中国怒江片马地区怒江金丝猴种群动态及社会组织初探

2011 年10 月至2013 年10 月在云南高黎贡山自然保护区泸水县片马镇地区对一群怒江金丝猴的社会组织进行研究,基于野外实地记录与获得的视频资料统计猴群的个体数量,研究群数量初步估计为100 只。根据体型、毛色及是否携带婴猴等特征来划分所有个体的性别年龄组,依据单元内个体通过林窗时移动的时间间隔比单元间短的原则来划分不同繁殖单元及全雄群。所有视频中共发现22 个一雄多雌单元(OMU) 和1 个全雄群(AMU),因此怒江金丝猴的社会组织与其他金丝猴物种相似,由多个一雄多雌及其后代组成繁殖单元(OMUs)与雄性个体组成全雄群(AMU)组成重层社(Modular society);另外基于GPS 位点初步确定猴群活动的海拔范围为1 900 - 3 700 m,猴群生境面积约为12 km² ,初步获得猴群的密度为8 只/ km² ,比缅甸的种群密度(1 只/ km² )大得多。基于种群性别年龄计算种群动态参数,雄雌比为1∶ 2.1, 婴雌比为1∶ 4. 7,成幼比为2.5∶ 1。与滇金丝猴种群相比,该种群有很低的婴雌比和很高的成幼比。     

雄性川金丝猴对雌性的受孕认知与等级识别

社会认知是群居动物适应复杂环境和社会生活能力的体现,致力于理解自身、他人与社会。认知有利于促进利益分配的优化,而行为认知策略则是关注的热点问题。但迄今为止,川金丝猴如何进行社会地位与受孕状态等基础认知尚不清楚。本研究通过投食招引,在个体识别和等级判定的基础上,以栖息于秦岭观音山自然保护区熊猫谷景区的一个半野生川金丝猴群为对象,采用瞬时扫描和焦点动物取样法,观察并收集了猴群中6个一雄多雌单元成年雌雄个体的空间位置、邀配、交配及产仔行为数据,结合食物密度梯度"同心圆"和受孕周期,推测雌性成功受孕的交配时间段,运用配对t-检验统计证实受孕前后雌性的交配实现率差异显著(t=4.527,P=0.001),表现为受孕前雌性邀配行为获取的雄性响应率明显高于受孕后;通过Spearman相关性检验发现,雌性受孕前的交配实现率(R=0.527,P=0.006)及受孕时间(R=0.556,P=0.049)与自身等级均显著正相关,即高等级雌性邀配行为的雄性响应率及与雄性生殖性交配的时间明显高于或早于低等级雌性。结果表明,雄性川金丝猴拥有认知单元内成年雌性受孕状况和等级地位的能力,这种认知能力影响着雄性的性行为方式。     

社群大小的年变化、气候和人类活动对神农架自然保护区川金丝猴日移动距离的影响

作者于2001年4月至2003年1月研究了社群大小的年变化、气候和人类活动对神农架自然保护区千家坪地区一群川金丝猴(Rhinopithecusroxellana)日移动距离的影响。对该群金丝猴进行了8个季节的跟踪研究,每季连续跟踪30d。用社群直线距离法确定猴群的日移动距离,同时调查社群大小,记录人为活动和气象因子。研究结果显示:(1)两年间猴群的个体数增加了14%,但其日移动距离没有明显变化,说明社群大小的年变化对日移动距离没有影响。(2)猴群在人为活动影响下的日移动距离比没有人为活动影响时长。(3)多变量回归分析显示,各个季节中,猴群的日移动距离与一天中晴和有云但无降水所占时间的比例没有相关性;与春季和冬季日降雨或雪所占时间的比例呈负相关,但与夏季和秋季的没有相关性,说明降水缩短了冬春季猴群的日移动距离,这可能与川金丝猴的繁殖有关。人为活动对猴群是不利的;冬春季的长时间降水可能是川金丝猴的灾害性天气。     

