Effect of Season on Travel Patterns and Hoof Growth of Domestic Horses

Four Morgan mares and five Morgan geldings ranging in age from 5- to 12-years-old were fitted with Global Positioning System units to determine if season has an influence on travel pattern. Body and hoof growth measurements were obtained so that the influence of season on body condition and hoof growth could be determined. Waist and heart circumference, cresty neck score, and body condition score were determined in each season. The ambient temperature and precipitation was recorded for each season. Waist circumference was the greatest (P < .05) in the spring and summer and the least in the fall and winter. Hoof growth was the greatest (P < .05) in the fall and the least in the winter. The front and rear hooves grew at similar rates in all horses. Hoof growth in geldings and mares were also similar. The average distances traveled were similar across seasons; however, the horse did numerically travel more in the spring and summer compared with the fall and winter. The range of the travel pattern was influenced by season with the horses traveling significantly less in the winter, although the average travel distances were similar. In conclusion, season in temperate zones will influence body condition, hoof growth, and pattern of travel, but the total distance traveled will be similar. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the influence of season on hoof growth and travel patterns.     

Stress Reactivity and Coping in Horse Adaptation to Environment

“Coping” or “coping strategy”, defined as the behavioral and physiological efforts of animal to master the situation, is more and more in interest of researchers dealing with applied animal behavior and welfare. Knowledge about “coping styles” may be helpful in understanding individual adaptive capacity to stressful events. At least two types of animal coping strategy (or coping style) can be involved: (1) active copers (proactive) and (2) passive copers (reactive). The individual differences in stress response to threatening situations have been found in horses, and these animals can show specific coping strategies such as other species. This article reviews the set of behavioral, psychoneuroendocrine, and psychoneuroimmune mechanisms involved in animal adaptation to environmental challenges and discusses the relationship between behavioral and physiological factors involved in stress response of the horse. Exploring coping strategies in horses and in any captive animal can be successful when a multidimensional approach including behavioral, neural, hormonal, and hematological measures is considered. Knowledge on stress coping styles can provide valuable information to predict the behavior of individuals during response to specific challenging situations. Moreover, assessing individual differences in adaptation strategies can be useful in horse selection to different exploitation tasks and reproduction.     

基于信息行为研究的虚拟知识空间——泛在知识环境下高校图书馆服务模式新探

泛在知识环境给高校图书馆建设与服务带来了一定的冲击,同时与带来了机遇,促使高校图书馆深入调研科研用户的需求,通过对科研用户信息行为的把握,更好地为用户服务。针对泛在知识环境下高校图书馆服务,笔者基于信息行为的研究,结合学科热点信息共享空间(IC),构建出虚拟知识共享空间,从理论方面介绍泛在知识环境、信息共享空间,从实践可能性分析信息行为研究主导下的虚拟知识共享空间服务对高校图书馆的价值。     

基于成本—收益理论的社会医疗保险欺诈问题研究

通过引入成本—收益理论,对社会医疗保险制度中的欺诈问题进行研究,比较该制度中各参与主体的成本、收益构成,分析各影响因子对欺诈与反欺诈行为的影响,研究表明:欺诈与反欺诈行为受行为成本、行为收益大小的制约,且有其相应的约束条件。在此基础上,提出了相应的反欺诈对策。     

Behavior and mortality of caught-and-released bonefish (Albula spp.) in Bahamian waters with implications for a sustainable recreational fishery

Bonefish (Albula spp.) are a widely distributed group of morphologically indistinguishable marine fish species, that provide a recreational sport fishery, that is important for many local economies. Although the majority of angled bonefish are released following capture, little is known about their behavior or post-release survival. Using ultrasonic transmitters and small visual floats, we assessed behavior and mortality of bonefish following catch-and-release angling at spring water temperatures (25.5-27.3 °C) in two regions of the Bahamas with differing shark abundances. All observed mortality occurred within 30 min of release and was a direct result of predation by sharks. In the low shark abundance areas, all released bonefish survived, whereas in the high shark abundance areas, some mortality (39%) was observed. Exhaustively angled fish exposed to air had problems maintaining equilibrium following release. These fish typically spent substantial periods of the first 30 min post-release remaining stationary, then moved in rapid bursts. The results of this study, highlight the benefits of angling and releasing bonefish quickly, minimizing handling and particularly air exposure. Furthermore, when shark predation threat is high, anglers should avoid releasing bonefish in the immediate area. The conservation of exploited recreational bonefish fisheries will depend upon the development and dissemination of science-based catch-and-release strategies.     

Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus latirostris, respond to approaching vessels

Florida manatees inhabit shallow coastal and estuarine waters of the southeast US, a range that brings them into frequent contact with vessels. More than 30% of documented annual mortalities are attributed to vessel collisions, and most living animals bear the scars of multiple, non-lethal encounters. To document the behavior of manatees in the presence of vessels, we recorded their movements with an overhead video system. We scored six aspects of behavior during 170 vessel approaches, and compared their behavior with 187 control segments when no boats were present. Manatees in shallow waters and at the edge of the channel responded to approaches by orienting towards the nearest deep water, a boat channel, and increasing their swimming speed. Close boat approaches and shallow water depths exacerbated these responses. Our results indicate that manatees detect and respond to approaching vessels with an apparent flight response, a response which includes movement towards deeper water. If given sufficient time, i.e., approached or passed slowly, the manatees may then be able to reach deeper water and safe depths.     

梅花鹿的生态生物学研究进展

梅花鹿（Cervus nippon）隶属偶蹄目鹿科,是濒危级珍稀保护动物,主要分布在黑龙江、吉林、江西、浙江、安徽、四川和甘肃省等地。总结了梅花鹿的分类与分布、种群密度和结构、生境选择、行为、繁殖、食性以及生存现状,提出了相应保护对策。     

Acoustic stimulation as a tool in African wild dog conservation

A 9-year study of the African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, was conducted in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, primarily in Colophospermum mopane woodland and Combretum thicket. A protocol using both playbacks and human simulations of long distance calls was developed to facilitate radio-collaring operations and data collection. Wild dogs were known to be in the area prior to each trial (n=32). Dogs approached calling stations in 84% of trials from distances up to 2-km. When dogs hooed (n=18; eight packs and one group), they approached the stimulus in all but one trial. Mean time to approach was ca. 13.9±2.6 min. (n =11 trials, range 1-56 min). Findings demonstrate that playbacks are an effective conservation tool particularly where road networks are limited and/or thick habitat restrict off-road driving. Potential application lies in park boundary areas where snaring occurs and in translocations from areas of high wild dog/human conflict to refuges. In dense habitat or less traveled areas, this technique, in conjunction with other methods, may prove useful in population surveys.     

Research on Growth Behavior of Embryos for Bovine and Murine on Primary Murine Embryos Fibroblast Cell Feeder Layer

The difference in growth behavior between bovine embryos and murine embryos was studied on PMEF(primary murine embryos fibroblast)feeder layer. The results showed as follows: With embryos having attached, bovine embryonic trophoblast formed a transparent membranous structure covering on inner cell mass (ICM), however, murine embryonic trophoblast formed disc structure. Bovine embryos formed four kinds of ICM colonies with different morphology including the mass-like, the net-like, the stream-like and the mixture-like colonies. Compared with Murine ICM, the bovine ICM grew more fast. So, the bovine ICM was passaged at first after a culture of approximately 5 - 6 days in vitro, but murine ICM was passaged at first after an attachment of 3 - 4 days on PMEF feeder layer. The mixture colonies of bovine ICM differentiated very early, while the others differentiated very late. Most ICM-like mass of Bovine grew in a defined spot, but bovine ICMs like stream and ICMs like net proliferated fast and dispersed quickly. We found that the single blastomeres derived from late bovine morula and late murine morula formed sub-blastophere; moreover, the bovine ICM cell would differentiate rapidly if the trophoblast was removed.     

农民信息意识对农民行为的影响分析——以江苏省仪征市为例

农民的信息意识决定农民对科技信息的采纳行为。文章通过对江苏省仪征市11个乡镇的实地调查结果,将农民信息意识划分为信息认知、信息情感、信息行为倾向三个发展阶段,总结概括出弱信息意识被动型、弱信息意识主导型以及强信息意识主导型三种农民信息意识对农民行为的影响机制。在此基础上,提出了四种从农民信息意识出发引导农民行为改变的模式:科技培训模式、行为诱导模式、专业化服务模式以及市场化服务模式。