Discussion On The Relationship Between Hairiness And Fur Density

Fur density is the most important and intuitive morphological trait,which reflects the thermal insulation effect of the pelage.It is important indicators of fur quality that used for commercial.Therefore,the fur density determination is a important research content in mammalian hair morphology,especially with the adaptation,evolution,ecology and other related functional morphology.The quality is important basis in seed breeding for fur animal industry,skin grading and identification,animal pelage and related products.This paper reported 20 pieces(10 of male and 10 of female)fur samples of adult weasel(Mustela sibirica manchurica Brass)pelage from summer and winter in Tonghe forest area which located in Xiaoxing'anling,Heilongjiang Province,China.Randomly selected the 10 guard hairs and 10 fluff on mid-dorsal and buttocks,and selected skin samples of one square centimeter from mid-dorsal and buttocks each sample.Respectively 10 samples of winter male adult pelage of captive arctic fox(Alopex lagopus)in Vasa,Finland and in Harbin,Heilongjiang Province,China.It is Arctic Fox in Harbin that introduction from Finland many years ago.Randomly selected the 10 guard hairs,10 upper fluff and 10 lower fluff on middorsal and buttocks,and selected skin samples of one square centimeter from mid-dorsal and buttocks each sample.Application of biological microscopy and micro-scale measurement to measured fineness and fur density by the production of medulla pattern and skin tissue paraffin sections.Based on the analysis of seasonal differences in fineness and fur density of the weasel,and also the regional differences in the fineness and fur density of the Arctic fox.The linear regression curves were obtained by fitting the fineness as the independent variable,the fur density as the dependent variable.Trying to quantify the correlation between the hair density and the fineness,and indirectly describe the hair density with the hair fineness,so as to achieve the purpose of simplifying the method of measuring the fur density.we concluded that:(1)There were seasonal differences in the fur density and guard hairs and fluff fineness on mid-dorsal and buttocks of the weasel: The fur density of winter samples is significantly larger than that of summer.(2)There was a negative correlation between the fineness of the female weasel guard hair and the fur density of buttocks(r=-0.698)in summer samples,and the correlation was not significant.There was a significant positive correlation between the fur density and the fluff fineness 1(r=-0.896)of buttocks in winter samples,and the fur density of buttocks was estimated indirectly by measuring the fluff fineness 1.(3)Comparison of Finnish Vaasa arctic fox and Harbin arctic fox on mid-dorsal and buttocks winter fur,the fineness 1 and fineness 2 of samples were showing that: guard hair> upper fluff> lower fluff.(4)The guard hair and upper fluff and lower fluff of Finnish Vaasa arctic fox that the fineness 1 and fineness 2 are showing the characteristics of coordination between each other: the fur density of mid-dorsal was significantly smaller than the buttocks,the guard hair of mid-dorsal fineness 1 less than the buttocks,the fineness 2 of mid-dorsal more than the buttocks;upper fluff and lower fluff on mid-dorsal more than the buttocks,fineness 2 on middorsal less than the buttocks;The fur density of Harbin arctic fox on mid-dorsal is less than the buttocks,guard hair,the fineness 1 and fineness 2 of three type of hairs are less than the buttocks.(5)Finnish Vaasa arctic fox in fur density and fineness 1 and fineness 2 of three type of hairs are more than the same part of Harbin arctic fox.(6)No significant correlation was found between the fineness which of guard hair and upper fluff and lower fluff and fur density of arctic fox(r=-0.685,-0.672,-0.653,-0.718).