Reproductive traits of the Ryukyu long-furred rat (Diplothrix legata) on Okinawa-jima Island

The Ryukyu long-furred rat, Diplothrix legata, is a large rodent distributed only on Amami-ohshima Island, Tokuno-shima Island and Okinawa-jima Island, Japan. This animal is endangered as a result of deforestation, predation by introduced carnivores and mortality caused by vehicles. We performed theriogenological examinations of 32 male and 25 female Ryukyu long-furred rats carcasses collected from wild populations on northern Okinawa-jima Island from December 2005 to September 2013. Adult males had remarkably large preputial glands. Seminiferous diameter of adult was significantly small (136 ± 28 µm, n=8) from April to August. Numerous spermatozoa were observed from September through February, and seminiferous diameter was significantly large (216 ± 27 µm, n=12) during this time in adults; testes length changed in a similar pattern. These findings indicate that the mating season may occur from September through February. Size (body length) at sexual maturity was estimated to be >560 mm in both sexes. From observation of corpora lutea and placental scars, litter size was estimated to range from 2 to 12 (average=6, n=4). These results provide fundamental knowledge that will be beneficial for in situ and ex situ conservation of this rare species.     

Effect of horizontal advection induced by intrusion of the Kuroshio water on plankton biomass in the spring fishing period of shirasu on the Pacific coast of Japan

ABSTRACT:   This study explored the fundamental process that controls interannual change in plankton biomass on the Pacific coast of Japan, focusing on the spring period of shirasu fishery. A 1-D model of primary production revealed that the strength of horizontal advection induced by warm water intrusion from the Kuroshio into the Pacific coast is the most critical for plankton biomass compared with other factors such as diffusion and production. This conclusion was also confirmed by a sensitivity analysis of the model.     

Water velocity in artificial habitats of the Japanese crayfish Cambaroidesjaponicus

ABSTRACT:   The appropriate water velocity in artificial burrows for theJapanese crayfish species Cambaroides japonicus was studied.An experimental system of two artificial burrows (burrows A and B)of the same size was set in a large tank. The velocity of burrowA was 0 cm/s and that of burrow B was varied andset at 0 cm/s, 5 cm/s, 10 cm/s,20 cm/s and 30 cm/s. The selectionof these two burrows by C. japonicus was observed. No animalsselected burrow B significantly more than burrow A above 10 cm/s.At 20 cm/s, some crayfishes were swept away andcould not return to burrows because of the high water velocity.At 30 cm/s, most animals were swept away. We concludethat the appropriate water velocity for the suitability of artificialburrows and the immediate foraging area adjacent to the burrowsshould be as low as 5 cm/s.     

内蒙古中东部野生扁蓿豆种子硬实性的研究

扁蓿豆是抗逆性极强的优良牧草,但其种子发芽率低,具有65 %～75 %的硬实。在恒温25℃时发芽率较高,在变温20 ～30℃时发芽率最高,若温度超过30℃或低于15℃时发芽被抑制,但短时间高温处理有利于促进发芽。采用机械或浓硫酸处理,发芽率分别比对照高40.6 %和45.6 %。野生种子的硬实率与采集地气温,特别是与7月份温度有着很高的正相关关系,而且不同产地的种子表现出较大的差异,以赤峰市北部采到的居群硬实率最高,比呼和浩特市采集的居群高9 %。随着储藏年限的推移,种子的硬实率不断下降,发芽率增加,储藏3.5年的种子发芽率达到了67.0 %,表明扁蓿豆种子采集后通过室温储藏可以达到提高发芽率的效果。     

The Effects of Frequent Electroejaculation on the Semen Characteristics of a Captive Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Artificial insemination (AI) can help to avoid inbreeding and genetic degeneration for sustaining genetically healthy populations of endangered species in captivity. Collection of a sufficient quantity of viable sperm is an essential first step in the AI process. In the present study, we examined the effects of frequent electroejaculation on semen characteristics in a Siberian tiger. We collected semen in all 17 trials during 6 breeding seasons (6 years). The mean number of sperm and the percentage of motile sperm were 294.3 ± 250.2×10⁶/ejaculate and 82.4 ± 11.4%, respectively. The number of motile sperm tended to increase during frequent electroejaculation in the same breeding season. Semen collection by electroejaculation can be performed effectively up to the fourth sequential ejaculate, which contained the most sperm in the study. In conclusion, frequent collection of sperm by electroejaculation from tigers may be effective for collection of a large number of motile sperm.     

水旱轮作大豆的营养生长与根系活力的关系

大豆是实行水旱轮作制度的重要作物之一,水田的排水不良是导致轮作大豆减产的重要原因.通过对水旱轮作大豆幼苗进行过湿处理,分析了不同大豆品种的营养生长特性与根系生理活性的关系.轮作大豆在过湿条件下,所有品种的生育都受到抑制,干物质生产受抑制程度存在着品种间的差异.营养生长诸性状中,伤流速度受过湿处理影响最大,处理区的伤流速度仅为对照区的64.2%.过湿处理导致伤流液中氮含量几乎减少了一半,伤流中的氮含量与叶片氮素含量之间存在极显著正相关关系,过湿条件下叶片氮含量的减少是由于根的氮素吸收能力的低下所致.遭遇过湿逆境时的植株个体大小与维持物质生产关系密切.过湿处理期间及其后的干物质增加量的大小与以伤流速度为代表的根系活力密切相关,说明从田间管理技术上提高大豆的根系活力以维持水旱轮作大豆的干物质生产是可行的.     

Differences in food availability for Japanese sardine larvae between the frontal region and the waters on the offshore side of Kuroshio

The availability of food for larvae of the Japanese sardine, Sardinops melanostictus , was investigated in the Kuroshio frontal region and the waters on the offshore side of the Kuroshio, the Pacific coast of central Japan, in March 1990 and 1991, respectively. Food availability was assessed by changes in biomass and production of nauplii and small copepods, and RNA/DNA ratios of the larvae during about 2.5 days (the frontal region) or 3 days (the offshore waters) of tracking a drifter released in a pitch of the larvae. The biomas of the nauplii tended to increase with time in the frontal region and to decrease in the waters on the offshore side of the Kuroshio during the drifter tracking periods. The production of small copepods including nauplii in the waters on the offshore de of the kuroshio was 14% of that in the frontal region. The sum of the mean food requirements of the carnivorous macrozooplankters and sardine larvae was 11% of the production of small copepods including nauplii in the frontal region, compared with 136% in the waters offshore of the Kuroshio. The RNA/DNA ratios of postlarvae smaller than 8 mm in the frontal reqion were significantly higher than those in the waters on the offshore side of the Kuroshio ( P < 0.001) It is considered that the food availability for sardine larvae was relatively high in the frontal region and low in the waters on the offshore side of the Kuroshio. The food availability for the larvae probably deteriorated with the offshore shift of the main spawning ground from the frontal region to the waters on the offshore side of the Kuroshio in the latter half of the 1980s.