Role of isovaleroyl lipids in channeling of sound in the porpoise melon

Physical properties (e.g. specific gravity, adiabatic compressibility and sound velocity) of lipids isolated from tissues from contiguous areas of the fatty melon of an echo-locating porpoise (Delphinus delphis) were determined to elucidate relations between lipid composition and structure, and sound transmission in the head. Lipid content varied greatly within the melon (13.6–77.6% of the tissue weight) and triacylglycerols (80–100%) were the major lipid components. This lipid class was composed of diisovaleroylglycerides (triacylglycerols containing two isovaleroyl moieties and a long-chain acyl moiety), monoisovaleroyldiacylglycerols and triacylglycerols consisting of long-chain acids. The lipid-rich (>45%) areas in the melon contained a high proportion (>45% of total triacylglycerols) of diisovaleroylglycerides. There were gradations of sound velocities within the melon; the lowest sound velocities were associated with high concentrations of diisovaleroylglycerides (<1400 m/s) and the highest with high concentrations of long-chain triacylglycerols. Assuming an average sound frequency of 75 kHz, and considering dimensions of melon (path length and width of 12–14 cm and 5 cm, respectively), a forward radiating lobe of 15–25 degrees is produced. Thus, the deposition of lipids of different acoustic properties in a three-dimensional matrix within the porpoise melon results in a lens for the projection of sound into the marine environment.     

PHD2基因在鲸类低氧信号通路中的功能

为研究鲸类低氧适应的分子机制,文章克隆了不同低氧耐受能力的3个鲸类物种,抹香鲸(Physeter macrocephalus)、白鲸(Delphinapterus leucas)和长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoids asiaeorientalis)的脯氨酸羟化酶2(PHD2)。通过对其序列进行分析,发现3个物种PHD2的氨基酸序列非常保守。通过对这3个物种的PHD2的功能进行探究发现:3个物种的PHD2在常氧情况下均可以降解3个物种的HIF-α(包括HIF-1α和HIF-2α)蛋白,而在低氧(O₂浓度小于2%)情况下,PHD2则无法明显降解HIF-α蛋白。在常氧下,鲸类的PHD2降解HIF-α是依赖于识别鲸类的HIF-1α上LTLLAP和LEMLAP,HIF-2α的LAQLAP和LETLAP氨基酸片段,推测PHD2是通过对HIF-α序列中的脯氨酸位点进行羟基化修饰后,被VHL-E3泛素连接酶复合体所识别,发生泛素化降解。而在低氧条件下,PHD2的活性受到抑制HIF-α不能被VHL-E3泛素连接酶复合体识别,发生降解。研究对3种不同低氧耐受能力...     

DIET OF HARBOR PORPOISES IN THE KATTEGAT AND SKAGERRAK SEAS: ACCOUNTING FOR INDIVIDUAL VARIATION AND SAMPLE SIZE

Stomach contents of 112 bycaught harbor porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena ) collected between 1989 and 1996 in the Kattegat and Skagerrak seas were analyzed to describe diet composition and estimate prey size, to examine sample size requirements, and to compare juvenile and adult diets. Although porpoises preyed on a variety of species, only a few contributed substantially to the diet. Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus ) was the dominating prey species for both juveniles and adults. Our results, in combination with those from previous studies, suggest that where herring is a dominant food source, porpoises prey primarily on size classes containing mature or maturing individuals. Further, we also show that Atlantic hagfish ( Myxine glutinosa ) may be an important food resource, at least for adult porpoises. Examination of sample size requirement showed that, depending on the taxonomic level used to describe the diet, a minimum of 35–71 stomachs are needed to be confident that all common prey species will be found.     

航道整治期间长江江豚临时庇护所建设及效果评估

航道整治期间为受扰动江豚提供临时庇护所,是在就地保护和迁地保护之外的一种尝试。2020年1月至2021年12月,在长江干线武汉至安庆段6 m水深航道整治过程中,选取马当圆水道建设长江江豚临时庇护所,通过禁止渔业捕捞,增殖放流和通航引导等措施来提升庇护所质量。监测结果表明,庇护所设立后其作为长江江豚栖息地的质量得到提高:夏季鱼类密度从(3361.2±1991.7)条/hm²上升到(12439.1±10734.5)条/hm²,冬季鱼类密度从(501.3±381.8)条/hm²上升至(1684.4±3770.9)条/hm²。通航船舶显著减少,水下噪声低于长江干流的平均水平。长江江豚临时庇护所建立后,枯水期庇护所水域内长江江豚的平均目击次数(4.3±0.6)、观察头次(6)和群体大小(1.4±0.5)都要显著高于庇护所建设前(P<0.05),丰水期则无显著性差异(P>0.05),说明庇护所在枯水期发挥了对长江江豚的保护作用。但长江江豚对庇护所的利用主要集中在进出水道两端,可能是枯水期部分水域过浅限制了江豚对庇护所的利用。分析认为,航道整治等涉水工程施工期间为江豚提供临时庇护所是一项可行措施,但要充分发挥庇护所对江豚的保护作用,必须全面考虑江豚对各项生态因子的需求,防止因关键因子带来的"木桶效应"制约庇护所的整体适合度。     

High‐density areas for harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) identified by satellite tracking

The population status of harbor porpoises has been of concern for several years, and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been suggested as a method to protect the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena, Linneaus 1758) and other small cetaceans. In order to designate MPAs, high‐density areas for the species must be identified. Spatial distribution of small cetaceans is usually assessed from ship or aerial surveys. As a potentially more accurate alternative, this study examined the movements and area preferences of 64 harbor porpoises, satellite tagged between 1997 and 2007, in order to determine the distribution in the North Sea, the western Baltic, and the waters in between. Results show that harbor porpoises are not evenly distributed, but congregate in nine high‐density areas within the study area. Several of these areas are subject to significant seasonal variation. The study found no differences in the home range size of males and females, but immature harbor porpoises have larger home ranges than mature porpoises. The use of satellite telemetry for identifying areas of high harbor porpoise density can be of key importance when designating MPAs.     

