洞庭湖区自然野化麋鹿种群的偏性扩散行为

大多数鹿科动物表现出偏向雄性的扩散行为。麋鹿(Elaphurus davidianus)于20世纪初在中国灭绝,1985年被重引入中国。1998年长江流域特大洪水导致部分麋鹿个体从湖北石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区围栏内外逸,最终在洞庭湖区形成自然野化种群。野化麋鹿是否也存在偏性扩散行为?1995—2012年,采用样带调查法、分区直数法、特殊个体识别法和访问调查法,按性别组成将扩散群分为雄性群、混合群和雌性群,对洞庭湖区自然野化麋鹿种群的扩散行为进行了研究,共记录到118次扩散。其中,有65次扩散可确认扩散群的类型;60次可确认扩散群准确的个体数。结果显示:(1)雄性麋鹿较雌性更倾向于扩散。雄性群的扩散频次高于雌性群和混合群;50%的雄性扩散群仅由单一成年雄体组成。(2)雄性麋鹿的扩散能力最强,雄性群、混合群和雌性群的平均扩散距离分别为(13.73±8.74)km、(11.05±4.16)km和(8.95±2.16)km,但三者之间的差异不显著(χ2=1.896,df=2,P=0.387)。雌性群和混合群的扩散距离均短于25km,而5.88%的雄性群扩散距离长于25 km。(3)雄性群的平均个体数与混合群的差异显著(F=5.324,df=24,P=0.000.05),与雌性群的差异不显著(F=9.830,df=35,P=0.813),而混合群与雌性群之间的差异显著(F=48.085,df=55,P=0.000.05)。(4)50.00%的雄性群和53.57%的混合群选择芦苇草地作为扩散目的地的生境。洞庭湖区自然野化麋鹿种群与其他野生鹿科动物一样,也存在"雄鹿较雌鹿更倾向于扩散"的现象,雄性的扩散能力比雌性强,雌性的扩散可能依赖于雄性。以上结果对麋鹿的野外放归和自然野化种群的管理与保护具有重要的意义。     

年龄、性别及季节因素对千岛湖岛屿社鼠最大活动距离的影响

2009年7-11月及2010年3-11月,在千岛湖2个岛屿上进行社鼠(Niviventer confucianus)的标志重捕,根据春、夏、秋3个季节将重捕4次以上的社鼠进行最大活动距离计算,分析年龄、性别及季节对岛屿社鼠最大活动距离的影响.结果显示,岛屿间无显著差异;将2岛数据合并后,幼年、亚成年、成年及老年4个年龄组社鼠最大活动距离之间差异极显著;雄性社鼠最大活动距离极显著地大于雌性,4个年龄组雌雄之间的最大活动距离均表现为雄性＞雌性,但仅成年组雌雄之间存在极显著差异;春、夏、秋3个季节之间的最大活动距离差异极显著,而仅亚成年组在3个季节之间存在极显著差异,雌性和雄性社鼠均表现春季＜夏季＜秋季,但只在春季表现出雌雄个体之间差异极显著,与以往巢区研究结果不一致,可能反映了岛屿环境下社鼠巢区活动的特殊性.显示岛屿隔离环境对小型哺乳动物巢区活动有影响,但这种岛屿效应仍有待深入研究.     

基于亲权鉴定的千岛湖社鼠家群遗传结构与亲缘关系特征研究

于2009年7月至2010年11月,对浙江千岛湖两个岛屿上的社鼠(Niviventer confucianus)种群进行标志重捕,并采用8个高多态性的微卫星位点,对两个岛屿的社鼠种群进行家群分析和亲权鉴定,探讨了社鼠家群的亲缘关系特征。结果显示,8个微卫星位点能可靠地对两个岛屿社鼠种群进行亲权鉴定,A岛已确定亲缘关系的71只社鼠分为12个家群,家群中的个体数最多达到19个,B岛已确定的49只社鼠个体共分为11个家群,家群中的个体数最多达到14个。家群内部成员之间的亲缘关系表现为配对繁殖的个体对间亲缘系数最小,揭示了社鼠倾向于选择亲缘关系较远的异性作为配偶。家群中雄性后代个体之间与雌性个体之间的亲缘关系相比,两岛表现情况相反,该结果暗示两岛屿上社鼠扩散行为可能有所不同。通过计算与同一雄性(或同一雌性)交配的个体间的亲缘系数,发现两个岛屿上的社鼠在与不同异性交配时也存在选择性,即避免选择亲缘关系较近的异性作为混交的对象。     

