固化河岸对长江江豚栖息活动的影响

长江江豚主要栖居在近岸浅水水域,喜好泥沙质类型的河岸。但在长江干流,有很多自然河岸被固化,河岸固化给长江江豚分布和栖息活动造的影响仍不甚清楚。2016年3月—2017年1月,对长江干流2个自然河段江豚的数量和分布做了12次考察,并收集了这2个河段岸型的相关数据,来分析固化河岸对江豚栖息活动的影响。12次考察累计发现江豚215头次,平均每次考察观察到江豚(17.92±7.09)头次。研究区域的固化河岸约占岸线总长的59%,分析发现,仅约13.9%的江豚分布在固化河岸水域,86.1%的江豚均分布在自然河岸水域。江豚在单位河岸长度的分布数量与该段固化河岸长度所占的比例呈显著负相关(r=-0.639,P0.01)。在自然河岸,分布在近岸50 m水域的江豚占31.8%,而在固化河岸,仅观察到2头江豚活动在近岸50 m水域内。由此可见,固化河岸对江豚的近岸分布有明显影响。调查还发现,安庆城区建设带约10 km江段12次考察均未发现江豚分布,城区建设带可能对江豚栖息已造成严重影响。长江干流的固化河岸所占比例非常高,研究结果提示这可能导致长江干流江豚栖息地的丧失和破碎化加剧,在制定长江江豚保护措施必需慎重考虑此因素的影响,并据此提出相应的栖息地保护和恢复方案。     

Contextual impacts on individual and synchronous breathing rate variations in three captive odontocete groups

Breathing rates are often collected both in the wild and in captivity to inform on cetaceans' internal state. However, few studies have investigated the effect of various factors on this breathing rate. We investigated the variations of individual and synchronous breathing rates depending on individual features (species, sex, age), displayed behavior, social parameters (social grouping), and environmental parameters (diurnal variation, presence of enrichment, unusual events, and presence of visitors in three groups of captive odontocetes (Yangtze finless porpoises, Neophocaena asiaeorentalis asiaeorientalis, East‐Asian finless porpoises, Neophocaena asiaeorentalis sunameri, bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus). Both individual and synchronous breathing rates were the highest when animals engaged in energetic or social behaviors. Individual breathing rate decreased but synchronous breathing rate increased with the presence of enrichment. Both rates increased during unusual events (e.g., pool cleaning, presence of a diver in the pool, noise, transport) and when public was present for Yangtze finless porpoises. Finally, synchronous breathing rate increased for Yangtze finless porpoises when experiencing social separation. We suggest that individual and synchronous breathing rates are useful parameters to measure, both in wild and captive animals, to obtain information on their arousal/stress state. However, these rates should be interpreted with caution and should be used together with other parameters to allow more accurate inferences.     

长江江豚细菌性疾病的诊治

人工饲养或易地保护长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), 其水体中常含有病原菌且易引起江豚发病, 探讨长江江豚的细菌性疾病诊疗方法十分必要。文章利用细菌的分离培养与鉴定, 结合血液检测结果, 对安庆西江围网内一头患病江豚进行了病原确诊, 结果发现患病江豚的致病原为金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)和魔氏摩根菌(Morganella morganii)。依据致病菌的药敏试验结果, 综合患病江豚的整体状况制定了治疗方案并对其进行系统治疗, 结果预后良好。研究的成功开展为江豚、海豚等鲸类动物细菌性疾病的诊断与防治提供了良好借鉴。     

Variations in independent areas of activity of captive Yangtze finless porpoises, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis</Emphasis>, during the acclimation period after wild capture

