30 Days in the Life: Daily Nutrient Balancing in a Wild Chacma Baboon

For most animals, the ability to regulate intake of specific nutrients is vital to fitness. Recent studies have demonstrated nutrient regulation in nonhuman primates over periods of one observation day, though studies of humans indicate that such regulation extends to longer time frames. Little is known about longer-term regulation in nonhuman primates, however, due to the challenges of multiple-day focal follows. Here we present the first detailed study of nutrient intake across multiple days in a wild nonhuman primate. We conducted 30 consecutive all day follows on one female chacma baboon (Papio hamadryas ursinus) in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. We documented dietary composition, compared the nutritional contribution of natural and human-derived foods to the diet, and quantified nutrient intake using the geometric framework of nutrition. Our focus on a single subject over consecutive days allowed us to examine daily dietary regulation within an individual over time. While the amounts varied daily, our subject maintained a strikingly consistent balance of protein to non-protein (fat and carbohydrate) energy across the month. Human-derived foods, while contributing a minority of the diet, were higher in fat and lower in fiber than naturally-derived foods. Our results demonstrate nutrient regulation on a daily basis in our subject, and demonstrate that she was able to maintain a diet with a constant proportional protein content despite wide variation in the composition of component foods. From a methodological perspective, the results of this study suggest that nutrient intake is best estimated over at least an entire day, with longer-term regulatory patterns (e.g., during development and reproduction) possibly requiring even longer sampling. From a management and conservation perspective, it is notable that nearly half the subject’s daily energy intake derived from exotic foods, including those currently being eradicated from the study area for replacement by indigenous vegetation.     

Isospora papionis n. sp. (Eimeriidae) of the Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus (Kerr, 1792)

SYNOPSIS. Isospora papionis n. sp. is described from the chacma baboon Papio ursinis (Kerr, 1792). Histopathologic examination revealed 3 of 20 baboons to be infected, but no organisms were found on examination of the feces. Macrogametes and sporulated oocysts were observed in the small intestine, mainly in the jejunum and ileum, invariably in an epithelial or subepithelial location at the proximal portions of the crypts of Lieberkühn. Intact sporulated oocysts averaged 17 by 11 μ and had very thin walls which were often partially collapsed between the sporocysts. The sporocysts were somewhat flattened on one side and averaged 11 by 8.5 μ. A large sporocyst residuum was present.     

The Acoustic Structure and Information Content of Female Koala Vocal Signals

Determining the information content of animal vocalisations can give valuable insights into the potential functions of vocal signals. The source-filter theory of vocal production allows researchers to examine the information content of mammal vocalisations by linking variation in acoustic features with variation in relevant physical characteristics of the caller. Here I used a source-filter theory approach to classify female koala vocalisations into different call-types, and determine which acoustic features have the potential to convey important information about the caller to other conspecifics. A two-step cluster analysis classified female calls into bellows, snarls and tonal rejection calls. Additional results revealed that female koala vocalisations differed in their potential to provide information about a given caller’s phenotype that may be of importance to receivers. Female snarls did not contain reliable acoustic cues to the caller’s identity and age. In contrast, female bellows and tonal rejection calls were individually distinctive, and the tonal rejection calls of older female koalas had consistently lower mean, minimum and maximum fundamental frequency. In addition, female bellows were significantly shorter in duration and had higher fundamental frequency, formant frequencies, and formant frequency spacing than male bellows. These results indicate that female koala vocalisations have the potential to signal the caller’s identity, age and sex. I go on to discuss the anatomical basis for these findings, and consider the possible functional relevance of signalling this type of information in the koala’s natural habitat.     

