异地半圈养藏羚卧息行为适应性的初步研究

藏羚Pantholops hodgsoni是青藏高原特有物种。为了探讨藏羚羊对异地环境的行为学适应,对异地圈养藏羚羊的卧息行为进行了不同性别、不同季节间的比较研究。采用全事件记录法和焦点动物取样法,记录和统计了异地圈养藏羚羊冷季和暖季的卧息行为。研究结果表明,在暖季,雌性和雄性藏羚羊在卧息时间及卧息时间占全天活动时间的比例(卧息比例)上没有差异(卧息时间:Z=-1.126,P0.05;卧息比例:Z=-1.357,P0.05);在冷季,雌性和雄性藏羚羊在卧息时间及卧息比例上也没有差异(卧息时间:Z=-1.14,P0.05;卧息比例:Z=-0.307,P0.05)。雄、雌性藏羚羊的卧息时间及卧息比例没有季节差异(雄性卧息时间:Z=-1.465,P0.05;雄性卧息比例:Z=-1.631,P0.05;雌性卧息时间:Z=-1.742,P0.05;雌性卧息比例:Z=-1.852,P0.05)。季节和性别对藏羚羊卧息行为的影响没有交互作用(F=0.057,P0.05)。总之,藏羚羊卧息行为之间既没有性别差异也没有季节差异,与可可西里地区藏羚羊的卧息行为相比,异地圈养藏羚羊的卧息行为已经调整其行为学适应对策。     

青藏铁路对雄性藏羚行为时间分配的影响

行为时间分配是动物对资源获取和风险防御的权衡,受到诸多因素影响。本研究采用目标动物观察法记录了可可西里冬季（交配季）雄性藏羚的行为表现,并将行为分为觅食、警戒、卧息、移动和“其他”5种类型。首先,本文通过对比青藏铁路运营前后两个交配季（2003-2004年建设期和2017-2018年运行期）之间雄性藏羚的行为时间分配差异,探讨青藏铁路的出现对雄性藏羚行为的影响。随后,基于2017-2018年交配季雄性藏羚的行为数据,分析了年龄对其行为时间分配的影响。结果表明：与建设期相比,雄性藏羚的觅食和“其他”行为时间比例明显增加,而警戒和卧息的行为时间比例显著降低,这说明铁路稳定运营后对雄性藏羚的影响降低。交配群中成年雄性藏羚的警戒、移动,以及“其他”行为中的繁殖行为的时间比例显著高于亚成体,而觅食和卧息行为时间比例显著低于亚成体, 这与交配群中不同年龄雄性个体所处的地位等级有关。成年雄性藏羚在交配群中占据主导地位,拥有更多配偶资源,增加警戒和移动,减少觅食和卧息有助于其维持交配群的稳定。     

甘南则岔林区蓝马鸡配对期行为观察

2007年和2008年采用瞬时扫描取样法在甘肃省甘南州则岔林区对蓝马鸡配对期行为做了观察.在配对期行为中雄性蓝马鸡的取食行为(34.39%±1.83%)和警戒行为(29.62%±1.93%)比例较高,其次为移动、休息、站立、其他行为、驱逐.而雌性取食行为比例最高(53.23%±2.19%),其次为移动、警戒、休息、其他行为、站立.在共有行为中,雄性警戒行为时间显著高于雌性(P＜0.01),而取食(P＜0.05)和其他行为(P＜0.01)时间显著低于雌性.在配对期雌、雄个体始终保持较近距离(2.59 m±0.07 m,n=535),雌性觅食效率显著高于雄性.     

