| An investigation on the Equus hemionus hemionus within China territory was conducted along the sample line by meanings of jeep driving, motor cycling, horse riding and walking after the animal to study its distribution, species size, and present living state. Between March 2005 and November 2006 three main areas were covered: 1) Kalamaili State Ungulate Preserve in the northeast of Xinjiang, 2) Wulate Haloxylon Ammodendron-the State Mongolian Wild Ass Preserve (N 41°50'- 42°27', E106°15'-108°00') in the mid-west of Inner Mongolia, and 3) the complete area along the Sino-Mongolia border from the city Erlianhaote to Mount Mazongshan.During March, 2005 ～July 2006 Equus hemionus hemionus daytime field behavior was observed in the region along the Sino-Mongolia border in Darhanmaoming Banner of Baotou City (N44°36'- 46°00', E88°30'- 90°03) where three small species groups of the asses had been living since 2002. As a result, the Equus hemionus hemionus daytime behavior table was made. Then their time distribution for activities and daytime behavior pace were analyzed. In addition, their defending behavior were also observed and studied. Finally, the steroid sex hormones, ie. oestradio, progesterone and testosterone of all the individuals of a family group were analyzed and determined from their fecal samples to see the content and regularity.The results show that, firstly, Kalamaili State Ungulate Preserve in the northeast of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the main Equus hemionus hemionus distribution within China territory. It has been analyzed and estimated that approximately 4000～6068 heads of Asiatic wild asses are living in the area of 17,000 km~2 according to the data collected from the field research.Secondly, the living asses have been estimated to be totally 180～250 in both WulateHaloxylon Ammodendron-the State Mongolian Wild Ass Preserve in the mid-west of Inner Mongolia and in the area along the Sino-Mongolia border from the city Erlianhaote to the League of Bayazhuor. The place is the second area in China for the animal's aggregation but a one in which the species do not remain completely stable in size.Thirdly, no living samples of Equus hemionus hemionus were directly found, nor were their fresh excrement and new tracks during the field investigation in the area of the Sino-Mongolia border from Mount Langshan in Bayazhuor westwards to Mount Mazongshan in the League of Alashan within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Therefore, it is believed that there is a very rare distribution of the asses in the location, with a possible number of less than 50 living bodies or even smaller.The fourth result was the classification of the animal's daytime behavior which was obtained from the observation and study of the wild asses before the records, categorization and analyses were processed. From the functions and characteristics in each behavioral section, their daytime activities are mainly classified as collecting food, moving, gazing while standing, lying for relaxation, fighting, and some other six kinds as well.The statistical analysis of the time distribution in the Asiatic wild asses' daytime behavior shows that these asses spend the most time on finding food, an average of more than 50% of the time distribution in their daytime activities. In addition, the length of time for food in winter and spring (November—April) is longer (53.95%) than that (48.92%) in summer and fall (May—October).Another result about the animal's time distribution for daytime food collection was its obvious regularity. There are two summits of time period in food collection in a day, namely, 07:00—10:00 and 16:00—18:00. While the period of 11:00—14:00 isanother climax for the asses to stand and relax. No distinct peaks of time duration for their other activities. Moreover, the statistical data of male and female time distribution for their respective daytime activities indicate that there are no evident differences between the two genders in food searching, moving about, lying for taking a rest, and standing to watch in distance. But in contrast, the length of time for fighting and other behavior reveals a great distinction between the male and female.The statistical outcome on the ground of the wild asses' defending behavior found in the investigation indicates that their safety distance is relevant to the types of investigator's transport tool, showing a positive correlation with the moving velocity of the tool. The relationship between their safety distance and the moving velocity of threatening resources fits the mathematic model log S — log A + log X, in which, S is safety distance; X, moving velocity of threatening resources; the coefficient A, between 30～50. This distance is coincident with the safety distance between the Asiatic wild asses and a static observer.The steroid sex hormones in spring and summer ass fecal samples were determined by means of radioimmunoassay. Among them, oestradio shows an obvious peak value in the reproduction season, with considerable differences between months but negligible ones between individuals. While the concentration of testosterone is related to the age of individuals, that of an adult male remaining a higher level in reproductive season than in other seasons. A summit appears before oestrus and mating periods. And the level of progesterone reaches a distinct peak respectively before reproducing stage and after mating stage.The regular periodical changes of the asses' reproductive behavior are identical with the periodical changes of the steroid sex hormones. A statistical analysis shows that the wild asses' reproductive behavior has a correlation with the content of steroid sex hormones in ass fecal samples, except some kinds of behavior of very low frequency.Therefore, an alteration of the animal's sex behavior reflects to some degree a change of their steroid sex hormones.The vegetation in the Xinjiang Asiatic wild ass habitat mainly contains Stipa gobica, Ceratoides lateens,Ceratocarpus arenaria,Artemisia spp,Anabasis brevifolia, with a fairly high proportion of all the plants. While the food stuff for the wild asses consists of Stipa gobica, Ceratoides lateens, Ceratocarpus arenaria, Anabasis brevifolia,Artemisia spp, over 88% of all. Furthermore, there is no sharp distinction between seasons in their ingredients of the diet.Microscopic analysis on the ass fecal samples in the Inner Mongolian distribution shows that plants from 31 species of 28 genera of 15 families are taken by the wild asses as their diet, including the Gramineae (57.67%), Chenopodiaceae(11.83%) , Tamaricaceae(9.59%) , Leguminosae(7.59%) , Rosaceae(3.27%) , the composite family(3.11%), Liliaceae(2.50%) and others (4.44%). Similar to the ingredients of the asses' diet in Xinjiang, there is no sharp seasonal distinction in Inner MongoliaFinally, and the twelfth, the analysis of the plant nutrition that the Asiatic wild asses in the Inner Mongolian distribution take as their diet indicates that the plants contributing the greatest proportion of nutrition are listed as follows in sequence: Salsola ikonnikovii, Caragana stenophylla, Reaumuria soongorica, Stipa krylovii, and splendid Achnatherum splendens. And there is no obvious seasonal difference.
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