Acoustic Features Used in Song Discrimination by the Veery

To investigate which song features are used for discrimination by the veery (Catharus fuscescens), we synthesized songs by computer and manipulated or deleted various features. These songs were then played to territorial males in their natural habitat. Differences in response to these stimuli indicated the relative importance of the manipulated song components. We found that certain features must be maintained in order to elicit a territorial response similar to that elicited by the natural song. These features were the frequency changes between and within syllables, the dominant higher frequency band (or voice), the intra-syllable syntax, and the rapid repetitive amplitude and frequency modulations. Manipulations of inter-syllable syntax independent of frequency changes between syllables, broad changes in amplitude, and the lower frequency band, did not have a significant effect on response. We thus concluded that they are not essential as cues for discrimination or species identification. Re-recordings of songs broadcast along transects indicate that song components used in encoding species identity are those which transmit well across veery territories.     

Acoustic Features Indicate Arousal in Infant Giant Panda Vocalisations

Infant giant pandas are highly vocal during the first few weeks of life, producing vocalisations that are characterised by noisy, aperiodic segments. The aperiodic character of many animal vocalisations results from irregular vibratory regimes of the vocal folds, and one proposed function of this so‐called nonlinear phenomena (NLP) in animal vocalisations is to convey information about the caller's arousal state. This hypothesis was tested in the vocalisations of six hand‐reared giant panda cubs recorded during handling and feeding procedures that had been categorised into low‐ and high‐arousal contexts based on quantified motor activity. Ninety‐three per cent of the vocalisations contained NLP, including deterministic chaos and subharmonics. Vocalisations produced in the high‐arousal contexts, however, were characterised by an increase in chaos, as well as increased call duration and fundamental frequency (pitch). These results suggest that infant giant panda vocal signals have the potential to express different arousal states. Furthermore, because giant panda cubs are the smallest placental mammal offspring at birth compared with adult size, acoustically conveying arousal state to the mother might be crucial for infant survival under natural rearing conditions.     

我国12种无尾类的鸣叫特征参数

分析了1 2种无尾类的求偶鸣叫特征参数,包括角蟾科(Megophryidae) 2种:峨眉角蟾(Megophrysomeimontis)、高山掌突蟾(Leptolalaxalpinus) ;雨蛙科(Hylidae) 2种:华西雨蛙(Hylaannectans)、秦岭雨蛙(H .tsinlingensis) ;树蛙科(Rhacophoridae) 5种:斑腿树蛙(Rhacophorusmegacephalus)、无声囊树蛙(R .mutus) ,宝兴树蛙(R .dugritei)、经甫树蛙(R .chenfui)、锯腿小树蛙(Philautusodontotarsus) ;蛙科(Ranidae)2种:弹琴水蛙(Hylaranaadenopleura)、沼水蛙(H .guentheri) ;姬蛙科(Microhylidae) 1种:花姬蛙(Microhylapulchra)。特征参数包括:(时域)时长和(频域)基频、主能峰、共振峰等9个。与已有的描述作了对比,发现差别较小,并简单讨论了差别出现的原因。此外,对同域分布且繁殖时间重叠的两个近缘种———宝兴树蛙和经甫树蛙的鸣叫比较发现,二者声音的9个参数除了音节间隔之外,差异都极其显著(P <0 0 0 1 ,α=0 0 5 ,two tailedtest) ,它们的鸣叫有显著差异。     

黄桐树皮的化学成分研究

从黄桐(Endospermum chinense Benth.)树皮中分离获得了10个化合物。通过光谱分析,分别鉴定为3-羰基齐墩果酸(1)、齐墩果酸(2)、7-羰基谷甾醇(3)、β-谷甾醇(4)、β-胡萝卜甙(5)、7-羰基-β-胡萝卜甙(6)、4-羟基-3-甲氧基苯甲醛(7)、7-羟基-6-甲氧基香豆素(8)、3-羟基-4-甲氧基苯甲酸(9)和壬二酸(10)。10个化合物均为首次从黄桐树皮中分离得到。     

