Copper Pheasant Research Articles

Study on the Symbol of Chinese Copper Pheasant in Court Painting in Song Dynasty

Chinese traditional painting is divided into palace painting, literati painting and painters painting according to class.In the Song Dynasty,the palace painting was mostly assigned by the emperor himself. In addition to the fine and beautiful royal aesthetic interest, the political meaning behind it was also the content of the palace painting.It is the most commonly used technique in Chinese literature and art, which is also a means to give political moral to court painting in Song Dynasty. Behind the symbols of the objects in the palace paintings of the Song Dynasty are the political meanings expressed by the rulers at that time.The emperor,for some reason, flaunted or warned them through paintings.The symbol of Chinese copper pheasant contains profound social culture and folk culture, which can fully reflect the cultural characteristics of Song Dynasty. This paper explores the meaning of Chinese copper pheasant symbol and better understands the deep meaning behind the image. It is helpful to study the flower and bird painting in Song Dynasty and provide a new perspective for the study of court flower and bird painting in Song Dynasty.

Radiocesium concentrations in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) between 2011 and 2012 after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Radiocesium concentrations were measured in the pectoralis muscles of great cormorant (n = 36) collected from Gunma Prefecture between November 2011 and July 2012. The 137Cs contamination levels in great cormorant were consistent with the 137Cs deposition levels on ground soil and 137Cs concentrations in freshwater fishes. The Tag of great cormorants were comparable with those of other birds except for copper pheasant.

Monitoring 137Cs concentrations in bird species occupying different ecological niches; game birds and raptors in Fukushima Prefecture

This study was conducted to assess radiocesium accumulation in birds after the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, with a particular focus on 137Cs, which has a long physical half-life. Results of 137Cs monitoring in four game bird species including two pheasant species and two duck species (copper pheasant, green pheasant, spot-billed duck and mallard) were assessed in Fukushima Prefecture. We also obtained samples from rescued raptors that died during treatment or rehabilitation at the Wildlife Symbiosis Centre in Fukushima Prefecture because of severe injury. We measured the muscle concentrations of 137Cs in four of these raptor species (black kite, northern goshawk, peregrine falcon and ural owl). Comparison of the two pheasant species showed that the copper pheasants inhabiting forested areas had higher 137Cs concentrations in muscle (Bq/kg, fresh mass) than the green pheasants inhabiting mountainous areas near human habitation (i.e., Satoyama). No clear tendencies were observed in 137Cs concentration in muscle of copper pheasants over time, but a tendency to decrease was observed in green pheasants over time. The difference in tendencies between species may be attributable to differences in their food habits and its 137Cs concentration, and also differences in the situation of 137Cs accumulation in their habitat. No significant differences were observed in 137Cs concentration in muscle between the resident spot-billed duck and migratory mallard because of the comparatively short biological of effective half-life of radiocesium. Analysis of 137Cs concentration in muscle of raptor revealed that the concentration was similar to, or lower than, those of pheasants and ducks.

The Time-Dependent Transfer Factor of Radiocesium from Soil to Game Animals in Japan after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident

Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident, monitoring of tissues from hunted game animals ensures compliance with the standard food limits for radionuclides in Japan. We quantified the transfer of (137)Cs from contaminated land to game animals using the Aggregated transfer factor (Tag = activity concentration in meat [Bq kg(-1) fw]/amount in soil [Bq m(-2)]) of (137)Cs for Asian black bear, wild boar, sika deer, green pheasant, copper pheasant and wild duck, collected between 2011 and 2015. Open data sources were used from Fukushima, Miyagi, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma prefectures. Our initially compiled data showed that the maximum reported (137)Cs activity concentration in wild boar after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident were lower than those reported after the Chernobyl accident. The geometric mean Tag values (m(2)kg(-1) fw) of (137)Cs in 2015 for Asian black bear, wild boar, sika deer and copper pheasant were similar (1.9-5.1) × 10(-3) while those for green pheasant and wild duck were about 1 order of magnitude lower at (1.0-2.2) × 10(-4). Effective half-lives were 1.2-6.9 y except for sika deer and copper pheasant where no decreases were found. In contrast to the Chernobyl accident, no seasonal change occurred in the meat (137)Cs activity concentrations of the wild animals during the study period.

