免培养法研究野生川金丝猴肠道内生细菌多样性

【目的】了解野生川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)肠道内生细菌的组成及其多样性。【方法】提取川金丝猴肠道内生细菌总DNA,选用细菌通用引物799F和1492R对总DNA进行16S rRNA基因特异性扩增,构建川金丝猴肠道内生细菌16S rRNA基因克隆文库,对阳性克隆进行限制性内切酶片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)分析,并对HaeⅢ酶切带谱菌株进行测序,构建系统发育树。【结果】根据酶切带谱分析和测序结果,将随机挑取的157个阳性克隆归为27个不同的可操作分类单元(OTUs)。系统发育分析表明这些克隆序列有62.10%属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),其中包括梭菌属(Clostridium)、Cellulosilyticum属、Robinsoniella属、Anaerofustis属、Blautia属和Anaerovorax属,有37.90%属于未培养细菌。【结论】川金丝猴肠道内生细菌多样性丰富,并且可能存在新的分类单元。     

Metrical dental analysis on golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Dental variation in the Chinese golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is here evaluated by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Allometric analyses indicate that canines and P3s are positively, but other dimensions negatively scaled to mandible and maxilla, and to body size. With the exception of the mesiodistal dimensions of I₁ and M₃, and the buccolingual dimension of P₄, mandibular dental variables show similar scaling relative to body size. Analysis of residuals shows that males have significantly larger canine, P³ and buccolingual dimensions of the postcanine teeth (M² and M³) than females. A significant difference in shape between the sexes is found in the buccolingual dimension of the upper teeth, but not in the mandible. Unlike the situation in some other species, female golden monkeys do not exhibit relatively larger postcanine teeth than males. In fact, the reverse is true, expecially for M²s and M³s. The fact that most of the dental variables show low negative allometry to body size might be related a cold environment that has led to the development of larger body size with reduced energy loss. When the raw data are examined by Discriminant Function Analysis the sexes are clearly distinguishable.     

Annual Reproductive Behavior of Rhinopithecus roxellana

Ren conducted year-round observations on sexual behaviors of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys in Shanghai Wild Animal Park from May 2000 to May 2001, which confirmed quantitatively that the species is a rigorous seasonal breeder with a single birth season between late March and early June. Lactation continues until the infant reaches about 1.5 years or it dies. Accordingly, the interbirth interval is ca. 18–20 mo. The results also confirm that females regulate the timing of reproduction. To avoid mating competition their conception times differ from one another, and they conceive between October and December. Three focal females maintained proceptive activities with significant durations due to their different ages and mating choice. If new babies died in the same year the mothers resumed sexual activity on different days. Apart from female peak mating times there is no significant difference among them regarding the regularity of their sexual activities. Temporal differences in birth peaks at different locations might be due to latitude.     

Reproductive parameters of wild female Rhinopithecus roxellana

On the basis on 6 years of observation, we estimated the reproductive parameters of a Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) group in the Qinling Mountains, China. We observed 88 births in 47 females from 2001 to 2006. Two methods were used to calculate the birthrate. The first method is based on the number of births observed in a year, giving 0.49+/-0.07 (mean+/-SD), and the second method is based on the female-years of observation, giving 0.49+/-0.17 births per female per year in this troop. The mean interbirth interval is 21.88+/-6.01 months (mean+/-SD). The mortality of infant born between 2002 and 2005 was 22.4%. The interbirth intervals of females that had lost an infant before the age of 6 months were significantly shorter than that of females whose infants survived for more than 6 months. A female usually gives birth once every 2 years if the previous offspring survives to a weaning age of 5-6 months, or will give birth in the next year if the previous young dies before reaching an age of 6 months. Births were significantly concentrated during March to May of each year. The mean birth date was on April 14, median was April 12; and the standard deviation was 13.98 days. Birth peak occurs 6-7 months after mating peak. From observations on 15 individuals that gave birth for the first time, we concluded that the wild female Golden snub-nosed monkeys in Qinling Mountains start giving birth at an age of 5 or 6 years. We suggest that the seasonal reproductive pattern is an adaptive response to the availability of seasonal food. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that these reproductive characteristics are a result of adaptation to the seasonality of mountain climate and food resources.     

