贺兰山岩羊（Pseudois nayaur）夏季取食和卧息生境选择

采用直接观察法和痕迹检验法对贺兰山岩羊夏季取食和卧息生境选择进行研究.结果表明,夏季岩羊偏好的取食地位于海拔高度1 600～2 000 m的山地疏林草原带,地形为平滑起伏的坡、明显断裂的坡和悬崖,以灰榆和山杨为优势乔木或无树,乔木矮小稀疏且距离远,接近低矮但密度较大的灌木,食物较多,位于<30°和>35°半阴半阳坡的下坡位,接近水源,人为干扰距离500～1 000 m,距裸岩2～5 m,隐蔽级25%～75%;夏季岩羊偏好的卧息地具有位于海拔高度1 600～2 000 m和>3 000 m的山地疏林草原带及亚高山灌丛和草甸带,地形为明显断裂的坡和悬崖,以灰榆和山杨为优势乔木或无树,乔木和灌木均矮小稀疏且距离较远,食物较少,位于>35°阴坡的上坡位,接近水源,人为干扰距离远,接近裸岩,隐蔽程度低.岩羊的取食和卧息生境在乔木高度和距水源距离上差异不显著(P > 0.05),而其余生态因子均有显著差异(P < 0.05).与取食生境相比,岩羊选择的卧息生境具有乔木稀疏且距离较远、灌木较少、低矮且距离较远、食物丰富度低、坡度大、远离人为干扰、接近裸岩和隐蔽程度低的特征.逐步判别分析表明,食物丰富度、灌木高度、距水源距离、隐蔽级、灌木密度、灌木距离、乔木高度和乔木距离8个生态因子可以区分取食样方与任意样方,正确判别率为85.8%;而区分卧息样方与任意样方时,距水源距离、灌木高度、距裸岩距离、人为干扰距离、食物丰富度、灌木密度和灌木距离共7个生态因子发挥作用,正确判别率为89.1%.     

贺兰山同域分布岩羊和马鹿发情季节的生境选择差异

2007年和2008年9—12月,在宁夏贺兰山国家级自然保护区和内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区利用痕迹检验法和直接观察法对同域分布的岩羊和马鹿发情季节生境选择进行研究。通过在选定的15条沟段里进行调查,分别测定了岩羊和马鹿的177个和154个样方的18种生态因子。结果表明,发情季节岩羊和马鹿在植被类型、地形特征、优势乔木、坡向、坡位、灌木密度、灌木高度、植被盖度、坡度、海拔高度、距水源距离、人为干扰距离、距裸岩距离和隐蔽级等生态因子选择上存在极显著差异(P0.01),乔木高度存在显著差异(P0.05),而其余生态因子无显著差异(P0.05),相对于马鹿选择的生境而言,岩羊发情季节更偏爱选择地势陡峭的山地疏林草原带,优势乔木以较高的灰榆为主,灌木密度低但高度较高,植被盖度较低,坡度较大的阳坡中上部,海拔较低,接近水源和裸岩,隐蔽程度低的生境。典则系数显示发情季节岩羊和马鹿的生境选择几乎完全分离,Wilk’sλ值也显示发情季节岩羊和马鹿的生境选择具有很高的差异性(Wilk’sλ=0.123,χ2=679.172,df=10,P0.001)。发情季节岩羊和马鹿的Fisher线性判别函数分别为:F岩羊=3.638×乔木高度+0.242×乔木距离+7.766×灌木高度+0.663×灌木距离+0.232×植被盖度+0.191×坡度+0.001×距水源距离+0.008×距裸岩距离+0.307×隐蔽级-31.078;F马鹿=4.850×乔木高度+0.321×乔木距离+12.024×灌木高度+0.929×灌木距离+0.192×植被盖度+0.482×坡度+0.002×距水源距离-0.001×人为干扰距离-0.003×距裸岩距离+0.511×隐蔽级-50.787。逐步判别分析表明在区分发情季节岩羊和马鹿生境方面有一系列生态因子发挥作用,依照贡献值的大小依次为坡度、人为干扰距离、隐蔽级、距裸岩距离、乔木高度、乔木距离、距水源距离、灌木高度、灌木距离和植被盖度,由这10个变量构成的方程对发情季节岩羊和马鹿生境的正确区分率达到99.7%。     

