China supports the richest non-human primate diversity in the northern hemisphere, providing an excellent opportunity for Chinese primatologists to take a leading role in advancing the study of primatology Primatology...China supports the richest non-human primate diversity in the northern hemisphere, providing an excellent opportunity for Chinese primatologists to take a leading role in advancing the study of primatology Primatology in China began to flourish after 1979. To date, Chinese primatologists have published more than 1 000 papers in journals indexed by the Chinese Science Citation Database and the Web of Science Core Collection, and universities and academic institutions have trained 107 PhD students and 370 Masters students between 1984 and 2016. In total, the National Science Foundation of China has funded 129 primate projects (RMB 71.7 million) supporting 59 researchers from 28 organizations. However, previous research has also shown obvious species bias. Rhinopithecus roxellana, Rhinopithecus bieti, and Macaca mulatta have received much greater research attention than other species. Researchers have also tended to continue to study the same species (55.2%) they studied during their PhD training. To promote the development of primatology in China, we suggest (1) the need for a comprehensive primatology textbook written in Chinese, (2) continued training of more PhD students, and (3) encouragement to study less well-known primate species.展开更多
Effective population management relies on assessments of population size and sex ratio.However,these estimates are difficult to obtain for elusive and rare species.Recently,noninvasive genetic census methods have been...Effective population management relies on assessments of population size and sex ratio.However,these estimates are difficult to obtain for elusive and rare species.Recently,noninvasive genetic census methods have been developed as an alternative to tradi-tional capture-mark-recapture methods.In this study,we estimated the size of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana) population in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve(SNR) using a noninvasive sampling method based on 16 microsatellite loci.We also used a PCR-based genetic method to sex the sampled individuals and infer the population sex ratio.The population size of R.roxellana in the SNR was estimated to be 1044 individuals(95% CITIRM:613-1409) .The estimated population sex ratio is more female-biased than expected,which we attribute to the sampling biased towards one male units and limited sampling of bachelor male units.Moreover,there is no suggestion that the heavy traffic road through the reserve might block movement of monkeys.The results of this study indicate genetic assessments based on a noninvasive sampling method can provide useful in-formation regarding populations of elusive primates.展开更多
The Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellanae), a species on the First Category State Key Protection List, is an endangered species endemic to China. This paper examines seasonal changes in urinary testostero...The Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellanae), a species on the First Category State Key Protection List, is an endangered species endemic to China. This paper examines seasonal changes in urinary testosterone (T) levels in this species. Urine samples were collected by injectors from the cement floor of the monkey’s enclosures in the early morning, then stored in a freezer at -24 ℃. Urinary testosterone (T), was detected with radioimmunoassay (RIA) after being extracted by dichloromethane.The results show that the levels of urinary T varied widely over time and displayed seasonal variation that corresponded exactly with the monkey’s sexual behavior. The mean value of T was 0.576-2.359 ng/mgCr in the nonreproductive season and 36.483-47.889 ng/mgCr in the reproductive season. The latter was 14.84-83.14 times as high as that in the nonreproductive season. Peak T values in the nonreproductive and in reproductive season were 0.82-10.60 ng/mgCr and 237.841-326.231 ng/mgCr respectively. Peak values in the reproductive season were 30.78-290.05 times that of the nonreproductive season. This seasonal change in T levels may be the main factor determining seasonal differences in sexual motivation, copulation and conception rate in these monkeys. In addition, co-habitation with females in the breeding season produces a sharp increase in T level in male monkeys; there is a causal relationship between sexual activity and T secretion .展开更多
基金supported by the National Young Top-Notch Talent Program of Chinathe National Natural Science Foundation of China(30900169,31160424,31372216,31770421)
文摘China supports the richest non-human primate diversity in the northern hemisphere, providing an excellent opportunity for Chinese primatologists to take a leading role in advancing the study of primatology Primatology in China began to flourish after 1979. To date, Chinese primatologists have published more than 1 000 papers in journals indexed by the Chinese Science Citation Database and the Web of Science Core Collection, and universities and academic institutions have trained 107 PhD students and 370 Masters students between 1984 and 2016. In total, the National Science Foundation of China has funded 129 primate projects (RMB 71.7 million) supporting 59 researchers from 28 organizations. However, previous research has also shown obvious species bias. Rhinopithecus roxellana, Rhinopithecus bieti, and Macaca mulatta have received much greater research attention than other species. Researchers have also tended to continue to study the same species (55.2%) they studied during their PhD training. To promote the development of primatology in China, we suggest (1) the need for a comprehensive primatology textbook written in Chinese, (2) continued training of more PhD students, and (3) encouragement to study less well-known primate species.
基金the Key Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (31130061)the Project of Public Benefit (201104073)the Max Planck Society
文摘Effective population management relies on assessments of population size and sex ratio.However,these estimates are difficult to obtain for elusive and rare species.Recently,noninvasive genetic census methods have been developed as an alternative to tradi-tional capture-mark-recapture methods.In this study,we estimated the size of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana) population in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve(SNR) using a noninvasive sampling method based on 16 microsatellite loci.We also used a PCR-based genetic method to sex the sampled individuals and infer the population sex ratio.The population size of R.roxellana in the SNR was estimated to be 1044 individuals(95% CITIRM:613-1409) .The estimated population sex ratio is more female-biased than expected,which we attribute to the sampling biased towards one male units and limited sampling of bachelor male units.Moreover,there is no suggestion that the heavy traffic road through the reserve might block movement of monkeys.The results of this study indicate genetic assessments based on a noninvasive sampling method can provide useful in-formation regarding populations of elusive primates.
基金国家自然科学基金 (No .39970 116 )陕西省教育厅重点科研基金资助 (No .0 0JK0 0 9)~~
文摘The Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellanae), a species on the First Category State Key Protection List, is an endangered species endemic to China. This paper examines seasonal changes in urinary testosterone (T) levels in this species. Urine samples were collected by injectors from the cement floor of the monkey’s enclosures in the early morning, then stored in a freezer at -24 ℃. Urinary testosterone (T), was detected with radioimmunoassay (RIA) after being extracted by dichloromethane.The results show that the levels of urinary T varied widely over time and displayed seasonal variation that corresponded exactly with the monkey’s sexual behavior. The mean value of T was 0.576-2.359 ng/mgCr in the nonreproductive season and 36.483-47.889 ng/mgCr in the reproductive season. The latter was 14.84-83.14 times as high as that in the nonreproductive season. Peak T values in the nonreproductive and in reproductive season were 0.82-10.60 ng/mgCr and 237.841-326.231 ng/mgCr respectively. Peak values in the reproductive season were 30.78-290.05 times that of the nonreproductive season. This seasonal change in T levels may be the main factor determining seasonal differences in sexual motivation, copulation and conception rate in these monkeys. In addition, co-habitation with females in the breeding season produces a sharp increase in T level in male monkeys; there is a causal relationship between sexual activity and T secretion .