Nest site selection and aspects of the reproductive biology of the pygmy sculpin (Cottus paulus) in Coldwater Spring, Calhoun County, Alabama

Abstract – Imperiled pygmy sculpins are known from only one locality in Alabama, USA. One conservation strategy for the species is the creation of another population by introducing the species into a suitable habitat. Before such action is considered, however, an understanding of the life history, including reproductive biology and habitat use, of the species must be obtained. In this study, nesting of pygmy sculpins was found to peak in July, although the species has an extended reproductive period. Preferred nesting sites had higher flow and shallower water depth than the surrounding habitat. Pygmy sculpins readily used artificial nest substrates that were introduced into the spring run, where natural nest substrate was uncommon. ^Note     

Effects of landscape composition, habitat features, and nest distribution on predation rates of simulated turtle nests

We investigated predation of simulated turtle nests in an effort to understand how land-use patterns and the availability of nesting habitat may affect turtle recruitment in a region where human populations and associated development are increasing. Simulated nests were patterned after those created by painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), a common aquatic turtle in our study area, and distributed in four patterns (clustered and near pond, scattered and near pond, clustered and far from pond, and scattered and far from pond) around 36 ponds. Landscape composition (500-2000 m from pond perimeters) and habitats surrounding pond edges (an area extending 250 m from the shore of each pond) were then compared with rates of predation at each pond. Nest-site characteristics also were compared to the fate of individual nests. Landscape composition and habitats surrounding ponds apparently had little influence on predation rates. Nest distribution and the immediate habitat features associated with each nest did affect vulnerability to predation. Clumped nests were preyed upon at a higher rate than scattered nests, and nests close to ponds (within 50 m) were more vulnerable to predators than those created far (100-150 m) from a pond. Counter to our expectations, proximity to edge habitats (other than the shore of a pond) reduced the probability that a nest would be detected by predators. Also, nests placed near roads and suburban lawns had a reduced likelihood of predation whereas those placed in agricultural areas or disturbed sites had a greater probability of being preyed upon. Our results suggest that predation of simulated turtle nests may be a consequence of their distribution and location relative to the foraging activities of common nest predators, especially raccoons (Procyon lotor). Efforts to enhance recruitment among declining populations of turtles should consider the abundance and distribution of nesting habitat. Providing additional nesting sites away from predator foraging habitats may reduce nest predation and increase the recruitment of hatchlings into a population.     

打开箱盖对中华蜜蜂巢温的影响

在19－26℃气温条件下，打开箱盖后30min内，蜂巢内各点的温度变化有所不同。打开箱盖后蜂路上部巢温下降，蜂路上部各测定点巢温4－14min后开始回升，然后巢温波动变化。边蜂路上部巢温波动幅度比中蜂路大。与打开箱盖前比较，边蜂路上部巢温最多下降1.0-4.5℃，中蜂路上部下降0.1-2.9℃。平均巢温边蜂路上部为26.4-34.2℃，中蜂路上部为27.1-34.9℃。蜂路中部各点巢温打开箱盖后也下降，但比上部的巢温下降的程度较小，仅为0.1-1.8℃。中部平均巢温边蜂路为28.5-34.3℃；中蜂路为32.1-35.5℃。蜂路下部巢温，边蜂路下降0.3-1.7℃，中蜂路相对稳定，仅下降0.1-0.6℃。蜂路下部平均巢温，边蜂路为29．5－34.9℃，中蜂路为33.2-36.3℃。     

Effects of human disturbance on nest placement of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus): a case study from the Middle Atlas,Morocco

The woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) is a common and widespread bird in Morocco (North Africa). I examined, over 2 years (2010 and 2011), the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest site habitat and degree of human disturbance. The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest, Morocco, in a disturbed and an undisturbed site. Using data collected in the 2 study sites, I aimed to identify the factors influencing the placement of nests within holm oak trees (Quercus rotundifolia) and their densities. I found that habitat structures, influenced by grazing disturbance, have affected nesting density and the location of nests of this species. Woodpigeons place their nests in a higher position (3.42 ± 0.19 m) when disturbance intensity is high and lower (1.68 ± 0.1 m) when disturbance intensity is low, and show higher nesting density in less disturbed zone (3.1 ± 0.4 nests/ha) than in highly disturbed zones (1.4 ± 0.2 nests/ha). Grazing disturbance could pose a threat to population persistence at a broader scale and could potentially reduce the abundance of this species by altering the composition and the structure of the forest nesting habitat. Further multi‐scale studies are needed to assess the effects of different levels of grazing disturbance on woodpigeon nest density and placement, and to enhance our knowledge of the breeding behavior of this game species under variable environments.     

两种孵化方法对泥鳅孵化效果的比较研究

为比较孵化方式对泥鳅孵化效果的影响,试验采用4mg DOM＋3μg LHRH-A2对泥鳅进行催产,将所产卵子进行人工授精后,采用西北农林科技大学安康水产试验示范站自制溢水式孵化桶与水泥池置入40目绢纱布网箱两种方法对泥鳅受精卵进行去巢流水式孵化和鱼巢附卵孵化。在pH7.0~7.5、水温24~26℃的条件下,以孵化时间和孵化率探讨两种孵化方式对泥鳅孵化的影响。结果去巢流水孵化的孵化时间和孵化率为（30.52±0.89）h、（92.25±0.84）%;鱼巢附卵孵化的孵化时间和孵化率为：（38.56±1.04）h（、88.97±0.78）%。表明去巢流水孵化显著优于鱼巢附卵孵化。     