贺兰山岩羊冬春季取食生境的比较

2003年11～12月和2004年4～6月,在贺兰山设定了25条固定样线,采用直接观察法对岩羊冬春季的取食生境选择进行了研究。结果表明,岩羊冬季对12种取食生境生态因子有选择性,偏爱选择位于山地疏林草原带,优势乔木为灰榆,乔木密度〈4株、高度4～6m,灌木密度〉5株、高度〉1．3m,食物质量〉50g,人为干扰距离〈500m,距裸岩距离〈2m的地方取食。而春季对11种取食生境生态因子有选择性,偏爱选择山地疏林草原带,优势乔木为灰榆,乔木密度〈4株、高度〈6m,灌木密度5～10株、高度1．3～1．7m,食物质量〉100g,海拔高度〈2000m,距水源距离〈500m,隐蔽级50％～75％的地点。冬春季岩羊对植被类型、地形特征、优势乔木、乔木密度、乔木高度、灌木密度、灌木距离、食物丰富度、坡向、坡度、距水源距离、人为干扰距离和隐蔽级的选择存在显著差异。主成分分析表明,冬季第1主成分的贡献率达24．493％,其中绝对值较大的权系数出现在植被类型、优势乔木、乔木高度、乔木距离、灌木密度、灌木高度、海拔高度、距水源距离和人为干扰距离等生态因子：春季第1主成分的贡献率达28．777％,其中绝对值较大的权系数出现在植被类型、乔木距离、灌木高度、灌木距离、食物丰富度、海拔高度和人为干扰距离等生态因子。随着北方地区冬春季食物数量和质量的剧烈变化,贺兰山岩羊对取食生境的利用对策也将发生一定程度的改变,与其他分布区的岩羊相比,贺兰山独特的地理位置和特殊生境使其在取食生境选择上存在很大差异。     

秦岭周至自然保护区斑羚夏冬季生境选择利用

2014年2月、2014年12月—2015年1月和2015年6—7月,在陕西省周至自然保护区,采用样带法对斑羚冬季和夏季生境选择进行研究。结果表明,斑羚夏季对14种生境因子有选择性,而在冬季斑羚对16种生境因子有选择性。夏冬季斑羚对植被类型、坡位、海拔、坡度、郁闭度、乔木大小、乔木距离、灌木密度、灌木距离、灌木盖度、草本盖度、草本种类、距隐蔽物距离和距人为干扰距离的选择存在显著差异。逻辑斯蒂回归分析表明,坡向、坡位、乔木大小、乔木距离、灌木大小、隐蔽级、距隐蔽物距离、距人为干扰距离是斑羚夏季生境选择的主导因子。坡向、坡位、郁闭度、乔木距离、灌木大小、灌木距离、草本种类、隐蔽级、距水源距离是斑羚冬季生境选择的主导因子。     

贺兰山牦牛冬春季的生境选择

在2009年12月－2010年1月和2010年4－5月,采用样线法结合直接观察法对贺兰山牦牛的冬春季生境选择进行了研究。结果表明,牦牛冬季对11种生境因子有选择性,偏爱山地针叶林带,海拔小于2 000 m,优势乔木为灰榆,坡度小于10,下坡位,距水源距离大于1 200 m,人为干扰距离2 000－4 000 m,隐蔽级大于70 %;春季牦牛对13种利用生境生态因子有选择性,偏爱于亚高山灌丛和草甸带,海拔大于3 000 m,乔木密度小于1株,乔木高度小于3 m,乔木距离大于3 m,灌木密度大于4 0株,灌木距离小于1 m,植被盖度大于7 0 %,上坡位,距水源的距离小于8 00 m,人为干扰距离大于4 000 m,隐蔽级大于7 0 %。冬春季牦牛在海拔、植被类型、地形特征、优势乔木、灌木种类、坡位、坡向、人为干扰距离、距水源距离上存在显著差异。主成分分析表明冬季第一主成分的贡献率21.100 %,其中绝对值较大的相关系数是乔木距离、优势乔木、乔木高度和乔木密度;春季第一主成分的贡献率是31.247 %,其中绝对值较大的相关系数是植被类型、海拔高度、地形特征和灌木密度。与其他分布地区的牦牛相比,贺兰山地区的牦牛能适应当地的地理特征和气候环境。     

