How can we observe the underwater feeding behavior of endotherms?

Marine mammals and marine birds perform diving to forage underwater. Recent technological advances have led to rapid progress in our understanding of diving behavior, but additional research is required into feeding behavior to determine the timing of prey ingestion, prey mass, and prey type. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the foraging and diving behavior of these endotherms, it is essential to integrate information on feeding behavior with other data. The challenges involved in developing an appropriate research method have been addressed, and several methods have been tested and used in the field, including the stomach temperature method, the esophagus method for marine birds, the stomach temperature telemeter method for seals, and the beak magnet sensor method. In the present study, I review these methods, suggest the necessity of their further development in field studies, and propose a new practical method that involves the measurement of jaw movements underwater as an indicator of the feeding behavior of seals.     

若尔盖高原生态环境恶化与沼泽退化及其形成机制

根据１９９６－１９９８年野外考察与研究获得信息,结合前人研究的资料,论证了若尔盖高原沼泽区生态环境恶化,沼泽退化十分严重,其主要表现为：沼泽旱化,沼泽类型改变,沼泽逆向生态演替,沼泽区沙化,野生动物种类,种群数量减少,土壤质量下降,沼泽水质变劣,草场退化和鼠害猖獗,剖析了沼泽区生态环境恶化,沼泽退化与人类活动干扰,自然因素作用的关系,进而阐明了人类活动干扰是沼泽区生态环境恶化,沼泽退化主要原因。     

Seabirds and fronts: a brief overview

Oceanographic fronts are the sites of enhanced physical and biological activity, including locally concentrated feeding by marine birds. Two general hypotheses relating marine birds to fronts have been developed. The first is that enhanced primary production at fronts increases prey supply through increased animal growth, reproduction, or immigration. The second is that prey patches develop at fronts either through behavioural responses of prey to thermal or salinity gradients, or through interaction between prey behaviour and circulatory patterns. Several recent studies support the second hypothesis. The first hypothesis, that birds benefit from enhanced primary production at fronts, has yet to be evaluated. We need a better understanding of trophic mechanisms at fronts in order to determine (1) the proportion of daily energy requirements extracted by predators at fronts; (2) the proportion of natural mortality of prey populations at fronts; and (3) the probability of contact between seabirds and point source pollutants.     

土库曼斯坦物种多样性及其与中国新疆的比较

土库曼斯坦与中国新疆在地理地形、景观带以及气候特征等诸多方面具有相似之处,这些因素共同决定了二者在物种多样性方面的相似性与可比性,加之人类活动影响加剧,两地物种多样性均遭受着严重的威胁。在对土库曼斯坦和中国新疆现有物种多样性数据进行总结的基础上,分析了二者的物种多样性现状、珍稀动植物特征以及濒危种和入侵种相关研究进展,对比了二者在物种多样性年际尺度上的异同,总结了土库曼斯坦与中国新疆物种多样性保护现状与相关政策,以期为深入开展两地生物多样性合作与交流提供支持。     

Assessing bias in diet methods for the Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus

We analysed diet data in a Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus population using four different methods (direct observations, pellets, prey remains and combined pellets and prey remains) from Cyprus, during 2005–2007. Direct observations can provide reliable diet information. However, the small sample size of monitored nests, the subjective selection of accessible nests, the differential prey size deliveries by different sexes, and the different recognition of different prey species could involve biases, therefore accounting for the low dietary breadth. Prey remains differed significantly from pellet analysis due to more birds and fewer lizards, but the broadest trophic spectrum was obtained. Pellets analysis failed to detect small-sized prey items, but provided a high number of species present in the diet. Pellets and pooled data corresponded closely with the results of direct observations. Pooling data from pellets and prey remains overcame the problems associated with these two methods and revealed a high diet diversity and a great similarity to direct observations. Our results suggest that the pooled data method will be effective for monitoring dietary trends in the breeding and non-breeding Long-legged Buzzard population.     

The pelagic distribution of marine birds in a heterogeneous environment

In this paper I review recent, small-scale, process-oriented studies of the pelagic distribution of marine birds. I examine the roles played by a variety of hydrographic features, including steep flow gradients (fronts) and water column stratification, in determining the abundance or availability of avian prey. The ice edge/marginal ice zone is a frontal area of particular interest in polar regions. In most oceanic systems we have examples of avian use of a feature, hut only poor information on the importance of the feature for supporting the population as a whole. I review recent studies of the spatial and numerical concordance of marine birds and their prey, and find that these studies have yielded mixed results, with correlations stronger for piscivorous birds, particularly murres foraging on capelin, than for planktivores. Review of investigations of multispecies interactions during foraging shows that flock foraging has both beneficial and negative aspects. Interspecific facilitation of foraging occurs in numerous interactions involving both other species of birds and marine mammals. However, co-occurrence of predators may occur because both seek the same prey, and caution must be used in assessing mutualistic interactions between predatory species.     

