Winter foraging habitat selection of brown-eared pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) and the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in Huanglong Mountains, Shaanxi Province

The foraging habitat selections of brown-eared pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) and the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) were studied in Huanglongshan Nature Reserve Shaanxi, China. Foraging habitat characteristics were measured on the basis of expected differences between species at 183 sites from November to December 2006 and January 2007. The results showed that both species selected foraging habitats with altitude (<1200 m), conifer forest, half sunny and half shady slope, sunny slope, density of trees (<5 individuals/100 m²), cover of shrub (>50%), visibility class (<10%) and distance to water source (<300 m). However, the brown-eared pheasant selected habitats with cover of trees (30–50%), middle or lower slope location, distance to edge of woods (<300 m) and human disturbance (<500 m), and the selection on density of shrub was not observed, compared to the selections on cover of trees (<30%), lower slope location, distance to edge of woods (<500 m) and human disturbance (<300 m), and density of shrub (>500 individuals/100 m²) for common pheasant. We also found that the common pheasant avoid predators by concealment whereas brown-eared pheasant evade predations by running away strategy.     

雉鸡(Phasianus colchicus)营巢生境的模拟分析研究

将多元统计学方法与地理信息系统结合对动物的栖息地进行适宜性分析,是近年动物栖息地研究者和管理者都十分感兴趣的方面。本研究采用马氏距离法,利用地理信息系统模拟甘肃雉鸡的营巢生境。模拟结果表明,与已知营巢生境相似水平为0.95的区域面积,仅占整个研究区的0.68%,而与已知营巢生境迥然不同（P＜0.05）的区域面积占79.08%。营巢生境与非营巢生境在生境类型组成和地形因素上存在多方差异,营巢生境中农田和草坡占有极大比例,用于营巢的区域总是更接近生境的边缘。特别是接近于农田、草坡和白桦阔叶林等生境,表明倾向于在这几种生境的边缘附近营巢。营巢生境的平均海拔比非营巢生境低,坡度也较缓,坡向则更偏于东南方。在同一生境类型内部,用于营巢的区域和不利用的区域之间也存在很大差别,营巢区域总是更接近生境的边缘。某一生境周围的其它生境类型也会影响雉鸡的营巢选择。     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Elliot's pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti)

We isolated eight microsatellite loci from genomic DNA in Elliot's pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti using streptavidin‐coated magnetic beads. In the analyses of 53 individuals sampled, these loci displayed polymorphism varying from six to nine alleles per locus and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.174 to 0.430. The results suggested that these novel microsatellite markers could become useful molecular tools for genetic studies of S. ellioti.     

官山保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地适宜性评价

2009年4月-2009年5月和2009年12月-2010年1月,在江西官山国家级自然保护区对白颈长尾雉(Syrmaticus ellioti) 繁殖期和越冬期的栖息地进行调查。通过实地调查,结合已有研究结果,确定了官山自然保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地适宜性评价因子,即植被类型、海拔、坡度和坡向等4个栖息地因子。基于"被利用生境-可获得生境比较法",以对各评价因子不同梯度的资源选择指数为依据,确定了白颈长尾雉适宜性评价准则。应用ArcGIS 9.3空间分析功能和栖息地片断化指数,对官山保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地进行了适宜性评价。结果表明:在官山自然保护区适宜白颈长尾雉繁殖的栖息地斑块有502个,总面积为3307 hm²,占保护区总面积的28.6%,分离度指数和片断化程度指数分别为0.365和0.912;适宜白颈长尾雉越冬的栖息地斑块有514个,总面积2755 hm²,占保护区总面积的23.8%,分离度指数和片断化程度指数分别为0.443和0.939。官山保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地片断化较严重,片断化现象在白颈长尾雉越冬期加剧。因此,迫切需要采取措施白颈长尾雉现存栖息地进行保护,特别是要高度重视其越冬栖息地的保护。     

