半散养条件下野驴幼仔行为发育与时间分配初步研究

利用随意取样法、瞬时扫描取样法和全事件记录法,笔者于2006年8月到11月在呼和浩特市大青山野生动物园对刚出生半散养蒙古野驴（Equus hemions）幼仔的昼间行为与时间分配进行了观察。结果表明：半散养条件下,蒙古野驴幼仔的卧息、站立、母幼联系等行为的时间分配随周龄的增加而减少。摄食行为的时间分配随周龄的增加而增加,运动行为的时间分配先增加而后降低。     

圈养丹顶鹤幼鸟的行为发育

为了研究圈养丹顶鹤幼乌的行为发育规律,为今后的丹顶鹤保护以及再引入工程提供有价值的资料,2011年6～9月,采用目标动物取样法和瞬时扫描取样法,在扎龙自然保护区对6只笼养丹顶鹤幼乌进行了研究.研究了圈养丹顶鹤幼乌生长发育过程中的行为谱及其变化和日间行为规律的变化.结果表明,随着周龄的增加,幼鸟的休息行为时间分配随着周龄的变化明显减少,游走、取食、理羽和警戒行为的时间分配随着周龄的变化有所增加,而玩耍行为的时间分配先逐渐增大然后减少并稳定.最后,圈养丹项鹤幼乌的各行为时间分配分别为:游走14.83％、休息16.8％、取食29.08％、理羽15.33％、警戒13.75％、玩耍9.41％.     

不同饲养条件下梅花鹿母性行为的初步研究

2006年5~8月,以圈养和半散放条件下分娩梅花鹿为研究对象,采用目标动物取样法和行为取样法对梅花鹿母性行为时间分配进行观察,分析仔鹿不同日龄及不同饲养条件下母鹿母性行为差异,探讨梅花鹿母性行为优劣,以指导梅花鹿饲养管理及遗传繁育。结果表明:在统计的5种母性行为中,随仔鹿日龄增加,母鹿母性行为时间分配逐渐降低,且1~7日龄和其它2个日龄段的母性行为都存在显著差异。至仔鹿35日龄时,母鹿母性行为表现很低或不表现。不同饲养条件下,母鹿授乳行为、寻找张望行为及中断哺乳行为差异不显著,而跟随行为、舔舐与修饰行为则存在显著差异。综合分析认为,仔鹿1~7日龄时段是母鹿母性行为时间分配的关键时期,母鹿在半散放条件下母性行为优于圈养条件。     

不同饲养条件下家兔行为时间分配及活动规律的差异比较

为了研究不同饲养条件下家兔行为时间分配和活动规律,试验随机选取48只家兔,采用全事件取样法和目标动物观察法对散养和笼养家兔行为的时间分配和活动规律进行比较研究。结果表明:在行为时间分配方面,笼养家兔的休息、修饰和啃咬行为极显著高于散养家兔(P0.01);而散养家兔运动和其他行为则极显著高于笼养家兔(P0.01);笼养家兔摄食行为时间显著高于散养家兔(P0.05)。在活动规律方面,笼养条件下休息有三个高峰期(06:00—07:00、12:00—13:00和17:00—18:00),摄食和运动有两个明显高峰期(分别在07:00—08:00和14:00—15:00),修饰和啃咬行为两个高峰期比摄食高峰期稍滞后1 h;而散养条件下休息、修饰和啃咬无明显高峰期,只有摄食和运动在06:00—07:00和17:00—18:00时出现了两个明显高峰期。说明笼养和散养条件下家兔的行为时间分配及日活动规律存在较大差异。     

獭兔内脏器官发育规律研究

对相同条件下饲养的不同年龄(出生、1周龄、2周龄、3周龄、4周龄、5周龄、6周龄、8周龄、12周龄、成年)獭兔进行屠宰,测定内脏器官,结果表明:獭兔内脏器官发育具有不均衡性,肝脏和心脏的相对重量在出生时就接近成年,肠道长/体长随日龄的增加而增长,12周龄后达到基本稳定,而盲肠则在8周龄后基本稳定;2周龄仔兔胃内缺乏游离的盐酸,3周龄仔兔胃内已经出现游离的盐酸.6周龄后幼兔胃内的pH稳定在2.01～2.28.     

