Shape of,and body direction in,huddles of Japanese macaques (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Macaca fuscata</Emphasis>) in Arashiyama,Japan

We studied huddles of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in the Arashiyama E troop at the “Arashiyama Monkey Park, Iwatayama” of Kyoto, central Japan. The macaques made physical contact with other individuals and formed huddles when the air was cold. The 99–101 adult females and 26–36 adult males in the study troop formed 345 huddles during 42 scan samples in the winter of 2001 and 376 huddles during 52 scan samples in the winter of 2002. The average size of huddles was 2.3 (range 2–7) individuals. Males huddled less frequently than females. Maternal kin-related dyads formed 2-female huddles more frequently than unrelated dyads. Choice of huddling partners might restrict the size of huddles. The most frequently observed 3 and 4-member huddles were triangular and diamond-shaped. Macaques usually huddled ventro–ventrally, ventro–laterally, and ventro–dorsally. A third individual frequently placed the ventral part of its body against the first individual and simultaneously put the lateral part of its body against the second individual, so that the 3 individuals formed a triangular huddle. This behaviour indicates that Japanese macaques choose their position and body direction in the huddle to reduce the area of body surface exposed to the air, thereby conserving body heat.     

Huddling relationships in night sleeping groups among wild Japanese macaques in Kinkazan Island during winter

Huddling groups at sleeping sites, and allogrooming and proximity in the daytime during winter, were examined in a wild Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) troop on Kinkazan Island in the non-snowy district of northern Japan. All sleeping groups, defined as a cluster in which individuals huddle at sleeping sites, were formed on the ground. Their sizes tended to increase when the temperature was lower. The number of adults with mutual physical contact in sleeping groups increased when the size of sleeping groups increased. These results suggest that the physiological function of huddling is protection from low temperatures, and that macaques select the ground as sleeping sites to form large sized groups. Huddling was performed most frequently among kin dyads. Non-related dyads which appeared to be affiliative in the daytime also huddled frequently at sleeping sites. Even non-related dyads which showed affiliative behavior less frequently in the daytime exhibited huddling, at night, however, they did so less often than those of kin dyads and affiliated dyads. It appears that huddling at night by pairs that did not normally affiliate in the daytime was made possible by the increased tolerance of individuals responding to colder temperatures at night in winter. Furthermore, huddling, grooming, and proximity were exhibited at greater frequency between kin dyads, and between high-ranking males and specific females of kin groups, although the dyads of individuals older than 15 years often were involved only in huddling. These results suggest that two types of social bonds exist at sleeping sites in winter. One is the social bond common to both the daytime and nighttime, the other is peculiar to nighttime. Consequently, the social function of huddling is that, troop integration might increase at sleeping sites in winter as close social relationships among adults are extended more widely than those in daytime.     

Mature leaf selection of Japanese macaques: effects of availability and chemical content

Mature leaf food selection of Japanese macaques was studied in two different altitudinal zones of Yakushima: in the coniferous (1000–1200 m) and coastal forests (0–200 m). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to reveal the effect of chemical [neutral detergent fibre (NDF), crude protein, crude ash, crude lipid, condensed tannin, hydrolysable tannin and crude protein/NDF ratio] and availability properties (density of trees and total basal area) on the macaques' choice between the major food leaves and the rarely eaten or non-food leaves. In both forests, macaques selected leaves with a high crude ash and crude protein content, or a high crude protein/NDF ratio, as major foods. In the coniferous forest, macaques selected leaves with less condensed tannin, but this tendency was absent in the coastal forest. This was because macaques in the coniferous forest suffer from a greater risk of ingesting large amounts of condensed tannins, as their feeding time on mature leaves is seven times as long as that in the coastal forest. Among the chemical and availability properties, stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the number of trees (ha⁻¹) was the only significant factor explaining the variations in feeding time among major food leaves, both in the coniferous and coastal forests. The present results suggest that the effect of travelling cost, which can be reduced by selecting common trees, exceeds the benefits gained by selecting high-quality foods.     