基于红外相机技术的白冠长尾雉集群行为研究

白冠长尾雉(Syrmaticus reevesii)生性机警,行为隐蔽,在野外研究其集群行为较为困难。红外相机技术为解决这一问题提供了有益的工具。为研究白冠长尾雉集群行为及其地理变异,采用红外相机技术在湖北广水平靖关村和河南董寨自然保护区两个地点对其集群行为进行了调查。依据前期无线电遥测的结果,在两个研究地点分别设置了1 km×1 km的样地,在样地中分别放置了25台红外相机进行监测,野外累计放置了12412个相机日,获得视频24374段,其中有白冠长尾雉的视频有1361段。以有集群行为的独立视频数量(m)与独立视频数量(M)的比表示集群率,以拍摄到的白冠长尾雉个体数量(n)与有集群行为的独立视频数量(m)的比代表集群强度。结果表明,平靖关和董寨两地均是数量为2只的群体占比最大,在平靖关和董寨分别占68.23%、72.79%,Pearson卡方检验的结果表明群体大小在两地之间无显著差异(Pearson χ~2=6.522,df=5,P=0.259),而集群方式在两地之间则差异显著(Pearson χ~2=46.415,df=4,P0.001),两地均以单性集群为主要集群方式。单因素方差分析结果表明,集群率在季节间差异不明显。Neu方法分析发现,在平靖关,白冠长尾雉对灌丛和竹林显著偏好,对针阔混交林、杉木林和乔灌丛显著回避;而在董寨,其对针阔混交林和针叶林明显偏好,对杉木林和阔叶林明显回避。     

Identification of the major histocompatibility complex in the ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Reciprocal immunization between parents of an Illinois family of ring-necked pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, resulted in antisera detecting two pairs of alloantigens segregating among 13 progeny. The four alloantigens were tentatively designated as 1 and 2, transmitted antithetically by the sire, and 3 and 4, transmitted antithetically by the dam. Genetic segregation occurring in second-generation progeny demonstrated that these two pairs of antigens belonged to a single genetic system. This alloantigen system was shown to correspond serologically to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the chicken by cross-reactivity of the antigens of this system with specific subregional chicken MHC reagents, appropriately absorbed with erythrocytes of individual pheasants. These four haplotypes of the pheasant MHC were subsequently designated as MhcPhco-B1, MhcPhco-B2, MhcPhco-B3 and MhcPhco-B4. Traditional immunogenetic analysis of 30 pheasant families produced in this study disclosed a minimum of 14 pheasant haplotypes of this alloantigen system (MHC) to be segregating in the population under evaluation.     

Hybrid origin of the imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis (Delacour and Jabouille, 1924) demonstrated by morphology, hybrid experiments, and DNA analyses

The imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis was described in 1924 from a captive pair that was obtained in Vietnam, and that became the sole founders of a captive line in France. Always considered a highly endangered and mysterious species, and despite concerted searches, L. imperialis was not found again in the wild until one was trapped in 1990, and the captive population gradually died out. Its status as a distinct species was unquestioned until the late 1990s when the possibility of a hybrid origin was raised. To elucidate the taxonomic status of L. imperialis , we studied all the existing museum specimens, carried out captive hybridization experiments, and analysed mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. All these lines of evidence demonstrate congruently and conclusively that L. imperialis is an occasional hybrid between silver pheasant L. nycthemera and Edwards's pheasant L. edwardsi, with the 1990 bird probably being a hybrid between L. nycthemera and Vietnamese pheasant L. hatinhensis. Thus L. imperialis has no taxonomic standing and should be removed from lists of species of conservation concern. However, hybridization with L. nycthemera may pose a further threat to the survival in the wild of the endangered L. edwardsi and L. hatinhensis .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 80 , 573–600.     

Nest survival rate of Reeves's pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) based on artificial nest experiments

To explore the nest survival rate of Reeves's pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and the nest-site factors that affect it,we conducted artificial nest experiments with reference to natural nests at Dongzhai National Nature Reserve (DNNR),Henan Province and Pingjingguan,Hubei Province from April to June 2014 simulating the situation in its early and later breeding season.We also determined distance characteristics of the nest sites by ArcGIS 10.0.Nest survival models were constructed in Program MARK for data analysis.Results indicated that in the early breeding season,the apparent survival rate (ASR) in DNNR (52.4％) was significantly greater than that in Pingjingguan (13.5％),and the ASR in the later breeding season in DNNR (26.7％) was not indistinctively correlated with Pingjingguan (3.2％).The daily survival rate (DSR) in the later breeding season was 93.8％ in DNNR and 92.0％ in Pingjingguan,respectively.The DSRs were both negatively correlated with nest distance to forest edges and settlements.The DSR in Pingjingguan was positively correlated with nest distance to paths and negatively correlated with nest distance to water sources.However,the DSR in DNNR was negatively correlated with nest distance to paths but positively correlated with nest distance to water sources.     

