which was a combination and amelioration of different methods, based on "biotin ligated primer", "enrichment" and “PCR Screening” protocols. The main step involves: 1) Isolation and Digestion of the Genomic DNA, 2) Enrichment using the "biotin ligated primer", 3) Clone and Lib construction, 4) "PCR Screening", and 5) Primer design and Variability test. Using this new method, we have isolated and characterized 10 polymorphic (CA)n microsatellite loci in red panda (Ailurus fulgens), and these loci of high variability and stability will be useful in population genetic studies of red panda.

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A Survey of the Giant Panda Population and Habitats in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains

RAN Jianghong, ZENG Zongyong, WANG Hongjia, LIU Shaoying,FU Jianrong, LIU Shichang

2005, 25(4):  345-350. 

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The giant panda of the Xiaoxiangling Mountains are distributed in Shimian, Mianninng and Jiulong Counties. Their population size is one of the lowest among all mountain regions. The results of the 3rd Nationwide Giant Panda Census show that the total area of giant panda habitat in this region 802.04 km²，the population size of the giant panda is 32 individuals. There is panda habitats of 489.68 km² and 24 individuals in three Nature Reserves located in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains. Area of the panda habitats is 168.01km² and there are 6 individuals at the Sichuan Yele Nature Reserve of Mianning County. Area of the panda habitats is 306.38 km² and there 14 individuals at the Sichuan Liziping Nature Reserve of Shimian County. Area of the panda habitats is 15.19 km² and 1individual at the Sichuan Gonggashan Nature Reserve. The panda habitats inthe Xiaoxiangling Mountains are seriously fragmented. The giant panda population in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains has been separated into two parts by No. 108 National Highway from Chengdu to Kumning, and includes individuals from two other isolated insular areas, so that it is a metapopulation of the giant panda. The size of subpopulation A, located to the east of No. 108 National highway, is 13 with relatively intact habitats of 263.54 km². The size, of subpopulation B, located to the west of No. 108 National Highway, is 19 with fragment habitat of 538.50 km². Because of small population size and fragmentation of habitat in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains,
the giant panda population is severely endangered. So conservation of the panda population and their habitats in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains must be enhanced.


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Correlation Between Fecal Width and Average Length of Bamboo Stem Fragment of the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

ZHANG Zejun, YANG Xuyi,WU Hua,LI Ming, WEI Fuwen

2005, 25(4):  351-354. 

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A preliminary study on the correlation between fecal width and average length of bamboo stem fragments in feces of giant pandas was conducted in Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve. The distribution of fecal width of the giant panda is normal, and no significant difference was detected between bamboo-stem-fragment feces and leaf feces from the same individuals. Significant regression correlation exists between fecal width and average length of bamboo stem fragments in feces of the giant panda. Without age concerned, the regression equation between fecal with and average length of bamboo stem fragments is Y=0.38X+ 14.40. This regression equation， significantly different from that for the adult and subadult group (Y= 0.22 X+22.79). The results reported here has important significance for future census of wild giant panda population.


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Characteristics of Foraging Habitat of Goitred Gazells(Gazella subgutturosa sairensis) in Eastern Junggar Basin,Xinjiang

YANG Weikang,QIAO Jianfang,YAO Jun, GAO Xingyi

2005, 25(4):  355-360. 