大叶桃花心木树皮化学成分研究

为了解大叶桃花心木(Swietenia macrophylla)树皮的化学成分,采用硅胶、凝胶、制备液相等手段分离、纯化,从其树皮提取物中分离得到9个化合物。根据理化性质及波谱数据,鉴定化合物结构分别为香草酸(1)、东莨菪素(2)、大黄素甲醚(3)、3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(4)、(+)-儿茶素(5)、5′-甲氧基异落叶松脂素-9′-O-β-D-吡喃木糖苷(6)、南烛木树脂酚-9′-O-β-D-吡喃木糖苷(7)、豆甾醇(8)、豆甾醇-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(9)。除化合物5外,其余化合物为首次从该植物中分离。细胞毒活性试验表明化合物均无显著的细胞毒活性。     

Species-typical and Individually Distinctive Acoustic Features of Crow Calls of Red Jungle Fowl

Crow calls of red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) were analyzed for the purposes of (a) determining the extent of commonality and variability of acoustic features within and between individual roosters, and (b) characterizing the modal crow call of this species. Comparisons were made between crow calls of jungle fowl and those of domestic fowl to assess the extent to which domestication has affected these motor patterns.     

筛选选择性降解玉米秸皮的菌株

目的:筛选能选择性降解玉米秸皮的菌株,用于玉米秸皮生物机械法制浆的研究。方法:采用Bavendamm-PDA平板对玉米种植地土壤内的真菌进行初筛选,之后采用玉米秸皮降解实验对产生棕色变色圈的菌株和实验室现有白腐菌进行复筛选。结果:筛选到4株能在Bavendamm-PDA平板上产生棕色变色圈的菌株;降解实验显示杂色云芝引起了最大31.76%的重量损失,重量损失最小的菌株为粗毛栓菌lg-9;除杂色云芝和白耙齿菌降低了玉米秸皮苯醇抽出物外,其他处理样均增加;碳水化合物测定结果表明白耙齿菌处理样综纤维素的损失最大,且各种菌株所引起的综纤维素损失中,纤维素和聚戊糖损失所占的比例有很大差别。结论:粗毛栓菌lg-9对玉米秸皮木素降解的选择性最强,之后为Sd、黄袍原毛平革菌-14和黄袍原毛平革菌-25。     

Acoustic Monitoring Reveals Congruent Patterns of Territorial Singing Behaviour in Male and Female Tropical Wrens

Many animals defend territories against conspecific individuals using acoustic signals. In birds, male vocalizations are known to play a critical role in territory defence. Territorial acoustic signals in females have been poorly studied, perhaps because female song is uncommon in north‐temperate ecosystems. In this study, we compare male vs. female territorial singing behaviour in Neotropical rufous‐and‐white wrens Thryothorus rufalbus, a species where both sexes produce solo songs and often coordinate their songs in vocal duets. We recorded free‐living birds in Costa Rica using an eight‐microphone Acoustic Location System capable of passively triangulating the position of animals based on their vocalizations. We recorded 17 pairs of birds for 2–4 consecutive mornings and calculated the territory of each individual as a 95% fixed kernel estimate around their song posts. We compared territories calculated around male vs. female song posts, including separate analyses of solo vs. duet song posts. These spatial analyses of singing behaviour reveal that males and females use similarly sized territories with more than 60% overlap between breeding partners. Territories calculated based on solo vs. duet song posts were of similar size and similar degrees of overlap. Solos and duets were performed at similar distances from the nest for both sexes. Overall, male and female rufous‐and‐white wrens exhibit very similar spatial territorial singing behaviour, demonstrating congruent patterns of male and female territoriality.     

麻疯树皮的化学成分研究

从麻疯树(Jatrophac curcus L.)的树皮中分离得到12个化合物,经理化常数和波谱鉴定(IR,1H NMR,13C NMR,EI-MS)分别为二十六酸甲酯(1),β-谷甾醇(2),蒲公英萜醇(3),蒲公英甾醇(4),伪蒲公英甾醇(5),curcusones A(6),curcusones B(7),jatropholone A(8),jatropholone B(9),3,3′,4-三甲氧基鞣花酸(10),胡萝卜甙(11),蔗糖(12)。其中化合物1,4,5,10,12为首次从该植物中分离得到。