四川铁布梅花鹿自然保护区梅花鹿夏季栖息地选择

四川梅花鹿Cervus nippon sichuanicus为国家Ⅰ级重点保护动物,四川铁布梅花鹿自然保护区分布有我国现存最大的梅花鹿野生种群。2011年6-9月,采用样方法对保护区梅花鹿夏季栖息地选择进行了调查,共布设109个样方(利用样方61个,对照样方48个),测量并比较了海拔、坡度等20个生境因子。结果显示,梅花鹿偏好利用的植被类型为灌丛、草甸、针叶林,同时选择隐蔽度较高的生境;此外,距水源距离、灌木高度、灌木盖度、灌木密度、草本高度和草本盖度6个连续变量在利用样方和对照样方之间差异有统计学意义(F<0.05或U<0.05)。回归模型分析结果表明,梅花鹿夏季偏好选择草本盖度大、靠近水源和林缘的生境,回避远离水源和林缘的生境。     

内蒙古达赉湖自然保护区狼冬季的生境选择

内蒙古达赉湖自然保护区狼的生境受到了自然环境变化压力和人为干扰的严重影响。为了解内蒙古达赉湖自然保护区狼的冬季生境特征,于2008年10-12月,在内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区对狼的冬季生境选择进行了研究。野外共测量了59个20m×20m样方中的11个生态因子,运用聚类分析和主成分分析法,对狼的冬季生境选择因子进行了分析。结果表明,狼的生境主要特征为:隐蔽程度中等以上,水源距离100m,生境类型为高草阔地、干旱苇塘和河套,植被类型是以芦苇和柳灌丛为优势种的沼泽植被,植被高度1.0m,食物丰富度良好,居民点距离1000m,距草原道路距离1000m,牧场距离500m。影响狼冬季生境选择的主要因子为植被高度、植被类型和隐蔽级。次要因子为距围栏距离、雪深、距水源距离、生境类型、距牧场距离、食物丰富度和距居民点距离。     

吉林黄泥河自然保护区马鹿冬季栖息地选择

2009年12月～2010年1月,在黄泥河自然保护区采用样带法对马鹿冬季栖息地选择进行了研究。共设置了47条样带,调查了72个马鹿利用样方和109个对照样方。结果表明,在黄泥河自然保护区冬季马鹿喜欢选择针阔混交林、食物丰富度和灌丛盖度较高、中等坡度和隐蔽级、远离人为干扰源的生境,避开选择阴坡和针叶林。逻辑斯蒂回归分析揭示坡度、隐蔽级、食物丰富度、坡向、人为干扰距离和林型是影响马鹿栖息地选择的主导因子,灌丛盖度为次要因子。回归模型为:Z=-53.391+0.194×坡度+0.352×隐蔽级+0.5×食物丰富度-0.071×灌丛盖度+1.064×坡向(1)+6.11×坡向(2)+0.004×人为干扰距离+17.305×林型(1)+7.147×林型(2),选择利用概率P(z)=ez/(1+ez),模型正确预测率为94.5%。     

江西桃红岭自然保护区夏季梅花鹿对生境的选择性

2005年6-8月在江西桃红岭自然保护区对夏季梅花鹿的生境选择性进行了初步研究。结果表明：梅花鹿选择灌丛和灌草丛、郁闭度较低、灌木盖度较小、食物丰富度高、阴坡、中上坡位、坡度平缓、水源距离在100-400m、人为干扰距离〉800m和海拔高度〉300m的环境;对郁闭度〉80％和水源距离≤100m的环境表现为随机选择。     

