Population pharmacokinetics of methadone hydrochloride after a single intramuscular administration in adult Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon nippon)

ObjectiveTo assess the population pharmacokinetics of methadone in deer.Study designProspective non-randomized experimental trial.AnimalsTwelve healthy adult sika deer (nine males and three females).MethodsDeer received intramuscular administration of racemic methadone hydrochloride at 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ or 1 mg kg⁻¹. Plasma methadone and its metabolite 2-Ethylidene-1,5-Dimethyl-3,3-Diphenyl-Pyrolidine (EDDP) concentrations were determined by validated liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry methods, at times 0, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours. Population pharmacokinetics analysis was undertaken using a non-linear mixed effects modelling (NONMEM).ResultsA two-compartment linear disposition model best described observed time-concentration profiles of methadone and EDDP. Population parameter estimates of methadone were elimination clearance (17.3 L hour⁻¹), metabolic clearance (34.6 L hour⁻¹), volume of distribution of compartment 1 (216.0 L) and volume of distribution of compartment 2 (384.0 L). Population parameter estimates of EDDP were elimination clearance (121.0 L hour⁻¹), volume of distribution of compartment 3 (1.08 L) and volume of distribution of compartment 4 (499.5 L). The total clearance and total volume of distribution of methadone and EDDP were 51.9 L hour⁻¹, 121.0 L hour ⁻¹, 600.0 L and 500.6 L, respectively. The methadone terminal elimination half-life was 8.19 hours. No adverse effects were observed after methadone administration.Conclusions and Clinical relevanceFollowing intramuscular injection, methadone was characterized by a large total volume of distribution, high systemic clearance and intermediate terminal half-life in sika deer.     

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Cervus elaphus Using AMELY Gene in Y Chromosome

In order to determine the genetic diversity in Cervus elaphus using AMELY gene in Y chromosome,200 blood samples from Cervus elaphus yarkandensis,Cervus elaphus asiaticus,Cervus elaphus xanthopygus,Cervus elaphus songaricus and Cervus elaphus kansuensis populations were collected and AMELY genes were sequenced in this study.The haplotype diversity of Y chromosome was analyed,phylogenetic tree was built to explore the genetic diversity and the paternal origins about Cervus elaphus.The results showed that:Cervus elaphus yarkandensis had the most variation sites and the highest nucleotide diversity.The genetic distance between Cervus elaphus yarkandensis and other Cervus elaphus were far.6 haplotypes were identified in this study,named as A1,A2,A3,A4,A5 and A6,respectively.Cervu elaphus yarkandensis,Cervus elaphus asiaticus and Cervus elaphus kansuensis had separate haplotype.The NJ and ML phylogenetic trees showed that Cervus elaphus songaricus,Cervus elaphus asiaticus,Cervus elaphus xanthopygus and Cervus elaphus kansuensis clustered together which Cervus elaphus yarkandensis and Cervus elaphus kansuensis were form a department,separately.Cervus elaphus asiaticus,Cervus elaphus xanthopygus and Cervus elaphus yarkandensis clustered into one branches and there might be gene exchange among Cervus elaphus yarkandensis,Cervus elaphus kansuensis and other Cervus elaphus.     

