赤狐气味对高原鼠兔繁殖的影响

在野外条件下,利用赤狐的粪尿气味增加高原鼠兔的捕食风险,研究捕食风险对高原鼠兔繁殖的影响。结果表明,作为衡量高原鼠兔繁殖投入大小的定量指标,成体高原鼠兔的体重变化在捕食风险处理样方与对照样方之间没有明显的不同,随着繁殖期的延长,两样方内雌雄个体的体重均显减少,说明捕食风险对高原鼠兔的繁殖投入无明显影响,因此,捕食风险对幼体的生长、发育也无明显的作用。捕食风险增加后,高原鼠兔平均每个雌性成体拥有的后代数目、性比和居留率与对照样方比较均无明显不同,但是由于扩散等原因使每个雄性成体拥有的后代数、繁殖期结束后幼体的性比有明显的差异。以上结果并未显示出捕食气味作为捕食风险对高原鼠兔的繁殖产生抑制作用,其主要原因是捕食风险的类型不同和研究期间高原鼠兔本身承受的捕食风险较大,高原鼠兔可能通过行为变化调节捕食风险增加对其产生的不利影响。     

高寒草甸生态系统中高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠的捕食风险及生存对策

调查青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统中两种主要啮齿动物及其天敌动物的种群密度,分析天敌动物对两种啮齿类的捕食方式、捕食强度,探讨啮齿类动物的捕食风险及生存对策。研究结果表明,高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠的种群密度分别为4．97只／hm^2和10．6只／hm^2,而它们的主要天敌赤狐、艾虎和香鼬的种群密度分别为0．16只／100hm^2、0．37只／100hm^2、3只／100hm^2。艾虎和香鼬在取食过程中主要搜寻啮齿类的洞道系统,全部食物几乎都来源于洞道系统内;赤狐或取食地面活动的鼠兔,或挖掘洞口待高原鼢鼠封闭洞口时取食猎物。高原鼠兔在赤狐、艾虎和香鼬的食物中所出现的频次分别为100％、96．1％、100％,高原鼢鼠在3种天敌动物的食物中所出现的频次分别为87．5％、73．2％、0％。3种天敌动物对高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠的捕食强度分别为0．703％和0．038％,高原鼠兔和高原鼢鼠所承受的捕食风险分别为0．780和0．393。高原鼠兔在高的捕食风险下通过行为对策和繁殖对策增加其适合度,而承受捕食风险较小的高原鼢鼠主要通过封闭的洞道系统和高的存活率增加其适合度。     

艾虎对猎物和捕食者气味的反应

在室内条件下通过双通道选择实验确定艾虎(Mustelaeversmanni)在通过不同气味源的场所中的取食量以及利用时间和利用频次,由此分析捕食者气味和猎物气味对艾虎取食行为的影响。研究结果表明,在无任何气味源存在时,艾虎在对照气味和对照气味组这两个场所中的取食量、活动时间和活动频次基本一致。在猎物高原鼠兔(Ochotonacurzoniae)气味和对照气味组及高原鼢鼠(Myospalaxbaileyi)气味和对照气味组的两组实验中,艾虎在通过猎物气味的场所中的取食量、活动时间和活动频次与对照气味场所中比较也无明显的差异,但是在天敌动物赤狐(Vulpesvulpes)气味存在的条件下,艾虎明显减少在通过赤狐气味的场所中的取食量、活动时间和活动频次。同时,当间接捕食风险天敌动物赤狐气味存在时,艾虎明显增加了总的取食量,减少了在巢箱中居住的时间,而将更多的时间停留在无风险的场所中,这说明艾虎能够利用天敌动物赤狐的气味,采用增加取食量和减少高风险区域活动时间的策略来降低被捕食风险。     

艾虎对猎物和捕食者气味的反应

在室内条件下通过双通道选择实验确定艾虎(Mustela eversmanni)在通过不同气味源的场所中的取食量以及利用时间和利用频次，由此分析捕食者气味和猎物气味对艾虎取食行为的影响。研究结果表明，在无任何气味源存在时，艾虎在对照气味和对照气味组这两个场所中的取食量、活动时间和活动频次基本一致。在猎物高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)气味和对照气味组及高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)气味和对照气味组的两组实验中，艾虎在通过猎物气味的场所中的取食量、活动时间和活动频次与对照气味场所中比较也无明显的差异，但是在天敌动物赤狐(Vulpes vulpes)气味存在的条件下，艾虎明显减少在通过赤狐气味的场所中的取食量、活动时间和活动频次。同时，当间接捕食风险天敌动物赤狐气味存在时，艾虎明显增加了总的取食量，减少了在巢箱中居住的时间，而将更多的时间停留在无风险的场所中，这说明艾虎能够利用天敌动物赤狐的气味，采用增加取食量和减少高风险区域活动时间的策略来降低被捕食风险。     