窝箱不同加热方式与仔貂成活关系的研究

试验研究窝箱不同加热方式对1~7 d仔貂生长性能的影响,选择了150只已成功交配的一岁母貂(标准黑貂),平均体重为( 1084.2±169.6) g,随机分成5组,每组30只,分别是对照组(无加热无笼网结构)、试验Ⅰ组(底部电热板19 ℃)、试验Ⅱ组(底部电热板15 ℃)、试验Ⅲ组(笼网结构加热10 ℃)、试验Ⅳ组(笼网结构不加热,＜10 ℃)。结果表明,各组间产仔个数、出生活仔数、出生成活率、7 d活仔数无显著差异(P>0.1),但7 d成活率各组间差异极显著(P<0.01),Ⅰ组7 d后的仔兽成活率显著高于Ⅲ组,而与其他各组间虽差异不显著,但均高于其他各组,Ⅲ组妊娠天数要明显高于其他组(P<0.01),而其他各组间差异不显著;Ⅰ、Ⅱ组的仔貂聚集度要明显低于其他各组,Ⅰ组混合度最高(20.8%),Ⅱ组的仔貂分散度最高(26.34%),Ⅳ组的仔貂分散度最低(4.55％);对照组的营救时间最短(5.24 s),明显低于其他各组。综合以上各项指标得出对于1~7日龄仔貂,窝箱底部电热板加热方式要优于笼网结构加热,当底部加热至19 ℃时,对仔貂成活最有利。     

Effects of group size on performance,health and birds’ use of facilities in furnished cages for laying hens

A total of 1584 Lohmann Selected Leghorn hens were kept in 144 modified cages furnished with—perch, nest and sandbath for 5, 6, 7 or 8 hens per cage or in 162 conventional cages for 4 hens. Cage floor area was 600 cm² per hen excluding nest and sandbath. Doors to nests and sandbaths were time monitored. Production, mortality, exterior egg quality, health, integument and the birds use of facilities were registered from 20 until 80 weeks. No effects of group size or keeping system on production or mortality were detected, but the furnished cage gave more cracked and less dirty eggs than the conventional cage. Hens in the furnished cage had better plumage condition, less toe pad hyperkeratosis, shorter claws, less rear body wounds and stronger humerus, but dirtier feet than hens in the conventional cage. Hens in the larger group sizes had the dirtiest feet. In the furnished cage, on average, 86% of all eggs were laid in the nests and 0.6% in the sandbaths. The rolling out efficiency from nests was best in the larger group sizes. During night less than 0.5% of the hens stayed in the sandbath and less than 2% stayed in the nest. Average use of perches was 28% during the day and 91% at night. Hens in the small group sizes used the sandbath most. Dust‐bathing behaviour also occurred on the wire floor.     

Food choice and diet of the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus in southern Africa

When offered a selection of food items, bearded vultures Gypaetus barbatus in southern Africa chose bones in preference to meat or to feeding from a fleshed carcass. Once a carcass had been stripped of soft tissue by Gyps vultures, bearded vultures disarticulated sections or individual bones (depending on the size of the dead animal) in the order: limbs, ribs, vertebrae, skull. Their overall diet was estimated as 70% bone with marrow, 25% meat and 5% skin. This diet is about 15% higher in energy than an equivalent mass of meat. Of 683 identified prey items from five sources of data, over 80% consisted of domestic livestock; about 60% of this was sheep and goats. Even birds nesting within conservation areas derived more than half of their food from domestic stock which they found by foraging over adjacent commercial and subsistence farming areas. Bearded vultures obtain all their food by scavenging, and reports of attacks on live animals and even humans are rejected.     

骨顶鸡(Fulica atra)繁殖季节炫耀台与巢的差异研究(英文)

2008年和2009年4月至6月在黑龙江省安邦河自然保护区和大庆龙凤自然保护区调查了骨顶鸡(Fulica atra)的繁殖种群。研究发现骨顶鸡繁殖季节在领域内会建造炫耀台,平均每对建造3.1个(2–7)。与巢相比,炫耀台结构简陋,隐蔽性较差,距水面高度显著低于巢,但两者巢下水深差异不显著。炫耀台主要用于休息、理羽和交尾,也用于储存食物。繁殖季节,巢的建造一般晚于炫耀台,巢建成之后对炫耀台的使用率下降,骨顶鸡在巢上的交尾次数高于炫耀台。我们比较了不同繁殖阶段雌雄骨顶鸡对巢和炫耀台的使用率差异,结果显示雌性对巢的使用率高于炫耀台,雄性对炫耀台的使用率高于雌性,表明雌性对繁殖投入更大,雄性对领域保护投入更大。由于骨顶鸡在繁殖季节具有领域性,炫耀台在领域边界的确认和识别中可能扮演重要角色。     

番鸭呼肠孤病毒套式RT-PCR检测方法的建立及应用

根据GenBank上发表的鸭呼肠孤病毒基因组序列,利用生物学软件设计合成内外2对引物,建立了检测番鸭呼肠孤病毒(Muscovy duck reovirus,MDRV)的套式RT-PCR检测方法,并运用建立的检测方法对分离病毒与其他禽病病毒进行检测。结果显示,该方法能从MDRV中扩增到与预期大小相符的特异性目的片段,检测灵敏度达到0.1 pg病毒RNA,对禽呼肠孤病毒(avian reovirus,ARV)、鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV)、番鸭细小病毒(Muscovy duck parvovirus,MDPV)、鹅细小病毒(goose parvovirus,GPV)、鸭病毒性肝炎病毒(duck hepatitis virus,DHV)等病毒样品的扩增结果均为阴性。因此,本研究为番鸭呼肠孤病毒病的快速检测及诊断研究提供参考。