Sperm motility inhibitory effect of the benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya in langur monkey, Presbytis entellus entellus

Aim： To assess the contraceptive efficacy of the benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya in langur monkeys. Methods： The test substance was given p.o. to five monkeys at 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 360 days. Control animals （n = 3） received olive oil as vehicle. Sperm parameters as per World Health Organization standards, sperm functional tests, morphology of testis and epididymis, haematology, clinical biochemistry, serum testosterone and libido were evaluated. Following completion of 360 days treatment the animals were withdrawn from the treatment and the recovery pattern was assessed by semen analysis and sperm functional tests. Results： Total inhibition of sperm motility was observed following 60 days of treatment that continued until 360 days study period. Sperm count, percent viability and percent normal spermatozoa showed a drastic decline following 30 days of treatment. Sperm morphology showed predominant mid piece abnormalities. Sperm functional tests scored in sterile range. Histology and ultrastructure of testis revealed vacuolization in the Sertoli cells and germ cells. Loss of cytoplasmic organelles was evident in spermatocytes and round spermatids. Histology and ultrastructure of epididymis of treated animals were comparable to those of control animals. Hematological and serum clinical parameters and testosterone levels fluctuated within the control range throughout the study period. Recovery was evident following 60--120 days of treatment withdrawal. Conclusion- The results suggest that the benzene chro- matographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya shows contraceptive efficacy without adverse toxicity, mediated through inhibition of sperm motility. （Asian JAndro12008 Mar; 10： 298-306）

Safety evaluation of long-term vas occlusion with styrene maleic anhydride and its non-invasive reversal on accessory reproductive organs in langurs

Aim:To evaluate the safety of the long term vas occlusion with styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) and its non-invasive reversal at the level of accessory reproductive glands (ARGs) in langurs.Methods:The morphology of seminal vesicle and ventral prostate was evaluated by light as well as transmission electron microscopy.Serum clinical chemistry and urine albumin were evaluated in an autoanalyzer using reagent kits.Fructose,acid phosphatase and zinc in the seminal plasma were evaluated spectrophotometrically according to the WHO manual.Serum testosterone, prostate specific antigen and sperm antibodies were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using reagent kits and hematology was estimated according to standard procedures.Results:The morphological features and secretory activity of the seminal vesicle and prostate were normal as evidenced by the presence of well- developed mitochondria,rough endoplasmic reticulum,Golgi bodies,secretory granules and normal nuclear charac- teristics throughout the course of investigation.Serum testosterone and prostate specific antigen remained unaltered and serum antisperm antibodies level presented negative titres.Urine albumin was nil.Total red blood corpuscles (RBC),white blood corpuscles (WBC),hemoglobin (Hb) and red cell indices,serum protein,glucose,cholesterol, creatinine,creatine kinase (CK),serum glutamate oxalate transaminase (SGOT),serum glutamate pyruvate transami- nase (SGPT),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),bilirubin,urea,triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) did not show appreciable changes following vas occlusion and after its non-invasive reversal.Although fructose,acid phos- phatase (ACP) and zinc in the seminal plasma showed a significant reduction following vas occlusion,it could not be related to the morphology of seminal vesicle and prostate.Conclusion:SMA vas occlusion and its non-invasive reversal do not damage the accessory reproductive organs.

A new record of the capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in China

DEAR EDITOR, The distribution of the capped langur （Trachypithecus pileatus） in China has become controversial since Shortridge＇s langur （Trachypithecus shortridgei） was upgraded to a full species. The capped langur is considered to be distributed in northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and northwest Myanmar only （Brandon-Jones et al., 2004; Choudhury, 2008, 2014; Das et al., 2008; Groves, 2001）. In our field survey, however, we obtained photos of the capped langur, demonstrating its existence in China. Following the species promotion of Shortridge＇s langur （Brandon-Jones et al., 2004; Groves, 2001） and the delimiting of its distribution range to northwestern Yunnan in China and northeastern Myanmar （Brandon-Jones et al., 2004; Cui et al.,

Attacks on adult females with infants by non-resident males in the François langur

Infanticide by males is a common phenomenon in mammals,especially primates,as lactation lasts much longer than gestation in many species.Usually,infanticidal episodes occur soon after group takeovers,and are traditionally considered a male reproductive strategy(i.e.,support the sexual selection hypothesis,Hrdy,1974).To verify the validity of this conception,we observed one group of François’langurs in the Nonggang Nature Reserve,China,between August 2003 and July 2004.During the study period,a François’langur female with the youngest infant in the group was attacked three times by immigrating males,and later disappeared by the third day after the final attack.We suggest that these attacks on the female-infant dyad represent infanticide attempts by males,and may be the cause of the adult female and her infant’s disappearance.Presumably,that female dispersed with her infant to avoid infanticide and was not killed.Though these observations do not completely verify the sexual selection hypothesis,they are not inconsistent with it.

