Background: The breeding information of most birds in Asian tropical areas,especially in limestone forests,is still poorly known.The Streaked Wren-Babbler(Napothera brevicaudata) is an uncommon tropical limestone bird...Background: The breeding information of most birds in Asian tropical areas,especially in limestone forests,is still poorly known.The Streaked Wren-Babbler(Napothera brevicaudata) is an uncommon tropical limestone bird with a small range.We studied its nest-site selection and breeding ecology,in order to understand the adaptations of birds to the conditions of tropical limestone forest in southern China.Methods: We used methods of systematical searching and parent-following to locate the nests of the Streaked Wren-Babbler.We measured characteristics of nest sites and rock cavities.Data loggers and video cameras were used to monitor the breeding behavior.Results: All the observed nests of the Streaked Wren-Babbler were placed in natural shallow cavities or deep holes in large boulders or limestone cliffs.The great majority(96.6%) of Streaked Wren-Babbler nests had three eggs with an average fresh weight of 3.46-± 0.43 g(n = 36,range 2.52-4.20 g).Most(80.4%) females laid their first eggs between March and April(n = 46).The average incubation and nestling period of the Streaked Wren-Babbler was 10.2 range 9-11 days),respectively.Most(87.9%) nests h± 0.4 days(n = 5,range 1011 days) and 10.5 ± 0.8 days(n = 6,ad at least one nestling fledge between 2011 and 2013(n = 33).Conclusions: Our study suggests that several features of the breeding ecology of the Streaked Wren-Babbler,including building nests in rocky cavities,commencing breeding earlier than most species,and reducing foraging times during the incubation period,are well-adapted to the unique habitat of tropical limestone forest.展开更多
This paper studies the status of empty nest only-child families in urban China,using data about these families taken from a 2015 survey conducted by the Institute of Population and Labor Economics,Chinese Academy of S...This paper studies the status of empty nest only-child families in urban China,using data about these families taken from a 2015 survey conducted by the Institute of Population and Labor Economics,Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.Factors that determine the timing of empty nest periods and their duration for only-child parents are also analyzed.The data shows that more than half of the only-child parents surveyed in 2015 lived in empty nests.Some of these parents had been empty-nesters for as many as 25 years.During the life cycle of families,the empty nest status of elderly only-child parents shows different characteristics at different stages,as the only-children begin attending universities,start to work,get married,and have children of their own.There are empty nest periods in only-child families when the only-child leaves the parents for several years and periods when the child returns home and lives with parents for years.The living arrangements of only-child parents depend mainly on changes in the life needs of their only-children.Intergenerational support is focused on meeting the needs of only-children.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30970381,31460567)Guangxi(2010GXNSFB013044)a postdoctoral start-up project of Guangxi University(Y336002006,B41049)
文摘Background: The breeding information of most birds in Asian tropical areas,especially in limestone forests,is still poorly known.The Streaked Wren-Babbler(Napothera brevicaudata) is an uncommon tropical limestone bird with a small range.We studied its nest-site selection and breeding ecology,in order to understand the adaptations of birds to the conditions of tropical limestone forest in southern China.Methods: We used methods of systematical searching and parent-following to locate the nests of the Streaked Wren-Babbler.We measured characteristics of nest sites and rock cavities.Data loggers and video cameras were used to monitor the breeding behavior.Results: All the observed nests of the Streaked Wren-Babbler were placed in natural shallow cavities or deep holes in large boulders or limestone cliffs.The great majority(96.6%) of Streaked Wren-Babbler nests had three eggs with an average fresh weight of 3.46-± 0.43 g(n = 36,range 2.52-4.20 g).Most(80.4%) females laid their first eggs between March and April(n = 46).The average incubation and nestling period of the Streaked Wren-Babbler was 10.2 range 9-11 days),respectively.Most(87.9%) nests h± 0.4 days(n = 5,range 1011 days) and 10.5 ± 0.8 days(n = 6,ad at least one nestling fledge between 2011 and 2013(n = 33).Conclusions: Our study suggests that several features of the breeding ecology of the Streaked Wren-Babbler,including building nests in rocky cavities,commencing breeding earlier than most species,and reducing foraging times during the incubation period,are well-adapted to the unique habitat of tropical limestone forest.
文摘This paper studies the status of empty nest only-child families in urban China,using data about these families taken from a 2015 survey conducted by the Institute of Population and Labor Economics,Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.Factors that determine the timing of empty nest periods and their duration for only-child parents are also analyzed.The data shows that more than half of the only-child parents surveyed in 2015 lived in empty nests.Some of these parents had been empty-nesters for as many as 25 years.During the life cycle of families,the empty nest status of elderly only-child parents shows different characteristics at different stages,as the only-children begin attending universities,start to work,get married,and have children of their own.There are empty nest periods in only-child families when the only-child leaves the parents for several years and periods when the child returns home and lives with parents for years.The living arrangements of only-child parents depend mainly on changes in the life needs of their only-children.Intergenerational support is focused on meeting the needs of only-children.
