布氏田鼠洞群贮草面积与栖息地植被条件的关系

布氏田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｂｒａｎｄｔｉ)为内蒙古典型草原区的主要害鼠 ,其危害主要表现在与牛羊争夺牧草资源 ,破坏草场、引起草场沙化退化 ,以及传播疾病等三个方面[3,5,8] 。该鼠为不冬眠种类 ,冬季以储存于地下仓库中的牧草为食[9,10 ] 。因此 ,研究其秋季洞群的贮草面积与草场植被条件的关系 ,对于分析该鼠的越冬适应策略 ,并进一步提出草场鼠害的优化管理方案 ,具有重要意义。有关该鼠秋季贮草习性 ,已有一些文献报道[1,4 ,6 ,7] ,但涉及该鼠秋季洞群贮草面积与草场植被条件的关系的研究较少。为此 ,在内蒙古典型草原区开展了此项…     

布氏田鼠越冬集群贮草面积的两种估算方法比较

布氏田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｂｒａｎｄｔｉ)为内蒙古典型草原区的主要害鼠 ,具贮草越冬习性[2 ,5～ 7] 。因此 ,研究其越冬集群的贮草面积 ,对于分析该鼠的越冬生态特征以及定量衡量其危害程度 ,具有重要的意义。本文提出两种估算布氏田鼠越冬集群贮草面积的方法 ,即黄蒿根计数法和跑道测量法 ,并对两种估算方法进行了比较。1　材料与方法本项研究是于 1 995年度在内蒙古赤峰市克什克腾旗阿其乌拉苏木 ( 1 1 6°2 5′Ｎ ,37°5 1′Ｅ)以及中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站 ( 43°37′Ｎ ,1 1 6°4 1′Ｅ)进行的。1 0月中旬 ,在阿其…     

布氏田鼠摄食量、累积摄食量与日龄的关系

布氏田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｂｒａｎｄｔｉ)是内蒙古典型草原区的主要害鼠 ,其危害方式主要表现之一为与牲畜争夺牧草资源[1,4 ,11,12 ] 。准确地测定其日食量(ＤＦＣ)与累积摄食量 (ＣＦＣ) ,对于定量地衡量该鼠的危害程度 ,进一步推算鼠害防治的经济阈值有着重要的意义。一些学者着手有关该鼠食性与食量 ,以及非取食性牧草消耗量的研究工作[3 ,7～ 9] 。但由于受实验手段的限制 ,一直未能解决布氏田鼠日食量、累积摄食量与田鼠年龄的关系等难题。本文以测定典型草原区布氏田鼠日食量与体重的关系 ,结合布氏田鼠体重与年龄的数学关系方程 …     

布氏田鼠非取食性牧草消耗量的测定

布氏田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｂｒａｎｄｔｉ)为内蒙古典型草原区的主要害鼠之一[1,6 ,8,9] 其危害主要表现为与牛羊争夺牧草资源。因此 ,测定其牧草消耗量 ,是定量地衡量其危害程度 ,推算鼠害防治经济阈值的重要基础。在牧草生长季节 ,该鼠对牧草的消耗主要分为两个方面 ,即取食量和非取食性消耗量 (布氏田鼠咬断而未取食的部分牧草或者食物残屑 )。有关该鼠食性与食量的研究已有一些报道[2 ,3 ,5] ,但对该鼠的非取食性牧草消耗量则缺乏研究。为此 ,本文开展了这项工作 ,为定量估算该鼠的危害程度提供依据。1　材料与方法本项研究是于 1997…     

