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07 July 2008, Volume 19 Issue 4

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STUDIES ON FOREST MUSK DEER AND ALPINE MUSK DEER USING RANDOM AMPLIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD)

BAO Huifang,XU Hongfa,LU Houji

1999, 19(4):  241-246. 

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Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA(RAPD) was employed to screen the genetic markers in Forest musk deer and Alpine musk deer. About 168 RAPD markers were generated in each individual with 42 primers,5 special markers were found in Forest musk deer and Alpine musk deer respectively, and also 3 individual special markers were generated，these can be used to identify species or individuals. The average genetic distances in Forest musk deer and Alpine musk deer and between them were 0.124±0. 023、0.105±0.013、0.241±0.02，respectively. The results indicated that the difference detected by proportion of shared fragments between the species was obviously larger than those within a species.The population of Alpine musk deer need new individuals from different populations to avoid inbreeding depression.

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STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FOOD HABITS AND TRACE ELEMENTS OF FOOD OF GIANT PANDA IN MABIAN DAFENGDING NATURAL RESERVE

ZHOU Caiquan,REN Liping,HU Jinchu

1999, 19(4):  247-253. 

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Having followed giant panda's tracks and investigated the feeding behaviors in Mabian Natural Reserve from May to August,1991,July to August,1992,April to July and September to October 1992,the authors sampled randomly all kinds of bamboos and panda s fresh droppings according to different seasons. After staving these samples, the authors determined and analyzed 7 kinds of trace elements in them. The authors think that the intake of amounts of all elements or one special element is different in different period and the selection for trace elements is achieved by the selection for different recipes (i.e. giant pandas change their food habits in order to select the elements which they demand).The selection is caused by different physiological action in different period，especially, the reproduction action.

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INFLUENCE OF PREDATION RISK ON SELECTION OF FOOD SIZES FOR PLATEAU PIKAS

BIAN Jianghui,ZHOU Wenyang

1999, 19(4):  254-261. 

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The patterns of selection of food sizes for plateau pikas under predation risk circumstances were demonstrated. Risk of predation was manipulated by introducing predator Mustela eversmnni to experimental box in the laboratory. Food items were divided into four types based on their sizes. Intake rates and time spent on handling individual of food items were measured. The results show both of them significantly increase as sizes of food increase (F_{3, 45}=3. 45,P<0. 01; F_3,59=6.45,P<0.01).When we match the largest food item with other smaller food items respectively and present matched food items to plateau pikas, the patterns of selection for food items change as the current environment change. Under risky environment, rates of use for smaller food items which are lower intake rates and are beneficial to defend predator increase with decrease in sizes of the food (F_1,55= 6.81,P<0. 05),reflecting the trade-off between gaining energy and avoiding risk of predation. These results suggest that the predicate of optimal diet theory is not expected when plateau pikas feed under risky circumstance.

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A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF EFFECTS OF ESTRADIOL ON FLANK GLANDS IN RATLIKE HAMSTERS (CRICETULUS TRITON)

ZHANG Jianxu,WANG Zuwang,ZHANG Zhibin

1999, 19(4):  262-274. 

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The effects of estradiol on the size and secretion chemistry of flank glands in female ratlike hamsters (Cricetulus triton) were studied. By surgical procedure and hormone replacement，three groups of hamsters being different in reproductive status were formed，which were ovariectomized (OF),intact (IF) and overiectomized plus estradiol cap sides females(OEF).From OF to OEF, blood levels of estradiol determined by radioimmunoassay was getting higher (P<0.01),while the weight, length, width and thickness of flank glands were getting less(P<0.05 or P<0.01) by groups. Gas chromatography was usedto measure the differences in flank gland secretions among three groups of hamsters.It was found that there were qualitative and quantitative changes among chemical compounds of flank gland secretions of three groups. Some compounds have a decrease in quantity from OF to 0EF，and less and less compounds were detected from OF to OEF.The results evidenced that estradiol can inhibit both size and secretion activity of flank glands.

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COMPARATIVE POPULATION ECOLOGY OF RODENTS IN CROPLAND OF THE WESTERN SICHUAN PLAIN I. POPULATION DYNAMICS AND REPRODUCTION

YAN G Yuemin,ZENG Zongyong,DENG Xiaozhong,LUO Mingshu,LIANG Junshu,XIE Rongkai

1999, 19(4):  267-275. 

