温度和卵大小对尖吻蝮幼蛇孵化及存活率影响的研究

目的研究尖吻蝮（Dienagkistrodon acutus）幼蛇成活率低的原因,观察不同温度条件和不同卵大小对尖吻蝮幼蛇的孵化、幼体特征、转化率、幼蛇存活率的影响。方法将不同窝尖吻蝮蛇卵按产卵日期相差不超过1天分为同一组,每组随机选择不同的温度进行孵化,采用隔水式恒温培养箱进行控温,以常温孵化作为对照试验,幼蛇出壳后采集相关试验数据并进行分析。在环境条件、养殖模式和养殖方法相同情况下对幼蛇饲养3个月,然后统计各组成活率。结果尖吻蝮幼体的孵化和幼体特征及存活率与孵化温度条件有明显相关性,孵化温度越高,孵化期越短,畸形率越高,蛇卵重量转化为幼体体重的转化率越低,3月龄幼蛇存活率越低。较大的尖吻蝮蛇卵孵出的幼蛇个体较大,生存力较强,存活率较高。结论尖吻蝮幼蛇的存活率与孵化温度条件及蛇卵重量大小有明显相关性,较适宜的孵化温度为24-26℃,蛇卵越大幼蛇存活率越高。     

浙江舟山五种卵生游蛇科动物个体大小、窝卵数和卵大小之间的关系

阐明五种游蛇科动物雌体大小、窝卵数和卵大小之间的关系和雌性繁殖特征的种间差异。５种蛇均产单窝卵,产卵高峰期为６月下旬至７月,窝卵数与雌体大小（ＳＶＬ）呈显著的正相关,相对窝卵重与雌体ＳＶＬ无关,卵理与窝卵数无关。灰鼠蛇卵重与雌体ＳＶＬ呈正相关,赤链蛇、王锦蛇、黑眉锦蛇和乌梢蛇的卵重与雌体ＳＶＬ无关,黑眉锦蛇卵长径与窝卵娄呈负相关,其余４种蛇卵长径与窝卵数无关。５种蛇卵长径与短径无关。黑眉锦蛇卵短径     

尖吻蝮人工养殖灌喂技术研究

目的探讨采用灌喂器人工灌喂尖吻蝮技术的可行性。方法采用湖南京湘源蛇类养殖有限公司自主研制的灌喂器人工灌喂尖吻蝮,观察记录随机抽取的30条尖吻蝮幼蛇及30条尖吻蝮成蛇在机器灌喂后每条幼蛇的体重数据,每3个月测量1次,观察12个月统计尖吻蝮的体重增长情况,并与常规灌喂方法饲养的尖吻蝮进行比较。结果灌喂器饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇成活率为86.67%,平均体重达（482.39±40.19）g;灌喂器饲养的尖吻蝮成蛇成活率为96.67%,平均体重达（1346.13±117.51）g。而同期常规灌喂技术饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇全部死亡,尖吻蝮成蛇成活率为76.67%,平均体重（878.56±82.39）g。结论人工灌喂器饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇及成蛇的体重增长快速,成活率高,值得推广。     

尖吻蝮幼蛇就地和异地人工养殖研究

目的研究尖吻蝮（Deinagkistrodon acutbus）幼蛇在人工养殖过程中的技术难关,探讨尖吻蝮幼蛇生长缓慢的原因,以提高幼蛇的成活率和生长率。方法采用湖南省永州市野生尖吻蝮种蛇产卵孵化的幼蛇,在原产地永州与非原产地广西南宁进行幼蛇的人工饲养对比实验,观察在不同地域人工饲养的尖吻蝮幼蛇的生长速度。结果尖吻蝮幼蛇在本地及异地人工饲养均获得成功,尤其以南宁人工饲养的幼蛇最为明显,2010年9月饲养至2011年8月,幼蛇均重从（13．8±1．8）g增长至（198．8±80．6）g,最重的个体体重达350g。两地饲养的幼蛇均可自行捕食中华蟾蜍、老鼠及活小鸡、鸭苗,仅用1年时间将野生尖吻蝮子代幼蛇人工饲养成功。结论尖吻蝮幼蛇在本地及异地人工饲养是可行的。     

