From March to April,1998,the authors studied the time budget and behaviour patterns of Cervus albirostris in Shanghai Wild Animal Park.We analyzed the results from 23 days′observation for different sex and weather were analyzed. Cervus albirostris spent about 50% daytime in resting,and 40% daytime in feeding.Resting behaviour was presented from 8∶00 to 17∶00 .The female spent more resting time than the male(p<0.05)in fine days.The female spent less standing time than the male in rainy days(p<0.01). Cervus albirostris spent more standing time in fine days than in rainy days(p< 0.05 for the male,p<0.01 for the female).
Influence of temperature on egg incubation of the wild Chinese alligator was studied during the summer seasons of 1999 and 2000(July to October and August to September,respectively)at three observation sites, Zhuangtou of Xuanzhou County,Shuangkeng and Zhongqiao of Jingxian county, Anhui Province. One nest at each of the above sites was monitored, bearing 19,17 and 19 eggs,respectively. According to the width of the band on the eggs, we estimated the dates that the eggs were laid. We recorded both the nest temperature and atmosphere temperature with an automated temperature data logger (HOBO Temp) during the whole observation period.We found that the average nest temperature maintained around 25 26℃ during incubation throughout day and night,within over two thirds of time in each day the nest temperature being higher than the atmosphere temperature. Analysis of our data revealed that alligator nests have buffering effect on the inside temperature. Higher nest temperature (27 30℃)increased the hatching rate. It was also noticed that the hatching rate varied considerably from site to site(between 0 100%). We conclude that climate is an important factor influencing egg hatching in the wild, and prolonged rainy season which caused large temperature fluctuation can decrease the hatching rate of the alligator eggs.
With two whole infertile eggs and two incomplete infertile eggs (having shell membrane and shell) of Chinese Alligator ( Alligator sinensis ) from the artificial condition and the field in Anhui Province,the authors studied the concentration of four heavy metal elements (Cu,Zn,Cd and Pb) in the different parts (albumen,yolk,shell membrane and shell) with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).Our results showed that these four elements’ concentration was quite different in the different parts of the same egg.The concentration of these four elements from high to low is Zn,Cu,Pb,Cd in the albumen,yolk and shell membrane of the infertile egg.However the sequence is Zn,Pb,Cu,Cd in the shell of the infertile egg.The concentration of Zn (the highest is 63 29?mg/kg) is higher than the other three elements in the same egg.The concentration of Cu (the highest is 20 03?mg/kg) is higher in the shell membrane than the others parts of the same egg.The concentration of Pb (the highest is 26 8?mg/kg) is higher in the shell than the other parts of the same egg.The concentration of Cd (the minimum is 0 024?mg/kg) is much lower than the other three elements in the albumen,yolk and shell membrane of the same egg.In addition,our results also showed that the concentration of these four elements tended higher in the infertile egg from the artificial condition than that from the field.The results should be considered by Chinese Alligator Breeding Center.