储草期增加食物对布氏田鼠越冬存活率的影响北大核心CSCD

布氏田鼠(Lasiopodomys brandtii)是内蒙古典型草原区主要鼠种之一。该鼠种在秋季将食物储存在储草仓内,以此来度过植被贫瘠的冬季。为探究储草期增加食物对布氏田鼠越冬存活率的影响,2004年10月,于内蒙古阿巴嘎旗白音图噶苏木的布氏田鼠鼠害草场随机选取两块100 m×200 m的样地,分别设为增食样地和对照样地。增食样地内给每个布氏田鼠洞群补充食物,每天补充500 g小麦,连续补充2 d共计1000 g。对照样地内则不做任何处理。2004年10月,采用标志重捕法调查两块样地内布氏田鼠种群数量,调查显示,增食样地和对照样地内,布氏田鼠数量分别为310只和318只,以该结果作为计算其越冬存活率的基数。2005年5月,返回样地再次进行标志重捕,分别计算两样地布氏田鼠的越冬存活率。卡方检验显示,储草期增加食物能显著提高布氏田鼠越冬存活率。增食样地布氏田鼠越冬存活率为41.3%,显著高于对照样地布氏田鼠越冬存活率(24.2%,P<0.01)。增食样地雌性和雄性布氏田鼠越冬存活率分别为45.4%和37.3%,均显著高于对照样地雌性和雄性布氏田鼠越冬存活率(25.8%和22.6%,P<0.01)。但样地内雌性和雄性越冬存活率均无明显差异(P>0.05)。本研究结果表明,补充食物可大幅度提升布氏田鼠冬季存活率,增加布氏田鼠越冬存活基数,对来年种群增长起重要作用。     

不同生活条件下东方田鼠内脏器官比较

脏器指数可以反映动物的生理功能 ,消化道形态的变化受食物质量和动物能量需求的影响 ,国内外不少学者探讨了野外条件下鼠类脏器指数和消化道形态的季节变化及其生态适应意义[2 ,4 ,6～ 8,14 ,15] 。Ｇｒｏｓｓ等[12 ] 在室内研究了温度和食物质量对草原田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｏｃｈｒｏｇａｓｔｅｒ)消化道形态的影响。东方田鼠 (Ｍ .ｆｏｒｔｉｓｃａｌａｍｏｒｕｍ )为洞庭湖湖泊河汊区优势鼠种 ,严重危害农林业生产 ;同时其具有天然抗日本血吸虫的特性[13] ,对血吸虫的研究和防治有着较为重要的意义。该鼠以湖滩苔草(Ｃａｒｅｘｓｐｐ …     

内蒙古典型草原4种常见小哺乳动物的营养生态位及相互关系

本文根据布氏田鼠、达乌达鼠兔、达乌尔黄鼠和草兔在自由生活下的食物组成,分别计算了它们之间的实际营养生态位重叠程度及生态位宽度。还计算了布氏田鼠、达乌尔鼠兔和达乌尔黄鼠间的原始营养生态位重叠程度及宽度。由于栖息地资源可利用性的限制,这３种小哺乳动物的实际营养生态位较原始营养生态位穿。分布空间的重叠可导致布氏田鼠与达乌尔鼠兔间实际营养生态位的较高程度重叠。此结果支持了ＭａｃＡｒｔｈｕｒ和Ｗｉｌｓｏｎ（     

人工繁殖的东方田鼠G带核型研究

东方田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｆｏｒｔｉｓ)分布于我国东北、西北、华中、华南 17个省区 ,在韩国及俄罗斯也见报道。国内对该鼠的 5个亚种 ,即指名亚种 (Ｍ .ｆ.ｆｏｒ ｔｉｓ) (西北 )、东北亚种 (Ｍ .ｆ .ｐｅｌｌｉｅｃｕｓ)、辽宁亚种 (Ｍ .ｆ.ｄｏｌｉｃｈｏｃｅｐｈａｌｕｓ)、长江亚种 (Ｍ .ｆ .ｃａｌａｍｏｒｕｍ)和福建亚种 (Ｍ .ｆ .ｆｕｊｉａｎｅｎｓｉｓ) (华南 ) ,作过一般生物学描述[1] ,对于东方田鼠研究得较多的是长江亚种 ,6 0年代有人对该种动物的生态学特点进行了报道 ,近期对洞庭湖区东方田鼠的种群动态、繁殖特性、迁…     

达乌尔鼠兔和布氏田鼠食物资源竞争关系的研究

布氏田鼠和达乌尔鼠兔是内蒙古典型草原的两种主要害鼠。本文研究了重叠分布于内蒙古克什克腾旗阿其乌拉境内克氏针茅+冷蒿+羊草草场上的布氏田鼠和达乌尔鼠兔的食物资源竞争关系。胃内容物显微组织学分析结果表明,夏季布氏田鼠取食羊草、杂花苜蓿、阿尔泰狗娃花等20种植物,而达乌尔鼠兔则选择羊草、菊叶委陵菜和杂花苜蓿等15种植物为食     

