Association between porpoise presence and fish choruses: implications for feeding strategies and ecosystem-based conservation of the East Asian finless porpoise

The associations between feeding activities and environmental variables inform animal feeding tactics that maximize energetic gains by minimizing energy costs while maximizing feeding success. Relevant studies in aquatic animals, particularly marine mammals, are scarce due to difficulties in the observation of feeding behaviors in aquatic environments. This data scarcity concurrently hinders ecosystem-based fishery management in the context of small toothed-cetacean conservation. In the present study, a passive acoustic monitoring station was deployed in an East Asian finless porpoise habitat in Laizhou Bay to investigate potential relationships between East Asian finless porpoises and their prey. The data revealed that porpoises were acoustically present nearly every day during the survey period. Porpoise detection rates differed between spring and autumn in concert with activities of fish choruses. During spring, fish choruses were present throughout the afternoon, and this was the time when porpoise vocalizations were the most frequently detected. During autumn, when fish choruses were absent, porpoise detection rates decreased, and diurnal patterns were not detected. The close association between fish choruses and finless porpoise activities implies an “eavesdropping” feeding strategy to maximize energetic gains, similar to other toothed cetaceans that are known to engage similar feeding strategies. Underwater noise pollution, particularly those masking fish choruses, could interrupt finless porpoises’ feeding success. Fisheries competing soniferous fishes with finless porpoise could impact finless porpoise viability through ecosystem disruption, in addition to fishing gear entanglement.     

Metabolizable energy intake of client‐owned adult cats

A retrospective analysis of the metabolizable energy (ME) intake of privately owned pet cats from the authors’ nutrition consultation practice (years 2007–2011) was carried out to test whether current recommendations are suitable for pet cats. Data of 80 adult cats (median age: 9.0 years, median deviation from ideal weight: +22.5%, majority neutered) at maintenance were available. Six percentage of the cats were healthy and the others were affected by various chronic diseases. A standardized questionnaire was used, cat owners weighed cat and food. For ration calculation, the software Diet Check Munich^? was used (ME prediction according to National Research Council, 2006: Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academy Press, Washington, DC). Data were analysed for the factors deviation from ideal weight, breed, age, gender, disease and type of feeding [prepared food (dry, wet) vs. home‐made]. Over‐ or underweight were defined as ≥15% deviation from ideal body weight (BW) according to Kienzle and Moik (British Journal of Nutrition 2011, 106, Suppl 1: S113). Cat owner's estimation of ideal BW was higher than literature data from Kienzle and Moik (2011). Based on literature data, 26.3% of the pet cats were normal weight, 63.7% overweight and 10% underweight. The mean ME intake of all adult cats amounted to 0.40 ± 0.14 MJ/kg actual BW^0.67 (n = 80). When the data were analysed according to normal, over‐ and underweight, there was a significant effect with normal weight cats eating 0.46 MJ/kg BW^0.67. Underweight cats ate even more (0.49 MJ/kg BW^0.67), whereas overweight cats ate considerably less (0.36 MJ/kg BW^0.67). The other factors had no influence on ME intake of adult cats.     