The acclimation process of Yangtze finless porpoises to a limited holding pool after their introduction to this new captive environment is presented. One male (#1) and two female (#2, #3) finless porpoises, newly captured from two different sections of China’s Yangtze River, were observed in an indoor holding pool with an area of 155 m² from January 1997 to January 1998 (animal #3 was removed from the pool in mid-February 1997). Three separate areas in the pool were predefined. Time spent in each of the areas was individually monitored two or three sessions a week using the focal sampling method. In total, 71.3 h of observations (316 sessions) were recorded, with an average observation time each month of about 2.4 h (10 sessions) for each porpoise. The percentage of time spent in each area per month was calculated for each porpoise, and the variations in the percentage of time spent in each area was compared. Results indicated that independent areas of activity existed among porpoises during the early stages of captivity. However, over time, the frequent approaches of the female to the male caused these areas to fade away, resulting in almost equal use of the entire pool area by the newly formed group. The existence of the independent areas of activity during the early months of captivity indicates that newly introduced individuals from different wild subgroups may need separate areas for activities. However, further studies with more animals are needed to draw more general conclusions about the individual areas of activity of this subspecies when in captivity.     

Diurnal changes of behavior and respiration of Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) in captivity

A preliminary study was carried out to investigate diurnal changes of behavior of three, one adult male, one adult female, and one juvenile female, Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) in captivity. The respiration and behavior of the porpoises were recorded for 222 hr across 42 days. Behavioral data were recorded for eight general categories: aerial display and fast swimming, begging for fish, playing, nonsexual socializing, sexual behavior, resting, rubbing, and miscellaneous (i.e., other behaviors not included in the above categories). Each behavioral category was scored using one‐zero sampling with 10‐min intervals. The adult male showed shorter mean respiratory intervals at night (19:00–7:00 h), whereas the mean respiratory intervals of the females were shorter during the day (7:00–19:00 h). Begging for fish of all individuals, playing of the juvenile female, nonsexual socializing, and miscellaneous behavior of the adult female and resting of the male were observed more easily in the day, and aerial display and fast swimming of the adults and resting of the females were observed more easily at night. No significant diurnal difference was found, however, in the remaining categories of each individual. Each of the three porpoises therefore showed a distinct diurnal pattern, but none was obviously more active in the daytime than during the nighttime. Results suggest that daytime‐only feeding schedules may be insufficient to meet the energetic needs of marine mammals that show a 24‐hr activity cycle, and that nighttime feeding may be a worthwhile addition to husbandry routines. Zoo Biol 0:1–11, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Physiological responses to capture and handling of free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

We captured free-ranging male Yangtze finless porpoises over three seasons and assayed leukocytes and serum biochemistry to investigate physiological responses to the capture and handlings. Serum thyroid hormones (THs) declined sharply in those porpoises compared with hormone variation in a captive male finless porpoise. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia were also significant in the free-ranging animals suggesting that conservation of serum sodium might be acutely vital for this freshwater subspecies. The animals captured in spring showed more significant neutrophilia and eosinopenia than those captured in autumn suggesting that they may be more affected by capture during the breeding season. Furthermore, physical examination of porpoises when out of the water was apparently stressful, particularly when they were kept out of the water for longer periods. However, an increase in circulating THs may be an adaptive response to accommodate these short-term stresses.     

Detection of Helicobacter in the fecal material of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis

In animals, infection by the Epsilonproteobacteria Helicobacter spp. and H. cetorum is widespread. It has been suggested that H. cetorum may cause gastritis in cetaceans. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of Helicobacter spp. in the fecal material of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis. The fecal material of 12 porpoises living in the wild in Poyang Lake and 1 porpoise living in captivity at the Wuhan Baiji Dolphinarium were examined by PCR for the presence of Helicobacter spp. The fecal material of 8 of 12 wild porpoises and the captive porpoise were positive for Helicobacter spp. as determined by PCR using Helicobacter-specific primers, which target the 16S rRNA gene. A 16S rRNA clone library was then prepared from 1 sample isolated from a female porpoise living in the wild. DNA sequence analysis from 3 of the clones showed 98 to 99% identity to the H. cetorum 16S rRNA gene. These results demonstrate the prevalence of Helicobacter spp. and H. cetorum in endangered freshwater finless porpoises.     

