藏雪鸡(Tetraogallus tibetanus)春夏季食性

藏雪鸡(Tetraogallus tibetanus)生活在青藏高原及其毗邻地区,是国家二级保护动物。2016年5—8月,在青海省尖扎县,采集藏雪鸡新鲜粪便及可能食用的植物,采用粪便显微分析法研究了藏雪鸡食性。结果表明:藏雪鸡能以各种植物器官为食,叶片是其食用的主要器官,茎次之,再次是花和果(种子),根极少;藏雪鸡所食植物器官比例有明显季节变化,叶片的比例逐月下降,花的比例在7月显著增加,而果(种子)比例在8月陡增至28%;藏雪鸡能以生境中24科72种草本植物中的19科49种为食,还取食苔藓和地衣;禾本科和菊科植物是其主要食物,占食物总量的42%;草地早熟禾(Poa pratensis)(22.35%)是主要食物种,蒲公英(Taraxacum mongolicum)等20种植物是其常见食物种;藏雪鸡所食植物种类比例季节变化明显,如草地早熟禾比例5—7月稳定在20%左右,但8月上升到30.20%,而蒲公英比例5—8月持续增加;藏雪鸡所食植物种类数稳定在35~36种,仅7月稍多(41种);不同月份的食物成分相似性较高(>73%),食物的Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数相似,但8月食物生态位宽度指数明显低于其他月份。综上,藏雪鸡是广食性鸟类,且食性有明显的季节变化。本研究结果可为藏雪鸡救护和迁地保护时人工饲料配方的设计提供依据。     

笼养暗腹雪鸡的繁殖

报道了暗腹雪鸡在笼养条件下的配对、领域、求偶行为、巢和卵、卵的受精率及人工孵化等情况。     

藏雪鸡的生态初步观察

藏雪鸡是鹑类中最大的一种,具有一定的经济价值。由于藏雪鸡秋冬集群,便于捕取,故属著名的狩猎禽类之一。 藏雪鸡属古北界青藏区的特产鸟类,分布于青藏高原及其毗邻地区,北由祁连山起,南抵喜马拉雅山止,西至帕米尔东部,东达川西。仅分布于亚洲中部地区,通常栖息在海拔3.200米     

藏羚羊骨骼肌肌红蛋白含量及乳酸脱氢酶、苹果酸脱氢酶活力的研究

目的:探讨藏羚羊骨骼肌对低氧环境的适应机制。方法:以生活在同海拔高度(4 300 m)的藏绵羊和低海拔绵羊(1 800 m)为对照,用分光光度法测定三种动物骨骼肌中肌红蛋白(Mb)含量、乳酸(LA)含量,酶活力法测定三种动物骨骼肌中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)活力。结果:藏羚羊骨骼肌中Mb含量明显高于藏绵羊和低海拔绵羊(P<0.05),而藏绵羊和低海拔绵羊间无明显差异。LA含量和LDH活力明显低于藏绵羊和低海拔绵羊(P<0.05),而MDH活力及MDH/LDH比值显著高于藏绵羊和低海拔绵羊(P<0.05),藏绵羊和低海拔绵羊间无明显差异。结论:藏羚羊可能通过增加骨骼肌中Mb的含量,提高其在低氧环境获取氧的能力,且藏羚羊骨骼肌组织中有氧代谢比例高,这可能与肌肉中Mb含量较高有关,推测藏羚羊较高的Mb含量可能是其适应高原缺氧条件的分子基础之一。     