Population Fluctuation and Habitat Preference of Ijima's Copper PheasantSyrmaticus soemmerringii ijimae: an Endemic, ‘Near Threatened’ Japanese Subspecies

Population fluctuations and habitat preferences of Ijima's Copper Pheasant Syrmaticus soemmerringii ijimae were investigated using a line transect method at two locations in southern Kyushu from 2002 to 2013. During the 12 years of the survey, transects were walked a total of 536 times (representing approximately 2,150 hours and a walking distance of around 3,590 km). The total number of encounters was only 127 birds, which represents one bird every 16.9 hours or 28.3 km. The number of birds encountered appeared to decrease steadily throughout the study period. The frequency of encounters was higher in evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forests, and lower in mature cedar and cypress plantations. Therefore, it is suggested that increasing their preferred broad-leaved forest habitat would be an appropriate strategy for the recovery of the declining Ijima's Copper Pheasant population.

Conservation priority of global Galliformes species based on phylogenetic diversity

In this study, based on phylogenetic diversity (PD), I develop a conservation strategy for Galliformes species around the world. A cladogram of 197 Galliformes species derived from a previous study was used for calculating PD metrics. Branch length is an important aspect of the phylogenetic information a tree can convey, but 2 traditionally-used metrics, the number of phylogenetic groups to which a taxon belongs (I) and the proportion that each taxon contributes to the total diversity of the group (W), are fully node-based and do not take branch length into account. Therefore, to measure PD more appropriately, I combined a branch-related metric, pendant edge (P), in addition to I and W. A final combined rank for Galliformes species was obtained by summing the ranks of the 3 metrics. My results showed that the 5% top priority species for conserving evolutionary potential were Galloperdix lunulata, Haematortyx sanguiniceps, Margaroperdix madagarensis, Syrmaticus soemmerringii, Coturnix pectoralis, Polyplectron napoleonis, Alectoris melanocephala, Xenoperdix udzungwensis, Afropavo congensis and Syrmaticus reevesii. The current species priority ranking based on pylogenetic diversity and the official International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ranking of Galliformes species was significantly correlated when considering the 5 categories of IUCN (critical endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern). This indicated the feasibility of introducing the PD index into the network of IUCN regional Red List assessment. The 5% top priority countries selected using the complementarity principle possessing diversified Galliformes genetic resources were China, Indonesia, Mexico, India, Colombia, Australia, Brazil, Angola, Congo and Japan (in descending order). China, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, India and Colombia are consistently selected among the 4 top priority sets of richness, rarity, endemicity and PD. This result indicated that the priority result from PD is highly congruent with conventional measures. Along with other conventional ecological attributes, the alternative conservation scenario based on PD is reasonable and can be adopted in systematic conservation planning.

イヌワシの巣におけるヤマドリの就塒行動

イヌワシの巣におけるヤマドリの就塒行動

ヤマドリの繁殖スケジュールと配偶システム

ヤマドリの繁殖スケジュールと配偶システム

Temperature-dependent regulation of sperm motility of Ijima's copper pheasants ( Syrmaticus soemmerringii ijimae), one of ‘near threatened’ species

In order to conserve the copper pheasants, one of the Japanese ‘near threatened’ species, the knowledge on the sperm characteristics is the inevitable issue. Therefore, temperature-dependent regulation of copper pheasant sperm motility was investigated in comparison with that of domestic fowl spermatozoa. Motility of intact spermatozoa from both species was markedly affected by temperature. During incubation at 30 °C, copper pheasant spermatozoa showed around 60–70% motility, but became almost immotile when the temperature was raised to 40 °C. Then, when the temperature of the sperm suspension was subsequently cooled to 30 °C, the spermatozoa regained their motility. The motility of domestic fowl spermatozoa showed a similar pattern. Temperature also affected the motility of both demembranated copper pheasant and domestic fowl spermatozoa in the same way. The motility of intact copper pheasant and domestic fowl spermatozoa at 30 °C was unaffected following the addition of 2 mM CaCl 2, 100 nM calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase-type 1 (PP1), or 4 mM diB-cAMP, respectively, compared with those with no effectors. However, the presence of 10 μM ML-7, a selective inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), inhibited motility of spermatozoa from both species. At 40 °C, the presence of CaCl 2 or calyculin A restored the motility of spermatozoa from both species, but the addition of diB-cAMP or ML-7 could not prevent the immobilization of spermatozoa. At 30 °C in the presence of ATP, the motility of demembranated copper pheasant spermatozoa was over 60% but was inhibited following the addition of 10 μM ML-7; a similar pattern was found with demembranated domestic fowl sperm motility. The motility of demembranated spermatozoa from both species was inhibited following the addition of 2 mM EGTA to the reactivation medium at 30 °C, but restored by the subsequent addition of 4 mM CaCl 2. These results suggest that copper pheasant sperm motility might be regulated by similar mechanisms to that of domestic fowl spermatozoa: i.e., the balance of Ca 2+/MLCK or an MLCK-like protein-dependent phosphorylation and PP1-dependent dephosphorylation. The similarity in physiological regulation of spermatozoa from both species shows that extensive technology developed for artificial breeding of the domestic fowl might be applicable to captive breeding of copper pheasants.