猪饲料有效能值预测模型的构建

为探索饲料常规成分及碳水化合物组分与饲料有效能值之间的关系方程,本研究以NRC第11版《猪营养需要量》中发布的122套饲料营养成分表为基础,将饲料中11种基础成分[6项常规成分:干物质、粗蛋白质(CP)、粗纤维(CF)、粗脂肪(EE)、酸性醚提取物、粗灰分(ash);5项碳水化合物组分:淀粉(ST)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、半纤维素、酸性洗涤木质素]作为自变量,将饲料中的消化能(DE)、代谢能(ME)及净能(NE)作为因变量,采用SAS软件中的REG过程,分别建立不同性质饲料、自变量的不同组合与DE、ME及NE之间的回归关系方程,并以相关系数(R2)及变异系数(CV)作为评价回归模型的优劣。研究表明,有效能值与CP、ST及纤维类指标显著或极显著相关(P0.05或P0.01)。将所有饲料作为研究对象时,饲料的DE、ME及NE与上述11种基础成分之间建立的普适性回归模型预测效果较差。当将14种玉米及其加工产品形成子集时,建立饲料基础营养成分与DE、ME及NE的关系方程分别为7、6和7套(P0.05),且3组回归模型R2分别为0.632 8~0.772 3、0.646 9~0.684 9和0.670 5~0.822 1,CV分别为6.61%~8.40%、6.58%~7.34%和6.21%~8.27%;当将13种大豆及其加工产品形成子集时,共建立饲料基础成分与DE、ME关系方程分别有3和4套,回归模型R2分别为0.907 1~0.926 9、0.890 7~0.922 3,CV分别为5.40%~6.09%、5.79%~6.78%,NE与基础营养成分指标之间无法建立具有营养学意义的有效回归方程。对于同类饲料中具有相同自变量组合的DE及ME预测模型而言,两者之间的差异主要是自变量CP的系数上,且CP部分对ME的正效应低于DE,这保证模型预测的ME低于DE。同时选用本研究构建的适宜模型,补充了NRC第11版成分表中第97(去皮大豆粕,低寡糖,浸提)、101(全脂大豆,高蛋白质)及102号(全脂大豆,低寡糖)饲料的DE值分别为15.99、17.35、17.27 MJ/kg,ME值分别为14.53、16.15和16.14 MJ/kg。综上,以NRC(2012)饲料营养成分表为基础,建立的普适性有效能值回归模型预测效果较差。按照玉米类和大豆类进行分类,可建立DE、ME和NE与饲料化学成分之间的多元回归方程,其中最优的预测因子为CP、EE、ST、ash、NDF、ADF。具有相同自变量的同类饲料DE和ME预测模型之间的差异是CP系数,CP影响DE转化为ME的效率。     

一水肌酸对杜浙猪肉质性状、肌肉磷酸原代谢、纤维类型特征及蛋白质溶解度的影响

本文旨在研究饲粮添加一水肌酸(CMH)对杜浙猪肉质性状、肌肉磷酸原代谢、纤维类型特征及蛋白质溶解性的影响。试验选取体重70 kg左右杜浙猪30头,随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复3头猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂基础饲粮+0.5%CMH,试验期30 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,饲粮添加CMH对杜浙猪生长性能无显著影响(P0.05),使背最长肌宰后24 h p H和剪切力显著增加(P0.05),滴水损失和压榨损失显著降低(P0.05),背最长肌的肌酸(Cr)总量、磷酸肌酸(PCr)储备量、肌酸激酶(CK)活性、白蛋白及肌原纤维蛋白溶解度显著增加(P0.05),背最长肌肌球蛋白重链(My HC)Ⅱa mRNA比例显著降低(P0.05)。结果提示,饲粮添加CMH对杜浙猪肉质性状具有调控作用,对肌肉磷酸原代谢能力、蛋白质溶解度及肉品系水力产生显著影响。     

内蒙古地区暖棚养羊的必要性和太阳能采暖的应用

内蒙古大部分地区的严寒季节长达6~7个月,受寒冷气候条件的影响,散养羊生长缓慢,饲料消耗量增加,掉膘现象严重,产羔率和羔羊成活率也受到严重影响,大大降低了养羊的经济效益。建筑暖棚不仅能提供充足的热能,还可防止羊只掉膘。但是,常用的取暖方式以燃烧木材、煤或羊粪砖为主,存在着污染环境的隐患,并会受资源短缺的限制。太阳能作为一种新能源,是人类可以利用的最丰富的能源,可以就地开发利用,不存在运输问题,是一种洁净的能源,不会造成污染和公害。因此,利用太阳能采暖和暖棚养羊能够推动畜牧业向健康、高效、资源节约的合理方向发展。     

Effects of dietary energy level on lipid metabolism‐related gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue of Yellow breed × Simmental cattle

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of dietary energy level on lipid metabolism‐related gene expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue in Yellow breed × Simmental cattle. The experiment was conducted for 60 days. The results showed that final weight, average daily gain, average backfat thickness, (testicles + kidney + pelvic) fat percentage and subcutaneous fat percentage in the high and medium energy groups were significantly higher than in the low‐energy group but that the feed conversion ratio was significantly lower. The glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein in the high‐energy group were significantly higher than in the low‐energy group. With dietary energy increasing the activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) significantly increased, whereas hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 (CPT‐1) significantly diminished. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ), LPL, FAS, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP‐1), ACC, stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) and adipocyte‐fatty acid binding proteins (A‐FABP) gene expression were significantly increased by dietary energy increasing, and HSL and CPT‐1 gene expression were significantly decreased. These results indicated that with dietary energy increasing, the subcutaneous fat accumulation mainly increased due to adipose tissue lipogenic gene expression and decreased lipolytic gene expression.     