Food conditions, competitive regime, and female social relationships in Japanese macaques: within-population variation on Yakushima

Feeding conditions, competitive regime, and female social relationships of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on Yakushima were compared between the two habitats at two different altitudes (coniferous forest, 1,000–1,200 m and coastal forest, 0–200 m). Fruit availability was higher in the coastal forest. There was no consistent difference in the frequency of agonistic interactions within a group during feeding between the two habitats. The coastal forest evoked stronger inter-group contest competition compared to the coniferous forest as evidenced by a higher inter-group encounter rate and a higher proportion of aggressive encounters to non-aggressive ones. Birth rate was higher in larger groups compared to smaller ones in the coastal forest, but did not differ in the coniferous forest. In spite of these differences in competitive regime, no variation in female social relationships was observed, such as direction and concentration on particular individuals in grooming, linearity in dominance rank, counter-attack, and support of juvenile kin during agonistic interactions. The present results indicate that the female social relationships of Japanese macaques are robust and do not change according to changes in the current environment.     

白颈长尾雉栖息地的季节变化

１９９２年１０月至１９９３年５月,在浙江省乌岩岭自然保护区,利用无线电追踪技术和野外直接观察等采样方法对白颈长尾雉各季节栖息地及其食性进行了研究。     

Foraging Patch Selection in Winter: A Balance between Predation Risk and Thermoregulation Benefit

In winter, foraging activity is intended to optimize food search while minimizing both thermoregulation costs and predation risk. Here we quantify the relative importance of thermoregulation and predation in foraging patch selection of woodland birds wintering in a Mediterranean montane forest. Specifically, we account for thermoregulation benefits related to temperature, and predation risk associated with both illumination of the feeding patch and distance to the nearest refuge provided by vegetation. We measured the amount of time that 38 marked individual birds belonging to five small passerine species spent foraging at artificial feeders. Feeders were located in forest patches that vary in distance to protective cover and exposure to sun radiation; temperature and illumination were registered locally by data loggers. Our results support the influence of both thermoregulation benefits and predation costs on feeding patch choice. The influence of distance to refuge (negative relationship) was nearly three times higher than that of temperature (positive relationship) in determining total foraging time spent at a patch. Light intensity had a negligible and no significant effect. This pattern was generalizable among species and individuals within species, and highlights the preponderance of latent predation risk over thermoregulation benefits on foraging decisions of birds wintering in temperate Mediterranean forests.     

Huddling house sparrows remain euthermic at night,and conserve body mass

An advantage of huddling in the cold is that the individual animals involved can maintain body temperature while saving energy. Since house sparrows Passer domesticus biblicus store little fat, but inhabit relatively cold climates, we tested the hypothesis that they huddle at night. While recording body temperature and body mass of 18 house sparrows when they were either caged individually, or free in an aviary, we observed that when free in the aviary, the sparrows huddled at low ambient temperatures and more birds huddled, in tighter and tighter formation, as ambient temperature decreased. However, their body temperatures were not significantly different from when they spent the night individually caged. When free to huddle, the birds lost significantly less body mass during the course of a day than when individually caged. This reduction in body mass loss may be of particular importance during periods of adverse environmental conditions, especially for small birds that manage their energy budgets on a daily basis.     

土壤温度和水分对长白山不同森林类型土壤呼吸的影响

在实验室条件下,将不同含水量的3种森林类型的土柱分别置于0、5、15、25和35℃条件下,进行土壤呼吸测定．结果表明,在0～35℃范围内。土壤呼吸速率与温度呈正相关．在一定含水量范围内(0．21～0．37kg·kg^-1),土壤呼吸随含水量的增加而升高,当含水量超出该范围,土壤呼吸速率则随含水量的变化而降低．土壤温度和水分对土壤呼吸作用存在明显的交互作用．不同森林类型土壤呼吸作用强弱存在显著差异,大小顺序为阔叶红松林>岳桦林>云冷杉暗针叶林．阔叶红松林土壤呼吸作用的最佳条件是土壤温度35℃、含水量0．37kg·kg^-1;云冷杉暗针叶林下的山地棕色针叶林土壤呼吸作用的最佳条件是25℃、0．21kg·kg^-1;岳桦林土壤呼吸作用的最佳条件是35℃、含水量0．37kg·kg^-1。但是．由于长白山阔叶红松林、云冷杉林和岳桦林处在不同的海拔带上,同期不同森林类型土壤温度各不相同,相差4～5℃,所以野外所测的同期山地棕色针叶林土呼吸速率应低于暗棕色森林土呼吸速率,山地生草森林土呼吸速率应高于山地棕色针叶林土的呼吸速率．     

