Male-biased reproduction and sex-ratio adjustment in muskrats

Summary Sex ratios of a population and of litters were sampled in muskrats in Ontario, Canada. Sex ratios of litters sampled from nests were male biased (54% male). Until weaning, no differential costs of producing and rearing male and female young were identified that could account for this greater production of males. Following weaning, however, male-biased dispersal of juveniles from their natal site and more frequent acquisition by females of these sites as breeding sites the following year suggested a greater investment by adult females in female young. Therefore, competition between female siblings for the acquisition of their natal site may be sufficient to result in the greater production of males. In addition, the simultaneous occupation of, and competition between, siblings and parents for the resources of the natal home range may not be necessary for local resource competition to result in a greater production of the dispersing sex. Greater-than-expected binomial variance in sex ratios of litters suggested that adjustment of sex-ratios occurred. However, we were unable to associate the adjustment of litter sex ratios with changes in maternal condition. The greater production of males and the predominance of monogamous associations between adults in this population may have lead to slightly greater variation in male fitness than female fitness. Therefore, a female in better-than-average condition may have benefited by producing more males. Similarly, a lower cost of producing dispersing males may allow nutritionally-stressed females to reduce their total expenditure on offspring by producing more males. Because these experiments were non-manipulative, maternal condition may not have varied sufficiently during this study to detect adjustments of litter sex ratios resulting from either of the above mechanisms acting separately, but the combined effects of small differences in matermal condition and selective pressures operating in the same direction may have resulted in the observed deviation from the binomial.     

睾丸切除对麝鼠香腺形态和 麝鼠香成分的影响

对麝鼠(Ondatra zibethicus)去势,探讨睾丸切除对麝鼠香腺形态和麝鼠香成分的影响。6只成年雄性麝鼠,随机分为去势组和对照组,每组3只。麝鼠香腺内香液排尽后,施行去势手术。去势30 d后,麻醉处死动物,采集和分离麝鼠的血清备用,然后采集麝鼠香。采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清和麝鼠香中的睾酮(T)含量。取香腺,测量其长度,H.E染色观察香腺组织结构的变化,并测量腺细胞直径。同时,利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)测定麝鼠香化学成分。去势组的血清中睾酮含量极显著低于对照组(t=5.270,P 0.01),去势组麝鼠香中睾酮含量显著低于对照组(t=3.229,P 0.05)。形态学上,去势组和对照组的麝鼠香腺长度无显著差异(t=1.243,P 0.05)。组织学上,去势组腺细胞直径显著缩小(t=9.434,P 0.01)。麝鼠香中,去势组和对照组含量最高的3类成分相同,均为大环类、类固醇和脂肪酸。其中,去势组的大环类物质含量显著升高(t=﹣3.084,P 0.05),而类固醇含量极显著降低(t=3.407,P 0.05)。完成建立麝鼠去势模型,切除睾丸后导致麝鼠香腺腺细胞形态和麝鼠香成分发生了变化。     

Seasonal changes in the oxygen storage capacity and aerobic dive limits of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Summary The oxygen storage capacity and partitioning of body oxygen reserves were compared in summer-and winter-acclimatized muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). Blood volume, blood oxygen capacity, and skeletal muscle myoglobin content were higher in December than in July (P<0.02). Total lung capacity increased only slightly in winter (P>0.05). The oxygen storage capacity of a diving muskrat was calculated at 25.2 ml O₂ STPD · kg^-1 in July, compared to 35.7 ml O₂ STPD · kg^-1 in December. Blood comprised the major storage compartment in both seasons, accounting for 57% and 65% of the total oxygen stores in summer and winter, respectively. Based on available oxygen stores and previous estimates of the cost of diving, the aerobic dive limit (ADL) increased from 40.9 s in July to 57.9 s in December. Concurrent behavioral studies suggested that most voluntary diving by muskrats is aerobic. However, the proportion of dives exceeding the calculated ADL of these animals was shown to vary with the context of the dive. Only 3.5% of all dives initiated by muskrats floating in the water exceeded their estimated ADL. Provision of a dry resting site and access to a submerged food source increased this proportion to 18–61%, depending on the underwater distance that foraging muskrats were required to swim. Serial dives exceeding the estimated ADL were not accompanied by extended postdive recovery periods.Abbreviations ADL acrobic dive limit - Hb hemoglobin - Hct hematocrit - Mb myoglobin - PaO₂ arterial O₂ tension - STPD standard temperature and pressure, dry     

Density-dependent habitat selection in muskrats: a test of the ideal free distribution model

Summary Two predictions of the ideal free distribution model, a null hypothesis of habitat selection, were examined using free-ranging muskrats. We rejected the prediction that the proportion of the animals found in each of five habitats was independent of population size. Data on over-winter occupancy of muskrat dwellings tend also to refute the prediction of equal fitness reward among habitats. Habitat type and water-level had a profound effect on the suitability of a site for settlement. We concluded that the observed pattern of muskrat distribution followed more closely an ideal despotic distribution where some individuals benefited from a higher fitness because of resource monopolization. Current theories of density-dependent habitat selection, which assume an ideal free distribution, would not apply to muskrats and possibly to many other mammal species.     