Effects of Feeding Different Dietary Crude Protein and Digestible Energy to Yili Mares during Late Lactation Stage on Growth Development and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Foals

In this paper, thirty Yili mares aged 11 to 12 years with weighing 410 kg ± 30 kg, parity of 4 to 5 in third lactation month were selected, and were randomly divided into six groups, each group with five repeats.Two factors quadratic regression orthogonal rotational combination design was adopted to evaluate the effects of feeding different dietary CP and DE to mares on growth development and blood biochemical parameters of foals.Daily DE and CP feeding levels of the 6 groups were 92 MJ/d and 1.20 kg/d, 125 MJ/d and 1.20 kg/d, 92 MJ/d and 1.55 kg/d, 107 MJ/d and 1.35 kg/d, 125 MJ/d and 1.44 kg/d, 115 MJ/d and 1.55 kg/d, respectively.The results showed that body weight, body height, chest circumference and cannon circumference of foals of four and five months were not significant affected by maternal protein and energy intake (P>0.05).As compared with ration contained high DE (125 MJ/d) and low CP (1.20 kg/d), feeding with ration contained moderate DE (107 MJ/d) and CP (1.35 kg/d) improved body length of foals of four and five months significantly (P<0.05).From the blood biochemical parameters, such as total protein, albumin, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, there were no significant differences among all groups (P>0.05).Mares fed with ration contained moderate DE (107 MJ/d) and CP (1.35 kg/d) obviously improved the aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid level.In summary, Yili mares during lactation late stage fed with 1.35 kg/d CP and 107 MJ/d DE daily could significantly improve body length development of foals, and foals nitrogen metabolism was altered by maternal dietary nutrition through increasing blood aspartate aminotransferase activity.     

Bats as the main prey of wintering long‐eared owl (Asio otus) in Beijing: Integrating biodiversity protection and urban management

The loss of biodiversity from urbanized areas is a major environmental problem challenging policy‐makers throughout the world. Solutions to this problem are urgently required in China. We carried out a case study of wintering long‐eared owls (Asio otus) and their main prey to illustrate the negative effects of urbanization combined with ineffective conservation of biodiversity in Beijing. Field monitoring of owl numbers at two roosting sites from 2004 to 2012 showed that the owl population had fallen rapidly in metropolitan Beijing. Analysis of pellet contents identified only seven individuals of two species of shrew. The majority of mammalian prey comprised four bat and seven rodent species, making up 29.3% and 29.5% of the prey items, respectively. Prey composition varied significantly among years at the two sample sites. At the urban site the consumption of bats and rodents declined gradually over time, while predation on birds increased. In contrast, at the suburban site the prey composition showed an overall decrease in the number of bats, a sharp increase and a subsequent decrease in bird prey, and the number of rodent prey fell to a low point. Rapid development of real estate and inadequate greenfield management in city parks resulted in negative effects on the bird and small mammal habitat of urban areas in Beijing. We suggest that measures to conserve biodiversity should be integrated into future urban planning to maintain China's rich biodiversity while also achieving sustainable economic development.     

长安嘉华居住小区环境设计分析

在充分考虑现代居住小区以人为本、生态设计思想的基础上,本文对长安嘉华居住小区道路系统、景观系统、植物配置等进行了介绍。并对小区各个组成部分的园林特色进行了分析。     

基于林分状态特征的森林经营试验样地设计新方法

传统田间试验设计方法如顺序设计、拉丁方设计以及随机区组设计方法在很大程度上考虑了林分立地、土壤或肥力等方面的差异,但没有关注立地之上的"试验对象即林分"的状态差异,加上其有限的随机过程和缺失量化的目标函数等缺陷,从而谈不上是优化的试验设计,无法保证试验开始前处理间林分状态特征的一致性。本文提出了一种全新的森林经营田间试验优化设计方法——基于林分状态特征的完全随机优化设计,并将其应用于甘肃小陇山锐齿栎天然林的森林经营田间试验设计中。基于林分状态特征的完全随机优化设计得到小区排列方案,其处理间林分状态特征参数的差异均小于5%,优于传统田间试验设计方法,能确保试验林分状态的一致性。利用R语言实现该优化设计并使其可以在计算机上自动得到最佳的小区排列方案,提高了森林经营田间试验的精度,为科学试验的开展奠定了坚实的理论基础。