Elaphurus davidianus is one of the rare species originally come from China. And study on intestine histology observation of Elaphurus davidianus has not been reported widely. In the test, microscopic morphology on int...Elaphurus davidianus is one of the rare species originally come from China. And study on intestine histology observation of Elaphurus davidianus has not been reported widely. In the test, microscopic morphology on intestinal tissue of Elaphurus davidianus was observed by the method of paraffin sectioning. Test results showed that jejunum epithelium villi structure of Elaphurus davidianus was obvious, a large number of intestinal glands distributed in lamina propfia of jejunal epithelium. There was lymphoid tissue distributing in the base of the mucosa. The muscularis mucosa was composed of smooth muscle, thickness of muscularis mucosae was about 53μm. There was no villous structure in the cecal mucosa of Elaphurus davidianus, capillaries in mucosal lamina propria were rich, the mucosal thickness was （236 ＋55）μm. There were large amounts of intestinal glands in inherent layer, thickness of mucosal muscle was about 27 μm. The blood vessels located in submucosal loose connective tissue were rich. The structure of small intestine was similar with that of large intestine. There was no villus structure in rectal mucosal epithelium, the maximum thickness of mucosal layer was 835μm, and the minimum thickness of mucosal layer was 313 μm. Mucosal muscular layer was developed, which was composed of several smooth muscle bands, different bundles scattered, the thickness was about 200 - 600 μm.展开更多
[Objectives]This study was conducted to find out the causes of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer(Elaphurus davidianus).[Methods]Abnormally-shed antlers were compared with normally-shed antlers in term...[Objectives]This study was conducted to find out the causes of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer(Elaphurus davidianus).[Methods]Abnormally-shed antlers were compared with normally-shed antlers in terms of light condition,antler development and bone nutritional status during the abnormal shedding season in the growth area of Père David s deer.[Results]Abnormally-shed antlers had no significant differences in the development of shed antlers,or even in the overall composition of antlers,from those of normal Père David s deer.[Conclusions]Insufficient light was the main cause of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer.展开更多
The reintroduction of rare and endangered species is one of the most important approaches to conservation and ecosystem restoration,but it has still proven to be an adventurous undertaking and most reintroduction prog...The reintroduction of rare and endangered species is one of the most important approaches to conservation and ecosystem restoration,but it has still proven to be an adventurous undertaking and most reintroduction programmes fail,so successful demonstrations are needed.Père David’s deer(Elaphurus davidianus,Milu in Chinese)could be considered one of conservation’s great success stories,as this species’path on the road to extinction has been reversed by a combination of ex-situ conservation and successful re-introduction in China.The species had been consigned to an imperial hunting ground when the last Chinese herds were exterminated during the fall of the Qing Dynasty(1644-1912).Fortunately,a few of the last remaining individuals were sent to European zoos.From these animals,a herd was bred on the 14;Duke of Bedford’s estate,Woburn Abbey,and between 1985and 1987,and 38 Milu were donated back to China for re-introduction in Beijing Milu Park(BMP),the former imperial hunting ground.An additional 39 deer were released at Dafeng National Nature Reserve(DFNNR),Jiangsu Province in 1986.In both of these safe and protected locations,the Milu thrived allowing for over 700 Milu to be sent to a further 82 sites throughout the species’original Chinese range over the last 36 years.As a result,the Milu population totaled 9136 by 2021,with 2855 individuals now living back in the wild;while another 5681 individuals inhabit the DFNNR,and 186 reside in BMP.Wild Milu,however,still face significant conservation challenges.The population lacks genetic diversity,leading to severe inbreeding depression and carrying multiple risks,such as high miscarriage rates,a reduced lifespan,and susceptibility to disease.Environmental constraints such as pollution and habitat fragmentation further result in small,fragmented wild populations.Moreover,the species currently lacks a national level conservation master plan,the associated coordinated monitoring platforms,and breeding plans for China’s captive populations.Finally,there is now a lack of international cooperation in the conservation of this species.We therefore call for both a national-level conservation master plan in China and international cooperation to develop a shared database and germplasm databank covering Milu across all countries with ex-situ populations,as crucial steps for securing the long-term conservation of Milu and preventing it from ever becoming“extinct in the wild”again.展开更多
Considering the severe impacts of genetic bottlenecks and small numbers of founders in populations of reintroduced animals, it is necessary to study inbreeding and its effect on fitness in species of conservation conc...Considering the severe impacts of genetic bottlenecks and small numbers of founders in populations of reintroduced animals, it is necessary to study inbreeding and its effect on fitness in species of conservation concern. Pere David＇s deer is one of few large mammal species extinct in the wild but safely preserved in captivity. Its specific background gives us the opportunity to study the relationships between heterozygosity and neonatal fitness in relocated populations. We employed five microsatellite loci to explore heterozygosity-fitness correlations in a population of Pere David＇s deer at the Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center. We observed associations between microsatellite-based variables sMLH, IR, MD^2 and HL, and two components of fitness ex- pressed early in life （birth weight and the neonatal mortality of 123 Pere David＇s deer calves born over six consecutive years）. We found that neonatal mortality was 19.1% - 7.6%, not higher than the 19% or 18% reported in other ungulates. The heterozygosity of calves was not associated with neonatal mortality, nor birth weight. Our study implies that low genetic variability of microsa- l：ellite loci has no overt effect on birth weight and neonatal mortality in reintroduced populations of P^re David＇s deer [Current Zoology 59 （2）： 249-256, 2013].展开更多
文摘Elaphurus davidianus is one of the rare species originally come from China. And study on intestine histology observation of Elaphurus davidianus has not been reported widely. In the test, microscopic morphology on intestinal tissue of Elaphurus davidianus was observed by the method of paraffin sectioning. Test results showed that jejunum epithelium villi structure of Elaphurus davidianus was obvious, a large number of intestinal glands distributed in lamina propfia of jejunal epithelium. There was lymphoid tissue distributing in the base of the mucosa. The muscularis mucosa was composed of smooth muscle, thickness of muscularis mucosae was about 53μm. There was no villous structure in the cecal mucosa of Elaphurus davidianus, capillaries in mucosal lamina propria were rich, the mucosal thickness was （236 ＋55）μm. There were large amounts of intestinal glands in inherent layer, thickness of mucosal muscle was about 27 μm. The blood vessels located in submucosal loose connective tissue were rich. The structure of small intestine was similar with that of large intestine. There was no villus structure in rectal mucosal epithelium, the maximum thickness of mucosal layer was 835μm, and the minimum thickness of mucosal layer was 313 μm. Mucosal muscular layer was developed, which was composed of several smooth muscle bands, different bundles scattered, the thickness was about 200 - 600 μm.
