Behavior observation of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) in captivity

The various behaviors of four Amur tigers in captivity were investigated in March from 1998 to 2001 in Harbin Zoo. The results showed that the behavior could be divided into 5 major types: moving, resting, sleeping, eating and other behaviors (including drinking, urinating, grooming, playing, standing). Of all behavioral models, sleeping and moving behaviors alone accounted for 75.18% and were two major behavioral models of all behaviors. Resting, eating and other behaviors accounted for 24.82%. Apart from eating, one male and two female individuals have similar peak periods of 4 major behaviors (one peak period in the daytime, and one peak period at night), similar to that of wild Amur tiger. However, one female individual have two clear peak periods at night.

吉林长白县大林姬鼠中检测到Amur样病毒核酸

用针对汉坦病毒L（大）片段的特异引物对21份大林姬鼠鼠肺样本进行检测，有2份扩增出特异性条带，经序列测定显示是Amur样病毒，两株病毒存在一个碱基的差异。随后对一株样本的M和S片段进行了全长扩增，结果显示其M片段和H5株同源性最高。S片段和NA33株的同源性最高。根据M片段编码区序列构建的进化树显示，我国和俄罗斯Amur样病毒可归为同一亚型。

滤光膜对黄檗(Phellodendron amuranse)幼苗三种生物碱含量的影响

以滤光膜遮光处理1年生黄檗(Phellodendron amuranse)幼苗,测定了幼苗生物量及根、茎外皮中的小檗碱、药根碱和掌叶防己碱含量。红色、黄色、蓝色和绿色滤光膜对黄檗幼苗的根和茎生物量都有不同程度的抑制作用,其中黄膜的抑制作用最小,而蓝膜和绿膜的抑制作用最强。滤光膜处理也不同程度地抑制了小檗碱、药根碱和掌叶防己碱的合成和积累,红膜的抑制作用最小,蓝膜和绿膜的抑制作用最强。滤光膜处理后,3种生物碱的单株产量都低于对照,红膜处理小檗碱的产量显著高于黄膜处理,但红膜和黄膜处理下的药根碱和掌叶防己碱的产量差异不显著,蓝膜和绿膜处理的3种生物碱的产量都始终最低。滤光膜处理不利于黄檗幼苗的生长和上述3种生物碱的积累。

Climate change characteristics of Amur River

Unusually severe weather is occurring more frequently due to global climate change. Heat waves, rainstorms, snowstorms, and droughts are becoming increasingly common all over the world, threatening human lives and property. Both temperature and precipitation are representative variables usually used to directly reflect and forecast the influences of climate change. In this study, daily data （from 1953 to 1995） and monthly data （from 1950 to 2010） of temperature and precipitation in five regions of the Amur River were examined. The significance of changes in temperature and precipitation was tested using the Mann-Kendall test method. The amplitudes were computed using the linear least-squares regression model, and the extreme temperature and precipitation were analyzed using hydrological statistical methods. The results show the following： the mean annual temperature increased significantly from 1950 to 2010 in the five regions, mainly due to the warming in spring and winter; the annual precipitation changed significantly from 1950 to 2010 only in the lower mainstream of the Amur River; the frequency of extremely low temperature events decreased from 1953 to 1995 in the mainstream of the Amur River; the frequency of high temperature events increased from 1953 to 1995 in the mainstream of the Amur River; and the frequency of extreme precipitation events did not change significantly from 1953 to 1995 in the mainstream of the Amur River. This study provides a valuable theoretical basis for settling disputes between China and Russia on sustainable development and utilization of water resources of the Amur River.

SEED DISPERSAL,DORMANCY,SEEDBANK AND REGENERATION OF AMUR CORKTREE

Amur corktree (phellodendron amurense Rupr.)is one of the important accompanyingspeeies of Korean pine(Pinus Koraiensis Sieb et Zucc)broadleaved forest in northeast China.Thispaper reports on the seed dispersal,dormancy,seed bank and regeneration of amur corktree.Seeds ofamur corktree are dispersed mainly by the aid of birds and gravity.The aril of the seeds many increaseseed longevity.In natural secondary forests,the stone of the seed bank may reach 750.000 seeds perheetare Regeneration was correlated with disturbance.and was best under intensive disturbance.

