ABSTRACT
Knowing the reproductive characteristics of a species is essential for the appropriate conservation and management of wildlife. In this study, we investigated the demographic parameters, including age of primiparity, litter size, inter-birth interval, reproductive rate, and cub survival rate, of Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis) in the Rusha area on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan, based on a long-term, individual-based monitoring survey. A total of 15 philopatric females were observed nearly every year from 2006 to 2016, and these observations were used to estimate reproductive parameters. The mean age of primiparity was 5.3 ± 0.2 (SE) years (n = 7, 95% CI = 5.0-5.6). We observed 81 cubs in 46 litters from 15 bears. Litter size ranged from one to three cubs, and averaged 1.76 ± 0.08 (SE) cubs/litter (95% CI = 1.61-1.91). Inter-birth intervals ranged from 1 to 4 years, and the mean value was estimated as 2.43 (95% CI = 2.16-2.76) and 2.53 (95% CI = 2.26-2.85) years in all litters and in litters that survived at least their first year, respectively. The reproductive rate was estimated from 0.70 to 0.76 young born/year/reproductive adult female, depending on the method of calculation. The cub survival rate between 0.5 and 1.5 years ranged from 60 to 73%. Most cub disappearances occurred in July and August, suggesting that cub mortality is mainly due to poor nutrition in the summer. All reproductive parameters observed in the Rusha area on the Shiretoko Peninsula fell within the range reported in Europe and North America, and were among the lowest or shortest age of primiparity, litter size, and inter-birth intervals, and ranked at a high level for reproductive rate.
Subject(s)
Litter Size , Reproduction/physiology , Ursidae/physiology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Animals, Wild , Female , Japan , Parturition/physiology , Pregnancy , Survival RateABSTRACT
Five alginolytic, facultative anaerobic, non-motile bacteria were isolated from the gut of Japanese abalones (Haliotis discus discus, H. diversicolor diversicolor and H. diversicolor aquatilis). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and gap gene sequences indicated that these strains are closely related to V. halioticoli. DNA-DNA hybridizations, FAFLP fingerprintings, and phylogenies of gap and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the five strains represent two species different from all currently described vibrios. The names Vibrio neonatus sp. nov. (IAM 15060T = LMG 19973T = HDD3-1T; mol% G+C of DNA is 42.1-43.9), and Vibrio ezurae sp. nov. (IAM 15061T = LMG 19970T = HDS1-1T; mol% G+C of DNA is 43.6-44.8) are proposed to encompass these new taxa. The two new species can be differentiated from V. halioticoli on the basis of several features, including beta-galactosidase activity, assimilation of glycerol, D-mannose and D-gluconate.
Subject(s)
Mollusca/microbiology , Vibrio/classification , Vibrio/isolation & purification , Aerobiosis , Alginates/metabolism , Anaerobiosis , Animals , DNA Fingerprinting , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/isolation & purification , Flagella , Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology , Genes, rRNA , Gluconates/metabolism , Glucuronic Acid/metabolism , Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (NADP+)(Phosphorylating)/genetics , Glycerol/metabolism , Hexuronic Acids/metabolism , Mannose/metabolism , Molecular Sequence Data , Movement , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequence Homology , Vibrio/cytology , Vibrio/physiology , beta-Galactosidase/analysisABSTRACT
Five alginolytic, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile bacteria were isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis tuberculata. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA data indicated that these strains are related to Vibrio wodanis, Vibrio salmonicida, Vibrio logei and Vibrio fischeri (but with <97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). DNA-DNA hybridization and fluorescence amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting demonstrated that the five strains constituted a single species that was different from all currently known vibrios. The name Vibrio gallicus sp. nov. (type strain, CIP 107863(T)=LMG 21878(T)=HT2-1(T); DNA G+C content, 43.6-44.3 mol%) is proposed for this novel taxon. Several phenotypic features were disclosed that discriminated V. gallicus from other Vibrio species: V. gallicus can be differentiated from Vibrio halioticoli on the basis of four traits (beta-galactosidase test and assimilation of three carbon compounds) and from Vibrio superstes by 16 traits.
Subject(s)
Mollusca/microbiology , Vibrio/classification , Vibrio/isolation & purification , Animals , Base Composition , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Digestive System/microbiology , France , Molecular Sequence Data , Phenotype , Phylogeny , RNA, Bacterial/genetics , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Species Specificity , Vibrio/genetics , Vibrio/metabolismABSTRACT
Five alginolytic, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile bacteria were isolated from the gut of abalones Haliotis laevigata and Haliotis rubra. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA data indicated that these strains are related closely to Vibrio halioticoli (98 % 16S rDNA sequence similarity). DNA-DNA hybridization and fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting demonstrated that the five strains constituted a single species that was different from all currently known vibrios. The name Vibrio superstes sp. nov. (type strain, LMG 21323(T)=IAM 15009(T)=G3-29(T); DNA G+C content, 48.0-48.9 mol%) is proposed to encompass this novel taxon. Several phenotypic features were disclosed that discriminate V. superstes from other Vibrio species: V. superstes sp. nov. and V. halioticoli can be differentiated on the basis of 17 traits (indole production, beta-galactosidase test and assimilation of 15 carbon compounds).
