As one of five survived tiger subspecies, the South-China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) specially disperses in China. This paper dedicated distribution and quantity of wild South-China tiger, and also introduced d...As one of five survived tiger subspecies, the South-China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) specially disperses in China. This paper dedicated distribution and quantity of wild South-China tiger, and also introduced distribution, quantity and pedigree of captive South-China tiger. In the middle of this century, about several thousands South-China tiger distributed in following provinces, such as Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan, Henan, Shanxi, Shanxi, Gansu. etc. Until now, there are only about 20–30 wild South-China tigers distributing in the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan, Sichuan, and 50 captive South-China tiger are raised in zoos of China.展开更多
Captive environments often fail to resemble the wild environment in respects of limited space, unchanging habitat, lack of stimulus and contingency. Common animal welfare problems which occur in captive animals includ...Captive environments often fail to resemble the wild environment in respects of limited space, unchanging habitat, lack of stimulus and contingency. Common animal welfare problems which occur in captive animals include low behavioral diversity, abnormal behavior and excessive inactivity. Environmental enrichment, as an effective strategy to tackle these problems and promote mental health of captive animals, has been recognized as an important principal for captive animal management. Among all the enriehment techniques, olfactory enrichment is a simple and effective method for improving the well-being of the olfactory sensitive felids. Behavioral problems were observed in six Amur leopards Panthera pardus orientalis at Beijing Zoological Garden. These were held in the older type exhibits which have now been rebuilt. These behaviors include stereotypic behavior and excessive inactivity caused by the spatially limited enclosures with low levels of stimuli. To determine the effects of predator, prey, and herb odors as potential enrichment materials for captive leopards, we conducted olfactory enrichment experiments for the leopards and tested the effects of nutmeg Myristica fragrans, feces of roe deer Capreolus capreolus and urine of Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica to test for an increase in behavioral repertoire and activity. Odors provided in this study were also believed to improve the psychological and physiological health of individuals. To standardize the method of presentation the odors were introduced to the enclosures by rubbing or spraying onto a clean towel. Our results show that the selected three odors effectively increased the behavioral diversity. Ten new behavior types were observed in the nutmeg experiment, eight in the feces of roe deer experiment and six in the tiger urine experiment. Among the three odors, cats responded to nutmeg for the longest duration, followed by tiger urine and feces of roe deer. Leopards showed more play behavior in presence of nutmeg while more investigatory behavior in presences of feces of roe deer and tiger urine. Providing novel odors increased the spatial use of the exhibit and the animal＇ s increased use of the logs, sleeping platforms and bars in the cages. Novel odors also significantly increased the overall activity of the leopards, but the effects were diminished in about three hours.展开更多
The influence of social upbringing on the activity pattern of lion Panthera leo cubs was investigated at three sites. In this study, stimulus objects such as sticks, grass, fresh dung （elephant Loxondota africana, ze...The influence of social upbringing on the activity pattern of lion Panthera leo cubs was investigated at three sites. In this study, stimulus objects such as sticks, grass, fresh dung （elephant Loxondota africana, zebra Equus quagga, impala Aepyceros melampus, duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros, giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis and wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus） and cardboard boxes, were utilized in an enrichment program aimed at encouraging active behaviors of captive lion cubs at Antelope Park and Masuwe. Lion cubs at Chipangali were not behaviorally enriched. Activity patterns were recorded for 10 days at each site. We recorded moving, resting, playing, grooming, visual exploration and display of hunting instincts. We found that behavioral enrichment enhanced the active behaviors of captive lion cubs. Orphan-raised cubs spent more time moving, playing and displaying hunting instincts than mother-raised cubs, but the time spent grooming was similar across areas and suggests that grooming is not influenced by enrichment. Mother-raised cubs spent more time engaged in visual exploration than orphan-raised cubs and this could be a behavior acquired from mothers or a result of confidence to explore because of their presence. Activity patterns were different among time treatments across our three study sites. Based on these findings, we suggest that lion cubs raised in captivity could benefit from behavioral enrichment to encourage active behaviors essential for eventual reintroduction into the wild展开更多