The Berezitovoe gold-polymetallic deposit(Upper Amur region,Russia)：Structure,mineralogy and genetic aspects

The Berezitovoe deposit in the Sergachi volcano-plutonic and metallogenic belt preserves evidence for polymetallic mineralization of multiple stages.The steeply dipping gamet-tourmaline-muscovite-quartz metasomatites（with K-Ar ages of 132 ± 2.9 and 127 ± 4.4 Ma） carry two distinct stages of mineralization developed at different times：（1） polymetallic mineralization and（2） gold-quartz.The deposit is located within Paleozoic gneissose granitoids of the Pikansky complex（dated as 379 ± 1.1 Ma by zircon U-Pb method） intruded by early Cretaceous porphyry-like granites of the Haikta pluton（dated as137 ± 0.67 Ma by zircon U-Pb method） and late Cretaceous dikes of porphyrites,porphyries,and lamprophyres.Evidence suggests the action of late gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids on the early polymetallic ores and the selective mobilization of some elements from these lead to redeposition together with complex sulphosalts.

Risks involved in fecal DNA-based genotyping of microsatellite loci in the Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica:a pilot study

In modern wildlife ecological research,feces is the most common non-invasive source of DNA obtained in the field and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) technology based on microsatellite markers is used to mine genetic information contained within.This is especially the case for endangered species.However,there are risks associated with this genotyping method because of the poor quality of fecal DNA.In this study,we assessed genotyping risk across 12 microsatellite loci commonly used in previous tiger studies using blood and fecal DNA from captive Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica).To begin,we developed an index termed the accumulated matching rate of genotypes(R)between positive DNA(blood samples) and fecal DNA to explore the correct genotyping probability of a certain microsatellite locus.We found that different microsatelliteloci had different genotyping risks and required different PCR amplification protocols.The genotyping errors we detected altered population genetic parameters and potentially impact subsequent analyses.Based on these findings,we recommend that:(1) four loci(E7,Fca094,Pti007 and Pti010) of 12 loci are not suitable for Amur tiger genetic research because of a low Rand difficulty reaching a stable status;(2) the Rof the 12 microsatellite loci plateaued differently,and considering limited budgets,amplification times of some loci could be increased when using fecal samples; and(3) future genetic analysis of wild Amur tigers should be corrected by genotyping error rates(1-R).

Stocking density affects the growth performance and metabolism of Amur sturgeon by regulating expression of genes in the GH/IGF axis

The effects of stocking density on the growth and metabolism of Amur sturgeon were assessed. Amur sturgeon were grown for 70 days at three dif ferent stocking densities(low stocking density, LSD: 5.5 kg/m^3; medium stocking density, MSD: 8.0 kg/m^3; and high stocking density, HSD: 11.0 kg/m^3), and the biometric index, muscle composition, and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. In addition, pituitary, liver, and muscle samples were collected for gene cloning and expression analyses. After 70 days of growth, the fish maintained at HSD had significantly lower fi nal body weight and specifi c growth rate, and a higher feed conversion ratio than those of the fish in the MSD and LSD groups. The HSD group had the lowest lipid and protein concentrations in serum and muscle. The serum cortisol concentration increased significantly in the HSD group, indicating that the stress-response system was activated in these fish. There was no change in the concentration of serum insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF-2), while the concentrations of serum growth hormone(GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) decreased in the HSD group. The full-length cDNAs of G H and IGF-2 genes(995-bp and 1 207-bp long, respectively), were cloned and analyzed. In the HSD group, the expressions of GH in the pituitary and growth hormone receptor( GHR) and IGF-1 in the liver were down-regulated at the end of the 70-day experiment. In the HSD group, the transcript level of IGF-2 significantly decreased in the liver, but did not change in muscle. Overall, our results indicated that a HSD negatively af fects the growth performance and leads to changes in lipid and protein metabolism in Amur sturgeon. The down-regulated expression of genes related to the GH/IGF axis may be responsible for the poor growth performance of Amur sturgeon under crowding stress.

Spatial Ecology of Translocated and Resident Amur Ratsnakes(Elaphe schrenckii) in Two Mountain Valleys of South Korea

The translocation of snakes has been viewed as a useful tool to augment declining populations and to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, even though released snakes often exhibit relatively high mortality. We radio-tracked 13 Amur Ratsnakes （Elaphe schrenckii） in the Woraksan National Park in South Korea from July 2008 to May 2009. Two of these snakes were residents, and 11 had been illegally captured in areas remote from the study site and were donated by the park office. During the study period, six of the translocated snakes were lost： two were killed by predators, one died of unknown causes, and the radio signals of three of the snakes were lost. In the field, the ratsnakes laid eggs in early August, moved into hibemacula in late November, and moved away from the hibemacula in mid-April. Compared to the resident snakes, five of the translocated snakes traveled approximately 1.3 times farther per week, and the home ranges of the translocated snakes were three to six times larger than those of the resident snakes. In addition, the translocated snakes were found underground more frequently than the resident snakes. The management recommendations resulting from this study will guide biologists and land use managers in making appropriate decisions regarding release sites and the use of gravid females in the translocation of this endangered ratsnake.