Food energy requirements of the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) population in the Barents and White Seas

The harp seal ( Phoca groenlandica ) population of the Barents and White Seas has probably decreased from about one million individuals to half this size the last few years. Energy requirements of the population have been estimated by use of the simulation model SEAERG. In this model the energy requirements of an individual seal from each age group is multiplied with the group size and summed to provide the requirements of the population. In addition to population size and age structure the total food and energy requirement is sensitive to individual activity levels as well as metabolic levels and other specified physiological functions. The interactions between the seal population and fisheries depends on the caloric density of the prey species which varies with season and location. Realistic simulations of interactions between seals and fisheries require more information about spatial and temporal variations in the prey selection of harp seals than is available today.
Present estimates indicate average maintenance requirements of about 13,600 and ll,150kcal/day for adult female and male harp seals respectively. The high value for the females is due to the costs of pregnancy and lactation. With a mean energy density of prey of 1500 kcal/kg, the corresponding food consumption is 9 kg/day for females and 7.4 kg/day for males.     

南极中山站附近麦氏贼鸥食性研究

对东南极中山站附近麦氏贼鸥巢区和无巢贼鸥群栖地的贼鸥回吐渣团及其他食物残物进行收集、分析和鉴定 ,结果表明 ,本区麦氏贼鸥主要捕食雪　 ,其残物在食物项中的平均出现率为 6 7～ 80 %;同时贼鸥从本区几个考察站觅取人类遗弃的垃圾食物作为其重要的食物补充 ,垃圾食物的平均出现率为 6 .8～ 1 1 .6 %。不同巢区贼鸥对雪　的捕杀量和垃圾的需求差异较大 ,其主要与营巢地域的雪　分布密度以及摄食区的占有与否有关。     

山东寿光滨海国家湿地公园湿地保护与恢复措施和工程探析

山东寿光滨海国家湿地公园中,湿地类型多样,动植物资源丰富,珍稀濒危物种和特有种多,具有很高的保护价值.该湿地公园中的湿地为典型的人工湿地,在经历了人类活动的高强度干扰后,人工湿地明显退化,亟需通过生态技术或生态工程对退化的湿地进行恢复和保护.通过分析区域现有湿地水文、水质条件以及湿地类型、资源现状和目标保护物种分布,综合考虑水源地,以湿地资源有效保护为根本出发点,运用生态保护规划的理论和方法,通过水系贯通、湿地功能恢复、水质和动植物生境改善等一系列生态重点工程和措施,优化该湿地公园的湿地生态环境,使该公园的湿地充分发挥它的多种功能,为该公园的湿地保护与恢复规划提供科学依据.     

中国东北地区人为活动对森林景观格局及鹿科动物生境的影响（英文）

Species abundance and habitat distribution are two important aspects of species conservation studies and both are affected by similar environmental factors. Forest resource inventory data in 2010 were used to evaluate the patterns of habitat for target species of Cervidae in six typical forestry bureaus of the Yichun forest area in the Lesser Xing’an Mountains, northeastern China. A habitat suitability index(HSI) model was used based on elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation and age of tree. These five environmental factors were selected by boosted regression tree(BRT) analysis from 14 environmental variables collected during field surveys. Changes in habitat caused by anthropogenic activities mainly involving settlement and road factors were also considered. The results identified 1780.49 km2 of most-suitable and 1770.70 km2 of unsuitable habitat areas under natural conditions, covering 16.38% and 16.29% of the entire study area, respectively. The area of most-suitable habitat had been reduced by 4.86% when human interference was taken into account, whereas the unsuitable habitat area had increased by 11.3%, indicating that anthropogenic disturbance turned some potential habitats into unsuitable ones. Landscape metrics indicated that average patch area declined while patch density and edge density increased. This suggests that as habitat becomes fragmented and its quality becomes degraded by human activities, cervid populations will be threatened with extirpation. The study helped identify the spatial extent of habitat influenced by anthropogenic interference for the local cervid population. As cervid species clearly avoid human activities, more attention should be paid on considering the way and intensity of human activities for habitat management as fully as possible.     

青海共和盆地土地沙漠化影响因子的定量分析

通过对青海共和盆地土地沙漠化影响因子:农牧业人口、牲畜总数、耕地面积、降水量和大风日数42 a资料的主成分分析,结果表明,作为最主要综合指标的第一主成分中的人口、牲畜总数及耕地面积的影响,贡献率是46.5%;第二主成分中的降水量和大风日数的作用,贡献率为24.6%;第三主成分中的自然、人为因素,贡献率为14.9%。土地沙漠化是众多因子综合作用下生态与经济不相协调的产物,其中人口压力下生态不合理的土地利用是其主要原因。     