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Mark-recapture experiment in the Western Sichuan Plain provided data on population density, biomass and reproduction of Rattus nitidus, Rattus norvegicus, Rattus niviventer and Rattus flavipectus.The differences in population density,biomass and frequency of appearance suggested that R.. nitidus is the dominant species, R.norvegicus and R.. niviventer are common species, and R.flavipectus is rare species in the rodent community. With the highest seasonality index andlowest coefficient of variation, R.nitidus shows the mostsignificantseasonal pattern, and the lowest fluctuation in population density and biomass. In contrast, R.flavipectu, shows the highest fluctuation andnosignificantseasonal pattern. The dominantspecies can reproduce inmost months, the reproduction of rare species confine in few months, common species have more reproductive potential than other species. The dynamics and reproduction of rodents in same communityshow some extent diversity among dominant, common and rare species, for coexistence to use the resources in same habitat.

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THERMOGENIC CHARACTERISTICS AND BODY TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN THE ORIENTAL VOLES(EOTHENOMYS MILETUS)

WANG Zhengkun,LIU Lu,LIANG Ziqing,LI Qingfen,SUN Ruyong

1999, 19(4):  276-286. 

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The oriental voles (Eothenomys miletus)is a typical species inhabiting Hengduan mountains region of Yunnan Province. In our paper，we interested in the characteristics of thermoregulation, including the feathers of heat production at individual level, the biochemical mechanisms in liver and brown adipose tissue (BAT).The body temperature (T_b) at room temperature(16.0-24.8℃) was 35.9±0.37℃(N=99), Its T_b was on1y stable in 15-30℃ approximately. When the ambient temperature reached 32.5℃, the animals were hyperthermal obviously. The thermal neutral zone (TNZ) was from 25℃ to30℃, and the minimum resting metabolic rate (BMR) was 2.71±0.18 ml O₂/ g. h, which was 213. 2±10.3% of previous predicted body mass. At the ambient temperature below 27.5℃, there was a negative relationship between RMR and T_a，which was be described: RMR= 6.473–0.145 T_a ( T_a : 5-27. 5℃;r=-0.848, P<0.001;N = 74). The average minimum thermal conductance(Cm)was 0.23士0.01 ml O₂/ g. h. ℃,which was 141.7±0.6% of previous predicted by body mass. When the T_a was below 30℃, Cm increased slowly with T_a increasing, and the relationship of Cm and T_a was as follows: Cm =0. 1219±0.0078T_a (T_a: 5-27.5℃;r=–0.7216;P < 0. 0001，N = 74). When T_a was above 30℃, Cm increased strikingly. The consumption of oxygen induced by noradrenaline(NE) injected was 5.18±0.01 ml O₂/ g. h (N=11;T_a=25 ℃.The liver mass was 2.11±0.25 g, Liver/ BW×100% was 5.3%(N=11), the total and mitochondrial protein content were 76±3.8 and 20. 5±1.9 mg/g, respectively. The activity of cytochrome C oxidase(COX) in mitochondria was 88.5±8.4 (ng O atom/ mg mit. protein min).The BAT mass was 0.33±0.05 g BAT/BW×100% was 0.84%(N=11)，the total and mitochondrial protein content were 31.5士1.4 and 18.8±0.05 mg/g respectively; The activity of cytochrome C oxidase(COX) in mitochondria was 1731.6±146 (ng O atom/ mg mit. protein min).The mitochondrial respirations of state Ⅳ was 76.43±1.6(ng O atom/ mg mit. protein min).In conclusion that the high level of RMR and NSTmax in the voles were related with adapting to altitude environments; the thermogenical capacity of liver was the main factor resulting in its RMR increasing.

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FAMILIARITY AND MATE CHOICES OF FEMALE AND MALE ROOT VOLES(MICROTUS OECONOMUS) IN FEMALE NATURAL ESTRUS

ZHAO Yajun,FANG Jiming,SUN Ruyong

1999, 19(4):  287-297. 