蒙古野驴的人工饲养和繁殖

以江苏省淮安市樱花园（苏北野生动物园）人工饲养的一对蒙古野驴为研究对象,对其在人工饲养条件下的日粮组成、饲养环境、日常管理、常见疫病防治及繁殖育幼情况进行了初步探讨,以期为今后蒙古野驴在人工饲养条件下的饲管、繁殖工作提供一定的参考。该对蒙古野驴出生于1997年,于2003年由南京红山森林动物园引入,分别于2007年2月及2009年6月各繁殖一胎,共2仔,均成活。     

罗威纳仔犬行为特性观察

本研究是对4窝0～45日龄的22只罗威纳仔犬全天24h以监控录像的方式记录犬舍内仔犬的行为,定量分析各种行为每日出现的频率、时间和每次的持续时间。研究表明,仔犬的睡眠行为每日出现的频率和时间随仔犬日龄增加而逐渐下降,仔犬的环境适应能力、衔取能力、运动能力等行为是随仔犬日龄增加而增强,等级意识是在仔犬有独立能力时开始形成的。     

罗威纳仔犬行为特性观察

本研究是对4窝0～45日龄的22只罗威纳仔犬全天24h以监控录像的方式记录犬舍内仔犬的行为,定量分析各种行为每日出现的频率、时间和每次的持续时间。研究表明,仔犬的睡眠行为每日出现的频率和时间随仔犬日龄增加而逐渐下降,仔犬的环境适应能力、衔取能力、运动能力等行为是随仔犬日龄增加而增强,等级意识是在仔犬有独立能力时开始形成的。     

不同季节对半散养黑冠鹤(Balearica pavonina)行为的影响

2014年4~12月,对北方森林动物园从非洲引进的半散养黑冠鹤17只,采用目标取样法和扫描法相结合的方法对其行为进行观察和对比研究。研究结果表明:不同季节对黑冠鹤行为时间分配有明显的影响,觅食行为表现为差异性显著(P≤0.05),护理行为、静栖行为、警戒行为、鸣叫行为、打斗行为表现为差异性极显著(P≤0.01),其他行为表现为差异性不显著。8月不同天气对黑冠鹤行为时间分配的影响表现为:静栖行为表现为差异性显著(P≤0.05),觅食行为、护理行为、游走行为表现为差异性极显著(P≤0.01),其他行为表现为差异性不显著。对比冬季笼养和春季半散养黑冠鹤的行为时间分配研究发现,由于场地大小不同,其行为也存在差异:其中觅食行为、静栖行为、警戒行为表现为差异性极显著(P≤0.01),护理行为表现为差异性显著(P≤0.05),其他行为表现为差异性不显著。因此不同季节对黑冠鹤行为有很大的影响。     

圈养幼鬣羚生长发育及行为初步研究

对5只鬣羚幼仔(2♀3♂)在非麻醉状态下测量了体尺与体重,并进行了行为观察.鬣羚幼仔出生至50日龄体重、体长、后足长、肩高、胸围、耳长和尾长均随幼仔日龄增加呈增长趋势,日增重平均值0.24 kg,相对增长194％,生长系数为3.01,至50日龄时体重增长了2倍.观察发现,幼仔17日龄采食树叶,55日龄出现爬跨行为.研究结果显示,幼仔平均55日龄学习爬跨行为,为其自身独立生活与成年后的繁殖后代奠定了基础,因此在圈养条件下过早地隔离将不利于鬣羚饲养.5月龄时幼仔与母亲有争抢食物的行为,因而此时可将幼仔与母兽分开.     

