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Table of Content

    07 July 2008, Volume 22 Issue 1
    DISTRIBUTION, NUMBERS AND CONSERVATION OF MONGOLIAN WILD ASS ( EQUUS HEMIONUS HEMIONUS) IN WEST INNER MONGOLIA
    LI Chunwang JIANG Zhigang ZHOU Jiadi ZENG Yan
    2002, 22(1):  1-6. 
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    From mid-July to early August 2000 , a large herds of Mongolian wild ass emigrated from Republic of Mongolia into Wulate Zhongqi and Wulate Houqi of Bayannaor League in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region , China. We investigated the distribution range , population size and current conservation status of Mongolian wild ass in September 2000. The southern border of the distribution region of the wild ass ranged from Dundewusu village of Wulate Zhongqi (42°17′N , 108°30′E) to the west of Wulijitu village of Wulate Houqi (42°08′N , 106°36′E) . The national boundary between China and Mongolia is the northern border of the current range of the wild ass. The current distribution area of the wild ass is 5 380 km2 , and the estimated total numbers of Mongolian wild ass is 11 400 according to the belt transects method. The current distribution of Mongolian wild ass in the region is still not quite stable. High density of wild ass , frequent human activities , limited pastures , and poaching are the main factors to threat their survival in the region.
    DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION SIZE OF YANGTZE FINLESS PORPOISE IN POYANGLAKE AND ITS BRANCHES
    XIAO Wen ZHANG Xianfeng
    2002, 22(1):  7-14. 
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    Four surveys , roughly representing four seasons of the year , were taken from November 1997 through November 1998 with totally about 120 days1 Population size of Yangtze finless porpoise , Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis , and its seasonal changing , distribution , behavior , habitat , impacts by human activities , etc. , have been studied in Poyang Lake and its main branches in this study. Main distribution areas were in the open lake , and lower reaches of its main branches , such as Ganjiang River , Xinjiang River , Fuhe River , etc. , and their estuaries. Estimated population sizes of the porpoise in the lake , including its main branches , were 91 in winter , 431 in spring , and 260 in autumn respectively during the year. Namely , its population size was estimated roughly between 100 and 400. The population dynamic varied in different seasons , water levels , and fish resources.
    QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE HABITAT SELECTION BY PROCAPRA PREZWALSKII
    LIU Bingwan JIANG Zhigang
    2002, 22(1):  15-21. 
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    Habitat selection by Procapra przewalskii was studied from August 1998 to August 1999 in the Hudong -Ketu region ,Qinghai province , China. We set out transects of about 30 km long in the ecotone of the Hudong - Ketu desert and carried out field surveys along those transects. During our field surveys , we found 582 Prezwalski's gazelles.We recorded the probability of Procapra prezwalskii using a specific habitat and the habitat parameters such as vegetation type , food abundance , pasture fence , shelter condition , human disturbance , distance from road , distance from sandbank , distance from agricultural land during the field investigations. The information was used to establish mathematical model to forecast gazelles visiting probabilities to those habitats1 These habitat factors were divided into three ranks and analyzed by using the multiple regressions. Based on the analyses , we concluded : (1) Among the eight ecological factors , the pasture fence and the human disturbance were the two main factors that influenced the habitat selection by Procapra prezwalskii ; (2) Food abundance , distance from sandbank or the distance from the agricultural land were ranked as the secondary factors that influenced habitat selection by Procapra prezwalskii ; and (3) Vegetation type , shelter condition , especially a new road had little influence on the habitat selection by Procapra prezwalskii.
    EFFECTS OF SILVER FOX ODOR ON BREEDING AND FORAGING OF ROOT VOLES
    WANG Zhenlong LIU Jike
    2002, 22(1):  22-29. 
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    Predation has long been implicated as a major selective force in the evolution of several morphological and behavioral characteristics of animals. This study aims to determine experimentally how indirect cues of mustelids affect the social behavior , foraging , reproduction and sexual hormones of root voles ( Microtus oeconomus). We predict that delayed breeding and changed mating behavior presented with Silver fox , Mustila eversmanni predation risk occur in root voles. Further , we discuss the possible ultimate and proximate cause behind delayed breeding.
