Study On Population Ecology And Skull Morphology Of Yarkand Hare (lepus Yarkandensis)

Objective:This study aims to forecast the future trends so Yarkand hare populations by studying the population characteristics of the Yarkand hare through ecological and molectular biological techniques and also provide effective, rational, scientific basic material for the usage and development and utilization of Yarkand hare population from the perspective of the skull morphology of rabbit population . Method: 275 Yarkand hare of which sex and age are unknown are collected randomly from the typical areas of Tarim basin and the sex of these samples were identified through multiplex PCR The population age structure is analyzed and divided into age groups by measuring the length of skull length and on the basis of the skull samples and the results of previous studies . And finally, the static life table is set up on the basis of sex ratio and age structure. And 24 statistical indicator of five rabbit population were analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 statistical software, single factor analysis of variance, discriminant analysis and cluster analysis Result: (1) highly conservative gene SRY was amplified by using multiplex PCR method, and 275 samples were identified successfully, among them 137 are male , 138 are female. Sex ratio is close to 1:1. (2)The population of Yarkand hare is divided into 5 age groups, which are: I. Juvenile group;II. Sub-adult group;III. Adult group I; IV. Adult groupâ…¡;â…´. Old group; Among these groups, sub-adult group is superior to others , 40.73% and this will be helpful for the increase of population. (3) It is shown from the life table that the average mortality rate of Yarkand hare population at their Juvenile period is lower and their mortality rate is remarkably increasing after being adult. Its survival curve isâ… type (A type), indicating that this population sustains continues development and population increasing. (4)From the differences of skull morphologies of the Yarkand hare populations in Shaya, Kuche, Yuli, Pishan and Qiemo, the populations in Shaya and in Yuli have the highest similarity; there is a noticeable difference in the skull morphologies of Pishan population with other four populations. Conclusion: it is clearly shown from the sex ratio , age structure and the analysis of life table of Yarkand hare population that: The population of Yarkand hare is increasing, being on the trend of population increasing , which might cause serious damage to farm land and forestry. It is shown from the skull morphological differences of populations from different geographic regions that the big difference of skull morphology of Pishan populations with other four populations will lead to the future trend of population differentiation. Therefore, it is necessary to use the source of Yarkand hare effectively, reasonably and scientifically to strengthen prevention against the damage caused by Yarkand hare...