东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡线粒体基因组序列测定与分析

喜马拉雅雪鸡属国家二级保护动物,是生存海拔最高的鸡类,同时在维持生态平衡和鸟类高海拔适应性研究中具有重要的科研价值。本研究以东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡为研究对象,采用直接测序法,拼接组装获得该物种线粒体(mtDNA)全基因组序列,对mtDNA全序列进行注释和结构分析,并选择GenBank已提交的鸡形目鸟类mtDNA序列,利用邻接法构建系统发育树,为该物种的有效保护和开发利用提供分子水平的依据。结果表明:喜马拉雅雪鸡的mtDNA全长为16 691 bp,基因种类、数量及排列顺序与鸟类线粒体基因典型排列顺序一致。基因组核苷酸含量为A:30.2%;T:23.9%;C:32.2%;G:13.8%;(A+T)含量(54%)略高于G+C (46%)含量,AT-skew为0.116 7,有一定的碱基偏好。在本研究中,东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡起始密码子以ATG为主,终止密码子以TAA为主。预测了22个tRNA的二级结构,均能形成典型的三叶草结构,共有错配25处,以GU错配为主,喜马拉雅雪鸡tRNASer (UCN)基因比藏雪鸡的tRNASer (UCN)基因多出3个碱基;系统发育树构建表明雪鸡与鹌鹑关系最近,我们发现东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡与甘肃阿克塞自治县喜马拉雅雪鸡形成两个独立的进化支。     

藏雪鸡一新亚种——云南亚种(鸡形目:雉科)

在横断山区鸟类区系分类的研究中,发现采自云南中甸,西藏昌都和左贡地区的藏雪鸡(Tetraogallus tibetanus Gould)标本与已知的亚种有显著差异,认为是一新亚种。藏雪鸡为云南省的首次纪录。     

暗腹雪鸡人工饲养繁育初报

全世界共有5种雪鸡(Tetraogallus),新疆境内有3种分布,其中暗腹雪鸡(Tetraogollus himalayrnsis)广泛分布在天山,属国家二类保护动物。中国科学院新疆生态与地理研究所1993年以来先后承担了2项雪鸡研究项目。本文报导了暗腹雪鸡的人工驯化繁育的初步研究结果。     

盐池湾自然保护区喜马拉雅雪鸡育雏栖息地选择

2005年4—7月,采用样方法和直接观察法,对甘肃省盐池湾自然保护区喜马拉雅雪鸡(Tetraogallus himalayensis)育雏期的栖息地选择进行了研究。共测量了16个正在觅食、未受到干扰的雪鸡育雏栖息地和14个阴阳坡的对比样方。研究表明,育雏期的喜马拉雅雪鸡主要选择在海拔3301—3600m之间、中坡及中坡以上的坡位、坡度11—30°之间的灌丛草地活动,这有利于雏鸟获得足够的食物供应和更好的保护后代。主成分分析表明,影响雪鸡育雏期栖息地选择的主要因子分为捕食因子和食物因子两类,其主要因子依次为灌丛长度、物种丰富度、地面异质性以及附近(500m内)的悬崖数量。喜马拉雅雪鸡对育雏栖息地的选择其实是最好的食物资源和最有利于逃避敌害之间的权衡,即捕食因子与食物因子之间权衡的结果,这可能是喜马拉雅雪鸡在长期演化过程中形成的一种避免被天敌捕食的行为适应,是高寒地区鸟类的一种生存策略。     

东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡遗传多样性及系统发育地位

东帕米尔高原作为生物多样性丰富的区域之一,喜马拉雅雪鸡和藏雪鸡在此混群分布。以东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡为研究对象,采用PCR和测序技术,研究了mt DNA D-loop区序列特征,下载Gen Bank已提交的雪鸡序列,利用最大似然法构建系统发育树和中介网络关系,以阐明东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡遗传多样性水平和系统进化地位。结果表明:东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡mt DNA D-loop序列富含A、T碱基,含量为59.8%,存在64个多态位点,占核苷酸总数的5.5%,其中单一多态位点29个,简约信息位点33个,两处插入或缺失,转换发生的频率远远高于颠换;25个个体存在23种单倍型,平均单倍型多样度(Hd)为0.92±0.0001,平均核苷酸多样度(π)为0.00958,平均核苷酸差异度(K)为11.067,说明东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡核苷酸多样性较低,单倍型多样性高,具有较为丰富的遗传多样性;系统发育分析显示喜马拉雅雪鸡与藏雪鸡分为明显的两大簇群,本研究涉及的东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡出现遗传分化,呈现明显的2个进化支;中介网络关系分析显示雪鸡具有明显的地理分布特征,本研究雪鸡84%的单倍型聚在以东帕米尔高原为中心的进化支上。因此,建议扩大塔什库尔干野生动物自然保护区(位于东帕米尔高原境内)范围,建立国家级自然保护区,恢复生态环境,以提高雪鸡栖息地的生存适宜性。     

