Table of Content

07 July 2008, Volume 22 Issue 2

Previous Issue    Next Issue

For Selected:

Download Citations EndNote Ris BibTeX

Toggle Thumbnails

Select

TIGER PREDATION ON LIVESTOCK IN GEDANG,MEDOG, SOUTHEAST TIBET

ZHANG Endi George B. Schaller Lv Zhi ZHANG Hong

2002, 22(2):  81-86. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (134KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Once the distribution of tigers ( Panthera tigris) extended throughout the broad-leaved forests of southeastern Tibet. These tigers are now extinct except for one remnant population in Medog County. From May to June 2000, a survey was conducted in Gedang Village ( Xiang in Chinese) , the only place in the county where losses of livestock to tigers are high. It was found that the amount of livestock killed was high in 1994 and 1995, but after that it dropped greatly, probably in part because one persistent livestock killer was shot in 1996. Between the early 1993 and late1990s, the xiang's cattle population dropped by 11 %. However, horses and mules increased by 23 % because more animals were bought elsewhere for use in transport. In 1999, the xiang lost 7.8 % of its cattle and 1.9 % of its horses to tiger predation. 4-5 tigers including a female with large cub was reported by local officials in the area that year. A total of 21 households were interviewed. Of these a household lost on average 0.8 cattle and 0.2 horses during the previous 12 months ; nine households had no losses. One reason that tigers are tempted by livestock is lack of sufficient wild prey. Widespread illegal hunting has greatly reduced tiger's principal prey population such as wild pig , takin, red goral, and mutjacs. Until recovery of wildlife populations, an effort must be made to reduce tiger predation on livestock. Conservation recommendations were as follows: (1) Villagers should herd and guard their animals cooperatively instead of permitting livestock to wander untended. (2) Overgrown abandoned fields, slopes covered with tall bracken fern, and thickets near villages should be cleared and converted to open pastures, with some of themfenced, to remove cover in which tigers can hide, and (3) Some animals could also be housed in stalls, especially in winter when much of the predation occurs.


Select

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON ACTIVE PATTERNS DURING SUMMER, AUTUMN AND WINTER SEASONS

MENG Xiuxiang 　YANG Qisen 　FENG Zuojian 　XIA Lin WANG Peimin 　J IANG Yingwen 　BAI Zhengqing 　LI Guolin

2002, 22(2):  87-97. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (147KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics


This preliminary studies on active patterns of captive alpine musk deer ( Moschus sifanicus) was conducted between June 2000 and January 2001 at Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve , Gansu Province of China1 The sampling population was 46, some of which were captured from wild at different stages , and some were born by captured deer. Four behaviors such as standing and locomotion (SL), feeding (FE) , ruminating (RU) and bedding (BE) were observed with the method of scanning sampling at intervals of 30 minutes. The scan observing was conducted with the binoculars of 10 ×50. The data of the behavioral emergency ratio was sorted by three seasons (summer, autumn, winter) and two periods (day time , night). The test of Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann - Whitney were used to analyze data. Our work showed that the daily active peaks of musk deer occurred in different patterns. There were different active peaks among seasons : dawn , dusk and midnight in summer; noon , dusk and midnight in autumn; noon、midnight in winter, and the midnight active peak was in common. In general , the musk deer was more active in darkness than in daytime in all three seasons , consequently , the active of alpine musk deer should belong to crepuscular pattern biased to be more active in night. In one season , there was significant difference between daytime and night time, which was resulted from environmental temperatures. In conclusion , the seasonal active pattern of the captive alpine musk deer is an evolution stable strategy (ESS) to the environmental temperature.

.

Select

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CHINESE WATER DEER ( HYDROPOTES INERMIS) IN ZHOUSHAN ARCHIPELAGO,ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA

GUO Guangpu ZHANG Endi

2002, 22(2):  98-107. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (139KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

A survey was conducted on the distribution of the Chinese water deer ( Hydropotes inermis) on 25 islands of Zhoushan Archipelago from July 1999 to June 20001Results showed that the Chinese water deer distributes between 121°50′- 122°24′E and 29°40′- 30°26′N in Zhoushan1They are mainly located in the southwest of the area.Large islands have a higher percentage of distribution , e.g., islands larger than 10 km² than those small ones. So do those smaller islets around larger islands , i.e., in the 5 islets surveyed that are within 3 km from Zhoushan main island are all have water deer1The number of islands that the deer distributed declines with increase of the distance from the mainland and main island. The deer usually dwell on hills but come to the hill foot and plain to feed at night; There are 21.43 % of the islands that human resides have the deer. The major factors that affect the distribution of the deer are the distances from the mainland and the main island , the size of islands , and human activities especially poaching. Our results showed that the shape of the island is not related with deer's distribution in Zhoushan area. The deer could move or migrate between islets thus affect the distribution locally , and the distribution was also affected by geological movements and other environmental factors.