We reported here the first known case of natural infection of a lion(Panthera leo-Linnaeus,1738) with Leishmania(Leithmania) chagasi(L.chagasi) in Brazil.The specimen was created by a circus handler in the state of Ma...We reported here the first known case of natural infection of a lion(Panthera leo-Linnaeus,1738) with Leishmania(Leithmania) chagasi(L.chagasi) in Brazil.The specimen was created by a circus handler in the state of Mato Grosso and was donated to the zoological park of the Federal University of Mato Crosso.Infection by I.chagasi was detected using a PCR-RFLP test.It was known that the domestic felids can act as reservoir of infection of L.chagasi in endemic areas, making it important that studies demonstrate their participation in the epidemiological chain. We demonstrate in this work that wild animals can have an important role in the epidemiological chain and must be considered in order to plan methods of control of this zoonosis.展开更多
Lion faecal samples, collected in the field between 1 hour to 1 week after defecation were preserved in three different media （ethanol, ASL buffer and Twostep storage）. The aim was to determine which faecal DNA fiel...Lion faecal samples, collected in the field between 1 hour to 1 week after defecation were preserved in three different media （ethanol, ASL buffer and Twostep storage）. The aim was to determine which faecal DNA field preservation method best enhances PCR amplification success. Samples stored in ethanol showed a significantly higher amplification success of microsat ellite loci than samples stored in the other two media. In contrast, amplification success of a mitochondrial locus was similar among the samples stored in the three types of media. We reviewed twelve previous studies that employed different media for the storage of faeces, although patterns of success were not fully consistent among different media, ethanol storage was scored high est in the majority of these tests展开更多
The wild population of the African lion Panthera leo continues to decline, requiring alternate conservation programs to be considered. One such program is ex situ reintroduction. Prior to release, longterm monitoring ...The wild population of the African lion Panthera leo continues to decline, requiring alternate conservation programs to be considered. One such program is ex situ reintroduction. Prior to release, longterm monitoring and assessment of behavior is required to determine whether prides and coalitions behave naturally and are sufficiently adapted to a wild environment. Social network analysis （SNA） can be used to provide insight into how the pride as a whole and individuals within it, function. Our study was conducted upon 2 captive-origin prides who are part of an ex situ reintroduction program, and 1 wild pride of African lion. Social interactions were collected at all occurrence for each pride and categorized into greet, social grooming, play, and aggression. Betweenness centrality showed that offspring in each pride were central to the play network, whereas degree indicated that adults received （indegree） the greatest number of overall social interactions, and the adult males of each pride were least likely to initiate （outdegree） any interactions. Through the assessment of individual centrality and degree values, a social keystone adult female was identified for each pride. Social network results indicated that the 2 captive-origin prides had formed cohesive social units and possessed relationships and behaviors comparable with the wild pride for the studied behaviors. This study provided the first SNA comparison between captive-bred origin and a wild pride of lions, providing valuable information on individual and pride sociality, critical for determining the success of prides within an ex situ reintroduction program.展开更多
Neurological signs like ataxia and hind limb paresis have often been reported in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), lions (Panthera leo) and snow leopards (Panthera unica). As a cause, copper and Vitamin A deficiencies have...Neurological signs like ataxia and hind limb paresis have often been reported in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), lions (Panthera leo) and snow leopards (Panthera unica). As a cause, copper and Vitamin A deficiencies have been discussed. Many cases were seen in cheetahs and lions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within the last years. The aim of this study was to find correlations between nutrition, serum, and tissue levels, focusing on copper and Vitamin A. Blood and tissue samples of affected and unaffected animals were analyzed at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai, UAE. Animals were split into three different groups (A, B and C) according to their diets. Minerals were determined in serum, tissue, food and water samples, and serum was additionally analyzed for Vitamin A and E. Liver, kidney and spinal cord samples were taken for histopathological investigations. Mean serum copper and liver copper levels of animals fed pure chicken muscle meat without supplements were significantly lower (0.41 ± 0.71 μM/L;2.16 ± 0.95 ppm wet weight) than in animals fed a whole carcass prey diet (12.16 ± 3.42 μM/L;16.01 ± 17.51 ppm wet weight) (p < 0.05). Serum Vitamin A and E levels were highest in animals fed whole carcass prey diets (1.85 ± 0.68;27.31 ± 5.69 μM/L). Liver zinc concentrations were highest in animals fed pure chicken meat only (43.75 ± 16.48 ppm wet weight). In histopathology, demyelination of the spinal cord was found in all of the affected animals and most commonly when fed a diet based on poultry without supplements.展开更多
