高原鼠兔种群敏殖生态的研究

1985-1988年,在青海湖黑马河地区以耳标法对高原鼠兔的繁殖生态进行了研究。在繁殖群体中主要是来自上年出生的第1、2胎的鼠兔（82.85%）,第3胎和老体占少数。成年雌鼠兔100%参加繁殖,通常年产3胎,有的年份可产4胎或5胎。产仔数1-8只（平均为4.52±0.12）,1只雌鼠兔终生可产2-29只。妊娠期为22.2±0.13天。洞内哺乳期为11.65±0.01天。有的年份当年出生的少数雌鼠兔到36.8±3.05日龄可达到性成熟并参加繁殖,生1-2胎,雄鼠兔性成熟较晚。     

布氏田鼠标志种群的繁殖参数

采用标志重捕和染色观测法跟踪了内蒙古典型草原区布氏田鼠野外种群,按绝对时间年龄研究其种群繁殖参数。结果3表明：4－5月份出生的雄鼠能在当年达到性成熟,性成熟发育历期约为1．5个月,6月后出生的雄鼠当年达不到性成熟。在达到性成熟的当年雄鼠中,多数个体再度转入性休止期,其平均繁殖结束时间要林越冬雄鼠早1个月,而越冬雄鼠则在整个繁殖期保持性活动状态。雌鼠性成熟发育历期约为1个月,首次产仔时间约为2月龄。雌鼠在一年中的产仔窝数与其年龄有关;越冬鼠能产3－4窝,4月份出生的雌鼠能产2－3窝,5月份出生的雌鼠当年能产1－2窝,6月份出生的雌鼠能产0－1窝,7月份之后出生雌鼠当年不参加繁殖,在自然条件下,布氏田鼠一年中最多能产4窝。     

布氏田鼠种群繁殖特征研究

越冬田鼠每年可繁殖3胎,第1胎幼仔生于4月下旬到6月上旬,第2胎幼仔生于5月中旬到7月上旬,第3胎幼仔生于6月中旬到7月下旬。种群上升年份(1987)各胎幼仔出生高峰比1988年的提前10天左右。1987年越冬鼠第1胎集中,如4月下半月,1987年怀孕率为100%,而1988年只有44.44%。6月上半月以前越冬鼠为种群繁殖的主体,而后被当年生鼠所取代。从4月下半月到9月上半月共出生4批同龄群。K₁和K₂组生长发育旺盛,当年就参加种群繁殖,可怀孕1—3胎。K₃组生长发育较慢,当年并不性成熟,越冬后性成熟成为种群越冬鼠的主体。K₄出生晚,数量少,很少能度过漫长寒冷的冬季而成为种群的无用或潜在的繁殖力量。本文还发现越冬鼠的平均胎仔数显著高于当年鼠：种群上升年份越冬鼠平均胎仔数高于种群下降年份,而当年生鼠的平均胎仔数年度间则没有显著性差异。     

高原鼠兔 Ochotona curzoniae自然寿命研究

1984至1987年2月在青海湖黑马河地区,以耳标观察法对高原鼠兔Ochotona curzoniae的自然寿命进行了研究。其结果,高原鼠兔的生存曲线呈L型。最大寿命957天,平均寿命119.9天。1986年出生的幼体,第1胎雄鼠平均寿命108天,雌鼠106天,第2胎雄鼠为58天,雌鼠为66.3天;第3胎雄鼠为24.8天,雌鼠为15.4天。     

高原鼠兔自然寿命研究

1984至1987年2月在青海湖黑马河地区,以耳标观察法对高原鼠兔Ochotona curzoniae的
自然寿命进行了研究．其结果,高原鼠兔的生存曲线呈L型。最大寿命957天,平均寿命119.9天。1986年出生的幼体,第1胎雄鼠平均寿命108天,雌鼠106天;第2胎雄鼠为58天,雌鼠为66.3天;第3胎雄鼠为24.8天,雌鼠为15.4天．     