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The goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) is endangered in China. This endangered status is due to the habitat loss and poaching. In order to document the characteristics of the foraging habitat of goitred gazelle, food habitat use by goitred gazelles was studied in eastern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China in May and September from 2001 to 2003. Two vegetation types were found there, distributed from south to north: (a) Anabasis salsa- Artemisia sp, (b) Stipa glareosa -Kochia prostrata. The piles of fresh feces and the tracks of gazelle were used as an index to indicate the intensity of use by gazelles in an area. At all feeding sites, a 10 m×10 m (100 m²) sampling quadrat was established at the center of the site, this was compared to a similar-sized quadrat randomly located 500 m away from feeding sites elsewhere in the study area. Variables recorded in the quadrat were total plant species richness, shrub species richness, herb species richness, vegetative cover, vegetative height, and plant phenology. Mann-Whitney U-tests and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for multivariate analysis of variables. In the southern portion of the study area, gazelles prefer shrub patches, which occur in the wadis and depressions with a greater percentage vegetative cover, plant species richness and vegetative height. The PCA analysis showed that plant species richness and vegetative cover are possibly the most important factors determining the foraging habitat use of goitred gazelle in the southern portion of the study area. In the shrub patchs, the goitred gazelle selected the succulent leaves of Corydalis glaucescens in order to get necessary water. In the northern portion of the study area, gazelles prefer the relatively well-vegetated consolidated and semi-consolidated dunes, which have a greater percentage vegetative cover, plant species richness, and vegetative height. On the sand dunes, Ephedra distachya, Kochia prostrata and Ceratoides lateens were browsed by gazelles. The PCA analysis showed that the coverage of Ephedra distachya, Kochia prostrat and Atraphaxis sp, and plant species richness are possibly the most important factors determining the foraging habitat use of goitred gazelle in the northern portion of the study area.

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Morphology and Food Particles Distribution of the Digestive Tract of Roe Deer during Winter

WANG Lijun, HONG Meiling,XIAO Xianghong; MA Jianzhang

2005, 25(4):  361-366. 

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14 roe deer(Capreolus capreolus) were shot in Xiaodong Forest Region of Tonghe County, Heilongjang Province during winter seasonof 1999. Morphological and structural features of digestive tracts were measured by anatomical methods, and food particles distribution in the digestive tracts were analyzed by a wet-sieving procedure. Therumen tissue weight accounted for 71.3士2.6% of total stomach, followed by abomasum (11.5 士2.2% ), omasum (9.7士 2.3% ) and reticulum (7.6士 0.9% ). The mostnumerous, best developed and largest papillae were found in the cranioventral floor of the atrium of the rumrn, and the papillary surface enlargement factor was significantly higher than other sampling sites (P< 0.05), the cranioventral floor of the atrium of the rumen is the one of most important digestive and absorptive sites. The reticulo-omasal orifice had an important role in controlling the food particles passing on to the lower digestive tract. The large-sized particles were reduced in size by rumination and microbial fermentation in the reticulo-rumen, the smaller particles produced eventually passed through the ceticulo-omasal orifice. The proportion of large-sized particles(>1.00 mm) was highest in reticulo-rumen (35.06士10.76%), which declined quickly in the lower digestive tract. The small-sized particles(<1.00 mm) increased significantly in omasum, abomasum and other lower digestive tract. 1.00 mm is the critical particle size for roe deer during winter. Roe deer is adapted to poor quality food nutrients during the winter season and the morphology of its digestive tract is geared to an adaptive strategy that increases capacity of food particles in reticulorumen and narrowed reticulo-omasal orifice to increase the retention time of fibrous digesta particles in the reticulorumen with a greater time for fermentation and comminution to better satisfy the seasonal energy requirement.


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Diet of Cynopterus sphinx and Rousettus leschenaulti in Xishuangbanna

TANG Zhanhui， SHENG Lianxi，CAO Min， LIANG Bing，ZHANG Shuyi

2005, 25(4):  367-372. 

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Cynopterus sphinx and Rousettus leschenaulti are two species of abundant and widely distributed pteropodid bats in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Both are frugivorous and frequently found coexisting in the same areas. Diet of C. sphinx and R. leschenaulti were studied from the beginning of June, 2004 to the end of December, 2004 in Xishuangbanna using field survey, gleaning, feces analysing and seed germination. We also used mist net to catch bats around their feeding roosts in order to identify species of bats and obtain fecal samples to identify food item they fed on. We found fruits of 18 plant species of 11 families and leaves of 2 plant species of 2 families were used by C. sphinx and fruits of 12 plant species of 9 families and leaf of 1 plant species of 1 families were used by R. leschenaultia. They mainly fed on fruits and only leaves of 2 plant species were found. These two species were sympatric and dietary overlap between them was relatively high in rain season (June－ October), and 65% of the plant species recorded were used by these two species of bats in this season. In dry season (November－December), R. leschenaulti exploiteded food resources in other areas to avoid to competed with C. sphinx as quantity and species of food decreased.

