Exposure of Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) to foot and mouth disease virus

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious acute viral disease that affects most ruminant and porcine species. During 2001, 33 serum samples were collected from Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. Samples were tested for antibodies to seven subtypes of foot-and-mouth-disease virus (FMDV). Antibodies were detected in 67% of the animals, and serologic results indicated exposure to FMDV-O. This virus was present in domestic animal populations in Mongolia from 2000 to 2002, and it is likely that the antibodies to FMDV detected in these gazelles resulted from spillover of virus from domestic animal sources.     

内蒙古达赉湖地区和蒙古国东方省蒙原羚的夏季食性

2008年7—8月,收集了内蒙古达赉湖地区和蒙古国东方省蒙原羚的新鲜粪便,采用粪样显微组织学分析法研究了蒙原羚的夏季食性。研究结果如下:(1)内蒙古达赉湖地区夏季植物群落在植被盖度、地上生物量、植物种数方面与蒙古国东方省差异均不显著;在内蒙古达赉湖地区和蒙古国东方省共采集常见植物18科43属63种;(2)内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚共采食10科19属22种植物,蒙古国东方省蒙原羚共采食11科24属29种植物;(3)禾本科植物是内蒙古达赉湖地区和蒙古国东方省蒙原羚夏季主要食物,分别占蒙原羚食物组成的79.1%和73.2%;禾本科植物中的羊草、针茅是内蒙古达赉湖地区和蒙古国东方省蒙原羚的主要食物,分别占蒙原羚食物组成的63.6?和57.7%;(4)内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚夏季食物组成生态位宽度Bj=2.0,蒙古国东方省蒙原羚夏季食物组成生态位宽度Bj=2.3;(5)内蒙古达赉湖地区与蒙古国东方省蒙原羚的食物相似性指数PS=0.7;(6)内蒙古达赉湖蒙原羚与蒙古国东方省蒙原羚主要食物秩相关性检验显著相关(P0.05),相关性系数0.6。研究表明尽管内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚主要在草原围栏内活动,但与蒙古国东方省蒙原羚的夏季食性显著相似,这表明有限的活动范围没有对蒙原羚夏季食性产生显著影响。     

Food overlap between Mongolian gazelles and livestock in Omnogobi,southern Mongolia

Botanical and particle size compositions of the feces of sympatric Mongolian gazelles, sheep/goats, and horses collected in southern Mongolia in autumn 2002 were analyzed. The botanical composition of Mongolian gazelles was similar to that of sheep/goats where dicotyledonous plants (64.6% for Mongolian gazelles, 65.6% for sheep/goats), particularly woody fibers were important (39.5% for Mongolian gazelles, 19.5% for sheep/goats). In contrast, horse feces were exclusively composed of graminoids (93.2%). Consequently, food overlap was great between Mongolian gazelles and sheep/goats (Piankas index: 0.977) but was small between Mongolian gazelles and horses (0.437) and sheep/goats and horses (0.421). Particle size distributions were also similar between Mongolian gazelles and sheep/goats, whereas they were different between horses and Mongolian gazelles and horses and sheep/goats. These results support our expectation based on the Jarman-Bell principle. Although interspecific competition cannot be inferred from a mere food overlap, our analyses suggest that sheep and goats are potential competitors for Mongolian gazelles. Therefore, the increase in the numbers of domestic sheep/goats might pose a risk for Mongolian gazelle populations.     

内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚的春季生境选择

2006年5～6月和2007年5～6月,我们在内蒙古达赉湖地区开展了蒙原羚春季生境选择研究.我们设置样线20条,共记录到蒙原羚64群次、453只次和蒙原羚活动痕迹243处.我们选择了20个与蒙原羚生境选择相关的生境因子,运用信息理论方法和Logistic回归方程,建立了蒙原羚出现与否与各生境因子之间的预测模型.运用资源选择函数和资源选择指数,揭示蒙原羚对各生境因子的选择性.结果表明:家畜干扰是影响蒙原羚春季生境选择的首要因子(β=10.898);坡位、水源距离、坡度、隐蔽条件、围栏距离和植被类型对蒙原羚春季生境选择有重要作用(β>1.000);道路距离、地上生物量、植被高度、植物种类数、植被盖度等因子对蒙原羚春季生境选择影响不显著(β<1.000).蒙原羚对牲畜距离<2 000 m和>4 000 m,中下坡位及平地,水源距离4 000～8 000 m,坡度<10°,隐蔽条件(可视距离)<3 000 m,离围栏距离1000～2000m的针茅和杂草植被类型生境有一定偏好.因此,春季蒙原羚保护的关键是降低放牧强度,应在边境地区控制牲畜数量和人口迁入,在离边境线较远地区进行草场科学管理和制定合理的放牧制度.在植被生长状况较差和水源缺乏年份,应适当进行食物和水源人工补给.另外,进行草场封育,加强打草监管并建立合理的围栏管理制度,也是蒙原羚保护的重要环节.     