基于MaxEnt模型的藏雪鸡在中国适宜生境的研究

藏雪鸡是国家II级保护动物,研究其在中国的适宜生境有利于为其保护提供科学的依据。基于藏雪鸡在中国境内的111个实际分布数据及27个环境特征变量,利用Max Ent生态位模型和GIS技术,我们对其适宜生境及主导影响因子进行了定量分析,并划定了四大主要保护区域。研究结果:(1)藏雪鸡在全国的适宜生境总面积约147.37万km~2,且主要集中分布于西藏、青海、四川、甘肃、新疆、云南等地;(2)海拔高度(46.2%)、距居民点的距离(20.4%)、等温性(9.5%)、距道路的距离(5.3%)、温度变化方差(4.6%)是影响藏雪鸡分布的5个主要环境因子;(3)根据适宜生境初步划定西藏南部、青海东-甘肃西部、川西-青海东南-云南西北部、新疆东南-青海西部为四大保护区。该研究结果对合理有效的保护该物种及其生境具有重要意义。     

拉萨藏雪鸡春季栖息地选择

2005年3—4月,在拉萨曲水县雄色寺周围山上的灌丛地,对藏雪鸡栖息地选择,通过调查和测量与其有关的14个参数,发现雪鸡喜欢在灌丛盖度较低、距离民居近的地方觅食,并喜欢在灌丛盖度较低、草本种类较少、草本盖度较低、岩石较多、距民房距离较近的地方休息。另外还发现,人类保护和投食对雪鸡栖息地选择也有很大的影响。调查结果显示,研究地区的雪鸡活动在很大程度上依赖人类活动。     

Habitat selection of the Tibetan Snow Cock Tetraogallus tibetanus in the spring in Lhasa

The habitat selection of Tibetan Snow Cocks in shrub vegetation was investigated in Lhasa,Tibet,China,between March and April,2005.Fourteen parameters were measured.These include altitude,slope,slope aspect,slope position,vegetation cover,plant type and other environmental parameters.Results show that Snow Cocks favor foraging in areas where vegetation cover was small and close to the residents' houses.Supplementary food supplied by humans has caused Snow Cocks to decrease their foraging range.Snow Cocks also favor roosting in areas with low vegetation,sparse grass,short grass,large rocks and close to houses.The Snow Cocks' activity in the study areas show a close relationship with human activities.     

Habitat selection of the Tibetan Snow Cock Tetraogallus tibetanus in the spring in Lhasa

The habitat selection of Tibetan Snow Cocks in shrub vegetation was investigated in Lhasa, Tibet, China, between March and April, 2005. Fourteen parameters were measured. These include altitude, slope, slope aspect, slope position, vegetation cover, plant type and other environmental parameters. Results show that Snow Cocks favor foraging in areas where vegetation cover was small and close to the residents’ houses. Supplementary food supplied by humans has caused Snow Cocks to decrease their foraging range. Snow Cocks also favor roosting in areas with low vegetation, sparse grass, short grass, large rocks and close to houses. The Snow Cocks’ activity in the study areas show a close relationship with human activities. __________ Translated from Zoological Research, 2006, 27(5): 513–517 [译自: 动物学研究]     

Impacts of snow cover duration on vegetation spring phenology over the Tibetan Plateau

Aims Snow cover occupies large percentage of land surface in Tibetan Plateau. Snow cover duration (SCD) during non-growing seasons plays a critical role in regulating alpine vegetation’s phenology by affecting the energy budgets of land surface and soil moisture conditions. Different period’s snow cover during non-growing season may have distinct effect on the vegetation’s phenology. Start of season (SOS) has been observed advanced under the ongoing climate change in the plateau, but it still remains unclear how the SCD alters the SOS. This study attempts to answer the following questions: (i) What is the pattern of spatial and temporal variations for SCD and grassland SOS? (ii) Which period’s SCD plays a critical role in grassland’s SOS?     