尖吻蝮幼蛇开口率的影响因素研究

目的了解人工养殖的不同体重尖吻蝮初生幼蛇对不同种类、重量食物的选择性,分析影响尖吻蝮幼蛇开口率的因素。方法将刚孵化出的尖吻蝮幼蛇按体重抽样分组,分别投入棘胸蛙幼蛙、多疣壁虎和小白鼠进行饲喂,统计不同体重的幼蛇对不同食物的偏好性、幼蛇对不同特征食物的选择性以及不同食物的损耗率。结果尖吻蝮幼蛇总开口率达98.33%,不同食物的开口率有显著性差异;在不同食物的分组开口实验中,投喂幼蛙的幼蛇开口率达95.0%,投喂壁虎的幼蛇开口率达60.0%,投喂乳鼠的幼蛇开口率仅15.0%。不同初生体重的幼蛇投喂壁虎、乳鼠的开口率差异显著,而投喂幼蛙的开口率差异无显著性。结论初生体重对幼蛇的进食能力有显著影响,尖吻蝮幼蛇开口食物应以幼蛙为主,壁虎为辅。     

尖吻蝮仔蛇的人工模拟生态养殖试验

目的通过建立一个适应于尖吻蝮仔蛇生长发育的稳定的多功能生态系统的人工模拟生态养殖蛇场,以最大限度地降低仔蛇的饲料成本,从而达到降低人工养殖尖吻蝮蛇的成本。方法选取一个室外围墙式养蛇场作为试验基地。设计为适应于蛇、蛙、昆虫、蚯蚓、小杂鱼等动物生长繁衍的人工模拟生态环境,建立一个稳定的多功能蛇场生态系统,以尖吻蝮蛇100条,在试验以前随机抽取10条测量其体重和体长,并以活体动物饲料喂养法和科学饲养管理法进行试验养殖,并在进入第一、第二次冬眠前均随机抽取10条蛇仔测其体重和体长。结果本次试验与本蛇场室内人工饲养尖吻蝮仔蛇相比,不仅在体重、体长和肥满度方面均相差不大,而且仔蛇的存活率还有所提高。结论表明该人工模拟生态养殖蛇场能够满足尖吻蝮仔蛇生长发育的需要,达到了预期的目的。     

食物种类对尖吻蝮幼蛇开口率的影响研究

目的观察投喂不同食物时尖吻蝮（Dienagkistrodon acutus）幼蛇的开口率,研究尖吻蝮幼蛇对食物的选择性,寻找最适宜的尖吻蝮幼蛇开口饵料;研究气味对尖吻蝮进食行为的影响,为人工配合饲料开发提供理论基础。方法将尖吻蝮幼蛇随机分组,在相同条件下对幼蛇进行饲养,分别使用泽蛙、幼体蟾蜍、SD大鼠的乳鼠、昆明种小鼠幼鼠、大麦虫、蚯蚓、中华蟋蟀、蟑螂对尖吻蝮幼蛇进行投喂,并统计开口率;在黑暗条件下投喂新鲜的死泽蛙和小鼠肉块,减少振感和食物与环境间温差对尖吻蝮的刺激,观察记录尖吻蝮的进食行为。结果尖吻蝮幼体开口率与食物种类有明显相关性,对蛙类和鼠类的开口率较高,而对昆虫类几乎无捕食。同时存在多种食物时尖吻蝮对食物有一定选择性,对运动较活跃和体温较高的食物选择性高。尖吻蝮可凭借气味寻找到食物并完成进食,对死食的进食率较活食低。结论 （1）泽蛙和幼鼠是尖吻蝮幼蛇的理想开口饵料;（2）尖吻蝮捕食过程中,除依赖视觉、震感、颊窝红外热感等感知食物外,还可通过气味来识别食物。     

海陆蛙的两性异形和雌性繁殖特征

用采自海南东寨港红树林保护区的58只(35 ♀♀,23 ♂♂)成体海陆蛙(Fejervarya cancrivora),通过测量头体长、体重、头长、头宽、吻长等11个形态特征指标和雌体卵巢质量(窝卵重),研究该种形态特征的两性异形和雌性繁殖特征,并检验雌性成体大小(头体长和体重)与其繁殖的相关性.雌雄两性个体的最小头体长分别为44.9 mm和45.2 mm.除吻长和眼间距外,其余局部形态特征与头体长皆呈正相关性.头体长在雌雄两性之间差异显著,雌性显著大于雄性;而体重、头长、头宽等局部形态均无两性差异.海陆蛙雌体的窝卵重与头体长和体重之间皆成正相关关系,表明雌性可能是通过增大体型从而增加繁殖输出,而向较大体型发展.     

