长江江豚是我国长江中目前仅有的鲸类动物，也是鼠海豚科动物中唯一的淡水种群，现仅存千头左右，2013年被IUCN列为“极度濒危”物种。由于其自然种群仍在加速衰退，“保种”已成为目前拯救这个物种的首要任务，而人工饲养繁殖和迁地保护被认为是“保种”最重要、最紧迫也最有效的措施，因此亟需对其繁殖生物学展开深入研究。首先，本研究拟通过对豢养长江江豚的繁殖监测，清楚揭示雄性精子发生、雌性卵泡发育及激素调节等基本繁殖生物学规律；同时，通过对鄱阳湖自然种群和天鹅洲故道迁地保护种群繁殖生物学特性的比较研究，尝试从繁殖适应的角度探讨江豚衰退机制；最后，通过对人工饲养江豚在不同繁殖状态下身体营养状况的同步监测和比较研究，结合对新鲜江豚标本下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴不同组织的瘦素受体表达分析，尝试了解营养对江豚繁殖活动的影响规律及生理机制，最终为促进长江江豚饲养繁殖以及迁地种群乃至自然种群的保护管理提供理论和技术支持。

The Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP) is the only cetacean species surviving in the Yangtze River, and the sole genetically unique freshwater subpopulation of the family Phocoenidae. A recent population census conducted in 2012 estimates that only approximately 1000 individuals are left in the Yangtze River, which results in the YFP being classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2013. Due to its rapid population decline, the action of “species conservation” has come to the stage of “save seeds” for any future possible successful conservation program. In this regard, captive breeding and ex situ conservation programs are recognized as two critical measures that must be developed to save this unique subspecies. However, these programs cannot be fully developed without first having a thorough understanding of their reproductive biology through the conduction of systematic studies. For this research, firstly we will describe the species-specific reproductive biology of the YFP, including the seasonal changes in sperm production in males, follicle recruitment, timing of ovulation and sexual hormonal profiles in females, by longitudinal investigation on reproductive performance of the captive animals. Then, we will evaluate the reproductive status and body condition of the Poyang Lake and the Tian-e-Zhou populations by capture sampling, and compare between the two populations in an effort to identify physiologic differences, which may reflect reproductive adaptations to anthropogenic influences. And finally, we will determine if the reproductive function of the YFP is modulated in response to nutritional stressors as in other species, by investigating body condition of the captive YFP at different reproductive status, and the expression of leptin receptors in different tissues of the hypothalamic-pituatury-gonad axis of YFP. All data will be compiled to provide baseline reproductive biology of the YFP, which will increase scientific and technical information necessary for developing both successful captive breeding and effective management strategies of ex situ populations, and ultimately for YFP conservation.