OBSERVATIONS ON THE POST-FLEDGING DEPENDENCE PERIOD OF CAPE VULTURES

Robertson, A. S. 1985. Observations on the post-fledging dependence period of Cape Vultures. Ostrich 56: 58–66.

Cape Vultures were observed during their post-fledging dependence period at a colony in the Cape Province, South Africa. Information is presented on the length of the period, behaviour of juveniles and of parents at the nest, survival of juveniles, aggressive interactions between parents and juveniles and retention of the nest site following breeding. At the colony, juveniles initiate contact with their parents, which supply food to their own offspring at the natal site only. Parental aggression was observed over an average period of five months after juveniles had left the nest (range 32–218 days); at two nest sites, the period overlapped with the next season's incubation period, although no transfer of food was observed during this period-of overlap.     

高寒草甸生态系统艾虎种群能量动态的研究

动物种群能流的研究具有重要的意义。为阐明食肉动物与食草动物能量的相互关系,我们于1982年4—10月在青海省门源县海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区,测定了艾虎对食物的消化率和同化率,同时统计其密度,初步估计通过其种群的能量流。 艾虎全年平均摄入干物质为0.125克/克体重/日;摄入总能为0.709大卡/克体重/日,同化能、粪便和尿的排出能分别占其80.18％、14.58％和5.25％。全年摄入能为1.157×10~5大卡/公顷,通过种群能流为0.917×10~5大卡/公顷/年。 上述结果表明,通过艾虎种群的能量流是比较少的。因此,保护艾虎,增加其数量,是高寒草甸生态系统改造的任务之一。     

鼎湖山森林优势种群数量动态

本文分析研究了鼎湖山森林群落优势种群的数量动态,结果表明厚壳桂和黄果厚壳桂的增长曲线是与逻辑斯谛曲线相一致,椎栗的增长曲线则是一条近似的抛物曲线。拟合组建了种群增长方程(6)、(7)、(8)、(9)、(12),并论证了可信度及生态意义。     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF WETLANDS IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE,SOUTH AFRICA

Summary

The hydrological and habitat value of wetlands is beginning to be recognised in South Africa, but only in parts of Natal Province has an effort been made to map wetlands and to record their status over large areas. While the most accurate method of mapping wetlands is a combination of photogrammetry and field surveys, this is time-consuming and expensive. An alternative “desktop” method was therefore used to draw up a preliminary distribution of wetlands in the south-western Cape Province, and this approach consisted of summarising the information contained on 1:50 000 topographical survey maps. The summary shows that shallow, vegetated wetlands (vleis) occur mainly in the wetter south and south-west of the region, while the non-perennial wetlands (pans) predominate inland, where the land is dryer and flatter. There are many estuarine wetlands along the coast, resulting from the tendency of river mouths to be blocked by sand-bars. Farming requirements and suitable topography account for the many small artificial wetlands (farm dams) in the central southern parts. Farm dams predominate in the region (15067 were counted), followed by pans (1741), riverine wetlands (261), vleis (216) and estuarine wetlands (15).     

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF CRANES (GRUIDAE) IN THE CAPE PROVINCE

Siegfried, W. R. 1985. Relative abundance of cranes (Gruidae) in the Cape Province. Ostrich 56:101-103.

The results of monthly roadside counts of Crowned Cranes Balearica regulorum, Wattled Cranes Grus carunculatas and Blue Cranes Anthropoides paradisea show that Blue and Crowned cranes occurred most abundantly and densely in the eastern part of the Cape Province in 1965–1966. The Blue Crane's average relative abundance was approximately four times that of the Crowned Crane whose population occupied tend to breed in summer, the Blue Crane slightly earlier than the Crowned Crane. The population of the Wattled Crane was a small relict, occurrin in East Griqualand. Based on a rough estimate, there were about 1000–1500 Crowned Cranes and about 7000–10000 Blue Cranes in the Cape Province in the mid-1960s.     

