Comparison between the Medullary Indexes of Hairs from Apodemus orestes and A.draco,with Discussion about the Taxonomic Status of A.orestes

The taxonomic status of long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus orestes) is still uncertain up to now.Some scholars regarded it as a subspecies or a synonym of dragon field mouse (A.draco),while other scholars considered it a valid species.In the study,five specimens of adult long-tailed field mouse,dragon field mouse and Chevrier's field mouse (A.chevrieri) (as a contrast) were chosen respectively.After treated,with the eyepiece micrometer in the inverted microscope,we made measurements of the widths of hairs and medullas and then calculated the medullary indexes of straight guard hairs from around the mouth,head,back,abdomen and forelimb of each species.The results indicate that,viewing at each of the five parts and the mixture of the five parts,there are no significant differences between A.orestes and A.draco,Significant differences can be found between A.orestes & A.chevrieri and A.draco & A.chevrieri though.The standpoint that A.orestes was listed as a valid species is not supported by this study.

How many species of Apodemus and Rattus occur in China？ A survey based on mitochondrial cyt b and morphological analyses

Apodemus （mice） and Rattus （rats） are the top rodent reservoirs for zoonoses in China,yet little is known about their diversity.We reexamined the alpha diversity of these two genera based on a new collection of specimens from China and their cyt b sequences in GenBank.We also tested whether species could be identified using external and craniodental measurements exclusively.Measurements from 147 specimens of Apodemus and 233 specimens of Rattus were used for morphological comparisons.We analysed 74 cyt b sequences of Apodemus and 100 cyt b sequences of Rattus to facilitate phylogenetic estimations.Results demonstrated that nine species of Apodemus and seven species of Rattus,plus a new subspecies of Rattus nitidus,are distributed in China.Principal component analysis using external and craniodental measurements revealed that measurements alone could not separate the recognized species.The occurrence of Rattus pyctoris in China remains uncertain.

Effects of Hypoxic Environment on Life Rhythm of Apodemus peninsulae

[Objective] The paper was to investigate the effect of hypoxic environment on life rhythm of Apodemus peninsulae. [Method] A. peninsulae were captured and fed in indoor hypoxic environment from May 2015 to October 2016. The respiratory frequency, activity level, food intake and water intake of A. peninsulae were analyzed under different oxygen concentrations. [Result] With the decrease of oxygen concentration, the respiratory frequency of A. peninsulae decreased, and the respiratory depth deepened, while the activity level, food intake and water intake de-creased. [Conclusion] The hypoxic environment had an impact on the respiratory frequency, activity level, food intake and water intake of A. peninsulae.

Food Selection of Apodemus peninsulae under Artificial Rearing Condition

[ Objective ] The paper aimed to screen the poison bait and lure suitable for controlling Apodemus peninsulae. [ Method ] A. peninsulae was reared individually in a single cage, to observe its feeding conditions. [Result] A. peninsulae preferred carrot and cucumber, followed by peanut, and rat diet was the last choice. [ Conclusion] Carrot and cucumber could be used to prepare poisoning bait for controlling A. peninsulae, in order to improve rat capture efficiency.

Determination on Blood Physiological Parameters of Apodemus agrarius

The study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of blood physiological parameters of Apodemus agrarius （A. agrarius）. Blood physiological pa- rammers of 10 A. agrarius （half male and half female） were determined by automated hematology analyzer. Results showed that difference of A. agrarius hematokrit （HCT） between male and female was significant （P 〈 0.05 ）, and differences of all the other blood physiological parameters between male and female were not sig- nificant （ P 〉 0.05 ）. In the study, blood physiological reference value of A. agrarius was set up, which provided a basis for the bio-research and prophylaxis and treatment of A. agrarius.

Effect of Continuous Light on Rhythm of Apodemus agrarius

[ Objective ] The paper aimed to study effects of continuous light on rhythm of Apodemus agrarius. [ Method ] The changes in rhythm of A. agrarius activities were observed under natural light and 24 h continuous light condition. [ Result] A. agrarius activated at daytime and night, but the activity time at night was longer than that at daytime, and the peak period of activity also occurred at night. When exposed to natural light, the activity time, feeding time and drinking time ofA. agrarius were （27 870±5 252）s, （6 171 ± 1 529）s and （474 ±92） s, respectively; when exposed to 24 continuous light, the activity time, feeding time and drinking time of A. agrarius were （ 19 935 ±2 971 ） s, （5 870 ± 1 988 ） s and （331 ± 117 ） s, respectively. [ Conclusion ] The activity time of A. agraritas changed significantly under two different light conditions, while feeding time and drinking time had little changes.

