Twenty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci aimed at detecting illegal trade in the Cape parrot, Poicephalus robustus (Psittacidae, AVES)

Twenty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized in the Cape parrot, Poicephalus robustus. Nineteen loci were newly isolated from two Cape parrot genomic libraries, and three loci isolated from other parrot species. Loci were characterized in 40 unrelated captive Cape parrots held by aviculturalists. The loci displayed between two and 24 alleles, with the observed heterozygosities ranging between 0.10 and 0.94. This locus set is suitable for identifying clarifying parentage (parentage exclusion probabilities of P_E1 = 0.0004 and P_E2 = 0.000001). Candidate parents for any Cape parrot individual can now be genotyped to distinguish between individuals, which are truly captive bred and those suspected of being wild-caught birds. Cross-species analysis found up to 31 loci to be polymorphic across 24 additional parrot species tested.     

Parasites in Captive Animals: A Review of Studies in Some European Zoos

There are a number of specific characteristics in the system parasites–zoos and lots of studies in this connection have been carried out. In the present work a literature review of the parasitological investigations performed in some European zoos is presented. The summing-up and analyses of the literature data gave us grounds for drawing the following conclusions: Helminths represent the most frequently reported parasites in the animals inhabiting Europe's zoos. According to the frequency of the reports the most widely-spread among the helminths are the nematodes, followed by the cestodes and trematodes. The nematodes are most often represented by those of the Ascaridida order followed by Strongylida, Enoplida (Trichuridae, Capillariidae), Oxyurida and Rhabditida. Protozoa rank second after the nematodes according to the frequency of reports. The ones affecting the gastrointestinal tract and developing without intermediary hosts are most often established (Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Eimeria). Often parasites causing zoonoses are recorded in the zoo animals. Most often these are primates with the nematodes from the genera Trichuris, Ascaris, Strongyloides and Enterobius being the most common zoonoses agents.     

笼养大斑啄木鸟行为时间分配和活动节律

2011年6～8月,在北京市野生动物救护中心露天笼舍内,采用瞬时扫描法对笼养条件下的4只大斑啄木鸟(Dendrocopos major)行为时间分配和活动节律进行了研究,利用单因素方差分析来说明不同性别大斑啄木鸟间行为时间分配差异以及研究对象在日间不同时间段行为节律差异.结果显示,笼养条件下大斑啄木鸟的各种行为活动具有一定的时间分配特点和日行为节律.大斑啄木鸟的行为主要表现为休息和飞行走动,占全部行为的36.24％和26.96％,其次为觅食行为,占17.69％.除觅食、理羽和其他行为外,雌雄间行为时间分配差异不显著(P＞0.05).大斑啄木鸟昼间活动的高峰期出现在上午,中午有午休现象,日间行为节律明显.飞行走动、休息、理羽、跳跃行为的发生频次在雌雄间无显著差异(P＞0.05),而雄性觅食的发生频次显著地大于雌性的(P＜0.05).     

人工饲养条件下死亡实验恒河猴肠道病理改变特点分析

目的观察人工饲养条件下实验恒河猴肠道病理改变,探讨实验猴肠道疾病分布规律和病理改变特点,丰富实验猴自发病变基本研究资料。方法对1998-2008年云南地区饲养的自然死亡的155只恒河猴（年龄2-20岁）的肠道进行病理检查,按年龄分为幼年组、成年组、老年组,并对观察结果进行统计学分析。结果155例恒河猴中58例检出肠道病变,有慢性肠炎、急性肠炎、黏膜充血水肿、出血、糜烂、溃疡、穿孔、寄生虫共8种主要病变,出现率最高的为急性肠炎（20．00％）。实验猴不同年龄组肠道病变类型分布基本相同,肠道病变率随年龄增长而增高,不同年龄组间统计学分析差异无显著性。结论人工饲养条件下死亡实验猴肠道病变检出率较高,急性肠炎是实验猴的主要致死原因之一,实验猴肠道病理改变随年龄增长而病变加重。对实验猴饲养和研究时,应重视肠道病变因素,尤其是急性肠炎。死亡实验猴肠道病变研究对实验猴的质量控制和相关动物实验有重要指导价值。     

Can Captive-Bred Varecia variegata variegata Adapt to a Natural Diet on Release to the Wild?

We compared the diets of 3 groups of released captive-bred Varecia variegata variegata (RG1, RG2, RG3) in the Betampona Reserve to that recorded for a resident wild group, between 1998 and 2001. We investigated whether the released captive-bred Varecia, from differing captive backgrounds, could cope with seasonal changes in climate and consequently food availability, finding sufficient food to meet their nutritional requirements, and dietary choices and selection. We collected data on diet, including plant part, family, genus and, if known, species. In addition, we collected data on seasonal variation in dietary composition. Dietary overlap is significant at the familial level between RG1/RG3 and the wild group. There is some dietary overlap between RG2 and the wild group, but it is not significant. In general, RG1 and RG3 more closely followed the dietary choices and seasonal changes in diet exhibited by the wild group. We conclude that Varecia raised in free-ranging environments are better adapted to meet their nutritional requirements in the wild than those raised in cages are. However, even they struggle to deal with seasonal climatic changes and consequent changes in food availability. We suggest that future re-introduction efforts for primates include attempts to integrate released individuals rapidly into wild groups so that they can learn to cope with a seasonal environment through direct observation of wild conspecifics.     