Kinematics of whip spider pedipalps: a 3D comparative morpho-functional approach

Amblypygi are tropical and subtropical ambush predators that use elongated, raptorial pedipalps for different activities. Although pedipalp use in predation and courtship has been explored in videography in vivo analyses, kinematic ex vivo examination of these appendages has not been conducted. Here, we rectify this lack of data by using micro-CT scans to 3D-kinematically model the appendage morphology and the range of motion (ROM) of the joints for Damon medius and Heterophrynus elaphus. We illustrate the successful application of this technique to terrestrial euarthropods in determining the maximum ROM values for each pedipalp joint. We also note that, in life, these values would be lower due to motion restricting structures like tendons, arthrodial membranes, and muscles. We further compare our maximum values obtained here with data from video-based motion analyses. The ROM of each joint shows the greatest flexibility in the femur-tibia joint (140–150°), the lowest in the basitarsus-claw joint (35–40°). ROM in the tibia-basitarsus joint is markedly distinct (D. medius: 44°; H. elaphus: 105°). This disparity reflects how H. elaphus uses the joint in the capture basket, while D. medius uses the femur-tibia joint to form the capture basket. We further illustrate notable vertical motion of the H. elaphus pedipalp compared to D. medius. This difference reflects the retro-ventral trochanter apophysis of H. elaphus. Our study opens the possibility to further whip spider kinematic understanding. Examination of other taxa using this approach will result in a more comprehensive understanding of the ecological significance and ethological implications of this unique arachnid group.     

Red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) management in the dehesa system in Central Extremadura,Spain

In this paper we report the results of a study on the suitability of the dehesa (Mediterranean woodlands) as habitat of red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) in a closed country estate of about 4300 ha total surface situated in the San Pedro Mountain, in Central Extremadura, Spain. We have described the deer management with respect to habitat, exploitation mode, deer feeding, population control and production of goods and services. It is concluded that the dehesa system is a rich natural resource that preserves and improves the degraded environment.

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Resumen En el presente trabajo se estudia la dehesa como hábitat del ciervo (Cervus elaphus hispanicus). Se ha tomado como referencia una finca cerrada de 4300 ha de ST situada en la Sierra de San Pedro, en Extremadura, España. Se describen los sistemas de gestión actuales del ciervo en cuanto a hábitat, modo de explotación, alimentación, control de población y producción de bienes y servicios. Concluyendo con la necesidad de fomentar este tipo de explotaciones cinegéticas de dehesa que ayudan a conservar y potenciar el medio ambiente en zonas despobladas y deprimidas

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Abbreviations CS collected surface - DMFCU deedmixed feed cattle units - Fi final inventory - FS fertilized surface - Ii Initial inventory - K Potassium - N Nitrogen - NBF number of breeding females - NBFIi number of breeding females of initial inventory - NBFR number of breeding females released - NBM number of breeding males - NBMIi number of breeding males of initial inventory - NBMR number of breeding males released - NCCR number of captive calves released - NCFi number of calves of final inventory - NCR number of calves released - NFR number of female renovation - NYMR number of young males released - NYFR number of young females released - P phosphorus - PP permanent Pastures - pts pesetas - QS Quercus stalks - RDED resources directly eaten by deer - SPOM selected hunted down poor quality males - SS sowed surface - TN total needs of deer - TNR total number released - UAS useable agrarian surface - WB wooded brush - WQS wooded Quercus surface - WS wooded surface     

清凉峰自然保护区华南梅花鹿种群数量与分布研究

于2006年1—3月,采用雪地足迹计数法和样带法对清凉峰国家级自然保护区内野生华南梅花鹿种群与分布进行调查研究,结果表明,在38条样带中有13条样带发现有华南梅花鹿,这13条样带构成一个狭长地带;清凉峰自然保护区内野生梅花鹿种群最低密度为0．90头／km^2,最高密度为2．79头/km^2,平均密度为1．84头／km^2,种群数量为104（51～156）头。研究揭示,华南梅花鹿主要在海拔800-1200m的范围内活动,栖息地植被类型以草甸和灌丛为主。     

海南坡鹿饲草粗蛋白质和微量元素含量与喜食性的关系

在海南大田国家级自然保护区围栏内,测定海南坡鹿饲草的喜食性;采集坡鹿经常采食的草本植物和灌木各18种,测定其粗蛋白质、铁、锰、锌和铜含量,并分析其与饲草喜食性的相关关系.结果显示,随着粗蛋白质和微量元素含量增加,饲草的喜食性显著提高,海南坡鹿优先摄取粗蛋白质和微量元素含量丰富的饲草.灌木类饲草的粗蛋白质、铁、锰、锌和铜含量分别为12.24%、265.44、61.43、26.72和17.82mg/kg,均显著高于草本类饲草含量(依次为9.39%、142.67、34.05、13.67和9.44mg/kg).灌木是海南坡鹿旱季长达半年多时间里在大田保护区围栏内得以维持平衡的生态营养需要的重要营养源.对海南坡鹿饲草资源量的研究表明,大田保护区围栏内坡鹿喜食的灌木类饲草的可采食资源量在逐步减少,这是由于它们被坡鹿长期选择性采食所导致的.     