Captive breeding for reintroduction: influence of management practices and biological factors on survival of captive kaki (black stilt)

An important component of the restoration strategy for the critically endangered kaki or black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) is captive breeding for release. Since 1981 1,879 eggs were collected from wild and captive pairs, with birds laying up to four clutches. Eggs were incubated artificially and most chicks reared by hand until released as juveniles (about 60 days) or sub‐adults (9–10 months). Because survival in captivity is a significant determinant of the number of birds available for release, we wished to identify sources of variation in mortality to assess potential impacts of management on productivity. Hatchability was 78% for captive‐laid eggs and 91% for wild‐laid eggs. Survival of hatched eggs was 82% by 10 months of age for both wild and captive birds. Most egg mortality occurred early in incubation and around hatching: the timing of mortality was unaffected by whether birds were captive or wild, hybrid or pure kaki, or when eggs were laid. Heavier hatchlings showed higher initial survival, as did chicks from wild parents. Hatchlings from fourth‐laid eggs showed lowest survival, even though hatchling mass tended to increase with hatch order. Survival of chicks subjected to major health interventions was 69% after 4 months. No differences in survival were found between different genders, hybrids and pure kaki, hand‐reared or parent‐reared birds, chicks hatching early or late in the season, different seasons, different‐sized groups of chicks, chicks reared in different brooders, juveniles kept in different aviaries, and chicks from subsequent clutches. Birds subjected to minor health interventions were equally likely to survive as healthy chicks (82%). Survival was high despite aggressive management (quadruple clutching and collecting late in the season). Differences between captive and wild birds suggest further improvements could be made to captive diet. Wide variation in hatchability between parent pairs substantiates the practice of breaking up poorly performing pairs. Zoo Biol 0:1–16, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Iodine deficiency affects hatchability of endangered captive kaki (Black Stilt,Himantopus novaezelandiae)

A significant increase in hatching and late‐incubation deaths during two breeding seasons in a captive population of endangered black stilts (kaki, Himantopus novaezelandiae) prompted an investigation into the potential role of iodine deficiency. During the 1997 and 1998 breeding seasons, the survival rate of captive‐laid eggs during artificial incubation and hatching was lower than that of eggs laid by wild kaki, which were collected and incubated artificially in the same environment. Necropsy results revealed abnormalities in thyroid structure. These abnormalities had been occurring in captive birds since 1994, but they peaked in 1997 and 1998 at 30% and 81%, respectively, of all diagnosed necropsies. Necropsies of pied stilts, hybrids, and one kaki from the wild revealed no thyroid abnormalities. Gross morphological symptoms observed at hatching in chicks that died were consistent with those described for iodine deficiency in poultry. Serum levels of thyroxine (T4) were considerably higher in wild pied stilts and hybrid chicks than in captive adult, subadult, and kaki chicks. In five individuals from the captive population, serum levels increased after about 160 days of iodine supplementation and approached values in the wild. The constraints associated with working with such a critically endangered species (e.g., small sample size and an urgent need to effect changes) precluded the use of an experimental approach to determine the role iodine deficiency played in peri‐hatching deaths. However, we believe the evidence presented here strongly supports a case for the impact of iodine on survival within the captive population. Our experience also highlights the need for vigilance in captive programs with respect to potential dietary deficiencies when endangered species are raised in captivity for conservation purposes. Zoo Biol 23:1–13, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