夏季雌性藏羚昼间行为时间分配及活动节律

2003 至2005 年的6 ～ 9,采用目标动物观察法在可可西里观察夏季雌性藏羚的昼间行为。将雌性藏羚的行为分为觅食、警戒、卧息、移动和“其他”5 种类型,各类行为所占时间比例分别为59.1% 、7.3% 、19.4% 、13.0% 和1.3% 。觅食消耗的时间最多,是藏羚的常见行为,卧息、移动和警戒次之,而“其他”行为消耗时间最短。觅食、警戒、卧息和移动的累计时间在不同时段之间均存在显著(P<0.05) 或极显著(P< 0.01)差异。觅食行为存在3 个高峰,分别在10:00 ～11:00,13: 00 ～14: 00 和18: 00 ～19: 00;警戒的高峰期出现在早上08: 00 ～09 00,在15: 00 ～16:00 以及17: 00 ～18: 00 也分别出现小的高峰,但不明显;卧息行为表现为双峰形,分别为11: 00 ～12: 00 和16: 00 ～17: 00。移动行为也表现为双峰,出现在08: 00 ～09: 00 和15:00 ～16:00; “其他”行为在各时段间没有明显的变化趋势。     

季节、性别和群体大小对鹅喉羚警戒行为的影响

动物通过集群降低个体警戒时间,从而增加采食等行为时间,这种现象被称为" 群体效应" 。除群体大小
外,社会及环境因子如季节与性别也可能影响个体警戒水平。本文于2007 年至2009 年在新疆卡拉麦里山有蹄类
野生动物保护区采用焦点动物取样法,通过测定鹅喉羚警戒行为比例、平均每次警戒持续时间及10 min内警戒频
率,研究了季节、性别及群体大小对鹅喉羚个体警戒水平的影响,并验证群体效应。结果表明:由于季节更替
而产生的生物量的变化对鹅喉羚个体警戒水平无显著影响;在秋冬季除雄性外,鹅喉羚个体警戒水平均有随群
体增大而降低的趋势,但这种趋势并不十分明显。性别则显著影响其警戒水平,夏季由于雌性羚羊处于哺乳期,
因而其警戒水平显著高于雄性(P < 0.05);受繁殖行为影响,冬季雄性比雌性警觉性更高(P > 0. 05);春秋季
两性间警戒水平没有差异(P >0.05)。不同生理周期是导致鹅喉羚育幼期雌性及繁殖期雄性个体警戒水平发生
显著变化的重要因子。     

黄山短尾猴社群中的架桥行为

2007年3~5月,采用随机取样法对黄山短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)YA1群架桥行为进行研究。结果表明,不同时间段架桥行为发生次数存在极显著差异(t=3.912,df=10,P<0.01)。成年组雄性个体是主要发起者(Z=-2.1888,P<0.05)和接受者(Z=-2.5238,P<0.05),但同年龄组不同性别个体发起次数(Z=-1.755,P>0.05)无显著差异,接受次数(Z=-2.201,P<0.05)差异显著。架桥行为多采用雄性婴幼猴(Z=-2.437,P<0.05)(F=6.735,df=2,P<0.05)作为媒介,母亲序位影响婴幼猴在架桥中被使用的次数(Z=-3.724,P<0.01)。不同序位雄性(F=2.947,df=4,P<0.05)和雌性个体(F=5.320,df=4,P<0.05)架桥行为发起模式主要是第Ⅰ类。雌性个体选择具有亲缘关系的个体作为架桥媒介(Z=-2.490,P<0.05),但雄性个体对母系亲属后代无明显选择性(Z=-0.866,P>0.05)。短期研究表明,黄山短尾猴社群中的架桥行为主要采用第Ⅰ类模式;亲缘关系不一定是影响架桥行为媒介选择的主要因素;架桥行为具有缓解群体间竞争压力的作用。     

利用红外照相技术分析野生白冠长尾雉活动节律及时间分配

2012年3月-2013年3月,利用红外相机技术在湖北省广水市蔡河镇对野生白冠长尾雉的活动节律和时间分配进行了研究。利用16台红外相机在40个相机位点对白冠长尾雉进行了监测。累计1774个相机日,拍摄到2242个独立视频,其中白冠长尾雉的视频占18%,共记录538只次,雌雄比为1.43:1。结果表明,白冠长尾雉每日有两个活动高峰期,上午雄性个体的活动高峰期比雌性个体早两个小时。白冠长尾雉的主要行为是移动和觅食,分别占到总频次的40.71%和33.10%,其余5种行为依次为: 警戒9.29%,梳理7.14%,休息5.00%,对抗2.62%,育幼2.14%。雌性白冠长尾雉的警戒行为频次比例显著高于雄性个体(P < 0.05)。不同季节之间取食行为、移动行为、对抗行为比例之间有显著差异,冬季的取食行为比例明显高于夏季(P < 0.05),夏季移动行为比例显著高于秋季(P < 0.05)和冬季(P < 0.05),而警戒、梳理、休息和育幼行为比例则无显著差异。     