海南文昌昌洒荒坡地生境中蜡皮蜥繁殖期家域

为掌握蜡皮蜥(Leiolepis reevesii)繁殖期家域大小、家域内是否存在核域,以及家域与核域的重叠程度,分别于2010年和2011年的3月至5月在海南文昌荒坡地生境中,应用无线电遥测技术对蜡皮蜥家域进行了研究,采用最小凸多边形、固定核域、线家域等方法分析了13只个体(10雄3雌)的家域、核域及其重叠度。雄性最小凸多边形(100%MCP)家域面积为(14 091.6±5 718.0)m2,显著大于雌性的(253.3±106.5)m2(t=4.064,df=11,P=0.002);雄性95%固定核域(FK)和75%FK面积为(10 707.8±2 388.5)m2和(3 282.7±1 022.8)m2,分别显著大于雌性的(379.1±74.1)m2(t=7.262,df=11,P0.001)和(172.1±37.9)m2(t=5.107,df=11,P0.001);雄性线家域为(205.8±52.5)m,显著大于雌性的(25.0±2.0)m(t=5.781,df=11,P=0.034);分析遥测个体位点利用方式,蜡皮蜥个体家域内核域明显,雄性核域为(1 380.5±429.1)m2,显著大于雌性的(80.2±18.5)m2(t=5.088,df=11,P0.001),且雄性核域占100%最小凸多边形家域面积的比例为10.9%±3.9%,显著低于雌性的33.3%±6.1%(t=﹣7.834,df=11,P0.001);雄性100%MCP面积不仅与头体长(SVL)之间线性相关显著(n=10,r=0.815,P=0.004),而且与体重(BM)之间也具有明显的线性相关(n=10,r=0.683,P=0.029);个体之间具有家域和核域重叠,雄性个体之间100%MCP家域重叠指数为0.26±0.17,显著低于雌性的0.66±0.02(t=﹣3.372,df=34,P=0.002),而雄性核域重叠面积占核域比例为2.50%±1.70%、重叠指数为0.02±0.02,雌性比例为0.34%±0.01%、重叠指数为0.01,表明蜡皮蜥具有明显的领域性,且雌性在繁殖季节其领域性明显高于雄性。     

野生藏酋猴的体重及其影响因素

体重是体现灵长类动物生活史和生长发育特征的重要指标,可反映其生理状况、行为变化和生态适应等信息。本研究以安徽黄山野生猴谷YA1群的48只藏酋猴为对象,使用地磅秤对群内个体进行连续11个月(2022年7月至2023年5月)的体重监测。研究结果显示,雄性藏酋猴的平均体重为(18.71±2.33) kg,显著高于雌性(11.79±1.97) kg。未成年雄性藏酋猴体重的快速发育期为3～5岁,雌性为2～3岁。成年雌雄体重与个体社会等级间均存在显著的正相关关系(P <0.001)。成年藏酋猴体重存在显著的季节变化(P <0.05),雌雄个体体重均在秋季最高,但是雄性个体在冬季最低,雌性个体春季最低。未怀孕个体体重在不同季节无显著性差异,而怀孕个体的体重从冬季到春季显著降低(P <0.05)。本研究表明,藏酋猴的体重具有显著的雌雄性二型现象,未成年雌雄个体体重的快速发育期存在明显分化,季节和社会等级对藏酋猴体重均具有显著影响。     

鳄蜥的两性异形

通过比较鳄蜥的体型与头部大小等特征的差异,研究了鳄蜥的两性异形情况.结果表明:性成熟鳄蜥个体体色差异显著,成年雄性头胸部腹面呈鲜红色或浅蓝色,而雌性为浅黄色或淡红色;成年雄性头部显著大于成年雌性(头长(HL),P＜0.001;头宽(HW),P＜0.001),成年雌性腹部长(AL)显著大干成年雄性(P=0.018);而成...     

