秦岭川金丝猴的昼间活动时间分配

1999年12月至2004年11月,通过野外直接跟踪观察,采用焦点取样和瞬时记录的方法,对秦岭川金丝猴西梁猴群的昼间活动时间分配进行了研究。将川金丝猴的昼间活动定义为摄食、休息、理毛、移动和其他行为5 种类型,结果发现：川金丝猴昼间活动中有两个摄食高峰,分别在每天的上午和下午,中午有一个较长时间的休息期。川金丝猴昼间的主要行为类型是摄食和休息（约占全部活动时间的62%）,各种行为依所占时间比例依次为：摄食（34.64 ± 1.70%）、休息（26.83 ± 1.69%）、理毛（11.58 ± 0.96%）、移动（18.93 ±1.08%）和其他行为（8.02 ± 0.82%）。在不同季节各种行为类型所占时间比例有明显的变化,表现为摄食和休息行为占昼间活动时间比例在夏（75.00%）、秋季（74.15%） 大于春（52.74%）、冬季（56.64%）;而移动、理毛和其他行为所占时间比例之和在夏（25.00%）、秋季（ 25.85%） 则明显小于冬（ 43.4%）、春季（47.3%）。不同季节间的活动时间分配经非参数检验（ Kruskal Wallis H test,N = 199）,理毛行为（ x² =11.438,df = 3,P < 0.05）有显著差异,摄食（x² = 20.469,df = 3,P < 0.01）、休息（x² = 27.235,df = 3,P < 0.01）、移动（x² = 24.110,df = 3,P < 0.01） 和其他行为（ x² = 60.810,df = 3,P < 0.01） 季节间差异非常显著;除摄食行为外,其余各行为类型的时间分配在不同性别-年龄组间也存在显著差异（P < 0.05）。     

微生态添加剂EM对蓝狐育成期生长、代谢及免疫机能的影响

在蓝狐育成期的日粮中分别添加不同剂量的微生态制剂EM,研究不同剂量的EM添加剂对幼狐生长发育,消化代谢及免疫机能的影响。结果表明,EM添加剂能增强幼狐的采食量和平均日增重,Ⅲ组,Ⅳ组的平均日增重显著高于对照组（P＜0．05）;显著提高粗蛋白（CP）,粗纤维（CF）,矿物质元素Ca,p的消化率和净蛋白的利用率（P＜0．05）,且与剂量有关,Ⅲ组CP的消化率提高8．21％,净蛋白的利用率提高16．27％,Ca,P的消化率分别提高9．82％,12．13％,EM添加剂对粗脂肪（EE）,无N浸出物（NFE）的消化率无影响（P＞0．05）,能有效预防和治疗幼狐的腹泻和便血症,显著提高幼狐的免疫机能（P＜0．05）,提高幼狐的成活率,同时减少矿物质元素的排放量,EM是一种高产,安全,环保型的饲料添加剂,可在毛皮动物养殖业中推广应用。     

雌二醇对大仓鼠胁腺抑制作用的研究

通过研究发现雌二醇对雌性大仓鼠(Cricetulus triton)胁腺的大小和分泌活动存在明显的抑制作用。利用生理手术, 形成3组不同内分泌状况的鼠: 卵巢切除(OF)、正常(IF)、和卵巢切除后又置入雌二醇硅胶管 (OEF) 的雌性大仓鼠; 经过放射免疫方法测定表明由OF、IF到OEF 鼠血液雌二醇的浓度显著增高(P <0.01), 胁腺的重量、长度、宽度和厚度也显著减小(P< 0.05或P <0.01); 利用气相色谱对胁腺分泌物的分析发现, 从OF、IF到OEF鼠的胁腺分泌物的种类逐渐减少 , 有些成分尽管在 3 组不同生理状况的鼠中都存在, 但含量依次明显减少。以上结果表明雌二醇不仅能够抑制胁腺大小的增长, 而且也抑制了胁腺的分泌活动,从而减少了胁腺分泌物或其中某些成分的分泌量。     

