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。     

布氏田鼠标志种群的社群等级及其季节变化

在内蒙古锡林郭勒地区,通过标志重捕、染色标记和直接观测法对布氏田鼠社群等级的季节变化进行了研究。结果表明:在繁殖季节,布氏田鼠洞群内存在明显的社群等级。越冬雄鼠在社群内社群序位最高,其次是越冬雌鼠、当年成体雌鼠、当年成体雄鼠,亚成体鼠和幼鼠的社群地位最低。在繁殖末期,越冬雄鼠的地位明显下降,而当年成体雄鼠的等级序位逐渐上升。在繁殖季节,当年雄鼠在洞群中的等级序位依然很低,很少能有机会进行有效的交配,有效交配主要由越冬雄鼠来完成,因而越冬雄鼠对种群繁殖的贡献较大。本实验倾向于支持该鼠的婚配制度为一雄多雌制的观点。     

繁殖季节和非繁殖季节布氏田鼠种群参数和生理特点的差异

在繁殖季节(6月份)和非繁殖季节(10月份),采集了内蒙古自治区阿尔善宝力格地区的布氏田鼠样本,比较其种群参数与生理指标,探讨了布氏田鼠社群结构和生理特征的季节性差异,并分析了原因。结果表明,布氏田鼠的年龄组成和性比存在明显的季节差异:繁殖季节洞口系数小,种群性比接近1,主要由当年新生鼠和越冬鼠组成;非繁殖季节洞口系数大,种群性比偏雄,主要由当年新生鼠组成。繁殖器官在繁殖季节显著大于非繁殖季节,保持了更高活性。非繁殖季节个体的胴重比更高,且雄鼠高于雌鼠,表明非繁殖季节个体和雄鼠具有更好的营养状态;同时,非繁殖季节个体具有更小的肾上腺和更大的脾脏,说明非繁殖季节中的布氏田鼠表现出更低的应激状态和更强的免疫能力。这些研究结果表明,布氏田鼠的种群参数和生理特点具有明显的季节性特点,这与不同季节中布氏田鼠采取的生存策略有着紧密联系。     

繁殖季节和非繁殖季节布氏田鼠种群参数

在繁殖季节（6月份）和非繁殖季节（10月份）,采集了内蒙古自治区阿尔善宝力格地区的布氏田鼠样本,比较其种群参数与生理指标,探讨了布氏田鼠社群结构和生理特征的季节性差异,并分析了原因。结果表明,布氏田鼠的年龄组成和性比存在明显的季节差异：繁殖季节洞口系数小,种群性比接近1,主要由当年新生鼠和越冬鼠组成;非繁殖季节洞口系数大,种群性比偏雄,主要由当年新生鼠组成。繁殖器官在繁殖季节显著大于非繁殖季节,保持了更高活性。非繁殖季节个体的胴重比更高,且雄鼠高于雌鼠,表明非繁殖季节个体和雄鼠具有更好的营养状态;同时,非繁殖季节个体具有更小的肾上腺和更大的脾脏,说明非繁殖季节中的布氏田鼠表现出更低的应激状态和更强的免疫能力。这些研究结果表明,布氏田鼠的种群参数和生理特点具有明显的季节性特点,这与不同季节中布氏田鼠采取的生存策略有着紧密联系。     