雪后海北高寒草甸地区根田鼠种群特征的变化

根田鼠 (Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓｏｅｃｏｎｏｍｕｓ)是一种分布广泛的小型哺乳动物[1 ] ,在海北高寒草甸地区 ,根田鼠是优势小型啮齿动物之一 ,主要分布于植被较好的草甸和灌丛中 ,有关其自然以及实验状态下种群数量动态的研究相对较多[2～6] ,但是对该地区冬季恶劣自然条件下 ,其种群动态的研究尚未见报道。研究冬季根田鼠种群特征的变化有助于对其整个生活史过程的全面理解 ,也便于了解冬季恶劣气候条件对其越冬留存率的影响进而又是如何影响翌年的种群数量。为此 ,作者于 2 0 0 0年 1 0月和 1 2月在海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区对根田鼠种…     

Septum volume and food‐storing behavior are related in parids

The hippocampal formation (HF) of food‐storing birds is larger than non‐storing species, and the size of the HF in food‐storing Black‐Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) varies seasonally. We examined whether the volume of the septum, a medial forebrain structure that shares reciprocal connections with the HF, demonstrates the same species and seasonal variation as has been shown in the HF. We compared septum volume in three parid species; non‐storing Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus) and Great Tits (Parus major), and food‐storing Black‐Capped Chickadees. We found the relative septum volume to be larger in chickadees than in the non‐storing species. We also compared septum and nucleus of the diagonal band (NDB) volume of Black‐Capped Chickadees at different times of the year. We found that the relative septum volume varies seasonally in food‐storing birds. The volume of the NDB does not vary seasonally. Due to the observed species and seasonal variation, the septum, like the hippocampal formation of food‐storing birds, may be specialized for some aspects of food‐storing and spatial memory. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 51: 215–222, 2002     

The seasonal hippocampus of food-storing birds

Food storing is seasonal in birds like chickadees, nuthatches and jays, occurring at high levels in fall and winter and low levels in spring and summer. Memory for cache sites is hippocampus dependent in chickadees and both the recruitment of new neurons into the hippocampus and the total size of the hippocampus change seasonally. Unlike seasonal change in the vocal control nuclei of songbirds, however, change in the hippocampus appears not to be controlled by photoperiod. The annual timing of hippocampal neuronal recruitment and change in hippocampal size is quite variable, reaching maximum levels at different times of year in different studies. The amount of food-storing activity by chickadees is known to be influenced by flock dominance structure, energy balance, food availability, and other seasonally varying factors. The variable timing of seasonal change in the hippocampus may indicate that the hippocampus of food-storing birds changes annually in response to change in the intensity of food storing behaviour itself.     

陕北黄土丘陵区6种植物冠层种子库的初步研究

对陕北黄土丘陵区猪毛蒿（Artemisia scoparia）、铁杆蒿（Artemisia gmelinii）、茭蒿（Artemisia giraldii）、杠柳（Periploca sepium）、狼牙刺（Sophora viciifolia）和黄刺玫（Rosa xanthina）6种植物不同时期的冠层种子宿存量进行了调查。结果显示,6种植物均有不同程度的植冠种子宿存量,翌年4月,黄刺玫的宿存量可达57.60%,狼牙刺的宿存量达31.56%,杠柳的宿存量为6.30%,铁杆蒿的宿存量为2.42%,猪毛蒿的宿存量为1.86%,茭蒿的宿存量为1.16%。猪毛蒿、铁杆蒿、茭蒿、黄刺玫的种子宿存时间可长达7个月之久,狼牙刺、杠柳的宿存时间为5～7个月。     

