Modelling the influence of seasonal inter-habitat movements by an ecotone rodent

I assessed the long-term effects of seasonal inter-habitat movements for a common rodent, Microtus californicus, using matrix models tailored to demographic data obtained on populations living at the marsh-grassland ecotone. Three stochastic models were used to simulate the seasonal and spatial dynamics of this system, with the purpose of determining: (1) the growth rates of populations living in single versus a two-habitat landscape; and (2) if the amount, direction, and seasonality of rodent movements between the two habitats may impact these growth rates. The results indicated that grassland populations could be self-sustaining, but that isolated marsh populations would rapidly decline. Importantly, 98% of the two-habitat simulations yielded growth rates greater than those seen in the grassland model, with populations benefiting the most by movements from marsh into grassland at the end of the dry season. This study demonstrated that movements between marsh ‘sink’ and grassland ‘source’ habitats can potentially increase long-term population growth due to seasonal, inter-habitat differences in resource availability.     

艾虎气味对根田鼠行为和繁殖的影响(英文)

本文主要利用艾虎（Mustila eversmanni）气味作为捕食风险源，于1997年4月至12月在中国科学院西北高原生物研究所生态学实验室，研究其对根田鼠（Microtus oeconomus）社会行为、觅食、繁殖和性激素的影响。结果表明，当暴露于艾虎气味中时，根田鼠产生繁殖迟滞，且交配行为的频率显著降低(P<0.01)。与对照组相比较，雌体亲密行为和两性一般动作的累积时间显著增加（P<0.01）。两性一般动作（P<0.01）、探究活动（雌体：P<0.05；雄体：P <0.01）和自我修饰（P <0.01）的频次显著降低。同时，根田鼠能量的摄入（P<0.05）和体重（P<0.01）都显著降低。雌体的卵巢指数和胎仔重量也显著降低（P<0.01），雄体的附睾精子数则极显著降低（P<0.01）。艾虎气味条件下，根田鼠雌体的血清孕酮显著增加（P<0.01）。     

布氏田鼠种群生产力的研究

1994～1995年通过对内蒙古太仆寺旗典型草原的布氏田鼠（Microtusbrandti）采用野外标志重捕法（CMR）研究该鼠种群生产量的特点、种群的个体周转率（θN）、繁殖生长生产量（P＝Pr＋Pg）和生长一存活曲线（G－SCurve）等数量化指标分析布氏田鼠对草原初级生产力的作用。     

东方田鼠精子及冷冻复苏精子体外受精的研究

本文采用Nakagata法,对东方田鼠精子及冷冻复苏后的精子进行体外培养、体外受精,结果显示:东方田鼠精子浓度约为106～108个·μL-1,精子活力冷冻前约为20%～80%,冷冻后约为1%～50%,精子经冷冻复苏后的体外受精率为10%～50%,与冷冻前的体外受精率80%～95%相比,差异显著。     

日本血吸虫新基因SjPP的筛选、克隆及对小鼠的免疫效果

【目的】筛选克隆东方田鼠血清识别的日本血吸虫靶抗原基因，并研究其免疫保护效果。【方法】利用东方田鼠感染血清免疫筛选日本血吸虫（中国大陆株）成虫cDNA表达文库获得阳性克隆，以5′ RACE技术扩增获基因全长序列，构建含目的基因的核酸疫苗并研究在小鼠中的免疫保护效果。【结果】（1）获得4个日本血吸虫新的EST序列，即mfs-1（GenBank登录号BE974942）、mfs-3（GenBank登录号BE974944）、mfs-4（GenBank登录号BE974945）和mfs-5（GenBank登录号BE974946）。（2）mfs-5进行全长序列克隆，获得的日本血吸虫新基因SjPP(GenBank登录号AY902477)长1311 bp, 编码302个氨基酸，理论分子量为34.7 kD，等电点为5.51；其氨基酸序列具有丝/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酶（serine/threonine specific protein phosphatase，简称PP）的保守序列LRGNHE，并且含有该酶特异性抑制剂冈田酸的作用位点SAPNYC，与人的PP6、鼠PP6、果蝇PPⅤ等蛋白的氨基酸序列具有高度同源性，分别达72%、70%和70%。（3）成功构建核酸疫苗pCMV-Script／SjPP，免疫BALB/c小鼠诱导产生肝组织减卵率为23.91%，粪便减卵率为31.91%。【结论】（1）获得日本血吸虫新的抗原基因SjPP。（2）含SjPP基因的核酸疫苗在小鼠中诱导了部分免疫保护效果。     

An efficacy test of cholecalciferol plus diphacinone rodenticide baits for California voles (Microtus californicus Peale) to replace ineffective chlorophacinone baits

California voles cause damage to pastures and rangelands, orchards and nurseries, and a wide variety of field crops, including artichokes. The anticoagulant rodenticides (chlorophacinone and diphacinone) typically used for voles are becoming less effective in controlling their populations. Consequently, there is a need to identify new rodenticides that will have a high efficacy on California voles so that agricultural production losses to rodents can be substantially reduced. We tested a new formulation containing two active ingredients (cholecalciferol and diphacinone) as a control method for California voles. Both a pelleted bait and an oil-coated artichoke bract bait were very palatable and efficacious against wild-caught, captive California voles. Efficacy levels of 70%–80% were achieved in the two-choice feeding trials. Additionally, the days-to-death (5–6 days) were less than the time-to-death with anticoagulant only baits. We recommend that a field efficacy study be conducted with cholecalciferol plus diphacinone bait formulations to determine their field performance in the reduction of agricultural damage by California voles.     