粪便激素水平反映不同出生时期雄性布氏田鼠的繁殖策略

布氏田鼠是我国内蒙古草原的主要害鼠之一,具有明显的季节繁殖特征,不同季节出生个体可能具有不同的繁殖策略,但尚缺乏内分泌证据支持。本研究采用标志重捕法,连续监测大型自然围栏中不同年龄雄性布氏田鼠的繁殖状态和应激水平的季节变化,分析各年龄组雄鼠的繁殖发育策略。结果表明,越冬雄鼠可保持较高的睾丸下降率和睾酮水平至8月初;而部分5月生雄鼠的繁殖期睾酮水平较接近越冬鼠,但8月初已降至年内最低水平,而6月及以后出生雄鼠睾酮始终处于较低水平;这说明越冬鼠的繁殖状态可贯穿繁殖期始终,只有部分5月生雄鼠可能参与当年繁殖,而6月及以后出生雄鼠则不能在当年繁殖。越冬鼠皮质醇水平高于当年鼠,繁殖期高于非繁殖期,这可能是越冬鼠由于繁殖需要而保持较高应激状态,从而造成繁殖盛期后死亡率升高。这些结果说明,不同时期出生的雄性布氏田鼠具有不同的出生后性腺发育模式和繁殖策略,反映出生存与繁殖之间的权衡。     

密度因素在布氏田鼠种群调节中的作用

对布氏田鼠栖息密度不同的种群同时进行取样,研究密度因素对布氏田鼠种群发展的调节作用。结果表明,在高密度区布氏田鼠种群繁殖强度受到抑制,雌鼠怀孕率、雄鼠睾丸下降率、贮精囊肥大率和睾丸长度都小于低密度种群。高密度种群繁殖季节结束时间早于低密度种群,幼鼠肥满度较小,性成熟速度较慢,种群年龄结构中,幼年鼠所占比例小于低密度种群。这些都是导致高密度种群增长速度减慢的因素。     

不同社群序位布氏田鼠的繁殖行为

在实验室条件下观察了捕自内蒙古草原的不同序位布氏田鼠的繁殖行为特征。结果表明, 雌鼠对雄性配偶存在着激烈的竞争, 高序位雌鼠获得被选择、交尾及产仔的机会最多, 较低序位雌鼠若被选择并且产仔, 则其序位将随之上升; 高序位雄鼠对各个序位雌鼠均可选择, 且在繁殖期间对同性个体表现很强的攻击性, 以获得更多的交配机会。在社群繁殖中高序位雌、雄个体的作用明显高于低序位个体, 这是布氏田鼠种群长期选择进化的生存策略。实验支持了布氏田鼠为混交制、一雄多雌的婚配制度推论。     

布氏田鼠种群生理年龄结构的研究

本文根据胴体重分布将布氏田鼠划分为越冬鼠与当年鼠两组,然后再根据生理学指标将当年鼠划分为性成熟鼠(成年)和性未成熟鼠(幼年)。由于生理年龄与时间年龄不一致,故本文并不强调各种形态指标来划分时间年龄组。5月下半月以前种群主体为越冬鼠,但在当年鼠出现地表面后,当年鼠取代越冬鼠成为种群主体,到7月下半月越冬鼠已降到10％以下。当年生的幼鼠春季生长发育旺盛,很快成为当年成鼠。晚夏和秋季出生的个体当年性不发育成熟。秋季种群主体为当年幼鼠。越冬鼠和大部分当年成鼠从种群中消失。比较种群数量上升与下降年份,春季越冬鼠胴体重的轻重与第一批当年鼠(K_1)出现规模可能是种群数量升降的重要指标。     

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。     

高原鼠兔种群繁殖生态的研究

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。     

浑善达克沙地三趾跳鼠的食性与繁殖特征的初步分析

采用夹捕取样法对内蒙古浑善达克沙地三趾跳鼠(Dipus sagitta)种群进行逐月调查,根据捕获样本的繁殖器官特征及胃内容物组成分析三趾跳鼠的食性与繁殖的季节动态。结果表明,本地区三趾跳鼠主要取食植物茎叶,4、5、6、9、10月植物茎叶占其食物组成的95%以上,7～8月达60%～75%;三趾跳鼠还取食少量的植物种子;7～8月,嫩绿的植物种子占35%,但很少取食成熟种子。此外,也捕食少量昆虫。在浑善达克沙地,三趾跳鼠每年只繁殖1胎,繁殖期为5～7月,5月下旬至6月中旬为交配期,6下旬至7月中旬为幼鼠出生期。三趾跳鼠的胎仔数稳定,每胎产仔2～3只,平均胎仔数为2·8。6月份成体雌鼠的妊娠率为43%;7月份雌鼠的妊娠率为48%;其他月份妊娠率为0%。雄鼠睾丸下降时间为5～8月,6月雄性成体睾丸下降率达到最高峰,为100%。     

Seasonal reproduction of a tropical bat, Anoura geoffroyi, in relation to photoperiod.