Effects of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Com plex Additives on Non-specific Immunity of Amursturgeon( Acipenser schrencki Brandt)

This study was to investigate the effects of aqueous decotion from three Chinese medicinal herb additives （ Cyrtomium fortunei, prescription I and prescription II） on non-specific immunity of 1 ＋ age old Amur sturgeon （Acipenser schrencki Brandt） by oral perfusion. Cyrtomiumfortunei, prescription I and prescription II were orally given to 15 fishes for each experimental group once a day, with the concentration of 9,175 and 36 g/S0 kg body weight, respectively. The administration was lasted for 14 days. Meanwhile, distilled water was orally given as the control. After the experiment, some of the experimental fishes were stimulated with high temperature （30 ℃ ） for two hours. Sampling was performed from fishes treated at 22 ℃ and 30 ℃ for measuring the protein content in the serum, phagocytic activity of leucocytes and the activity of the lysozyme in six tissues. The results indicated that Cyrtomiumfortunei and prescription II could help to enhance the content of various proteins and the phagocytic activity of leucocytes. There was no significant change in the effects between these two additives at either the normal temperature or high temperature. Prescription I did not show an obvious effect on the immunity of fishes at the normal temperature, but it did in promo- ting high-efficiency response and improving immunoregulation of fish shocked by some stimuli.

Spatial-temporal variability of snow cover over the Amur River Basin inferred from MODIS daily snow products in recent decades

MODIS snow products MOD10A1\MYD10A1 provided us a unique chance to investigate snow cover as well as its spatial-temporal variability in response to global changes from regional and global perspectives.By means of MODIS snow products MOD10A1\MYD10A1 derived from an extensive area of the Amur River Basin,mainly located in the Northeast part of China,some part in far east area of the former USSR and a minor part in Republic of Mongolia,the reproduced snow datasets after removal of cloud effects covering the whole watershed of the Amur River Basin were generated by using 6 different cloud-effect-removing algorithms.The accuracy of the reproduced snow products was evaluated with the time series of snow depth data observed from 2002 to 2010 within the Chinese part of the basin,and the results suggested that the accuracies for the reproduced monthly mean snow depth datasets derived from 6 different cloud-effect-removing algorithms varied from 82%to 96%,the snow classification accuracies(the harmonic mean of Recall and Precision)was higher than 80%,close to the accuracy of the original snow product under clear sky conditions when snow cover was stably accumulated.By using the reproduced snow product dataset with the best validated cloud-effect-removing algorithm newly proposed,spatial-temporal variability of snow coverage fraction(SCF),the date when snow cover started to accumulate(SCS)as well as the date when being melted off(SCM)in the Amur River Basin from 2002 to 2016 were investigated.The results indicated that the SCF characterized the significant spatial heterogeneity tended to be higher towards East and North but lower toward West and South over the Amur River Basin.The inter-annual variations of SCF showed an insignificant increase in general with slight fluctuations in majority part of the basin.Both SCS and SCM tended to be slightly linear varied and the inter-annual differences were obvious.In addition,a clear decreasing trend in snow cover is observed in the region.Trend analysis(at 10%significance level)showed that 71%of areas between 2,000 and 2,380 m a.s.l.experienced a reduction in duration and coverage of annual snow cover.Moreover,a severe snow cover reduction during recent years with sharp fluctuations was investigated.Overall spatial-temporal variability of Both SCS and SCM tended to coincide with that of SCF over the basin in general.

Recent advances on study of hadrosaurid dinosaurs in Heilongjiang(Amur) River area between China and Russia

Four main dinosaur-bearing sites have been investigated in latest Cretaceous deposits from the Amur/Heilongjiang Region ： Jiayin and Wulaga in China （ Yuliangze Formation）, Blagoveschensk and Kundur in Russia （Udurchukan Formation）. More than 90% of the bones discovered in these localities belong to hollow-crested lambeosaurine hadrosaurids： Charonosaurus fiayinensis at Jiayin, Amurosaurus riabinini at Blagoveschensk, Olorotitan arharensis at Kundur, and Sahaliyania elunchunorum at Wulaga. Flat-headed hadrosaurine hadrosaurids are much less numerous, but appear well diversified as well： Kerberosaurus manakini at Blagoveschensk, Wulagasaurus dongi at Wulaga, and a new genus at Kundur. Theropods are represented by shed teeth and isolated bones; isolated scutes and teeth discovered at Kundur are tentatively attributed to nodosaurids. Palynological studies suggest that these sites are probably synchronous with the Lancian＇ vertebrate localities of western North America, which represent the youngest dinosaur faunas in this area. However, the latest Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages are completely different in the Amur/Heilongjiang region （lambeosaurines abundant, ceratopsids absent） and in western North America （ceratopsids abundant, lainbeosaurines extremely rare or absent）. This probably reflects some kind of geographical barrier between both areas by Maastrichtian time rather than strong differences in palaeoecological conditions.