捕食风险对不同饥饿状态下艾虎取食行为的影响

在室内条件下,将大鵟作为艾虎的天敌动物,通过双通道选择实验确定6 只成体艾虎在3 个捕食风险水平和4 种饥饿状态条件下的取食行为,探讨艾虎在取食过程中对饥饿风险与捕食风险的权衡策略。研究结果表明:在无捕食风险存在时,艾虎被剥夺食物0 d 和1 d 后对食物量不同的两个斑块中的取食量和利用频次均无明显不同(P > 0. 05),但对高食物量斑块的利用时间均明显高于低食物量斑块的(P <0.05),而艾虎被剥夺食物2 d和3 d后对高食物量斑块中的取食量和利用时间均明显高于低食物量斑块中的(P < 0.05),但在利用频次上均无明显差异(P > 0.05)。在面临低风险时,艾虎在4 种饥饿状态下均只利用无天敌动物存在的低食物量斑块,而基本不利用有天敌动物存在的高食物量斑块。在面临高风险时,艾虎不得不利用有天敌动物存在的食物斑块,被剥夺食物0 d 时艾虎对无风险、无食物量斑块的利用时间基本相同于对高风险、有食物量斑块的利用时间(P>0.05),而被剥夺食物1d、2 d 和3 d 后艾虎对高风险、有食物量斑块的利用时间明显高于无风险、无食物量斑块的(P< 0. 05)。在相同风险条件下,随着饥饿程度增加,艾虎在斑块中的取食量均明显增加(P< 0.05),而对斑块的利用时间和利用频次明显降低(P<0.05)。在相同的饥饿状态下,不同风险水平时,艾虎在斑块中的取食量无明显的差异(P>0.05),但在低风险和高风险时对斑块的利用时间和频次均明显低于无风险时的(P <0.05)。以上结果说明艾虎能够根据食物摄取率和自身的能量需求在捕食风险和饥饿风险之间做出权衡,当饥饿风险小于捕食风险时,艾虎趋于躲避捕食风险,当饥饿风险大于捕食风险时,艾虎趋于面对捕食风险,所采用的取食策略是减少活动时间和能量消耗,最大程度地提高单位时间内获得的能量。     

长爪沙鼠线粒体细胞色素b 基因的遗传变异及地理分化

本文基于6 个种群52 个个体的线粒体细胞色素b (Cyt b)基因全序列的遗传变异分析,探讨了我国长爪沙鼠种群的遗传结构和种群历史。在1140 bp Cyt b基因的碱基序列中,共发现了74个变异位点,其中转换和颠换位点分别为65和9个,共定义了37个单倍型。种群差异分析表明包头种群与其他种群之间都存在着显著的遗传差异,而其他种群间遗传差异则不显著。52 个个体在系统发生树中明显聚为两支(Clade A 和Clade B),其中Clade B 仅含有贺兰山东部种群中的3 种单倍型,而其余的单倍型分布于Clade A 中。来自Clade A 的49个个体的歧点分布分析结果呈单峰状,提示长爪沙鼠种群可能在历史上经历了种群增长和扩张事件,这一结果同时也得到了Tajima 检验结果(D=-1.86,P<0.05)和Fu 检验结果(Fs=-21.89,P <0.05) 的支持。通过种群扩张系数(τ)和分子钟的推算提示该种群扩张事件大约发生于11 万年前。我们的研究结果表明,长爪沙鼠在第四纪冰期中形成了明显的隔离分化,而贺兰山东部可能作为冰期避难所,包含于所有的谱系分支中,在末次间冰期种群进行了强烈的扩张,从而形成当今的分布格局。     

不同温度条件下运动和摄食对细鳞鲑幼鱼代谢模式的影响

为了揭示不同温度条件下运动和摄食对细鳞鲑幼鱼代谢模式的影响,在饱和溶氧(>8.0 mg·L^-1)条件下,分别测定了空腹组和摄食组在5个处理温度(4、8、12、16和20 ℃)下的运动前代谢率(MO_2p)、活跃代谢率(MO_2a)、代谢范围(MS)、临界游泳速度(U_C)以及10个流速水平下的实时游泳代谢率(MR).结果表明: 在各个温度条件下,摄食组的MO_2p和MO_2a均显著高于空腹组(P<0.05),且分别提高了15%和12%(4 ℃)、47%和23%(8 ℃)、30%和21%(12 ℃)、43%和36%(16 ℃)及8%和7%(20 ℃);摄食组与空腹组的U_C和MS均无显著性差异(P>0.05),但随着温度升高,两组的MS均呈现下降趋势;随流速的增加,各组的游泳代谢率呈先升高后降低的变化规律,且摄食组显著大于空腹组(P<0.05),各组的最大代谢率峰值均出现在低于U_C的流速条件下;在细鳞鲑幼鱼的游泳速度接近70%U_C的运动过程中,其代谢率不断增大至峰值,随后在游泳速度达到U_C的过程中,代谢率呈下降趋势.表明在一定温度范围条件下,细鳞鲑幼鱼的最大代谢率是由运动与摄食共同诱导产生的,在达到最大代谢率峰值的过程中代谢表现为添加模式;之后随游泳代谢率的下降,摄食诱导的代谢率被削减,该过程表现为运动优先代谢模式.     