Anoura geoffroyi (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae, Glossophaginae), Geoffroy's hairy-legged long-tongued bat, were collected from September 1984 to August 1985, and these bats were found to breed seasonally in the wild on Trinidad, West Indies, at 10 degrees N latitude. Histological examination of these samples indicated that females became pregnant in July or August, and young were born in late November or early December. The testes and epididymides were small from September to mid-April, increased threefold in weight between mid-April and late May, reached a peak weight in July, and decreased in weight in August. Spermatogenesis occurred throughout the testes of males captured from May to August. In 1990, the timing of parturition in females that gave birth in the laboratory to young conceived in the wild was similar to the timing in the field in 1984-1985. Groups of 10-13 males were subjected in the laboratory to (i) a gradually changing, civil twilight photoperiod that mimicked the natural cycle of annual change at 10 degrees N latitude, (ii) the same gradually changing cycle of photoperiod accelerated to a six-month period, or (iii) a constant photoperiod (light 12:54 h: dark 11:06 h). These treatments began in mid-December, four months before the initiation of testicular recrudescence in the wild. In all three groups, testicular volume remained low until April, and then increased two- to threefold between late April and late June, rising to a peak in July, as occurred in the wild.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dynamics of the fecal corticosterone content in males of red,gray-sided,and bank voles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myodes</Emphasis>, Rodentia,Cricetidae) upon sexual maturation

The dynamics of the corticosterone content in feces of males are analyzed in red (M. rutilis), graysided (M. rufocanus), and bank (M. glareolus) voles. The ontogenetic dynamics of the corticosterone content in feces of these species collected on the 20th and 40th days are shown to depend differently on the month of their birth. At the same time, the fecal corticosterone content is similar in males of all species that originated from litters with various sizes and shares of males in it. The fecal corticosterone content in the 40-day-old animals is related to the month of birth for all three species. The species-specific features of adrenal activity are found on the 20 and 40 days after the birth of animals. The males of the May and August generations have the highest corticosterone level in feces. The fecal corticosterone content in the red vole males also correlates with the social environs; in addition, socially isolated single males have a higher rate of maturation. The fecal corticosterone in the gray-sided vole males related to the season of start maturation and to the date of birth negatively correlates with sexual maturation. The mature males of those species are found only among the spring–early summer generation. Thus, population factors are important only for maturing males that were born in the current year. Moreover, sexual maturation at a high population density is accompanied by a smaller decrease in the adrenocortical activity.     

The breeding biology of introduced hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) on a Scottish Island: lessons for population control and bird conservation

The breeding biology of a recently (1974) introduced hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus population was studied on a large Scottish island. These hedgehogs have caused serious declines in internationally important ground-nesting shorebirds, and population control is now being attempted. Sexual behaviour commenced in late April, a few days after the main emergence from hibernation. It peaked in mid-May and again in late June/early July, and ceased by mid-August. Females were promiscuous and were estimated to have sexual encounters (although not necessarily matings) with at least five males during the main mating period. Two-thirds of females attempted to breed for the first time in their second calendar year (i.e. as sub-adults), and the rest in their third calendar year (i.e. as adults). At least 96% ( n =27) of adult females attempted to breed in the early part of the season (litters born in June). The vast majority (81%, n =26) bred again in the later part of the season (litters born after mid-July). Breeding success (≥1 young emerged) was relatively high. For adults, 63% ( n =24) of early-season and 86% ( n =18) of late-season attempts were successful. For sub-adult females the figure was 62% ( n =9). The annual mean productivity per female was estimated at 4.04 young for adults and 0.85 young for sub-adults. The implications of these results for the effectiveness, timing and welfare aspects of hedgehog control programmes are discussed.     

