长江江豚基因组大小测定

本研究采用流式细胞术,以公鸡(Gallusdomesticus)红血细胞DNA含量为标准,测定了23头长江江豚(Neophocaenaphocaenoidesasiaeorientali)的基因组大小(或称C值)。实验过程中采用了保存在3中不同条件下的长江江豚的全血样品,用3种不同的方法提取白细胞。为了获得本实验所用的公鸡红血细胞DNA含量的准确值,首先以人(Homosapiens)的C值为标准,对其进行了校正。然后其C值(2C=2.35pg)用于长江江豚的基因组大小测定。结果发现:长江江豚的单倍体DNA含量为3.27pg/C,由此得出其基因组大小为3.17×109bp;雌性和雄性的C值分别为3.25pg和3.29pg,野外长江江豚和豢养长江江豚的C值分别为3.30pg和3.05pg。对雌雄个体之间以及不同生长条件下长江江豚的C值应用独立样本t检验分析,发现:1)不同性别的长江江豚基因组大小之间没有明显的差异;2)豢养条件下的长江江豚和野生长江江豚之间的基因组大小有明显差异,豢养条件下的长江江豚的基因组明显小于野生条件下的长江江豚。据此推测必要环境因子的变化可能会对长江江豚的基因组DNA含量造成影响。     

幼年长江江豚的行为谱(英文)

采用焦点动物跟踪法及连续记录法,观察了人工饲养条件下一头幼年长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)的水下以及半自然条件下两头幼豚的水面行为型式。观察时间最长持续至出生后一年,以构建其行为谱。结果显示:1)所有幼豚都能表现出丰富多样且活跃的行为型式;2)幼豚刚出生时,与存活攸关的行为型式最先出现;3)具有玩耍和社居性质的行为型式在行为谱中占大部分;4)幼豚大部分行为型式已与其他年龄段个体的相似;5)大部分行为型式出现在生命的早期阶段。以上特征可能是这种动物对水生和社居生活的适应。     

Respiratory pattern of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

Cetacean respiration usually happen in bouts. The most widely applied quantitative method used to analyze the structure of these bouts is the log_e-survivorship analysis, based on the assumption that the respiratory intervals are distributed as negative exponentials. However, for the data collected from three captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), we failed to obtain a convergent result with the application of log_e-survivorship analysis. However, the two-Gaussian model, which was recently proposed to analyze the feeding behavior of cows, was successfully fitted to the data. According to the fitting results, the overall respiratory pattern of the captive Yangtze finless porpoises can be described as a dive with a mean duration of around 30–40 s, followed by two or three ventilations with a mean interval of approximately 9 s. The average intra-bout intervals during both active and inactive periods are constant at 7.7–9.9 s for all individuals. However, when shifting from active to inactive states, the adult male and female decrease their mean numbers of respirations per bout and average length of inter-bout respiratory intervals, while the estimates of both parameters increase for the juvenile female. It was pointed out that the two-Gaussian model might be more adequate for cetacean respiratory-bout structure analyses than the log_e-survivorship technique.     

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。
     

微卫星分型法应用于豢养繁殖长江江豚的父权鉴定

目的:鉴定武汉白鱀豚馆及安徽铜陵淡水豚保护区两个豢养长江江豚繁殖群体中出生的6头幼豚的生物学父亲.方法:选择8对江豚物种特异性微卫星引物对两个待鉴定群体的14个DNA样品进行了荧光标记PCR扩增,将纯化后的扩增产物在ABI3130遗传分析仪上进行基因分型,并根据GeneScan Rox 500内标确定不同等位基因的大小,随后对待鉴定对象进行等位基因分析,并计算主要多态性参数.结果:所采用的8个微卫星座位在待鉴定的两个江豚群体中均表现出不同程度的多态性.在母本已知的条件下,利用其中6个微卫星座位的等位基因数据,通过排除法成功地鉴定出两个繁殖群体中出生的6头幼豚的生物学父亲.结论:本研究首次成功地将6个物种特异性微卫星标记应用于豢养长江江豚的父权鉴定,从而为该物种微卫星亲子鉴定技术体系的建立及迁地保护繁殖群体遗传谱系的构建奠定了技术基础.     

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.     