    We carried out the study at Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology , the Chinese Academy of Science , during April-December 1997. We caught voles and Silver fox for experiment in the site of Haibei Alphine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station of Chinese Academy of Science which located northwest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with (37°29′- 37°45′N , 101°12′- 101°23′E) .
    The animals were housed in clear plastic cages (29 cm ×19 cm ×13 cm) and maintained in a 12:12 h light/dark photoperiod and in 20 ±1 ℃temperature.
    We carry out 18 days experiments in two main arenas (first three days) and in breeding cages (15 days thereafter) situated indoors. The 40 cm×40 cm ×40 cm arenas were made of Plexiglas.
    The study consisted of 34 (17 experimental and 17 control) experiments with female - male pairs of voles. We examined the mating and foraging behavior (the frequency and amount of food eaten in grams) during the first three days of the study. Then we transferred the voles pairs to breeding cages where the breeding experiments continued. We offered water , Purina rabbit chow , and carrot to the voles ad libitum throughout the experiment1 On the 18th day , the voles were killed and weighted , and the reproductive stage of females , the weight of female ovaries , the litter size , the sperm count , and the weight of the male testes and epididymis were measured.
    We sprayed the sawdust in the experimental arenas with predator odor daily during the study1 The odor was a filtered dilution of urine and feces of Silver fox1 We sprayed the control arenas daily with distilled water.
    We observed the pairs in behavior arenas to study the effects of Silver fox odor on the behavior of voles. Each behavior observation lasted for 40 min. We recorded the following activates (as in Esa and Yl onen , 1995) : general activate , amicable interactions , aggressive behavior , self-grooming , investigating behavior , and copulatory behavior.We counted the frequencies and total time of all variables.
    After the behavioral observation period , we removed each pair from the arenas to breeding cages for foraging trails of voles. We recorded the amount of Purina rabbit chew in grams. Then the voles were removed to the breeding cages for 15-day breeding trial.
    We found that 82 % paired root voles delayed breeding and significantly lowered the frequency of the general activity , investigating , self2grooming , and copulatory behavior after being exposed to Silver fox odor. Comparing with the control , the total time of general activity in both sexes and amicable behavior of females increased under Silver fox odor. The total time of attacking behavior and amicable interactions of females , self2grooming of males decreased significantly. The ovary index and litter weight decreased in females , whereas in males the sperm count in epididymis decreased significantly1 The progesterone in the blood serum of females were increased significantly under fitch odor1
    A MODEL AND TESTS OF ITS MECHANISM OF FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE
    TAO Shuanglun LIU Jike DU Yurong LI Junnian MA Jianbing
    2002, 22(1):  30-38. 
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    Type-Ⅱfunctional responses are frequently observed in mammalian herbivores feeding in patches where plants are concentrated in space. In the patches of fresh alfalfa ( Medicago satival) leaves , we devised leaf biomass density by changing leaf size to measured and the patterns and to tested the mechanism of the set of alfalfa leaf variables influencing on instantaneous intake rates of root voles(Microtus oeconomus) . Alfalfa leaf size could control the intake rates of root voles through regulating bite size. There was an asymptotic functional relationship between bite size of root voles and their intake rates , which belonged to a type-Ⅱfunctional response with a non-linear regression equation I = 0.094 S/ (0.001 + S) . With the increase and the decrease in the cropping rate , there was a relationship of non-linear decreasing with a non-linear regression equation B = 0.095/ (0.001 + S) . The observed and predicted maximum handling rates of root voles consuming alfalfa leaves were quite similar , and the regression of the observed and predicted intake rates was significantly different ( P < 0.01) . These results fully indicated that (a) the hypothesis of the competition between mammalian herbivores cropping and chewing can regulate cropping rates and intake rates , and (b) the model of type-Ⅱfunctional responses can effectively predict the intake rates of small mammalian herbivores.