The complete sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genomes of Panthera tigris,Panthera pardus,and Panthera uncia were determined using the polymerase chain reaction method.The lengths of the complete mitochondrial DNA se...The complete sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genomes of Panthera tigris,Panthera pardus,and Panthera uncia were determined using the polymerase chain reaction method.The lengths of the complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of the three species were 16990,16964,and 16773 bp,respectively.Each of the three mitochondrial DNA genomes included 13 protein-coding genes,22 tRNA,two rRNA,one O L R,and one control region.The structures of the genomes were highly similar to those of Felis catus,Acinonyx jubatus,and Neofelis nebulosa.The phylogenies of the genus Panthera were inferred from two combined mitochondrial sequence data sets and the complete mitochondrial genome sequences,by MP (maximum parsimony),ML (maximum likelihood),and Bayesian analysis.The results showed that Panthera was composed of Panthera leo,P.uncia,P.pardus,Panthera onca,P.tigris,and N.nebulosa,which was included as the most basal member.The phylogeny within Panthera genus was N.nebulosa (P.tigris (P.onca (P.pardus,(P.leo,P.uncia)))).The divergence times for Panthera genus were estimated based on the ML branch lengths and four well-established calibration points.The results showed that at about 11.3 MYA,the Panthera genus separated from other felid species and then evolved into the several species of the genus.In detail,N.nebulosa was estimated to be founded about 8.66 MYA,P.tigris about 6.55 MYA,P.uncia about 4.63 MYA,and P.pardus about 4.35 MYA.All these estimated times were older than those estimated from the fossil records.The divergence event,evolutionary process,speciation,and distribution pattern of P.uncia,a species endemic to the central Asia with core habitats on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and surrounding highlands,mostly correlated with the geological tectonic events and intensive climate shifts that happened at 8,3.6,2.5,and 1.7 MYA on the plateau during the late Cenozoic period.展开更多
To better understand the spatial structure of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers(6♀♀and 8♂♂)with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in 2 study sites...To better understand the spatial structure of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers(6♀♀and 8♂♂)with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in 2 study sites:the Ussuriskii Reserve of southern Sikhote-Alin and the Land of the Leopard National Park in southwest Primorye,Russian Far East.Fixed kernel estimates of male home ranges were larger than those of female home ranges(P<0.05[mean 95%fixed kernel♀=401±205 km2;mean 95%fixed kernel♂=778±267 km2]).The home range size of females varied greatly,but on average was similar to estimates derived from earlier work further north.Low overlap of adjacent home ranges suggested that females retained exclusive territories.Real core areas of females overlapped only slightly,and remained stable over multiple years.The home ranges of adult males were smaller than those of males to the north,and in contrast to previous studies,high overlap among males indicated the absence of territoriality.Nonetheless,real core areas of males did not overlap,suggesting some spatial separation.In comparison to other tiger populations and other areas of the Russian Far East,the sex ratio in our 2 study areas was highly skewed towards males.We believe this skewed sex ratio resulted in the dissolution of territoriality of males due to an inability to defend individual females,with males resorting to scramble competition for mates.Continued monitoring of these sites to determine whether shifts in the sex ratio might result in a return to male territoriality would provide confirmation of our tentative hypothesis.展开更多
A healthy population of captive Amur tigers might assist recovery of the wild population in Northeast China if individuals were properly prepared and considered suitable for release in the wild.We analyzed the breedin...A healthy population of captive Amur tigers might assist recovery of the wild population in Northeast China if individuals were properly prepared and considered suitable for release in the wild.We analyzed the breeding records of 68 female Amur tigers from 1995 to 2010 in the Hengdaohezi Felid Breeding Center of China and compared the reproductive parameters of this population to wild female Amur tigers.We found that the reproductive parameters of the captive population(the age of first parturition,length of gestation and litter survival rate)were not significantly different from those of wild Amur tigers.Differences in birth date and litter size between wild and captive populations may be caused by management protocols for the captive population or insufficient field data from the wild population.Reproductive parameters of females giving birth after losing a litter were similar to parameters of females that did not lose a litter,except for birth date.These results provide no indication of major problems in using captive females for a breeding program for release of cubs into the wild,but additional information is still needed to assess their suitability.展开更多
We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East.We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces,7 hair and 11 blo...We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East.We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces,7 hair and 11 blood samples collected within southern,central and northern Sikhote-Alin,as well as Southwest Primorye.Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci demonstrated greater genetic similarity between animals from southern and northern Sikhote-Alin(some 500 km apart)than between animals from Ussuriskii State Nature Reserve and Southwest Primorye(less than 10 km apart at their nearest point),suggesting that a true barrier exists preventing movements of tigers between Southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains.展开更多