中国麋鹿种群现状调查

麋鹿是野外绝灭物种 ,其野生种群早已从自然界消失。因此建立和发展圈养种群是麋鹿重引进项目第一阶段的主要任务 ,也是整个麋鹿保护行动的关键环节。自从 1 985年中国进行第一个麋鹿重引进项目以来 ,圈养种群的数量增加很快。到 2 0 0 1年全国麋鹿的总数量已达 1 2 0 0多头 ,其中绝大多数生活在圈养和半野生的条件下。本篇报告概述了我国麋鹿圈养种群发展的历史和现状 ,分析了一些小圈养种群在发展中产生的问题和原因 ,并提出了解决的建议。     

笼养大鸨越冬行为的时间分配

20 0 0～ 2 0 0 2年冬季 ,在哈尔滨动物园 ,采用瞬时扫描法对 2 2只笼养大鸨 (Otistarda)进行全日制观察 ,研究结果表明 :笼养大鸨可以在北方安全越冬。笼养大鸨越冬期行为活动日节律、行为分配 :休息行为 (趴卧、静站 )所占比例最大 ,达到 78. 40 % ,而取食行为 (6. 1 5 % )、游走 (7. 3 5 % )、理羽 (4 . 3 5 % )、啄草雪(2 . 65 % )、打蓬 (1 .1 0 % )所占比例相对较少 ,且各行为时间分配差异显著 (P <0 . 0 5 )。大鸨在冬季不同时期内除取食、打蓬、啄草雪外 ,各行为时间分配差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。温度、天气的变化对笼养大鸨越冬行为时间分配也具有显著影响 (P <0 . 0 5 )。     

川金丝猴圈养种群现状分析

川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellartae)圈养种群大多饲养在中国的动物园中。根据《川金丝猴国际谱系簿2002》记录,到2002年12月31日种群存活数量185只,包括野外捕获个体和圈养出生个体。近年圈养出生数量一直保持增加,到2000年超过野外捕获个体数量,现在种群的增加更多地依靠圈养出生个体数量的增加。近12年中种群繁殖率不断提高。每年新生幼仔中野外捕获个体组产仔比率逐年减少,圈养出生个体组产仔比率逐年增大,但到2002年前者仍高于后者40％。两组动物的繁殖率都有上升趋势,野外捕获个体组的繁殖率大多高于圈养出生个体组的繁殖率,二者有明显差异。种群遗传状况是基因多样性保存量较高,各小种群的基因多样性却处于较整体低的水平。提高子代的繁殖率,增加各机构之间的合作繁殖以提高小种群的基因多样性保持量,这两者对于种群的健康发展是非常重要的。     

Working with mahouts to explore the diet of work elephants in Myanmar (Burma)

At an elephant camp in central Myanmar (Burma), we interviewed mahouts and veterinarians to describe the diet of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in a mixed-deciduous forest. Elephants showed a broad dietary breadth (103 plant species from 42 families); consumed mostly browse (94% of plant species); and were very selective about plant parts [e.g., many trees were eaten exclusively for their bark (22%) or fruits (14%)]. The fruits from 29 plant species were recorded to be eaten by elephants. Several of these were found as fruit remains, seeds, or seedlings in elephant dung, suggesting a role of Asian elephants in seed dispersal. Work elephants and their mahouts prove to be a rich source of information to understand wild elephant ecology.     

马鹿的圈养种群粪样中性激素水平与繁殖行为的关联

2003年9、10月和2004年4～7月,对黑龙江省兰西县榆林镇禄宝种鹿场圈养的天山马鹿(Cervuselaphus songaricus)进行了行为观察,并利用放射免疫分析法(RIA)测定了马鹿粪样中的性激素水平,包括雄鹿的睾酮.雌鹿的孕酮、雌二醇和雌三醇.结果表明,圈养条件下天山马鹿繁殖行为呈显著的季节变化.雌马鹿性行为的高发期在9月(P＜0.01).在幼仔出生后的6月(高出生月份),嗅仔和舔仔行为显著高于5月和7月(P＜0.05),极显著高于其他月份(P＜0.01);唤仔行为6月份极显著高于其他月份(P＜0.01);哺乳行为发生的高峰期在6、7两个月,而且发生了显著的异常哺乳与异常授乳行为.雄马鹿嗅尿、卷唇、尿喷洒、腺体标记、呜叫与蹄地行为发生频次高发期在9、10月(P＜0.01);饰角发生高峰期在6月,角斗在6月显著高于其他月份;爬胯与搅水或泥浴行为在9、10月显著出现.雄马鹿粪样性激素水平与其繁殖行为呈显著相关;而雌马鹿粪样性激素水平只有孕酮与雌马鹿的部分育幼行为存在显著的相关,与大部分行为不存在显著相关.