The Diel Rhythms of Biosonar Behavior in the Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) in the Port of the Yangtze River: The Correlation between Prey Availability and Boat Traffic

Information on the habitat use of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is critical for its conservation. The diel biosonar behavior of the porpoise in the port areas of the Yangtze River was examined along with simultaneous observations of fish density and boat traffic. Biosonar pulses from the porpoises were detected for 1233 min (5.77%) over a 21,380 min duration of effective observations. In total, 190 (5.63%) buzzes (an indication of prey capture attempts) were recorded among the 3372 identified click trains. Of the 168 echolocation encounters (bouts of click trains less than eight min apart), 150 (89.3%) involved single animals, indicating that solitary porpoises were frequently present and feeding in the port areas. Significant diel patterns were evident involving the biosonar behavior of the porpoises (including click trains and buzzes), fish density and boat traffic. The frequencies of the click trains and buzzes were significantly lower during the day than in the evening and at night, which suggests that porpoises in this region are primarily engaged in crepuscular and nocturnal foraging. The lack of a significant diel pattern in the echolocation encounters indicates the importance of the port in porpoise conservation. A forced feeding schedule may be associated with the lack of a significant correlation between porpoise acoustics and boat traffic. Overall, prey availability appears to be the primary factor that attracts porpoises. Additionally, porpoises tend to migrate or remain downstream in the morning and migrate or remain upstream in the evening, most likely to follow their prey. The findings of this study can be used to improve the conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise.     

The Source Parameters of Echolocation Clicks from Captive and Free-Ranging Yangtze Finless Porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)

The clicks of Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) from 7 individuals in the tank of Baiji aquarium, 2 individuals in a netted pen at Shishou Tian-e-zhou Reserve and 4 free-ranging individuals at Tianxingzhou were recorded using a broadband digital recording system with four element hydrophones. The peak-to-peak apparent source level (ASL__pp) of clicks from individuals at the Baiji aquarium was 167 dB re 1 μPa with mean center frequency of 133 kHz, -3dB bandwidth of 18 kHz and -10 dB duration of 58 μs. The ASL__pp of clicks from individuals at the Shishou Tian-e-zhou Reserve was 180 dB re 1 μPa with mean center frequency of 128 kHz, -3dB bandwidth of 20 kHz and -10 dB duration of 39 μs. The ASL__pp of clicks from individuals at Tianxingzhou was 176 dB re 1 μPa with mean center frequency of 129 kHz, -3dB bandwidth of 15 kHz and -10 dB duration of 48 μs. Differences between the source parameters of clicks among the three groups of finless porpoises suggest these animals adapt to their echolocation signals depending on their surroundings.     

长江湖口至荻港段江豚春季对生境选择的初步分析

研究表明鲸类的分布领域、集群规模、索食场所及迁移途径与栖息环境的地貌特征及生境因子密切相关（Watts and Gaskin,1986;Baumgartner,1997;Raum-Suryan et a1．,1998;Karczmarski et a1．,2000）。距离苏格兰较远的Moray Firth海域,生活的一群瓶鼻海豚（Tursiops truncatuz）,它们常聚集在岛屿附近的狭窄深槽入口处,那儿海床呈斜坡,     

Development of tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for the finless porpoise (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neophocaena phocaenoides</Emphasis>)

The finless porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides, is endemic to the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Persian Gulf to Japan. Nine tetranucleotide microsatellite loci were isolated from the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides). Polymorphism of each locus was assessed in 39 unrelated individuals from the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea of the Chinese waters. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 11. The ranges of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.154–0.795 and 0.146–0.839, respectively. Cross-species amplification of these loci was tested in other cetacean species. These microsatellite markers described here will be suitable for population genetic studies of finless porpoises and other cetacean species.     

Mitochondrial control region variability of baiji and the Yangtze finless porpoises,two sympatric small cetaceans in the Yangtze river

BaijiLipotes vexillifer (Miller, 1918) and the Yangtze finless porpoiseNeophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis (Pilleri and Gihr, 1972) are two sympatric small cetaceans inhabiting the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In this study, a fragment (420–428 bp) of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced to provide the first comparative survey of genetic variability and population structure in these two endangered species, with samples of finless porpoises from the Yellow/Bohai Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea also included. Low values of haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were found for both species, especially for the baiji and the Yangtze River and South China Sea populations of finless porpoises. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) supported a high level of overall genetic structure among three porpoise populations in Chinese waters, with greatest differences found between either the Yangtze River population or the Yellow Sea population and the South China Sea population. The differentiation between the Yangtze and Yellow Sea populations was not significant, and the males have higher genetic differentiation than the females, suggesting a significant female-biased dispersal between these two populations. This study showed that the Yangtze finless porpoise, unlike the sympatric baiji, was not a genetically isolated population. The Yangtze and Yellow Sea porpoises should be included in the same management unit, but further studies using more samples and especially based on more molecular markers are urgently needed to confirm this.     