人为干扰对白腹锦鸡活动节律的影响

人类足迹的扩张增加了人与野生动物的相互作用。理解自然保护地的濒危物种对人为干扰的响应有助于更好地保护濒危物种和指导保护管理。以往的研究表明野生动物在时空维度会对人类的干扰进行规避, 然而这类研究在野生雉类中还较少, 尤其是分布在人为干扰相对较强的中低海拔区域的雉类, 如白腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus amherstiae)。2017年11月至2018年10月, 我们在中国西南部的一个亚热带森林保护区中使用红外相机陷阱技术对白腹锦鸡和人为干扰进行调查, 并研究了白腹锦鸡在时空维度对3种不同类型人为干扰(人类活动、放牧和家养动物活动)的响应及其季节变化。结果表明, 白腹锦鸡在空间维度并未对人为干扰进行规避, 而在非繁殖季节的活动节律上对人为干扰在时间维度上进行了规避。具体而言, 白腹锦鸡在全年和非繁殖季节的活动高峰集中在17:30-18:30, 明显避开中午的人类活动高峰; 而在繁殖季节, 白腹锦鸡活动水平明显提高, 和人为干扰的重叠度很高, 可能是由于求偶、占区等繁殖行为使得白腹锦鸡无法规避人为干扰。此外, 在人为干扰强度较高的位点, 白腹锦鸡倾向于通过改变其日活动节律, 将活动高峰期推迟至傍晚以降低与人为干扰的重叠度, 进一步说明白腹锦鸡可通过调节其自身的日活动节律从而避开高强度的人为干扰。由于白腹锦鸡地面营巢和春夏季繁殖, 自然保护区管理部门可通过管理人为活动, 尤其在繁殖季节通过控制放牧和猫狗的活动来帮助白腹锦鸡及其他地面营巢鸟类维持繁殖成功率。     

Polymorphic microsatellites developed by cross-species amplifications in common pheasant breeds

Genetic variability was analysed in two common breeds of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L. 1758) by means of cross-species amplifications of microsatellite loci: 154 chicken, Gallus gallus and 32 turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, primers were tested for amplification of pheasant DNA. Thirty-six primers (25 specific for chicken and 11 for turkey) amplified pheasant DNA. Fifteen markers yielded specific products and were tested for polymorphism. Eight of them (55%) were polymorphic, with an average polymorphism of two alleles per locus. Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were sequenced; repeats were found in 11 of the 15 markers, although only two loci showed the same repeat and could be homologous to chicken ones.     

人工养殖白鹇产卵习性和卵的变化

人工养殖白鹇产卵习性和卵的变化高育仁,曹丰质,姚伟兰（华南濒危动物研究所,广州５１０２６０）Ｖａｒｉａｔｉｏｎｓｉｎｅｇｇ－ｌａｙｉｎｇｈａｂｉｔａｎｄｅｇｇｓｉｚｅｏｆａｒｔｉｆｉｃｉａｌｌｙｂｒｅｅｄｉｎｇｓｉｌｖｅｒｐｈｅａｓａｎｔ￥．ＧａｏＹ...     

栖息地特征对褐马鸡种群密度和集群行为的影响

1998-2000年冬季在山西芦芽山自然保护区选择车道沟和梅洞 2个研究地,就栖息地特征对褐马鸡 (Cros soptilonmantchuricum)越冬种群密度和集群大小的影响进行了研究。经χ2 检验,针叶林是褐马鸡冬季经常利用的栖息地类型。对 2个研究地的栖息地结构比较发现,车道沟适宜栖息地的面积较梅洞大,连接性也较好,褐马鸡种群有更为广阔的取食空间和更多的隐蔽场所,而且活动的阻碍也较小;而梅洞栖息地的取食空间较小,隐蔽场所较少,其活动时受到的阻碍也较大。从 2个研究地微生境结构特征的差异,并结合褐马鸡越冬期栖息地选择来看,树高和高层盖度对褐马鸡在 2个栖息地的选择上起重要作用。车道沟乔木较粗大,不但有丰富的食物,而且可提供较好的夜宿条件;高层盖度越大,栖息地的隐蔽条件越好,能吸引更多的褐马鸡个体取食和越冬。研究结果表明,栖息地结构连接性、微生境结构特征的差异以及人为干扰是褐马鸡种群密度和集群行为差异的主要影响因素。     

