广东海丰紫水鸡种群密度调查

2005年12月~2006年6月对广东海丰公平大湖保护区的紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)种群密度进行了调查。繁殖期和非繁殖期的种群密度分别为13.33只/km2和9.33只/km2。通过对大湖和东关联安围总的样线平均个体数比较,差异性显著(P<0.05);在种群密度上,发现东关联安围不同时期的种群密度均较高,分别达16.11只/km2和11.67只/km2,大湖分别为9.17只/km2和5.83只/km2。对种群影响因素分析表明,非法猎捕和栖息地质量下降是导致紫水鸡种群变化的重要原因。     

关于厦门的紫水鸡

19世纪中叶,英国鸟类学家Robert Swinhoe曾两次报道紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)在福建厦门的记录:当他本人第一次看到1只饲养在他人笼舍中的个体时,即判定它肯定不是P.poliocephalus[Latham,1801]而有可能是P.smaragdinus[Temminck,1827]^[1];两年后,当Swinhoe得到1只活体时,他认为该鸟应当是P.smaragdinus之下的一个亚种,同时,考虑到该鸟在形态上与P.smaragdinus略有差异,Swinhoe又"试探性地"将它命名为Porphyrio coelestis sp.nov.^[2]。无论Swinhoe当年的分类意见得当与否,他的这两次记录,都应当是发表于正式学术刊物上论证紫水鸡在中国有见的最初记录。     

滇西北鹤庆草海湿地紫水鸡生态适应的初步观察

中国南方紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)在快速扩散,探究其生态适应十分必要。2014年3月至2015年8月在云南鹤庆草海湿地的观察,得到以下结果。紫水鸡集中分布在以开阔水域为主并有足够植被覆盖的西草海,很少见于附近干扰频繁的其他湿地,其适宜的生境开阔水域约占49.6%、水生植被覆盖水面占39.3%、陆地占11.1%;紫水鸡早间(7:00~9:00时)频繁活动在开阔水域、高草丛、岸边草地,中午后逐渐远离岸边而藏掖草丛中;白天活动的紫水鸡集群大小在1~7只之间,1~2只的集群占62.0%,大的集群中常有司职警戒、领头的个体;紫水鸡用于觅食、休息、警戒的时间分别占47.8%、23.5%、15.1%,很少互动交流,但常驱赶靠近的其他鸟类以维护个体自身的"领域";紫水鸡应对干扰威胁的警戒、避让、惊飞平均距离分别是26.4 m、20.5 m和17.6 m。在鹤庆的紫水鸡集中分布于西草海湿地并避让人为干扰,说明其以避让和逃逸方式应对人为干扰和生境胁迫,应该考虑立法给予重点保护。     

中国的紫水鸡

自Swinhoe的早期记录横空跨越140余年后, 2012年3月紫水鸡终于在厦门被重新发现并得以确认其繁殖群的存在。继而在检视以往文献过程中, 注意到对于紫水鸡在中国状况的认识, 无论是对其分布、还是亚种认定, 均多存疑问之处。本文对紫水鸡在中国南方各省(区)的发现和记录过程做了大致梳理, 概述了以往对中国东南沿海地区紫水鸡分布认识误区的产生原因, 并指出当今中国鸟类学界对中国紫水鸡亚种分布态势上的不同意见和看法。作者提出这些问题与同行探讨, 以期促成消弭疑问, 并希望鸟学界同仁能够关注紫水鸡在中国的动态变化与发展。     

广东发现紫水鸡

作者于１９９７年１２月２７日广东省海丰县境内发现３只紫水鸡。这是一个多世纪以来首次证实Ｓｗｉｈｏｅ１８６８年前在广州和厦门发现过紫水鸡的事实,也是紫水鸡作为留鸟在广东省内的首次记录。     

广东海丰发现紫水鸡繁殖巢

紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)在中国分布范围极小,至今未有繁殖记录。2006年5月,作者在广东省海丰沿海地区记录到紫水鸡繁殖巢3个,分别营巢于水葱和芦苇中。这不仅是广东,也是国内紫水鸡繁殖的首次记录。     

紫水鸡冬季觅食地选择

2006年11月-2007年2月,在广东海丰鸟类自然保护区采用样方法研究了紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)的冬季觅食地选择。研究结果显示,紫水鸡在冬季对觅食地植被具有明显的选择性,偏爱水葱(Scirpus tabernaemontani)。对62个觅食地样方18个因子的主成分分析表明,草本密度、草本均高、草本盖度、灌木种类、水质和水位这6个因子是冬季觅食地选择的主要因子。判别分析结果表明,枯高、动物性食物丰富度、距大道距离、草本种类、距小道距离、距所处水面边缘距离是区别冬季觅食地和对照地样方的主要参数,判别准确率可达78.1%。紫水鸡冬季多选择在水葱或芦苇(Phragmites communis)等草本植被生长良好、具有特定水位或水质及中等程度的人为干扰的地方觅食。因此,该地区冬季觅食地的恢复和保护对紫水鸡的保护有着重要的意义。     