陕西黄龙山林区褐马鸡春季夜栖地选择

2006年4～6月,在陕西黄龙山林区,对褐马鸡(Crossoptilon mantchuricum)春季夜栖地的选择进行了研究.共记录到22个夜栖地,以夜栖树为中心做一个10 m×10 m样方,测定夜栖地海拔、坡向、坡度、坡位、地貌特征、夜栖树高度和胸径、乔木层盖度、乔木的数量、灌木层盖度、草本盖度、水源距离、人为干扰距离、林缘距离、栖枝高度和栖位上盖度等参数;通过9条样带测定54个随机样方,除栖枝高度和栖位上盖度外,指标相同.结果表明,褐马鸡春季夜栖地多偏向以坡度较大、山坡和山脊、接近水源、远离林边、人为干扰距离较远、乔木盖度和密度较大、栖树胸径较大、灌木层盖度和草本层盖度较小为主要特征的地方.主成分分析表明,前5个特征值的累积贡献率达到72.746%,可以较好地反映褐马鸡春季夜栖地生境特征.根据载荷系数绝对值大小,将褐马鸡春季夜栖地生境选择影响因子分别命名为地形和林下植被因子、气象因子、稳定性因子和水因子.影响褐马鸡夜栖地选择的关键因素是安全、舒适和栖息地转换的方便程度.     

On habitat selection by the goral Nemorhaedus goral bedfordi (Bovidae, Artiodactyla)

Habitat selection, diet, and escape behaviour of grey goral ( Nemorhaedus goral bedfordi ) were studied in Majhatal Harsang Wildlife Sanctuary (MHWS) in the Indian Himalaya. Five trails covering a total length of 8.5 km were monitored in the morning hours for availability of habitat components and their use by goral. Habitat components quantified were: vegetation type, tree density, shrub understorey, shrub height, and slope angle. Diet composition of goral was determined through faecal analysis. Information on escape strategy was gathered by recording the escape areas used by disturbed animals.
Goral fed almost entirely on grass (92.2% in the cold season and 98.3% in the warm season). They preferred open vegetation communities with good grass cover and avoided shrub-rich patches, especially areas where the shrub height exceeded their shoulder height. Goral selected patches with fresh grass sprout and were partial to steep (>30°) slopes.
In the morning, goral avoided most forested vegetation types in the area owing to extensive understorey. However, there was high use of forest cover with little understorey 'for escape' (32%, n = 200). Other escape terrain used were cliffs (31%), open gullies (16%), and rocky areas (13%).     

On the rutting behaviour of the Himalayan goralNemorhaedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825)

The rutting behaviour of the Himalayan goralNemorhaedus goral was studied in an area of the Himalayan foothills, Himachal Pradesh, Northern India, from October 13 to 25, 1989. Twenty seven qualitatively different behaviour patterns were observed. Males showed a more extensive repertoire (25 patterns, 14 performed only by this sex) than did females (12 patterns, 1 of them-Reactive urination-unique). The Head butt and the Intentional head butt were the most frequently shown behaviour patterns of both sexes, and Naso-nasal contact followed. Males interacted mainly with females and usually seemed to ignore each other. Courtship activities peaked on October 22–25, when mounts were also recorded. “Following” was the only mating system observed. Pairs sometimes courted at short distances from each other, without eliciting any apparent aggressive reaction. No evidence of territoriality was found throughout our study period. The goral behaviour appears to be more closely related to that ofOreamnos (in quality and quantity of behaviour patterns, as well as the mating system) than to that ofCapricornis.     