不同性别和年龄的大仓鼠对黄鼬气味的反应

将雌性成体和雌雄亚成体大仓鼠 (Cricetulustriton)长期 (4周 )暴露给过量的黄鼬 (Mustelasibirica)肛腺分泌物 ,观察其行为和生理状态的变化 ,并通过与我们以前有关黄鼬气味对成年雄鼠影响的研究结果进行比较 ,表明黄鼬气味对不同性别和不同年龄大仓鼠的胁迫效应和生殖抑制存在差异。发现黄鼬气味对雌性大仓鼠的影响较雄性小 ,对亚成体的影响较成体小 ,这与雌性和未成年动物对各种胁迫因素的反应更敏感的普遍现象相反。在成年鼠中 ,雌雄鼠的攻击行为都受到黄鼬气味的抑制 ;但天敌气味使雌性的胁腺膨大 ,对胁腺标记和肾上腺大小无影响 ;成年雄鼠的肾上腺膨大 ,胁腺萎缩 ,标记减少。在亚成体中 ,除了雄性胁腺受到抑制(与成年雄鼠相同 )外 ,雌雄鼠的肾上腺和雌性的胁腺未受影响。亚成体实验鼠的体重都比对照组低 ,但成年鼠的体重未受影响。另外 ,与以往对其它鼠类的研究结果一致 ,天敌气味并不影响成年鼠的生殖器官 ,却抑制了未成年雄鼠的附睾和未成年雌鼠的子宫。这些差异可能和生理基础的性二态以及可能面临的被捕食风险大小有关     

高原鼠兔家群结构的季节变异

采用标志重捕法测定高原鼠兔家群年龄结构和性比,探讨其家群结构的季节变异及原因.结果显示,繁殖早期,家群由越冬成体和第1胎幼体构成;繁殖后期,家群主要由第1胎幼体构成.高原鼠兔家群年龄结构依季节存在显著的差异.5月,成体和雌性第1胎幼体个体数显著多于其他月份;5月和6月雄性第1胎幼体个体数显著多于7月和8月;6月第2胎幼体个体数显著多于7月和8月;7月雄性第2胎幼体个体数显著多于8月.7月和8月,第1胎幼体个体数显著多于第2胎幼体.高原鼠兔家群内5月成体性比显著高于7月和8月.结果表明,高原鼠兔在冬季漫长、食物匮乏以及繁殖季节极短等条件下,调整家群结构,提高繁殖成功率,使其种群在严酷的高寒环境中得以延续.     

繁殖期高原鼠兔的行为时间分配与后代存活率的关系

2002年4-8月份,在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站附近,采用标志流放、直接观察法和解剖法对青藏高原特有的植食性小哺乳动物———高原鼠兔(Ochotonacurzoniae)的行为时间分配、繁殖特征和后代存活率等方面进行了研究。结果表明,雌、雄成体平均地面活动时间占总时间的比例分别为88.67%和89.88%,在不同的繁殖时段,成体的各种行为时间分配存在显著的变化,并影响后代的存活率。幼体从出生到15d的存活率和雌、雄性成体的每次移动距离以及雌性成体的地面活动强度都显著的正相关;从15d到45d的存活率和雄性成体的地面活动强度、观望强度显著的正相关。在相同的观察时期,高原鼠兔雌、雄成体的一些行为时间分配存在显著差异,如雄性成体地面移动距离、频次在繁殖前期显著的高于雌性成体;雄性成体的观望强度在6、7月份显著高于雌性成体。说明雄性成体在领域防卫中较雌性成体承担更多的责任,雌、雄成体在育幼活动中的繁殖投入存在互补性。     

高原鼠兔领域行为时间分配格局及其对风险环境适应的探讨

采用直接观察法测定了高原鼠兔地面、洞道活动时间及进、出洞频率。结果表明,在07：00-18：00,雄性和雌性高原鼠兔平均地面活动时间分别占总活动时间比例的87．09％和85．22％。地面活动时间具有明显的季节性,但两性个体间无显著的差异。繁殖早期,成年雌体地面活动时问显著高于繁殖后期,第2胎幼体地面活动时间显著低于第1胎幼体。不同年龄和性别的高原鼠兔进洞频率存在极显著差异,5月成年雌体进洞频率最高,而成年雄体在4月进洞频率最低。研究结果验证了捕食风险可制约鼠兔属动物领域活动时间分配,高风险环境能增加其利用洞道的时间及频率的特定假设。     

相关风险因子对高原鼠兔摄食行为的影响

研究了捕食风险环境中集和洞口距离对高原鼠兔摄食行为的影响。结果表明,集群数量的增加不仅降低了警觉行为,同时也减少了摄食行为,在高风险环境中,集群为1时的取食行为强度最大,低风险环境中,为0时最大,警觉行为主要出现在距洞口2m的范围内,其行为强度与洞口踪影职责负相关,当洞口距离大于3m时,风险处理区的高原鼠兔几乎无警觉行为出现,且该处理区的取食区域几乎压缩的洞口旁,研究结果表明,在捕食风险环境中,高原鼠兔摄食行为与集群和洞口距离之间具有复杂的关系,其行为决策反映了降低风险与摄取食物间的权衡,行为目标是在降低捕食风险的同时尽可能地取食食物。     