黄山短尾猴社群中的架桥行为

2007年3~5月,采用随机取样法对黄山短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)YA1群架桥行为进行研究。结果表明,不同时间段架桥行为发生次数存在极显著差异(t=3.912,df=10,P<0.01)。成年组雄性个体是主要发起者(Z=-2.1888,P<0.05)和接受者(Z=-2.5238,P<0.05),但同年龄组不同性别个体发起次数(Z=-1.755,P>0.05)无显著差异,接受次数(Z=-2.201,P<0.05)差异显著。架桥行为多采用雄性婴幼猴(Z=-2.437,P<0.05)(F=6.735,df=2,P<0.05)作为媒介,母亲序位影响婴幼猴在架桥中被使用的次数(Z=-3.724,P<0.01)。不同序位雄性(F=2.947,df=4,P<0.05)和雌性个体(F=5.320,df=4,P<0.05)架桥行为发起模式主要是第Ⅰ类。雌性个体选择具有亲缘关系的个体作为架桥媒介(Z=-2.490,P<0.05),但雄性个体对母系亲属后代无明显选择性(Z=-0.866,P>0.05)。短期研究表明,黄山短尾猴社群中的架桥行为主要采用第Ⅰ类模式;亲缘关系不一定是影响架桥行为媒介选择的主要因素;架桥行为具有缓解群体间竞争压力的作用。     

人为干扰下宁夏贺兰山岩羊反应的群体差异

野生动物对人类的非资源利用性的干扰具有不同的反应,这些反应的差异依赖于物种自身和外界生境中不同的因子.2009年7-8月和2009年12月-2010年1月在宁夏回族自治区贺兰山苏峪口国家森林公园,选定95.87 km2 的调查区域内设四条样线,总长度为18.3 km,通过观察岩羊的瞬时反应距离,比较了不同干扰源、群体大小和群类型下,岩羊无反应行为、警戒反应行为和逃跑反应行为距离的差异.结果表明:(1) 相对于车辆,岩羊对行人的干扰更加敏感(U=8.69,P<0.001); (2) 当群体大小分为≤3的小群和＞3大群时,小群岩羊的警戒反应行为距离显著大于大群(Z=2.165,P=0.03),当群体大小分为≤5的小群和＞5的大群时,小群岩羊的逃跑反应行为距离显著大于大群(Z=2.003,P=0.045); (3) 雌幼群、雄性群和混合群这3种不同的群类型之间的无反应行为距离无显著差异,雄性群的警戒行为距离显著大于雌性群和混合群的警戒行为距离(Z=2.746,P=0.006; Z=3.589,P<0.001),雌性群的逃跑反应行为距离显著大于混合群的逃跑反应距离(Z=2.376,P=0.017); (4) 混合群内的雌性和雄性的3种反应行为无显著差异.     

圈养大熊猫体重的变化规律

对中国大熊猫保护研究中心219只圈养大熊猫的体重进行分析,发现圈养大熊猫初生幼仔的体重为(0.16±0.04)kg,其与母兽的体重相关性不显著;幼仔期平均体重为(13.74±10.64)kg;亚成体期平均体重为(78.30±27.05)kg;成年个体平均体重为(112.25±12.04)kg;老年个体平均体重为(100.75±15.79)kg。初生幼仔体重雌、雄间无显著差异(P0.05);幼仔、亚成体、成年及老年个体的大熊猫,雌性个体体重均小于雄性个体(P0.05)。雌、雄大熊猫幼仔生长曲线均接近幂函数(Power),雌性亚成体大熊猫体重增长曲线接近三次方(Cubic)函数,雄性亚成体大熊猫体重增长曲线则呈S型;无论雌性和雄性,幼仔和亚成体期间均保持线性增长(P0.05)。成年大熊猫体重的年度和季节间无显著差异(P0.05),但进入成年后期时体重会下降。进入老年期后,雄性大熊猫的体重在后期有显著性下降(P0.001)。本研究补充完善了大熊猫整个生活史的体重增长规律,为大熊猫迁地保护中饲养管理措施的制定提供了参考依据。     