中国云南塔城滇金丝猴的社会结构

在云南塔城附近的山地森林中,我们利用摄象机记录了一群滇金丝猴通过山谷和在水源地饮水的过程。我们利用这些记录分析这群滇金丝猴的种群大小、组成成员以及个体的空间分布,并利用连续通过个体之间的时间间隔来揭示社会结构。塔城滇金丝猴群由366个个体组成,是目前所知最大的滇金丝猴群体。猴群内雌性个体较多。猴群可以分为26个单位,其中有19个单雄多雌单位、5个多雄多雌单位和2个全雄单位。统计结果表明单位内个体间的时间间隔显著比单位间的短。2/3以上的亚成年雄性个体和全雄单位一起活动。猴群在地面活动时全雄单位位于猴群的外围,充当前卫和后卫。塔城猴群的生命表组成结构与吾牙普亚猴群的大致一样,同样是多层社会结构,单雄多雌和全雄单位构成猴群的主体。亚成年雄性多数与全雄单位一起活动,表明雄性可能会从其出生的单雄多雌单位中迁移出来。     

陕西省楼观台实验林场川金丝猴的种群数量及分布

2016年5—10月,采用"V"形样线调查和红外相机监测相结合的方法,对陕西省楼观台实验林场川金丝猴Rhinopithecus roxellana的种群分布、数量进行调查,初步探讨林场内猴群的社会结构。通过持续跟踪观察,发现猴群共2处,证实一雄多雌单元(OMU)15个,全雄单元(AMU)1个,能区分不同个体137只。AMU有8只个体,OMU平均大小为8.6只,其中,成年占40%、青少年占48%、婴幼猴占12%。成年雌雄的比例为2.40∶1,成年与青少年的比例为1∶1.22,且主要分布于林场南部的东碾道-秦岭村-光头山区域。与秦岭其他种群相比,虽OMU大小基本一致,但成年雌雄的比例却低于其他种群,造成的原因尚不清楚。本次调查不仅摸清了陕西省楼观台实验林场川金丝猴的种群数量、分布与社会结构,且为陕西省珍稀野生动物抢救饲养研究中心圈养川金丝猴的饲养管理提供基础资料。     

佛坪国家级自然保护区秦岭箭竹克隆结构的SSR分析

利用SSR分子标记技术分析了佛坪国家级自然保护区秦岭箭竹(Fargesia qinlingensis)的克隆多样性和克隆结构,以探讨小尺度范围内秦岭箭竹自然居群遗传变异的分布特征,对该种开花特性、高山地区生态环境维护和大熊猫的保护提供重要依据。结果表明7对SSR引物共扩增出79个位点,其中多态性位点77个,多态位点百分率(PPB)为97.47%。秦岭箭竹的142个分株共形成107个克隆,最大克隆可达5 m。克隆多样性略高于其他克隆植物的平均值(D=0.62,G/N=0.17,E=0.68),基因型比率(G/N)、Simpson指数(D)、平均克隆大小(N/G)和Fager均匀性指数(E)分别为0.7535、0.9680、1.3271和0.5109。克隆空间结构分析表明秦岭箭竹的克隆构型为密集型,各克隆呈镶嵌性分布,同一克隆的分株排列紧密。克隆聚类分析表明各克隆之间聚类不明显,总体上来自同一样地的克隆被聚为一类。空间自相关分析显示在空间距离为36 m范围内,分株比基株有更显著的空间遗传结构,空间自相关系数r的取值范围分别为0.084—0.626和0.024—0.288,说明克隆繁殖在一定程度上限制了空间遗传结构的范围。样地内秦岭箭竹个体在空间距离小于44 m时存在显著的正相关空间结构,特别是在4 m处表现出最大的空间自相关系数(r=0.626),表明空间距离相距4 m内的个体最有可能属于同一克隆,4 m比5 m更能表现出清晰的克隆结构,X-轴截距为52.280,代表了秦岭箭竹不规则克隆的平均最小长度。秦岭箭竹的克隆多样性和克隆结构与初始苗补充、花粉散播方式和微环境差异有关。     