Attacks on adult females with infants by non-resident males in the Franois langur

Infanticide by males is a common phenomenon in mammals, especially primates, as lactation lasts much longer than gestation in many species. Usually, infanticidal episodes occur soon after group takeovers, and are traditionally considered a male reproductive strategy (i.e., support the sexual selection hypothesis, Hrdy, 1974). To verify the validity of this conception, we observed one group of Franois' langurs in the Nonggang Nature Reserve, China, between August 2003 and July 2004. During the study period, a Franois' langur female with the youngest infant in the group was attacked three times by immigrating males, and later disappeared by the third day after the final attack. We suggest that these attacks on the female-infant dyad represent infanticide attempts by males, and may be the cause of the adult female and her infant's disappearance. Presumably, that female dispersed with her infant to avoid infanticide and was not killed. Though these observations do not completely verify the sexual selection hypothesis, they are not inconsistent with it.

Comparison of locomotor behaviour between white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus and Franois' langurs T. franoisi in Fusui,China

We studied the locomotor behaviour of white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus and Franois' langurs T.franoisi to test two hypotheses:(1) these monkeys have evolved locomotor ability to support their activities on limestone hills,and (2) Franois' langurs have evolved more diverse locomotor skills than white-headed langurs. Data were collected from 1996-1998 and in 2005 in Fusui Nature Reserve,Guangxi,and showed that the two species had similar locomotor types,but Franois' langurs had more locomotor modes (26) than white-headed langurs (12). Quadrupedal walking and leaping were two major types,and white-headed langurs were more arboreal than Franois' langurs. We suggest that,while keeping their ancestral locomotor types,the two species have evolved new types allowing them to live on limestone cliffs. Compared to white-headed langurs,Franois' langurs have more diverse locomotor modes that probably have allowed them to live in more habitat types. As an evolutionary outcome,Franois' langurs have a larger distribution

白头叶猴婴猴月龄和性别对母婴关系的影响

非人灵长类动物的母婴关系是婴猴第一次重要的社会体验,对婴猴的生长发育、正常社会行为以及心理健康都具有重要意义。因此,母婴关系研究一直是灵长类学研究的热点之一。为深入了解白头叶猴(Trachypithe⁃cus leucocephalus)母婴关系的发展和影响因素,2009年9月至2010年8月,我们以广西崇左白头叶猴国家级自然保护区岜盆片区的一群野生白头叶猴为研究对象,记录其母婴行为的发生持续时长和发生频次,结合婴猴月龄和性别,探究婴猴月龄和性别对白头叶猴母婴关系的影响。结果表明:婴猴月龄显著影响白头叶猴的母婴关系。随着婴猴月龄的不断增长,母猴对婴猴的保护也随之逐渐减少,表明婴猴的发育是从依赖母猴到逐步独立融入社群的过程。婴猴性别对母婴行为的持续时间无显著影响,但在发生频次上母猴对雌性婴猴的照顾明显多于雄性婴猴。婴猴性别对母婴间的理毛行为、含乳行为均无显著影响,但对怀抱行为具有显著影响。白头叶猴母猴对不同性别的婴猴采取不同的照顾方式,这可能与雄性婴猴和雌性婴猴未来所承担的社会角色不同有关。

黑叶猴个体识别的新方法:基于腹股沟白斑斑纹观测

动物个体识别是进行种群数量监测、动物行为学和生态学研究的基础。通过区分个体特征差异,可收集个体行为、社会联属行为和迁移行为等重要数据(Cronin,2012;Crouse et al.,2017),为动物种群数量评估和制定有效保护策略提供关键基础数据。濒危野生动物个体识别方法目前有足迹识别、条纹识别(顾佳音等,2013)、DNA识别(张保卫,2005)、基于卷积神经网络(Convolutional Neural Network,CNN)进行个体面部图像识别(王革伟,2018;Qi et al.,2020)等。

Ranging behavior of the François’langur(Trachypithecus francoisi)in limestone habitats of Nonggang,China

