棕黑锦蛇的研究概况及保护问题

本文对棕黑锦蛇（Elaphe schrenckii）进行分类学等研究,棕黑锦蛇被认为包含两个亚种：指名亚种（Elaphe s.schrenckii）和赤峰亚种（Elaphe s.anomala）,但也有学者将后者提升为种,即赤峰锦蛇（Elaphe anomala）.有关该种分类问题,仍需要进一步综合考虑形态学和分子系统学分类研究.作为我国东北和华北地区体形最大的蛇种,棕黑锦蛇具有重要的生态和经济价值,但目前对其生物学特性和生态学研究极为有限,人工驯养繁育技术不成熟,过度利用导致野外种群遭到严重破坏.建议加强棕黑锦蛇生态学和人工繁育技术的研究,为有效保护和可持续利用提供科学依据.     

Effects of parasitic infection and radio-transmitters on condition, hematological characteristics and corticosterone concentrations in Texas ratsnakes

Parasites are a health concern of many wildlife species, although their effect on reptiles is poorly studied. Here we examine effects of hemogregarine and external parasites on Texas ratsnake Elaphe obsoleta white blood cell (WBC) concentrations, WBC differentials, heterophil/lymphocyte ratios, packed cell volume (PCV), corticosterone concentrations and body condition. We found little evidence that either ectoparasites or hemogregarines affected the health of Texas ratsnakes. We found a seasonal increase in corticosterone, consistent with glucocorticoids priming the snakes to deal with higher predation risks later in the season. We also examined whether the potential stress of carrying a surgically implanted radio-transmitter compounds any parasitic health effects. We found no effect of transmitters on most aspects of health. We did find equivocal evidence that WBC concentrations were higher in snakes with transmitters and that PCV decreased following transmitter implantation. Although our results generally support the view that data collected using radio-telemetry are unlikely to be biased due to adverse health effects of transmitters, the growing importance of telemetry for studies of snakes and other taxa argues for further research on this topic. When possible, researchers should design telemetry studies in such a way that assessing potential heath effects of transmitters is one of the objectives.     

贵州省荔波发现百花锦蛇

2010年7月～2012年8月,在贵州省荔波南方喀斯特世界自然遗产地进行脊椎动物物种多样性调查时,分别在板寨、瑶山、翁昂和洞塘采集到游蛇科蛇类标本共5条,经分类鉴定为锦蛇属(Elaphe)的百花锦蛇(E.moellendorffi),为该物种在贵州省内首次发现,增加了其在国内的分布点.     

人工养殖条件下三种锦蛇的粪便微生物多样性

采用高通量测序技术,分析比较了实验室人工饲养的王锦蛇(Elaphecarinata)、棕黑锦蛇(E.schrenckii)和赤峰锦蛇(E. anomala)3种锦蛇粪便样本的微生物多样性。结果显示,在送检的粪便样本中,Shannon多样性指数(P 0.05)和Simpson多样性指数(P 0.05)在王锦蛇和棕黑锦蛇之间有显著性差异,赤峰锦蛇与前两者均没有差异;ace与chao1指数在3种锦蛇之间没有显著性差异。共检测出8个菌门,厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria)是3种锦蛇共享菌门。在属水平上3种锦蛇的优势菌群明显不同,志贺氏菌属(Shigella)、梭状芽胞杆菌属(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_11)及拟杆菌属(Bacteroides)分别是王锦蛇、棕黑锦蛇和赤峰锦蛇粪便样本中相对丰度最高的菌属。3种锦蛇粪便微生物多样性存在着明显的差异,但其是否可以作为区分这3种锦蛇的依据还需要进一步研究。     

利用隆线趋光行为评价铬的生物毒性

报道了以隆线单克隆Dc42为生物监测器,利用其趋光行为变化评价铬生物毒性的方法.结果表明,隆线趋光行为抑制率能较好地反映水中铬的污染程度.在重铬酸钾标准毒物溶液中,趋光指数与Cr⁶⁺的浓度呈极显著负相关(R²=0.8089,P<0.001),Cr⁶⁺浓度的检测下限为0.056 mg·L^-1,远低于LC₅₀和EC₅₀,平均精度达到5.46%,说明趋光指数法用于监测化学物质生物毒性灵敏度高、精确可靠.     

