Seasonal fluctuations of the wolf diet in the Hustai National Park (Mongolia)

Seasonal fluctuations in the wolf diet in the Hustai National Park (Mongolia) were determined by analysing wolf scats that were collected from 1994–1997. Except for July, August and September, at least 50% of the frequency of occurrence of prey items in wolf scats consisted of livestock. The frequency of occurrence of wild ungulates ranged from 8–43%, and wild ungulates were most often consumed in July, August and October, but seldom in June. Our study suggested that most seasonal changes in the wolf diet were effected by the life history of red deer. The occurrence of wild ungulates in the wolf diet coincided with the availability and vulnerability of calves. To reduce livestock losses and poaching of wolves we recommend more wolf research, protection and monitoring of both wild prey populations and wolves, and the reintroduction of livestock guarding dogs and year-round guarding of domestic horses.

Zusammenfassung

Saisonale Fluktuationen von Wolfsnahrung im Hustai Nationalpark (Mongolei)Anhand von Kotproben von Wölfen, die von 1994 bis 1997 gesammelt wurden, konnten saisonale Fluktuationen der Wolfsdiät im Nationalpark Hustai (Mongolei) festgestellt werden. Mit Ausnahme der Monate Juli, August und September bestand mindestens 50% der im Wolfskot vorgefundenen Beutereste aus Nutztieren. Wildungulat–traten in 8 bis 43% der Proben auf und wurden am häufigsten in den Monaten Juli, August und Oktober genutzt, jedoch kaum im Juni. Diese Untersuchung deutet darauf hin, dass saisonale Veränderungen der Wolfsdiät wahrscheinlich von der Biologie der Rothirsche beeinflusst werden, da die Abnahme von Wildungulaten in der Wolfnahrumg in den Zeitraum der Kälbergeburten fiel, während die Zunahme von Wildungulaten mit jener Periode koinzidierte, in der sich neu geborene Kälber den Herden anschlossen und die Brunftzeit stattfand. Um sowohl den Verlust von Nutzvieh als auch das Wildern auf Wölfe zu vermindern, empfehlen wir die Wolfsforschung zu verstärken, das Monitoring und den Schutz von Wolfs- und Wildbeutepopulationen zu verbessern, die Wiedereinführung von Hütehunden sowie die ganzjährige Überwachung von Nutzpferden.     

Rapidly declining fine-scale spatial genetic structure in female red deer

A growing literature now documents the presence of fine-scale genetic structure in wild vertebrate populations. Breeding population size, levels of dispersal and polygyny--all hypothesized to affect population genetic structure--are known to be influenced by ecological conditions experienced by populations. However the possibility of temporal or spatial variation in fine-scale genetic structure as a result of ecological change is rarely considered or explored. Here we investigate temporal variation in fine-scale genetic structure in a red deer population on the Isle or Rum, Scotland. We document extremely fine-scale spatial genetic structure (< 100 m) amongst females but not males across a 24-year study period during which resource competition has intensified and the population has reached habitat carrying capacity. Based on census data, adult deer were allocated to one of three subpopulations in each year of the study. Global F(ST) estimates for females generated using these subpopulations decreased over the study period, indicating a rapid decline in fine-scale genetic structure of the population. Global F(ST) estimates for males were not different from zero across the study period. Using census and genetic data, we illustrate that, as a consequence of a release from culling early in the study period, the number of breeding females has increased while levels of polygyny have decreased in this population. We found little evidence for increasing dispersal between subpopulations over time in either sex. We argue that both increasing female population size and decreasing polygyny could explain the decline in female population genetic structure.     

Performance of differential GPS collars in temperate mountain forest

To determine the performance of Global Positioning System (GPS) for habitat studies in free-ranging animals, we tested differential 6- and 8-channel GPS collars under six representative canopies and one open-field reference site in the 'Parc national des Cévennes', southern France. The proportion of successful locations decreased under taller trees and worsened with snow accumulation in mixed coniferous habitats. The mean location success of seven free-ranging red deer fitted with 6-channel GPS collars in the same study area increased with a shorter interval between location attempts and during the leaf-off period. Our data suggested that the differences in location success between leaf-on and leaf-off periods might reflect shifts in habitat use rather than a leaf effect under deciduous trees.     