地表覆盖物对高原鼠兔栖息地利用的影响

对地表覆盖物对高原鼠兔栖息地利用的作用进行了研究, 地表覆盖物增加后, 高原鼠兔能依据其程度及毗邻生境状况, 或减少地面活动增加对洞道系统的利用; 或转移到较安全区域; 同时摄食行为也发生变化, 显著增加用于防御的时间, 且取食区域几乎集中于洞口附近。研究表明, 高原鼠兔视地表覆盖物为一种捕食风险源, 并对此具有一定的评估能力, 其行为反应实质上是通过对食物获取与风险大小的权衡而做出的一种行为决策。间接捕食风险是高原鼠兔在选择和利用栖息地时所必须考虑的权衡因子, 也是一个重要的摄食代价。     

Characteristics of the membranes of the pellicle of the ciliatePseudomicrothorax dubius

Summary The membranes of the pellicle of the ciliatePseudomicrothorax dubius are investigated using thin section electron microscopy and freeze-fracture replicas. The plasma membrane is covered by a surface coat and is connected to the outer alveolar membrane by short, sometimes branched, bridges. The inner alveolar membrane is coated on both sides. The epiplasm lies in intimate contact with the cytoplasmic surface of this membrane, and there is a corresponding deposit on the other surface. This deposit is regularly striated.The epiplasmic layer and the alveoli are interrupted at sites of cytotic activity,e.g., the attachment sites of trichocysts, the cytoproct, and the parasomal sacs. The striated deposit ends where the epiplasm ends, indicating a direct relationship between these two epimembranous layers.There is a deposit along the sides of the first part of the tip of the trichocysts, and in this region the trichocyst membrane is free of intramembranous particles.The membrane of the parasomal sacs has a coat on both surfaces. That on the extraplasmic surface is similar to the surface coat of the plasma membrane. The origin of the cytoplasmic coat is unknown. The cytotic activity of these sacs is indicated by their highly irregular profiles.     

The early development of the tail and the transformation of the shape of the nucleus of the spermatid of the domestic fowl,Gallus gallus

Summary The differentiation of the spermatid, especially in reference to the formation of the flagellum, and transformation of the shape of the nucleus was investigated in the domestic fowl.In the early stage of the spermatid, a prominent Golgi apparatus appears around the centrioles. The Golgi vesicles then surround the axial-filament complex which develops from the distal centriole. These vesicles fuse to form continuous membrane at the earliest stage of flagellar formation, and in the succeeding stage Golgi lamellae are attached to the plasma membrane of the developing flagellum. From these observations, it is assumed that Golgi apparatus may be a source of the membrane system of the flagellum.The microtubules distributed around the nucleus form the circular manchette. The anterior region of the nucleus with the manchette is cylindrical in shape and the posterior region without it remains irregular in shape. When the circular manchette has been completed, the whole nucleus acquires a slender cylindrical shape. The circular manchette then changes into the longitudinal manchette. The nuclei of spermatids without a longitudinal manchette are abnormal in shape. In view of these observations it is assumed that the nuclear shaping of the spermatid may be accomplished by circular manchette and the maintenance of shape of the elongated nucleus by longitudinal manchette.The authors wish to thank Mr. Takayuki Mori for his helpful suggestions and technical advices     

Characterization of the composition of the aqueous humor and the vitreous body of the eye of the frog Rana temporaria L

This study aimed to analyze the aqueous humor (AH) and the vitreous body (VB) of the eye of the adult frog Rana temporaria L. as a representative species of amphibians, which lead a semi-terrestrial life. The presence of collagen, albumin, uric acid and electron donors was shown in both media; however, there are slight differences in their concentrations. To determine collagen, a spectral-fluorescent probe, cyanine dye, was used. The presence of collagen in AH of the frog was found at the first time. The total content of electron donors (ascorbic and uric acids, tryptophan, and tyrosine) in VB and HA was roughly estimated at ~ 1.5 × 10^− 4 mol/L. Both VB and AH absorb light in similar UV regions. The total protein and albumin contents in AH were found to be somewhat higher than those in VB. The uric acid content was at an equally low level in both intraocular media. It is supposed that the similarity of VB and AH compositions shown in this work is due to some exchange between VB and AH contents in the course of accommodation. The role of intraocular fluids in physiological functions of the eye and in protecting the retina against UV light is discussed.     

Observations on the permeability of the choriocapillaris of the eye

Summary The choriocapillaris is a fenestrated capillary bed located posterior to the retinal pigment epithelium. It serves as the main source of supply to the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and other cells of the outer retina. The permeability of these capillaries to intravenously injected ferritin (MW — approx. 480,000; mol. diam. 11 nm) was examined in the mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig, each of which is characterized by a different type of retinal vascularization. In all three species, the bulk of the ferritin remained in the capillary lumina, where it appeared to be blocked at the level of the diaphragmed fenestrae. Some ferritin was present in endothelial cell vacuoles. The results confirm previous work on the rat choriocapillaris and indicate that the barrier function of the choriocapillary endothelium is present even among species in which the retinal circulation differs significantly.Supported by NIH grant EY03418