Food and feeding preferences of Himalayan gray goral (Naemorhedus goral bedfordi) in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Himalayan gray goral is endemic to Himalayas and Hindukush ranges. Analysis of 15 fecal samples and field observations from different areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir suggest that goral consumes foliage of a minimum of 28 plant species. Trees, shrubs and grasses appear in the ratio of 1:36:63 and hence the species is a grazer, though may opt for browsing when forced. The species mainly subsists on six species of grasses (Chrysopogon aucheri=17.97%, Themeda anathera=13.03%, Poa pratensis=11.23%, Digitaria decumbens=9.30%, Apluda mutica=7.51%, Aristida cyanatha=3.15%), though leaves of shrubs (Myrsine africana=11.38%, Daphne oleoides=8.87%, Carissa opaca=5.94%, Dodonaea viscose=4.79%, Rubus ellipticus=2.93%, Gymnosporia royleana=1.29%) are also consumed. Food preference indices (consumed/availability) suggest that grasses are highly preferred (16.86 times of availability), followed by shrubs (3.3 times of availability), whereas trees and herbs are not preferred. Food plants contain water (77.9±0.56%), ash (8.6±0.38%), sugars (6.8±0.16%), proteins (5.6%±0.28%) and fats (1.3±0.08%). Food provides 4,440 kcal of energy and 5.45 L of water/day/adult goral, which is sufficient to meet the requirements of the species. Grasses need to be ensured in the protected area separated for management of goral population. Zoo Biol 27:371–380, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Isolation and characterization of 15 microsatellite loci in the Korean goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus)

Microsatellites have been applied in a variety of fields, including conservation genetics. Species‐specific microsatellites are considered as more powerful genetic markers to generate an accurate genetic composition of a species itself. Accordingly, we characterized 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci from Korean goral, Nemorhaedus caudatus, one of the most endangered species in South Korea. The new markers should benefit future studies of the endangered species of other Asian gorals and their relatives for the study of genetic diversity and potential conservation management.     

Cell cycle analysis of in vitro cultured goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) adult skin fibroblasts

The present study was undertaken to examine cell cycle characteristics of endangered Goral (CITES Appendix I) adult skin fibroblasts. Seven experiments were performed, each with a one-way completely randomized design involving three replicates. Least significant difference (LSD) was used to determine variation among treatment groups. Experiment I focused on the effects of cycling, serum-starved, and fully confluent stages of Goral cells. In Experiments II and III, the effects of different antioxidants like beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME, 10 microM), cysteine (2 mM), and glutathione (2 mM) were examined after cells were fully confluent without serum starvation for 24 h and 4 h, respectively. In Experiments IV and V, three protease inhibitors, namely 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP, 2 mM), cycloheximide (7.5 microg/ml) and cytochalasin B (7.5 microg/ml), were used as in Experiment II. In Experiments VI and VII, the effect of different levels of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) at 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.5% were tested by flow cytometry (FACS). In Experiment I, 68.7% of Goral skin fibroblasts reached the G(0)/G(1) stage (2C DNA content) when subjected to the serum-starved medium, which was more than the cycling (64.9%) and fully confluent groups (61.0%) (P > 0.05). Among the chemically treated group, beta-ME, cysteine and DMSO showed better results for synchronization of G(0) + G(1) phases than cycling, serum-starved and fully confluent groups. It can thus be concluded that beta-ME, cysteine and DMSO at certain concentrations can synchronize the cell cycle effectively, which could have a positive impact on somatic cell nuclear transfer in the goral.     

Considering threats to population viability of the endangered Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) using VORTEX

Population viability analysis (PVA) has frequently been used in conservation biology to predict extinction rates for threatened or endangered species. In this study, we used VORTEX to model Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) using previously collected ecological data. We focused on modelling population extinction, mean population size and heterozygosity. The minimum viable population size was found to be at least 50 gorals for 100 years, regardless of carrying capacity. However, populations with fewer than 50 gorals could not remain successful in the model. Inbreeding depression, catastrophes and supplementation also affected patterns of population extinction, mean population size and heterozygosity. Supplementation with new individuals had the strongest effect on extinction, mean population size and heterozygosity, followed by initial population size, inbreeding, catastrophes and carrying capacity. These results suggest that a supplementation by extra goral individuals from goral proliferation facilities would be the most helpful means for the restoration programme. More Korean goral-specific information regarding demographic and habitat parameters is needed for further PVA of the species.     