评估不同尺度下农牧地对滇金丝猴景观连接度的影响

基于图论法原理,综合最小费用距离和猴群的最小家域,建立了滇金丝猴栖息地的潜在扩散廊道及廊道缓冲区。在此区域内,根据遗传距离与栖息地连接最小费用距离的相关性,确定了5个不同管理单元间猴群可能扩散的阈值,并根据此阈值计算获得可能连通性指数(PC)去评估不同尺度下农牧地对滇金丝猴栖息地景观连接度的影响。结果表明:在距离为2.15km的廊道缓冲区范围内,5个不同管理单元间猴群可能扩散的最小费用距离阈值为1600,在两个斑块之间的费用距离小于或等于1600时,两个斑块能够连接,猴群可能在这两个斑块进行扩散,超过费用距离1600时,两个斑块不再连接,即猴群在这两个斑块间不会扩散。景观尺度下,PC指数逐渐增加,意味着未来4种不同的农牧地改善情景(C1,C2,C3,C4)都将促进景观连接度的增加;在斑块尺度下,通过确定出的最佳距离阈值,将整个研究区域分成不同的组分,小于或等于阈值的相邻斑块被划分在同一个组分中,大于阈值则不在一个组分中,研究区域中的5个不同管理单元间的猴群被划分在3个不同的组分中,情景C1,C2中组分数量没有变化,意味着连接度没有发生改变,但在情景C3,C4中,组分数量减少,并与相邻的组分融为一个组分,意味着连接度发生改变,滇金丝猴的活动范围扩大,更有利于猴群的基因交流。研究结果将为滇金丝猴栖息地的保护、未来廊道的恢复建设提供科学依据,同时也能为类似的研究提供方法上的参考。     

广西西南部熊猴对石山森林的利用

栖息地利用直接反映灵长类适应环境或应对环境变化所采取的行为策略,是了解和评估物种适应能力与进化潜力的重要途径。石山森林是一类特殊的生境,栖息在石山森林中的灵长类动物可能展现出独特的适应策略。为了解熊猴(Macaca assamensis)对石山森林的利用策略,2012年9月至2013年8月采用瞬时扫描法对广西弄岗国家级自然保护区内一群野生熊猴的行为活动进行观察。结果表明,熊猴对石山不同部位的利用具有选择性(χ²=35.738,df=3,P<0.001)。熊猴对崖壁的利用频率最高,其次是山坡和山顶,对平地的利用频率最低。分析发现,熊猴对各山体部位的利用没有显著的季节性差异。熊猴的主要行为活动在不同山体部位的发生频率有显著差异(休息:χ²=58.075,df=3,P<0.001;移动:χ²=36.709,df=3,P<0.001;觅食:χ²=40.786,df=3,P<0.001)。休息和移动主要发生在崖壁,而觅食主要发生在山坡。在坡向利用中,熊猴对北向利用频率最高,其次为东向,后依次为西向和无坡向,最后为南向。在果实缺乏季节,猴群对南向的利用频率明显高于果实丰盛季节。休息行为在不同坡向的利用频率有显著季节差异(χ²=13.292,df=4,P<0.05),表现为猴群在果实缺乏季节对南向的利用频率明显高于果实丰盛季节(t=﹣2.804,n=12,P<0.05)。熊猴对栖息地的利用受到果实可利用性和温度的影响。在果实丰盛季节,猴群的休息行为在崖壁的发生频率降低(r=﹣0.740,t=﹣3.481,df=11,P<0.01),在山坡的发生频率增高(r=0.808,t=4.329,df=11,P<0.01)。逐步回归分析结果表明,温度是影响熊猴栖息地利用的主要气候因子,表现为猴群对崖壁的总体利用频率与平均气温成负相关(r=﹣0.617,t=﹣2.477,df=11,P<0.05);猴群觅食时对北向的利用频率与温度成负相关(r=﹣0.764,t=﹣3.748,df=11,P<0.01)。熊猴主要利用崖壁以降低被捕食的风险,在果实丰富季节选择食物丰富的山坡觅食,这可能是猴群在觅食收益与捕食风险中权衡的结果。本研究表明,食物的数量和分布、猴群的反捕食和行为热调节策略是影响熊猴栖息地利用的重要因素。     

秦岭南坡大坪峪川金丝猴的种群研究

开展不同地区的灵长类种群研究,是进一步进行不同地理种群间的遗传、分类、行为和认知等比较研究的基础,具有重要的科学意义。以秦岭陕西省观音山自然保护区内大坪峪的川金丝猴为研究对象,分别采用随机取样法、扫描取样法和焦点动物取样法,收集猴群的种群结构数据收集。结果显示秦岭南坡的猴群基本社会结构组成和秦岭北坡基本一致,但秦岭南坡佛坪的川金丝猴种群显著小于秦岭北坡周至的川金丝猴种群(Z=-2.741,P0.01),且经常发生分群和合群现象。导致这一现象的发生,可能是秦岭南坡的大坪峪栖息地破碎化。     