不同季节长爪沙鼠同生群的繁殖特征及其在生活史对策中的意义

通过剪趾和染毛双重标志的重捕跟踪途径, 结合行为观测研究了栖息于内蒙古农牧交错区草地生境的长爪沙鼠种群繁殖格局。按同生群分组分析的结果显示春季(4～5 月) 出生的雄鼠当年能达到性成熟的个体仅占34.6 % , 性成熟发育历期为3 个月, 其繁殖平均结束时间比越冬鼠早近1 个月。6 月以后出生的雄鼠当年达不到性成熟。达到性成熟的当年雄鼠在繁殖期结束前多数又转入性休止状态。当年雌鼠性成熟历期约2.5 月龄, 初次产仔时间在3.5 月龄左右。6 月份以后出生的雌鼠当年不参加繁殖。各同生群雌鼠1 年中最多产仔次数有差异,越冬鼠可产3～4 窝。4～5 月份出生的雌鼠当年可产1 窝。长爪沙鼠当年生雌、雄鼠非同步发育以及由性成熟的当年鼠与越冬鼠构成的繁殖格局有利于维持家群个体的适合度, 是该鼠生活史对策的重要特征之一。     

北京地区大仓鼠种群繁殖生态研究

1983-1985年,作者在北京农田区研究了大仓鼠的种群生态。获得标本1101号(♀497,♂604),解剖、观察、测量、记录雌雄生殖系统的变化及繁殖特征。对大仓鼠的雌雄性比、平均胎仔数、怀孕率等作了分析。结果:春季出生的雌鼠,两个月左右即达性成熟,并参加繁殖,在7月以后出生的雌鼠当年不参加繁殖。越冬鼠一年可繁殖2-3次。在数量较高的1983年,性比(♂/♀)为1.33,平均胎仔数为9.24;数量次高的1984年,性比为1.20,平均胎仔数为9.29;数量较低的1985年,性比为0.95,平均胎仔数为9.94。在数量较低的年份,大仓鼠种群的各项繁殖指标均优于数量较高的年份。     

典型草原区达乌尔鼠兔繁殖生态学的初步研究

达乌尔鼠兔是我国典型草原区的主要鼠种之一,对其繁殖特征知之甚少。作者于2009年7-11月和2010年4-9月在内蒙古典型草原区采用整洞群夹捕的取样方法捕获了199只达乌尔鼠兔(Ochotona dauurica),对其种群数量、性比、繁殖特征和年龄结构进行了研究。结果显示：2009年鼠兔数量118只,2010年81只;雌鼠数量显著多于雄鼠;达乌尔鼠兔的繁殖期为3-9月,高峰期集中在4-6月份,平均胎仔数为6.15±0.50(n=13);2009年的7-9月幼年和亚成年比例均小于50%,成年个体成为种群的重要成分;2010年幼体主要集中在5-7月份,且6月和7月幼体和亚成体的数量超过了成年鼠兔的数量,8-9月份种群的主要成员为亚成年和成年鼠兔。达乌尔鼠兔种群繁殖特征是对草原环境适应的体现。     

千岛湖秋季社鼠种群年龄结构及繁殖状况初探

2007 年9 ～11 月,对千岛湖不同类型岛屿捕获的123 只社鼠的年龄结构及繁殖状况进行研究,结果表明:9 ～ 10 月为千岛湖区社鼠种群的繁殖高峰期,较同纬度其他地区早。雌鼠从亚成年组出现怀孕个体,雄鼠较雌鼠性成熟早,幼年组已出现睾丸下降个体。大、中、小型岛屿年龄结构不同,分别为稳定型、衰退型及增长型。岛屿大小能够对社鼠种群繁殖指标产生影响,大型岛屿雌鼠繁殖指数(1. 96) 与平均胎仔数(4.9 ± 0.35 只)及雄性个体睾丸下降率(50.0%)均较高,社鼠种群稳定;中型岛屿雌鼠的繁殖指数(3.45) 与平均胎仔数(5.17 ± 0.42 只)为3 种类型岛屿中最高,并且雄鼠的睾丸下降率(64.7% )也相对较高,有利于社鼠种群数量增加;小型岛屿雄鼠的睾丸下降率虽然最高(68.4% ),但雌鼠繁殖指数(0.75)与平均胎仔数(4.00 ±1.53只)均较低,且参与繁殖的主体成年组性比(10∶ 5)失调,种群易出现波动。另外,社鼠的繁殖情况与植被类型和人为干扰也有较大的关联。     