内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚冬季采食生境选择

蒙原羚是欧亚大陆温带草原生态系统中的特有物种和数量最多的有蹄类动物。2010年11月—2011年1月,在内蒙古达赉湖地区开展了蒙原羚冬季采食生境选择研究。结果表明:蒙原羚冬季选择利用雪深<6cm,地上生物量>50g.m-2,距围栏1000～2000m,植被高度>20cm,植被盖度>40%,隐蔽条件(可视距离)3000～4000m,到居民点距离>2000m,距家畜>2000m,坡度<20°,中上坡位,针茅(Stipa spp.)和羊草(Aneurolepidium chinnenses)等植被类型的生境采食;生境因子综合影响蒙原羚的冬季采食生境选择,依照贡献值的大小依次为到围栏距离、地上生物量、雪深和隐蔽条件。逐步判别分析表明,由这4个变量构成的判别方程在对蒙原羚采食样方进行区分时,正确判别率为82.1%。因此,建立合理的围栏管理制度、提高可利用食物量等是蒙原羚保护的关键。     

Mobile larynx in Mongolian gazelle: Retraction of the larynx during rutting barks in male Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa Pallas, 1777)

This study provides the first evidence of pronounced temporary laryngeal descent in a bovid species. An elaborate acoustic display is prominent in male courtship behavior of polygynous Mongolian gazelle. During rut, rounding up of females is accompanied by continuous head‐up barking by dominant males. Throughout the rut their evolutionarily enlarged larynx descends to a low mid‐neck resting position. In the course of each bark the larynx is additionally retracted toward the sternum by 30% of the resting vocal tract length. A geometric model of active larynx movements was constructed by combining results of video documentation, dissection, skeletonization, and behavioral observation. The considerable distance between resting position and maximal laryngeal descent suggests a backward tilting of the hyoid apparatus and an extension of the thyrohyoid connection during the retraction phase. Return to the resting position is effected by strap muscles and by the elastic recoil of the pharynx and the thyrohyoid connection. An intrapharyngeal inflation of the peculiar palatinal pharyngeal pouch of adult males is inferred from a short‐time expansion of the ventral neck region rostral to the laryngeal prominence. The neck of adult dominant males is accentuated by long gray guard hairs during the rut. The passive swinging of the heavy larynx of adult males during locomotion gives the impression of a handicap imposed on rutting males. Apparently, this disadvantage becomes outweighed by the profits for reproductive success. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚繁殖期及其前后昼间行为时间分配及能量平衡策略

2007年11月、12月和2008年3月,在内蒙古达赉湖地区,采用扫描取样法对雌雄蒙原羚繁殖期及其前后昼间行为时间分配进行了研究。 研究表明：（1）繁殖期前、繁殖期和繁殖期后,雌性蒙原羚采食时间,占昼间活动时间的比例分别为（44.9±3.8）%、（43.5±4.0）% 和 (46.2±3.1)%;卧息时间,占昼间活动时间的比例分别 为（32.3±4.8）%、（29.2±2.9）% 和 (28.0±4.8)%;雌性蒙原羚在繁殖期及其前后采食、移动和卧息的行为时间分配差异不显著（P>0.05）,站立、繁殖、“其他”行为时间分配差异性显著（P<0.05）。（2）繁殖期前、繁殖期和繁殖期后, 雄性蒙原羚采食时间,占昼间活动时间的比例分别为 (52.6±3.8)%、(17.5±2.8)% 和 (29.8±4.8)%;卧息时间,占昼间活动时间的比例分别为 (13.4±6.4)%、(24.2±4.1)% 和 (44.2±4.7)%。雄性蒙原羚在繁殖期及其前后采食、卧息、站立、移动、繁殖、“其他”时间分配均有显著差异（P<0.05）。动物采食卧息的行为时间分配反映动物的能量平衡策略。雌性蒙原羚的时间分配表明,雌性蒙原羚的能量平衡策略在繁殖期前、繁殖期和繁殖期后没有发生显著变化,均为能量摄入最优化策略,尽可能多的时间分配在采食上;雄性蒙原羚的时间分配表明,在繁殖期前,其能量平衡策略为能量摄入最优化策略,尽可能多的时间分配在采食上;雄性蒙原羚繁殖期及繁殖期后其能量平衡策略转变为能量支出优化策略,尽可能少的支出能量,尽可能多的时间分配在卧息上。     