山地麻蜥的雌性繁殖和孵出幼体特征

山地麻蜥年产多窝卵。窝卵数、窝卵重和卵重与雌体体长呈正相关,卵重与窝卵数无关。窝卵数、窝卵重和卵重不存在明显的季节变化。卵长径与卵短径呈正相关,卵长径、卵短径与窝卵数无关。雌体通过增加窝卵数和卵大小增加繁殖输出。孵出幼体的体重、体长、尾长、躯干干重、刺余卵黄不存在季节差异,但5月份孵出幼体的脂肪体高于4月份。     

野外尖吻蝮迁移活动和捕食行为的观察

我国特有种尖吻蝮（Agkistrodon acutus）的驯养研究广大学者和专业户做了大量突出的工作。但对野外生态的研究还有待深入。近30年来．作者结合“尖吻蝮人工驯养”进行研究,在皖南歙县、黟县、休宁、祁门等周边地区作了数百次实地考查,并走访当地居民和有经验的捕蛇者,对尖吻蝮的野外生态、栖息环境、生活习性有了深层次的了解,为人工驯养繁殖尖吻蝮奠定坚实的基础。现报告如下。     

Egg components, egg size, and hatchling size in leatherback turtles

Relationships between egg size, egg components, and neonate size have been investigated across a wide range of oviparous taxa. Differences in egg traits among taxa reflect not only phylogenetic differences, but also interactions between biotic (i.e., maternal resource allocation) and abiotic (i.e. nest environment conditions) factors. We examined relationships between egg mass, egg composition, and hatchling size in leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) because of the unique egg and reproductive characteristics of this species and of sea turtles in general. Albumen comprised 63.0%+/-2.8% (mean+/-S.D.) of egg mass and explained most of the variation in egg mass, whereas yolk comprised only 33.0%+/-2.7%. Additionally, leatherback albumen dry mass was approximately 16% of albumen wet mass. Whereas hatchling mass increased significantly with egg mass (n = 218 clutches), hatchling mass increased by only approximately 2 g for each 10 g increase in egg mass and was approximately 10-20 g greater than yolk mass. Taken together, our results indicate that albumen might play a particularly significant role in leatherback embryonic development, and that leatherback eggs are both capable of water uptake from the nest substrate and also possess a large reservoir of water in the albumen. Relationships between egg mass and egg components, such as variation in egg mass being largely explained by variation in albumen mass and egg mass containing a relatively high proportion of albumen solids, are more similar to bird eggs than to eggs of other non-avian reptiles. However, hatchling mass correlates more with yolk mass than with albumen mass, unlike patterns observed in bird eggs of similar composition.     

A phylogenetic analysis of egg size,clutch size,spawning mode,adult body size,and latitude in reef fishes

Theoretical treatments of egg size in fishes suggest that constraints on reproductive output should create trade-offs between the size and number of eggs produced per spawn. For marine reef fishes, the observation of distinct reproductive care strategies (demersal guarding, egg scattering, and pelagic spawning) has additionally prompted speculation that these strategies reflect alternative fitness optima with selection on egg size differing by reproductive mode and perhaps latitude. Here, we aggregate data from 278 reef fish species and test whether clutch size, reproductive care, adult body size, and latitudinal bands (i.e., tropical, subtropical, and temperate) predict egg size, using a statistically unified framework that accounts for phylogenetic correlations among traits. We find no inverse relationship between species egg size and clutch size, but rather that egg size differs by reproductive mode (mean volume for demersal eggs = 1.22 mm³, scattered eggs = 0.18 mm³, pelagic eggs = 0.52 mm³) and that clutch size is strongly correlated with adult body size. Larger eggs were found in temperate species compared with tropical species in both demersal guarders and pelagic spawners, but this difference was not strong when accounting for phylogenetic correlations, suggesting that differences in species composition underlies regional differences in egg size. In summary, demersal guarders are generally small fishes with small clutch sizes that produce large eggs. Pelagic spawners and egg scatterers are variable in adult and clutch size. Although pelagic spawned eggs are variable in size, those of scatterers are consistently small.     

