A releaser pheromone that attracts methyltestosterone- treated immature fish in the urine of ovulated female rainbow trout

SUMMARY: Behavioral experiments concerning a releaser pheromone in the urine of female rainbow trout were performed using immature fish administered orally with 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) during the non-spawning season. The urine was collected by catheter. The frequency of entries of test fish was recorded in each channel scented by test and control solutions in a Y-maze trough. The behavior of both MT-treated and control fish demonstrated that they could not discriminate the differences between distilled and environmental water as control solutions. There was also no difference between MT-treated and control fish when distilled and environmental water were introduced. The MT-treated immature fish were attracted to the channel scented by ovulated female urine. Neither coelomic fluid nor the immature female urine had any effect on the behavioral responses of MT-treated fish, while immature control fish had no preference for the urine of ovulated females. These results suggest in rainbow trout that ovulated female urine contains a releaser pheromone to attract mature males, and that androgens are involved in the sensory mechanisms detecting the releaser pheromone in fish.     

不同缢蛏群体应对高盐养殖环境的潜沙和摄食响应能力

为研究缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)生态行为应对高盐养殖环境的响应能力,以2个缢蛏群体(“申浙一号”群体SZSC和自然群体ZRSC)为实验对象,研究了不同盐度(20、24、28和32)对缢蛏群体潜沙行为、摄食生理的影响。对比2个群体潜沙指标和摄食率(FR)的差异,其中,潜沙行为实验设置盐度应激组(缢蛏从暂养池取出放进各盐度组开始实验)和胁迫组(缢蛏在各盐度条件下胁迫24 h后开始实验)。结果显示,SZSC的120 h半致死盐度为34.04,ZRSC的120 h半致死盐度为32.04。应激组中,SZSC的半数潜沙时间(BT50)显著大于ZRSC (P<0.05),盐度为24时,SZSC的BT50为4.2 min,显著低于盐度为28和32时的BT50;盐度为32时,SZSC潜沙深度分布更集中,潜沙率为88.33%,显著高于ZRSC(P<0.05)。而在胁迫组,SZSC中BT50显著低于ZRSC,潜沙率显著大于ZRSC (P<0.05)。摄食生理上,除对照组外,SZSC的FR均显著大于ZRSC(P<0.05),SZSC的FR在盐度为24时达到最大值[89.54 mL/(g·h)],显著大于其他盐度组(P<0.05)。研究表明,2个群体的生态行为均会受到盐度的影响,盐度越高,应激反应越强烈,其中,SZSC对高盐环境具有较好的耐受性。本研究从生态行为水平评估了2个缢蛏群体对高盐环境的耐受性,揭示了高盐养殖环境下缢蛏在底泥中的垂直分布情况和摄食能力,研究结果为进一步开展缢蛏耐高盐新品系的选育提供了理论参考。     

Dietary zinc concentration and lipopolysaccharide injection affect circulating trace minerals,acute phase protein response,and behavior as evaluated by an ear-tag–based accelerometer in beef steers