Ranging behavior is an important aspect of animal behavior that researchers use to investigate ecological influences on individual behavior.We collected data on the ranging behavior of one group of François’langurs(Trachypithecus francoisi)between August 2003 and July 2004 in a limestone habitat within Nonggang Nature Reserve,China.We evaluated the influences of food availability,water resources and sleeping sites on ranging behavior.During the study period,the total home range size for the study group was 64.5 or(69.3 ha if the lacunae within the borders in which langurs were not observed were included),and the mean daily path length was 541 m.These are well within the range of variation reported in Trachypithecus species.The monthly range size was between 9.8 and 23.3 ha,and monthly range size correlated negatively with young leaf availability.The langurs tended to use a larger range size during young leaf-lean periods.The langurs did not use their home range uniformly,and 74%of their activities occurred within 35%of their home range.The most heavily used quadrats in the home range were located near the most frequently used sleeping sites,suggesting that sleeping sites have a significant influence on the ranging behavior of François’langurs in limestone habitats.

Habitat use and locomotion of the François’langur(Trachypithecus francoisi)in limestone habitats of Nonggang,China

We collected data on habitat use and locomotion of the François’langur(Trachypithecus francoisi)between August 2003 and July 2004 at Nonggang Nature Reserve,China.A total of 739 h of behavioral data were collected during this study.We tested 2 predictions:(1)that the langurs may have special patterns of habitat use and locomotion adaptive to the limestone habitat,and(2)the langurs may exhibit different patterns of habitat use and locomotion among different zones of limestone hill.Our results indicated that François’langurs spent more time in the low-risk,relatively food-poor cliff-hilltop areas.When young leaves and fruit were scarce in the dry season,the langurs increased their time in the high-risk,food-rich valley basin.François’langurs were semi-terrestrial,and leaping and climbing were their main locomotor modes.These behavioral patterns are considered to be related to characteristics of topography and vegetation in limestone habitat,such as large areas of cliff and discontinuous canopy.Our results also supported Prediction 2.The langurs confined locomotion to the main canopy and frequently adopted leaping while traveling in the hillside and valley basin.While traveling in cliff-hilltop areas,they tended to stay in the lower stratus(≤5 m)or move on the ground,and walking and climbing were their dominant traveling modes.

Genetic analysis of group composition and relatedness in white-headed langurs

We collected fecal samples of white-headed langurs from 3 of the 4 remaining habitat fragments(Fa,Fb and CZ)located in southwestern Guangxi,China in Nov 2005,and used 5 microsatellite loci and the SRY gene to assess the relatedness between 46 langurs within and between groups.We observed 2 forms of group structure:one-male/multi-female groups(OMGs)and all-male groups(AMGs).One AMG in Fa was composed of 2 generations,included a father,2 sons and 1 unrelated male,and all OMGs in all 3 habitats included 1 resident male,several adult females and offspring.Of the 21 identified father-offspring cases,the resident male fathered 20(95%)and the non-resident male sired 1(5%),suggesting that adult males had overwhelming priority of access to females as the resident male in an OMG,while the non-resident male may also have the opportunity to adopt surreptitious mating strategies.

Male attacks on infants and infant death during male takeovers in wild white-headed langurs(Trachypithecus leucocephalus)

Infanticide was first observed in langurs nearly 50 years ago,and this rare phenomenon has been inferred to have either an evolutionarily adaptive function or to be a pathological and non-functional behavior.In this study,we report 5 male takeover events in one-male groups of white-headed langurs in the Nongguan Karst Hills,Guangxi,China from 1998 to 2006.We recorded 13 attacks on 9 infants by extra-group males or new resident males.During the male takeovers,all of the infants younger than 6 months(with an average age of 3.6 months[N=11])in the groups disappeared.The infant death rate during the 4.2 months after takeover by a new male was significantly higher than the infant death rate calculated for most of the year.Older infants that were still nursing(with an average age of 14.1 months[N=7])were often attacked and seriously wounded by the extra-group males or new resident males,but all of them survived.The interbirth intervals of females whose infants were assumed to be killed by males were significantly reduced relative to those of females in groups with stable male tenure(mean=10 months vs 25 months).Our data suggest that males kill unrelated and unweaned infants during the takeover period to decrease the time until the infants’mothers resume fertility.Thus,infanticide would support sexual selection theory in white-headed langurs.The data also show that infanticidal behavior was directed toward the infants,especially those who were still nursing.Female dispersal may function as a counter-strategy to avoid infanticide.