Energetic constraints, size gradients, and size limits in benthic marine invertebrates

Populations of marine benthic organisms occupy habitats witha range of physical and biological characteristics. In the intertidalzone, energetic costs increase with temperature and aerial exposure,and prey intake increases with immersion time, generating sizegradients with small individuals often found at upper limitsof distribution. Wave action can have similar effects, limitingfeeding time or success, although certain species benefit fromwave dislodgment of their prey; this also results in gradientsof size and morphology. The difference between energy intakeand metabolic (and/or behavioral) costs can be used to determinean energetic optimal size for individuals in such populations.Comparisons of the energetic optimal size to the maximum predictedsize based on mechanical constraints, and the ensuing mortalityschedule, provides a mechanism to study and explain organismsize gradients in intertidal and subtidal habitats. For specieswhere the energetic optimal size is well below the maximum sizethat could persist under a certain set of wave/flow conditions,it is probable that energetic constraints dominate. When theopposite is true, populations of small individuals can dominatehabitats with strong dislodgment or damage probability. Whenthe maximum size of individuals is far below either energeticoptima or mechanical limits, other sources of mortality (e.g.,predation) may favor energy allocation to early reproductionrather than to continued growth. Predictions based on optimalsize models have been tested for a variety of intertidal andsubtidal invertebrates including sea anemones, corals, and octocorals.This paper provides a review of the optimal size concept, andemploys a combination of the optimal energetic size model andlife history modeling approach to explore energy allocationto growth or reproduction as the optimal size is approached.     

Posterior tooth size, body size, and diet in South African gracile Australopithecines

A model relating relative size of the posterior teeth to diet is suggested for forest and savanna primates and Homo. Relative tooth size is calculated for the South African gracile australopithecine sample using posterior maxillary area sums and size estimates based on four limb bones. A number of limbs were shown to be non-hominid. Comparisons show the South African gracile sample apparently adapted to a very heavily masticated diet with relative tooth size significantly greater than any living hominoid. Periodic intensive utilization of grains and roots combined with scavenged animal protein are suggested as the most likely dietary reconstruction.     

Cusp size, sexual dimorphism, and heritability of cusp size in twins.

Overall measures of mandibular molars reflect the combined size contributions of the component cusps and ridges. Until now, the size hierarchy of primary and permanent mandibular molar cusps remained unclear. This paper utilizes the relative plane surface areas (basal area dimensions) of the individual molar cusps, as assays of cusp size to demonstrate cusp size variations within populations, antimere cuspal variations, sexual dimorphism, and, the heritability of cusp size. Duplicate dental casts from 199 pairs of like-sexed twins provide the raw dats. Defined anatomic landmarks on the occlusal surfaces were reduced to X-Y rectangular coordinates prior to the computation of the basal areas dimensions. The results establish a cusp size hierarchy specific for molar type, i.e., five-cusped molars with a distal fovea and distal marginal ridge (5fd), five-cusped molars without a distal fovea and without a distal marginal ridge (5o), and four-cusped molars (4c). Sexual dimorphism in cusp size is apparent in 5fd molar cusped but not in 5o molar cusps. However, males have a significantly higher frequency of 5fd molars. Females have a higher frequency of smaller 5o and 4c molars which have fewer crown components. Moreover, female 5o molars have cusps as large as or larger than 5o male molor cusps. Right-side-left-side differences exist between antimere cusps based on relatively low correlations. The mirroring of molor types occurs infrequently. When observed, most intrapair differences for cusp size, using F-ratios, indicate a low component of hereditary variability.     