To assess plasma trace mineral (TM) concentrations, the acute phase protein response, and behavior in response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, 96 Angus cross steers (average initial body weight [BW]: 285 ± 14.4 kg) were sorted into two groups by BW (heavy and light; n = 48/group), fitted with an ear-tag–based accelerometer (CowManager SensOor; Agis, Harmelen, Netherlands), and stagger started 14 d apart. Consecutive day BW was recorded to start the 24-d trial (days −1 and 0). Dietary treatments began on day 0: common diet with either 30 (Zn30) or 100 (Zn100) mg supplemental Zn/kg DM (ZnSO₄). On day 17, steers received one of the following injection treatments intravenously to complete the 2 × 3 factorial: 1) SALINE (~2–3 mL of physiological saline), 2) LOWLPS: 0.25 µg LPS/kg BW, or 3) HIGHLPS: 0.375 µg LPS/kg BW. Blood, rectal temperature (RT), and BW were recorded on day 16 (−24 h relative to injection), and BW was used to assign injection treatment. Approximately 6, 24 (day 18), and 48 (day 19) h after treatment, BW, RT, and blood were collected, and final BW recorded on day 24. Data were analyzed in Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effects of diet, injection, diet × injection; for BW, RT, dry matter intake (DMI), plasma TM, and haptoglobin-repeated measures analysis were used to evaluate effects over time. Area under the curve analysis determined by GraphPad Prism was used for analysis of accelerometer data. Body weight was unaffected by diet or injection (P ≥ 0.16), but there was an injection × time effect for DMI and RT (P < 0.05), where DMI decreased in both LPS treatments on day 16, but recovered by day 17, and RT was increased in LPS treatments 6 h post-injection. Steers receiving LPS spent less time highly active and eating than SALINE (P < 0.01). Steers in HIGHLPS spent lesser time ruminating, followed by LOWLPS and then SALINE (P < 0.001). An injection × time effect (P < 0.001) for plasma Zn showed decreased concentrations within 6 h of injection and remained decreased through 24 h before recovering by 48 h. A tendency for a diet × time effect (P = 0.06) on plasma Zn suggests plasma Zn repletion occurred at a greater rate in Zn100 compared to Zn30. These results suggest that increased supplemental Zn may alter the rate of recovery of Zn status from an acute inflammatory event. Additionally, ear-tag–based accelerometers used in this study were effective at detecting sickness behavior in feedlot steers, and rumination may be more sensitive than other variables.     

不同饲养密度对地面平养蛋鸡福利状况和生产性能的影响

试验旨在通过研究地面平养模式下不同饲养密度对蛋鸡行为、外观、血液应激指标及生产性能的影响,筛选保证蛋鸡福利状况及生产性能的最大饲养密度,为我国推广地面平养模式蛋鸡福利养殖奠定理论基础。将780只苏禽绿壳蛋鸡按舍内密度分为四组,其中地面平养分为低密度组(6只/m^2)、中密度组(8只/m^2)、高密度组(10只/m^2),笼养组为对照组,每组3个重复。试验期为18~27周龄,蛋鸡行为学数据均采用视频录像收集,在27周龄末进行翅静脉采血和福利外观评价,统计分析24~27周龄生产性能。结果显示:笼养蛋鸡的产蛋率,攻击、刻板等非福利行为均显著高于平养组(P<0.05),脚垫损伤、羽毛评分、应激激素浓度(CORT、ACTH)显著低于平养组(P<0.05)。地面平养各组间,高密度组蛋鸡料蛋比显著高于低、中密度组(P<0.05);低、中密度组蛋鸡行走和休息时间比例均显著高于高密度组(P<0.05);低密度组蛋鸡啄羽行为显著低于高密度组(P<0.05),但与中密度组差异不显著(P>0.05);低、中密度组蛋鸡脚垫损伤、背羽损伤显著低于高密度组(P<0.05);高密度组蛋鸡血清中CORT和ACTH浓度显著低于低、中密度组(P<0.05)。由此可见,平养蛋鸡比笼养蛋鸡行为表现更积极,羽毛覆盖度更好,但应激水平和足部损伤较高、生产性能较低;在试验场地模式下,推荐8只/m2为最佳饲养密度。     

Effects of preadoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety in newly adopted shelter dogs