麝鼠泌香期香囊腺形态及组织结构的研究

麝鼠香囊腺由腺细胞、支持细胞和排香管组成。其分泌腺属复管泡状腺。发育初期的腺泡胞质内含有大量的粗面内质同、光滑内质网、高尔基复合体、中心粒和线粒体、香腺细胞间连接发达,桥粒、半桥粒广为分布。胞质内含有电子致密度高和电子致密度低的两种分泌颗粒。其分泌方式为顶浆分泌。     

麝鼠肠道纤维素分解菌的分离鉴定及其酶学特性分析

本研究旨在从麝鼠(Ondatra zibethicus)肠道中分离出高效分解纤维素的菌株,为开发纤维素分解菌微生物制剂提供菌种资源。本研究利用以羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)为单一碳源的培养基,从麝鼠盲肠内分离出--株高效分解纤维素的菌株WJ-3,并对该菌株进行形态鉴定、生理生化鉴定和16S.rDNA分子鉴定。对菌株WJ-3所产羧甲基纤维素酶(CMCase)进行酶学特性实验,分析此纤维素酶的最佳反应pH和最佳反应温度,以及此纤维素酶对不同温度和不同酸碱度的耐受性。结果表明,菌株WJ-3属于空气芽孢杆菌(Bacillus aerius),并将其命名为Bacillus aerius WJ-3。菌株WJ-3所产羧甲基纤维素酶在pH 4.0~6.0的范围内反应时,酶活性随pH值升高而增加,其最佳反应pH为6.0,且此纤维素酶在pH4.0~8.0范围内保存30min后均能保持80%以上的相对酶活性:菌株WJ-3所产羧甲基纤维素酶在温度30~50 ℃范围内反应时,随温度上升酶活性逐渐增加,在50 ℃时酶活性最高,之后随温度的升高酶活性逐渐下降,且纤维素酶在此温度范围内保存30 min后均能保持较高的酶活性。综上所述,菌株Bacillus aerius WJ-3所产羧甲基纤维素酶的酶活性较高,并且此纤维素酶的耐酸碱性及热稳定性良好,是具有一定利用价值的菌种资源。     

Multiple effects of land‐use changes impede the colonization of open water in fen ponds

Question: Dutch fen areas have become embedded in intensively used landscapes, resulting in biodiversity loss. Hence, plant species that colonize open water inducing the formation of species‐rich floating peat mats have disappeared. Despite many restoration efforts, they have not returned. Is natural succession towards floating mats impeded by site conditions, dispersal limitations or changed biotic interactions? Location: Six Dutch fen reserves: De Deelen, De Weerribben, De Wieden, Westbroek, Molenpolder and Terra Nova. Methods: In 62 fen ponds we determined plant species richness and expansion into open water. We related these to habitat quality (chemical composition of soil and surface water, pond morphology), dispersal potential (distance to remnant populations, likelihood of dispersal) and biotic interactions (presence of muskrats [Ondatra zibethicus L.] and the keystone species Stratiotes aloides). Results: Factor analysis showed that plants expanded further into open water and bank vegetation had higher species richness in areas with older ponds and lower muskrat densities. Locally, high turbidity hampered colonization. Whenever the water was clear, colonization was higher in shallow ponds, and in deep ponds only if Stratiotes was present. Species richness was negatively correlated to nutrient availability in soil and positively correlated to hydrological isolation (decreased sulphate concentrations). We also found that species richness was higher in sheltered banks. Conclusions: Multiple habitat characteristics (turbidity, water depth, nutrient and sulphate concentrations) and the influence of muskrats and Stratiotes all play a role in the lack of restoration success in Dutch fen ponds. Dispersal limitations seem to be overruled by habitat limitations, as colonization often fails even when sufficient propagule sources are present, or when connectivity is high.     

麝鼠香腺发育与活体取香的初步研究

根据麝鼠香腺的形态发育,将其划分为非泌香期、香腺发育期、泌香盛期和泌香持续期４个时期．通过对１９２只成年雄性麝鼠分另进行５次活体取香,每只取香量累计达２．６５±０．３２ｇ。非泌香期肌注丙酸睾丸素５ｍｇ／ｋｇ。可诱导雄麝鼠香腺的发育和泌香。通过饲养繁殖观察,证明雄体取香对配偶雌体繁殖无不良影响。     

麝鼠香腺泌香的组织学观察

应用光学显微镜和电子显微镜技术,观察了麝鼠(Onda zibethica)香腺囊的组织结构,证明香腺由腺细胞、支持细胞和排香管组成。顶浆分泌方式泌香。简述了各级排香管的细胞结构及功能,为建立麝鼠人工活体取香和体外泌香奠定了组织学基础。     

Heat increment of feeding and its thermoregulatory benefit in the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

The calorigenic effect of feeding and its potential benefit in defraying thermoregulatory costs and attenuating immersion hypothermia of adult muskrats were investigated. A single session of feeding on aquatic vegetation was sufficient to raise the metabolic rate of muskrats for a period of at least 5 h. The peak postprandial rate of oxygen consumption averaged 1.42 times the level established for fasted animals, and the heat increment of feeding accounted for about 40% of the metabolizable energy intake of muskrats. There was no evidence of a postprandial rise in oxygen consumption of muskrats that entered water at 18–19°C after feeding. In aquatic trials, average and minimum steady-state oxygen consumption rates of fed muskrats were similar to, or even lower than values recorded from fasted animals, implying substitution of heat increment of feeding for thermoregulatory heat production. Our data did not support the hypothesis that heat increment of feeding retards body cooling in water. Net body temperature decline in water was actually higher in fed animals than in fasted controls. However, since previously fed muskrats also entered water at an elevated body temperature, the final body temperature (at 30 min immersion) was similar in all groups. These findings suggest that metabolic heat generated incidental to preimmersion feeding could provide a thermoregulatory benefit to muskrats by reducing the need for active thermogenesis in water.