基金Supported by Science and Technology Research Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Education (B2018522).
文摘[Objectives]This study was conducted to find out the causes of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer(Elaphurus davidianus).[Methods]Abnormally-shed antlers were compared with normally-shed antlers in terms of light condition,antler development and bone nutritional status during the abnormal shedding season in the growth area of Père David s deer.[Results]Abnormally-shed antlers had no significant differences in the development of shed antlers,or even in the overall composition of antlers,from those of normal Père David s deer.[Conclusions]Insufficient light was the main cause of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer.
文摘The reintroduction of rare and endangered species is one of the most important approaches to conservation and ecosystem restoration,but it has still proven to be an adventurous undertaking and most reintroduction programmes fail,so successful demonstrations are needed.Père David’s deer(Elaphurus davidianus,Milu in Chinese)could be considered one of conservation’s great success stories,as this species’path on the road to extinction has been reversed by a combination of ex-situ conservation and successful re-introduction in China.The species had been consigned to an imperial hunting ground when the last Chinese herds were exterminated during the fall of the Qing Dynasty(1644-1912).Fortunately,a few of the last remaining individuals were sent to European zoos.From these animals,a herd was bred on the 14;Duke of Bedford’s estate,Woburn Abbey,and between 1985and 1987,and 38 Milu were donated back to China for re-introduction in Beijing Milu Park(BMP),the former imperial hunting ground.An additional 39 deer were released at Dafeng National Nature Reserve(DFNNR),Jiangsu Province in 1986.In both of these safe and protected locations,the Milu thrived allowing for over 700 Milu to be sent to a further 82 sites throughout the species’original Chinese range over the last 36 years.As a result,the Milu population totaled 9136 by 2021,with 2855 individuals now living back in the wild;while another 5681 individuals inhabit the DFNNR,and 186 reside in BMP.Wild Milu,however,still face significant conservation challenges.The population lacks genetic diversity,leading to severe inbreeding depression and carrying multiple risks,such as high miscarriage rates,a reduced lifespan,and susceptibility to disease.Environmental constraints such as pollution and habitat fragmentation further result in small,fragmented wild populations.Moreover,the species currently lacks a national level conservation master plan,the associated coordinated monitoring platforms,and breeding plans for China’s captive populations.Finally,there is now a lack of international cooperation in the conservation of this species.We therefore call for both a national-level conservation master plan in China and international cooperation to develop a shared database and germplasm databank covering Milu across all countries with ex-situ populations,as crucial steps for securing the long-term conservation of Milu and preventing it from ever becoming“extinct in the wild”again.
文摘Considering the severe impacts of genetic bottlenecks and small numbers of founders in populations of reintroduced animals, it is necessary to study inbreeding and its effect on fitness in species of conservation concern. Pere David＇s deer is one of few large mammal species extinct in the wild but safely preserved in captivity. Its specific background gives us the opportunity to study the relationships between heterozygosity and neonatal fitness in relocated populations. We employed five microsatellite loci to explore heterozygosity-fitness correlations in a population of Pere David＇s deer at the Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center. We observed associations between microsatellite-based variables sMLH, IR, MD^2 and HL, and two components of fitness ex- pressed early in life （birth weight and the neonatal mortality of 123 Pere David＇s deer calves born over six consecutive years）. We found that neonatal mortality was 19.1% - 7.6%, not higher than the 19% or 18% reported in other ungulates. The heterozygosity of calves was not associated with neonatal mortality, nor birth weight. Our study implies that low genetic variability of microsa- l：ellite loci has no overt effect on birth weight and neonatal mortality in reintroduced populations of P^re David＇s deer [Current Zoology 59 （2）： 249-256, 2013].