线粒体DNA 序列分析在中国水域真海豚物种鉴定中的初步应用

真海豚包括长喙真海豚( Delphinus capensis) 和短喙真海豚( D. delphis) 2 种, 而中国水域的真海豚到底是哪一个种或是否同时有两个种的存在, 并不清楚。本研究测定了12 头中国水域真海豚mtDNA 控制区(control region) 366 bp 和细胞色素b (cytochrome b , cyt b) 基因336 bp 的序列, 并与已发表的其它真海豚的序列合并分析,初步鉴定中国水域真海豚的分类地位。结果表明, 中国水域的真海豚与东太平洋的长喙真海豚有相同的鉴别位点, 且两者之间的核苷酸歧异度(控制区: 1.93 ±0.22 % , cyt b 基因: 0.68 ±0.19 %) 显著低于与短喙真海豚之间的差异(控制区: 2.92 ±0.41 % , cyt b 基因: 0.95 ±0.27 %) 。通过MEGA (molecular evolutionary genetic analysis) 软件中的邻接法(neighbor joining) 进行的系统发生分析中, 中国水域的真海豚与长喙真海豚聚成一支, 有明显较近的亲缘关系。因此, 中国水域的真海豚在分类上应归属于长喙真海豚。     

载铜蒙脱石对尼罗罗非鱼肠道菌群和消化机能的影响

本试验研究了饲粮中添加0.10%、0.15%、0.20%载铜蒙脱石对尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)肠道菌群和消化机能的影响。结果显示,载铜蒙脱石显著降低了肠道细菌数量,明显改变了肠道菌群的组成,使气单胞菌属、假单胞菌属、黄杆菌属、不动杆菌属、产碱菌属、肠杆菌科、弧菌属的百分比减少。与对照组相比,饲料中添加0.10%、0.15%和0.20%载铜蒙脱石分别使干物质消化率显著提高了6.43%、8.47%和8.83% (p<0.05),粗蛋白消化率显著提高了5.63%、6.24%和6.91%(p<0.05),粗脂肪消化率显著提高了4.62%、5.65%和5.98%(p<0.05),添加0.15%和0.20%载铜蒙脱石使粗灰分消化率显著提高了18.77%和15.09% (p<0.05)。添加载铜蒙脱石显著提高了肠组织蛋白酶活性(p<0.05),且0.15%和0.20%载铜蒙脱石显著提高了肠组织淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性(p<0.05)。载铜蒙脱石显著提高了前肠、中肠、后肠绒毛和微绒毛高度。结果提示,载铜蒙脱石在鱼体内具有较强的抗菌活性,能有效抑制肠道病原菌的增殖,保护肠粘膜免受病原菌的侵袭,使肠粘膜始终处于健康状态,以益于消化酶的分泌和饲料养分的消化。     

贺兰山岩羊冬季对卧息地的选择

2003 年11～12月, 在贺兰山采用样带法对岩羊冬季卧息地的选择性进行了研究。共观察到94 个岩羊的卧息地, 结果表明岩羊对优势乔木的利用有选择性( x² = 17.01 , df = 5 , P < 0.05) , 偏好利用灰榆占优势的卧息地, 避免选择油松和青海云杉占优势的卧息地; 对坡向选择性利用( x²= 30.69, df =2, P < 0.05) , 偏好位于阳坡的卧息地, 避免利用阴坡; 对植被类型、坡位和风向的利用无选择性。对卧息地样方与在样带中随机设置的样方进行比较, 发现卧息地具有乔木密度低、食物丰富度低、隐蔽程度高、接近水源、接近裸岩、风速低和雪覆盖浅等特征。贺兰山的岩羊经常选择岩洞作为卧息地, 占总卧息地的62.77 %。对59 个岩洞和35 个非岩洞卧息地进行比较, 表明岩洞卧息地的坡度大、隐蔽程度高、风速低、保温性好、食物丰富度低和无雪覆盖。岩羊通常选择较宽的、深度和高度适中的岩洞作为卧息地。对各种生境因子的主成分分析表明前7 个特征值的累积贡献率已经达到了80.09%, 可以较好地反映岩羊卧息地的生境特征, 第1 主成分中隐蔽级、风向、风速、距裸岩距离和雪深具有重要作用, 其余6 个主成分中优势乔木、坡向、坡位和坡度也很重要。     