豢养长江江豚性行为的观察

2001年12月至2002年11月作者采用焦点动物取样法对豢养池中3头长江江豚(1♂,2♀)的性行为进行了持续1年的水下观察。结果表明：雄性江豚生殖器全年均有伸出行为,4～5月和9-10月为高峰期。其生殖器伸出方式主要有侧伸、弓伸、仰伸、下伸和竖伸5种方式。豢养池中的气压、光照、池水透明度和pH值能基本满足江豚性活动的要求。     

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。     

Development and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

The finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) is one of the smallest cetacean species widely distributed in the shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Oceans. The population size of the Yangtze subspecies (N. p. asiaeorientalis) has sharply decreased in the last two decades and access to objective data on its population structure and genetic diversity would be of great assistance for their proper management. Here we report on the isolation of nine polymorphic microsatellite using the “Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing repeats” (FIASCO) protocol. Polymorphism was assessed using 30 porpoise individuals randomly sampled in the Yangtze River. The number of alleles per locus varies from 2 to 9, with an average value of 5.56, whereas the ranges of observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.300–0.633 (mean 0.496) and 0.473–0.804 (mean 0.659), respectively.     

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。     

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.     

High MHC DQB Variation and Asymmetric Allelic Distribution in the Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis

The endangered Yangtze finless porpoise is found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its adjoining big lakes. To explore the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic diversity and allelic distribution patterns across its range, we investigated variation at DQB exon 2. From 76 porpoises, we identified 18 DQB sequences. The freshwater Yangtze populations had much higher allelic diversity than marine populations. Among these freshwater populations, the middle-reach population had higher allelic diversity than the lower-reach population. The high DQB diversity level, relative to that of a neutral mtDNA locus, suggests that balancing selection is acting at the DQB gene and that rapid evolution and local positive selection play critical roles in generating and retaining high MHC diversity in the freshwater population. As the balancing selection might be driven by environmental pathogens, we suggest that maintaining MHC variation should be a high priority in the conservation and management of this endangered population, especially as an ex situ conservation strategy.     

基于PAE编码系统构建的半自然条件下长江江豚行为谱

识别和编制动物行为谱是深入研究动物行为及其与环境复杂关系的基础和前提。本研究于2013年8月至2014年4月以栖息在铜陵淡水豚国家级自然保护区半自然水域的8头长江江豚为研究对象,采用焦点动物取样法和随机动物取样法观察记录了动物行为发生的过程、内容和环境,并以"姿势—动作—环境"(posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心,以行为的功能为依据,构建了长江江豚的PAE行为谱。共分辨记录了半自然水域长江江豚的8种姿势、33种动作和46种行为,并定性描述了不同行为出现频率与年龄组、性别的关系。该行为谱综合了姿势和环境信息,有助于进一步研究长江江豚的生态与行为、促进长江江豚的保护。     

长江江豚哺乳期母豚昼间行为和时间的分配

2006 年7 ～11 月,在铜陵淡水豚国家级自然保护区半自然水域采用随机取样法和焦点动物取样法对哺乳期长江江豚母豚昼间行为和时间分配进行了研究。结果表明,母豚用于摄食的时间占61. 2%;其次是母幼联系和移动,分别为18.8% 和7.6%;用于休息和社会行为的时间较少, 分别为6.1% 和5.2%; 其它行为的时间极少, 仅占1.1%; 摄食和母幼联系是其主要的行为。在活动规律方面, 其各种行为在强度、出现和持续的时间上存在较大差异。单因素方差分析表明,在哺乳期不同阶段长江江豚母豚的母幼联系差异极显著(P< 0.01), 摄食和社会行为存在显著差异(P< 0.05), 移动、休息和其它行为则不存在显著差异(P> 0.05); 而此期间在不同活动区域以上各种行为均存在极显著差异(P <0.01), 说明其对栖息环境具有选择性。      