Mortality of released captive-bred Copper Pheasants in a natural refuge area of Japan

Abstract To confirm rates of mortality and to improve means of release of captivebred Copper Pheasants Syrmaticus soemmerringii, 111 individuals were released into a natural refuge area in Tochigi Prefecture, central Japan, and radio-tracked. Survival of pheasants more than 13 months old was significantly longer than those less than 12 months old. There were significant differences in the number of days they survived depending on the season at which they were released. The longest survival was of individuals released in summer, followed by spring, then winter, and survival was shortest among those released in autumn. Depredation was the main cause of death of released pheasants: by mammals 45.3% and by raptors 22.7%. Death by hunting also occurred but outside the area where the pheasants were released (2.1%), and only one individual (1.0%) was judged to have died due to starvation or weakening. Raptor predation was remarkably high in areas with little or no undergrowth. These results suggest three importa...

Comparative study of predator avoidance behaviour of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) of different genetic origin

The aim of the study was to determine differences in the behaviour of chicks of three different pheasant subspecies. The timidity of the pheasant chicks was of special interest, therefore behaviour traits were analysed using an open-field test and a tonic immobility test. In total, 137 pheasant chicks were tested including the copper pheasant (Ph. c. colchicus; n = 87), the green pheasant (Ph. c. versicolor; n = 12) and the melanistic pheasant (Ph. c. tenebrosus; n = 38). In both tests, the chicks of the versicolor group showed the highest timidity, whereas the other two groups were similar in timidity. In the open-field test, the chicks of the colchicus group showed the lowest timidity, and in the tonic immobility test, the tenebrosus group showed the lowest values. Assuming a relationship between the test results and predator avoidance behaviour, it can be concluded that the chicks of the versicolor group show the best predator avoidance behaviour. Further investigations are needed to find out whether the differences in the analysed behaviour traits result in higher survival rates after releasing to the wild.

ヤマドリ地上ねぐらの初観察記録

The roosting sites of a male Copper Pheasant Syrmaticus soemmerringii, were confirmed by radio tracking in the Tama Forest Science Garden, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Hachioji, Tokyo. One ground site, one presumable ground site used for six nights (both narrow flat areas on a high, steep slope), and six arboreal sites used for 33 nights, (tree branches 1-5 m off the ground), were found. The particular sites were presumably chosen because they offered easy escape from terrestrial predators.

Regional and temporal variations in prey selected by Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos during the nestling period in Japan

We examined regional and temporal variations in prey selection by Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos during the nestling period in Japan. We made direct video recordings of a pair of Golden Eagles in Akita prefecture as they delivered prey to the nest for two consecutive nestling periods. We also assembled data from previous studies in Japan, eventually obtaining 14 data sets with which we compared prey composition during nestling periods. Among them, four sets of data were recorded daily by video and used to investigate the temporal change in prey selection and the amount delivered to the nest. The prey item composition varied considerably among the data sets. Japanese Hares Lepus brachyurus were predominantly selected in three data sets, reflecting the lowest dietary breadths that were determined by prey composition. Data sets with higher dietary breadths consisted mainly of Japanese Hares, snakes and Copper Pheasants Syrmaticus soemmerringii. Temporal change in prey selection during nestling periods showed marked variation, but similarities were found in later deliveries of snakes and in total prey weights (83.7–89.9 kg) delivered to successfully fledged broods. Taken together, our results suggest that during nestling periods Golden Eagles in Japan specialized on Japanese Hare. Diet breadth increased through feeding predominantly on snakes, a temporarily available prey, to satisfy the breeding dietary requirement. Regionally varied temporal prey selection may be a key factor for sustaining Eagle populations in the forested mountain habitats of Japan, where prey and habitat conditions change dramatically during the breeding season.

A survey of host animals of land leech Haemadipsa zeylanica var. japonica (Whitman) in Akita Prefecture revealed by PCR-SSCP analysis of 28S rRNA genes

The host animals of land leech Haemadipsa zeylanica var. japonica (Whitman) were surveyed among nine common mammals in forests and a human by the single strand conformation polymorphism of PCR products of the variable region in the 28S rRNA genes. When the leeches collected in 1995, 1996 and 2000 at Gojome-machi in Akita Prefecture were analyzed, the same banding patterns between the collected leeches and blood samples of the reference animals were only observed in the Japanese serow and copper pheasant or pheasant. The leeches collected in 1995 showed the highest resemblance rate with the serow and it was 86% (25/29), while the leeches collected in 1996 and 2000 showed 34% (11/32) and 12% (14/114), resemblance rate respectively. On the other hand, only a few numbers of leeches showed the same banding pattern with the copper pheasant or pheasant. These results indicate that the Japanese serow contributes to the propagation and spread of the leech in Akita Prefecture.