INTRODUCTION Pentatrichomonas hominis,an anaerobic flagellated protozoan that inhabits the large intestines of mammals and belongs to the Trichomonadidae family(Wenrich 1944;Kim et al.2010;Li et al.2014b,2016,2018a,20...INTRODUCTION Pentatrichomonas hominis,an anaerobic flagellated protozoan that inhabits the large intestines of mammals and belongs to the Trichomonadidae family(Wenrich 1944;Kim et al.2010;Li et al.2014b,2016,2018a,2020;Maritz et al.2014;Zhang et al.2019),is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route.It was originally presumed to be a commensal protozoan(Tolbert et al.2012)but was found to cause gastrointestinal symptoms.展开更多
A lion-like pantherine felid is described as Panthera(Leo)fossilis from the late Early Pleistocene sediments of the Kuznetsk Basin(Western Siberia,Russia).The find of P.fossilis first recorded in Asia considerably ext...A lion-like pantherine felid is described as Panthera(Leo)fossilis from the late Early Pleistocene sediments of the Kuznetsk Basin(Western Siberia,Russia).The find of P.fossilis first recorded in Asia considerably extends the current notion of the eastward expansion of the most ancient lions.The Siberian lion is geologically the oldest form and is dimensionally among the largest members of the group of fossil lions on the Eurasian continent.Although known by mandibular remains only,it is readily distinguished from Panthera(Leo)spelaea by a heavy built mandibular corpus with rectangular profile in the cheek teeth area,a deep,well-outlined and narrow anterior section of the masseteric fossa,and a largeр4 supported by a big unreduced anterior root.The Siberian lion shares these features with the European Middle Pleistocene P.fossilis and the American Late Pleistocene P.(Leo)atrox,which suggests their close relationship.P.atrox originated from P.fossilis and was isolated in North America south of the Late Pleistocene ice sheets.This explains why the American lion has retained more primitive features than the coeval Eurasian cave lion P.(L.)spelaea.展开更多
The existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard(Panthera uncia)that inhabits the massifs of Tsagaanshuvuut(Mongolia)-Tsagan-Shibetu(Russia)was determined through non-invasive genetic analysis of scat ...The existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard(Panthera uncia)that inhabits the massifs of Tsagaanshuvuut(Mongolia)-Tsagan-Shibetu(Russia)was determined through non-invasive genetic analysis of scat samples and by studying the structure of territory use by a collared female individual.The genetic analysis included species identification of samples through sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene and individual identification using a panel of 8 microsatellites.The home range of a female snow leopard marked with a satellite Global Positioning System(GPS)collar was represented by the minimum convex polygon method(MCP)100,the MCP 95 method and the fixed kernel 95 method.The results revealed insignificant genetic differentiation between snow leopards that inhabit both massifs(minimal fixation index[FST]),and the data testify to the unity of the cross-border group.Moreover,5 common individuals were identified from Mongolian and Russian territories.This finding clearly shows that their home range includes territories of both countries.In addition,regular movement of a collared snow leopard in Mongolia and Russia confirmed the existence of a cross-border snow leopard group.These data support that trans-boundary conservation is important for snow leopards in both countries.We conclude that it is crucial for Russia to study the northern range of snow leopards in Asia.展开更多
So far,there has been no safe and convenient method to weigh the largefierce animals,like Amur tigers.To address this problem,we built models to predict the body weight of Amur tigers based on the fact that body weight...So far,there has been no safe and convenient method to weigh the largefierce animals,like Amur tigers.To address this problem,we built models to predict the body weight of Amur tigers based on the fact that body weight is proportional to body measurements or age.Using the method of body measurements,we extracted the body measurements from 4 different kinds of the lateral body image of tigers,that is,total lateral image,central lateral image,ellipsefitting image,and rectanglefitting image,and then we respectively used artificial neural network(ANN)and power regression model to analyze the predictive relationships between body weight and body measurements.Our results demonstrated that,among all ANN models,the model built with rectanglefitting image had the smallest mean square error.Comparatively,we screened power regression models which had the smallest Akakai information criteria(AIC).In addition,using the method of age,wefitted nonlinear regression models for the relationship between body weight and age and found that,for male tigers,logistic model had the smallest AIC.For female tigers,Gompertz model had the smallest AIC.Consequently,this study could be applied to estimate body weight of captive,or even wild,Amur tigers safely and conveniently,helping to monitor individual health and growth of the Amur tiger populations.展开更多
文摘As one of five survived tiger subspecies, the South-China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) specially disperses in China. This paper dedicated distribution and quantity of wild South-China tiger, and also introduced distribution, quantity and pedigree of captive South-China tiger. In the middle of this century, about several thousands South-China tiger distributed in following provinces, such as Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan, Henan, Shanxi, Shanxi, Gansu. etc. Until now, there are only about 20–30 wild South-China tigers distributing in the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan, Sichuan, and 50 captive South-China tiger are raised in zoos of China.