黄颡鱼对四种动物性蛋白原料在不同制粒工艺下的表观消化率研究

实验以三氧化二铬(Cr₂O₃)为外源指示剂,采用“70%基础饲料+30%实验原料”的方法配制实验饲料,测定了初始体质量为(28.68±0.49) g的黄颡鱼(Peltobagrus fulvidraco)对国产鱼粉、进口鱼粉、进口鸡肉粉和脱脂黄粉虫粉在膨化制粒和非膨化制粒两种工艺下的干物质、粗蛋白、粗脂肪和氨基酸表观消化率。结果显示,在非膨化制粒工艺下,黄颡鱼对进口鸡肉粉的干物质表观消化率显著高于另外3种原料(P<0.05),黄颡鱼对黄粉虫粉蛋白消化率最低(P<0.05),黄颡鱼对进口鸡肉粉脂肪表观消化率显著高于国产鱼粉和进口鱼粉(P<0.05); 在膨化制粒工艺下,进口鸡肉粉的干物质表观消化率显著低于另外3种原料(P<0.05),国产鱼粉和进口鱼粉的粗蛋白质消化率达94%以上,显著高于另外两种原料(P<0.05),但进口鸡肉粉的脂肪表观消化率显著低于其他原料(P<0.05)。在非膨化制粒工艺和膨化制粒工艺下国产鱼粉、进口鱼粉和黄粉虫粉的干物质表观消化率无显著性差异,但在非膨化制粒工艺下进口鸡肉粉的干物质表观消化率显著高于膨化制粒工艺(P<0.05)。对于国产鱼粉、进口鱼粉和黄粉虫粉而言,非膨化制粒工艺的蛋白消化率显著低于膨化制粒工艺(P<0.05),而鸡肉粉则相反。膨化加工工艺进口鱼粉的脂肪表观消化率显著高于非膨化加工工艺(P<0.05),而膨化加工工艺的黄粉虫脂肪表观消化率显著低于非膨化加工工艺(P<0.05)。氨基酸的消化率结果与粗蛋白的表观消化率变化趋势基本一致。由此可知,对于黄颡鱼饲料,国产鱼粉和进口鱼粉是最佳的蛋白质来源,进口鸡肉粉和黄粉虫亦可以作为其优质的蛋白质来源。对于进口鱼粉、国产鱼粉和黄粉虫粉,膨化制粒工艺更有利于黄颡鱼对其干物质、蛋白、脂肪和氨基酸等营养元素的消化利用,而对于进口鸡肉粉,非膨化制粒工艺更有利于黄颡鱼对营养元素的消化利用。     

Ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility in blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) fed extruded diets containing different protein sources

This study compared apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of macronutrients and amino acids in blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) fed dry extruded diets. The control diet contained fish meal as the main protein source, while in the other diets 50% of the fish meal protein was replaced by not de-hulled solvent-extracted soybean meal, meat meal or bacterial protein meal. Ileal digestibility was obtained with animals modified with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA method). There were no significant differences in the average digestibility of CP, Lys, Trp, Val, Ala or Glu between IRA modified and intact animals. Average ileal digestibilities of His, Thr, Asp, Cys, Gly, Hyp, Pro, Ser, starch and total carbohydrates (CHO) were significantly lower compared with total tract values. Average ileal digestibility of Arg, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Tyr and crude fat was significantly higher than total tract digestibility. Digestibility measured in IRA modified animals showed less variability compared with values from intact animals. There were significant differences among diets in ileal as well as total tract digestibility of orude protein, most amino acids, starch and CHO, and in ileal digestibility of crude fat. Ileal crude protein digestibility of the diets ranged from 81.0-86.4% and total tract digestibility from 82.5-86.4%. Ileal amino acid digestibilities ranged from 70.1 (Asp) to 93.3% (Arg) and total tract values ranged from 72.8 (Cys) to 92.2% (Arg). Both ileal and total tract digestibilities of crude protein and most amino acids were significantly lower for diets containing meat meal or bacterial protein meal compared with the control fish meal-based diet and the diet with soybean meal. Although ileal digestibility may be more accurate than total tract digestibility in estimating the protein and amino acid supply in blue foxes, total tract digestibility may be acceptable because of numerically small differences between ileal and total tract digestibilities for protein and most amino acids. It was further concluded that ileal digestibilities of starch and CHO in the blue fox are lower than corresponding total tract digestibilities.     

