Brown bear conservation and the ghost of persecution past

Large carnivores, such as brown bears, are focal species for conservation efforts. Historically, brown bears were persecuted in Europe for centuries before their gradual elimination from much of Western Europe. In contrast, large carnivore populations in North America were eradicated within two centuries in the east and within a few decades in the west. After a change towards conservation-oriented management in the 20th century, many bear populations are again increasing on both continents. Europe is seemingly less suited (i.e. higher human densities, greater habitat alteration and landscape fragmentation) than in North America, however bears seem to respond faster to conservation measures in Europe. We analyzed ecological and historical factors that may affect differences in reproductive allocation (mean litter size in relation to mean adult female body mass) and help explain why different brown bear populations react differently to conservation measures. The results indicated that mean litter size increased significantly with mean adult female body mass and a long persecution history. Our results suggest that high and long-term rates of nonselective harvesting can change life-history traits of large mammals, as has also been shown by modeling, but only has been documented for morphological traits. Incidentally, this “ghost of persecution past” may have helped some brown bear populations to be more productive and therefore to respond more positively to protective management policies than populations with short exploitation histories.     

马来熊的研究现状及保护对策探析

马来熊是国家Ⅰ级保护动物,其生物学信息缺乏,也缺乏科学的保护和管理对策。本文通过回顾关于马来熊的研究文献,对其研究现状进行总结归纳,并针对种群分布现状提出科学保护和管理对策。关于马来熊的研究主要见于野生种群现状、野外生态及圈养种群的饲养管理等,其中野外生态主要集中于生境选择利用、家域特征、行为节律、食性等,需要进一步深入研究其个体生态学或种群生态学规律。针对马来熊的保护和研究现状,应采取加强立法、推行宣教、提高公众保护意识;加强基础科学研究;建立保护区、缓冲区及森林廊道等以恢复其栖息地等措施来有效保护其野生种群。     

复合酶制剂对蛋鸡产蛋性能及蛋白粘稠度的影响

选择 37周龄健康无病商品代罗曼蛋鸡 2 88只 ,随机分成试验组和对照组 ,每组 1 44只 ,两组基础日粮和饲养管理相同 ,试验组添加复合酶 1kg·t- 1 ,试验期 5周。试验结果表明 :在蛋鸡饲料中添加复合酶 ,能显著提高产蛋率、饲料利用率、蛋白粘稠度和经济效益 ,同时对增加蛋壳厚度也有一定的效果     

Agronomical and nutritional evaluation of quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as an ingredient in bread formulations

Quinoa is an Andean seed crop of many potential uses. In 2009 a field trial was carried out to explore the potential for quinoa growing in climatic conditions of South Eastern Europe. Even under rainfed conditions, without fertilization, a seed yield as high as 1.721 t ha⁻¹ was obtained. Seed quality was remarkably good, with protein content ranging from 15.16 to 17.41 % on a dry weight basis, depending on whether seeds were processed. Amino acid and mineral composition revealed the potential of quinoa seeds as a valuable ingredient in the preparation of highly nutritious foods. Quinoa seeds had higher contents of most essential amino acids, especially lysine, than wheat flour. Dehulled quinoa seeds, devoid of saponins, were included into wheat bread formulations, with up to 20%, which resulted in a positive effect on the rheological characteristics of dough. Furthermore, protein content in bread was increased by around 2%. Sensory characteristics of breads were excellent also at the 20% supplementation level. The study of bread supplemented with quinoa seeds could enable the development of a range of new baking products with enhanced nutritional value.     

Overview of the structure and the challenges of Japanese wildlife law and policy

Japan has a variety of laws to conserve and manage wildlife and biodiversity. This article reviews Japanese laws from conservation of endangered species to the fish and game code, and indicates the issues and challenges they face. It then discusses the issues and challenges for management in the application of the laws.The Japanese statute for conservation of endangered species corresponds to the US Endangered Species Act in appearance, but is much more limited in application and scope. There is no legal channel, such as lawsuits, to assure citizens’ and experts’ input. With respect to general species, management of fish and animals are divided; the fish code’s scope is limited to fishery purposes. Control of wildlife damage is the biggest emphasis in the wildlife code. Reform to bring principles of scientific management into pest control has begun, but conventional culling is still the norm.Japan’ wildlife and fish management is distinctive in relying upon local resource users, instead of on a strong regulatory agency. This is a consequence of traditional communal management, and is apparent in coastal fisheries. The depopulation and exhaustion of rural communities, however, makes it difficult to rely on the community for management. In particular, wildlife management, which relies on aging hunters, is facing a turning point. To address these changes, agencies must be strengthened and lawmakers must enact a mechanism to assure sound science in wildlife policy, while working to revitalize rural communities.     

亚洲黑熊(Ursusthibetanus)血型检测

本试验旨在分析亚洲黑熊（Ursusthibetanus）是否具有不同血型。采集中国福建省的40只亚洲黑熊全血样本,使用试管法检测黑熊的血型抗原及血型抗体,抗体的同种型使用2-巯基乙醇鉴定,并对黑熊血浆进行质谱分析。4只黑熊的血浆中检出抗体,该抗体可能是IgM型,可凝集30只亚洲黑熊的红细胞。10只亚洲黑熊血液使用人类血型试剂检测,4只黑熊具有类似人类O型血型,6只具有类似人类B型血型。质谱结果显示,黑熊血清蛋白与大熊猫（Ailuropodamelanoleuca）血清类白蛋白同型异构体1（serum albumin-like isoform 1）有很高同源性。上述结果提示,亚洲黑熊具有至少1个血型系统,该系统至少具有2种血型。如果患病黑熊需要接受输血治疗,交叉配血试验是必需的。此外,在紧急情况下,大熊猫可接受亚洲黑熊血液。     

Detection and prevalence of four different hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in Eastern North Carolina American black bears (Ursus americanus)

Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. are globally emerging, obligate parasitic, epierythrocytic bacteria that infect many vertebrates, including humans. Hemoplasma infection can cause acute life-threatening symptoms or lead to a chronic sub-clinical carrier state. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. transmission, prevalence, and host specificity are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular prevalence of Mycoplasma species in blood from 68 free-ranging black bears from the eastern coast of North Carolina. DNA amplification of Mycoplasma 16S rRNA gene identified four distinct species infecting 34/68 (50%) of the black bear blood samples, including Candidatus M. haematoparvum. The high prevalence of hemotropic Mycoplasma infection in this wildlife species highlights the importance of understanding intra and inter species transmission. Black bears may play a role in the transmission of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. between animals, arthropod vectors, and humans. Further studies are needed to elucidate black bears as a potential reservoir for hemotropic Mycoplasma infections.     

Fine-Scale Movements and Spatial Behaviors of Bear Hunters: Combining GPS With Survey Methods

Traditionally, information on hunter behavior has been obtained from questionnaires, which are useful, but provide limited information on spatial movements and behaviors. We used a global positioning system (GPS) to track movements of black bear hunters and determine if harvest success was influenced by effort (e.g., time spent afield) and spatial behaviors (e.g., distance traveled from roads). Furthermore, we used mail questionnaires to determine whether hunter perceptions of space use and effort differed from reality (GPS data). Most spatial variables did not differ between hunters and study area averages, indicating that hunters did not select for landscape characteristics differently than expected based on availability. The questionnaires were generally unreliable in describing space use, as hunters overestimated distance traveled from roads and underestimated distances traveled while afield. Studies should consider GPS to obtain more accurate assessments of behaviors while afield. When combined with questionnaire information, GPS data can reveal correction factors to improve spatial behavior estimates.