圈养马麝的胆量个性及与麝香分泌和繁殖成效的关系

采用新异物刺激的方式,建立马麝惊扰反应强度指数,通过马麝惊扰后的状态量化其胆量水平,对甘肃兴隆山麝场圈养马麝交配季节和非交配季节胆量(Boldness)进行行为学研究。结合泌香量和产仔量数据,分析胆量对麝香分泌、繁殖成效的效应;同时分析了圈区环境、性别、年龄与马麝胆量之间的关系,以及交配季节与非交配季节间胆量的相关性。结果表明:圈区环境对个体胆量无显著影响(交配季节P = 0.799;非交配季节P =0.152),性别对个体胆量也无显著影响(交配季节P = 0.144;非交配季节P = 0.733),而年龄对个体胆量存在显著影响(交配季节P = 0.012;非交配季节P =0.009),个体年龄越大,胆量越大;交配季节与非交配季节之间胆量呈显著正相关(r =0.592,P < 0.001),但并无明显差异(P =0.095);雄麝泌香量与非交配季节胆量之间存在显著负相关(r = - 0.607,P = 0.016),雌麝繁殖成效与交配季节胆量之间存在显著正相关(r =0.362,P = 0.045)。圈养马麝胆量个性受年龄因素的影响,并在交配季节与非交配季节之间存在一致性,非交配季节胆量更高的雄麝泌香量趋于更少,交配季节胆量更高的雌麝产仔数趋于更多。     

人工繁育与野外鳄蜥幼体及亚成体形态和健康状况的比较

人工繁育是濒危物种保护的重要手段,但是也会改变物种的表型。为了探究人工繁育对于鳄蜥(Shinisaurus crocodilurus)形态和健康状况的影响,本研究比较了人工繁育鳄蜥与野外鳄蜥新生幼体及亚成体形态特征与细菌感染率。结果发现,人工繁育鳄蜥与野外鳄蜥的新生幼体体型无显著差异,而人工繁育鳄蜥亚成体体型显著大于野外鳄蜥;两个年龄段的人工繁育鳄蜥断尾率均显著低于野外鳄蜥;人工繁育鳄蜥亚成体细菌感染率最高,但是各年龄组种群间的差异不显著。本研究表明,人工环境促进了鳄蜥的生长,减少了鳄蜥被捕食的风险,但有增加鳄蜥感染疾病的可能性,因此在鳄蜥的饲养管理中需要加强疾病防治。     

Preliminary investigation of social interactions and feeding behavior in captive group-housed Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus Harrisii)

As the number of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) in captivity increases, an understanding of captive social dynamics and behavior is becoming increasingly important. In the wild, devils are solitary, although sometimes, they congregate to feed on a large carcass. However, it is common to house devils in groups as a form of social enrichment. This study investigated how behavior at feeding time of captive Tasmanian devils varied in groups of different sizes. Observations were made of individually housed devils and devils in groups of two, three, five, and six, when presented with a carcass on which to feed. Total feeding duration ranged from 6.5 to 47.4 minutes per observation period (70 minutes). There was no significant interaction between feeding duration and group size during the experiment. Feeding duration varied daily and depended on carcass size. Social housing of Tasmanian devils enabled them to display dyadic and agonistic behaviors during feeding. Observing behaviors and learning from the outcomes of these interactions can improve husbandry techniques. Creating a captive environment that encourages natural behaviors may enhance survival in the wild following translocation.     

Potential effects of El Niño-South Oscillation (ENSO) on growth of the American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus (Crocodylia: Crocodilydae) in captivity

Temperature affects growth rate of crocodiles. However, no information exists about the effects of temperature by El Niño-South Oscillation (ENSO) on crocodiles. In this paper, we present information about the effect of ENSO on total length and body mass of Crocodylus acutus in captivity during 1997–2001. We did not observe differences in total length among years, but we did so in body mass. Furthermore, we observed that warm episodes of ENSO were associated with a higher average total length and cold episodes represented a higher average of body mass. Sea surface temperature (SST) was significantly related with total length; however, the relationship between SST and body mass was unclear. We suggest that ENSO effects on growth rates of crocodiles need to be considered as an important factor on the management of captive populations.     

Effects of sociosexual environment on serum testosterone in captive male African rhinoceros

The relationships between testosterone concentrations in male African rhinoceros and the presence of conspecific males and females were investigated. Serum testosterone concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) in 37 male black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and 21 male white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) housed at 37 institutions in the USA. Testosterone concentrations in both black (n = 37) and white (n = 21) rhinoceros males rose with increasing numbers of females present (P < 0.05). Average testosterone concentrations also rose with an increased number of conspecific males (n = 34) in black rhinoceros (P < 0.05). However, no specific pattern was found among male white rhinoceros housed with other males. We inferred that introduction of females to a male may play an important role in stimulating libido and spermatogenesis. The similar response of black rhinoceros and white rhinoceros to increased numbers of females suggested that, at least historically, herd structure for blacks may have been more similar to whites than previously realized, and should be investigated further.     