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Many behavioral experiments compared monogamous species with polygamous one in microtine rodents show that the mating systems are associated with mate choice among individuals，and a major component determining nature of the sexual selection is familiarity between males and females. The long- and short-term effects of familiarity on both sexes’ mate choices of root voles (Microcus oeconomus) was examined by three kinds of laboratory experiments. They were mate preference of the experimental root voles for the familiar versus the unfamiliar，the partner versus the unfamiliar and the partner versus the familiar stimulus ones. Familiarity was established by housing amale with an unrelated female in a plastic breedingcage for 8 h each day until they were found todisplay sexual behaviors. Partnership referred as the relationship between a pair of male and female having bred at least one litter of offspring. During 30 min trial, two stimulus voles were tethered in two choice chambers of a Y-shaped maze respectively，while the experimental vole was allowed to enter either of the two choice chambers from the central arena. The experimental vole was scored for duration and frequency of visit，social-investigation, copulatory behavior, aggression and amiability with each stimulus vole. Behavioral comparison between the two stimulus voles was achieved by a Wilcoxon matched-pairs test. The results showed that the females preferred the familiar rather than unfamiliar males, the partner rather than unfamiliar males, the partner rather than familiar males in the social behaviors except for copulatory behavior with no significant level. However, the males made no a preference for the familiar versus the novel females，nor the partner versus the novel females. These data suggested that female preference for familiar males and males having nomate choice between familiar and strange females may be proximate behavioral processes underlying traits in mating system of root voles. Thus, female mating monogamously and male non-monogamously can be explained by the hypothesis that the mating system could be polygynous in root voles.

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IMPACT OF HIGH TEMPERATURE IN SUMMER AND THE MIGRATION FORCED BY FLOOD ON THE BREEDING OF MICROTUS FORTIS IN DONGTING AKE AREA

GUO Cong,ZHANG Meiwen,WANG Yong,LI Bo,CHEN Anguo

1999, 19(4):  298-307. 

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The Yangtse voles (M. fortis) colonize the beach of Dongting lake area (28º13'-29º55'N，111º11'-113º43'E) from early autumn to spring when the water level is low and migrate to farmlands during the flood season (from May to June).The Yangtze voles have a high breeding potential during autumn to spring when they inhabit on the lake beach, but the breeding rate largely declines after they move to farmland. It was found that following the migration the testes of males became smaller，and also the pregnant rate of females declined. This makes the breeding rate of the animal's declines to lowest level in June and Ju1y. Our studies by field observations and laboratory experiments show that the temperature and light cycle in summer in Dongting Lake region depress the breeding of Yangtse voles. This is opposite to the most ofMicrotus species that live at high latitudes (above 35ºN).The physical stress of the animals from migration during the flood reinforces the influence.

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COMPARISONS OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION ON MASTICATORY APPARATUS BETWEEN MANDARIN VOLES AND COMMON CHINESE ZOKORS

LI Xiaochen,WANG Tingzheng

1999, 19(4):  308-314. 

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The anatomy of the masticatory apparatus, movement pattern of mandible and masticatory efficiencies of cheek teeth row during mastication are compared between mandarin vole (Microtus manadarinus) and the common Chinese zokor (Myospalax cansus) to better understand the adaptive mechanism of the two underground rodents. The analysis is based on biomechanical principles as well as quantitative comparisons between thetwo species. The results indicated that the mandibles of both species can freely move forth and back during mastication，suitable to grinding plant fibres, correspondingly，the skull has developed a series of characters to facilitate this movement pattern，such as parallel cheek teethrows，groove-like glenoid fossa and curved occlusal plane of cheek teeth row. Masticatory efficiencies of incisors and molars in both species are almost equal to each other，implying a very similar feeding habit between them.

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THE PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON RELATION BETWEEN MOTHER AND INFANT DURING NURSE OF THIRTY DAYS IN CAPTIVE GIANT PANDA

ZHU Benren, GUO Wei,YAO Minda

1999, 19(4):  315-316. 

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A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON RAISING UP THE SURVIVAL RATE OF ARTIFICIAL BREEDING GIANT PANDA

LI Desheng,ZHANG Hemin,CHEN Meng,'ZHANG Guiquan, WANG Pengyan,XIONG Yan

1999, 19(4):  317-320. 

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