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)冬季自然死亡率

以耳标观察法。1985年4-7月共捕标了样地内高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)幼鼠114只。到入冬前,死亡率为50.88%。第2胎出生的鼠死亡率明显地高于第1胎的死亡率。冬季死亡率呈现波动,入冬及开春时死亡率较高。鼠兔种群进入繁殖前期死亡率趋于零。初春样区存活标志鼠6只,经夏秋冬3季总计死亡率达94.74%。如按入冬时实有标志鼠计算,冬季死亡率为91.04%。     

The effects of size, age and a cost of early breeding on reproduction in female mountain hares

Both age and size may influence female reproductive performance in mammals, and successful early reproduction may lead to reduced success at later attempts. The effects of age, size and early reproduction on distribution of reproductive effort throughout a single breeding season was examined in female mountains hares Lepus timidus L. Hind foot length was used as an index of body size, because, unlike body weight, it did not fluctuate with reproductive status. Fifty-six female carcasses were collected from March to October 1984, and their litters were assigned to one of three chronologically equal'litter periods'(1–3) of equal length. Whereas number of ova shed was always independent of age, large females shed more ova than did smaller females in litter periods 1 and 2. Prenatal mortality of ova and embryos was highest during litter period 1, when it was independent of age and size. Although prenatal mortality remained high in first year females in litter period 2, there was an overall decline through to the final litter period when it was negligible. Total number of young produced through the season increased with skeletal size in old females (age > 1), but not significantly in first year females. It is concluded that large size, rather than age, favours early reproduction in mountain hares. Every additional offspring produced in litter periods 1 and 2 reduced that female's production in period 3. After correcting for this cost of early reproduction the number of young produced in the final litter period also increased with maternal size.     

Reproduction of plateau pika (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Ochotona curzoniae</Emphasis>) on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau

The reproduction of the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) was investigated in Guoluo District at an elevation of 4,000 m on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau, China, from April 2007 to August 2008. Reproduction was seasonal, and the breeding season lasted from April to late June/early July. Adults produced two litters in each year, and the mean litter size, estimated by counting the number of embryos in utero, was 3.3 ± 0.1 (n = 52) in 2007 and 3.2 ± 0.1 (n = 66) in 2008. The timing of reproduction showed high inter-annual variation; lower precipitation and the concomitant delay in spring vegetation phenology may have retarded the onset of the breeding season in 2007 compared with 2008. The most frequent litter sizes were 3 and 4, which together comprised 71.2% and 83.3% of litters in May and June of 2007 and 2008, respectively. Compared with previous studies, reproduction was highly variable between geographic areas. Pikas produced between one and five litters per year in different regions of the plateau over different breeding seasons. This geographic and inter-annual variation appeared to be associated with the duration of plant growth at each site, suggesting that plateau pikas adjust the length of their breeding season to match the period when sufficient energy is available to support the high energy demands of reproduction.     

高寒草甸生态系统中高原鼠兔的繁殖特征

2002年4月至8月,在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站附近,采用标志重捕法对高原鼠免的繁殖特征进行了研究。高原鼠兔的繁殖具有明显的季节性差异,4月下旬和5月为繁殖高峰期,雄性的睾丸重而饱满,雌性的怀孕率最大。雄性成体的体重和睾丸重在繁殖期的不同时段具有显的差异,在4月11日至5月10日、6月11日至7月10日体重和睾丸重之间呈显正相关。雌性怀孕早期胚胎数与临产前胚胎数没有显差异,未发现胚胎吸收现象;同时,胚胎数在繁殖期的不同时段存在显差异。采用种群统计学中同生群的划分方法,将5～8月份出生的幼体依次记为L1、L2、L3、L4。在出生后20天内L1、L2幼体存活率明显高于L3、L4;在从出生50天至80天期间L4的存活率显高于L2。当年出生的雌雄幼体在发育上存在不同步现象,当年出生的雌性幼体性成熟早,有的可以直接参加繁殖,但当年出生的雄性幼体却无此现象。结果表明：在海北地区,经过综合治理后,高原鼠兔的生境发生改变,其繁殖策略也随之发生改变,即,减少每次繁殖活动的投入,增加繁殖次数,延长繁殖时间。     

