长江江豚繁殖生物学研究概述

长江江豚,即江豚扬子亚种,是仅分布于长江及附属湖泊中的唯一江豚淡水亚种,也是3个江豚亚种中最濒危的一个亚种。本文概述了30 年来国内外关于长江江豚繁殖生物学方面的研究成果,主要从繁殖生态学、组织解剖学、生理学以及行为学等4 个方面阐述了长江江豚繁殖生物学研究现状,并对其中一些相互矛盾和有争议的问题进行了分析。探讨了今后研究中应注意的重点问题,力图为长江江豚的繁殖生物学研究指明方向,为早日实现长江江豚的人工繁殖奠定基础。

Review on breeding biology of Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis )

There a re three Neophocaena phocaenoides subspecies recognized in Chinese waters: South China Sea population, N. p. pho caenoides; Yellow Sea population, N. p. sunameri; and Ya ngtze population, N. p. asiaeorientalis. The Yangtze pop ulation, or Yangtze finless porpoise, is the most endangered subspecies that onl y inhabits in the Yangtze River and its adjacent lake systems. It is a unique freshwater and relatively isolated population of the Neophocaena. The wild population of the Yangtze finless porpoise has decreased drastically in last two decades because it also ine scapably suffers the impacts of the deterioration of the Yangtze environm ent as the Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) does, such as constructio n of hydropower facilities, overmuch and illegal fishing, busy water traffic, an d heavily water pollution etc. It is no doubt that it is very important to prot ect and rehabilitate the natural Yangtze habitats. However, it seems that there is no chance for improvement of the Yangtze environment in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is a practical measure to protect the animal from extinc tion by ex-situ conservation in a long run. Captive bree ding is seen as one of essential practices of the ex-situ conservation for this animal. Obviously, the necessary knowledge on breeding b iology plays a key role for successful captive breeding. To better understand t h e data on reproductive biology of the Yangtze finless porpoise, the previous wor ks on the reproduction of the animal in recent 30 years are reviewed. And the p r esent research status is expounded in terms of ecology, physiology, ethology, an atomy and histology. Some contradictions and controversial conclusions in previous studies are discussed in this paper. Furthermore, some important issu e s and urgent research points are also discussed to try to shed a light in furthe r studies on breeding biology, and it is also hoped to provide a base for breedi ng program of this animal in captivity.