山西芦芽山褐马鸡越冬栖息地选择的多尺度研究

1998～2000年在山西芦芽山自然保护区对褐马鸡的越冬栖息地选择进行了研究。采用4种空间尺度(10m、100m、300m和距离尺度),对影响褐马鸡越冬栖息地选择的主要因子进行了深入分析,并建立了褐马鸡越冬栖息地选择的逻辑斯谛回归模型。在300m尺度上．活动点和非活动点的生境类型有针叶林、针阔混交林、灌木林和草丛等。活动点周围针叶林面积显著高于非活动点(F=-3．116,P=0．002),虽然针阔混交林在两者中的面积比例都较小,但活动点周围针阔混交林的面积明显地低于非活动点(F=-2．255,P=0．024)．在灌木林和草丛的面积上两者无显著差异。这表明褐马鸡在300m尺度上喜欢活动于针叶林较多的地域,由于冬季针阔混交林不如针叶林能提供很好的隐蔽条件,褐马鸡避免选择针阔混交林;在100m尺度上,活动点和非活动点的生境类型有针叶林、针阔混交林和草丛,无灌木林生境,活动点的针叶林面积明显地高于非活动点(F=-2．931,P=0．003)。这表明褐马鸡在100m尺度上虽然倾向于选择针叶林,但对其它类型的生境如针阔混交林和草丛是可以利用的,这可能与其广泛取食活动有关。褐马鸡大尺度上的隐蔽条件满足以后,在小尺度上主要是为了获取更为丰富的食物。在距离尺度上活动点距居民点的距离、距道路的距离显著大于非活动点(F=15．621;6．048,P=0．000;0．018)。通过逐步逻辑斯谛回归分析,发现距灌草丛的距离、距居民点的距离、100m范围内针叶林的面积、树高以及食物的丰盛度是冬季褐马鸡栖息地选择的重要因子。以另外一个研究地收集的数据对所建立的栖息地选择模型的可靠程度进行了检验,结果表明该模型能有效地对褐马鸡的越冬栖息地进行预测。     

Nest-site selection of the White Eared pheasant in southwestern Sichuan Province,China

From April to July 2003 and 2004,we surveyed the nest-site selection of the White Eared pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) in the Zhujie Monastery and in the mountain facing it in Sichuan Province,China.In this paper,we studied the nest characteristics and the clutch size of the pheasant.Habitat sampling method was used to determine the variables that might affect the nest-site selection of the White Eared pheasant.Chi-square test was used to identify which habitat type was likely to be preferred by the bird.Independent-samples t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to find which variables were important for the birds'nest-site selection.A total of 13 nests were found.Oak shrub was greatly preferred as nest sites (84.62%).Nests under a rock wall (7.69%) and a fallen tree (7.69%) were also found.The average clutch size of a White Eared pheasant is 7.33±0.54 (range,5-11;n=12).Laying period was between April 27 and May 21.In the Zhujie area,1 nest was in the forest and 11 nests were in oak shrubs.The species preferred oak shrub as its nesting habitat (X2=8.333,dr=l,P＜0.05).The bird was more likely to place its nest in sites with a high coverage,I.e.0.5,1,and 2 m above the ground (independent-samples t test,P＜0.05),and with a large shrub diameter (Mann-Whitney U test,P＜0.05).The species are more likely to prefer sites with plant cover,shrub cover (independentsamples t test,P＜0.05),and shrub height (Mann-Whitney U test,P<0.05) in a relatively small range.     