埃塞俄比亚芥与诸葛菜属间杂种的基因组原位杂交分析

用幼胚培养方法重新获得的埃塞俄比亚芥(Brassica carinata A.Braun,2n=34)与诸葛菜(Orychophragmus violaceus (L.)O.E.Schulz,2n=24)的属间杂种仍为混倍体(2n=14～34),2n=34细胞的频率最高;绝大多数花粉母细胞(PMCs)表现正常的17个二价体配对和17：17的分离。基因组原位杂交分析结果表明,在所有体细胞和PMCs中不含有整条的诸葛菜染色体,2n=34的体细胞和PMCs中包含了来自黑芥(B．nigra (L．)Koch,2n=16)的16条染色体。这些具有完全或部分埃塞俄比亚芥染色体组成的细胞,可能来源于以前提出的杂种细胞在有丝分裂中完全或部分亲本染色体组分开和染色体复制,并伴随诸葛菜染色体的消除。     

横斑锦蛇的现状

结合近几年来的野外调查,对横斑锦蛇的现状进行了报道。横斑锦蛇目前仅见于四川省西部的汶川、宝兴、石棉、泸定和雅安5个县、市,其中石棉和宝兴两县为其新分布区。横斑锦蛇栖息于海拔1650－2500m的湿润山地落叶阔叶林及灌草丛中,数量稀少,亟待加强保护和研究。 此外,还对唯一的幼蛇标本进行了描述。     

Cloning,expression and cellular localization of the Doublesex gene in the water flea, Daphnia carinata, during different developmental stages

In this study, one of Doublesex genes from the common freshwater cladoceran Daphnia carinata, designated DapcaDsx1, was cloned using primers based on homologous sequences and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). qPCR was employed to quantify differences in DapcaDsx1 expression between the different sexual phases, with expression levels being higher in sexual females. The role of DapcaDsx1 in the reproductive transformation was further investigated in parthenogenetic-phase females and sexual-phase females using whole-mount in situ hybridization. This cellular localization study showed specific expression of DapcaDsx1 in the thoracic segments, second antenna and part of the ventral carapace. Higher expression levels were exhibited in sexual females compared to parthenogenetic females. This suggests that the DapcaDsx1 gene plays significant roles in switching modes of reproduction and during sexual differentiation.     

Apparent decoupling of prey recognition ability with prey availability in an insular snake population

Numerous studies on the feeding behavior of snakes have reported the consistency of tongue-flick responses with their natural diets. For representatives of widely distributed, dietary generalist species from particular localities, we can expect that their tongue-flick responses to potential prey unavailable in their original habitats have been reduced whereas those to prey common in the habitats have been enhanced. To test this hypothesis, intraspecific variation in tongue-flick responses to prey chemicals was examined using ingestively naive snakes (Elaphe quadrivirgata) from dietarily different populations: populations from the main Japanese island, where the snakes' diet predominantly consists of sympatric frogs, and from Mikura-jima Island, where no frogs occur and the snakes thus chiefly prey on lizards. We presented chemical stimuli from six items including those from their natural and potential prey (fish, frog, lizard, mouse, water, and cologne) to newborn snakes. Significant effects of stimuli on the tongue-flick responses were detected. On the other hand, effects of population and interaction between stimuli and population were not significant, and individual comparisons revealed no significant interlocality differences in responses to either frog or lizard chemicals. Thus, our hypothesis was not supported. However, in the Mikura-jima sample, significantly fewer snakes responded to frog chemicals than in the main island sample. The significance of the inconsistency between prey recognition ability and prey availability in the Mikura-jima population are discussed. Received: October 17, 2000 / Accepted: December 14, 2000