在亚热带类动物中,毛皮颜色的季节性变化和性大小变异
Tania A Perroux1, Alan G McElligott2,3, George M W Hodgson2,3
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Royal Society open science
|September 19, 2025
概括
香港野生牛表现出季节性外套颜色的变化,在雨季转变为较淡的外套,在干旱季节更深的外套. 男性的身体尺寸也比女性更大,角也比女性更长.
科学领域:
- 动物学 动物学
- 生态生态学 生态生态学
- 动物行为 动物行为
背景情况:
- 现型适应,包括颜色和身体大小,受到气候和度等环境因素的影响.
- 自由放牧的香港 (HK) 牛提供了一个独特的模型来研究由于它们的最小人类干预而导致的适应.
- 亚热带气候呈现明显的潮湿和干燥季节,影响动物生理和行为.
研究的目的:
- 为了研究自由放牧的香港牛的季节性毛皮颜色变化.
- 在这个人群中分析身体尺寸和角长的性二态.
- 了解观察到的表型变化的适应意义,以应对环境压力.
主要方法:
- 香港野生牛的观察性研究.
- 分析不同季节的外套颜色变化.
- 测量身体尺寸和角长度,以评估性变态.
- 表型变化与气候因素 (温度,湿度,太阳辐射,风速) 和身体状况的相关性.
主要成果:
- 牛的季节性毛皮颜色变化的第一个证据:雨季的毛皮较白,干季的毛皮较深.
- 季节性外套颜色变化受到温度,风速,太阳辐射和身体状况的影响.
- 观察到显著的两性二态:雄性比雌性更大,拥有更长的角,表明男性偏向的二态.
结论:
- 热调节成本被认为是香港野牛毛发色的主要驱动因素.
- 颜色和体型的表型可塑性表明适应亚热带环境条件.
- 这些发现增强了对不同息地的类动物适应策略的理解.
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