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。     

天鹅洲迁地保护江豚群体的遗传评估与发展预测

文章以2008年春季遭受严重雪灾的天鹅洲白鱀豚国家级自然保护区迁地保护江豚群体为研究对象,利用物种特异性微卫星遗传标记对该群体的遗传多样性进行了评估,并通过软件对其发展趋势进行了模拟和预测。研究结果表明,虽然2008年春季雪灾并未导致该群体遗传多样性的严重损失,灾后群体依然表现出中等水平的微卫星遗传多样性(18个座位的平均等位基因数为4.780,平均观察杂合度和期望杂合度分别为0.748和0.674);但模拟结果显示,该迁地保护江豚群体的遗传多样性将快速下降,100年后仅能保留约79%的等位基因和约84%的遗传杂合度。此外,模拟结果表明,通过增加群体数量和调整群体性比可有效减缓该群体遗传多样性的下降速度。根据研究结果,并结合长江江豚自然种群快速下降的现状,作者提出天鹅洲迁地保护江豚群体当前最重要的保护策略应该是尽早补充一定数量的、合适的野生个体,在加强遗传多样性保护的同时使其群体数量快速增长并形成一个更大规模的有效繁殖群体。     

江豚的年龄鉴定、生长和生殖的研究

本文根据在长江中下游,长江口和中国东北沿海收到的68头江豚标本,对江豚年龄鉴定的方法作了摸索和研究。从年龄,生长和生殖的角度系统分析了江豚的一些种群生物学特征。江豚年龄与生长的关系在一定范围内遵循的幂函数型式。4-5龄以前,江豚的生长迅速,此后减慢。江豚首次性成熟年龄雌性4龄,雄性4.5龄。性成熟时体长雌性133cm,雄性140cm。根据16头胎儿资料,用对数分割法反推出江豚的交配期较长,并有两个可能的交配高峰,分娩的高峰为2-4月。断奶年龄约为0.5龄。粗略估算长江江豚的年生殖率为20％。长江的江豚和中国沿海的江豚在形态和种群结构上各具特点。从江豚的年龄组成看出,幼龄组(0-4龄)的比例较大,结构基本正常。       

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.     

长江江豚锌、铜、铅、镉和砷的摄入与累积

根据室内饲养的3头长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)食物鲫(Carassius auratus)中锌(Zn)、铜 (Cu)、铅(Pb)、镉(Cd)、砷(As)的浓度值和饲养记录,推算出了饲养条件下江豚这些微量元素每日及每周估计摄入 量的范围。必需元素的需求方面与世界卫生组织/联合国粮农组织(WHO/FAO)提出的人暂定每周耐受摄人量 (PTWI)相类似,可是毒性较强的元素Cd、As、Pb的摄入量大大高于人体的PTWI。对湖北天鹅洲故道收集到的一头 江豚的10种组织、器官的研究发现,摄入后的Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、As显示出有组织、器官选择性累积的倾向。这可能主 要与鲸类组织、器官对相应的元素有特殊的要求相关。本研究的结果还显示出有必要建立饲养鲸类动物食物安全 管理规范以控制食源污染。更深入地研究各组织、器官中微量元素与生命机能的关系,应该是鲸类动物微量元素 的营养化学和生态毒理学发展的重要方向之一。     

长江江豚感染铜绿假单胞菌肺炎的诊治

本文记录了一例患急性铜绿假单胞菌肺炎的长江江豚诊断、治疗和预后观察过程。病原学鉴定采用鲜血琼脂平板对该江豚鼻腔拭子,在37℃下进行细菌需氧、厌氧培养和分离,并对所分离的细菌种类进行细菌学鉴定,结合血常规和血生化的检测结果,判定病原为铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PA）。依据病原菌的药敏试验结果对患病江豚进行治疗,预后良好。通过对整个过程的资料分析以及预后观察,得到如下提示：1）应做好饲养环境的消毒措施,防止江豚出现获得性PA感染;2）对江豚日常呼吸道和粪便中PA的检测,有利于疾病的早期预防和控制;3）江豚呼吸系统疾病的治愈依赖于准确的病原鉴定和及时的治疗,药敏试验对于PA感染的治疗非常必要;4）行为学的改变在江豚呼吸道疾病发病初期以及预后有重要的指示作用。     

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