Benefits to Female Helpers in Wild Rhinopithecus roxellana

To assess what female Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) gain from allowing others to care for their infants, we collected behavioral data on 12 mother-infant dyads at Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains, China. Mothers’ feeding time significantly increased when infants were cared for by other group members versus when they were cared for by the mothers themselves. The time mothers spent autogrooming and receiving grooming also increased when they were temporarily relieved of maternal duties; however, mothers did not groom other individuals more when they were not encumbered by infants. There are several benefits that mothers gain from having helpers care for their infants: They gain more time to feed and thus increase their feeding efficiency. Mothers have more time to engage in hygienic and maintenance activities because they autogroom and receive allogrooming more. Lastly, mothers save energy when their infants are with helpers. Wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkey mothers meet their basic survival and maintenance needs because of helping behavior.     

The reproductive behavior of golden monkeys in captivity (Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana)

The reproductive behavior of two captive harem breeding groups of golden monkeys was observed over one mating season and compared to non-seasonal reproductive behavior. Observation of over two thousand sexual interactions suggests that 1) females were responsible for 95% of all sexual solicitations (proceptive behavior), of which the typical pattern was prostration, while males were responsible for only 5%; 2) 17% of female solicitations were interrupted by another female; 3) 52% of female solicitations resulted in mounting by males; 4) the frequencies of solicitations and receipt of mounts and ejaculations varied greatly among females; 5) the frequency of ejaculations, the ratio of ejaculations to mountings, and ejaculation patterns were different between two males, and 6) the golden monkey is a seasonal breeding animal.     

圈养川金丝猴生命表和种群动态研究

川金丝猴Rhinopithecus roxellana是我国特有的濒危物种。通过对全世界785只圈养川金丝猴的年龄分布、繁殖率、性比进行统计分析,编制圈养川金丝猴种群的生命表,绘制死亡曲线及存活曲线,计算川金丝猴的内禀增长能力。结果显示:圈养川金丝猴的寿命期望值较长,死亡率低,种群数量波动小,具有相对稳定的生态学特征;净增殖率、内禀增长率和周限增长率分别为2.674 6、0.095 28/年和1.100 0,说明圈养川金丝猴种群目前仍存在上升的空间,种群结构整体上相对稳定。     

Does Estradiol Modulate Sexual Solicitations in Female Rhinopithecus roxellana?

Studies of the relationship between sexual behavior and reproductive endocrinology in females offer critical insight into sexual selection, mate choice, and female reproductive strategies in primates. We examine the relationship between sexual solicitations and urinary estradiol in female Sichuan golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) living under semiwild conditions at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, China. We collected data on the frequency of sexual solicitations and urinary samples on 4 adult females during 2 mating seasons. We determined urinary estradiol levels via radioimmunoassay. Our results indicate that during the ovarian cycle, solicitation focused on the periovulatory period around the estradiol peak. The frequency of female solicitations rose to a peak after the peak of estradiol level, suggesting that ovarian steroids modulate sexual behavior during the fertile phase of the ovarian cycle. We also found that females frequently solicited matings during pregnancy, most of which the α male accepted and that resulted in copulations. During pregnancy, however, there was no obvious relationship between sexual solicitation and urinary estradiol. We conclude that in Rhinopithecus roxallana, sexual behavior and estradiol production do not strictly correlate during different parts of the reproductive cycle. We discuss additional relationships between social interactions, dominance, sexual behavior, and endocrine function.     

Comparison of masticatory morphology between Rhinopithecus bieti and R. roxellana

The masticatory apparatus for two endemic species of golden monkey in China, Rhinopithecus bieti and Rhinopithecus roxellana, were compared with those of macaques, Macaca and leaf monkeys, Presbytis. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the two golden monkey species are distinct. Interspecies allometric analyses revealed that golden monkeys differ in their masticatory apparatus from both macaques and leaf monkeys. The prominent symphysial fusion, corpus, and sagittal condylar dimension of R. roxellana may produce efficient biting force on the incisal and posterior canine teeth, with the heavy reaction force born on the temporomandibular joint. However, the well-developed bizygamatic width and mandibular height in R. bieti suggest that posterior canine function is similarly prominent in R. roxellana, while incisal function is not. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Seasonality of matings and births in captive Sichuan golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

This study, based on three years of mating behavior observations and 10 years of birth records, reveals that Sichuan golden monkeys in captivity displayed a marked seasonality of mating behavior and births. The peak of matings occurred around October, and births occurred in March-June. The birth peak followed the mating peak by six to seven months. This seasonal cycle of matings and births was similar to observations made in the wild, where both temperature and food resources were favorable in spring. The time delay between peaks of matings and births was the approximate length of gestation, which implies that mating behavior was concentrated during the period of conception. We suggest that the peak of births in captive Sichuan golden monkeys occurred during the time of year with the most favorable environmental conditions, and the peak of matings corresponded with the period of conception.     