长江江豚种群生存力分析

长江江豚是一个独立的种群,由于人类活动的影响,其数量呈下降的趋势,运用漩涡模型（ＶＯＲＴＥＸ７．３）分析了长江江豚的种群生存力,预测了未来１００ａ长江江豚的种群动态,比较了在假设环境条件下以及采取和不采取保护措施长江江豚种群的濒危程度,并模拟了江豚饲养群体的动态,主要结果显示,长江江豚在未来１００ａ内灭绝的概率为０．０１平均灭绝时间为１００ａ,如长江环境状况进一步恶化,长江江豚的灭绝概率针大幅度提     

铜陵长江大桥对豚类栖息地的影响

根据1987-2001年在铜陵江段所进行的18次豚类生态考察,统计历年考察记录中,在成德洲-梅埂段（以下称大桥河段）工作的天数及观察到的白Ji豚和长江江豚数量,分别计算其SPUE值（Sightings per unit of effort,以头/d计）。并于1989,2001年,在长江水位8.5m左右（吴淞 高程）测定了大桥河段断面A,B,C,D的深度（m)及流速（m/s)。根据汉道最大河宽（B）,转折角（α）,曲折率（S/L）,以及汊道宽长比（B/S）的变化,分析河道与沙洲的变动对白Ji豚和长江江豚栖息地的影响。研究结果表明大桥建成后,河段平面变形小,汊道分流比稳定,滩槽很少变动,流态稳定,水势复杂多样,仍具备豚类栖息活动必要的水文条件,但铜陵大桥对其上下河道,沙洲也产生了一定的影响,主要表现为近期和悦洲与成德洲附近的滩槽冲淤明显,汇,分流区主流摆动不确定,不能形成稳定的水区,导致成德洲附近的白Ji豚和长江江豚活动次数明显减少,特别是白Ji豚的活动路线中（太阳洲→梅埂）的羊山矶,历次考察中未观察到白Ji豚,总而言之,白Ji豚在大桥河段的SPUE值降低与其种群急剧下降是一致的,但在梅埂活动的次数下降不明显;长江江豚在局部水域（梅埂,横港）的SPUE值有上升趋势,这些现象可能与近期的河床演变及桥墩挑流有关。     

长江中下游江豚种群现状评价

作者根据近年在长江中下游对江豚进行考察的资料和收集到的标本,系统分析评价了长江中下游江豚的种群现状,主要结果如下:1.长江江豚上至宜昌(距河口1669公里),下至长江口,以及洞庭湖、鄱阳湖均有分布。分布型式是沿长江纵向呈集群性分布,横向呈趋岸性分布;2.长江中下游江豚种群数量估计为2700头。其数量冬季最高,夏季最低。夏季的SPUE值仅为冬季的48.7％—58.6％;3.长江中下游江豚群体以1—5头最为常见,占88％;4.理论推算长江中下游每年新产生个体为539头,年出生率为20％;5.通过分析比较长江中下游和中国沿海以及日本Inland Sea江豚种群数量变动趋势,推测长江中下游江豚很可能进行“江—海”、“海—江”长距离大规模的迁移,这种迁移与生殖有关。     

长江安庆段江豚主要栖息地鱼类群落结构

长江皖河交汇处(皖河口)是安庆江段江豚主要的栖息地之一。为了解江豚主要栖息地鱼类群落结构,于2013年9月—2014年8月对皖河口及其附近4个断面逐月进行了鱼类调查。研究结果表明,共采集鱼类35种,与历史资料相比,鱼类物种多样性已经严重下降,并且小型化趋势明显。5个断面当中,皖河口鱼类种数最多,为27种,且以中上层鱼类餐和油餐为主要优势种;其余4个断面分别为16、20、19和14种,且多数断面以底层鱼类黄颡鱼和长须黄颡鱼为主要优势种。方差分析结果表明,皖河口渔获物的总数量和总重量与其他断面无显著差异,但总种数却显著高于断面1和5。对中上层、中下层和底层鱼类的进一步分析发现,5个断面的显著差异仅存在于中上层鱼类,且皖河口中上层渔获物的数量和重量均显著高于其他断面。由此推断,江豚选择皖河口作为主要栖息地可能主要由于其更加丰富的中上层鱼类资源。研究结果不仅有助于了解鱼类资源的变化,还对江豚的原地和迁地保护具有重要意义。     

基于PAE编码系统构建的半自然条件下长江江豚行为谱

识别和编制动物行为谱是深入研究动物行为及其与环境复杂关系的基础和前提。本研究于2013年8月至2014年4月以栖息在铜陵淡水豚国家级自然保护区半自然水域的8头长江江豚为研究对象,采用焦点动物取样法和随机动物取样法观察记录了动物行为发生的过程、内容和环境,并以"姿势—动作—环境"(posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心,以行为的功能为依据,构建了长江江豚的PAE行为谱。共分辨记录了半自然水域长江江豚的8种姿势、33种动作和46种行为,并定性描述了不同行为出现频率与年龄组、性别的关系。该行为谱综合了姿势和环境信息,有助于进一步研究长江江豚的生态与行为、促进长江江豚的保护。