基金founded by the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CXTDS2005-4)the Natural Scientific Foundation of China (No.30230080,No.30670267)
文摘Captive environments often fail to resemble the wild environment in respects of limited space, unchanging habitat, lack of stimulus and contingency. Common animal welfare problems which occur in captive animals include low behavioral diversity, abnormal behavior and excessive inactivity. Environmental enrichment, as an effective strategy to tackle these problems and promote mental health of captive animals, has been recognized as an important principal for captive animal management. Among all the enriehment techniques, olfactory enrichment is a simple and effective method for improving the well-being of the olfactory sensitive felids. Behavioral problems were observed in six Amur leopards Panthera pardus orientalis at Beijing Zoological Garden. These were held in the older type exhibits which have now been rebuilt. These behaviors include stereotypic behavior and excessive inactivity caused by the spatially limited enclosures with low levels of stimuli. To determine the effects of predator, prey, and herb odors as potential enrichment materials for captive leopards, we conducted olfactory enrichment experiments for the leopards and tested the effects of nutmeg Myristica fragrans, feces of roe deer Capreolus capreolus and urine of Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica to test for an increase in behavioral repertoire and activity. Odors provided in this study were also believed to improve the psychological and physiological health of individuals. To standardize the method of presentation the odors were introduced to the enclosures by rubbing or spraying onto a clean towel. Our results show that the selected three odors effectively increased the behavioral diversity. Ten new behavior types were observed in the nutmeg experiment, eight in the feces of roe deer experiment and six in the tiger urine experiment. Among the three odors, cats responded to nutmeg for the longest duration, followed by tiger urine and feces of roe deer. Leopards showed more play behavior in presence of nutmeg while more investigatory behavior in presences of feces of roe deer and tiger urine. Providing novel odors increased the spatial use of the exhibit and the animal＇ s increased use of the logs, sleeping platforms and bars in the cages. Novel odors also significantly increased the overall activity of the leopards, but the effects were diminished in about three hours.
文摘The influence of social upbringing on the activity pattern of lion Panthera leo cubs was investigated at three sites. In this study, stimulus objects such as sticks, grass, fresh dung （elephant Loxondota africana, zebra Equus quagga, impala Aepyceros melampus, duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros, giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis and wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus） and cardboard boxes, were utilized in an enrichment program aimed at encouraging active behaviors of captive lion cubs at Antelope Park and Masuwe. Lion cubs at Chipangali were not behaviorally enriched. Activity patterns were recorded for 10 days at each site. We recorded moving, resting, playing, grooming, visual exploration and display of hunting instincts. We found that behavioral enrichment enhanced the active behaviors of captive lion cubs. Orphan-raised cubs spent more time moving, playing and displaying hunting instincts than mother-raised cubs, but the time spent grooming was similar across areas and suggests that grooming is not influenced by enrichment. Mother-raised cubs spent more time engaged in visual exploration than orphan-raised cubs and this could be a behavior acquired from mothers or a result of confidence to explore because of their presence. Activity patterns were different among time treatments across our three study sites. Based on these findings, we suggest that lion cubs raised in captivity could benefit from behavioral enrichment to encourage active behaviors essential for eventual reintroduction into the wild
基金Supported by a grant from FAPEMAT(No.285871/2010)
文摘We reported here the first known case of natural infection of a lion(Panthera leo-Linnaeus,1738) with Leishmania(Leithmania) chagasi(L.chagasi) in Brazil.The specimen was created by a circus handler in the state of Mato Grosso and was donated to the zoological park of the Federal University of Mato Crosso.Infection by I.chagasi was detected using a PCR-RFLP test.It was known that the domestic felids can act as reservoir of infection of L.chagasi in endemic areas, making it important that studies demonstrate their participation in the epidemiological chain. We demonstrate in this work that wild animals can have an important role in the epidemiological chain and must be considered in order to plan methods of control of this zoonosis.