Reducing sodium fluoroacetate and fluoroacetamide concentrations in field rodent baits

Laboratory trials were carried out in order to establish the minimum active ingredient (a.i.) concentration of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) and of fluoroacetamide (1081) in wheat baits employed againstMicrotus guentheri, the Levant vole, andMeriones tristrami, Tristram’s jird, without interfering with the toxicants’ efficacy. Using a mixture of treated and untreated grain enabled a greater reduction in the a.i. concentration compared with that which could be achieved whenall the grains offered contained a lower a.i. concentration of the toxicants. ForM. tristrami the lowest efficient final a.i. concentration in the bait was 0.0125% for 1080 mixed bait (1:4 mixture of 0.05% poison grains with filler grains) and 0.01% for 1081 mixed bait (1:10 mixture of 0.1% poison grains with filler grains); and forM. guentheri — 0.005% mixed bait of 1080 or 1081 (1:10 mixture of 0.05% poison grains with filler grains). This leads to a reduction of the hazards involved in the use of prepared baits of these toxicants in the field.     

Effects of fitch odor (Mustila eversmanni) on behavior and breeding of root voles (Microtus oeconomus)

From April to December in 1997 at Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, the effect of predation risk on social behavior, feeding, reproduction and sexual hormones of the root voles (Microtus oeconomus) was studied when the root voles (Microtus oeconomus) were exposed to the odor of fitch (Mustila eversmanni). The results showed that the root voles delayed breeding period and the frequency of the copulation significantly lowered (P<0.01). Comparing with the control group, the accumulated time of amicable behavior in females, and general activity of both sexes increased significantly (P<0.01). The frequencies of general activity (P<0.01), investigating activity (females:P<0.05, males:P<0.01), and self-grooming (P<0.01) of both sexes were less significantly. At the same time, the amount of energy intake (P<0.05) and body weight (P<0.01) of the root voles decreased significantly. The litter weight and ovary index of females decreased (P<0.01). For males the sperm count in epididymides also decreased significantly (P<0.01). The progesterone in the blood serum of root voles females increased significantly under fitch odor (P<0.01). Biography: WANG Zhen-long (1971-), male, lecture in Department of Biology, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, P.R. China Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

Habitat fragmentation,vole population fluctuations,and the ROMPA hypothesis: An experimental test using model landscapes

Increased habitat fragmentation leads to smaller size of habitat patches and to greater distance between patches. The ROMPA hypothesis (ratio of optimal to marginal patch area) uniquely links vole population fluctuations to the composition of the landscape. It states that as ROMPA decreases (fragmentation increases), vole population fluctuations will increase (including the tendency to display multi‐annual cycles in abundance) because decreased proportions of optimal habitat result in greater population declines and longer recovery time after a harsh season. To date, only comparative observations in the field have supported the hypothesis. This paper reports the results of the first experimental test. I used prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, and mowed grassland to create model landscapes with 3 levels of ROMPA (high with 25% mowed, medium with 50% mowed and low with 75% mowed). As ROMPA decreased, distances between patches of favorable habitat (high cover) increased owing to a greater proportion of unfavorable (mowed) habitat. Results from the first year with intensive live trapping indicated that the preconditions for operation of the hypothesis existed (inversely density dependent emigration and, as ROMPA decreased, increased per capita mortality and decreased per capita movement between optimal patches). Nevertheless, contrary to the prediction of the hypothesis that populations in landscapes with high ROMPA should have the lowest variability, 5 years of trapping indicated that variability was lowest with medium ROMPA. The design of field experiments may never be perfect, but these results indicate that the ROMPA hypothesis needs further rigorous testing.     

东方田鼠感染日本血吸虫前后血常规和血清生化指标的动态变化

东方田鼠具有天然抗日本血吸虫病特征,为了探索东方田鼠抗日本血吸虫机制,本研究分析了东方田鼠和小鼠感染日本血吸虫尾蚴前后血液细胞以及生化指标的动态变化。东方田鼠和BALB/c鼠定量感染日本血吸虫尾蚴,于感染后第0、1、3、5、8、12、16、21、28、35、42 d分别采集抗凝血和血清,进行血常规和血清生化分析。血常规检测结果表明,东方田鼠感染后第3~16 d,WBC数量显著升高(Neu数量显著升高),而小鼠血常规检测结果正常;血清生化结果显示,东方田鼠感染日本血吸虫后ALB、HDL-C显著升高,小鼠各指标变化不明显。本研究结果显示东方田鼠天然免疫细胞Neu和血清ALB可能与其抗日本血吸虫特性相关,对补体杀伤日本血吸虫机制研究具有重要的指导意义。