华西蟾蜍年龄结构、体长和生长率的研究

本研究利用骨龄学方法研究了青藏高原东缘横断山脉区一个华西蟾蜍种群的年龄结构、体长、年生长率及性成熟年龄。采集的74个成体个体中(雄性47只,雌性27只),均能够在趾骨切片中观察到受抑制生长线。结果表明:两性的体长和年龄都成正相关关系(雌性:F1,26=4.87,r=0.40,P=0.04,雄性:F1,46=4.48,r=0.30,P=0.04)。雌性初始繁殖年龄为4龄,寿命至少为11龄;雄性分别为3龄和11龄。雌性和雄性的平均年龄存在显著差异(Z=2.27,P<0.01),雌性为(8.4±1.8)龄,雄性为(6.2±1.8)龄。雌性平均体长大于雄性(t=2.348,P<0.01),雌性为91.9 mm±7.2 mm,雄性为74.8 mm±5.5 mm。另外,雌性和雄性具有不同的生长模式,雌性生长率(r=2.48)大于雄性(r=2.32)。年龄和生长率对华西蟾蜍的性二型的解释有重要意义。     

Sex biased natal dispersal in a closed, saturated population of Seychelles warblers Acrocephalus sechellensis

The distances that individuals disperse, from their natal site to the site of first breeding and between breeding sites, have important consequences for the dynamics and genetic structure of a population. Nearly all previous studies on dispersal have the problem that, because the study area encompassed only a part of the population, emigration may have been confounded with mortality. As a result long-distance dispersers may have been overlooked and dispersal data biased towards short distances. By studying a virtually closed population of Seychelles warblers Acrocephalus sechellensis we obtained almost unbiased results on several aspects of dispersal. As in the majority of other avian species, natal dispersal distance was female biased in the Seychelles warbler. Female offspring also forayed further from the natal territory in search of breeding vacancies than male offspring. The sex bias in natal dispersal distance did, however, depend on local breeding density. In males, dispersal distance decreased as the number of territories bordering the natal territory increased, while in females, dispersal distance did not vary with local density. Dispersal by breeders was rare and, unlike in most species, distances did not differ between the sexes. We argue that our results favour the idea that the sex bias in natal dispersal distance in the Seychelles warbler is due to inbreeding avoidance and not resource competition or intrasexual competition for mates.     

Social composition of destination territories and matrix habitat affect red-cockaded woodpecker dispersal

We studied the influence of matrix habitats and destination territory social composition on dispersal choices made by red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis). We compared matrix habitats and social conditions for 165 dispersals documented between 1995 and 2005 with similarly distanced destinations that went unselected. We modeled data with discrete choice analysis methods, and ranked models using a model selection approach. Model-averaged parameters indicated that juvenile female, and juvenile and helper male red-cockaded woodpeckers dispersed across matrix forests with characteristics similar to those used for breeding. Models differed for sex and social classes, but results generally indicated that birds chose not to transit forests with greater densities of hardwood trees and young pines, and that dispersal was more likely to occur across forests with more large diameter pine trees. Dispersers of both sexes also chose destinations without non-breeding helpers that might present aggressive social challenges to dispersers, particularly males. Juvenile females and helper males also preferred to disperse to territories that were currently occupied by breeding woodpeckers. Previous studies documented the influence on dispersal of travel distance, natal area social interactions and resources, and resources at dispersal destinations. Our results extend factors that affect dispersal movement to include matrix habitats traversed by dispersers and the social composition of destination territories. As such, results have key implications for promoting population connectivity and conservation management of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, as well as other resident territorial birds. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Mating systems,philopatry and dispersal in birds and mammals

Many species of birds and mammals are faithful to their natal and breeding site or group. In most of them one sex is more philopatric than the other. In birds it is usually females which disperse more than males; in mammals it is usually males which disperse more than females. Reproductive enhancement through increased access to mates or resources and the avoidance of inbreeding are important in promoting sex differences in dispersal. It is argued that the direction of the sex bias is a consequence of the type of mating system. Philopatry will favour the evolution of cooperative traits between members of the sedentary sex. Disruptive acts will be a feature of dispersers.     