弄岗黑叶猴的日活动类型和活动时间分配

2005年10月-2006年9月,用瞬时扫描法对广西弄岗自然保护区内的一群黑叶猴(Trachypithecusfran oisi)的日活动节律和活动时间分配进行研究。结果表明:黑叶猴日活动中出现2个觅食高峰和1个休息高峰。觅食高峰分别出现在7:00-9:00和16:00-18:00;休息高峰出现在10:00-14:00。黑叶猴日活动节律表现出明显的季节性变化,表现为旱季上午的觅食高峰被推迟了1h,且觅食时间长于雨季;旱季下午的觅食活动提前1h结束。猴群在雨季较早进入休息高峰,而且中午休息时很少有移动或零星觅食。研究期间,猴群用于休息的时间平均占日活动时间分配的51.99%,移动占20.25%,觅食占18.61%,理毛占7.61%,玩耍占1.20%,其它行为(包括打斗、交配等)仅占0.14%。活动时间分配有明显的季节性差异,主要表现为:与雨季相比,黑叶猴在旱季花费更多的时间用于觅食和移动,而相应地减少用于休息的时间。活动时间分配在不同年龄和性别的个体之间也存在显著差异,表现为成年个体花费更多的时间用于休息和觅食,未成年个体则花费更多的时间用于移动和玩耍;雌性个体比雄性个体花费更多的时间用于理毛。

广西扶绥黑叶猴活动节律和日活动时间分配

2002年8月至2003年7月,对生活在完全被周围农田隔离的石山中的一群黑叶猴的昼夜活动节律和日活动时间分配进行研究。采用以群为单位的焦点动物观察法和连续记录法,每月对猴群连续10d跟踪观察。结果表明:3月至10月,黑叶猴的昼夜活动节律由8个环节组成,11月至2月由9个环节组成,移动、觅食和休息在活动节律中重复出现,晒太阳仅出现在11月至翌年2月。休息占黑叶猴日活动时间的比例最大,其次是觅食、移动、晒太阳和理毛。黑叶猴的日活动时间分配具有明显的月变化规律,相关性分析表明,环境温度、栖息地的食物丰富度和光照强度是影响黑叶猴日活动时间分配的主要因素。进一步分析认为,黑叶猴的活动时间分配体现了叶食性灵长类的特点,更体现了黑叶猴对北热带喀斯特石山环境的适应特点。

黑叶猴在喀斯特石山生境的觅食活动

2002年8月至2003年7月,对一群生活在广西扶绥珍稀动物保护区内孤立石山中的黑叶猴进行观察,通过收集有关栖息地利用的数据,从中探讨栖息地的破碎化对其生态习性的影响。研究结果表明:猴群的觅食活动在石山各个部位的分布存在着显著差异,它们更偏好在山腰觅食(66·1%),而较少利用山脚(18·6%)和山顶(15·3%)。从横向水平来看,猴群的觅食活动主要集中在6个觅食斑块,总面积为7·94hm2,约占栖息地面积的18·9%。觅食斑快中黑叶猴喜食食物的植株密度明显高于非觅食斑块。虽然树叶在黑叶猴食物组成中占绝大部分,但其食物组成具有明显的季节性变化。与之相对应,猴群对觅食斑块的利用也表现出明显的季节性差异。

重庆市武隆县和彭水县交界处白颊黑叶猴种群初步调查

1998年 4月至 2 0 0 1年 1 2月 ,对重庆市武隆县和彭水县交界处的白颊黑叶猴种群进行了 4次调查。结果表明 ,该交界处有 4个黑叶猴家族群栖息 ,其中数量最多的 1群曾达到 1 7～ 1 8只个体 ,最少的 1群为 5只左右 ,目前调查统计到的个体总数量约 40～ 45只。以常绿阔叶树为主的”斑块状”天然阔叶林地是黑叶猴栖息地生境的主要特征。影响武隆县和彭水县黑叶猴种群数量和分布区缩减的主要原因是 :人类频繁活动、栖息地破碎化和生境条件的变化 ,很大可能还有生殖隔离的影响。