内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚昼间行为时间分配

2007年11月～2008年9月,在内蒙古达赉湖地区采用扫描取样法共对404只次蒙原羚Procapra gutturosa成年个体进行了19 385 min (323.1 h) 的昼间行为时间分配观察,将蒙原羚的行为分为采食、站立、移动、卧息、繁殖和其他等6类.结果 表明:蒙原羚晨昏各有一个采食高峰,在12:00前后还会发生1～2次采食小高峰.卧息常发生在采食高峰后,在晨昏所占比例低.单因素方差分析显示蒙原羚春夏秋冬采食、站立、移动、卧息和其他行为的时间分配均存在显著差异,这表明蒙原羚的行为时间分配有较大弹性,从而适应变化的环境.     

黄羊（Procapra gutturosa）在中国分布的变迁及其资源持续利用

历史上黄羊曾广布于中国的北部,目前黄羊只分布在我国内蒙古北部的中蒙边境一带。环境的变迁、人类活动的干扰及盲目捕猎是黄羊分布区缩小的重要原因。建议尽快建立黄羊自然保护区,使黄羊在我国有一安歇、繁衍的良好栖息地,最终使黄羊资源得到科学合理的利用。     

内蒙古草地畜牧业可持续发展的生物经济原则研究

草地畜牧业可持续发展的三大生物经济原则为草场不退化原则,最大生物学效率原则和风险,利润权衡原则：（1）草场不退化原则。在冷蒿小禾草退化草原上,暖季期间1．33－2．67羊／hm2的放牧率下可使其发生恢复演替,禾草的比例增大,植物多样性指数和均匀度指数均有所提高,从而达到利用式改良的目的;相反,若继续重牧或过牧,放牧绵羊喜食的植物种类将进一步减少,植物多样性指数也有所降低,最终将趋同于星毛委陵菜退化草原群落,且星毛委陵菜可能是草场沙化荒漠化的最后多年生植物屏障。（2）最大牧草利用效率原则,放牧绵羊的种群生闻,羯头应当年羔育肥出栏,其牧草利用效率不仅提高了4．6倍,且肉用性能可提高2．5倍,同时,应尽量控制羯羊越冬的数量,提高畜群中母羊的处理利润最高（1993年价格）,虽然5．33羊／hm2的公顷增重最大,但风险也大,且利润较低。故在综合考虑以上3个原则的基础上,可以通过提高生物学利用效率,即使降低放牧率也不会太大的影响牧民的利益,同时又减轻了生产风险,保护了生态环境,只有这样,才得以使草地畜牧持续发展。     

Activity,movements, and sociality of newborn Mongolian gazelle calves in the Eastern Steppe

We hand-captured, fitted with motion-sensitive VHF transmitters, and monitored 19 newborn (1–2 days old) Mongolian gazelle Procapra gutturosa Pallas, 1777 calves in Dornod, Mongolia during the 2000 and 2003 calving seasons to identify changes in activity, movements, and sociality with age. Overall, activity was highly variable throughout the day, regardless of age or year. Calf activity increased, however, from day 2 (age = 2 days; 18% total activity) to day 7 (29%), and 3-fold by day 25 (54%). By days 5–8, calves had moved an average of 6.6 km (range: 2–21 km) from capture sites but were still only seen alone or with their mother. By day 24–26, however, they were located an average of 41 km (range: 24–63 km) away from their capture site, and most (7 of 9) were in aggregations of >1000 animals. Mongolian gazelles do not display behaviour associated with “hiders” after about 2–3 weeks. This reflects the wide-ranging, nomadic existence of the species.     