Food habits of sika deer and nutritional value of sika deer diets in eastern Hokkaido, Japan

Rumen content analysis and field observations were used to investigate the food habits and diet quality of sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis Heude) from 1991 to 1993 in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Diets varied seasonally, with deer consuming graminoids and browse in winter, forbs and agricultural crops in spring and summer and all of these plant foods in autumn. Eighty-four plant species with sika deer bite marks were identified and their use also varied seasonally. The diversity of food resources available provided both critical protein and digestible energy, allowing for physiological maintenance and seasonal growth. With these high-quality diets, deer maintained good body condition in eastern Hokkaido, where the population density was relatively low.     

马鹿卵母细胞体外培养与体外受精的超微结构

用FSH 对马鹿进行超数排卵,通过抽吸法和切割法采集卵泡卵母细胞,用M199 为基础的培养液在38.5℃、5%CO₂ 和饱和湿度条件下对马鹿卵母细胞进行体外培养与体外受精培养,利用透射电镜观察不同时期马鹿卵母细胞的超微结构,旨在揭示马鹿卵母细胞体外培养前、培养后及受精后超微结构的变化规律。结果表明,培养前卵丘细胞紧紧包围卵母细胞,卵母细胞表面的微绒毛细长,伸入透明带内,皮质区及细胞中心分布大量的细胞器。培养后卵丘细胞与卵母细胞结合松散,卵母细胞表面微绒毛短粗,倒伏于卵表面,第一极体无核,皮质颗粒在皮质区成层排列,细胞质中细胞器分布均匀。受精后卵母细胞表面的微绒毛由倒伏而竖起,第二极体有核,细胞质中细胞器丰富,主要分布于细胞中心。     

Characterization of 11 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellites for forensic applications in California elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis)

Eleven polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci have been developed for forensic use in the protection of California elk. Based on a reference sample of elk taken from three races throughout California, the loci consist of 4–9 alleles (average 6.125). Probabilities of identity ( Paetkau et al. 1995 ) range from 0.079 to 0.288, with an overall probability of identity of 1.3 × 10^?9 (one in 7.8 × 10⁸).     

Phylogeography of willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus) in the Arctic: taxonomic discordance as inferred from molecular data

Using independently segregating nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and mitochondrial control region sequences, we found an east–west division among sampled willow grouse Lagopus lagopus subspecies. This division cut across the range of the subspecies with the largest distribution (lagopus) and thus contradicted existing taxonomic classifications. Russian Lagopus lagopus lagopus tended to cluster with North American willow grouse partly classified as other subspecies. Scandinavian willow grouse (L. l. lagopus) clustered with red grouse from Britain and Ireland (Lagopus lagopus scoticus and Lagopus lagopus hibernicus) but substructuring confirmed the monophyly of the latter. In North America, we could not detect any major genetic divisions apart from two birds described as alexandrae from the Heceta Island (Alaska) when using mitochondrial sequences. Other samples from North America were intermingled regardless of whether they were described as muriei, alexandrae or lagopus. A specimen described as alexandrae was to some extent distinct when analysing the SNP data. The genetic analyses indicated some concordance between genetics and taxonomy but not complete congruence. This is particularly evident for mitochondrial DNA network analyses. We suggest that the taxonomy of this species would benefit by a careful re‐examination of the available evidence for subspecies. It appears as if subspecies status is a poor proxy for assigning evolutionary significant units and management units in this species. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110 , 77–90.     