人为干扰下宁夏贺兰山岩羊反应的群体差异

野生动物对人类的非资源利用性的干扰具有不同的反应,这些反应的差异依赖于物种自身和外界生境中不同的因子.2009年7-8月和2009年12月-2010年1月在宁夏回族自治区贺兰山苏峪口国家森林公园,选定95.87 km2 的调查区域内设四条样线,总长度为18.3 km,通过观察岩羊的瞬时反应距离,比较了不同干扰源、群体大小和群类型下,岩羊无反应行为、警戒反应行为和逃跑反应行为距离的差异.结果表明:(1) 相对于车辆,岩羊对行人的干扰更加敏感(U=8.69,P<0.001); (2) 当群体大小分为≤3的小群和＞3大群时,小群岩羊的警戒反应行为距离显著大于大群(Z=2.165,P=0.03),当群体大小分为≤5的小群和＞5的大群时,小群岩羊的逃跑反应行为距离显著大于大群(Z=2.003,P=0.045); (3) 雌幼群、雄性群和混合群这3种不同的群类型之间的无反应行为距离无显著差异,雄性群的警戒行为距离显著大于雌性群和混合群的警戒行为距离(Z=2.746,P=0.006; Z=3.589,P<0.001),雌性群的逃跑反应行为距离显著大于混合群的逃跑反应距离(Z=2.376,P=0.017); (4) 混合群内的雌性和雄性的3种反应行为无显著差异.     

性别与年龄对圈养大熊猫行为的影响

对 2 4只圈养大熊猫行为进行了定量观察 ,发现雄性活动、蹭阴标记和探究行为频次显著高于雌性 ,其它行为差异不够显著。随年龄的增长 ,个体探究和游戏行为频次显著减少 ;雄性个体用于蹭阴标记和嗅闻的时间显著多于雌性 ,而用于休息行为的时间则正相反。随年龄的增长 ,个体用于游戏的时间显著减少 ,休息的时间显著增加 ;圈养雄性个体白天处于活跃状态的时间百分比 (86 5 9± 5 4 0 ,n =11)显著多于雌性 (6 6 77±5 75 % ,n =13,P =0 0 5 0 )。结果表明 :1)大熊猫个体行为的性别差异不仅存在于野生个体 ,而且存在于圈养个体 ;2 )幼年个体表现较多的游戏和探究行为可能与行为学习和模仿有关 ,并可能对个体行为发育有重要影响。非发情期雄性个体表现较多的蹭阴标记和嗅闻行为可能与护卫领地和维持社群关系有关。     

华西蟾蜍年龄结构、体长和生长率的研究

本研究利用骨龄学方法研究了青藏高原东缘横断山脉区一个华西蟾蜍种群的年龄结构、体长、年生长率及性成熟年龄。采集的74个成体个体中(雄性47只,雌性27只),均能够在趾骨切片中观察到受抑制生长线。结果表明:两性的体长和年龄都成正相关关系(雌性:F1,26=4.87,r=0.40,P=0.04,雄性:F1,46=4.48,r=0.30,P=0.04)。雌性初始繁殖年龄为4龄,寿命至少为11龄;雄性分别为3龄和11龄。雌性和雄性的平均年龄存在显著差异(Z=2.27,P<0.01),雌性为(8.4±1.8)龄,雄性为(6.2±1.8)龄。雌性平均体长大于雄性(t=2.348,P<0.01),雌性为91.9 mm±7.2 mm,雄性为74.8 mm±5.5 mm。另外,雌性和雄性具有不同的生长模式,雌性生长率(r=2.48)大于雄性(r=2.32)。年龄和生长率对华西蟾蜍的性二型的解释有重要意义。     

Sexual,Seasonal and Group Size Differences in the Allocation of Time between Vigilance and Feeding in the Greater Rhea,Rhea americana