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Morphological information and Taxonomy of Bedford's vole

LIU Shaoying, LIU Yang,SUN Zhiyu, FU Jianrong,CAI Yongshou, LEI Kaiming

2005, 25(4):  373-378. 

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Bedford's vole (Proedromys bedfordi) is a very rare rodent distributed in western Sichuan and southern Gansu province, People's Republic of China. At present, only three specimens have been collected. The taxonomic status of Bedford's vole has elicited controversy. Many zoologists put this species in Microtus. During a baseline survey of the Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve in 2003, 16 specimens of Bedford’s vole were collected. The skull, teeth, glans penis were studied. Results show that the third lower and upper molar of adults differ from those of juvenile voles. The upper incisor is very broad (>2.5 mm). The outcrop of the lower incisor is very short (<4.0 mm). The length of the lower incisor is only 77 % of length of the mandible. The third upper molar is very distinct; its tooth loop is sector-like or bean-like. Morphology of the glans penis is very distinct; its proximal baculum is flask-like. The distal base of the baculum is markedly enlarged. The overall outline of the skulls of Bedford's vole is significantly bent. Morphology of the upper jaw teeth of young Bedford's voles is narrow and strip-like. And the lower jaw teeth give the appearance of a contrary "E". All these characteristics of Bedford’s vole differ from species within other genera in the same family. For example, the upper incisors in these comparative species are much narrower (<2.44 mm). In addition, in comparative species the outcrop of lower incisors is longer (>4.5 mm), the length of the lower incisor exceeds 80% percent of the mandible, the outline of the skull is very flat, the base of the proximal baculum is rhombus or round, the distal baculum is stick-like, and the lateral baculum is ossified. The stark contrasts that are apparent in these comparisons clearly indicate that Bedford's vole belongs to a single genus: Proedromys

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Preliminary Study on Spatial Niches of Small Mammals in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve

WANG Yu，HU Jinchu，CHEN Limin，ZHANG Hanfeng, HU Zhongjun, XU Ling, XU Hongfa

2005, 25(4):  379-384. 

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We collected data on small mammal communities in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Sichuan, during April- November, 1989. Indices of niche breadth and niche overlap were calculated using both Shannon-Weiner and Cowell & Futuyma Niche Overlap Index formulae. Niche breadth indices of 14 species varied from 0 to 1. Niviventer niviventer had the highest index of the niche breadth (1.000) while Rattus nitidus, Soriculus hypsibius, Blarinella quadrticauda and Crocidura attenuata had the lowest index of the niche breadth (0.000). Niche overlap indices also varied from 0-1. The spatial niche of R. nitidus completely overlapped that of S. hypsibius and C. attenuata, The spatial niche of Niviventer fulvescens completely overlapped that of Larinella quadrticauda. Ochotona thibetana was completely separated from Niviventer fulvescens, Rattus nitidus, Eothenomys eva, Soriculus hypsibius,Blarinella quadrticauda, and Crocidura attenuata. Small mammals had two different ways to avoid over-competition: food separation and microhabitat specialization. Regression analysis showed that niche breadth index increased significantly with the average amount of space resource utilization (r = 0.8252, P < 0.05). The analysis of seasonal variation of the niche breadth index indicated that there was no significant difference in distribution of N. niviventer in different seasons. During the research period, the pattern of population variation of Apodmus draco and N. Andersonishowedone peak and two peaks for A. chevrieri annually.

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Fecal Progesterone and Estradiol Levels during Gestation and the Correlation to Parturition in Female Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens)

LI Chun,WEI Fuwen,HU Jinchu

2005, 25(4):  385-389. 