依据取食优势判断秦岭川金丝猴群OMU的等级地位

2005 年5 月至2006 年5 月,对秦岭北坡周至国家级自然保护区玉皇庙地区一个人工投食川金丝猴群的取食规律进行了研究,选择该猴群各一雄多雌单元(OMU)下地并进入投食区的取食时间、取食次数、取食顺序这3 个参数,通过计算各OMU 取食时的优势指数量化其取食优势从而对该猴群8 OMU 的等级地位进行了判断,结果表明这8 个OMU 的等级地位为:罗盘单元> 甲板单元> 八字头单元> 井字头单元> 刀疤单元> 朋克单元> 瑞星单元> 方片单元。此外,通过Spearman Correlation Test 将该方法的研究结果与利用攻击- 屈服行为优势指数法得到的研究结果进行了比较,二者具有极显著的正相关关系(R =0.976,P < 0.001)。可见, 利用取食参数的优势指数法判断各OMU 等级地位具有一定的可行性,且比攻击- 屈服行为的优势指数法在操作上更为简易,并以此试图为野外投食及笼养条件下非人灵长类等级地位的研究提供一个方法上的参考。     

大鼠背外侧索中各类上行纤维的电生理学特征

在大鼠胸髓下段,用分离纤维细束法观察背外侧索(dorsolateral funiculus,DLF)中各类上行纤维的电生理学特征。在记录的251个单位中,144个主要接受A_β类纤维输入的单位对触毛和/或轻压皮肤反应,26个伤害性单位和毛压-伤害性会聚单位接受A_δ和C纤维的传入;这两类纤维主要沿DLF的中、浅层上行,且具有明显的会聚特点;提示其中部分单位可能属于脊颈束(spinocervicaltract,SCT)。在DLF的深、中层分离到61个对关节运动敏感的单位,它们可能属于脊髓小脑背束(dorsal spinocerebellar tract,DSST)。另有20个对各类自然刺激均无反应的自发单位。在DLF的浅层近背根处,还记录到38条来自对侧的交叉上行纤维,它们与同侧的非交叉上行纤维相混杂,其生理学特性与同侧上行纤维相似,本文结果提供了大鼠DLF中存在部分交叉上行纤维的生理学证据。     

猫背外侧索中上行纤维的电生理学特征的初步观察

在麻醉猫的脊髓的背外侧索中用显微解剖法剥制出神经纤维细束,研究其传入的单位放电活动。根据对自然刺激的反应共记录到五类性质的不同的单位:肌梭传入单位(n=111),对轻压刺激敏感的低阈值机械感受单位(n=85),对触毛十分敏感的毛单位(n=65),毛—低阈值机械感受性混合单位(n=17),以及仅对伤害性刺激有反应的高阈值机械感受性单位(n=11)。其中肌梭单位最易观察到,可能是肌梭的传入纤维的直径较粗,因而较易完整无损地被分离到。值得指出,所有传递躯体感受信息的脊髓上行纤维均位于背外侧索的外侧三分之一处,而其他纤维则主要分布于背外侧索的内侧三分之二的区域。     

On spiking units in the first optic chiasm of the blowfly

We recorded from the spiking sustaining unit in the optic chiasm between lamina and medulla in the brain of the blowfly Calliphora vicina, and investigated both temporal and spatial properties of the light-adapted cell. The sustaining unit fails to follow the highest temporal frequencies followed by the photoreceptor, but its temporal resolution is substantially better than that of the on-off unit. The sustaining unit does not display the fast temporal adaptation as previously described in the on-off unit. As compared with the on-off unit, the sustaining unit has a high sensitivity to small contrasts. Although the sustaining unit continues spiking as long as the light is on, its response is also transient as it adapts rapidly after a change of intensity. The receptive field and the line spread function of the sustaining unit have a similar size and profile: a central lobe with a half-width of approximately 2° surrounded by a circular inhibitory zone located at about 3° off-axis.     

Polysaccharide of the red alga rissoella verruculosa

The Mediterranean red alga, Rissoella verruculosa, contains a K-like carrageenan. ¹³CNMR studies indicate that the polysaccharide contains neocarrabiose sulphate units alternating with non-sulphated neocarrabiose residues.     