We studied the effect of sex and group size on the proportion of time a greater rhea, Rhea americana, allocates to vigilance and feeding during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. We analysed 175 records of focal animals that were feeding alone or in groups of 2 to 26 birds. In both seasons, males spent more time in vigilance and less time in feeding than females. Both sexes spent more time in vigilance and less time in feeding during the breeding season. Sexual and seasonal differences in vigilance were the result of different mechanisms. Males had shorter feeding bouts than females but there were no sexual differences in the length of the vigilance bouts. On the contrary, seasonal differences were the result of males and females having longer vigilance bouts during the breeding season but there were no seasonal differences in the length of the feeding bouts. During the non-breeding season, individual vigilance was higher in rheas foraging alone than in groups. In this case, solitary birds had longer vigilance and shorter feeding bouts than birds foraging in groups. We discuss the possible effect of intragroup competition and food availability on the allocation of time between feeding and vigilance in this species.     

Vigilance behavior during the birth and lactation season in naturally occurring ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve,Madagascar

I examined the vigilance behavior of adult males and females in two groups of ring-tailed lemurs(Lemur catta)during the birth and lactation season at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, southwestern Madagascar. I found no sex difference with respect to the rates of overall vigilance, rates of vigilance toward a potential predator or unfamiliar sound, or rates of vigilance toward conspecifics from other social groups, nor were there sex differences in the percentage of time spent vigilant in any of the above categories. Higher-ranking females were vigilant significantly more often toward predators or potential predators than lower-ranking females were. I detected no relationship between vigilance behavior and dominance rank among adult males. The alpha female in each group exhibited significantly more vigilance behavior than all other members of her group. It was predicted that males should exhibit more vigilance behavior than females do, particularly during the birth and lactation season, when predator pressure is high, if they are benefiting females in this respect. I discuss the results in the context of this prediction and in terms of how ring-tailed lemur males benefit females, and why they may be tolerated in social groups.     

Effects of reproductive status, social rank, sex and group size on vigilance patterns in Przewalski's gazelle

Background

Quantifying vigilance and exploring the underlying mechanisms has been the subject of numerous studies. Less attention has focused on the complex interplay between contributing factors such as reproductive status, social rank, sex and group size. Reproductive status and social rank are of particular interest due to their association with mating behavior. Mating activities in rutting season may interfere with typical patterns of vigilance and possibly interact with social rank. In addition, balancing the tradeoff between vigilance and life maintenance may represent a challenge for gregarious ungulate species rutting under harsh winter conditions. We studied vigilance patterns in the endangered Przewalski''s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) during both the rutting and non-rutting seasons to examine these issues.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Field observations were carried out with focal sampling during rutting and non-rutting season in 2008–2009. Results indicated a complex interplay between reproductive status, social rank, sex and group size in determining vigilance in this species. Vigilance decreased with group size in female but not in male gazelles. Males scanned more frequently and thus spent more time vigilant than females. Compared to non-rutting season, gazelles increased time spent scanning at the expense of bedding in rutting season. During the rutting season, territorial males spent a large proportion of time on rutting activities and were less vigilant than non-territorial males. Although territorial males may share collective risk detection with harem females, we suggest that they are probably more vulnerable to predation because they seemed reluctant to leave rut stands under threats.

Conclusions/Significance

Vigilance behavior in Przewalski''s gazelle was significantly affected by reproductive status, social rank, sex, group size and their complex interactions. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying vigilance patterns and the tradeoff between vigilance and other crucial activities.     

Seasonal behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Moschus sifanicus</Emphasis>): Rut and pre-rut comparisons

Alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus), well-known for their musk production, are endemic to western China. Due to historical unrestricted illegal hunting and habitat loss, captive farming has been employed as a means of conserving this endangered species and developing sustainable musk harvesting techniques. For captive animals, an understanding of behavioral characteristics is vital to improve management practices. This study addressed a lack of information regarding the behavioral characteristics of alpine musk deer; specifically daily activity patterns in respect to gender and reproductive season. From August 2002 to January 2003, focal sampling was employed to observe 32 adult captive alpine musk deer (13 females and 19 males), at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF), located at Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province, China. Results indicated that the general behavioral patterns were similar between female and male captive alpine musk deer throughout both reproductive and non-reproductive seasons (rut and pre-rut season). Both male and female alpine musk deer demonstrated tail-pasting behavior during rut season, a previously male-only behavior trait. Female musk deer also rested comparatively more than males during pre-rut season.     