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This paper analyzed with the method of radioimmunoassays the fecal estradiol and progesterone concentrations and investigated the mating activity of six female red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) in Chengdu Zoo and Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda From March to August 2000. The findings indicate that fecal estradiol (E2) concentration of fertilized females declined to a basal level and fecal progesterone (P) concentration rose to 150ng/g after 30 days of pregnancy.. During pregnancy, fecal P concentration was more than 200ng/g and the peak of P concentration reaches over more than 500ng/g. Fecal P concentration of pseudo-pregnant female is normally no more than 150ng/g and the peak of P concentration is below 200ng/g. Fecal P concentration of the females decreases quickly half a month before bearing and maintains a basal level after parturition, while E2 increases slowly. The investigation and analysis show that the early diagnoses of pregnancy and pseudo-pregnancy, as well as forecasting of parturition, can be made by measuring the P and E2 concentrations in female red panda feces. Based on the behavioral observations and fecal steroid analysis, we have also found that the gestation period of red pandas is 123－128 days (x=124, n=5) and the bearing rate is 1.8/fetus (n=5).

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Successful Rearing of Twins by a Female Giant Panda in Captivity

HUANG Xiangming，ZHANG Zhihe，YU Jianqiu，YU Xinming，LAN Jinchao，LI Mingxi1 LIU Xuanzhen，Koji Imazu，Tatsuko Nakao

2005, 25(4):  390-394. 

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It is very difficult for the female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to simultaneously take care of twins in captivity. In 2003, MeiMei, who was sent to Japan for an international collaborative study, became the first female giant panda to successfully raise both of her twins. This article describes the successful mother-rearing of both infants. The main factors that contributed to this success were 1) MeiMei had a strong maternal instinct, and prolific experience to have reared her babies, these were very important for her to simultaneously take care of her twins, 2) adequate maternal nutrition, and a suitable rearing environment, and 3) human assistance. In addition, we compared the daily growth of the twins to the growth of MeiMei's cubs from 2000 and 2001. We discuss the implications these data have on rearing twins in captivity and how they can be used to increase twins' survival rate in captivity.

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The Temporal and Spatial Scales in Animal Habitat Selection Research

ZHANG Minghai,LI Yankuo

2005, 25(4):  395-401. 

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Spatial and temporal scale analysis has been an important concept and hot topic of study in ecology. However, sufficient attention has not been paid to this topic in the field of animal habitatselection. Habitat selection can be viewed as a hierarchical process, involving various levels of decision-making and a series of hierarchical ranks, and is severely restricted by temporal and spatial scales. Additionally, there are distinct characteristics and mechanisms at every level and scale. Temporally-dependent habitat selection behavior may be influenced by such factors as timing of the breeding season, social pressures, temporal environmental variability, and variability inananimal’s physiological needs over time; spatially-dependent habitat selection behavior may be influenced by such factors as patchy distribution of habitat resources and the interaction of various functional habitats. The scales employed by researchers in habitat selection studies may directly affect results of the research both in scientific value and practical value. This paper focuses on the characteristics of temporal-dependence and spatial-dependence in habitat selection, analyzes the significance of scale in the study of animal habitat selection, and reviews scales usually employed in habitat selection studies. Finally, the author emphasized emphasizes the necessity for multi-scale and long-term animal habitat selection studies and recommends that scale selection should be the starting point and foundation for habitat selection research.

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Status, Challenge and Prospect of Wild Giant Pandas

YAN Xun

2005, 25(4):  402-406. 

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Based on the third nationwide survey of the giant panda, the total of wild giant pandas is 1 596, and is confined in 44 counties of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. The total area of habitats summed up to 2 304 991ha. Compared to the second nationwide survey, the subsistence of wild giant pandas has been improved in recent years, which was represented by its wideness of distribution, improvement of the habitat quality and increase of total population size. The author pointed out that future conservation would confront great challenges, including from its own biological characteristics, habitat fragmentation and future fate of small isolated populations, and conflicts between giant panda protection and development of local community economics. The author also proposed the prospects for the future giant panda conservation as follows: the total of nature reserve related to the giant panda will be increased and its habitat will be improved; the population of wild giant pandas will gradually increase, but extinction rate of some local small populations will be accumulated; the captive giant panda population will become self-sustaining and the reintroduction of captive pandas will be implicated in the near future.