The Fate of Captive-bred Copper Pheasants Syrmaticus soemmerringii Released in Tochigi Prefecture, Eastern Japan.

The fate of captive-bred Copper Pheasants Syrmaticus soemmerringii released in Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan, in order to restore the wild population, was investigated based on mark and recapture information, on hunting data and by radio tracking. From 1989 to 1997, the recapture rate of all released individuals was 1.3%. Most recovered Copper Pheasants were hunted within one hunting season after their release. Only 0.3% of all released individuals were recaptured beyond two hunting seasons. The extremely short longevity (average 11.4 days after release) of released birds was confirmed by radio tracking in Tochigi Prefectural Citizen's Park. Distances between release and recovery points averaged 14.6km, but some individuals moved more than 40km, and one 87km. Our results show that it is difficult to achieve population recovery using current methods. Based on our experience, we propose various improved release methods, including: changing the release points of males from refuges to hunting areas, and releasing females just before the breeding season.

Histochemical Analysis of Skeletal Muscle Fibers in the Copper Pheasant Phasianus soemmerringii

The fiber type profiles of the following muscles of the Copper Pheasant Phasianus soemmerringii examined histochemically ; M, obliquus externus abdominis, M. obliquus internus abdominis, M. trawere pezius, M, latissimus dorsi, M. pectralis superficialis, M. pectralis profundus, M. triceps brachii, M. extensor carpi radialis longus, M. sartorius, M. semitendinosus, M. semimembranosus, M. rectus femoris, M. gastrocnemius-caput latelare, M, gasrtocnemius-caput mediale, and M. soleus. Accoring to the enzymatic reactions (succinate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase and myosin adenosine triphosphatase), muscle fibers were divided into 3 types, i.e. FG (fast-twitch-glycolytic), FOG (fast-twitch-oxidative-glycolytic) and SO (slow-twitch-oxidative) types. Furthermore, according to the reactions of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase and β-hydroxybutylate dehydrogenase, FG type fibers wrer subdivided into 2 types in M, obliquus externus abdominis, M. obliques internus abdominis, M. latissimus dorsi, M. pectralis superficialis, M. pectralis profundus, M. triceps brachii, M. extensor carpi radialis longus, M. sartorius, M. semitendinosus, M. semimembranosus, M. rectus femoris, M. gastrocnemius-caput latelare, and M. gastrocnemius-caput mediale. FOG type fibers were subdivided into 2 types in M. obliquus externus abdominis, M. obliquus internus abdominis, M. trapezius, M. latissimus dorsi, M. pectralis superficialis, M. pecrtalis profundus, M. triceps brachii and M. extensor carpi radialis longus, and into 3 types in M. sartorius, M. semitendinosus, M. rectus femoris, M. gastrocnemius caput latelare, M. gastrocnemius caput mediale and M. soleus, and into 4 types in M. semimembranosus. SO type fibers were subdivided into 2 types in M. obliquus externus abdominis, M. obliquus internus abdominis, M. trapezius, M. latissimus dorsi, M. pectralis superficialis, M. pectralis profundus, M. triceps brachii, M, extensor carpi radialis longus, M. semitendinosus, M. semimembranosus and M. soleus, and into 3 types in M, sartorius, M. rectus femoris, M. gastrocnemius caput latelare and M, gastrocnemius caput mediale. The ratio of the number of FG type fibers was higher than the fibers of other types with exception of M. trapezius, M. semimembranosus and M. soleus. The diameter of muscle fiber showed the largest value in FG type fibers and the smallest value in SO type fibers with the exception of M. trapezius. The effect of pH on myosin ATPase activity was estimated histochemically. The pH stability of myosin ATPase activity varies with the muscle fiber types. The range of pH stability at alkaline pH range was more extensive in FG type fibers than in the other types of fibers, whereas at acidic pH range SO type fiber was more extensive in the range of pH stability.