文摘Lion faecal samples, collected in the field between 1 hour to 1 week after defecation were preserved in three different media （ethanol, ASL buffer and Twostep storage）. The aim was to determine which faecal DNA field preservation method best enhances PCR amplification success. Samples stored in ethanol showed a significantly higher amplification success of microsat ellite loci than samples stored in the other two media. In contrast, amplification success of a mitochondrial locus was similar among the samples stored in the three types of media. We reviewed twelve previous studies that employed different media for the storage of faeces, although patterns of success were not fully consistent among different media, ethanol storage was scored high est in the majority of these tests
文摘The wild population of the African lion Panthera leo continues to decline, requiring alternate conservation programs to be considered. One such program is ex situ reintroduction. Prior to release, longterm monitoring and assessment of behavior is required to determine whether prides and coalitions behave naturally and are sufficiently adapted to a wild environment. Social network analysis （SNA） can be used to provide insight into how the pride as a whole and individuals within it, function. Our study was conducted upon 2 captive-origin prides who are part of an ex situ reintroduction program, and 1 wild pride of African lion. Social interactions were collected at all occurrence for each pride and categorized into greet, social grooming, play, and aggression. Betweenness centrality showed that offspring in each pride were central to the play network, whereas degree indicated that adults received （indegree） the greatest number of overall social interactions, and the adult males of each pride were least likely to initiate （outdegree） any interactions. Through the assessment of individual centrality and degree values, a social keystone adult female was identified for each pride. Social network results indicated that the 2 captive-origin prides had formed cohesive social units and possessed relationships and behaviors comparable with the wild pride for the studied behaviors. This study provided the first SNA comparison between captive-bred origin and a wild pride of lions, providing valuable information on individual and pride sociality, critical for determining the success of prides within an ex situ reintroduction program.
文摘Neurological signs like ataxia and hind limb paresis have often been reported in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), lions (Panthera leo) and snow leopards (Panthera unica). As a cause, copper and Vitamin A deficiencies have been discussed. Many cases were seen in cheetahs and lions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within the last years. The aim of this study was to find correlations between nutrition, serum, and tissue levels, focusing on copper and Vitamin A. Blood and tissue samples of affected and unaffected animals were analyzed at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai, UAE. Animals were split into three different groups (A, B and C) according to their diets. Minerals were determined in serum, tissue, food and water samples, and serum was additionally analyzed for Vitamin A and E. Liver, kidney and spinal cord samples were taken for histopathological investigations. Mean serum copper and liver copper levels of animals fed pure chicken muscle meat without supplements were significantly lower (0.41 ± 0.71 μM/L;2.16 ± 0.95 ppm wet weight) than in animals fed a whole carcass prey diet (12.16 ± 3.42 μM/L;16.01 ± 17.51 ppm wet weight) (p < 0.05). Serum Vitamin A and E levels were highest in animals fed whole carcass prey diets (1.85 ± 0.68;27.31 ± 5.69 μM/L). Liver zinc concentrations were highest in animals fed pure chicken meat only (43.75 ± 16.48 ppm wet weight). In histopathology, demyelination of the spinal cord was found in all of the affected animals and most commonly when fed a diet based on poultry without supplements.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos:30470244 and 30870359)the Foundations for Excellent Youth in Anhui Province (Grant No:04043409)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of Education Department of Anhui Province (Grant No:KJ2009B015)the Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui Province
文摘The complete sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genomes of Panthera tigris,Panthera pardus,and Panthera uncia were determined using the polymerase chain reaction method.The lengths of the complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of the three species were 16990,16964,and 16773 bp,respectively.Each of the three mitochondrial DNA genomes included 13 protein-coding genes,22 tRNA,two rRNA,one O L R,and one control region.The structures of the genomes were highly similar to those of Felis catus,Acinonyx jubatus,and Neofelis nebulosa.The phylogenies of the genus Panthera were inferred from two combined mitochondrial sequence data sets and the complete mitochondrial genome sequences,by MP (maximum parsimony),ML (maximum likelihood),and Bayesian analysis.The results showed that Panthera was composed of Panthera leo,P.uncia,P.pardus,Panthera onca,P.tigris,and N.nebulosa,which was included as the most basal member.The phylogeny within Panthera genus was N.nebulosa (P.tigris (P.onca (P.pardus,(P.leo,P.uncia)))).The divergence times for Panthera genus were estimated based on the ML branch lengths and four well-established calibration points.The results showed that at about 11.3 MYA,the Panthera genus separated from other felid species and then evolved into the several species of the genus.In detail,N.nebulosa was estimated to be founded about 8.66 MYA,P.tigris about 6.55 MYA,P.uncia about 4.63 MYA,and P.pardus about 4.35 MYA.All these estimated times were older than those estimated from the fossil records.The divergence event,evolutionary process,speciation,and distribution pattern of P.uncia,a species endemic to the central Asia with core habitats on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and surrounding highlands,mostly correlated with the geological tectonic events and intensive climate shifts that happened at 8,3.6,2.5,and 1.7 MYA on the plateau during the late Cenozoic period.