Separation anxiety is one of the more prevalent and difficult to treat behavior problems in dogs. The associated behaviors can be undesirable to dog owners and damage the human animal bond, leading to relinquishment or return to an animal shelter. Due to the high prevalence of separation related problems in recently adopted shelter dogs, shelter staff hold a critical role in advising and educating owners on how to prevent separation anxiety post-adoption. The aim of this study was to propose a form of that preventive counseling as a means of preventing the development of separation anxiety in recently adopted shelter dogs. The efficacy of preadoption counseling in the education and prevention of separation anxiety problems was tested in a prospective, randomized, parallel-group study. Participants included 133 new owners of dogs 6 months of age and older. At the time of adoption, sixty-six of these owners were randomly selected to receive five minutes of counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety, while the remaining sixty-seven owners served as the controls. A follow-up survey regarding the signs associated with separation anxiety and other potentially related behaviors was conducted one month post adoption. Results showed that 19 owners reported their dogs as having separation anxiety. There was no significant effect of adoption counseling on the prevention of separation anxiety. Owners in both groups were equally as likely to perform most of the recommendations given during counseling. Dogs that were reported to have separation anxiety were significantly more likely than dogs without reported separation anxiety to show nervous or panicked behavior as the owner prepared to leave (P = 0.0001) and were more likely to be reported as being “needy” (P = 0.031). Having another dog in the home was not protective against the development of separation anxiety. Owners in the counseling group were more likely than those in the control group to put food inside a toy at the time of leaving the dog home alone (P = 0.0001), suggesting the counseling recommendations were indeed followed by the owners. Owner compliance supports the idea that counseling is a useful tool for owners. Separation anxiety is a disorder whose course may be difficult to alter in recently adopted shelter dogs using only basic, interventional information. Brief counseling and a toy do not effectively prevent the occurrence of this complex behavioral condition. Further investigation should be done to find more specific, effective prevention tools for owners to use in the home to minimize the development of separation anxiety and shelter should be prepared to provide interventional resources to owners whose dogs develop separation anxiety despite these efforts.     

Substrate use and postural behavior in free‐ranging snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in Yunnan

Extant colobines represent a predominantly arboreal primate radiation, but there are outliers such as some species of snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus spp.) that utilize both arboreal and terrestrial substrates. We quantified the degree of terrestriality and the distribution of individuals across canopy levels, the extrinsic and intrinsic determinants and constraints of strata association as well as use of postures in relation to behavior and food sources in a wild population of Yunnan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the Samage Forest, China. The subjects spent 80.5% of the observation time in the trees and 19.5% on the ground. Ground use occurred most frequently in the context of travelling (61%) and less often in the context of feeding and resting (30% combined). Adult males frequented the ground significantly more often than other age‐sex classes. Age‐sex differences were also apparent in substrate preferences, which likely reflect body weight constraints. Adult males were significantly more associated with solid substrates and less with terminal branches than adult females and juveniles. Juveniles were seen more often on unstable ground (i.e. on thin and oblique branches) and in the upper canopy. Substrate use also varied with behavior: feeding was much more common in the upper stratum, outer canopy, on highly inclined and thin branches, as compared to resting. Severe weather also influenced canopy use in that tree crowns were used less often during periods of snowfall. The most frequently exhibited resting and feeding postures was sitting. Standing and suspensory postures were most often used in the context of feeding on lichens.     

公鸡斗架及其进化稳定策略

公鸡斗架是常见的一种动物争斗行为,作者通过对公鸡斗架行为的根源、方式和结局的分析,说明公鸡斗架行为是由基因控制的,是自然选择的结果,斗架的本质是繁殖斗争,目的是取得与更多异性交配的机会,留下更多的后代.公鸡斗架的节制性符合进化稳定性策略,在进化上具有重要意义.     

季节对山羊反刍行为的影响

对１６只中卫山羊母羊的青草期和枯草期反刍行为进行观察表明，山羊在青草期，每天（２４ｈｒｓ）有１０个反刍周期，反刍持续总时间为３０４．２分，共反刍４２５．３次，每个食丸在口腔中咀嚼４３．０秒，共咀嚼４６．４次，在枯草期上述指标分别为１１个，４２０．０分，４７２．０次，５３．４秒和５９．６次，季节对山羊反刍行为的影响，本质上决定于羊采食牧草的品质和数量，优质牧草（青草期）能够缩短反刍持续总时间（Ｐ〉０