Seasonal use by birds of stream-side riparian habitat in coniferous forest of northcentral British Columbia

To determine use of riparian habitats by birds in the northern coniferous forest of British Columbia, we censused birds and vegetation along 500 m transects placed parallel and perpendicular to three second-order streams. Censuses were conducted during spring, summer, autumn, and winter to investigate how use of riparian habitat changed seasonally. Stream-side riparian zones were characterized by a dense understorey of deciduous vegetation not found in the upslope forest. Nine bird species preferred the riparian understorey for breeding, six preferred it only during migration. Neotropical migrants (16 of 46 species) were more closely associated with stream-sides than year-round residents (11 species). Some breeding birds (five species) were significantly negatively associated with riparian habitats. The density of riparian birds declined with distance upstream but did not decline up to 250 m away from the stream. The more extensive riparian areas downstream supported a greater density of birds in all seasons compared to upstream areas, but more species only in spring and autumn. Species that nested in non-riparian areas in summer used riparian habitat in autumn, making riparian corridors in the northern coniferous forest important during migration. Maintaining both riparian and upslope habitats is necessary to preserve species diversity al the landscape level.     

On the sunny side of (new) life: Effect of sunshine duration on age at first reproduction in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

To produce offspring early in life is energetically demanding and depends greatly on environmental conditions. In female primates, age at first reproduction (AFR) has been associated with social parameters (e.g., population density and social rank), food availability and meteorological conditions (e.g., photoperiod, rainfall patterns, and temperature). Regarding the latter, less attention has been given to the influence of sunshine. In nonhuman primates, including the northern‐most distributed Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), sunbathing is an effective thermoregulatory strategy to maintain sufficient energy intake during harsh winter months. Furthermore, the energetic value of sunshine and its role in the synthesis of essential vitamins important for sexual development and overall fertility is well investigated using human and animal models. In the present study, we hypothesized that female's AFR is influenced by the amount of sunshine in a semi‐free‐ranging, provisioned a group of Japanese macaques. To test this, we gathered data on sunshine duration in the year females theoretically experienced the onset of puberty. This phase of the female life cycle is particularly prone to the effects of environmental conditions. In addition to the investigation of sunshine duration and other meteorological conditions (i.e., rainfall and temperature) we controlled for social parameters (i.e., group size and sex ratio) as potential covariates. We found a clear effect of sunshine duration on female AFR: Females who entered puberty in years with more sunshine reproduced for the first time at significantly younger ages than females who experienced less sunshine during this specific period of their development. Possible mechanisms for how the sunshine influences sexual maturation in Japanese macaques are discussed.     

无锡惠山三种城市游憩林内细颗粒物(PM2.5)浓度变化特征

在2011年秋、冬季和2012年春、夏季的游憩时段内(5:00-19:00),对无锡惠山香樟林、湿地松林和栓皮栎林3种游憩林内PM_2.5质量浓度进行实时监测,并同步观测气象因子,分析了游憩林内PM_2.5浓度的时间变化规律及其影响因素.结果表明: 惠山3种游憩林内PM_2.5浓度年均值低于道路,湿地松林和香樟林内PM_2.5浓度年均值低于栓皮栎林;3种游憩林和道路的PM_2.5年均浓度低于无锡市背景值.游憩林内PM_2.5浓度的季节变化规律为夏季最低,秋季次之,春季最高;PM_2.5浓度在春、夏、冬季最低的是湿地松林,秋季最低的是香樟林,栓皮栎林在各季节的PM_2.5浓度都较高.PM_2.5浓度在四季的日变化近似于“单峰单谷”型,7:00-9:00和15:00-19:00各出现最大值和最小值.4个季节的湿度和温度与PM_2.5浓度均极显著相关,光照仅在冬季显著影响PM_2.5浓度,较小风速对PM_2.5浓度的影响不大.     

