Oxygen consumption and body temperature in yellow-bellied marmot populations from montane-mesic and lowland-xeric environments

Summary Yellow-bellied marmots characteristically live in montane-mesic environments, but in several areas in western North America, this species extended its range into lowland-xeric habitats. Body mass was significantly smaller in the lowland-xeric population from eastern Washington at 393 m than in the montane-mesic population from western Colorado at 2900 m. Oxygen consumption of marmots from montane-mesic and lowland-xeric environments was signiflcantly affected by ambient temperature (T_A) water regimen, population, and a population x water regimen x temperature interaction. Lowland-xeric animals had a higher metabolic rate at low T_As, but a lower metabolic rate at higher T_As than the montane-mesic aminals. Oxygen consumption was lower on a restricted-water regimen than on ad libitum water in both populations. Coefficients relating oxygen consumption to body mass were affected by T_A, water regimen, and population. These intraspecific coefficients are larger than the interspecific coefficients for all mammals. Body temperature (T_B) was affected significantly by T_A, water regimen, and population. T_A body mass, and a population x water regimen interaction significantly affected conductance. Conductance generally was higher in the lowland-xeric than in the montane-mesic marmots. Both populations increased conductance at high T_A, but the lowland-xeric population dissipated a much higher proportion of the heat by evaporative water loss (EWL) than did the montane-mesic population. Metabolic water production exceeded or equaled EWL at 5–20°C. Smaller body size, reduced metabolism at high T_A, and increased EWL at high T_A characterized the lowland-xeric population.Metabolic rates of yellow-bellied marmots were higher than predicted from body size during the reproductive season but decreased to 67% of that predicted from the Kleiber curve by late summer. Marmots minimize thermoregulatory costs by concentrating activity at times when the microclimate is favorable, by tolerating hyperthermia at high T_A in the field, and by having a conductance lower than that predicted from body size.Abbreviations DHC dry-heat conductance - EHL evaporative heat loss - EWL evaporative water loss - HP heat produced - T _A ambient temperature - T _n body temperature - M body mass     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in hoary marmots (Marmota caligata)

Microsatellite loci were developed from hoary marmots (Marmota caligata) to aid in the investigation of the social structure and mating system of this species. Seven of the microsatellite loci developed were found to be moderately polymorphic with between two and seven alleles per locus. In addition to the microsatellites developed in hoary marmots we also tested markers developed for other scuirids, namely European alpine marmots (M. marmota), Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) and European ground squirrels (S. citellus). Of these markers, 13 were polymorphic when amplified in hoary marmots with between two and nine alleles per locus.     

灰旱獭年龄鉴定的方法

有关灰旱獭Marmota baibacina的年龄鉴定,等(1973)曾以臼齿磨损度作过描述,并划分出6个年龄组,但缺少年龄与个体发育关系的资料。国内以牙齿磨损度鉴定灰旱獭年龄与种群年龄组成尚未见报道。 灰旱獭为天山山地的优势鼠种,分布广,数量多,既是自然疫源性疾病的宿主动物,又是重要的毛皮兽。我们于1983年6-8月对该旱獭的年龄鉴定方法及其年龄组成进行了研究,现将结果报道如下。     

Male-caused failure of female reproduction and its adaptive value in alpine marmots (Marmota marmota)

We studied reproductive performance of free-living alpine marmots (Marmotamarmota) for 14 years in the National Park of Berchtesgaden, Germany.Female reproduction was influenced by body condition and social factors.Reproduction depleted fat reserves, and only females emergingfrom hibernation with sufficient body mass were able to reproducesuccessfully. Marmots lived in social groups in territoriesdefended by a dominant male and female. Subordinate femalesnever reproduced, regardless of body mass. Territory takeoversby males impaired reproduction of dominant females, but onlyif the takeover occurred after the mating period. Reproductivefailures occurred despite clear signs of pregnancy such enlargednipples or late molt. Decreasing progesterone levels after themating period and the lack of evidence for direct infanticideby new territorial males suggest a block of pregnancy as a likelyexplanation for reproductive failures in groups with male takeoversduring gestation. Rendering female reproduction impossible increasedfuture reproductive success of new territory owners. Nonparous femalessaved the energetic cost of maternal investment and thus emergedwith higher body mass in the following spring. In line withthis, females failing to wean young had higher reproductivesuccess in the subsequent year.     

喜马拉雅旱獭种群微卫星变异及遗传多样性

为了解不同地理种群喜马拉雅旱獭(Marmota himalayana)的种群数量变化并探讨其内在的遗传学机制,通过构建部分基因组文库的方法筛选出8个高变异微卫星位点,根据微卫星位点的测序结果设计相应引物,PCR扩增检测了青藏高原4个地理种群(德令哈、乌兰、沱沱河、安多)喜马拉雅旱獭的遗传多态性及其种群结构.研究结果显示:8个位点在喜马拉雅旱獭种群中均为高度多态,观察等位基因数、有效等位基因数、多态信息含量分别为4.75、3.033 2、0.610 2;喜马拉雅旱獭种群总的期望杂合度和观察杂合度分别为0.670、0.699;3个喜马拉雅旱獭种群显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)偏离H-W平衡状态,且这些偏离平衡的位点均由杂合过度导致(FIS＜0);喜马拉雅旱獭种群的部分位点已经偏离了突变-漂移平衡.结论:筛选出的8个微卫星位点适合于喜马拉雅旱獭种群遗传多样性的研究,所研究的喜马拉雅旱獭种群有较高的遗传多样性,安多地理种群在近期可能经历过瓶颈效应,种群数量曾经下降.     

我国首例白化喜马拉雅旱獭家族的发现及其描述

喜马拉雅旱獭Marmota himalayana 属啮齿目Rodentia 松鼠科Sciuridae 旱獭属Marmota,是大型地栖动物,为青藏高原特有种.其正常体色为自鼻端经两眼眉间到两耳前方之间有似三角形的黑色毛区.     

Phylogenetic and functional structures of succession in plant communities on mounds of Marmota himalayana in alpine regions on the northeast edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Few studies have examined the succession of plant communities in the alpine zone. Studying the succession of plant communities is helpful to understand how species diversity is formed and maintained. In this study, we used species inventories, a molecular phylogeny, and trait data to detect patterns of phylogenetic and functional community structure in successional plant communities growing on the mounds of Himalayan marmots (Marmota himalayana) on the southeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We found that phylogenetic and functional diversities of plant communities on marmot mounds tended to cluster during the early to medium stages of succession, then trended toward overdispersion from medium to late stages. Alpine species in early and late stages of succession were phylogenetically and functionally overdispersed, suggesting that such communities were assembled mainly through species interactions, especially competition. At the medium and late stages of succession, alpine communities growing on marmot mounds were phylogenetically and functionally clustered, implying that the communities were primarily structured by environmental filtering. During the medium and late stages of succession the phylogenetic and functional structures of plant communities on marmot mounds differed significantly from those on neighboring sites. Our results indicate that environmental filtering and species interactions can change plant community composition at different successional stages. Assembly of plant communities on marmot mounds was promoted by a combination of traits that may provide advantages for survival and adaptation during periods of environmental change.