藏羚羊冷季对干物质的消化效率

藏羚羊（Pantholops hodgsoni）为青藏高原特有物种,也是世界上最为珍贵和稀有的物种之一。作为青藏高原野生食草动物的典型代表,藏羚羊种群也是构成青藏高原自然生态系统极为重要的组成部分。藏羚羊独特的体态和生理结构,对研究生物适应与进化,尤其是研究高原条件下的生物适应与进化,维护高原地区生态平衡均有极为重要的意义（郑中朝和李宏,2002）。对藏羚羊牧草利用特征的研究对其营养生态学的研究具有重要的科学价值。本文采用藏羚羊饲草中酸不溶灰分作为内源指示剂,对其冷季牧草消化率进行了初步研究,现将结果予以报道。     

云南迪庆州传统藏药雪莲资源的保护和可持续利用

对云南省迪庆藏族自治州传统藏药雪莲资源及其利用的状况进行了调查。通过调查发现该地区雪莲植物共有22种及1变种,市场上常当作商品出售的有5种。雪莲每年的贸易量达到55000kg,而且资源利用方式落后,已经造成雪莲特别是二年生的雪莲个体数明显减少,严重威胁了这些物种的生存。依据调查结果,建议提高人们的保护意识,控制雪莲的采集量、限制一年生雪莲采集的时间以及禁止多年生雪莲的采集。     

Social suppression of reproduction in male naked mole-rats, Heterocephalus glaber

To investigate possible anatomical and endocrine differences between breeding and non-breeding male naked mole-rats, 113 animals from 24 captive and 4 wild colonies were studied. While breeding males had larger reproductive tract masses compared to non-breeders relative to body mass (P less than 0.01), spermatogenesis was active in all of the non-breeding males examined histologically (n = 9) and spermatozoa were present in the epididymides. Compared with non-breeders, breeding males had significantly higher urinary testosterone concentrations (mean +/- s.e.m.: 23.8 +/- 2.3 vs 5.2 +/- 1.4 ng/mg Cr respectively; P less than 0.001), and plasma LH (10.7 +/- 1.7 vs 5.0 +/- 0.8 mi.u./ml respectively; P less than 0.01). Single doses of 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 microgram GnRH produced a significant rise in plasma LH concentrations 20 min after s.c. injection in breeding and non-breeding males at all doses (P less than 0.001). However, there were differences in the magnitude of the LH response following administration of GnRH between breeding and non-breeding males, with non-breeding males showing a dose-response and having lower plasma LH concentrations 20 min after a single injection of 0.1 or 0.5 microgram (P less than 0.05), but not 1.0 microgram, GnRH. This apparent lack of pituitary sensitivity of non-breeding males to single doses of exogenous GnRH was reversed by 4 consecutive injections of 0.5 microgram GnRH at hourly intervals, suggesting that the reduced sensitivity may be the result of insufficient priming of the pituitary by endogenous GnRH. These results indicate that, despite the fact that non-breeding males were apparently producing mature gametes, clear endocrine deficiencies existed in male naked mole-rats.     

Temperature and egg-laying experience influence breeding performance of captive female houbara bustards

The influence of climate, age and egg-laying experience on reproductive performance (propensity, fecundity, timing) of a flock of captive houbara bustards was determined. The flock, established in Saudi Arabia for reintroduction purposes, was housed in outdoor pens, and fed food and water ad libitum. Birds were artificially inseminated when they came into breeding condition and eggs were removed soon after laying. Winter temperatures, rather than rainfall, synchronized reproduction in the captive flock. Cooler winter temperatures led to higher proportions of females laying, an earlier start to laying, and greater numbers of eggs laid per season. The first significant rainfall of the season stimulated some females to lay their last egg. Age per se had little effect on breeding performance independent of egg-laying experience. Females with no previous egg-laying experience laid fewer eggs than similarly aged females with previous experience. This difference, in combination with a pattern of increasing recruitment into the breeding population between 1 and 5 years of age, led to improved breeding performance in the population with age. The inferior performance of first-time egg-layers, despite ad libitum food, indicates restraint in the onset of breeding, which may be an adaptation for optimizing life-time fitness.