无锡惠山三种城市游憩林内细颗粒物(PM2.5)浓度变化特征

在2011年秋、冬季和2012年春、夏季的游憩时段内(5:00—19:00),对无锡惠山香樟林、湿地松林和栓皮栎林3种游憩林内PM_2.5质量浓度进行实时监测,并同步观测气象因子,分析了游憩林内PM_2.5浓度的时间变化规律及其影响因素.结果表明: 惠山3种游憩林内PM_2.5浓度年均值低于道路,湿地松林和香樟林内PM_2.5浓度年均值低于栓皮栎林;3种游憩林和道路的PM_2.5年均浓度低于无锡市背景值.游憩林内PM_2.5浓度的季节变化规律为夏季最低,秋季次之,春季最高;PM_2.5浓度在春、夏、冬季最低的是湿地松林,秋季最低的是香樟林,栓皮栎林在各季节的PM_2.5浓度都较高.PM_2.5浓度在四季的日变化近似于“单峰单谷”型,7:00—9:00和15:00—19:00各出现最大值和最小值.4个季节的湿度和温度与PM_2.5浓度均极显著相关,光照仅在冬季显著影响PM_2.5浓度,较小风速对PM_2.5浓度的影响不大.     

全球森林土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷化学计量的季节动态

土壤微生物生物量在森林生态系统中充当具有生物活性的养分积累和储存库。土壤微生物转化有机质为植物提供可利用养分, 与植物的相互作用维系着陆地生态系统的生态功能。同时, 土壤微生物也与植物争夺营养元素, 在季节交替过程和植物的生长周期中呈现出复杂的互利-竞争关系。综合全球数据对温带、亚热带和热带森林土壤微生物生物量碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量比值的季节动态进行分析, 发现温带和亚热带森林的土壤微生物生物量C、N、P含量均呈现夏季低、冬季高的格局。热带森林四季的土壤微生物生物量C、N、P含量都低于温带和亚热带森林, 且热带森林土壤微生物生物量C含量、N含量在秋季相对最低, 土壤微生物生物量P含量四季都相对恒定。温带森林的土壤微生物生物量C:N在春季显著高于其他两个森林类型; 热带森林的土壤微生物生物量C:N在秋季显著高于其他2个森林类型。温带森林土壤微生物生物量N:P和C:P在四季都保持相对恒定, 而热带森林土壤微生物生物量N:P和C:P在夏季高于其他3个季节。阔叶树的土壤微生物生物量C含量、N含量、N:P、C:P在四季都显著高于针叶树; 而针叶树的土壤微生物生物量P含量在四季都显著高于阔叶树。在春季和冬季时, 土壤微生物生物量C:N在阔叶树和针叶树之间都没有显著差异; 但是在夏季和秋季, 针叶树的土壤微生物生物量C:N显著高于阔叶树。对于土壤微生物生物量的变化来说, 森林类型是主要的显著影响因子, 季节不是显著影响因子, 暗示土壤微生物生物量的季节波动是随着植物其内在固有的周期变化而变化。植物和土壤微生物密切作用表现出来的对养分的不同步吸收是保留养分和维持生态功能的一种权衡机制。     

Adaptive thermoregulation in golden spiny mice: the influence of season and food availability on body temperature

We studied the effect of food supplementation during summer and winter in seminatural field conditions on thermoregulation of a desert rodent, the golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus. We hypothesized that (a) under natural food availability (control conditions), mice will use less precise thermoregulation (i.e., an increase in the variance of body temperature [T(b)]) during winter because of low ambient temperatures (T(a)'s) and low food availability and during summer because of low food and water availability; (b) food supplementation will result in more precise thermoregulation during winter, but the effect will be smaller during summer because variation in T(b) in summer is also driven by water availability during that period. We found that under natural food availability, spiny mice thermoregulated more precisely during summer than during winter. They spent more time torpid during summer than during winter even when food was supplemented (although summer nights are shorter), allowing them to conserve water. Supplementing food resulted in more precise thermoregulation in both seasons, and mice spent less time torpid. In summer, thermoregulation at high T(a)'s was less precise, resulting in higher maximum T(b)'s in summer than in winter and when food was supplemented, in accord with the expected effect of water shortage on thermoregulation. Our results suggest that as expected, precise thermoregulation is beneficial when possible and is abandoned only when the costs of homeothermy outweigh the benefits.     