野生与豢养长江江豚血清氨基酸含量比较

应用高效液相色谱(HPLC)技术,首次测定了湖北石首长江天鹅州白豚自然保护区野生长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)和中国科学院水生生物研究所白豚馆人工饲养的长江江豚血清中17种氨基酸的含量.结果表明,除了脯氨酸Pro、蛋氨酸Met和组氨酸His外,人工饲养江豚血清中其余14种氨基酸(天门冬氨酸Asp、谷氨酸Glu、丝氨酸Ser、精氨酸Arg、甘氨酸Gly、苏氨酸Thr、丙氨酸Ala、异亮氨酸Ile、亮氨酸Leu、苯丙氨酸Phe、缬氨酸Val、赖氨酸Lys、酪氨酸Tyr、胱氨酸Cys)的含量显著高于野生长江江豚血清中相应氨基酸的含量.野生江豚和人工饲养江豚的血清氨基酸含量均没有显著的性别差异.野生江豚性成熟个体与未成熟个体之间血清氨基酸含量也没有显著性的差异.在所检测的17种氨基酸中,豢养江豚Glu含量最高,其次为Asp和Lys.野生江豚同样是Glu最高,其次是Lys和Asp.豢养和野生江豚都是Met含量最低.野生和豢养江豚必需氨基酸(EAA)和非必需氨基酸(NEAA)之间的比率分别是0.83和0.92,具有极显著的差异(p <0.01).     

Population Genetic Structure of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis): Implications for Management and Conservation

Understanding the population genetic structure is a prerequisite for conservation of a species. The degree of genetic variability characteristic of the mitochondrial DNA control region has been widely exploited in studies of population genetic structure and can be useful in identifying meaningful population subdivisions. To estimate the genetic profile of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), an endangered freshwater population endemic to China, the complete mtDNA control region was examined in 39 individuals belonging to seven different stocks inhabiting the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Very low genetic diversity was found (nucleotide diversity 0.0011± 0.0002 and haplotypic diversity 0.65± 0.05). The mtDNA genetic pattern of the Yangtze population appears to indicate a founder event in its evolutionary history and to support the marine origin for this population. Analyses by F_st and Φ_st yielded statistically significant population genetic structure (F_st = 0.44, P < 0.05; Φ_st = 0.36, P < 0.05). These results may have significant implications for the management and conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the future.     

长江江豚感染铜绿假单胞菌肺炎的诊治

本文记录了一例患急性铜绿假单胞菌肺炎的长江江豚诊断、治疗和预后观察过程。病原学鉴定采用鲜血琼脂平板对该江豚鼻腔拭子,在37℃下进行细菌需氧、厌氧培养和分离,并对所分离的细菌种类进行细菌学鉴定,结合血常规和血生化的检测结果,判定病原为铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PA）。依据病原菌的药敏试验结果对患病江豚进行治疗,预后良好。通过对整个过程的资料分析以及预后观察,得到如下提示：1）应做好饲养环境的消毒措施,防止江豚出现获得性PA感染;2）对江豚日常呼吸道和粪便中PA的检测,有利于疾病的早期预防和控制;3）江豚呼吸系统疾病的治愈依赖于准确的病原鉴定和及时的治疗,药敏试验对于PA感染的治疗非常必要;4）行为学的改变在江豚呼吸道疾病发病初期以及预后有重要的指示作用。     

长江江豚对八里江江段的利用及其栖息地现状的初步评价

通过定点和流动观察的方法，作者使用行为指数和栖息地利用指数定量分析了长江江豚（Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis))于1996—2000年间对八里江江段的利用和选择状况。结果表明：江豚在八里江江段的行为指数大小顺序为摄食＞抚幼＞玩耍＞休息，摄食和抚幼是江豚在八里江江段的优势行为；江豚栖息于离岸距离100—300m的近岸带占81．8％，栖息于水深小于9m的水区占73．3％；江豚分布密度随水深增加而逐步递减(典型的指数分布)；江豚活动水区的流速范围是0．3-1．2m／s，透明度范围是0．2—0．8m，江豚在八里江江段对水体流速和透明度没有明显的选择性；栖息地利用指数高的断面一般是饵料鱼类聚集、2—4股水流的交汇处。八里江江段的众多异质小生境为江豚提供了充足饵料和繁育抚幼的适宜场所；同时八里江江段为江豚提供了庇护、休息和玩耍的足够活动空间。八里江江段成为长江干流适宜江豚活动的最佳栖息地之一，也是常年江豚在此大规模集聚的理想江段之一[动物学报49(2)：163—170，2003]。     

用微卫星指纹识别天鹅洲保护区长江江豚个体

DNA指纹个体识别技术是保护遗传学研究中的一种非常重要的手段。为了准确地识别天鹅洲保护区中的每一头长江江豚以开展保护遗传学及其它相关研究 ,并实施有效的种群管理 ,本研究应用 4个微卫星座位初步构建了该群体的DNA指纹图谱 ,并利用此图谱成功地对不同时期在保护区捕获的江豚进行了个体识别研究。结果显示微卫星指纹技术是一种适用于长江江豚个体识别研究的可靠手段