Assessment of ovarian activity in captive goral (Naemorhedus griseus) using noninvasive fecal steroid monitoring

To date, there is no information on gonadal steroidogenic activity of female goral (Naemorhedus griseus), a threatened species of Thailand. Captive goral populations have been established to produce animals for ex situ conservation and reintroduction, but as yet none are self-sustaining. The objectives of the present study were to (1) determine the influence of season on ovarian steriodogenic function; and (2) examine the relationship between gonadal hormone excretion and sexual behaviors throughout the year. Fecal samples were collected 5 to 7 days/wk for 15 months from 8 adult females housed at Omkoi Wildlife Breeding Center in Thailand and analyzed for ovarian steroid metabolites using validated enzyme immunoassays. Observations of sexual behaviors and mating were conducted each morning for 30 min/session. Based on fecal estrogen and progestagen metabolite concentrations, the overall estrous cycle length was about 21 days, with a 2- to 3-day follicular phase and an 18- to 20-day luteal phase. Sexual behaviors, most notably tail-up, increased for 2 to 3 days during the time estrogens were elevated during mating. Fecal progestagens were elevated during luteal phases and increased further during gestation, which lasted approximately 7 months. The lactation period was 5 months, and females were anestrus for 2 to 5 of those months, with the exception of one that cycled continuously throughout. Two females conceived around 2 months postpartum and so were pregnant during lactation. Birth records over the past 21 years indicated young are born throughout the year. This combined with the hormonal data suggests that female gorals are not strongly seasonal, at least in captivity, although there was considerable variation among females in estrogen and progestagen patterns. In conclusion, fecal steroid metabolite monitoring is an effective means of assessing ovarian function in this species and will be a useful tool for breeding management and planned development of assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer.     

Species and sex identification of the Korean goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) by molecular analysis of non-invasive samples

Korean long-tailed goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) is one of the most endangered species in South Korea. However, detailed species distribution and sex ratio data on the elusive goral are still lacking due to difficulty of identification of the species and sex in the field. The primary aim of this study was to develop an economical PCR-RFLP method to identify species using invasive or non-invasive samples from five Korean ungulates: goral (N. caudatus), roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), feral goat (Capra hircus), water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and musk deer (Moschus moschiferus). The secondary aim was to find more efficient molecular sexing techniques that may be applied to invasive or non-invasive samples of ungulate species. We successfully utilized PCR-RFLP of partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (376 bp) for species identification, and sex-specific amplification of ZFX/Y and AMELX/Y genes for sexing. Three species (goral, goat and water deer) showed distinctive band patterns by using three restriction enzymes (XbaI, StuI or SspI). Three different sexing primer sets (LGL331/335 for ZFX/Y gene; SE47/48 or SE47/53 for AMELX/Y gene) produced sex-specific band patterns in goral, goat and roe deer. Our results suggest that the molecular analyses of non-invasive samples might provide us with potential tools for the further genetic and ecological study of Korean goral and related species.     

Morphometric analyses of non-invasive fecal samples of the Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) for species and age identification

The Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) is at risk of population decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Therefore, it is essential to ascertain its presence and/or the identity of individuals of the goral using non-invasive fecal samples for its conservation and management. In this study, we examined the morphology of fecal samples to provide the baseline data that can be used to distinguish species and age of goral individuals. We detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces among the five ungulate species found in Korea. Also, we detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces of gorals depending on the age groups. To assess the accuracy of species and age identification based on the fecal morphology, we conducted a series of blind comparison between the mean length-to-width ratios of the fecal pellets and the reference mean ratio values of the fecal pellets. Using 20 fecal pellets, our results showed 73%–86% probability of correct identification of the three species (gorals, goats, and roe deer), and 83%–90% probability of correct identification of >5 year-old goral individuals. The use of fecal morphometric analyses will be useful for the studies of Korean ungulate species, particularly the endangered gorals.     

Nematodirus nemorhaedi sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the Amur goral Nemorhaedus caudatus raddeanus]

Nematodirus nemorhaedi sp. n. is described. The new species was found in the small intestine in three long-tailed gorals from the Maritime Territory. The species differs from other species of the genus, parasites of ungulates, by very large (over 1.5 mm) spicules and characteristic structure of their distal end in males; by long (about 1 mm) ovijector in females and by a specific combination of characters of synloph, genital bursa in males, sizes of body, structure of vulva, sizes and shape of eggs and tail in females.