云南南滚河自然保护区大中型陆生哺乳动物初步调查

During surveys for wild felids in Nangunhe Nature Reserve, Yunnan province, China, we conducted a wider mammal survey of the core nature reserve area, using camera trapping techniques. Forty motion-triggered digital camera traps had been set in oldest forest tract of protected area to conduct a species inventory. The total camera trapping effort of 2460 camera trap nights yielded 232 digital photographs of mammals represented by 17 species in five orders. The species photographed include rare and elusive species and those that are of high conservation value, such as IUCN endangered species Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), and Phayre’s leaf monkey (Trachypit hecus phayrei). In addition, IUCN vulnerable species including Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), sambar (Rusa unicolor), northern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca leonine), and marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and more common species were found. All mammals were also listed as key protected wild animals by the State Forestry Administration of China. Of particular importance were the carnivores, with 7 different species recorded. Ungulates and other taxa forming a prey base for these predators,such as rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), sambar, wild boar (Sus scrofa), and Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii), were found to be the most frequently photographed and most widespread species. Opportunities for local people to develop standardized monitoring designs for targeted species were identified by these initial assessment results. Local nature reserve staff lacked technical ability to produce standardized survey designs, yet a by product of this type of non-standardized data collection can be very informative and produce inventory information that gives a species richness analysis, as well as initial estimates for occupancy and detection probability for abundant species to drive future standardized survey designs and efforts.     

西双版纳不同山地长果桑及食果动物

热带雨林是大自然赋予人类的珍贵资源宝库 ,有着久远的发展历史 ;认识其间的动植物关系以及人类影响下的动态变化 ,不仅有重要学术意义 ,而且对热带山地生态系统的保护、恢复 ,山区的持续发展有现实指导作用。我们在长果桑果期研究了西双版纳不同强度人为影响的热带山林摄食动物种群结构 ,对地区的发展和热带山地生态系统的维护有了新的认识。     

基诺山林地环境及鸟类分布的变化

随着人类经济活动的增加，自然环境条件也在改变；人与自然的协调发展，保护生物多样性已成为突出的问题。本文分析了基诺山（又称攸乐山）林地及农作区鸟类多样性的变化，以探索地方民族与自然环境的协调发展。     

中国水禽的保护生物学研究进展

自1971年《湿地公约》签署以来,水禽的生态与保护问题得到了科研工作者和管理人员前所未有的关注,进而使水禽的保护生物学研究快速发展。依据已有的资料,并结合近几年的研究工作,从保护生物学的角度论述中国水禽的研究进展情况,包括中国水禽的保护种群现状、栖息地研究、目前面临的危胁、保护方式及有关保护的理论、方法等,分析了保护中存在的问题及对策,提出了目前和将来一段时间中国水禽保护生物学的研究趋势。     

Ecological differences of south polar skua populations from Fildes Peninsula of King George Island and eastern Larsemann Hills, Antarctica

A study has been done on the comparison of nesting and feeding behavior, population variances as well as breeding success between two populations of south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) from near Great Wall station on Fildes Peninsula and near Zhongshan station in Eastern Larsemann Hills, Antarctica. There are evident differences in their population ecology. The foraging habit is much related to regional ecosystem and food resources near their territorial area. Dependence on human food waste influences skua's diet,which considerably affects their behavior even population variation in both areas. The skuas in Zhongshan Station,could shorten and/or regulate the timing for their egg laying and hatching, and take precedence of one chick brooding, for keeping their breeding success, and subsequent species continuation.     

Diatoms from an ice-wedge furrow, Ungava Peninsula, Quebec, Canada

The first recorded information about living fresh water diatoms on an ice-wedge furrow is presented. One sample has been analysed and two species, Cymbella aequatis and Tabellaria flocculosa , formed almost half of the diatom population. Some rather rare species for the Canadian Eastern Arctic were identified: Fragilaria constricta, Eunotia lunaris, Eunotia microcephala, Pinnularia gibba, Anomoeoneis zellensis , and Cymbella aspea . Of the 37 species identified, most are common elsewhere in the Arctic.     

美国弗蒙特州两种濒危鸟类保护成效研究

本文以美国弗蒙特(Vermont)州濒危鸟类游隼(Falco peregrinus)和潜鸟(Gavia immer)为例,反映鸟类与环境的关系,说明人类活动对环境及野生动物的影响,濒危动物的拯救工作应把环境综合治理放在重要位置。     

濒危植物四合木生境景观动态及其驱动因子分析

以1977 年MSS 及1990 年、2000 年、2005 年TM 影像数据为基本信息源,运用RS 与GIS 技术,选择若干相 关指标,在系统分析四合木生境景观构成动态变化及其自然与人文驱动因子变化特征的基础上,采用主成分分析 法进行了四合木生境景观动态驱动因子作用强度及其贡献率的定量分析。结果表明：28 年来四合木分布区景观构 成变化较大,其中四合木种群面积不断减少而耕地、城镇、工矿等人工景观类型不断扩张,沙地与其他植被面积扩 展明显,这与研究区旱化趋势加重、人为干扰强度加剧密切相关,且人为因素是造成四合木种群大面积减少及其生 境景观格局变化的主要外因。