Inter-menstrual intervals in captive bonobosPan paniscus

In this study we provide new data on the duration of the inter-menstrual intervals of six captive female bonobos (Pan paniscus). We found that the mean duration of the inter-menstrual interval was about 34 days. This lies close to the average value of 37 days that has been reported for common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).     

定量评估豢养长江江豚个体间的优势关系

2000年1—4月和2000年4月—2002年4月,分别连续3个月和2年观察了中国科学院水生生物研究所白鱀豚馆6头长江江豚（3雌3雄,8个不同组合群）个体间发生的3种交互关系,即接近—逃开、接近—接触和接近—尾鳍击打。在累计8,162min的观察时间内,共观察到这些交互关系1,685次。本研究将江豚个体间发生的这3种交互关系作为个体间优势关系的指示,并分别给交互双方赋予不同的分值,采用优势比分矩阵方法定量分析了江豚个体之间的优势关系。结果表明江豚群体内存在优势关系。同性别个体之间,优势关系与年龄和饲养时间有关,年龄大的个体比年龄小的个体具有优势,饲养时间短的个体比饲养时间长的个体具有优势。但是,异性成年个体之间,优势关系通常是可变的。     

Growth promotion of Prunus rootstocks by root treatment with specific bacterial strains

A collection of bacterial strains obtained from a wide-range origin was screened for ability to promote growth in two types of Prunus rootstocks in a commercial nursery. Only few strains promoted growth significantly and consistently, and a strong specificity for the rootstock cultivar was observed. Irrigation of plants with Pseudomonas fluorescens EPS282 and Pantoea agglomerans EPS427 significantly increased plant height and root weight of the plum Marianna 2624 and the peach–almond hybrid GF-677, respectively. Plant height showed a higher rate of growth in early stages of development (2.6–3.5 times the non-treated controls), but the effect decreased with plant age. However, in aged plants growth promotion was more significant on root weight (1.9 times the non-treated controls) than on plant height. The efficacy of growth promotion and the persistence of strains in the root environment were dependent on the bacterial inoculum concentration applied. Increases in root development were maximum at inoculum concentrations of up to 8 log₁₀ CFU ml^–1 (ca 10 log₁₀ CFU L^–1 of potting mix). Population levels at the optimum inoculum concentration were around 7 log₁₀ CFU g f.w.^–1 root material at early stages of development and decreased to 4 log₁₀ CFU g f.w.^–1 after several months of development. The best plant growth-promoting strains were very diverse in secondary metabolite production and antagonistic ability against several plant pathogens.     

Seasonal changes in the local distribution of Yangtze finless porpoises related to fish presence

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is an endangered freshwater porpoise subspecies unique to the Yangtze River basin. Seasonal variations in local distribution of the animal, as well as fish presence, sand dredging, ship navigation, and bridges were examined as potential factors affecting the occurrence of the animals. Passive acoustic surveys were performed regularly from May 2007 to August 2010, near the conjunction of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake. The distribution of the porpoises was seasonally site‐specific. In May and August, the animals were detected more often at river junctions than in the lake, but vice versa from November to February. The rate of the porpoise detection was significantly higher in areas of fish presence than in areas of absence. The number of porpoises detected did not differ significantly between the sand dredging operation and the prohibition period (in 2008), although the number of vessels obviously declined in 2008. Ship traffic and bridges also did not appear to affect the presence of porpoises. These results showed the relative importance of the various environmental factors, which is important for conservation of not only Yangtze finless porpoise but also endangered isolated cetaceans.     