食物季节性对野生藏酋猴家域利用的影响

食源植物的分布与食物的可获得性影响灵长类动物的家域动态。研究灵长类动物家域利用及其影响因素,对揭示野生动物的生态适应性与行为复杂性有重要意义。2020年9月—2021年8月,利用GPS技术、直接跟踪观察等方法,对黄山低海拔地区的野生藏酋猴群的家域范围进行研究。结果发现藏酋猴家域面积从春季到冬季依次递减,分别为7.16 km²、5.09 km²、3.85 km²、0.35 km²,面积与食物资源可得性呈显著正相关;猴群月平均漫游距离 (d= 1735.67 m ± 288.35 m, n = 12) 与食物可得性呈正相关,且月平均漫游距离在7月最长、1月最短。猴群偏好利用的生境类型为针阔混交林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林,春季主要偏好利用毛竹林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林,夏季和冬季为针阔混交林 (马尾松),秋季为常绿落叶阔叶混交林。结果表明,藏酋猴会根据食物资源分布、食物可得性等因素来优化家域的时空利用以适应低海拔地区。     

Increased air temperature during simulated autumn conditions impairs photosynthetic electron transport between photosystem II and photosystem I

Changes in temperature and daylength trigger physiological and seasonal developmental processes that enable evergreen trees of the boreal forest to withstand severe winter conditions. Climate change is expected to increase the autumn air temperature in the northern latitudes, while the natural decreasing photoperiod remains unaffected. As shown previously, an increase in autumn air temperature inhibits CO2 assimilation, with a concomitant increased capacity for zeaxanthin-independent dissipation of energy exceeding the photochemical capacity in Pinus banksiana. In this study, we tested our previous model of antenna quenching and tested a limitation in intersystem electron transport in plants exposed to elevated autumn air temperatures. Using a factorial design, we dissected the effects of temperature and photoperiod on the function as well as the stoichiometry of the major components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain in P. banksiana. Natural summer conditions (16-h photoperiod/22 degrees C) and late autumn conditions (8-h photoperiod/7 degrees C) were compared with a treatment of autumn photoperiod with increased air temperature (SD/HT: 8-h photoperiod/22 degrees C) and a treatment with summer photoperiod and autumn temperature (16-h photoperiod/7 degrees C). Exposure to SD/HT resulted in an inhibition of the effective quantum yield associated with a decreased photosystem II/photosystem I stoichiometry coupled with decreased levels of Rubisco. Our data indicate that a greater capacity to keep the primary electron donor of photosystem I (P700) oxidized in plants exposed to SD/HT compared with the summer control may be attributed to a reduced rate of electron transport from the cytochrome b6f complex to photosystem I. Photoprotection under increased autumn air temperature conditions appears to be consistent with zeaxanthin-independent antenna quenching through light-harvesting complex II aggregation and a decreased efficiency in energy transfer from the antenna to the photosystem II core. We suggest that models that predict the effect of climate change on the productivity of boreal forests must take into account the interactive effects of photoperiod and elevated temperatures.     

1954—2005年中国北方针叶林分布区的气候变化特征

基于中国北方针叶林(兴安落叶松林)分布区8个气象观测站的气象资料,分析了1954—2005年气温和降水的变化特征.结果表明：研究期间,中国北方针叶林分布区的气温以0.38 ℃·(10 a)^-1的速度上升,远大于全球近50年来0.13 ℃·(10 a)^-1的平均增温速率.尽管夏、秋季的气温呈上升趋势,但不显著;而冬、春季的增温显著(P<0.01);最高年平均气温(0.37 ℃·(10 a)^-1)与最低年平均气温(0.54 ℃·(10 a)^-1)均呈极显著的增加趋势(P<0.01).降水量年际间波动较大,但没有明显的变化趋势;各季节降水量也没有明显的变化规律,其中春、秋、冬季的降水日数有增加趋势,但没有达到显著水平,而夏季的降水日数呈显著减少趋势(P<0.05);各季降水强度均呈增加趋势,其中夏季(P<0.05)和冬季(P<0.01)的变化达到了显著水平.     