Devaluation of low-quality food during early experience by sheep

A ruminant's early experience with low-quality food (LQF) is expected to increase its acceptance and preference in adulthood. Contrarily, we found that experienced sheep (ES) exposed to mature oat hay early in life ate less of this LQF than inexperienced sheep (IS). A possibility is that ES might have devaluated the LQF through continuous comparisons against high-quality food (HQF) supplements (sunflower meal and ground corn) that were simultaneously available during early experience. In this study, we tested the devaluation hypothesis with a successive negative contrast (SNC) procedure. In a consummatory SNC procedure, 'shift' subjects are unexpectedly changed from HQF to LQF, and their consumption is then compared against the consumption of 'unshift' subjects that receive LQF all throughout the SNC procedure. The magnitude of the difference in consumption between preshift and postshift is regarded as a measure of the degree to which both foods (HQF and LQF) are perceived to differ hedonically. When sheep from our previous study were 300 days old, both ES and IS were randomly assigned to either shift (ES-S and IS-S) or unshift conditions (ES-U and IS-U; n = 6 in each group). Groups ES-S and IS-S were fed HQF (alfalfa hay) during the preshift phase, and then suddenly changed to LQF (oat hay) in the postshift phase. Groups ES-U and IS-U (controls) were fed only LQF throughout the SNC procedure. Subjects in ES-S showed a significantly lower intake of LQF than those in ES-U in the first postshift session (i.e. they showed an SNC effect), which was not observed in IS. These results agree with ES subjects having devalued LQF during early experience. We discuss the possibility that high levels of nutrient supplementation can result in devaluation of LQF (i.e. decrease in preference and acceptance), whereas restricted levels of supplementation may promote a positive experience with LQF.     

Storing prey in larders affects nestling haematological condition in the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

Many animals, including shrikes (Laniidae), are known to store food. This behaviour ensures food availability during inclement weather, for rearing nestlings or signalling territory quality. Unlike most other shrike species, which accumulate food before breeding, Red-backed Shrikes Lanius collurio store food in larders, mainly during the nestling and fledgling periods. If this is an adaptive behaviour, variation in this behaviour should affect either or both the number and condition of nestlings, which may benefit from such larders. We assessed the haematological condition of Red-backed Shrike nestlings in east-central Poland in 2021 using a suite of blood parameters relating to sites where shrikes did or did not store food. Haemoglobin concentrations were positively correlated with larders, being significantly higher in nestlings of pairs that stored prey compared with those whose parents did not do so. White blood cell counts were lower in nestlings whose parents kept larders. Red blood cell counts and glucose concentrations in nestlings were not related to whether parents had larders. Food storage probably ensures a more constant access to food, which results in a superior haematological condition in nestlings.     

The role of novelty and fat and sugar concentration in food selection by captive tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella)

Capuchins, like other primates, use feedback from sensory cues and digestion to make decisions about which foods to consume and which to avoid. However, little is known about how capuchins make consumption decisions when simultaneously presented with novel and familiar foods, or how food familiarity and macronutrient concentration together influence food choice, topics with potential implications for developmental and health research. In this study, we evaluated the role of familiarity, as well as fat and sugar concentration, in the food selections of captive tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). In the first experiment, over 10 sessions, subjects were assigned to either a group that chose between one familiar and one novel food item both high in fat or sugar (high condition), or to a group that chose between one familiar and one novel food item both low in fat or sugar (low condition). In the second experiment, subjects were divided into three groups, familiarized with food over five feeding sessions, and then offered the familiarized food and a novel food that varied in fat or sugar for 10 sessions. When offered foods high in fat, capuchins showed no clear signs of neophobia, forming an initial preference for the novel food, rejecting foods less frequently, and selecting foods faster than when offered foods low in fat. These trends were generally not observed in response to foods with sugar. When presented with options that varied in macronutrient concentration, subjects showed an initial interest in the novel food irrespective of whether it was high in fat or sugar, yet formed a final preference for the higher-concentration item. Findings suggest that the concentration of fat or sugar in novel foods may be an important mediator of exploratory behavior and that capuchins rely on immediate feedback from taste and other sensory cues to make consumption decisions.     

Feeding ecology of rooks (Corvus frugilegus) on the Heretaunga Plains,Hawke's Bay,New Zealand

