Abstract
The eggshell of Reeve’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) collected from the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve in Henan Province, China was studied. By using scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry, the ultrastructure and elemental composition of the eggshell was determined. The study showed that the average thickness of the surface layer of crystals, the palisade and cone layer, and the eggshell membrane were 20.8, 220.8 and 62.5 μm, respectively, accounting for 6.8%, 72.6% and 20.6% of the total thickness of the eggshell. There were many vesicular holes in the palisade layer with an average diameter of 0.32 ± 0.08 μm (n = 30). The function of these holes might be significant to air exchange. The shape of the eggshell pore on the surface layer of crystals is round or elliptical. The fracture surface of the pore is funnel-shaped. Some granules filled the upper part of the eggshell pores. The content of 21 elements in the eggshell of wild and captive Reeve’s pheasants was compared and presented. It indicated that among the elements that made up the eggshell of the wild pheasant, the content of Ca, Mg, P and S was much higher, ω > 1 mg/g, with ω (Ca) being higher than 40% of the eggshell. The contents of Na, Si, Sr, K and Al were ω = 0.1–1 mg/g, while Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, V and Ti had lower concentrations (ω = 1–100 μg/g). The ω of Ni, Cr, Co, Se, Cd were lower than 1 μg/g. The elemental composition in the eggshell of the captive Reeve’s pheasant kept in the Dongzhai National Natural Reserve was significantly different from that of the wild species, with a difference of over 20% on S, Cu, Fe, Al, Mn, Si, Sr, Se and Cr. The lower intake of Fe, Mn, Si and Sr on the one hand and the higher intake of S, Cu, Al and Cr on the other hand might be responsible for the low fertility of captive Reeve’s pheasants in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve. In order to ensure that the pheasants are receiving the proper amount of nutrition and to improve their breeding success, the amount of certain elements in the food should be adjusted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becking J H (1975). The ultrastructure of the avian eggshell. Ibis, 117(2): 143–151
Chang C Y, Zhang Z W, Wu X S, Chen X D, Li WC, Zhang J G (2000). The ultrastructure and elemental composition in eggshell of the Tibetan eared-pheasant Crossoptilon harmani. Zool Res, 21(5): 383–386
Chang C Y, Zhang, Z W, Li W C, Wu X S, Zhang JG (2001). Analysis on the elemental composition of eggshells in the genus Crossoptilon. Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 37(3): 384–386
Cusack M, Fraser A C, Stachel T (2003). Magnesium and phosphorus distribution in the avian eggshell. Comp Biochem Physiol B-Biochem & Mol Biol, 134(1): 63–69
Gan Y L, Lu T C, Liu R S, He F Q, Lu C L (1992). Observation on scanning electron microscope of Crossoptilon mantchurirm, C.crossptilon and C.auritum—endemic pheasants in China. Acta Zool Sin, 38(2): 124–127
Gill F B (1994). Ornithology (2nd Edition). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
Heyn A N J (1963). The crystalline structure of calcium carbonate in the avian eggshell. J Ultrastr Res, 8: 176–188
Hu X L, Wang Q S (1981). Studies on the ecology of the white-crown long-tailed pheasant. Chinese Wildlife, (4): 39–44
Larison J R, Crock J G, Snow C M (2001). Timing of mineral sequestration in leg bones of white-tailed ptarmigan. Auk, 118(4): 1057–1062
Li F L, Qin Z X, Ten H M (1990). Study on the microstructure and components of eggshell of Japanese Crested Ibis. Zool Res, 11(3): 173–177
Rodriguez-Navarro A, Kalin O, Nys Y, Garcia-Ruiz J M (2002). Influence of the microstructure on the shell strength of eggs laid by hens of different ages. British Poultry Science, 43(3): 395–403
Sai D J, Li LW, Liu LY, Sun J T, Wang S Y (1996). Observation on the eggshell of white-fronted shearwater with scanning electron microscopy. Zool Res, 17(1): 23–26
Sun Q H, Zhang Z W, Ruan X F (2001). Studies on flocking behavior of Reeve’s pheasant in Dongzhai Nature Reserve, Henan Province. Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 37(1): 111–116
Tilgar V, Mand R, Magi M (2002). Calcium shortage as a constraint on reproduction in great titis Parus major: A field experiment. Journal of Avian Biology, 33(4): 407–413
Wu Z K (1979). Ecology of the white-crown long-tailed pheasant. Chinese Journal of Zoology, (3): 16–18
Xu W S, Wu Z K (1985). Scanning electron microscopic observation on the egg-shells of the white-crowned long-tailed pheasant and the white-necked long-tailed pheasant. Memoirs of Beijing Natural History Museum, 32: 1–4
Xu Y G, Yin Z H, Lei F M, Ding W N, Liu R S, Yu Q (1996). The status of Reeve’s pheasant and suggestions for conservation. Acta Zool Sini, 42(Suppl.): 155
Zheng G M (1995). Ornithology. Beijing: Beijing Normal University Press
Zheng G M, Wang Q S (1997). China Red Data Book for Endangered Animals, Aves. Beijing: Science Press
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 2006, 42(1): 78–82 [译自: 北京师范大学学报 (自然科学版)]
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chang, C., Zhang, Z., Chen, X. et al. Ultrastructure and elemental composition of the eggshell of Reeve’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii). Front. Biol. China 2, 340–344 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-007-0050-2
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-007-0050-2