Fossil woods from the Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene of Heilongjang(Amur)River area of China and Russia

Fossil woods were collected from the Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene beds distributed around Heilong- jang （Amur） River area of China and Russia. A total of 43 specimens were collected from Baishantou, Long- gushan, and Yong＇ancun in Jiayin, China, and 85 specimens from Zeya-Bureya Basin lying southeast of Blagoveshchensk in Russia. Selected specimens were sectioned and studied anatomically. The source deposits of almost all identifiable specimens belong to the Upper Cretaceous （Campanian） Taipinglinchang Formation and the Paleocene Wuyun Formation in China, and the Paleocene Upper Tsagayan Formation in Russia. Al- though the results obtained are still far from complete, the taxonomic composition of the fossil woods show marked stratigraphic differences between the two horizons beyond the K/T boundary in China. There is also a strong similarity in wood flora between the Wuyun Formation of China and the Upper Tsagayan Formation of Russia. All identified specimens from the Taipinglinchang Formation are Xenoxylon latiporosum, This is one of the stratigraphically younger records of Xenoxylon, which is a conifer morphogenus of uncertain affinity most common in the Triassic to Early Cretaceous. Only one specimen with possible derivation from either the Wuyun or the Maastriehtian Furao Formation in China was identified as Taxodioxylon sp. The Wuyun Formation yielded both conifers and dicotyledonous woods. The conifers include Taxodioxylon sequoianum of the Taxodiaceae, and Protopiceoxylon amurense, which is attributable to the extant genera Keteleeria or Nothotsuga of the Pinaeeac, both are at present endemic to China. At least two morphotypes of dicotyledonous woods were recognized, with one identified as el. Hamamelidoxylon , and the other diffuse porous wood is characterized by numerous heterogeneous rays. From the Zeya-Buleya Basin of Russia, Taxodioxylon sequoianum and cf. Hamamelidoxylon sp. were identified from the Upper Tsagayan Formation. The similarity of wood composition in both Wuyun and Upper Tsagayan Formations support lithological as well as biostratigraphic correlations proposed for the two formations.

Sedimentary facies of Maastrichtian to Danian deposits in Amur River area,Russian Far East

Sedimentary facies of the Tsagayan Formation is distributed in the eastern Zeya-Bureya Basin has been analyzed. The formation is of the Maastrichtian to Danian in age and characterized by the cyclicity of the fining-upwards successions. Analysis of environmental changes during the K/T boundary is the focus of this study. Five facies have been identified: Facies A, thick and laterally extensive coarse-grained to medium-grained sandstone units, interpreted as channelfill deposits; Facies B, parallel-laminated to massive mudstone units interpreted as interchannel lakes and flood plain deposits; Facies C, sheet-like medium-grained to fine-grained sandstones interpreted as crevasse splay deposits; Facies D, coal to coaly mudstone beds interpreted as deposits of peatlands; Facies E, very poorly sorted sandy mudstone beds interpreted as debris flow deposits. Fluvial environments with the low-relief flat topography was inferred. A channel transported large volumes of clasts, and a flood basin with interchannel lakes and peatlands was deciphered. Any distinct change of sedimentary environments has not been identified throughout the Tsagayan Formation (including the K/T boundary). However, two beds of debris flow deposits were identified. The one occurs at the uppermost part of the lower Tsagayan Subformation and contains dinosaur fossils. The other is intercalated in the upper Tsagayan Subformation.