基金This study was part of the long-term“Program of Studying the Amur Tiger in the Russian Far East”within the framework of the Permanent Expedition of RAS for the Study of Animals Listed of the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and Other Highly Important Animals of the Russian Fauna as well as within the Siberian Tiger Project of the Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS-Russia).The authors are grateful to the staff of the V.L.Komarov“Ussuriskii”State Nature Reserve,FEB RAS and the Land of the Leopard National Park for fruitful support in data collection,to Dr Andrey D.Poyarkov from the A.N.Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution,RAS and to Mr Alexander L.Salman for discussion and technical support.This research was made within the framework of the Program for the Study of the Amur Tiger in the Russian Far East and was supported by the Russian Geography Society。
文摘To better understand the spatial structure of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers(6♀♀and 8♂♂)with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in 2 study sites:the Ussuriskii Reserve of southern Sikhote-Alin and the Land of the Leopard National Park in southwest Primorye,Russian Far East.Fixed kernel estimates of male home ranges were larger than those of female home ranges(P<0.05[mean 95%fixed kernel♀=401±205 km2;mean 95%fixed kernel♂=778±267 km2]).The home range size of females varied greatly,but on average was similar to estimates derived from earlier work further north.Low overlap of adjacent home ranges suggested that females retained exclusive territories.Real core areas of females overlapped only slightly,and remained stable over multiple years.The home ranges of adult males were smaller than those of males to the north,and in contrast to previous studies,high overlap among males indicated the absence of territoriality.Nonetheless,real core areas of males did not overlap,suggesting some spatial separation.In comparison to other tiger populations and other areas of the Russian Far East,the sex ratio in our 2 study areas was highly skewed towards males.We believe this skewed sex ratio resulted in the dissolution of territoriality of males due to an inability to defend individual females,with males resorting to scramble competition for mates.Continued monitoring of these sites to determine whether shifts in the sex ratio might result in a return to male territoriality would provide confirmation of our tentative hypothesis.
基金We are grateful for support provided through the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2572014EA06 and 2572014AA14),the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC31272336,31572285)and the"Study on Resource Survey Technology for Tiger and Amur Leopard Population"and"Standard of Tiger and Amur Leopard Population and Habitat Survey and Data Summarization"(State Forestry Administration).
文摘A healthy population of captive Amur tigers might assist recovery of the wild population in Northeast China if individuals were properly prepared and considered suitable for release in the wild.We analyzed the breeding records of 68 female Amur tigers from 1995 to 2010 in the Hengdaohezi Felid Breeding Center of China and compared the reproductive parameters of this population to wild female Amur tigers.We found that the reproductive parameters of the captive population(the age of first parturition,length of gestation and litter survival rate)were not significantly different from those of wild Amur tigers.Differences in birth date and litter size between wild and captive populations may be caused by management protocols for the captive population or insufficient field data from the wild population.Reproductive parameters of females giving birth after losing a litter were similar to parameters of females that did not lose a litter,except for birth date.These results provide no indication of major problems in using captive females for a breeding program for release of cubs into the wild,but additional information is still needed to assess their suitability.
文摘We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East.We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces,7 hair and 11 blood samples collected within southern,central and northern Sikhote-Alin,as well as Southwest Primorye.Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci demonstrated greater genetic similarity between animals from southern and northern Sikhote-Alin(some 500 km apart)than between animals from Ussuriskii State Nature Reserve and Southwest Primorye(less than 10 km apart at their nearest point),suggesting that a true barrier exists preventing movements of tigers between Southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains.
基金This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32102696)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFF0702900).
文摘INTRODUCTION Pentatrichomonas hominis,an anaerobic flagellated protozoan that inhabits the large intestines of mammals and belongs to the Trichomonadidae family(Wenrich 1944;Kim et al.2010;Li et al.2014b,2016,2018a,2020;Maritz et al.2014;Zhang et al.2019),is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route.It was originally presumed to be a commensal protozoan(Tolbert et al.2012)but was found to cause gastrointestinal symptoms.