中国的紫水鸡——其分布与种下分类问题的回顾与探讨

自Swinhoe的早期记录跨越140余年后,2012年3月紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)终于在厦门被重新发现并得以确认其繁殖群的存在.继而在检视以往文献过程中,注意到对于紫水鸡在中国状况的认识,无论是对其分布,还是亚种认定,均多存疑问之处.本文对紫水鸡在中国南方各省(区)的发现和记录过程做了大致梳理,概述了以往对中国东南沿海地区紫水鸡分布认识误区的产生原因,并指出当今中国鸟类学界对中国紫水鸡亚种分布态势上的不同意见.作者提出这些问题与同行探讨,以期促成消弭疑问,并希望鸟学界同仁能够关注紫水鸡在中国的动态变化与发展.     

紫水鸡非繁殖期日节律与时间分配

2011年1月至11月使用瞬时扫描法及焦点动物取样法对云南省大理市洱源县西湖湿地(26°00′~26°01′N,100°02′~100°03′E,平均海拔1 970 m)的紫水鸡(Porphyrio porphyrio)行为进行了观察,将行为定义为取食、寻食、休息、修饰、警戒、位移和其他共7类,扫描时将取食和寻食合并为觅食,分析非繁殖期的日节律和时间分配特点。觅食高峰出现在早晨和傍晚,低谷在秋季为下午14:30时(占所有行为类型56.56%)、冬季12:30时(55.61%)、春季11:00时(55.80%)。休息高峰秋季出现在12:30时(26.79%),冬季一日内呈上升趋势,春季呈双峰型,低谷在13:30时(14.64%)。从时间分配来看,寻食、取食、修饰等行为在不同季节间存在显著差异,寻食时间从高至低依次为冬季、春季、秋季,分别占总活动时间的19.87%、9.36%、3.03%;取食时间则相反,依次为秋季(72.54%)、春季(56.78%)及冬季(44.59%);与新西兰Pukepuke Lagoon种群相比,西湖湿地紫水鸡种群在秋季大量取食,在冬季增加寻食和休息时间,以应对高原湿地的温度和食物变化。修饰行为在繁殖期前(春季)最多(15.84%),繁殖期后(秋季)减少(11.10%)。以上结果说明,为适应气候、食物等条件的年周期变化,紫水鸡行为策略在不同时期和地点具有可塑性,这可能是该物种在滇西北地区得以繁衍及扩散的原因之一。     

普氏原羚分布、种群和保护现状

普氏原羚(Procapra przewalskii)是青藏高原特有物种, 为了掌握该物种的分布和种群状况, 我们于2014-2015年采用全面调查和直接计数的方法, 对普氏原羚的分布、种群和保护现状进行了调查。结果如下: 普氏原羚分布在青海湖周边12个隔离的分布点, 与全国第一次野生动物资源调查的结果相比, 有多个新的分布点被发现, 分布范围和面积扩大; 调查共发现1,238只普氏原羚, 与2010年以后的调查结果相比, 种群数量维持在一个稳定的水平。然而, 仅有4个分布点位于青海湖国家级自然保护区范围内。尽管刚察县成立了青海湖普氏原羚特护区, 天峻县成立了普氏原羚自然保护站, 但现有的管护力度仍然不够, 且缺乏系统的管理规划。我们建议在天峻县布哈河上游的生格-快尔玛地区成立普氏原羚自然保护区; 同时建立适当的生态补偿机制, 协调保护与社区发展的矛盾; 鉴于目前圈养种群发展迅速, 建议在历史分布区选取合适的地点进行人工繁育个体的迁地放归。     

Natural and human-mediated factors in the recovery and subsequent expansion of the Purple swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio L. (Rallidae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Instances of range contraction and population decline in bird species in Europe are more common than cases of recovery following decline. Here we report on the recovery and expansion processes of an endangered bird species in Europe, the purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio L., Rallidae), with special reference to the Iberian Peninsula, its main distribution area in Western Europe. After a drastic decline during the first half of the 20th century, which restricted its range to a few areas in southern Spain, the Iberian population has recovered. Currently, the species occurs in a range similar to the one it had at the beginning of the 20th century, and has even colonized new areas. These processes seem to be the result of both human-mediated (effective protection of the species and suitable habitats; success of reintroduction programs as expansion focuses of birds colonizing nearby and distant regions [>300 km] wetlands) and natural factors (inter- and intra-seasonal cycles of wet and dry years). Thus, we found a significant relationship between rainfall and bird abundance and productivity, suggesting that such inter- and intra-seasonal cycles may have significant effects on demographic parameters that could be related to the expansion process. Finally the species shows remarkable adaptability, as proven by data on breeding success in recently colonized areas and the ability to breed shortly after reintroduction. We hypothesize that saturation of breeding habitats in established areas, a reasonable habitat continuity and favorable environmental conditions, and protection have facilitated the dispersion of birds.     

