Biological characteristics of pregnancy in captive Yangtze finless porpoises revealed by urinary metabolomics

Tang, Bin; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Chaoqun; Deng, Zhengyu; Kou, Zhangbing; Zhou, Haojie; Zhang, Haobo; Fan, Fei; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding
Biology of Reproduction (2024)

The Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis a.) are an endemic and critically endangered species in China. Intensive captive breeding is essential for understanding the biology of critically endangered species, especially…


Recent progress and future directions for conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaorientalis asiaorientalis)

Hao, Yujiang; Nabi, Ghulam; Mei, Zhigang; Zheng, Jinsong; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding
Der Zoologische Garten (2023)

With the functional extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) based on the survey conducted in 2006, the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaorientalis) is now the only…


Variation of blubber thickness of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) in human care: Adaptation to environmental temperature

Tang, Bin; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Chaoqun; Deng, Zhengyu; Shu, Guilin; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding
Water Biology and Security (2023)

Blubber thickness (BT) has a seasonal pattern in most small cetaceans in temperate and polar regions, which may be a crucial adaptive mechanism in response to environmental temperature changes. However,…


The click production of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaorientalis) is influenced by social and environmental factors

Serres, Agathe; Xu, Chen; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
Animals (2021)

Yangtze finless porpoises use high-frequency clicks to navigate, forage, and communicate. The way in which click production may vary depending on social or environmental context has never been investigated. A…


Social, reproductive and contextual influences on fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Serres, Agathe; Robeck, Todd; Deng, Xiaojun; Steinman, Karen; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens (2020)

Although the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGCM) measurements as non-invasive biomarkers for the stress response in mammals has increased, few studies have been conducted in odontocetes. We investigated if…


The frequency of solitary behaviours in captive odontocetes is modulated by environmental and social factors

Serres, Agathe; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
International Journal of Comparative Psychology (2019)

The number of welfare-oriented studies is increasing in animals under human care, including odontocetes. However, validated welfare indicators are lacking for captive odontocetes. We studied the effect of several conditions…


Agonistic interactions and dominance relationships in three groups of captive odontocetes: Method of assessment and inter-species/group comparison

Serres, Agathe; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
Aquatic Mammals (2019)

Social group dynamics are known to impact odontocetes’ health and welfare in captivity. Social dominance and agonistic interactions that occur to establish and maintain these relationships might express themselves differently…