Auditory temporal resolution and evoked responses to pulsed sounds for the Yangtze finless porpoises (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis</Emphasis>)

Temporal cues are important for some forms of auditory processing, such as echolocation. Among odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises), it has been suggested that porpoises may have temporal processing abilities which differ from other odontocetes because of their relatively narrow auditory filters and longer duration echolocation signals. This study examined auditory temporal resolution in two Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) using auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to measure: (a) rate following responses and modulation rate transfer function for 100 kHz centered pulse sounds and (b) hearing thresholds and response amplitudes generated by individual pulses of different durations. The animals followed pulses well at modulation rates up to 1,250 Hz, after which response amplitudes declined until extinguished beyond 2,500 Hz. The subjects had significantly better hearing thresholds for longer, narrower-band pulses similar to porpoise echolocation signals compared to brief, broadband sounds resembling dolphin clicks. Results indicate that the Yangtze finless porpoise follows individual acoustic signals at rates similar to other odontocetes tested. Relatively good sensitivity for longer duration, narrow-band signals suggests that finless porpoise hearing is well suited to detect their unique echolocation signals.     

长江江豚对人工投食适应过程的观察

作者于1989,1992,2001 和2003 年,从长江铜陵江段共捕获24 头长江江豚,在长江干流水域中,用不同的围养方式做摄食行为的观察,累计88 d。结果表明,野外捕获的长江江豚对人工投喂有3 种适应行为:(1)拒食行为;(2)警戒行为;(3)摄食行为。长江江豚的平均拒食天数为2.4 d,其中成年江豚拒食达3 d,而未成年江豚仅拒食1.5 d,两者差异极为显著(P < 0.01)。在冬季和春季圈养试验中,长江江豚的日食量随时间呈上升趋势,冬春季差异显著(P <0.01)。第2 周后江豚警戒行为所用时间不足3 min,但持续时间较长。根据冬季观察,7 周后长江江豚在40 min 内所摄取的食量不足体重的7% ,推测其摄食行为仍处在适应调整阶段。     

长江江豚微卫星DNA分离的初步研究

为了开发物种特异性微卫星标记,本文采用一种改良的快速微卫星分离法(FIASCO)从长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)的基因组中筛选得到72条微卫星DNA序列。根据重复单元的排列特点,完美型、非完美型及复合型序列所占的比例分别为58.3%、22.2%和19.5%。选择其中30条序列设计PCR扩增引物,并用12个随机选择的长江江豚样品进行多态性筛选。初步结果表明其中14对引物的扩增产物稳定并且具有多态性;在每个座位上获得2-13个等位基因,平均等位基因数为5.87个;14个微卫星座位的平均观察杂合度(Ho)和期望杂合度(He)分别为0.560和0.709。本研究获得了长江江豚的第一批物种特异性微卫星座位及其扩增引物,这些微卫星标记将在后续的保护遗传学研究中发挥重要作用。       

Seasonal variation in the microbial contamination of game carcasses in an Austrian hunting area

In 2003, 50 game carcasses (ungulates) originating from one Austrian hunting ground were subject to visual examination for (fecal) contamination of the body cavities and microbiological testing of the body cavities in order to assess variations in microbial surface contamination in the season June–August compared to October–December. No carcass tested positive for the bacterial pathogens Salmonella or Listeria. Bacterial surface counts in October–December (median values: total aerobic count: 4.12 log₁₀ colony-forming-units (cfu)/cm²; Enterobacteriaceae: 2.48 log₁₀ cfu/cm²) were significantly lower than those in June–August (median values: total aerobic count: 5.65 log₁₀ cfu/cm²; Enterobacteriaceae: 3.45 log₁₀ cfu/cm²). The cooling regime (0.4 °C, 62% relative humidity) allowed no microbial growth for 96 h but was associated with weight loss of the carcasses. All carcasses had undergone a precooling phase of 8–12 h, with temperatures of 17.8±1.2 °C in the season June–August and 9.8±1.2 °C in October–December. This temperature difference was identified as the most probable effector for the observed seasonal variation. The results demonstrate the need for a continuous cool chain after evisceration of game carcasses.