Comparison of Oxygen Consumption between Clethrionomys rufocanus and Apodemus agrarius

[ Objective] The paper was to find out the difference in oxygen consumption between Clethrionomys rufocanus and Apodemus agrarius. [ Method] The oxygen consumption value of C. rufocanus and A. agrarius was measured using improved closed pressure breathing apparatus, and the oxygen consumption rate was calculated. [ Result] The oxygen consumption of C. rufocanus and A. agrarius increased with the increasing body weight, while the increase amplitude ofA. agrarius was relatively smaller. The oxygen consumption rate decreased with the increasing body weight. [ Conclusion] The result provides a biological basis for breeding and research of experimental rats.

Palatability of Two Kinds of Rodenticides for Apodemus agrarius

[Objective]The paper aimed to compare the palatability of 0.005% brodifacoum bait and 0.005% bromodiolone bait for Apodemus agrarius.[Method]A.agrarius were divided into two groups：brodifacoum group and bromodiolone group,and each group was released with equal amount of poison bait and feed.The daily consumption and mortality of each group was recorded.[Result]The total consumption of poison baits in brodifacoum group and bromodiolone group were64.6 and 40.4 g,respectively.Mortality of A.agrarius was observed in two groups since the 3^rdday after administration,and A.agrarius died completely on the5^thday.The feeding coefficient of poison bait to feed in brodifacoum group was 1.47,and that in bromodiolone group was 0.69.[Conclusion]The palatability of 0.005% brodifacoum bait for A.agrarius was superior to that of 0.005% bromodiolone bait.

The Impact of Urban Noise on the Behavior of Two Mouse Species Belonging to the Genus Apodemus

Traffic noise was tested as a stress factor in an open-field study of urban and non-urban populations of two species belonging to the genus Apodemus: the striped field mouse and the yellow-necked mouse. The striped field mouse has inhabited green areas in cities for years, whereas the yellow-necked mouse was first observed in such areas relatively recently. Behavioral reactions to noise in the urban population of striped field mice were the same as the reactions observed in the non-urban population of the species. As for the yellow-necked mouse, behavior in response to noise in the non-urban population differed from that observed in the urban population. We see such differences as being related to the fact that striped field mice, which have inhabited urban areas for many generations, form a stable population in urban areas, and specific individuals are adapted to urban conditions. Yellow-necked mice, in turn, form no stable urban population and the individuals found in cities are most probably migrants, not adapted to urban conditions, which is the reason why their reaction to noise differs from the typical response.

Anti-fertility effect of levonorgestrel and/or quinestrol on striped field mouse(Apodemus agrarius):evidence from both laboratory and field experiments

The effect of combined levonorgestrel(P)and quinestrol(E)on the fertility of stripedfield mouse(Apodemus agrarius)has not been evaluated.We performed a series of experiments in both the laboratory andfield to assess the effect of P and/or E on the fertility of A.agrarius.In the laboratory,to test the time-dependent anti-fertility ef-fects of P and E,as well as their mixtures,90 male stripedfield mice were randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups(n=60),and a control group(n=30).Mice in 3 treatment groups were administered 1 of the 3 compounds(1 mg�kg–1[body weight]EP-1,0.34 mg�kg–1 E,0.66 mg�kg–1 P)for 3 successive days(another half for 7 suc-cessive days)via oral gavage;mice were then sacrificed 15 and 45 days after initiating the gavage treatment.Ourfindings indicated that E and EP-1 treatment,but not P or control treatment,significantly decreased the sperm count in the caudal epididymis,as well as the weight of the testes,epididymides,and seminal vesicles.Additionally,fer-tile female mice mated with E-and EP-1-treated males produced smaller pups.These data indicate that E and EP-1 can induce infertility in male A.agrarius.In thefield,the population density of A.agrarius was significantly influ-enced by EP-1,and the rodent density in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group.Overall,our results indicate that EP-1 is an effective contraceptive in A.agrarius,a dominant rodent species in the farmland.