神农架一个川金丝猴群的食物分布

食物分布是灵长类行为生态学研究的重要内容之一。国内对川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)的食物种类和喜好程度已进行了大量翔实的研究,但在食物的时空分布方面相对薄弱。在2006年8月～2008年7月的两年间,我们对神农架千家坪地区一个川金丝猴群的食物组成做了调查,同时通过样方法(每隔200 m的海拔梯度)研究了该猴群的食物在该地区的分布状况,以及食物分布海拔的季节性变化。结果表明,该猴群的食源植物至少有15种,占食物组成的55.0%,而地衣占食物组成的38.4%;该猴群的食物在某些海拔地带具集中分布趋势,但分布密度总体上不高,重要食源植物(占食物组成的5.0%以上)的乔木胸高断面积和灌木冠部面积所占比例在任何季节分别小于12%和小于14%,约89%的乔木和81%的灌木表面没有地衣覆盖;食物主要分布在海拔1 900～2 500 m之间,可能制约着该猴群的活动海拔范围;植物性食物在海拔上的分布呈现明显的季节性差异,即春季和夏季比秋季和冬季的分布海拔低,这很可能引起该猴群活动海拔的季节性变化。     

Genetic diversity and population history of golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), namely the snub-nosed monkey, is a well-known endangered primate, which distributes only in the central part of mainland China. As an effort to understand the current genetic status as well as population history of this species, we collected a sample of 32 individuals from four different regions, which cover the major habitat of this species. Forty-four allozyme loci were surveyed in our study by allozyme electrophoresis, none of which was found to be polymorphic. The void of polymorphism compared with that of other nonhuman primates is surprising particularly considering that the current population size is many times larger than that of some other endangered species. Since many independent loci are surveyed in this study, the most plausible explanation for our observation is that the population has experienced a recent bottleneck. We used a coalescent approach to explore various scenarios of population bottleneck and concluded that the most recent bottleneck could have happened within the last 15,000 years. Moreover, the proposed simulation approach could be useful to researchers who need to analyze the non- or low-polymorphism data.     

Sociosexual behavior of captive sichuan golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

The Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana, is an endangered Colobine endemic to China. The social and reproductive behavior of this species are little known, and it has rarely been kept in captivity outside China. Results from observations of a captive golden monkey pair revealed some unusual details of sociosexual behavior. Both members of the pair mounted one other, and female mounting of the male occurred nearly as often as the reverse. Male mounts were always preceded by a stereotyped behavioral sequence that included distinct facial and vocal displays. Female mounts occurred in response to male solicitation (presenting). No evidence of ejaculation was observed in association with mounts, although mounts were only observed in a distinctly sexual context. Sexual behavior was associated with aggressive displays by one or both animals and with apparently proceptive behavior by the female. All sexual behaviors showed a peak near the end of the study, although the female was continually receptive throughout the 2-month study period.     

唐家河国家级自然保护区川金丝猴冬季栖息地选择

2009年12月至2010年2月,对唐家河自然保护区内的一群(约60只)川金丝猴群采用直接跟踪观察,并结合植物样方调查对该猴群冬季栖息地选择进行了初步研究。根据猴群的活动位点,设置了75个20m×20m的植物样方,测定了12个生态因子(植被类型、乔木的胸径、郁闭度、乔木的高度、海拔、坡度、坡向、坡位、坡形、距水源距离、乔木密度、灌木盖度)。研究发现,冬季猴群主要在海拔2000～2500m、乔木平均胸径11～30cm、乔木平均树高为10～29m、乔木密度为20～40棵/20m×20m之间的落叶阔叶林和针阔混交林的阳坡中活动,还偏好在郁闭度为25%～49%、坡度为6°～20°、坡形为凸坡和复合坡、坡位为脊中部和下部、距水源距离0～300m的生境中活动。研究表明,冬季的食物资源、气候条件是影响川金丝猴群栖息地选择的主要生态因子。     