The behaviour of the pukeko,Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus

Displays of the pukeko, Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus Temminck (Gruiformes: Rallidae) are described and analysed quantitatively. Aggressive displays centre around the beak, which is presented to the opponent in a position from which a peck can be given. Submissive or escape displays centre around the white undertail coverts, which appear to have evolved as a distinct submissive signal since they are in sharp contrast to the aggressive releaser, both in location and colour. Raising the wings serves to expose the undertail and to provide a contrasting frame. The development of the white undertail as a submissive signal may have paralleled the development of the large frontal shield, which serves to maximise the aggressive releaser. Most displays are ambivalent, signalling both aggression and escape. With increasing escape tendency the bill and frontal shield are so placed that pecking is decreasingly likely, and the wings are increasingly raised. In postures with high escape tendency the beak is placed on the ground or removed from the opponent's view, but only in pure escape postures are the white undertail coverts prominent. Displays which involve rapid removal of the beak and shield from the opponent's view are more common in close contact situations, such as hierarchical interactions between pukeko of the same group. A brief comparison is made with other published reports on gallinules.     

Low genetic diversity and small population size of Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri on European arrival in New Zealand

The rediscovery of the Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri in 1948 in the remote mountains of Fiordland, New Zealand, has been described as one of the greatest moments in ornithological history. The subsequent management of the population has become a model for avian recovery programmes, yet questions still remain regarding the population size at the time of, and prior to, its rediscovery. We used 20 microsatellite markers to genotype samples of the three surviving museum specimens (1849–1898) collected prior to the initial declaration of extinction to estimate levels of genetic diversity and effective population size. These estimates were compared with equivalent estimates from DNA samples of three specimens preserved at the time of rediscovery (1949) and with 20 contemporary samples. Using rarefaction simulations to account for the limited sample sizes, the results suggest that only slightly more genetic diversity (allelic diversity and numbers of polymorphic loci) existed in the earliest Takahe sampled and that levels of genetic diversity at the time of rediscovery were very similar to those today. Effective population size estimates showed a similar pattern. Contemporary samples from a widespread congener to Takahe, the Pukeko Porphyrio porphyrio, showed consistently higher levels of genetic diversity and greater effective population size, even after equivalent rarefaction to the same small sample sizes available for Takahe. It is likely that the population size of Takahe in Fiordland at the time of European arrivals in the 1800s was similar to its current size. These results provide molecular support for the hypothesis that Takahe were common throughout most coastal and eastern parts of the South Island of New Zealand before being hunted to extinction in these regions by early Maori, and persisted as a relatively small and isolated population in Fiordland where they may never have been very common. This is in marked contrast to other New Zealand endemic birds found in Fiordland, such as the Kakapo Strigops habroptilus and several forest passerines, which remained relatively numerous until the time of European arrival before undergoing rapid declines thereafter.     

Effects of different base populations on selection response in Drosophila

Of two laboratory strains of Drosophila melanogaster used in this study, the +3 strain had slightly higher mean abdominal bristle number and estimated heritability of this character than the Oregon‐R. Their F₁ hybrid exhibited 5 % heterosis. Fourteen generations of the two original strains and the F₃ of the hybrid were selected for high and low numbers of abdominal bristles on the 4th and 5th sternites, at a selection intensity of 20%. A mass‐mated unselected control was maintained for each population. The +3 population responded considerably more to selection for low numbers of bristles than high, and the Oregon‐R population showed a similar, though less marked, tendency; the Crossbred population responded more strongly to selection for high numbers. Except for the Crossbred high selection line, all lines declined in response rate, phenotypic variance, and realised heritability. The average realised heritability of the Oregon‐R and +3 high and low selection lines over 14 selection generations fell short of their predicted base population heritabilities. The deviation from the predicted was particularly pronounced with selection for high bristle number in the +3 line.     

滇金丝猴（Rhinopithecusbieti）现状及其保护对策研究

滇金丝猴（Ｒｈｉｎｏｐｉｔｈｅｃｕｓｂｉｅｔｉ）是我国特有的珍稀濒危动物,生活在海拔３８００～４３００ｍ的原始冷杉林中,但有时也会在４３００～４７００ｍ的低矮灌丛、草甸和流石滩上活动达数小时之久,甚至能跨越近千米的无林高海拔地带,因而它们是海拔分布最高的非人灵长类。松萝是它们的主要食物,取食松萝的时间占总取食时间的９１％。猴群活动范围可达近百平方公里。笔者在历时８年的野外考察中,已查明这一物种的全部现存自然种群只有１３个,分布在云南的德钦、兰坪、潍西、丽江和西藏的芒康这五县境内,其现存种群数量为１０００～１５００只;所有现存自然种群几乎均处在相互隔离的状态,群间已不可能进行基因交流,充分表明它们已到达灭绝边缘。然而其栖息地内的商业伐木规模仍在继续扩大,周围的人口压力正在不断增加,各猴群均面临不同程度的偷猎压力。这一现状委实令人担忧。如何拯救这一“国宝”应引起我国保护学家和各级政府有关职能部门的重视