福建莆田褐飞虱和白背飞虱发生规律与治理技术

在闽中莆田县,褐飞虱和白背飞虱是水稻的重要害虫。本通过系统监测．揭示这两种飞虱在当地的发生规律,并从品种、气候、天敌等因素分析其发生原因。同时就采用抗虫品种、高效低毒新农药、讲究科学用药、保护利用天敌资源等措施进行综合治理作了探讨。     

POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE FRESHWATER SNAIL BIOMPHALARIA PFEIFFERI IN EASTERN ZAIRE

The population dynamics of the freshwater snail Biomphalariapfeifferi, an intermediate host of the parasitic worm Schistosomamansoni, was studied in the Virunga stream in Eastern Zaïre. Methods are developed to estimate age-specific survivorshipfrom regular quadrat-sampling data without assuming a constantmortality rate, and to approximate age-specific fecundity whenthe fecundity function is known in the laboratory. The population dynamics in the field was found to be very differentfrom that in the laboratory: it is basically discontinuous,with one main generation per year; a massive mortality occursafter hatching; fecundity is reduced considerably; and thereare marked seasonal variations in both survivorship and fecundity.Time-dependent demographic parameters were estimated by monthinstead of by cohort. They show that the environmental conditionsare favourable to an increase of the population only duringa short period of the year. The intrinsic rate of natural increase,r, was found to be well correlated with the changes in egg density. The environmental factors determining the population dynamicsin the Virunga are discussed; current speed seems critical. (Received 4 February 1987;     

NOTE ON THE SPIKE-HEEL LARKS OF THE CAPE PROVINCE

This study investigates the possibility of hybridisation between introduced domestic Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris, derived from the West African subspecies N. m. galeata, and South African guineafowl, N. m. coronata. There is putative morphological evidence of such hybridisation in wild populations and it is known that domestic guineafowl do not survive well in the wild. Molecular analysis of the control region of mtDNA confirmed the occurrence of the domestic guineafowl haplotype in individuals present in wild populations from KwaZulu-Natal, but not in birds from populations from the Free State. Thus, despite the absence of the availability of bi-parentally inherited nuclear DNA marker, the presence of the domestic haplotype in individuals of both wild and intermediate phenotype (between wild and domestic birds) suggests that there is hybridisation in the wild between domestic and wild guineafowl. To avoid potential negative affects associated with outbreeding depression, we argue for careful control of releases of domestic guineafowl into the wild. This study investigates the possibility of hybridisation between introduced domestic Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris, derived from the West African subspecies N. m. galeata, and South African guineafowl, N. m. coronata. There is putative morphological evidence of such hybridisation in wild populations and it is known that domestic guineafowl do not survive well in the wild. Molecular analysis of the control region of mtDNA confirmed the occurrence of the domestic guineafowl haplotype in individuals present in wild populations from KwaZulu-Natal, but not in birds from populations from the Free State. Thus, despite the absence of the availability of bi-parentally inherited nuclear DNA marker, the presence of the domestic haplotype in individuals of both wild and intermediate phenotype (between wild and domestic birds) suggests that there is hybridisation in the wild between domestic and wild guineafowl. To avoid potential negative affects associated with outbreeding depression, we argue for careful control of releases of domestic guineafowl into the wild.     

呼和浩特地区黑线仓鼠种群动态研究

1984—1989年,每年3—11月中旬在呼和浩特郊区定点调查,共捕获黑线仓鼠2920只,本文分析了该鼠每年的种群数量变动和年龄结构,用臼齿咀嚼面磨损程度划分年龄组,研究种群年龄结构。种群数量年际变化较大,季节变化也较明显,一般年有两个繁殖高峰和数量高峰(后峰8—10月,前峰5—6月)。每年3—10月为繁殖期,平均每胎产仔6.2±0.1只,各年间繁殖有一定差异。     