黑叶猴食物组成及其季节性变化

对灵长类来说,喀斯特石山生境是一种比较独特的生活环境。喀斯特森林具有生物量低,物种多样性高的特点,生活于其中的灵长类的食物资源受环境的影响强烈,有明显的季节性变化。黑叶猴(Trachypithecus francoisi)是生活在喀斯特石山的特有灵长类动物。在食物资源波动较大的石山生境中,黑叶猴如何在食物匮乏时期获得食物?是否采取了大多数灵长类的应对策略,还是采用适应喀斯特环境的特殊对策?为了回答这些问题,2005年9月至2006年8月,在广西弄岗国家级自然保护区选择一群黑叶猴作为观察对象,采用瞬时扫描取样法收集相关的食性数据。通过比较不同季节食物组成的差异来探讨黑叶猴如何应对喜食食物(嫩叶、果实)的季节性缺乏的问题。结果表明:黑叶猴共采食92种植物,其中乔木和灌木38种,藤本植物52种,草本植物1种,寄生植物1种。猴群平均每月采食食物22.8种(6-34种),月平均食物多样性指数为2.5(1.6-3)。在弄岗黑叶猴的食物组成中,树叶占总觅食记录的71%,其中嫩叶46.9%,成熟叶24.1%的;果实、花和种子分别占13.2%、6.3%和4.3%;其他食物类型占5.4%,分别包括茎1.8%,叶柄1.1%,未知部位2.5%。黑叶猴的食物组成具有明显的季节性差异。在旱季,平均月食物种类和食物多样性指数分别为29.3和2.8,明显高于雨季的16.2和2.1。在雨季,嫩叶在食物中的比例明显高于旱季(61.5%相对32.3%);在旱季,猴群对成熟叶的采食比例明显高于雨季(39.4%相对8.9%),且在该季节才利用种子作为食物,占食物组成的8.6%。黑叶猴的食物组成受食物可获得性的影响。主要表现为嫩叶在食物中所占的比例与其可获得性有显著的正相关关系(r=0.865,n=12,P=0.000)。另外,当成熟叶和果实的可利用性降低时,黑叶猴的食物多样性指数提高(成熟叶:r=-0.602,n=12,P=0.039;果实:r=-0.716,n=12,P=0.009)。黑叶猴在嫩叶丰富的雨季,它们采食更多的嫩叶;而在喜食性食物短缺的旱季,它们采取选择更多种类的成熟叶和种子为食,同时它们采食的种类和食物多样性也相应地增加。这与大多数叶食性灵长类的适应策略相似。

过去二十年贵州黑叶猴分布与种群动态及致危因子分析(英文)

本文通过整理相关文献与政府报告数据并结合我们在贵州的最新调查与监测数据,总结过去20年间黑叶猴在贵州的分布、种群变动及其所面临的主要威胁,并在此基础上提出相关的保护管理建议。贵州黑叶猴野生种群在过去20年间增长了约10%～20%:从20世纪90年代的约109群1000只增加到现在的约132～137群1160～1200只。但同期黑叶猴已从5个原有的分布点绝迹,现仅存于大沙河、柏箐、麻阳河、宽阔水和野钟等5个保护区,总面积约912km2。现有的5个隔离分布点保存有全球黑叶猴野生种群(1800～2000)的约62%,是黑叶猴物种保存的最关键地区,并应该给于保护管理的优先考虑。偷猎压力在贵州相对较小:在过去的20年间仅有3次偷猎的官方记录。黑叶猴在贵州所面临的主要威胁是栖息地的丧失与退化。其主要表现形式有:以农作物和烟草种植为目的的耕地扩大,以做饭、取暖以及烟叶烘烤为目的的薪材需求,以及家畜(主要是山羊)的过度放牧。

栖息地质量对黑叶猴活动时间分配的影响

2005年9月至2006年8月,在广西弄岗国家级自然保护区和扶绥珍贵动物保护区各选择一群黑叶猴作为研究对象,采用瞬时扫描取样法收集相关的行为数据。通过比较两个地理种群活动时间分配的数据来探讨栖息地质量对黑叶猴活动时间分配的影响。结果表明:生活在低质量栖息生境的黑叶猴猴群较生活在高质量栖息生境的猴群花费更多的时间休息和觅食,而用于移动和社会活动的时间相应减少。分析表明,栖息地质量的差异所造成的食物可获得性以及食物组成的差异可能是影响黑叶猴群活动时间分配差异的重要因素。虽然不同活动的峰值在日活动节律中出现的时间存在差异,但总的日活动节律在不同地理种群中表现出相同的趋势,即早晨和下午出现两个明显的觅食高峰,而中午则是长时间的休息;移动的高峰通常发生在觅食高峰之前。