Select

INFLUENCE OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION ON THE WINTER MAMMALS′ABUNDANCE IN A TEMPERATE FOREST

Shin - Jae RHIM　Woo - Shin LEE

2002, 22(2):  108-115. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (116KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Tracks of 9 species of mammals , Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) , yellow-throated martens(Martes flavigula) , Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) , Bengal cats ( Felis bengalensis) , wild boars ( Sus scrofa) , water deer ( Hydropotes inermis) , roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus) , Korean hares ( Lepus coreanus) and red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris) were recorded on the snow on eight 2 km transects in forests with similar vegetation features , but within fragmented and unfragmented landscapes in Mt. Chirisan National Park , Korea , from 1997 to 1999. All eight study sites have generally similar vegetation characteristics despite lying within a larger matrix of two different landscapes1 Nonetheless , there were significantly differences in density of snags , stems 6 - 10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh), stem > 50 cm dbh, canopy cover, and shrub coverage between fragmented and unfragmented forests. Nine species of mammals were recorded among 8 study sites in this snow tracking during 3 years. Significant differences were formed density between fragmented and unfragmented forests for 5 mammal species ; the others were evenly distributed. Of the 9 mammal species analyzed , 6 species exhibited one or more significant correlations with the landscape or vegetation variables in a stepwise multiple regression. Simple correlations between the abundance of snow tracks and the vegetation structure have limited value if not put into a local and regional habitat context. Distributions and dynamics of mammals in landscapes with fragmented and unfragmented forests ought to be examined more closely.


Select

THE REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS IN THE MARKED POPULATIONS OF BRANDT’S VOLE

WAN Xinrong 　WANGMengjun 　WANG Guanghe 　LIU Wei 　ZHONGWenqin

2002, 22(2):  116-122. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (97KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Marking-recapture and directly sighting techniques were used to census wild populations of Brandt's vole (Microtus brandti) in the typical steppe in the Inner Mongolian grassland. The reproductive parameters were analyzed based on absolute age. Results revealed that males born in April and May can reach sexual maturation at about 1.5 month old, while males born in June, July, and August cannot reach sexual maturation in current year. However, only a part of matured-newborn males can remain sexual active status, while over-winter males remain sexual maturation across the whole breeding season. Current analysis also detected that females born in April, May, and June can reach sexual maturation at about 1 month old and firstly breed at about 2 month old, and females born in July and August can not breed in current year. The number of litters that a female can breed in current year is related with its age: over-winter voles can breed 3 - 4 litters , and those born in April , May , and June can breed 2 - 3, 1 - 2, and 0 - 1 litter (s) in current year, respectively. A female can breed 4 litters, as a maximum number, during its life under filed condition.


Select

THE EFFECTS OF COLD-ACCLIMATION ON THE METABOLISM OF ENERGY IN TUPAIA BELANGERI

ZHANG Wuxian 　WANG Zhengkun 　XU Weijiang 　YAO Zheng 　NIAN Yongkun

2002, 22(2):  123-129. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (120KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

The metabolism of energy was determined in tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri) under cold acclimation condition at 5 ±1 ℃. After 28 d of cold-acclimation , as compared to the control group, the body weight and energy metabolism of the tree shrews were significantly increased, i.e., 7.33 % in body weight; 4.98 % in caloric value of body reaching 30.47 ±0.46 J / g ( N = 8) ; 36.17 % in consumption ; 66.2 % in assimilation; 4.85 % in productive energy reaching 6.98 ±0.53 kJ / 100 g ( N = 7) body weight·day ; 64.0 % in maintenance energy reaching 352.96 ±28.34 kJ / 100 g body weight·day ( N = 7). The results indicated that tree shrews enhanced the capacity of adaptation to cold temperatures by increasing their body weight, consumption, energy intake, maintenance energy, assimilation and productive energy while decreasing physiological mechanisms such as excretion in faeces and urine under cold stress environment. In this way they could maintain the balance in their energy metabolism.