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Winter Food Habits of Wild Boars in Tonghe，Heilongjiang

WANG Wen，MA Jianzhang，LI Jian，WANG Zhiping

2005, 25(4):  407-409. 

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We studied winter food-habits of wild boars (Sus scrofa) by using micro-histological fecal analyses in combination with field surveys of feeding sign in the Wulong Hunting area of Tonghe, Heilongjiang, during the winters of 2000 and 2001. The major winter foods of wild boars included Pteridophytes and the fruits, branches and leaves of other plants. Equisetum hiemale was the main food and accounted for 41.7%. Other food components, such as Pinus koraiensis, Populus spp., Juglans mandshurica, Quercus mongolica, Padus asiatica, and Corylus heterophllaaccounted for 10.5%, 10.2%, 9.3%, 5.3%, 4.0%, and 4.0%, respectively. The concentrations of crude fat and crude protein of the food plants showed a peak in November, then decreased and became lowest in February, then increased slightly in March . The mean concentrations of crude fat and crude protein were 9.6% and 10.2%, respectively.

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Research on DNA Extraction from Old Faeces of Macaca thibetana

ZHAO Jianyuan,LI Jinhua,LIU Yang,YIN Huabao

2005, 25(4):  410-413. 

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Extracting DNA from faecal sample is a newly developed technology of recent years. Although several methods to extract DNA from faeces have been developed home and abroad, they addressed fresh samples and it is still blank in extracting DNA from old faeces yet. Extracting old faeces' DNA can make the full use of transfers out or the death animal's genetic information and expanding the application scope of Molecular Scatology. In this experiment two groups of faeces were launched into DNA extracting. One group had been preserved by absolute ethanol for 3 years and the other group had been preserved by absolute ethanol for half past 4 years. Aiming at the old faecal's characteristic of small number of cells and high degrading of DNA, several repetitions(4 tubes) were carried out at the same time in this experiment. Then 4 different DNA extracting methods (Preprocess-phenol/chloroform extraction method, Guanidine thiocyanate method, CTAB method, QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit, Qiagen) were followed. From these parallel methods and their corresponding results, we could get the best method while the possibility of extracting DNA from old faecal was studied. After DNA was dissolved in TE we got the original DNA. Finally we collected the original DNA from the 4 repetitions then purified and concentrated it by using DNA purification kit. In the end, the results of PCR amplification shows that only Preprocess-phenol/chloroform extraction method can extract enough DNA for PCR from two groups of faeces. In our study, we extracted DNA from old faeces successfully and got some genetic information from mtDNA. This result confirms the possibility of putting old faecal into molecular scatology study.

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Seasonal Variation of the Hair Structure in Red Deers (Cervus elaphus xanthopygus)

JIN Xin,ZHANG Wei,JIN Yu

2005, 25(4):  414-416. 

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The morphological characteristics of the winter hair and summer hair of northeast subspecies of red deer(Cervus elaphus xanthopygus), sampled from the buttock, upper part of hind leg, lower part of hind leg and site above hoof. The samples were dealt with one by one by using cuticular impression and made into cuticular impression plexiglass. The length, diameter, medullar diameter, medullar index, ratio of scale height to width of the hair were measured and calculated through micrometer. The results indicated that the structural characteristics and functions of hairs varied with the season and the sites where they were sampled. Parameters including hair length, diameter, medullar diameter and medullar index of winter hairs were larger than that of summer hairs. It indicated that the winter hair can reserve more air in the medulla than the summer hairs. The structure of the hair on the buttock was observed identity to those on the back and body-sides in our previous studies. So the results above suggested that the coat hair possess the function of thermal regulation. From the buttock to the far end of hind legs, the medullary diameter, medullary index and the ratio of scale height to width of the winter hair showed a trend of gradient descent, indicating that the mechanical strength of hair increased in this order to resist the mechanical injuries that were more frequently happened on far end of legs than the central body. These results above suggested that the hair differentiated to be poly-morphological to fit corresponding functions.