Asymmetric carabid beetle spillover between calcareous grasslands and coniferous forests

Central European calcareous grasslands are considered biodiversity hotspots, but are severely threatened by the change in land-use and by habitat fragmentation. Coniferous forests are typical adjacent habitats to calcareous grasslands, as abandoned calcareous grasslands are often afforested or develop into coniferous forests by succession. To investigate spillover between calcareous grasslands and coniferous forests, a total of 144 pitfall traps for carabid beetles were placed at three different distances (1, 5, 20 m) from the edge in both habitats at eight locations from April to late August. We found that both habitats had a distinct species assemblage and a decrease in spillover with increasing distance from the habitat edge into the adjacent habitat. Calcareous grasslands were more affected by spillover from the adjacent coniferous forests than vice versa because more forest specialists penetrated into calcareous grasslands than grassland specialists penetrated into coniferous forests. We conclude that spillover into small and isolated habitats can severely change species assemblages, which has to be considered in conservation measures. The protection of large sites with small edge-interior ratios can reduce negative effects on species assemblages in endangered calcareous grasslands.     

Ranging patterns of Japanese macaques in the coniferous forest of Yakushima: Home range shift and travel rate

Ranging is one of the most important behavioral adaptations for coping with seasonally fluctuating food and thermal conditions. We studied the ranging patterns, in particular home range shift and travel rate of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in the coniferous forest of Yakushima by tracking a group for 17 months. We also supplemented our data with records collected every August over a 5-year annual census. The macaque group used the eastern part of their home range from May to September and the western part during the rest of the year. The eastern part of the home range was largely primary forest in the national park, and the altitude was higher than in the western part. When they used the western part, the macaques ate more herbs and fruits from small-sized trees, the availability of which was higher in the logged forest. This east–west home range shift occurred repeatedly over multiple years. A neighboring group occupied the western part of the focal group's home range in summer, which the focal group did not use in that season. Both temperature and diet affected seasonal changes in the monthly average travel rate. Animals need more energy for thermoregulation when the temperature is low, so the macaques decreased their ranging efforts to save energy at times of low temperature. They increased their ranging distance to eat fungi, since their encounters with this food would increase with the total distance walked. They also increased their travel rate when eating flowers, which had lower food patch (tree) density than other foods such as fruits. The data supported the hypothesis that the macaques capitalize on habitat heterogeneity in a seasonally fluctuating habitat by shifting their home range and modifying their travel rate.     

Thermoregulatory behavior of the crayfish Procambarus clarki in a burrow environment

The behavioral thermoregulation of the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarki, was investigated in its burrow environment. In the field, air and water temperatures within crayfish burrows fluctuated less compared with surface temperatures in the Mojave Desert. However, crayfish could still experience sub-optimal temperature regimes inside burrows. In the laboratory, P. clarki heated and cooled more rapidly in water than in air. In a thermal gradient, the crayfish selected a water temperature of 22 degrees C and avoided water temperatures above 31 degrees C and below 12 degrees C. Observations of behavior in an artificial burrow showed that P. clarki displayed three main shuttling behaviors between water and air in response to temperature. The number of bilateral emersions and emigrations, as well as the amount of time spent in air (in a 24 h period), were significantly greater at 34 degrees C than at 12, 16, 22 or 28 degrees C. This reflected an increased use of the behavioral thermoregulation at temperatures approaching the critical thermal maximum of this species. Upon migrating from 34 degrees C water into 38 degrees C air, crayfish body temperature decreased significantly. These periods of emersion were interspersed with frequent dipping in the water, allowing the crayfish to gain the benefits of evaporative cooling, without the physiological costs incurred by long-term exposure to air.