Reproduction in captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Though sexual maturation may begin at around one year of age, first successful reproduction of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is likely to be later, and it is generally recommended that animals not be mated before 1.5 years of age. The average gestation period is estimated to be 143 to 144 days. A crown-rump length measurement taken by use of ultrasonography during the linear, rapid, prenatal growth phase (between approx. days 60 and 95) can be compared against standard growth curves to estimate delivery date to within 3 to 4 days, on average. Marmosets produce more young per delivery than does any other anthropoid primate, and have more variation in litter size. Many long-established colonies report that triplets are the most common litter size, and there is documented association between higher maternal body weight and higher ovulation numbers. Higher litter sizes generally do not generate higher numbers of viable young. Marmosets are unusual among primates in having a postpartum ovulation that typically results in conception and successful delivery; reported median inter-birth intervals range from 154 to 162 days. However, pregnancy losses are quite common; one study of a large breeding colony indicated 50 percent loss between conception and term delivery. The average life span for breeding females is around six years; the range of reported average lifetime number of litters for a breeding pair is 3.45 to 4.0. Our purpose is to provide an overview of reproduction in the common marmoset, including basic reproductive life history, lactation and weaning, social housing requirements, and common problems encountered in the captive breeding of this species. A brief comparison between marmoset and tamarin reproduction also will be provided.     

Breeding season, litter size and nestling mortality of the Harvest mouse, Micromys minutus (Rodentia: Muridae), in Britain

Data are presented on the breeding biology of Micromys minutus in Britain. It is shown that although litters are produced over a protracted period (May-December), 74% of the litters are born in August and September. Mean litter size is 5·40±0·16( n = 62), which is a significant reduction on the mean litter size of 6·75±0·40( n = 16) calculated from pre-1917 literature. Litter size was found to be constant throughout the breeding season, and there was no difference in mean litter size between two samples collected close to the northern and southern limits of the known British range. By comparing the mean litter size of samples 1–5, 6–10 and 11+ days old, no significant loss of individual mice within litters could be detected, although 12·3% of all litters died prior to weaning. This loss was predominantly of autumnal litters, cold and wet being important climatic factors that terminate the breeding season. Comparisons are made with data from other parts of the animal's range.     

Explaining the seasonal decline in litter size in European ground squirrels

In European ground squirrels Spermophilus citellus as in many ground squirrel species. late born litters are composed of fewer young than early born litters. Two alternative though not mutually exclusive hypotheses may explain this seasonal pattern of change in litter size. On the one hand. the production of few large young late in the season may be an adaptation to time limitations on the offspring. that have to complete growth and fattening prior to hibernation. Then one would expect a trade-off between offspring number and size as the breeding season progresses. At its extreme. this hypothesis would predict that total maternal effort should be equal independent of litter size. Alternatively. litter size may be determined by physiological limitations on the mother. in that highly constrained mothers breed later and produce smaller litters. Then one would expect reduced overall maternal effort in highly constrained mothers of smaller litters. In this case. a trade-off between litter size and offspring size would not be expected. We found that total maternal effort in terms of gestation length and the duration of lactation increased with increasing litter size. thus supporting the second hypothesis. Lactation was not terminated at natal emergence. It extended a relatively long period of time beyond the time of first litter emergence depending on litter size. During prolonged lactation. individual young of large litters made up body mass to young of small litters. As a consequence. juvenile weaning body mass was unaffected by litter size although offspring body mass at natal emergence was inversely related to litter size. This additional weight gain in young of large litters compensated for initial survival disadvantages and presumably affected fecundity at yearling age.     

Reproduction of the least weasel in captivity: basic observations and the influence of food availability

The least weaselMustela nivalis nivalis Linnaeus, 1766 is unique among carnivores because of its small body size and capacity for fast reproduction. It has been suggested to be the main agent for maintaining cyclic fluctuations in northern vole populations, largely based on its high reproductive potential and dependence on small rodents. This study describes basic reproductive data on the least weasel obtained during a captive breeding program. In the experiments, food availability was manipulated at the onset of breeding. Altogether, 65 litters were born during the 5-year study. The mean litter size was 5.1 (in 53 litters of known litter size), the most common litter size being six. The sex ratio of weaned young was not biased from 1∶1. The median date of birth was June 4. Food manipulations did not affect mating frequency suggesting that the observation of failure in breeding in years of low abundance of small mammals is due to mortality of embryos or young before weaning, but not due to avoidance of breeding at low food availability. In this respect, weasels differ from other main vole predators, owls and raptors, which often skip breeding if small mammals are scarce.