圈养赤斑羚夏季日食量及表观消化率的探讨

<正>野生动物营养学是野生动物生态学和管理学的重要组成部分,是了解野生和圈养野生动物种群生存和繁殖的核心内容之一(Robbins,1983)。动物采食是一个复杂的、动态的、生物和非生物因素相互作用和相互影响的过程(Van Soest,1994),同时受动物自身、环境和饲料等多种因素的影响,有时还存在互作(NRC,1996)。采食量决定营养物质的摄入量,决定着动物能够从环境中获得营养物     

Digestibility of timothy hay by African elephants

Two juvenile, female African elephants (Loxodonta africana) were used in summer and winter trials to determine the apparent digestibility of timothy (Phleum pratense) hay. After 12–14 days of dietary adjustment, dry matter intake and fecal excretion were quantitatively measured for 7 days. Dry matter of timothy hay contained 8.6 and 7.7% crude protein, 57.3 and 44.0% acid detergent fiber, and 6.5 and 6.4% ash during the summer and winter trials, respectively. Estimates of apparent digestibility during summer and winter, respectively, were 39 and 35% for dry matter, 43 and 32% for gross energy (GE), 45 and 30% for crude protein (CP), and 36 and 24% for acid detergent fiber (ADF). While GE and CP digestibility estimates tended (P < .09) to be greater in the summer trial, only the digestibility of ADF was different (P < .05) between summer and winter. Dry matter intake was 1.4–1.6% of body weight (BW), providing an average of 144 kcal of digestible energy per kg BW^0.75. This value is similar to that (155 kcal per kg BW^0.75) used for estimating digestible energy requirements for maintenance of light-breed horses.     

CRYSTALLINE TRYPSIN : V. KINETICS OF THE DIGESTION OF PROTEINS WITH CRUDE AND CRYSTALLINE TRYPSIN

The rate of digestion, as determined by the increase in non-protein nitrogen or formol titration, of casein, gelatin, and hemoglobin with crystalline trypsin preparations increases nearly in proportion to the concentration of protein, but with crude pancreatic extract the rate of digestion becomes independent of the protein concentration in concentrations of more than 2.5 per cent. With both enzymes the rate of digestion of mixtures of 5 per cent casein and gelatin is greater than would be expected from the point of view of a compound between enzyme and substrate. The rate of digestion of 5 per cent casein in the presence of 5 per cent gelatin is exactly the same as that of 5 per cent casein alone. This result is obtained with both enzymes. The digestion of casein with crude trypsin follows the course of a monomolecular reaction quite closely while with purified trypsin the velocity constant decreases as the reaction proceeds. In the case of hemoglobin the monomolecular velocity constant decreases with both purified and crude enzyme. When the reaction is followed by changes in the viscosity of the solution the abnormal effect of changing substrate concentration disappears and the reaction is in fair agreement with the monomolecular equation. The results as a whole indicate that the abnormalities of the reaction are due to the occurrence of several consecutive reactions rather than to the formation of a substrate enzyme compound.     

Effect of age of growing turkeys on digesta viscosity and nutrient digestibility of maize,wheat, barley and oats fed as such or with enzyme supplementation

The effects of age of growing turkeys and β-glucanase-xylanase activity-containing feed enzyme supplementation on digestibility and feeding value of pelleted maize, wheat, barley and oats were investigated in growing turkeys using excreta collection and ileal sampling by slaughter. Excreta were collected and turkeys were slaughtered at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Viscosity of jejuno-duodenal digesta, caecal volatile fatty acid concentration, ileal crude protein digestibility, total tract fat digestibility and AME_N were assayed using titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. The highest viscosities were observed in barley and wheat. Viscosity of wheat, barley and oats digesta decreased while caecal volatile fatty acid concentration, fat digestibility and AME_N increased with age. Ileal crude protein digestibility was highest in wheat and lowest in barley. Ileal crude protein digestibility significantly declined with age in most feeding treatments. Enzyme reduced digesta viscosity most efficiently in wheat and barley and improved ileal crude protein digestibility, total tract fat digestibility and AME_N in wheat, barley and oats, but interactions occurred, the effect of enzyme on viscosity being the most remarkable for wheat and barley and for the young birds.     