Studies on the Proliferation of Copper Pheasant (<i>Phasianus soemmerringii scintillans</i>)

It was reported previously by authors that artificial insemination was succeeded in copper pheasants. In this paper, data were collected from successing experiments performed during 5 years period (1963-1967), using 62 birds (_??_14, _??_48), on their egg laying, fertility and hatchability, sex-ratio in chicks and their growth.The results obtained were as follows:1. The mean number of eggs laying and the laying periods were 19.8 (5-40) eggs and 55. 7 (10-97) days respectively, and also considerable individual differences were observed among them. The peak production of eggs was considered to be from the middle of April to that of May, and also high fecundity was observed in 3 or 4 ages than the other age.2. The fertility and the hatchability (to fertilized eggs) in copper pheasants by using artificial insemination were 84.3% and 84.0% respectively.3. The semen was collected from the beginning of March to that of June, and also more volume of semen was collected from the middle of March to that of April. The mean volume of semen was 0.025 (0.005-0.1)ml, and 3 or 4 ages of birds were observed to be the adequate age to collect the semen.4. From these results, authors concluded that the breeding ages in copper pheasants were considered to be 3 or 4 ages, and the synchronization of the breeding season between sexes might be necessary to get the better results, for in males the breeding season was one month earlier than that of females.5. Generally speaking, female chicks were hatched more than males, and this tendency was clear in the case of mating of parents in the high fertilities. Some relation might be exsisted between the ranking of egg laying and the sex-ratio.6. On the growth of chicks, the differences were observed between sexes from 4 weeks of age.

Winter habitats and food habits of the Green and Copper Pheasants

Field observations and collecting of the Green Pheasant Phasianus colchicus (versicolor) and Copper Pheasant Ph. soemmerringii were made in Sendai, Miyagi Pref. and Tashiro Town, Akita Pref., during November 1965 and January 1966 for the study of habitat prefenence and food habits.Winter ecological distributions of the two species were partly overlapped. In Sendai area, the Green (GP) was widely distributed from village area to forests, but the Copper (CP) inhabited only rather deep in the forests. On the contrary, in Tashiro area, the Copper was found from village area to the deep forests and the Green was mainly distributed along Yoneshiro River. The Green Pheasant seemed to be more abundant in Sendai area than in Tashiro Town area.The Green Pheasants were collected, 12 in Sendai, 2 in Akita and one in Iwate, and the Copper 4 in Sendai and one Akita. Their stomach contents showed: the ratios of vegetable and animal matters to the total food items 99.6% and 0.4% in the Green and 99.8% and 0.2% in the Copper respectively. Species of plants identified from their foods were 37 in the Green and 20 in the Copper Pheasants. In Sendai, both species took many kinds of seeds and fruits, which were: 77.4% (GP) and 75.1% (CP) respectively to the total food items (in dry weights) . In Akita, 91.2% to the total food items were seeds and fruits in the Green Pheasants.The seeds and fruits were classified into those of trees, grasses, and liane, and 42.2% (GP), and 43.1% (CP) were of grass, 10.4% (GP) and 13.40% (CP) were of tree, and 43.3% (GP) and 44.5% (CP) were of liane. Only 5 species of animal matters were found in the food items of the both pheasants.

Studies on the Artificial Insemination in Pheasants

Artificial insemination in pheasants was reseached in this experiment. Seven Honshu Copper Pheasants, Phasianus soemmerringi scintillans, (1 male and 6 females), 3 Lesser Copper Pheasants, Phasianus soemmerringi scintillans, (1 male and 2 females) in special pheasant's aviary, and 3 Green Pheasants, Phasianus colchicus tohkaidi, (1 male and 2 females) in individual cages were used.Semen was collected by the abdominal massage method of Burrows and Quinn (1935). Immediately after collection semen was diluted with Ringer's solution to the ratio of 1:4, and 0.05ml semen was inseminated into the female once a week. All eggs were weekly put into the incubator for chicken, and fertility and hatchability were researched.Then results were obtained as follows:1) On Copper Pheasant, the fertility was 90.1%, and the hatchability 85.3% to fertilized and 76.9% to incubated eggs, respectively: on Green Pheasant, 77.5%, and 87.1% and 67.5%.2) The average volume of semen collected by the massage method once a week was 0.02ml in pheasant, and the initial motility of semen was 90%.3) The numbers of aggs in a breeding season were 19 (11-40) in Copper Pheasant and 27 (18-35) in Green Pheasant.4) From the above mentioned results, the breeding by artificial insemination in pheasants was recognized to be possible.

On Hybrids between the Green and Copper Pheasants

In Japan the wild hybrid between the two indigenous pheasants Phasianus (versicolor group) and Syrmaticus soemmerringii is exceedingly scarce. Gives five authentic records. Some specimens show the plumage of Phasianus slightly more while others have more Syrmaticus pattern. They were all taken in the northern part of Honshu. Mr. K. Kobayashi's specimen taken in January, 1951 is the only one existing among collections in Japan.