Select

REARING OF CETACEANS IN CAPTIVITY IN CHINA

LIU Renjun 　WANG Kexiong 　ZHAO Qingzhong

2002, 22(2):  130-135. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (87KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

In 1965, Qingdao Museum of Marine Products first tried to rear Neophocaena phocaenoides and Tursiops truncatus in captivity in China. The Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) was first successfully reared in captivity in 1980 at the Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1995, several dolphinariums or aquariums were established with dolphin shows in Qingdao, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Since then, many cities built their own dolphinariums or aquariums, and the scales have become bigger and more modern. With the introduction of foreign capital and techniques, the techniques for rearing dolphins in captivity in China are keeping pace with the world advanced standard quickly. Due to its too fast in development and irrational distribution, it is necessary to study and investigate carefully in the rearing of dolphins in captivity in China so that it can have a healthy and orderly development.


Select

MECHANISMS AND THE EVOLUTION OF FEMALE MULTIPLE MATING BEHAVIOR

LIU Xiaoming 　LI Ming 　WEI Fuwen

2002, 22(2):  136-143. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (163KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Females cannot produce more offspring than the number of their eggs. herefore, from the theoretical perspective, one or a few matings are sufficient for females to fertilize all eggs and maximize their potential reproductive abilities for one estrus period. Contrary to the prediction, however, females of many animal species often mate multiply with a single male or more males. Because mating often carries relatively high cost, it is difficult to understand why females mate multiply. Adaptive and non-adaptive hypotheses to explaining female multiple mating are reviewed in the paper. Adaptive hypotheses are separated into two parts: obtaining both direct benefits and 'indirect (genetic) benefits' from mating partners. Direct benefits may take the form of courtship feeding , nuptial gifts, fertilization assurance, paternal care, stimulation of reproduction and female of guarding of mating right with males. Specifically, this review emphasizes on discussing the three hypotheses on genetic benefits, i. e. 1 acquisition of good genes, increased genetic diversity within clutches, and genetic compatibility. Two non-adaptive hypotheses such as the genetic related and compliance with male behavior are also discussed.

Select

THE BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBTERRANEAN RODENTS AND THEIR ROLES IN ECOSYSTEM

ZHANG Yanming LIU Jike

2002, 22(2):  144-153. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (118KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

The modifications of ecosystem structure, function and hemical defense of plant dealing with the underground grazing of subterranean rodents were focused in this paper. Their biological characteristics in different areas were reviewed. The relationships among subterranean rodents, soil, vegetation, and other mammals were discussed and the potential strategies of plant defense and feedback to global change were explored. Subterranean rodents would cause dramatic changes in ecosystem structures and functions because of their articularityin life style, behavior and population structure in nature. With the physical environments of soil being intensively altered by their underground excavating in spacial and temporal scales, the type, development, nutrition availability and microgeography. The underground grazing directly caused many character changes of plants in morphology and life history, leading to the obvious differences such as population abundance, interspecific competition, vegetation , species diversity, biomass and community structure. The strategies of plant defense in community had distinct chemical defense properties. Subterranean rodents were closely connected with other herbivorous mammals in interspecific competition , especially in spatial availability. They were important food resources for other carnivores in food web. In short, the effects of subterranean rodents on the biochemistry process, which contained ecosystem productivity, spatial heterogeneity, nutrition structure and cycling, carbon deposition and trace gas releasing were so intensive that were essential and unsubstitutable in nature.


Select

THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN FEMALE MUSK DEER AND ITS INFLUENCE ON OFFSPRING′S SURVIVAL

XU Zhengqiang XU Hongfa

2002, 22(2):  155-158. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (85KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics

Select

STUDY ON FATNESS OF MACACA MULATTA IN TAIHANG MOUNTAINS

HOU Jinhuai LU Jiqi QIAN Weixing QU Wenyuan

2002, 22(2):  159-160. 

Asbtract ( )   PDF (77KB) ( )  

Related Articles | Metrics