Effects of starch and fibre in pelleted diets on nutritional status of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns

To compare the effects of a low-starch, high-fibre diet [LSHF; 51.6% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 3.0% starch, 14.8% crude protein (CP)] and a high-starch, low-fibre diet (HSLF; 33.3% NDF, 20.0% starch, 19.6% CP) on the nutritional status of captive exotic ruminants, 16 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were fed one of these two diets ad libitum with ≤25% alfalfa hay cubes from 10 days to 68 weeks of age. During five sampling periods beginning in November and spaced 6-12 weeks apart thereafter, feed intake, rumen and blood chemistry, faecal scores, growth and body condition were measured. Dry matter intake, digestible energy intake, time spent ruminating and feeding and blood acetate concentration were greater for deer fed LSHF (p < 0.05 for all). Lower dietary CP led to reduced blood urea nitrogen for deer consuming LSHF (p = 0.004). Deer had the same faecal scores, growth and body fat among treatments (all p > 0.05). These findings show pelleted diets with less starch, more fibre, and reduced protein met the energy and protein requirements of growing mule deer, a medium-sized browsing ruminant, as well as traditional grain-based diets while more closely mimicking natural forages and stimulating a more natural feeding behaviour.     

Fermentation Capacity of Fecal Microbial Inocula of Przewalski Horse,Kulan, and Chapman Zebra and Polysaccharide Hydrolytic Activities of Fecal Microbial Constituents (Ciliates and Bacteria) of Kulan and Chapman Zebra

We examined fermentation capacity of fecal microbial inocula of Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), Asian wild ass - kulan (Equus hemionus hemionus), and Chapman zebra (Equus quagga chapmani) in vitro. Interactions of the substrates (amorphous cellulose, wheat straw, meadow hay, xylan from oat spelt, and ground barley grain) and type of fecal inocula in the gas volume and in vitro dry matter digestibility were detected in all substrates after 72 hours of fermentation in five replicates for each substrate and type of inocula. No effects of fecal inocula sources were detected on total short-chain fatty acids concentrations. No live fecal ciliate population was present in kulan feces. Complex ciliate populations in zebra feces and the number and genera resembled ciliates from the colon of horses. Fresh feces of kulan and zebra were fractionated by galvanotaxis and centrifugation to separate fecal ciliates and bacteria. Specific activities (μmol of reducing equivalents/mL min mg protein) of carboxymethyl cellulase (CM-cellulase), xylanase, α-amylase, and inulinase were measured in crude cell-free extract of fecal ciliates (zebra), fecal bacteria (zebra and kulan), and total fecal preparation (zebra and kulan). All examined specific enzymatic activities were present in zebra fecal samples. We were unable to measure the inulinase activity and CM-cellulase activity in kulan fecal samples. Zebra ciliates are actively involved in the digestion of plant storage (α-amylase, 0.53 ± 0.02; inulinase, 1.77 ± 0.01, specific activities) and structural polysaccharides (CM-cellulase, 0.4 ± 0.15; xylanase, 0.26 ± 0.06). For the first time, we measured inulinase activity in intestinal ciliates.     

Tolazoline-induced apnea in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Eighteen mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and six Columbia black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) were held in pens and repeatedly anesthetized from April 2004 through June 2005 as part of an external parasite study. Deer were anesthetized using a combination of Telazol and xylazine hydrochloride (HCL) administered intramuscularly. Tolazoline HCL was slowly administered at 4 mg/kg intravenously to reverse the effects of xylazine with good results. For 17 of the 19 mule deer anesthesias in the fall of 2004, a mean dose of 7.3 mg/kg of intravenous tolazoline (range 6.1-8.4 mg/kg) was given by mistake. This paper describes clinical signs of apnea, muscle tensing, and fasciculations immediately following intravenous administration of tolazoline HCL in mule deer (O. hemionus) at 1.5-3 times the recommended dose. Mean dose for black-tailed deer during this time was 8.1 mg/kg (range 5.5-12.4 mg/kg) with no clinical signs as seen in the mule deer. Based on these findings, intravenous tolazoline use in mule deer is recommended at < or = 4 mg/kg.     