Phylogeography, genetic diversity and conservation of the large copper butterfly Lycaena dispar in Europe

We argue that insect species conservation at large scales should take account of the distribution of genetic diversity among populations. Maintenance of genetic diversity may be vital in retaining a species' adaptive capacity and evolutionary potential. We illustrate the concept using the example of the large copper butterfly Lycaena dispar in Europe. This species has become extinct in parts of its range and is declining rapidly in others, whilst conversely, increasing in many areas. The latter has recently reduced its conservation status. Mitochondrial DNA analysis is used to construct a phylogeography from a preliminary sample set obtained from across Europe. A cytochrome b fragment of 402 base pairs was sequenced and 10 haplotypes were found. Relatedness among populations suggest that those from northern and central Europe are closely related and probably form one evolutionary significant unit (ESU) reflecting post-glacial colonization from southeast Europe. In contrast, the sample from Italy is divergent and should be considered a separate ESU. Our results, combined with ecological data, suggest that conservation action for this species should be targeted on specific regions and populations.     

The Replicator in Retrospect

The history and theoretical role of the concept of a ``replicator'is discussed, starting with Dawkins' and Hull's classic treatmentsand working forward. I argue that the replicator concept is still auseful one for evolutionary theory, but it should be revised insome ways. The most important revision is the recognition that notall processes of evolution by natural selection require thatsomething play the role of a replicator.     

Studies of sub-human primate (marmoset) pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-GEMM) in vitro

Pluripotent hemopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-GEMM) grow in vitro from marmoset bone marrow using a modified human CFU-GEMM assay. Characteristics of growth are similar to those reported in the human CFU-GEMM assay. The number of CFU-GEMM/10(5) marrow cells from marmoset bone marrow is approximately four times that grown in human marrow in our laboratory. Data concerning EPO and other requirements for growth of CFU-GEMM demonstrate an assay for the pluripotent hemopoietic progenitor in the marmoset. This assay may be useful in designing preclinical primate bone marrow transplant experiments.     

Motor neurons loss in Parkinson Disease: An electrophysiological study (MUNE)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of a peripheral motor neuron in Parkinson Disease (PD) using the motor unit number estimation (MUNE) method, which reflects motor unit loss in motor neuron diseases. Multipoint incremental MUNE method was calculated in abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) in forty one (41) patients with PD and forty five (45) healthy volunteers. From the analysis, the MUNE of APB was lower in PD than in the control group, especially in the sub-group aged 60 years or older. MUNE was negatively correlated with the age of patients for APB, but not with the duration of the disease and advancement of PD. The loss of motor units in sporadic Parkinson's disease revealed by multipoint incremental MUNE method is considered a sign of lower motor neuron involvement, however, loss of motor neurons is slight and does not manifest equally in all muscles . Thus, the results from this experiment should be treated with concern, as it could be a landmark for further experiments.     

Coulomb Forces and Potentials in Systems with an Orthorhombic Unit Cell

Abstract

R. Sperb's development of the author's earlier work on summation of Coulomb fields in periodically repeated systems with a cubic unit cell is extended to systems with an orthorhombic unit cell. This permits rapid evaluation of Coulomb forces and potentials in systems other than those with a cubic unit cell. A general formula enables the Madelung constant to be calculated, as a function of the cell dimensions a, b and c.     

Pseudofactorialism,response structures and collective responsibility

Pseudofactorialism is defined as ‘the invalid statistical analysis that results from the misidentification of two or more response variables as representing different levels of an experimental variable or treatment factor. Most often the invalid analysis consists of use of an (n + 1)‐way anova in a situation where two or more n‐way anova s would be the appropriate approach’. I and my students examined a total of 1362 papers published from the 1960s to 2009 reporting manipulative experiments, primarily in the field of ecology. The error was present in 7% of these, including 9% of 80 experimental papers examined in 2009 issues of Ecology and the Journal of Animal Ecology. Key features of 60 cases of pseudofactorialism are tabulated as a basis for discussion of the varied ways and circumstances in which the error can occur. As co‐authors, colleagues, editors and anonymous referees and editors who approved them for publication, a total of 459 persons other than the senior authors shared responsibility for these 60 papers. Pseudofactorialism may sometimes be motivated by a desire to test whether different response variables respond in the same way to treatment factors. Proper procedures for doing that are briefly reviewed. A major cause of pseudofactorialism is the widespread failure in statistics texts, primary literature and documentation for statistics software packages to distinguish the three major components of experimental design – treatment structure, design structure, response structure – and clearly define key terms such as experimental unit, evaluation unit, split unit, factorial and repeated measures. A quick way to check for the possible presence of the pseudofactorialism is to determine whether the number of valid experimental units in a study is smaller than (i) the error degrees of freedom in a multi‐way anova ; or (ii) the total number of tallies (N) in a multi‐way contingency table. Such situations also can indicate the commission of pseudoreplication, however.