川金丝猴mtDNA D-loop序列遗传多态性分析

采用非损伤性DNA分析技术,分析了甘肃白水江保护区、陕西长青保护区、湖北神农架保护区3个川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)种群中的20份粪便样品和2份肌肉样品,成功扩增了mtDNA D-loop区部分片段。经过GenBank数据库的BLAST比对,确定了22份样品均来自川金丝猴,经过Clustal W和DNASP软件分析,在22份川金丝猴mtDNA D-loop区393bp中,共检测出54个多态性位点,分为17个单倍型,单倍型多态性(h)为0.965,核苷酸多态性(π)为3.10%。3个种群之间的遗传距离为0.003～0.098,核苷酸差异为0.08%～2.80%,表明所得到的川金丝猴样品中存在着较丰富的遗传多态性,种群间存在一定的遗传差异。     

Market powers predict reciprocal grooming in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Social grooming is a common form of affiliative behavior in primates. Biological market theory suggests that grooming can be traded either for grooming or other social commodities and services. When no other services are exchanged, grooming is predicted to be approximately reciprocated within a dyad. In contrast, the amount of reciprocal grooming should decrease as other offered services increase. We studied grooming patterns between polygamous male and female in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) from the Qinling Mountains of central China and found that about 29.7% of grooming bouts were reciprocated. However, the durations of grooming bouts offered and returned was asymmetrical within dyads. In bisexual dyads, more grooming was initiated by females than males, which became more pronounced as the number of females per one-male unit increased. The rate of copulation per day for each female was positively correlated with the total duration of grooming time females invested in males.. Females without an infant (non-mothers) directed more grooming towards females with an infant (mothers) and were significantly more likely to be non-reciprocated. There was a significant negative relationship between non-mother and mother grooming duration and the rate of infants per female in each one-male unit. High-ranking females also received more grooming from low-ranking females than vice versa. The rate of food-related aggressive interactions was per day for low-ranking females was negatively correlated with the duration of grooming that low-ranking females gave to high-ranking females. Our results showed that grooming reciprocation in R. roxellana was discrepancy. This investment-reciprocity rate could be explained by the exchange of other social services in lieu of grooming.     

利用红外相机建立川金丝猴的行为谱及PAE编码系统

利用红外相机收集四川卧龙国家级自然保护区内川金丝猴Rhinopithecus roxellana的行为、动作模式及活动环境等特征的视频数据,以"姿势-动作-环境"为轴心,行为的生态功能为依据,完成川金丝猴行为谱的建立,并对其行为进行分类和系统编码。经视频数据辨识分析,共统计到野生川金丝猴的17种姿势、84种动作和116种行为。将这些行为与滇金丝猴R.bieti、黔金丝猴R.brelichi进行对比,发现3种金丝猴的大部分行为具有一致性;但栖息环境的差异、长时间的地理隔离以及后天的学习使得这些行为又表现出了差异性:一是行为的差异性,不同物种具有各自特殊的行为,如川金丝猴特有的跳跃采食行为和雌性匍匐邀配行为;二是行为效应的差异性,如快理等动作在不同物种中表达了不同的行为效应。完善和建立川金丝猴的行为谱有利于更全面、更准确地了解其行为生态学基本特征,同时为其深入研究提供基础数据。     

神农架川金丝猴冬春季节取食影响因素

以样方调查法和粪便显微组织学分析法确定了冬春季神农架地区川金丝猴的食物组成,分析了主要食源植物的营养成分,探讨了影响川金丝猴冬春季节取食的主要因素.结果表明:在冬季,川金丝猴食物组成与食源植物的粗灰分含量( r=0.709,P=0.015)呈正相关,而与食源植物的相对丰富度(r=0.543,P=0.084)、粗蛋白含量(r=0.036,P=0.916)、粗纤维含量(r=0.458,P=0.156)、粗脂肪含量(r=0.445,P=0.170)、含水量(r=-0.099,P=0.771)和无氮浸出物含量(r=-0.522,P=0.100)均不相关;在春季,与食源植物的相对丰富度(r=0.721,P=0.000)呈正相关,与含水量(r=0.114,P=0.507)、粗脂肪含量(r=0.151,P=0.380)、无氮浸出物含量(r=0.084,P=0.625)、粗蛋白含量(r=-0.275,P=0.105)、粗纤维含量(r=-0.010,P=0.956)和粗灰分含量(r=-0.178,P=0.299)不相关.主成分分析表明,食源植物的粗纤维(0.992)、粗脂肪(0.944)、粗蛋白(0.905)和食物丰富度(0.885)为川金丝猴冬季取食的主要影响因子,粗蛋白(0.946)、无氮浸出物(0.939)、含水量(0.920)和食物丰富度(0.898)为川金丝猴春季取食的主要影响因子.