Geographical clines in the size of the herb field mouse(Apodemus uralensis)

Patterns of body size variation along geographical gradients have long been searched for and generalized into eco-geographical rules.However,no rodent species has yet been analyzed in relation to the 3 dimensions of latitude,longitude and altitude.We analyzed geographical clines and dimorphism of body and skull size in the herb field mouse(Apodemus uralensis)across the species range,based on field data and on data from the literature.Sexual dimorphism in adult A.uralensis was not expressed at a large scale,while local patterns were inconsistent.Age-dependent size changes were most expressed in adult individuals:most characters of adults exceeded in size those of subadults,while subadult-juvenile size differences were only significant in body weight and length,zygomatic skull width,length of cranial diastema and breadth of braincase.Despite central morphological niches along the clines being separated,A.uralensis populations showed a high degree of size overlap in morphological space.We found the species to be characterized by high size variability,with the largest individuals inhabiting the eastern and southern edges of the distribution range.Tail,hind foot and ear lengths were largest in the southern part of the range,in agreement with Allen’s rule.The main measurements that we analyzed,namely body mass,zygomatic skull width and condylobasal skull length,show the presence of 3 clines in the size of adult A.uralensis:(i)a decreasing south-north cline,opposing Bergmann’s rule;(ii)an increasing west-east cline,in accordance with Murphy’s rule;and(iii)an increasing altitudinal cline.

Behavioral and physiological responses of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) to predator odor

Predation risk is one of the most important selective forces in nature and has significant effects on the behavior and physiology of prey individuals.Prey species have evolved several different traits to reduce and avoid this predation pressure.This research aimed to determine the behavioral and physiological responses of striped field mice to predator risk.In the present study,we compared the agonistic behavior in male and female striped field mice(Apodemus agrarius Pallas,1771)of the same sexes under the odor derived from a male Himalayan weasel(Mustela sibirica).Dyads were subjected to 5 min staged encounters in neutral arenas once a week for 3 weeks during which agonistic and social behaviors were recorded and fecal hormone concentrations were determined using pre-column derivatization and high performance liquid chromatography methods.Furthermore,we also tested the effects of weasel odor on the adrenal glands.The results showed that:(i)male striped field mice did not exhibit any change in body weight and physiological characteristics but their aggressive behavior changed over time,and(ii)females responded to predation risk by significantly decreasing body mass and through increases in fecal cortisol levels and adrenal gland indices.These data show significant sex differences in the body weight,adrenal gland indices and fecal cortisol levels of striped field mouse under predation risk.

Physaloptera apodemi sp. nov.(Nematoda: Physalopteridae) from Apodemus sylvaticus(Linnaeus, 1758)(Rodentia: Muridae) from Tianjin, China

A new species,Physaloptera apodemi sp.nov.,was collected from Apodemus sylvaticus(Linnaeus,1758)(Rodentia:Muridae)from the National Baxianshan Nature Reserve,Tianjin,China.The new species differs from the congeners by having 22 caudal papillae,the number and arrangement of caudal papillae,either the left or the right spicule with striated sheaths at their proximal end,the vulva located in the anterior fifth of body,and the egg size.A key to the species of Physaloptera from rodents is also given.

Comparative study on adaptive thermogenic capacity during high-temperature acclimation of three sympatric rodents

In order to explore how the sympatric species of Eothenomys olitor,Apodemus chevrieri,Eothenomys miletus will adjust their thermogenic capacity to adapt to the environment under the background of global warming,as well as which species has stronger high-temperature adaptation ability.Body mass,liver and brown adipose tissue(BAT)mass and their protein contents under high-temperature conditions(30±1°C,acclimation for 28 days)were measured in the present study.The results showed that all three kinds of animals in the warm acclimation group increased body mass and reduced thermogenic capacity,in which the indicators of thermogenesis for E.olitor had the smallest change range,and there were significant differences in body mass and thermogenic capacity among the three species.All of the above results suggested that the three sympatric rodents chosen to increase their body mass,reduced thermogenesis and energy consumption to adapt to the environment under high temperature conditions,which showed a phenomenon of convergent adaptation.Moreover,the change amplitude of the E.olitor was the smallest,indicating that high temperature has the least impact on its survival,indicating that E.olitor may had stronger adaptability under the conditions of global warming.