基金We gratefully acknowledge Nikolai Ovodov for providing additional data on the material from Kurtak archaeological area.We thank Alexey Tesakov for scientific discussion that critically improved the paper.We are also indebted to Katya Firsova and Igor Foronov,who kindly prepared the design of figures for the purpose of this study.M.Sotnikova acknowledges the financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research,project 12-05-00-904a.
文摘A lion-like pantherine felid is described as Panthera(Leo)fossilis from the late Early Pleistocene sediments of the Kuznetsk Basin(Western Siberia,Russia).The find of P.fossilis first recorded in Asia considerably extends the current notion of the eastward expansion of the most ancient lions.The Siberian lion is geologically the oldest form and is dimensionally among the largest members of the group of fossil lions on the Eurasian continent.Although known by mandibular remains only,it is readily distinguished from Panthera(Leo)spelaea by a heavy built mandibular corpus with rectangular profile in the cheek teeth area,a deep,well-outlined and narrow anterior section of the masseteric fossa,and a largeр4 supported by a big unreduced anterior root.The Siberian lion shares these features with the European Middle Pleistocene P.fossilis and the American Late Pleistocene P.(Leo)atrox,which suggests their close relationship.P.atrox originated from P.fossilis and was isolated in North America south of the Late Pleistocene ice sheets.This explains why the American lion has retained more primitive features than the coeval Eurasian cave lion P.(L.)spelaea.
基金This work was executed with financial support from:the Joint Russian-Mongolian complex biological expedition RAS and MASthe Russian Geographic Society+4 种基金the Snow Leopard Conservancythe Siberian Wellness Corporationthe Program Office of WWF Mongoliathe Mongolian Center,Irbisand the Russian Foundation for Basic Research jointly with the Department of Science and Technology,India(project no.19-54-45038).
文摘The existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard(Panthera uncia)that inhabits the massifs of Tsagaanshuvuut(Mongolia)-Tsagan-Shibetu(Russia)was determined through non-invasive genetic analysis of scat samples and by studying the structure of territory use by a collared female individual.The genetic analysis included species identification of samples through sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene and individual identification using a panel of 8 microsatellites.The home range of a female snow leopard marked with a satellite Global Positioning System(GPS)collar was represented by the minimum convex polygon method(MCP)100,the MCP 95 method and the fixed kernel 95 method.The results revealed insignificant genetic differentiation between snow leopards that inhabit both massifs(minimal fixation index[FST]),and the data testify to the unity of the cross-border group.Moreover,5 common individuals were identified from Mongolian and Russian territories.This finding clearly shows that their home range includes territories of both countries.In addition,regular movement of a collared snow leopard in Mongolia and Russia confirmed the existence of a cross-border snow leopard group.These data support that trans-boundary conservation is important for snow leopards in both countries.We conclude that it is crucial for Russia to study the northern range of snow leopards in Asia.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC31872241 and 31702031)the National Key Programme of Research and Development,the Ministry of Science and Technology(2016YFC0503200)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572017PZ14 and 2572020BC05)the Biodiversity Survey,Monitoring and Assessment Project of Ministry of Ecology and EnvironEnvironment,China(2019HB2096001006)the Heilongjiang postdoctoral project fund(LBH-Z18003).
文摘So far,there has been no safe and convenient method to weigh the largefierce animals,like Amur tigers.To address this problem,we built models to predict the body weight of Amur tigers based on the fact that body weight is proportional to body measurements or age.Using the method of body measurements,we extracted the body measurements from 4 different kinds of the lateral body image of tigers,that is,total lateral image,central lateral image,ellipsefitting image,and rectanglefitting image,and then we respectively used artificial neural network(ANN)and power regression model to analyze the predictive relationships between body weight and body measurements.Our results demonstrated that,among all ANN models,the model built with rectanglefitting image had the smallest mean square error.Comparatively,we screened power regression models which had the smallest Akakai information criteria(AIC).In addition,using the method of age,wefitted nonlinear regression models for the relationship between body weight and age and found that,for male tigers,logistic model had the smallest AIC.For female tigers,Gompertz model had the smallest AIC.Consequently,this study could be applied to estimate body weight of captive,or even wild,Amur tigers safely and conveniently,helping to monitor individual health and growth of the Amur tiger populations.