东北马鹿茸重性状遗传力和重复力的估测

采用同父异母半同胞组内相关法，对乌兰坝林场７只东北马鹿种公鹿７１只后裔，１９９２～１９９７年９锯时四杈茸鲜重遗传力估测结果为０４０，属高遗传力；采用组内相关系数法，对该场７～１１锯１３只东北马鹿种公鹿锯四杈茸鲜重的重复力估测结果为０６９（Ｐ＜００１），属高重复力，为东北马鹿的纯种选育提供了主要性状的遗传参数。     

塔里木马鹿对生境选择的初步研究

2006年8月和12月,在新疆车尔臣河下游阿克塔孜牧场,对塔里木马鹿夏季和冬季生境的选择进行了研究。选择5类生态因子,并设置290个10 m×10 m样方。选择结果表明,塔里木马鹿喜欢胡杨和芦苇、植被覆盖度较大、水源距离较近和认为干扰距离>1 000 m的环境。其中,夏季多选择芦苇草甸,冬季选择胡杨林和柽柳灌丛。对生境特征的主成分分析显示,前3个主成分的累计贡献率夏季达到71.277%,冬季达到67.925%,可以反映塔里木马鹿的生境特征。同时表明,影响塔里木马鹿生境选择的主要因素依次为人为干扰、植被类型和距水源距离。     

车尔臣河下游塔里木马鹿隔离种群的资源现状与保护

`塔里木马鹿(Cervus elaphus yarkandensis)是国家Ⅱ级保护动物,马鹿是众多亚种中分布于荒漠地区的特殊亚种之一。其分布范围十分狭小,仅分布于塔里木河中下游和车尔臣河下游地区。塔里木马鹿野生资源由于其栖息地的不断缩小和片段化,以及长期以来屡禁不止的乱捕滥杀现象而日趋减少。文中为了查明车尔臣河下域野生塔里木马鹿种群资源,2007年2月10日至20日,采用截线抽样法对塔里木马鹿种群进行了研究。在车尔臣河下游塔它让乡从大湖到阿克塔孜牧场,共计调查25条样线,其中10条截线中发现马鹿塔里木亚种17头,截线总长度100km。塔里木马鹿种群平均密度为0.1022±0.0351头/km2,栖息地面积730.762km2,马鹿总数为26±75头,即49头至101头左右。同时根据塔里木马鹿目前面临的问题提出保护措施。     

广东省水鹿的分布格局与保护对策*

水鹿（Cervus equinus）保护及其生境的规划需要明确其在不同空间尺度的分布格局而采取相对应的措施。该文基于实地调查和文献资料分析,研究了广东省水鹿在省级和保护区级两种空间尺度下不同生态功能区的分布格局。结果表明,在广东省,水鹿主要分布于南岭中亚热带常绿阔叶林生物多样性保护与水源涵养生态区,其分布区域属省级生态功能区,生境质量较好,保护地位重要;在车八岭国家级自然保护区,水鹿多活动于人为干扰大的缓冲区与实验区,保护程度有待提高。建议以自然保护区为节点基础,开展就地保护;在条件较好的保护区之间建设大型生态廊道,增加破碎化生境的连通性,加强水鹿个体交流;同时应在保护区实施“全区覆盖”式管理,特别是在缓冲区和实验区严格控制人为干扰,加强对水鹿及其生境的巡护管理。