猪对两种黑麦原料消化性的研究

分别以HH91和Pluto两种黑麦作为饲料来源进行消化试验.结果 表明,喂饲HH91黑麦组日粮中干物质、粗蛋白、粗纤维、无氮浸出物、有机物等的表观消化率、总能的表观消化率、日粮可消化蛋白质的利用系数和N平衡等均高于Pluto组,其中粗纤维的表观消化率有极显著性的差异( P<0.01),有机物表观消化率差异性显著(P<0.05),其余指标差异不明显(P >0.05).喂饲HH91黑麦组日粮中粗脂肪、粗灰分和总能的表观消化率则低于Pluto组,但差异不明显( P >0.05).     

Effect of avilamycin and tylosin on the metabolizable energy in growing and finishing pigs

In two metabolism trials with growing and finishing pigs the influence of the antibiotic feed additives Avilamycin and Tylosin on the metabolizable energy was investigated at different levels of dietary protein content. In the first experiment (growing pigs) the antibiotics were supplied at levels of 0 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg Avilamycin and 40 mg/kg Tylosin to diets containing 18.5%, 17.5%, 16.5% and 14.0% of crude protein. In the second experiment (finishing pigs) 0 mg/kg antibiotics, 20 mg/kg Avilamycin and 20 mg/kg Tylosin were used in diets containing 16.5% and 14.0% of crude protein. The body weight of the animals averaged 46 kg (growing pigs) and 68 kg (finishing pigs).

In growing pigs the supplementation of Tylosin increased the digestibility of dry matter and energy at 1 percentage unit each, while in finishing pigs no effects were observed. Since the urinary energy excretion was not affected by antibiotics, there was only in Tylosin treated growing pigs a slight rise in dietary contents of metabolizable energy by 1.6%. The reduction of the dietary protein content resulted in increased digestibility of dry matter and energy, reduced urinary energy excretions and increased dietary contents of metabolizable energy.     

Digestive enzymes of Anarhichas minor and the effect of diet composition on their performance

The effect of feeding two different diets, containing 38 and 45% protein and 35 and 28% lipid, respectively, on growth as well as performance of the digestive proteases (total protease at pH 1·5, 7·0, 9·0 and 10·0) and carbohydrases (total carbohydrase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase) of a new candidate species for aquaculture, the carnivorous spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor (Teleostei, Anarhichadidae), was investigated. No significant growth differences were observed when feeding high protein (HP) or low protein (LP) levels ( P > 0·05), although the LP group exhibited slightly higher protease activity and capacity ( P > 0·05), mostly at the anterior end of the intestine and at alkaline pH. Carbohydrase levels were generally low, apart from α-glucosidase, which was significantly increased for the HP group ( P < 0·05). Implications concerning the performance of digestive enzymes under varying dietary macronutrient levels and effects of digestive enzyme activity on the formulation of efficient artificial diets for carnivorous fishes are discussed in this study.     

The effect of summer feeding on juvenile arctic fox survival - a field experiment

The arctic fox Alopex lagopus L population in Sweden is small and its numbers fluctuate widely with food availability, l e rodent populations This fluctuation is mediated through differences in recruitment rates between years The recruitment can be divided into three phases number of litters born, number of cubs per litter and cub survival rates The number of litters and their sizes have been shown to depend on food availability during winter and spring To examine cub survival during the summer and how it relates to food availability, we conducted a feeding experiment m northern Sweden during 1990, a year of low rodent density, involving six occupied arctic fox dens Feeding at dens lowered cub mortality rates However, condition and growth rates of juveniles were not influenced by supplementary feeding at dens, nor were they related to the probability of survival for an individual Thus arctic foxes seem to minimize risks rather than maximize growth The juvenile mortality from weaning and over the next 6 wk was 21%, mostly due to starvation Only 82% survived from weaning to the first breeding season Of the one-year-old foxes, 50% survived their second year Supplementary feeding of juveniles had no effect on the final survival rates over these two years However, the immediate, positive effect on cub survival could be used in a long-term, extensive management programme if combined with winter feeding