小型哺乳动物亲缘关系对其种群动态的作用

主要综述小型哺乳动物亲缘关系对其种群动态的作用及其研究进展。与非亲缘个体比较, 亲缘个体间的相互作用趋于亲密、巢区共享程度高, 亲缘关系水平对扩散有明显的作用。亲缘关系水平的差异可改变种群增长速率及种群统计学特征, 对提高雌体存活率、后代断乳成功率、后代存活率及性比具有显著的作用。亲缘关系的分子生态学研究主要集中于亲权鉴定和种群遗传结构的分析。     

陕北黄土区森林地带侧柏种群结构及动态初探

对陕北黄土区森林地带的侧柏种群结构和动态进行了探讨。结果表明：（１）侧柏种群是本区林林次生演替过程中的先锋乔木种群之一,在裸岩陡坡等特殊生境中亦能形成稳定的群落;（２）侧柏种群大小结构分初始增长型、增长型、稳定型、下降型、极度下降型、残留型及偏途顶极型等７种类型,并随演替的进行呈现由初始增长型过渡到残留型的变化;（３）侧柏种群密度随时间变化呈现负增长,且与乔木层盖度、侧柏种群年龄及土壤含水量呈显著     

THE PRESENT AND PAST DISTRIBUTION OF THE BALD IBIS IN THE PROVINCE OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

Tarboton, W. R. 1981. Cooperative breeding and group territoriality in the Black Tit. Ostrich 52:216-225.

In a small, colour-ringed population of Black Tits Parus niger in central Transvaal, 11 of 19 observed breeding units comprised pairs with one to three helper-males. These pairs and groups defended permanent territories, the size of which correlated with the size of the group. There were significantly more territorial disputes during winter when less food was available than in summer. Breeding occurred in summer and the female alone built the nest, incubated the eggs and brooded the young while they were small. During this time she was fed by the alpha male and helper males, although before egg-laying the alpha male prevented helpers from courtship-feeding her. On average, unassisted pairs reared 0,88 young/season whereas pairs with helpers reared 1,55 young/season. However the feeding rate of nestlings of pairs with helpers was not higher than that of unassisted pairs and the number of young reared per group did not correlate with the number of helpers within the group.

The helper system in Black Tits was associated with a skewed sex-ratio (1,7:1 males: females) in the adult population and the data are consistent with the “hopeful reproductive” hypothesis for cooperative breeding.     

SYSTEMATIC NOTES ON BIRDS OF THE CAPE PROVINCE

Hofshi, H., Gersani, M. &; Katzir, G. 1987. Urban nesting of Tristram's Grackles Onychognathus tristramii in Israel. Ostrich 58: 156–159.

Urban nesting of Tristram's Grackles Onychognathus tristramii is described. Nesting in the town of Arad, Israel, was first observed in the summer of 1983. Breeding behaviour was recorded during two seasons, in six nests. The behaviour of Tristram's Grackles resembled that of related Onychognathus species. The birds were monogamous. Breeding was from March to the end of June, and nests were built in holes and crevices in unoccupied buildings, 6–20 m above the ground. The nest was deep, cup shaped and built predominantly of green Tamarix branches. Three to four eggs were laid. Only the female incubated, while the male guarded. Both parents fed the young on insects fruit and human food remains. The nestlings remained in the nest for approximately 30 days. Parents continued to feed the fledglings for a week after they had left the nest. The fledglings formed juvenile flocks, two weeks after they had left the nest. The adults might then raise a second brood. The process of urbanization of the grackles is discussed.     

小家鼠血红蛋白多态型与种群密度的关系

啮齿动物种群数量波动的研究,国内外部已有不少报道(夏武平1958,1961,1963;Evans等,1944;Delong,1967)。种群数量随季节的一般性波动以及年间的一般性差异是常见的(孙儒泳等1962;Evans,1949;Krebs等,1973),但极大的波动并不多见。一个种在某一年间种群数量发生的极大波动的现象,现在习惯地称作大发生或大暴发(Pearson,1963;Plomley,1972),我国新疆北部农业带分布的小型啮齿类就有这种大暴发的历史(青海省生物研究所新疆鼠害研究组,1975)。