Costs and benefits of natal dispersal in yearling mallards Anas platyrhynchos

Costs and benefits of natal dispersal have not been fully evaluated in birds. We compared timing of breeding and nesting success for yearling female mallards Anas platyrhynchos returning to or dispersing from their natal areas. Information about natal origins was discerned with feather‐isotopes and combined with detailed reproductive histories for 503 radio‐marked females monitored at 16 study sites across the Canadian Aspen Parklands, during 1993–2000. A natal origin assignment model based on feather‐ δ³⁴S, δD, δ¹⁵N, and δ¹³C values correctly assigned 81% (112 of 138) of known‐source yearlings to region of origin; region‐specific rates ranged from 70–90%. Timing of breeding and nesting success was not related to whether or not a female had dispersed from its region of natal origin in Aspen Parkland (i.e. short‐distance dispersal) versus the southern prairies or boreal forest regions (i.e. long‐distance dispersal). Rather, nesting success was best modeled to include effects of site‐specific wetland and breeding pair abundances and an interaction between local breeding pair and wetland densities. Nest success performance relative to dispersal distance varied among study sites but was unrelated to local upland nest cover, wetland habitat conditions, or conspecific density. Thus, we detected no strong costs of dispersal but some evidence that long‐distance dispersers presumably benefitted when they were able to acquire better nest sites.     

Genetic diversity and sex‐bias dispersal of plateau pika in Tibetan plateau

Dispersal is an important aspect in organism's life history which could influence the rate and outcome of evolution of organism. Plateau pika is the keystone species in community of grasslands in Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we combine genetic and field data to character the population genetic pattern and dispersal dynamics in plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae). Totally, 1,352 individual samples were collected, and 10 microsatellite loci were analyzed. Results revealed that plateau pika possessed high genetic diversity and inbreeding coefficient in a fine‐scale population. Dispersal distance is short and restricted in about 20 m. An effective sex‐biased dispersal strategy is employed by plateau pika: males disperse in breeding period for mating while females do it after reproduction for offspring and resource. Inbreeding avoiding was shown as the common driving force of dispersal, together with the other two factors, environment and resource. In addition, natal dispersal is female biased. More detailed genetic analyzes are needed to confirm the role of inbreeding avoidance and resource competition as ultimate cause of dispersal patterns in plateau pika.     

Does size matter for dispersal distance?

Aim The aim of this study is to answer the questions: (1) do small organisms disperse farther than large, or vice versa; and (2) does the observed pattern differ for passive and active dispersers? These questions are central to several themes in biogeography (including microbial biogeography), macroecology, metacommunity ecology and conservation biology. Location The meta‐analysis was conducted using published data collected worldwide. Methods We collected and analysed 795 data values in the peer‐reviewed literature for direct observations of both maximal dispersal distance and mass of the dispersing organisms (e.g. seeds, not trees). Analysed taxa ranged in size from bacteria to whales. We applied macroecology analyses based on null models (using Monte Carlo randomizations) to test patterns relative to specific hypotheses. Results Collected dispersal distance and mass data spanned 9 and 21 orders of magnitude, respectively. Active dispersers dispersed significantly farther (P < 0.001) and were significantly greater in mass (P < 0.001) than passive dispersers. Overall, size matters: larger active dispersers attained greater maximum observed dispersal distances than smaller active dispersers. In contrast, passive‐disperser distances were random with respect to propagule mass, but not uniformly random, in part due to sparse data available for tiny propagules. Conclusions Size is important to maximal dispersal distance for active dispersers, but not for passive dispersers. Claims that microbes disperse widely cannot be tested by current data based on direct observations of dispersal: indirect approaches will need to be applied. Distance–mass relationships should contribute to a resolution of neutral and niche‐based metacommunity theories by helping scale expectations for dispersal limitation. Also, distance–mass relationships should inform analyses of latitudinal species richness and conservation biology topics such as fragmentation, umbrella species and taxonomic homogenization.     

