Animal movements in fire‐prone landscapes

Movement is a trait of fundamental importance in ecosystems subject to frequent disturbances, such as fire‐prone ecosystems. Despite this, the role of movement in facilitating responses to fire has received little attention. Herein, we consider how animal movement interacts with fire history to shape species distributions. We consider how fire affects movement between habitat patches of differing fire histories that occur across a range of spatial and temporal scales, from daily foraging bouts to infrequent dispersal events, and annual migrations. We review animal movements in response to the immediate and abrupt impacts of fire, and the longer‐term successional changes that fires set in train. We discuss how the novel threats of altered fire regimes, landscape fragmentation, and invasive species result in suboptimal movements that drive populations downwards. We then outline the types of data needed to study animal movements in relation to fire and novel threats, to hasten the integration of movement ecology and fire ecology. We conclude by outlining a research agenda for the integration of movement ecology and fire ecology by identifying key research questions that emerge from our synthesis of animal movements in fire‐prone ecosystems.     

Animal Minds and Animal Emotions

The possibility of conscious experiences of emotions in non-humananimals has been much less explored than that of conscious experiencesassociated with carrying out complex cognitive tasks. However,no great cognitive powers are needed to feel hunger or painand it may be that the capacity to feel emotions is widespreadin the animal kingdom. Since plants can show surprisingly sophisticated"choice" and "decision-making" mechanisms and yet we would notwish to imply that they are conscious, attribution of emotionsto animals has to be done with care. Whether or not an animalpossesses anticipatory mechanisms associated with positive andnegative reinforcement learning may be a guide as to whetherit has evolved emotions.     

《灵长类动物与人类疾病模型》专刊

        在中国科学院和云南省动物模型与人类疾病机理重点实验室各位学科带头人的倡导和组织下,在昆明医学院、中国医学科学院/北京协和医学院医学生物学研究所、昆明理工大学、广西肿瘤防治研究所和广东省昆虫研究所等多家单位同行的大力支持下,经过近5个月的稿件征集、专家会审和单独审稿、编校等工作,2011年《动物学研究》第32卷第1期——《灵长类动物与人类疾病模型》专刊终于与读者见面了。本期专刊刊发的评述（代序）1篇、研究论文9篇、研究报告1篇、评述和综述6篇等都涉及灵长类动物（猕猴、食蟹猴、熊猴、野生和人工驯养树鼩等）的基础生物学、分子生物学/遗传学、生物化学、神经生物学、血液学、生理学、流行病及免疫学等学科领域。这些文章提供了灵长类动物与人类疾病模型研究所需的一些关键基础数据,集中体现了这些领域的新思想和新成果,具有较高的学术质量或较强的实用性。本期的6篇评述和综述,从最基本的概念到该领域的发展、存在问题等都作了精辟的分析和阐述;对非人灵长类的肿瘤、糖尿病和乙/丙型肝炎动物模型及其对精神疾病研究作用等作了全面、详细的概述,还就中国树鼩实验动物化的成就和经验进行了总结,也为今后的科学研究抛砖引玉。为此,我作为主编谨向为本专刊做出贡献的所有作者、审者和编者致以诚挚的谢意！今年是“十二五”开局之年,本专刊的出版,对中国科学院昆明动物研究所推进中国科学院“创新2020”方案的实施,并按中国科学院要求,以解决关系国家全局和长远发展的基础性、战略性、前瞻性的重大科技问题为着力点,重点突破带动技术革命,促进产业振兴的前沿科学问题,以及突破提高人民群众健康水平、保障改善民生以及生态和环境保护等重大公益性科技问题,无疑是一个良好的开端,也是为体现创新集群的集体智慧做了一次有益的尝试。此外,在国内期刊如林的今天,专刊的出版也为本刊探索提高期刊质量和进一步扩大影响搭建了一个崭新的平台。我希望有更多的科学家来做本刊的Guest Editor,使本刊能更好地为创新集群服务,为国家需求服务,办出特色、办出风格、办出水平,让作者放心,让读者满意,越办越好！     

Stress Ulceration—Clinical Relevance of Animal and Human Studies

When the equilibrium between cellular resistance and aggressive assault of the gastric mucosa from exposure to hydrogen ions, digestive enzymes, etc. is disrupted, gastric erosions or ulcerations result. This chapter reviews the symptomatology as well as current knowledge of the etiology and treatment of stress ulcers, both in animals and human beings.     

Quantitative Genetics of Energy Balance—Lessons from Animal Models

POMP, DANIEL AND MERLYN K. NIELSEN. Quantitative genetics of energy balance—lessons from animal models. Obes Res. 1999;7:106–110. Evidence for quantitative genetic variation in components of energy balance in animals is overwhelming. Much of this evidence is drawn from livestock species and relevant rodent models, especially long-term selection lines. This minireview summarizes findings from several animal studies that have characterized quantitative genetic variation in energy intake and energy expenditure. Applications of this information toward understanding and treatment of human obesity are explored.