Influence of Reproductive Status: Home Range Size in Water Voles (Arvicola amphibius)

The relationship between home range and reproductive status of water voles (Arvicola amphibius) was studied by radio-tracking on an island off the coast of northern Norway in 2006–2009. The aim was to test assumptions about the species’ social structure relative to other microtines. Juveniles used fairly small ranges (about 400 m²), with no difference between males and females. Subadults, overwintered voles in April, had ranges similar to juveniles. Reproductively active males (mean 2774.0 m²) increased their range seven-fold relative to juvenile males, with ranges on average 3.3 times larger than adult females (mean 848.3 m²), which also expanded their range. Most litters were born in May and June, and as reproduction ceased in July adult males reduced their range whilst females did not. Body mass or year did not influence home range size. Overlap of home ranges varied, but could be extensive in both adult males and females. The water vole had a social structure similar to some Microtus species, but females appeared to be non-territorial and males perhaps conditioned territorial and non-territorial.     

Population parameters and reproductive biology of the Iberian hareLepus granatensis in southern Iberia

To analyse the population structure and reproductive biology of the Iberian hareLepus granatensis Rosenhauer, 1856, 498 hares (264 males and 234 females) were collected in monthly samples from October 1998 to September 1999. Females reached larger sizes than males, with approximately 400 g difference in body mass on reaching sexual maturity. The total sex ratio was 1∶1, with a bias in favour of males in winter. Sexually active males and females appeared in every month but August, when no sexually active female was found. Births occurred in every month and were more frequent between March and July. Seasonal variation in kidney fat index (KFI) followed a similar pattern in males and females, with an increase in mid-autumn and a decline at the end of winter. Reproductive activity appeared in every month, with a maximum from February to June. Reproductively hyperactive females (simultaneously pregnant and nursing) appeared in every month except in January, with a first peak in March and a second lower peak in May–June. Litter size fluctuated between 1 and 7 leverets. The most frequent gestations involved 1 or 2 foetuses. The mean annual litter size was 2.08 and the average number of litters per productive female per year was estimated to be 3.48. The maximum productivity was recorded between March and May. The total annual production of young per adult female was estimated to be 7.21. The minimum annual survival rate of young was 27.91%. On the basis of these results we propose to maintain the limit of the hunting period between October and December. We discuss the relationship between the low young/adult ratio obtained and the hunting method used.     

OBSERVATIONS ON NOCTULE BATS (NYCTALUS NOCTULA) CAPTURED WHILE FEEDING

In the summer and early autumn of 1960, 1961 and 1962, noctule bats flying low, taking house crickets as these flew from a municipal rubbish tip, were captured in mist nets, ringed, released and in many cases recaptured a number of times. The flying bats showed no fear of human beings or predatory birds and did not learn to avoid the net. In June and July of each year the majority of bats caught were adult females, the flying young of the year first appearing in August though some did not fly until September and October. Young males did not reach sexual maturity in the year of their birth, though five out of fourteen females recaptured at a year old did. There was a considerable movement of adult males in the late summer, adult bats being captured in approximately equal numbers of both sexes during August and September. In October the females seemed to disappear, the majority of the bats caught during that month being males: by November the crickets had ceased to fly and no more bats could be captured though a few wero still flying on warm nights. There was a marked difference in feeding behaviour over these three years, the bats concentrating more on crickets in 1960 than in 1961 and 1962. Though the differences are not statistically significant there were indications of an increase in body weight between July and October in the years when less cricket feeding was occurring. About 50 per cent of the females captured in each of the years 1960 and 1961 were recaptured feeding on the same site in the following year: the recovery rate of males was about 30 per cent in 1961, 60 per cent in 1962.