内蒙古中东部草原不同生境克氏针茅（Stipa krylovii Roshev.）种群的形态差异分析

对内蒙古中东部草原分布的克氏针茅进行了种群内和种群间的形态差异分析。结果表明：（1）种群内不同的形态性状存在不同程度的差异;（2）种群间生殖枝中的一部分形态性状以及营养枝高度和营养枝干重均存在较大差异;（3）每穗小花数、每穗籽粒数、每穗小穗数、生殖枝高、穗干重、生殖枝干重、每穗种子重、种子重/生殖枝重比等性状的变化趋势相同,均表现为随生境条件变差而增加,即在生殖上投入增加以增大适合度;（4）主成分分析表明穗长、种子重/生殖枝重比、每穗小花数、每穗籽粒数、生殖枝高、基盘长、第二芒柱长、营养枝高、千粒重、芒针长是不同种群差异的主要指标。这些形态性状的差异可以看作克氏针茅对不同生境的适应性表现。     

Serosurveillance for selected infectious disease agents in wild boars (Sus scrofa) and outdoor pigs in Switzerland

The large abundance of free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa) and a trend towards animal friendly outdoor management of domestic pigs lead to an increasing probability of disease transmission between those animal populations. In 2001, an active monitoring was started for classical swine fever (CSF), Aujeszky’s disease (AD) and porcine brucellosis (PB) in wild boars in Switzerland. The objective of this programme was to document the serological status of wild boars regarding the selected pathogens. To continue this serosurveillance, 1,060 wild boar samples were collected during two regular hunting seasons in 2004–2005. Furthermore, in a pilot study, 61 outdoor pigs from 14 farms located in areas with high wild boar densities were sampled in 2004 and serologically tested for AD and PB. All wild boar samples were negative for CSF. Seroprevalence for AD was 2.83% (95% CI 1.91–4.02%). Seroprevalence for PB was 13.5% (95% CI 10.7–16.7%) for the Rose Bengal test and 11.05% (95% CI 8.82–13.61%) for the indirect ELISA. There was no serological evidence for AD in domestic pigs. All tested animals from 13 piggeries were seronegative for PB, but three pigs from the same farm showed doubtful results. Further investigations on the farm did not indicate the presence of PB in the herd. These findings urge the need for better diagnostic tools to obtain reliable results concerning PB prevalence. Since contact and following transmission of infectious agents between infected wild boars and outdoor pigs might occur in the future, it is advisable to include outdoor pigs in areas at risk in routine surveillance programmes.     

Developing vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease and some other exotic viral diseases of livestock

Vaccines remain the main tool for the control of livestock viral diseases that pose a serious threat to animal and occasionally human health, reduce food security, distort trade in animals and their products, and undermine agricultural development in poor countries. Globalization and climate change increase the likelihood for new patterns of emergence and spread of livestock viruses. Conventionally attenuated and killed virus products have had spectacular success, and recent examples include the global eradication of rinderpest and the control of bluetongue in the UK and northern Europe. However, in many cases, livestock vaccines could benefit from improvement in some properties (e.g. stability, speed of onset and duration of immunity, and breadth of cross-protection to different serotypes or strains) and in some cases are not available at all. Compared with human vaccines, uptake of livestock products is highly cost-sensitive and their use may also need to be compatible with post-vaccination screening methods to determine whether or not animals continue to be infected. Requirements and prospects for new or improved vaccines are described for some priority viral diseases with potential for transboundary spread, particularly for foot-and-mouth disease.     

Serosurveillance for Livestock Pathogens in Free-Ranging Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Routine disease surveillance has been conducted for decades in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in California for pathogens shared between wildlife and domestic ruminants that may have implications for the animal production industry and wildlife health. Deer sampled from 1990 to 2007 (n = 2,619) were tested for exposure to six pathogens: bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), Leptospira spp., Anaplasma spp. and Brucella spp. We evaluated the relationship between exposure to these pathogens and demographic risk factors to identify broad patterns in seroprevalence across a large temporal and spatial scale. The overall seroprevalence for the entire study period was 13.4% for BTV, 16.8% for EHDV, 17.1% for BVDV, 6.5% for Leptospira spp., 0.2% for Brucella spp., and 17% for Anaplasma spp. Antibodies against BTV and EHDV were most prevalent in the deer populations of southern California. Antibodies against Leptospira spp. and Anaplasma spp. were most prevalent in coastal and central northern California whereas antibodies against BVDV were most prevalent in central-eastern and northeastern California. The overall seroprevalence for Anaplasma spp. was slightly lower than detected in previous studies. North and central eastern California contains large tracts of federal land grazed by livestock; therefore, possible contact between deer and livestock could explain the high BVDV seroprevalence found in these areas. Findings from this study will help to establish baseline values for future comparisons of pathogen exposure in deer, inform on long-term trends in deer population health and provide relevant information on the distribution of diseases that are shared between wildlife and livestock.