Variances and covariances of phenological traits in a wild mammal population

In a seasonal environment, there are multiple aspects of timing, or phenology, that contribute to an individual's fitness. Several studies have shown a genetic basis to variation between individuals in breeding time, but we know little about the heritability of other phenological traits in wild populations. Furthermore, the presence of genetic correlations between phenological variables could act to constrain or promote any response to selection, but less is known of the multivariate genetic relationships underlying phenological traits in the wild. Here, we use data from a wild population of red deer on the Isle of Rum, Scotland, to investigate covariances between eight phenological traits. Variation was characterized at the level of the phenotype, genotype, and year, and traits measured in different sexes enabled us to test for cross-sex genetic correlations. Phenotypic correlations were broadly strong and positive, as were correlations between traits expressed in the same year. We found evidence of significant additive genetic variation in five of the eight phenological traits studied. However there was little evidence of genetic correlations between traits, implying that much of the observed phenotypic correlation was environmentally induced. Our results suggest that different phenological traits may be free to move along independent evolutionary trajectories.     

日本梅花鹿与大丰麇鹿发情期反刍行为的差异

家养有蹄类动物的反刍行为已有大量研究,而受限于野外条件,野生有蹄类动物反刍行为的研究有限。以往研究认为,体型可能是影响动物反刍行为的重要因素。本研究以日本奈良公园日本梅花鹿Cervus nippon nippon和中国江苏大丰麋鹿Elaphurus davidianus为研究对象,观察记录并比较分析了发情期的日本梅花鹿与发情期的麋鹿在卧息时反刍行为的种内及种间差异。按照年龄性别差异,分5种类型(成年雄性、成年雌性、亚成雄性、亚成雌性和幼鹿)研究两物种食团咀嚼时间、咀嚼频率和咀嚼速率的差异。结果表明,1)日本梅花鹿的咀嚼速率和食团咀嚼时间受性别-年龄的显著影响:咀嚼速率为幼体>亚成雌性>亚成雄性>成年雌性>成年雄性,而食团咀嚼时间为成年雄性>亚成雄性>成年雌性>亚成雌性>幼体;2)性别-年龄对麋鹿咀嚼频率有显著的影响,成年雄性<成年雌性<亚成雄性<亚成雌性<幼体;3)两物种在咀嚼频率、食团咀嚼时间和咀嚼速率上的差异均有统计学意义,体型更大的麋鹿咀嚼速率更慢,食团咀嚼时间更长。与体型相关的性别及年龄显著影响了日本梅花鹿和麋鹿的反刍行为。     

东北梅花鹿野生种群分布与 遗传变异的分子鉴定

梅花鹿东北亚种(Cervus nippon hortulorum)曾被认为已野外灭绝,近年来在黑龙江东南部和吉林东部临近边境地区发现少量分布,其生境隔离、面积狭小,破碎化严重。亟需对其种群的遗传变化,特别是遗传多样性和近交衰退等种群遗传信息开展进一步评价,增强保护与管理的针对性。本研究在大、小兴安岭和长白山设计9个重点研究区域,共收集673份疑似梅花鹿粪样样本。首先基于线粒体DNA Cyt b基因测序技术开展物种鉴定,并对鉴定为梅花鹿的阳性样本利用微卫星技术进行个体识别。结果证实,东北梅花鹿仅在老爷岭东部山脉有分布,106份梅花鹿粪便DNA中识别出33只个体(穆棱保护区20只,老爷岭保护区13只)。33个Cyt b基因序列共检测出6个变异位点和5个单倍型,单倍型多样性指数(Hd)为0.621,核苷酸多样性指数(Pi)为0.006 7;微卫星检出种群平均等位基因数(Na)7.1个,观测杂合度(Ho)0.604,期望杂合度(He)0.712,固定系数(Fis)0.152。结果表明,东北梅花鹿种群遗传多样性丰富,但也存在一定程度的杂合度不足和近亲繁殖;种群近期经历了瓶颈效应,未发生种群扩张;群体间无遗传分化,可作为一个管理单元加以保护。建议,对东北梅花鹿稀有单倍型个体重点监测和保护,恰当时期考虑圈养种群野外放归,以提高野外个体间基因交流和快速种群恢复。