Abstract

The food resources of rooks were measured and related to changes in the birds' feeding behaviour during 1968-1970. In all, 381 birds were individually marked with wing tags and colour-coded leg bands and released; their activities were recorded for set periods. Rooks preferred to eat invertebrates and walnuts, but also took seed of cereals, pulses, and stock feeds. They spent at least 40% of their feeding time (75-80% in spring) eating invertebrates, 30-60% finding or hiding walnuts and sometimes acorns in autumn and winter, and 45% eating seed during hot, dry weather in summer. Up to 6% of feeding time was spent eating newly sown or ripening seed. Throughout winter rooks frequently searched for hidden nuts, which they ate or moved to new positions. The proportion of time they spent feeding and the kind of food taken varied seasonally and, in summer and winter, hourly; there were only slight differences between morning, mid-day, and afternoon periods. Rooks spent 65% of the time feeding in autumn, but only 25-30% in spring. Conversely, they spent longer at nest sites from late autumn, peaking at 60% in spring, then less time at nests as they spent longer searching for food. The size of flocks altered with the food being eaten and therefore with season and time of day. Small flocks were widespread where favoured food was plentiful in autumn, winter, and spring, but flocks were larger where food was unevenly abundant in summer and sometimes in winter. During early autumn each bird usually ate and stored walnuts in a selected area of 1-2 km3, returning there later in the season to recover stored nuts. The areas formed only part of the total range used by the study population, and were usually shared with other birds. Tests in aviaries showed that rooks preferred earthworms and walnuts to acorns, maize, and wheat (in that order), and field tests confirmed that rooks preferred walnuts to maize. The numbers of each food item required to sustain a rook for a daylight hour were estimated. Summer is the most difficult season for rooks to find food.     

An analysis of avoidance generalization and food preference transitivity in goldfish,Carassius auratus

To examine the effect of novelty in food selection by fishes, goldfish were trained by feeding them on red or green food pellets. Individual fish and fish in shoals of two, three, and five were then given a choice between equal numbers of familiar pellets and novel (yellow) pellets. In experimental groups, the yellow pellets were soaked in 15% quinine hydrochloride to make them unpalatable. Fish were next presented with equal numbers of familiar and a second novel pellet. It was expected that fish would generalize from their experience with the unpalatable pellets and demonstrate avoidance to sampling a second novel food item. However, as groups, neither controls nor experimentals were reluctant to sample the second novel pellets. Also, fish did not eat significantly more familiar than novel pellets when both were palatable. A third set of experiments examined food preference transitivity in which each pellet type was presented alone and in three pair-wise combinations to individual fish. Although red and yellow pellets were preferred over green, they were preferred equally, indicating an absence of transitivity in pellet choice and, perhaps, a “preference” for a mixture of red and yellow pellets.     

Artificial light affects the foraging behavior in greater white-toothed shrews (CROCIDURA RUSSULA)

Light pollution is one of the forms by which human-induced alterations are changing natural environments. Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been increasing over the past decades and it is already known that ALAN can have a major influence on the ecology, behavior, and physiology of different taxa. Nocturnal small mammals are particularly vulnerable, as ALAN can increase their predation risk while foraging. The aim of this study was to investigate foraging strategies under different light conditions in a nocturnal small insectivore, the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula). Compared with rodents, shrews have a higher metabolic rate and thus present a good model for a foraging study. In three laboratory experiments with wild-caught shrews we tested (i) food preference under dark conditions as well as the effect of different light conditions on (ii) foraging strategies and (iii) food choice. The results showed that shrews had a clear food preference under dark conditions. They also preferred to forage under dark over light conditions when presented with the same food in both conditions. However, when presented with the choice of foraging their preferred food under illuminated conditions or a lower food quality in the dark, the food preference of shrews overruled their preference for feeding in the dark. It seems that food preference, rather than risk perception, is the main driver determining the foraging strategy of the greater white-toothed shrews. This study suggests that ALAN does not necessarily prevent high-metabolic nocturnal insectivores from achieving their energetic needs, which might help explain their persistence in urban environments.     

Leptin promotes the fat preference associated with low-temperature acclimation in mice

ABSTRACT

Although fluctuations in energy metabolism are known to influence intake as well as nutrient selection, there are no definitive reports on how food preferences change with changes in habitat temperature. We investigated the effects of habitat temperature on appetite and food preference and elucidated the underlying mechanism by conducting a feeding experiment and a leptin administration test on mice reared at low temperatures. Our results showed that the increased food intake and HFD preference observed in the 10°C group were induced by decrease in plasma leptin concentration. Then, a leptin administration experiment was conducted to clarify the relationship between leptin and food preference with low-temperature acclimation. The control group reared in 10°C significantly preferred the HFD, but the leptin-administered group did not. These results show that the peripheral system appetite-regulating hormone leptin not only acts to suppress appetite but also might inhibit preference for lipids in low-temperature acclimation.