安徽省扬子鳄饲养种群繁殖力的参数分析及种群增长预测

通过对宣城扬子鳄繁殖研究中心三代繁殖鳄1982—2003年繁殖力有关参数的分析,结果表明近三年来繁殖研究中心扬子鳄产卵量明显减少;亲代受精率为(83.80±2.37)%、孵化率为(89.53±0.86)%;发现F1受精率为(79.38±2.74)%、孵化率为(83.78±1.95)%;F2代个体受精率为(68.7±1.84)%、孵化率为(88.16±1.68)%;通过单因素方差分析F(受精率)=4.33(P<0.05)、F(孵化率)=4.56(P<0.05)差异显著。分析影响扬子鳄繁殖的因素发现:产卵量明显减少可能与亲代鳄逐渐退出繁殖期、F1代鳄整体产卵能力有下降趋势、F2代鳄没有大规模进入繁殖期有关;分析历史资料发现扬子鳄产卵窝数与4月份的温度相关性高(R=0.979,P<0.01);作者认为F1、F2代个体与亲代之间的受精率、孵化率有显著差异,近交衰退、遗传多样性的丧失有密切关系。利用时间序列分析建立理想状态下饲养扬子鳄种群数量估计模型,预测10年内扬子鳄饲养将可能达到19000尾;根据该种群增长模式及种群年龄结构特点,应扩大饲养规模,特别是育成鳄饲养池及幼鳄饲养池的建设。     

人工驯养下扬子鳄的生长规律

研究结果表明扬子鳄在饲养条件下的生长具有一定的规律性。饲养群体中,5龄以前的鳄生长速率较快,其中在2龄前生长速率最快,在5龄至7龄间生长速率明显减慢;鳄体长与体重之间呈正相关,两者在体长小于50cm时呈直线相关,体长大于50cm时呈曲线相关。不同性别的扬子鳄年生长状况不同,从5龄开始雌雄鳄体重出现显著差异,雄鳄重于雌鳄;从6龄开始雌雄鳄在体长方面的生长速率出现差异,雄鳄生长明显快于雌鳄;达到10龄后,雌雄鳄在体长和体重方面的增长均明显减慢,达到15龄时两者的体形已相差悬殊,雄性大于雌性。由von Berta-lanffy生长模型分析,雌鳄达到25龄而雄鳄达到35龄后,各自的体长几乎停止生长,雌鳄平均最大体长为173cm,雄鳄平均最大体长为219cm。在人工越冬下,除第一次越冬外,扬子鳄在越冬室内的冬眠中体况无明显变化,体能明显消耗出现在户外冬眠过程中。本研究为扬子鳄的科学化饲养提供理论依据。     

苏北滨海湿地麋鹿恢复种群的研究

1986年至2004年,在苏北滨海湿地开展恢复麋鹿野生种群的研究。从每年的2月份开始,在麋鹿的产仔期按照每旬记录产仔数,直至产仔结束。逐年统计半散养和野生麋鹿种群结构。选择不同年龄阶段和不同性别的麋鹿进行称重,分析个体的身体发育程度。半散养麋鹿种群由1986年引进的39 头,发展到2004年的706 头,年均出生率21.7%,鹿群年均增长率为17.5%,现已繁殖了子四代;野生放养麋鹿由31 头增加到2004年的41头,年均出生率16.3%,年均增长率为9.0% ,且于2003年、2004年各产1 头完全属野生的子二代。产仔季节相由引进时的紊乱已调整至目前的规律性产仔。研究表明大丰麋鹿种群繁殖很成功,其寿命、行为、生理发育、繁殖周期等都较引进时发生了显著的变化,已完全适应了黄海湿地生态环境。人类活动干扰仍是影响麋鹿种群恢复的一个重要因素。     

Have fishes had their chips? The dilemma of threatened fishes

Synopsis The conservation status and factors threatening fishes worldwide are reviewed in order to introduce a series of one-page articles on Threatened fishes of the world, and to encourage the incorporation of information on threatened fishes into international conservation programmes. Information on fish extinction and threat rates are compared with those of other animal groups, and the unique characteristics of fish conservation problems are highlighted. At present 979 species of fishes are listed as threatened in the IUCN Red List and at least 36 species and three subspecies are listed as recently extinct. It is argued that these figures are probably gross underestimates and that they may mislead conservation authorities and resource users about the seriousness of the situation. Freshwater fishes may be the most threatened group of vertebrates after the Amphibia. Urgent action is required to save many narrowly endemic, stenotopic species from extinction, especially in Africa, Asia and South America. The conservation of common species that drive essential ecological processes is also important. Anthropogenic pressures, especially habitat degradation, the introduction of invasive species and pollution, on inland and coastal waters are particularly severe and many major fish communities are threatened with elimination throughout the world. The conservation of marine fishes is complicated by the fact that it is difficult to ascertain their rarity. The importance of the retention of genetic variation is highlighted, and both orthodox and innovative conservation measures are encouraged. Further research on minimum viable populations, genetics, and the factors that cause fishes to become vulnerable to extinction, is urgently required.Invited editorial