Effects of an 'enrichment feeder' on behavior and feather conditions of caged laying hens

The objective of this study was to compare the behaviors and feather conditions of caged laying hens fed by two different types of feeders. Seven tennis balls were placed on the feed trough to hide the feed for each of 6 experimental cages (treatment B). The same feed troughs without balls were used for 6 control cages (treatment NB). Forty-eight commercial white leghorn type hens were housed as 4 birds per cage (474 cm² per bird). The experimental period was from 22 to 32 weeks of age. At 28 weeks of age, the hens spent more time feeding in treatment NB (35%) than in B (27%). On the other hand, prefeeding behavior (extension of the neck over the trough or pecking at the balls) occupied more time in B (14%) than in NB (6%). The birds in B spent more time thrusting (thrusting other birds aside and trying to eat) than did the birds in NB (2 vs 0%). At 32 weeks of age, the mean proportion of hens feeding and prefeeding behavior in both treatments was similar to those at 28 weeks of age; however, differences of the behavior between the B and NB were relatively small. Feather damage on a scale of 0 (no damage) to 15 (denuded) increased with age, and the scores in B were less than those in NB at 27 weeks (0.75 vs 1.37), although not at 32 weeks. Egg production in the two treatments was the same, and the type of feeder used did not affect body weight. This device might provide hens with a more attractive environment than the conventional feeders; however, the enrichment feeder might need more improvement for the welfare of caged laying hens.     

Surveillance for selected bacterial and toxicologic contaminants in donated carcass meat fed to carnivores.

Wildlife Safari, a zoo located in Winston, Oregon, has fed donated carcass meat as a diet to carnivores for over 30 yr. Carcass meat is an alternative to commercially prepared meat. Donated meat arrives at Wildlife Safari as an entire animal. Cattle (Bos taurus), horse (Equus caballus), deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) have been donated. Bacterial testing was performed on site with the use of Neogen Reveal immunosorbent assays. Testing focused on Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and Escherichia coli 0157:H7. Twenty-five meat samples were randomly selected from 50 meat samples for the bacterial detection tests. Twenty-eight percent of the meat samples were positive for Salmonella spp. (n = 25). One sample was positive for Listeria spp. None of the meat samples were positive for Escherichia coli O157:H7 (n - 25). Thirty-two meat samples were analyzed off site for organic contaminants with the use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at Michigan State University's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Specific organic contaminants tested for were barbiturates, phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine, and xylazine. None of the meat samples were found to have evidence of these or any other common organic toxicants. As monitored, carcass meat appears to be a reasonably safe food source for carnivores.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)

Deer are considered important intermediate hosts for the coccidian parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. Antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii were determined in sera of 42 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) and 43 black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) from Washington state, USA, using direct agglutination test with specific antigens. A titer of 1:25 was considered diagnostic for both parasites. N. caninum antibodies were found in 7 of 42 mule deer and 8 of 43 black-tailed deer. T. gondii antibodies were found in 14 black-tailed deer but not in any of the mule deer. This is probably the first report of seroprevalence of N. caninum in these hosts.     

驴Zfx基因CDS序列克隆及序列分析

本研究旨在克隆驴Zfx基因CDS序列,并对其进行生物信息学分析。根据GenBank中公布的牛Zfx基因mRNA序列（登录号：D84097.1）设计特异性引物,利用RT-PCR技术获取驴Zfx基因CDS序列,并对驴Zfx基因CDS区核苷酸序列和蛋白质结构进行生物信息学分析。结果表明,驴Zfx基因CDS区序列长度为2 403 bp,编码800个氨基酸;驴与马、牛、家犬、白犀牛、马鹿、猫、人、绵羊、黑猩猩的Zfx基因CDS区核苷酸序列同源性分别为99.6%、95.0%、95.3%、97.9%、93.5%、94.9%、95.0%、95.7%和94.9%。对驴及其他9种哺乳动物Zfx基因CDS区的核苷酸序列构建系统进化树,结果显示,驴与马亲缘关系很近,与白犀牛的亲缘关系次之;同时又与聚在一类的家犬、猫亲缘关系较近,而与绵羊、牛的亲缘关系稍远。Zfx蛋白理论等电点（pI）为5.19,不稳定系数为42.94,消光系数为35 810,属于不稳定的亲水性蛋白,含有60个磷酸化位点,无信号肽及跨膜结构,属于非分泌蛋白。Zfx蛋白α-螺旋、延伸链和无规则卷曲分别为23.12%、20.25%和56.63%,三级结构主要为α-螺旋和无规则卷曲。本试验成功克隆获得驴Zfx基因CDS序列,为后期深入研究该基因及其编码蛋白的结构功能提供依据。     