张广才岭东部两种姬鼠两性异形比较研究

为了解朝鲜姬鼠(Apodemus peninsulae)和黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)的两性异形特征,在黑龙江省张广才岭东部农林交错区,采用铗日法采集同域分布的两个优势物种朝鲜姬鼠和黑线姬鼠,分别测量其外部形态和内脏特征等形态指标,并对其两性异形比较研究。结果表明,两种姬鼠的外部形态和内脏特征的两性异形差异不显著,均属于雌雄同形,表现出雄性的主要形态特征略大于雌性的,朝鲜姬鼠雄性前足长、心脏重、脾脏重均大于雌性的;黑线姬鼠雄性体长、后足长、体重、心脏重、肝脏重均大于雌性的。朝鲜姬鼠和黑线姬鼠的雄雌体长比值分别为1.021和1.043,体长两性异形程度指数分别为0.021和0.041;雄雌体重比值分别为1.065和1.161,两性异形程度指数分别为0.061和0.139。两种姬鼠两性的部分局部形态特征均与其体长以及体重呈显著正相关。

大林姬鼠和黑线姬鼠消化系统中酶的分布与活性分析

为森林害鼠防治及实验动物化等研究提供基础生化数据,采用PAGE对大林姬鼠(Apodemus peninsulae)和黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)消化系统中AMY、PRO、EST 3种主要消化酶和SOD的分布与活性进行比较分析。结果表明,大林姬鼠和黑线姬鼠消化系统中AMY、PRO、EST和SOD均有表达,但在两种鼠之间及鼠的组织内和组织间酶的活性和分布存在明显差异。

食物、捕食和种间竞争对东方田鼠种群动态的作用

采用2×2×2析因实验设计,在野外围栏条件下,测定食物、捕食和竞争物种黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)对东方田鼠(Microtus fortis)种群动态作用的格局。食物可利用性、捕食及种间竞争的独立作用对种群最小存活数均具有极显著的效应,除捕食与种间竞争的交互作用接近显著水平外,食物与种间竞争、食物与捕食者以及三者间的交互作用均不显著;三类外部因子对种群补充量的独立作用效应均达到极显著水平,且对种群补充量的作用具有累加效应;食物可利用性、捕食及种间竞争对种群繁殖成体的比例具有极显著的作用;三类外部因子对种群幼体与成体的比例具有极显著的作用。对种群年龄结构而言,与捕食者及种间竞争比较,食物可利用性是相对较弱的影响因子,在任何捕食与种间竞争交互作用条件下,食物的作用均不显著;三类外部因子均能显著地影响东方田鼠的体重增长率,但三者的交互作用对其影响不显著;MANOVA结果表明,捕食对成体存活率的作用最强烈,其次,为食物可利用性,种间竞争的作用最弱,但三者的交互作用效应不显著。对幼体的存活时间,除捕食的作用接近显著水平外,食物可利用性及种间竞争的作用均不显著。结果提供了食物可利用性、捕食和种间竞争对东方田鼠种群动态作用的充分证据,验证了食物、捕食和种间竞争对田鼠类种群动态具有独立或累加效应的总假设。

黑线姬鼠和大林姬鼠消化系统中过氧化物酶的比较分析

为给黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)和大林姬鼠(Apodemus peninsulae)实验动物化及农林害鼠防治等研究提供基础生化数据,采用PAGE方法比较分析2种鼠消化系统中过氧化物酶的分布和活性并建立电泳谱图。结果表明,黑线姬鼠和大林姬鼠消化系统中过氧化物酶均有表达,同种个体间以及2种鼠间消化系统中过氧化物酶的活性和分布存在明显差别。

大林姬鼠和黑线姬鼠血清中两种免疫酶的比较分析

采用PAGE方法对大林姬鼠(Apodemus peninsulae)和黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)血清中SOD、POD两种免疫酶的分布和活性进行比较分析并建立SOD、POD电泳图谱。结果表明,在大林姬鼠和黑线姬鼠血清中SOD和POD均有表达,但两种鼠个体间的酶的分布和活性存在明显差异。

大林姬鼠耐饥性研究

为研究大林姬鼠(Apodemus peninsulae)耐饥性,于夏、秋两季分别用12只各分成无水无粮、无水有粮、有水无粮3组,观察耐饥情况。结果表明,夏季组12只大林姬鼠平均耐饥时间为112.00±55.02 h,其中无水无粮、有水无粮、无水有粮条件平均耐饥时间分别为103.00±56.27、83.00±27.14、149.75±63.82 h;秋季组12只大林姬鼠平均耐饥时间为100.25±34.51 h,其中无水无粮、有水无粮、无水有粮条件平均耐饥时间分别为88.25±47.23、92.75±23.31、119.75±28.62 h。无水无粮和无水有粮条件下,夏季比秋季耐饥性强,而有水无粮条件下,秋季比夏季耐饥性强。说明大林姬鼠的耐饥性较强,在夏季和秋季有一定差异,且耐饥时间与体重减少率有关。