温度与聚群对三种仔兽热能代谢的影响

仔兽出生以前,是在相对稳定而安全的母兽子宫内生活的,出生以后,仔兽的营养条件与环境温度即起了根本的变化。新生仔兽是如何适应新环境的?仔兽在新环境中的生活能力怎样?环境温度与食物条件对新生仔兽的存活率、生长与发育的影响如何?环境温度和聚群行为与能量代谢的关系怎样?这是一系列的基础理论问题,尤其是毛皮动物饲养业所关心的实际问题。     

华北京津冀地区兽类新纪录——香鼬

香鼬(Mustela altaica Pallas,1811)属食肉目(Carnivora)鼬科(Mustelidae)鼬属(Mustela),是分布于东亚和中亚的一种小型食肉动物,主要以小型啮齿动物为食,其典型栖息地为海拔1 500～4 000 m的森林、森林草原、高山草甸及灌丛或多岩石的山地等环境(高耀亭等,198...     

Geographic variation in size and sexual dimorphism of North American weasels

Geographic variation in size (skull length) and sexual dimorphism in Mustela erminea, Mustela frenata and Mustela nivalis in North America is described and analysed in relation to latitude, longitude, climatic variables, and sympatry or allopatry of these species. Only erminea increases in size with latitude; it does so regardless of the presence or absence of frenata or nivalis. Latitude is a better predictor of size in erminea than available measures of climate, seasonality or prey size. There is no evidence for character displacement between any pair of species. The sexes covary in size in frenata and erminea , and probably in nivalis , although geographic variation in sexual dimorphism occurs in frenata and erminea. The principal cause of sexual dimorphism appears to be sexual selection for large size in males rather than the high energetic requirements resulting from an elongate body shape. However, prey size may constrain female size (and possibly also male size). Regional differences in the abundance of prey during the growth of young weasels may affect adult size much more in males than in females and contribute to geographic variation in sexual dimorphism.     

Predicting the incidence of mohua predation from the seedfall,mouse, and predator fluctuations in beech forests

Abstract

Predator control will be required to save many mohua (Mohoua ochrocephala) populations from extinction. However, control may be required only in years when stoat (Mustela erminea) densities are high. To manage local stoat populations effectively, a reliable predictor of high risk years is required. We examined whether different levels of beech seedfall and mouse capture rates were related to the levels of mohua predation recorded in the Hawdon Valley, Arthur's Pass National Park, and the Eglinton Valley, Fiordland National Park, between 1989 and 1994. During this period there was only one full beech mast year in each study area during autumn. The full mast seedfall in Hawdon Valley was predominantly of mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) and red beech (N. fused), and in Eglinton Valley it was predominantly silver beech (TV. menziesii). During the following summer, mouse and stoat densities, and the predation rate of adult mohua, all increased considerably. There was very little predation on adult mohua in the summers following poor seedfalls when mouse and predator densities remained low. In 1993, a partial mast did not trigger a mouse or stoat irruption.

We conclude that counts of beech seedfall and indices of mouse density are potential predictors of an impending irruption of key predators. Winter mouse density appeared to be the most reliable indicator, because neither stoats nor mice respond to seedfall alone. A combination of these indicators could be used as a basis for management decisions on whether to undertake stoat control to protect mohua populations in the future. However, more information is required on the seedfall thresholds that may trigger sufficient increases in mouse and stoat numbers and, consequently, bird predation.     

Putative chemosignals of the ferret (Mustela furo) associated with individual and gender recognition

Quantitative stir bar sorptive extraction methods, both in the aqueous and headspace modes, followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to investigate individual variations in the volatile components of male and female ferret (Mustela furo) urine. The urinary profiles were further compared with volatile profiles of anal gland secretions of breeding male and female ferrets. Thirty volatile compounds were quantified in male and female urine. Among them, 2-methylquinoline was unique to male urine. Four ketones (4-heptanone, 2-heptanone, o-aminoacetophenone, and a dimethoxyacetophenone) and several nitrogen compounds (e.g., 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, quinoline, 4-methylquinazoline) and low levels of three unidentified nonsulfur compounds were significantly more abundant in males than in females. Quantitative comparison of 30 volatile urinary compounds showed several statistically significant differences between the sexes and individuals of the same sex. These findings suggest that ferrets may use urine marking for sex and individual recognitions. Ten of the 26 compounds identified in anal gland secretions from females and males were also found in urine. However, most of the major compounds (thietanes, dithiolanes, and indole) in anal glands were not present in urine. This suggests that urine may convey specific signals that differ from those of anal glands. Additionally, 10 volatiles (two aldehydes, five ketones, benzothiazole, 2-methylquinoline, and 4-methylquinazoline), not previously identified, were found in ferret anal gland secretions. Among the new compounds, o-aminoacetophenone was found only in males, while only traces of this compound were found in females. Similar results were previously obtained in anal glands of three other Mustela species. These findings provide new information about the constituents of urine and volatile components of anal gland secretions in ferrets.     

Phylogeography and population history of the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) in the Palearctic based on multilocus analysis

The least weasel (Mustela nivalis) is one of the most widely distributed carnivorans. While previous studies have identified distinct western and eastern mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the species in the western Palearctic, their broader distributions across the Palearctic have remained unknown. To address the broad-scale phylogeographical structure, we expanded the sampling to populations in Eastern Europe, the Urals, the Russian Far East, and Japan, and analyzed the mtDNA control region and cytochrome b, the final intron of the zinc finger protein on Y chromosome (ZFY), and the autosomal agouti signaling protein gene (ASIP). The mtDNA data analysis exposed the previous western lineage (Clade I) but poorly supported assemblage extending across Palearctic, whereas the previous eastern lineage (Clade II) was reconfirmed and limited in the south western part of the Palearctic. The ZFY phylogeny showed a distinctive split that corresponding to the mtDNA lineage split, although less phylogeographical structure was seen in the ASIP variation. Our data concur with the previous inference of the Black Sea–Caspian Sea area having an ancestral character. The Urals region harbored high mitochondrial diversity, with an estimated coalescent time of around 100,000 years, suggesting this could have been a cryptic refugium. Based on the coalescent-based demographic reconstructions, the expansion of Clade I across the Palearctic was remarkably rapid, while Clade II was relatively stable for a longer time. It seems that Clade II has maintained a constant population size in the temperate region, and the expansive Clade I represents adaptation to the cold regions.     

Evaluation of iophenoxic acid and rhodamine B for marking feral ferrets (Mustela furo)

Abstract

The blood marker iophenoxic acid, and the fluorescent dye rhodamine B, were evaluated as means of assessing bait consumption in the ferret, Mustela furo. Iophenoxic acid was elevated above baseline concentrations for a minimum of 28 days after dosing, indicating that it is a suitable medium‐term marker. Rhodamine B marked ferrets for a maximum of 7 days, and would therefore have limited operational use with feral ferrets. Iophenoxic acid was used in a field trial to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed baiting strategy for control of wild ferrets. All 21 ferrets captured after field baiting with iophenoxic acid had elevated levels of serum iodine, indicating that the newly developed baiting strategy is highly effective for marking ferrets.