Age-related differences of Ascaridia galli egg output and worm burden in chickens following a single dose infection

Ninety white chickens (Lohmann LSL) were reared under helminth-free conditions and divided into five groups. Four groups were artificially infected with 250 embryonated Ascaridia galli eggs at the age of 6, 12, 18 or 24 weeks. Ten birds were kept as uninfected controls. Six and 10 weeks after infection (p.i.), individual faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed. The birds were slaughtered after the second sampling and their gastrointestinal tracts were examined for the presence of adult A. galli. The FEC increased from the first to the second sampling significantly in all the infected groups. The highest increase was shown in the group infected at 12 weeks of age, whereas the increase in the other groups was relatively moderate. However, the total worm burden and mean FEC at the second sampling were highest (p<0.01) in those birds infected at an age of 12 or 18 weeks. The serum protein and triiodothyronine (T3) levels did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between any of the groups. Thyroxine (T4) was significantly different between the groups infected at 6 and 18 weeks of age (p<0.05), and those at 6 and 24 weeks of age (p<0.01). The thyroid hormone levels correlated significantly with the FEC. Age does not seem to play a major role in resistance to A. galli infections in layers, whereas a bird's hormonal and immune status, related to laying activity, seems to have a significant negative impact on resistance.     

驴Zfy基因cDNA克隆及生物信息学分析

本研究旨在对驴Zfy基因的cDNA序列进行克隆及生物信息学分析。根据GenBank中公布的家牛Zfy基因mRNA序列（登录号：NM_177491.1）设计特异性引物，运用RT-PCR技术获取驴Zfy基因的cDNA序列，并对Zfy基因CDS区核苷酸序列与蛋白质结构进行生物信息学分析。结果表明，驴Zfy基因CDS区序列长度为2 325 bp，编码774个氨基酸；蛋白质二级结构预测结果显示，Zfy蛋白没有信号肽及跨膜结构；驴Zfy基因CDS区序列与家牛、绵羊、人、家猫、家犬、马鹿、黑猩猩、藏羚羊的同源性分别为92.9%、92.6%、91.8%、93.8%、92.5%、92.3%、91.6%和92.6%；对驴和其他8种哺乳动物Zfy基因CDS区核苷酸序列构建的系统进化树显示，驴与绵羊、藏羚羊、家牛、马鹿亲缘关系较近，与家犬和家猫的亲缘关系稍远，与人和黑猩猩亲缘关系最远。本研究成功克隆出驴Zfy基因CDS区序列，为进一步研究驴Zfy基因的功能奠定了基础。     

人工繁育黔金丝猴幼子行为发育研究

黔金丝猴是中国Ⅰ级保护野生动物,为保护这一濒危物种,2013年4月～2014年4月,在北京动物园对2013年4月出生的1只雄性黔金丝猴的行为发育进行了研究.利用行为取样法和连续记录法记录1周岁内婴猴首次出现的行为和婴猴和父亲玩耍的时间以及与母亲接触的时间.结果表明：2日龄有抓网动作且力度不小,脖子能挺立支撑头部,睁大眼睛转头看东西;11日龄能吸吮伸到嘴边的橙子,14日龄能离开母亲自己爬网,64日龄能真正吞咽食物,3月龄时婴猴的行为已基本完善.3月龄后逐渐出现玩耍、梳理、攻击、警戒等行为.雄婴关系与年龄存在正相关,6月龄后基本稳定.幼子和公猴玩耍时间表明2月龄时开始与父亲有少量接触,以后逐渐增加,到6月龄时增加到13.09％,之后一直到周岁,婴儿被父亲完全接纳.和母猴相处时间为头1个月婴猴主要呆在母亲怀里,到3月龄后与母亲相处时间一直稳定维持在20％ ～ 30％的水平上.