麋鹿鹿角生长周期及影响因子

Antler cycle and its influencing factors in Pére David's deer( Elaphurus davidianus)

2013年8月至2014年8月,使用望远镜(SWAROVSKI 8×42 WB)和照相机(Canon 550D 70×300)观察北京南海子59只雄性麋鹿茸的生长和角脱落周期,发现麋鹿角总体趋势呈随着年龄的减少,脱角日期越迟,且等级序位高或者鹿王较年老个体先脱落。收集2012年12月至2014年2月两年度麋鹿自然脱落的角,研究表明,个体而言,左右角脱角顺序差异明显,同一天脱落两角者占17.0%,左角先脱落者占34.1%,右角先脱落者占48.8%,重量重和重量轻的角先脱落的个体各占41.5%,个体成对的左右角脱落时间间隔短,平均为1.98d;群体而言,角重量与脱角时间呈显著负相关,总体呈现角重的个体角先脱落,但不是角最重的个体角第一个脱落。2013年6月至2014年5月,对北京南海子、湖北石首、江苏大丰、天津七里海、浙江慈溪、浙江临安、海南海口、河北滦河上游、辽阳千山等9个地区麋鹿种群麋鹿角脱落起止时间进行调查,研究表明野生种群脱角时间比圈养种群早;迁入热带地区海南的麋鹿仍有规律的角周期;同一栖息地不同年份角周期存在差异,不同栖息地间麋鹿角周期存在差异;脱角起始时间与海拔、经度、纬度、年平均气温、圈养情况和气候类型等影响因子不存在统计学上显著的相关性,但光周期和激素直接主导和调节着角周期,年龄大小、角重量、营养以及与营养相关的能量、种群密度、物候等环境因子均影响角周期。

Abstract： We observed velvet antler growth and antler casting in 59 male Pere David＇s deer （Elaphurus davidianus） in Beijing Nanhaizi during August 2013 and 2014, using a telescope （Swarvoski 8×42 WB） and camera （Canon 550D 70×300）. The antler casting time of the population tended to be delayed with decreased age, and some dominant and high- ranking bucks cast their antlers earlier than the oldest bucks. We gathered 89 antlers from December 2012 to February 2014 and found that more individuals cast the right antler earlier than the left （48.8% versus 34.1%）; the remaining deer （ 17% ） cast both antlers on the same day, and that the same individuals cast the heavier antler earlier than the lighter one （41.5% versus 41.5%）. The average time interval between left and right antler casting was 1.98 days. There was a significant negative correlation between antler weight and casting time in 2013 （R2 = -0.898, P= 0.000, n= 32） and 2014 （R2=-0.842, P= 0.000, n = 57）. The antler casting time of the population showed a delayed tendency as antler weight was decreased, but the first antler cast was not the heaviest one. During June 2013 and May 2014, we investigated the start and end date of the antler cycle in nine populations of Pere David＇s deer using field, literature, and telephone surveys. The nine populations were from Beijing Nanhaizi Milu Park （ BNMP ）, Jiangsu Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve （ JDMNR）,Hubei Shishou Milu National Nature Reserve （HSMNR）, Liaoning Liaoyang Qianshan （LLQ）, Zhejiang Linan Milu Conservation Center （ZLMCC）, Zhengjiang Cixi National Wetland Park （ZCNWP）, Tianjin Qilihai National Wetland Park （TQNWP）, Hainan Tropical Wildlife Zoo （HTWZ）, and Hebei Luan River National Nature Reserve （HLRNR）. We found that wild populations cast earlier than captive and semi-free populations. A tropical population that immigrated into Hainan Province also had a regular annual antler cycle. The start and end dates of the antler cycle differed between years and habitats. The start date of antler casting was not related to altitude, longitude, latitude, annual average temperature, captivity, or climate; rather, photoperiod and hormone status regulated the antler cycle. Other factors affecting the cycle included age, antler weight, nutrition and energy status, population density, and phenological characteristics.