Coordinated evolution of brain size,structure, and eye size in Trinidadian killifish

Brain size, brain architecture, and eye size vary extensively in vertebrates. However, the extent to which the evolution of these components is intricately connected remains unclear. Trinidadian killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, are found in sites that differ in the presence and absence of large predatory fish. Decreased rates of predation are associated with evolutionary shifts in brain size; males from sites without predators have evolved a relatively larger brain and eye size than males from sites with predators. Here, we evaluated the extent to which the evolution of brain size, brain structure, and eye size covary in male killifish. We utilized wild‐caught and common garden‐reared specimens to determine whether specific components of the brain have evolved in response to differences in predation and to determine if there is covariation between the evolution of brain size, brain structure, and eye size. We observed consistent shifts in brain architecture in second generation common garden reared, but not wild caught preserved fish. Male killifish from sites that lack predators exhibited a significantly larger telencephalon, optic tectum, cerebellum, and dorsal medulla when compared with fish from sites with predators. We also found positive connections between the evolution of brain structure and eye size but not between overall brain size and eye size. These results provide evidence for evolutionary covariation between the components of the brain and eye size. Such results suggest that selection, directly or indirectly, acts upon specific regions of the brain, rather than overall brain size, to enhance visual capabilities.     

The relationship between genome size, development rate, and body size in copepods

Freshwater cyclopoid copepods exhibit at least a fivefold range in somatic genome size and a mechanism, chromatin diminution, which could account for much of this interspecific variation. These attributes suggest that copepods are well suited to studies of genome size evolution. We tested the nucleotypic hypothesis of genome size evolution, which poses that variation in genome size is adaptive due to the bulk effects of both coding and noncoding DNA on cell size and division rates, and their correlates. We found a significant inverse correlation between genome size and developmental (growth) rate in five freshwater cyclopoid species at three temperatures. That is, species with smaller genomes developed faster. Species with smaller genomes had significantly smaller bodies at 22 °C, but not at cooler and warmer temperatures. Species with smaller genomes developed faster at all three temperatures, but had smaller bodies only at 22 °C. We propose a model of life history evolution that adds genome size and cell cycle dynamics to the suite of characters on which selection may act to mold life histories and to influence the distribution of traits among different habitats.     

Evolutionary dynamics of intron size, genome size, and physiological correlates in archosaurs

It has been proposed that intron and genome sizes in birds are reduced in comparison with mammals because of the metabolic demands of flight. To test this hypothesis, we examined the sizes of 14 introns in a nonflying relative of birds, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), and in 19 flighted and flightless birds in 12 taxonomic orders. Our results indicate that a substantial fraction (66%) of the reduction in intron size as well as in genome size had already occurred in nonflying archosaurs. Using phylogenetically independent contrasts, we found that the proposed inverse correlation of genome size and basal metabolic rate (BMR) is significant among amniotes and archosaurs, whereas intron and genome size variation within birds showed no significant correlation with BMR. We show statistically that the distribution of genome sizes in birds and mammals is underdispersed compared with the Brownian motion model and consistent with strong stabilizing selection; that genome size differences between vertebrate clades are overdispersed and punctuational; and that evolution of BMR and avian intron size is consistent with Brownian motion. These results suggest that the contrast between genome size/BMR and intron size/BMR correlations may be a consequence of different intensities of selection for these traits and that we should not expect changes in intron size to be significantly associated with metabolically costly behaviors such as flight.     

Brain size,head size and behaviour of a passerine bird

A recent increase in comparative studies of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of brain size in birds and primates in particular have suggested that cognitive abilities constitute a central link. Surprisingly, there are hardly any intraspecific studies investigating how individuals differing in brain size behave, how such individuals are distributed and how brain size is related to life history and fitness components. Brain mass of the barn swallow Hirundo rustica was strongly predicted by external head volume, explaining 99.5% of the variance, allowing for repeatable estimates of head volume as a reflection of brain size. Repeatability of head volume within and between years was high, suggesting that measurement errors were small. In a 2 years study of 501 individual adult barn swallows, I showed that head volume differed between sexes and age classes, with yearlings having smaller and more variable heads than older individuals, and females having smaller and more variable heads than males. Large head volume was not a consequence of large body size, which was a poor predictor of head volume. Birds with large heads arrived early from spring migration, independent of sex and age, indicating that migratory performance may have an important cognitive component. Head volume significantly predicted capture date and recapture probability, suggesting that head volume is related to learning ability, although morphological traits such as wing length, aspect ratio and wing area were unimportant predictors. Intensity of defence of offspring increased with head volume in females, but not in males. Barn swallows with large heads aggregated in large colonies, suggesting that individuals with large heads were more common in socially complex environments. These results suggest that brain size is currently under natural and sexual selection, and that micro‐evolutionary processes affecting brain size can be studied under field conditions.