    EFFICACY STUDIES OF BROMADIOLONE AND SODIUM SALICYLATE AS SYNERGIST
    CHEN Xiaoda ZHANG Xuewu HU Zhonglang LI Fuhe ZHOU Qinzhong
    2002, 22(1):  39-45. 
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    A selection of pesticides to control Gansu zokor ( Myospalax cansus) was carried out in forests of northwest Shaanxi province.Results showed that bromadiolone was the best among chemicals chosen in controlling Gansu zokor with lower cost and higher lethal efficacy. With the addition of synergist sodium salicylate , the lethal efficacy was enhanced by causing internal haemorrhage. Thus , the chemical dosage could be reduced with the savings in baits and the pesticide leading to lower cost1For the best results in controlling Gansu zokor in forest areas was to stick a hole on the top of each zokor burrow and insert a 10 g bait with 0.005 % bromadiolone mixed with wheat grains.
    A REVIEW OF THE PHYLOGENETIC STUDY ON THE GENUS APODEMUS OF CHINA
    LIU Xiaoming WEI Fuwen LI Ming FENG Zuojian
    2002, 22(1):  46-52. 
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    Species of field mice (genus Apodemus) are widely distributed in Europe , Asia and many nearby islands. Since molecular biological techniques are applied in the phylogeny of the genus Apodemus , many excellent results have been achieved especially in recent few years. But the phylogeny and the taxonomy of this genus remain controversial.The new progresses as well as some different opinions are reviewed. The authors also list Chinese species of field mice (genus Apodemus). And some suggestions about further systematic study are briefly mentioned in the paper.
    INFLUENCING FACTORS ON BASAL METABOLIC RATE IN MAMMALS
    SONG Zhigang WANG Dehua
    2002, 22(1):  53-60. 
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    The factors influencing basal metabolic rate (BMR) of mammals were reviewed. They include body size ,phylogeny , food habits , climate , season , habits and activities , and reproduction. They also include sub-organism characteristics such as hormone , active organs , mitochondrial density and proton leak. The possible mechanisms were analysed as well.
    ANALYSES ON THE FUNDS SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA IN MAMMALOGY
    LIU Dingzhen MA Yiqing DU Shengming
    2002, 22(1):  61-70. 
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    The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has supported many projects on mammalogy since its inception in 1986 , yet the detailed information of the supports and its impact on the development of mammalogy of China remained unknown. To reveal these information , both the numbers and amount of funds for projects concerning mammalogy supported by the Department of Life Science , NSFC , since 1986 were statistically analyzed. All the projects including general programs , key programs , major programs and other special funds such as the National Natural Science Fund for distinguished young scholars and various special funds such as projects for developing regions and programs in high technology were analyzed. The results showed that 131 projects (21.98 % of the total) and 13.619 million Yuan RMB (29.60 %of the total) were used to support the basic research in mammalogy in zoological subject while 49 projects and 5.368 million Yuan RMB (7.47 % and 7.09 % of the total , respectively) were granted in mammalogy in ecological subject. There were also 39 projects with 3.111 million yuan RMB grants in genetics to be used in mammal genetics. The funding for the discipline of zoology was one of the most important supports for basic research in mammalogy in China , and the increases in number and amount of funds in ecology and animal-genetics indicated a trend of interdisciplinary with the combination of mammalogy , ecology and genetics. The branches of two disciplines of zoology and ecology were further analyzed and the impact of NSFC funding on the developmental trends of mammalogy were also discussed.
    BALANCED TRIAL OF DIFFERENT RATIO OF DIETAY ROUGHAGE IN SUB2ADULT GIANT PANDAS
    WANG Aimin ZHANG Guiquan
    2002, 22(1):  71-73. 
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    NEW RECORD OF BATS FROM : RHINOLOPHUS PARADOXOLOPHUS
    ZHAO Huihua ZHANG Shuyi ZHOU Jiang LIU Zimin
    2002, 22(1):  74-76. 
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    AGE IDENTIFICATION AND STRUCTURE OF RHOMBOMYS OPIMUS POPULATION
    ZHAO Tianbiao ZHANG Zhongbing ZHANG Chunfu QI Lin WU Jianping
    2002, 22(1):  77-80. 
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