Female dispersal and isolation-by-distance of Nasonia vitripennis populations in a local mate competition context

Dispersal behavior directly influences the level of inbreeding, but the effect of inbreeding avoidance on dispersal is less well studied. The parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) is known to mate exclusively on the natal patch, and females are the only dispersing sex. A previous study has shown that foundresses on a patch are typically unrelated, implying that females disperse for a considerable distance from their natal patch after mating. We investigated dispersal of N. vitripennis on two scales. On a local scale we used a mark-release-recapture experiment, and on the larger scale we investigated isolation by distance using a population genetic approach. We found that N. vitripennis females are long-distance dispersers, capable of covering at least 2 km in 48 h. Populations within a range of 100 km showed no substructure, but larger distances or major geographical barriers restricted gene flow and led to significant population structure. The results provide a basis for future research on dispersal of parasitoids and are discussed in the context of dispersal abilities and inbreeding avoidance in Nasonia .     

Habitat selection by dispersing yellow-headed blackbirds: evidence of prospecting and the use of public information

In migratory birds individuals may prospect for potential breeding sites months before they attempt to breed and should use the cues most predictive of future reproductive success when selecting a breeding site. However, what cues individuals use when prospecting and which cues are used in selecting a breeding site are unknown for most species. I investigated whether yellow-headed blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) prospect for future breeding sites and whether they select breeding habitats based on food availability, male or female density, or the average number of young produced per female in the previous year. Although it is often assumed that migratory birds prospect for potential breeding sites at the end of the breeding season, I investigated this by recording all visits to sites early and late in the breeding season. I found that males and females who visited sites other than the site at which they bred were more likely to disperse than individuals only observed at the site where they bred, and that males and females were more likely to prospect late in the breeding season. Both food availability and density in year ^x were not predictive of the number of young per female in year ^x+1; however, the number of young produced per female at a site in year ^x was predictive of the number of young per female in year ^x+1. As expected, dispersers used the most informative cue, the number of young per female and moved to sites with a relatively high number of young per female. This study suggests that individuals prospect for potential breeding sites late in the breeding season when they can use information gathered from the reproductive success of other individuals (i.e., public information) to select a breeding site.     

Natal Dispersal Patterns of a Subsocial Spider Anelosimus cf. jucundus (Theridiidae)

Species that alternate periods of solitary and social living may provide clues to the conditions that favor sociality. Social spiders probably originated from subsocial‐like ancestors, species in which siblings remain together for part of their life cycle but disperse prior to mating. Exploring the factors that lead to dispersal in subsocial species, but allow the development of large multigenerational colonies in social species, may provide insight into this transition. We studied the natal dispersal patterns of a subsocial spider, Anelosimus cf. jucundus, in Southeastern Arizona. In this population, spiders disperse from their natal nests in their penultimate and antepenultimate instars over a 3‐mo period. We tracked the natal dispersal of marked spiders at sites with clustered vs. isolated nests. We found that most spiders initially dispersed less than 5 m from their natal nests. Males and females, and spiders in patches with different densities of nests, dispersed similar distances. The fact that both sexes in a group dispersed, the lack of a sex difference in dispersal distance, and the relatively short distances dispersed are consistent with the hypothesis that natal dispersal results from resource competition within the natal nest, rather than inbreeding avoidance in competition for mates. Additionally, an increase in the average distance dispersed with time and with the number of spiders leaving a nest suggests that competition for nest sites in the vicinity of the natal nest may affect dispersal distances. The similar distances dispersed in patches with isolated vs. clustered nests, in contrast, suggest that competition among dispersers from different nests may not affect dispersal distances.     

Natal dispersal patterns are not associated with inbreeding avoidance in the Seychelles warbler

In this study, we test whether patterns of territory inheritance, social mate choice and female-biased natal dispersal act as inbreeding avoidance mechanisms in the cooperatively breeding Seychelles warbler. Our results show that Seychelles warblers do not reduce the likelihood of inbreeding by avoiding related individuals as mates. The occurrence of natural and experimentally induced territory inheritance did not depend on whether the remaining breeder was a parent of the potential inheritor or an unrelated breeder. Furthermore, dispersing individuals were no less related to their eventual mates than expected given the pool of candidates they could mate with. The female bias in natal dispersal distance observed in the Seychelles warbler does not facilitate inbreeding avoidance because, contrary to our prediction, there was no sex difference in the clustering of related opposite sex breeders around the natal territories of dispersers. As a result, the chance of females mating with relatives was not reduced by their greater dispersal distance compared with that of males.