Seasonal changes in the ranging area of Brown-eared pheasant and its affecting factors in Huanglong Mountains, Shaanxi Province

A study on the seasonal changes in the ranging area of Brown-eared pheasant and its affecting factors was conducted in the Huanglongshan Nature Reserve, Huanglong County, Shaanxi Province, China, from March 2006 to January 2007. Forty used sites and forty random plots were selected along 8–9 transects crossing the study area. Fifteen factors related to the changes of altitude were measured in each site. The results showed that the altitude of home range of Brown-eared pheasant varied with seasons: the highest home range was found in summer, and the lowest one was found in winter, while the home range in autumn was higher than that in spring. According to the frequency of occurrences of Brown-eared pheasant in different seasons, we found that its home range occurred mainly at an altitude below 1400 m in spring, above 1500 m in summer, between 1200 m and 1500 m in autumn and below 1300 m in winter. The possible reason that Brown-eared pheasants preferred to live at lower altitude in spring was to have access to water sources and the abundance of food, correlated to the slope locations, number of trees and number of shrubs; in summer, they tended to appear at highest altitude, and the average height of shrubs, average height of grasses, sheltering class and distance to edge of woods, and human disturbance were affecting factors; in autumn, they appeared at higher altitude which was correlated with the covers of trees, shrubs and grasses, and ultimately related to the abundance of food; in winter, they lived at lowest altitude, which was correlated to the distance from the edge of woods, cover of trees and sheltering class, and ultimately related to the abundance of food and shelter.     

Seasonal changes in the ranging area of Brown-eared pheasant and its affecting factors in Huanglong Mountains, Shaanxi Province

A study on the seasonal changes in the ranging area of Brown-eared pheasant and its affecting factors was conducted in the Huanglongshan Nature Reserve, Huanglong County, Shaanxi Province, China, from March 2006 to January 2007. Forty used sites and forty random plots were selected along 8–9 transects crossing the study area. Fifteen factors related to the changes of altitude were measured in each site. The results showed that the altitude of home range of Brown-eared pheasant varied with seasons: the highest home range was found in summer, and the lowest one was found in winter, while the home range in autumn was higher than that in spring. According to the frequency of occurrences of Brown-eared pheasant in different seasons, we found that its home range occurred mainly at an altitude below 1400 m in spring, above 1500 m in summer, between 1200 m and 1500 m in autumn and below 1300 m in winter. The possible reason that Brown-eared pheasants preferred to live at lower altitude in spring was to have access to water sources and the abundance of food, correlated to the slope locations, number of trees and number of shrubs; in summer, they tended to appear at highest altitude, and the average height of shrubs, average height of grasses, sheltering class and distance to edge of woods, and human disturbance were affecting factors; in autumn, they appeared at higher altitude which was correlated with the covers of trees, shrubs and grasses, and ultimately related to the abundance of food; in winter, they lived at lowest altitude, which was correlated to the distance from the edge of woods, cover of trees and sheltering class, and ultimately related to the abundance of food and shelter.     

Snow and land use alter pheasant survival in South Dakota

We examined survival of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) occupying fragmented landscapes within the Prairie Pothole Region in South Dakota, USA, where severe winter weather events historically limited pheasant population growth through increased mortality. Recent landscape transformations could further affect overwinter adult female survival by reducing critical winter resources. Assessing the influence of time-dependent landscape features on survival at small focal scales may reveal spatially important relationships. We captured and monitored 321 adult female pheasants from 2017–2019 and recorded 110 pheasant winter mortalities. Female pheasant winter survival was 0.66 (85% CI = 0.62–0.70) and was inversely correlated to snow depth. We generated Cox proportional hazard models to determine risk of mortality associated with landscape features. Pheasants using landscapes other than perennial cover (i.e., emergent wetland, tall vegetation, woody, food plots) experienced a 2.22 times greater risk of raptor predation than pheasants using perennial cover. Additionally, pheasants experienced a 58% reduced risk of weather mortality when using emergent wetlands. We analyzed resource selection ratios to understand how perceived landscape risks at the population level scaled down to land use selection at the individual level. Female pheasants selected for emergent wetlands, showed no selection for woody features, and avoided tall vegetation (non-aquatic herbaceous vegetation >75 cm) during severe winters. Pheasants would greatly benefit from conservation of emergent wetlands and integrating perennial cover into harvested cropland.