学术报告
题目：Basic Behaviour and Ecology of Desert Hedgehogs (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Qatar
卡塔尔沙漠刺猬的行为学和生态学研究
报告人：Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Ph.D.
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
时间：2014年5月28日（星期三）下午14:00-15:00 PM
地点：新生物楼 610 室
联系人：罗述金（62752307）
The Ethiopian hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) is a little-known desert-adapted hedgehog species indigenous to the Middle East. We have been conducting the first-ever research in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on behaviour and ecology of free-ranging Ethiopian hedgehogs in Qatar using radio-tracking. We found that the average range size of Ethiopian hedgehogs much larger than those of other hedgehogs studied in temperate zone environments. In spite of the mild winter in Qatar hedgehogs appear to become inactive during winter. The results also suggest an interesting and puzzling relationship between length of inactive (hibernating) period and weight loss. Hibernating animals are predominantly females. One of the mainstream hypotheses to explain the benefits of hibernation is helping animals to save energy during the cold period when energy expenditure substantially exceeds energy intake. However, in our study population hibernating hedgehogs lose more body weight than do non-hibernating animals during the cold months. This may be related to the possible increase of food availability during cold months in Qatar around irrigated farms and domestic rubbish dumps, which have become increasingly available in the last few decades in Qatar.
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