Forest and Agricultural Land Use Changes in the Amur River Basin in the 20th Century:Tendencies and Driving Forces

The main part of the Amur River basin(over 90%) belongs to the Russian Far East and Northeastern China.Forests and agricultural lands,covering more than 70%of considered watershed,in the 20th century played a role of important resources base for both regional economic development and growth of national economies.Present-day and future environmental conditions of adjoining regions of Russia

Effects of competition on growth of Amur linden plantation

Competition is the common ecological phenomenon that exists in a stand after canopy closure. The effect of competition on DBH, height, crown diameter and crown area of individual amur linden trees was examined. We used two plots data, from amur linden (Tilia amurensis) plantation, 14 years old, in Liaoning province, to analyze the correlations among DBH, total height, crown diameer and crown area, and used the size-ratio of competiting tree DBHs to subject tree DBH to calculate distance-dependent competition index. The results show that DBH has the largest variation comparing with standard deviations and coeficeints. DBH and crown factors have higher correlations. Competition index is an important factor in tree growth. The best fitting models are exponent, for Cl vs height and Cl vs crown factors, and power, for Cl vs DBH. The more closed correlation model is Cl vs DBH (R2=0.7028), which performed 16.32%–18.86% better than other models. These reflect that DBH is an important indicator to display stand competition for amur linden.

Variations of Dissolved Iron in the Amur River During an Extreme Flood Event in 2013

As a key factor limiting primary productivity in marine ecosystem, dissolved iron(DFe) export from fluvial systems has increased recently. There is particular concern about discharges of DFe during extreme flooding, when they are thought to increase considerably. An extreme flood event that caused inundation of extensive areas of Far Eastern Russia and Northeastern China occurred in the basin of the Amur River during summer and autumn 2013. During this event, water samples were collected in the middle reaches of the Amur River and the lower reaches at Khabarovsk City and analyzed for DFe concentrations and other aquatic parameters. The results show that the average DFe concentrations in the middle reaches of the Amur River(right bank) and at Khabarovsk were 1.11 mg/L and 0.32 mg/L, respectively, during the extreme flood in 2013. The total discharge of DFe during the flood event was 6.25 × 104 t. The high discharge of DFe during the flood reflects the elevated discharge of the river, hydrologically connected riparian wetlands, vast quantities of terrestrial runoff, and flood discharges from the Zeya and Bureya reservoirs. These results show that long-term monitoring is needed to identify and assess the impacts of DFe transport on the downstream reaches, estuarine area, and coastal ecosystems of the Amur River.

Deep Metallogenic Speciality of Lithosphere in Amur Province, Russia

The spatial connections of endogenous deposits with anomalies of the vertical density gradient in lithosphere, calculated on the formulas for the spherical gravity sources are analyzed for Amur Province. The spatial parameters of tin-bearing, tungsten-bearing and gold-bearing regional ore-magmatic systems (ore regions, belts, zones and areas) are characterized by correlation of deep gradient density anomalies in the crust and upper mantle with the extensivity of superficial ore mineralization. Tin-ore deposits are mainly connected with density heterogeneities of the upper crust layer (up to a depth of 20 km), and tungsten, molibdenium and polymetallic deposits-with anomalies of the density gradient in the low crust layer (at a depth of 30 km) and in the upper mantle (at a depth of 60～70 km). Gold-ore regions are characterized by the greatest vertical range of fluid-magmatic systems (about 100 km from the surface) and arethrough ones in relation to mantle and crust tectonic structures. Opportunity is shown for the 3D density gradient model of the Amur Province lithosphere to be applied for constructing the forecast metallogenic models.

Geological structure, composition of ores and age of the Bamsk gold deposit, Amur region, Russia

The Bamsk gold-ore deposit is located in the Amur region, the Far East of Russia. It is confined to the Early Cretaceous volcanic-plutonic uplift of central type, located in the Stanov folded-clumpy Pre-Cambrian system. The deposit is presented by a series of gold-bearing quartz and carbonate-quartz vein-stringer zones. They are confined to the super-intrusive zone of the Nevachansk subvolcanic intrusion of sienite-porphyric composition. The mineralization is being controlled by zone of fractures developed in the autochthone of the Bamsk fault. Quartz, carbonates and sericite prevail in the composition of ores. The quantity of ore minerals doesn’t exceed 1%～5%. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and native gold are widely spread. Sheelite, gold and silver tellurides, sulphobismuthites, acanthite, sphalerite and cinnabar are less developed. Four stages of mineralization have been distinguished. Gold-sulphide-sulphosalt ore with tellurides of gold and silver is productive for gold. The following set of elements is typomorphic for the ores of the deposit: Au, Ag, Cu, Bi, Mo, Pb and Sb(W1, Pb1, Mo)-Cu-(Ag, Bi, Sb, Mn, W2, Pb2)form the vertical series of zoning. Rocks, enclosing the mineralization are exposed to the processes of listvenitization-beresitization. The processes of gumbeization and argillization are less manifested. The age of the gold mineralization, determined by Rb-Sr method on ore-accompanying minerals, is 130.6 Ma.