Group size effects on foraging and vigilance in migratory Tibetan antelope

Large group sizes have been hypothesized to decrease predation risk and increase food competition. We investigated group size effects on vigilance and foraging behaviour during the migratory period in female Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsoni, in the Kekexili Nature Reserve of Qinghai Province, China. During June to August, adult female antelope and yearling females gather in large migratory groups and cross the Qinghai-Tibet highway to calving grounds within the Nature Reserve and return to Qumalai county after calving. Large groups of antelope aggregate in the migratory corridor where they compete for limited food resources and attract the attention of mammalian and avian predators and scavengers. We restricted our sampling to groups of less than 30 antelopes and thus limit our inference accordingly. Focal-animal sampling was used to record the behaviour of the free-ranging antelope except for those with lambs. Tibetan antelope spent more time foraging in larger groups but frequency of foraging bouts was not affected by group size. Conversely, the time spent vigilant and frequency of vigilance bouts decreased with increased group size. We suggest that these results are best explained by competition for food and risk of predation.     

Unpredictability of vigilance in two sympatric Tibetan ungulates

Vigilance is important for anti-predation, and different animals adopt different vigilance strategies. Instantaneous and sequential randomness in vigilance behavior are two main principles for the classic Pulliam model (1973). Given this context, we studied the vigilance behaviors in two wild cloven-hoofed animals, the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) and the Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata) on Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, to explore if the two randomness principles work across species. The results showed that the distribution of inter-scan intervals of both Tibetan antelope and Tibetan gazelle followed the negative exponential distribution; inter-scans of both Tibetan antelope and Tibetan gazelle were unrelated with their previous scan, and most sequences of inter-scan intervals could be considered as random organized or unpredictable. In conclusion, the vigilance patterns of Tibetan antelope and Tibetan gazelle followed instantaneous randomness and sequential randomness of Pulliam model. A random vigilance strategy might be the best choice for Tibetan ungulates, and how to distinguish the social vigilance from anti-predator vigilance is an important issue for future research.     

Scent-marking in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)

Three male and three female captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) were observed during and outside of the breeding season to examine changes in scent-marking behavior. Variation in scent-marking was analyzed with respect to site preferences, sex differences, onset of breeding, behavioral correlates, and environmental factors. Both males and females exhibited significant preferences for particular marking sites, those being prominent points in the enclosures. Males showed significantly higher scent-marking frequencies than females, except in one enclosure where increased marking behavior was associated with the presence of young. Sexual dimorphism in the pattern of marking was also observed, with males showing a bidirectional mark and females a unidirectional mark. Female marking was greater during the breeding season. Sniffing and number of waddles per mark were associated with scent-marking. Temperature change was not related to frequency of scent-marking. These results are compared with scent-marking behaviors in other species of carnivores and functional explanations are suggested.     

Impacts of the season and reproductive status on fecal reproductive and adrenocortical steroid metabolites in zoo Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer)

Conservation strategies for crocodilians often include captive breeding to create stable assurance populations. Evaluating adrenal and gonadal hormone patterns can provide animal managers with data to more effectively monitor animal welfare and reproductive status. This study evaluated the effects of season (breeding, nesting, or off), sex (male and female), and reproductive status of females (egg-laying/housed with a male or non-laying/housed solo) on concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM), fecal androgen metabolite (FAM), and fecal progestogen metabolite (FPM) in seven Cuban crocodiles, Crocodylus rhombifer, at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. Overall, seasonal changes in FGM and FPM concentrations were only observed in egg-laying females; FGM and FPM concentrations were both higher during the nesting season compared to the breeding and off seasons. Seasonal changes in FAM concentrations were only observed in males; males had higher FAM concentrations during the breeding and nesting seasons compared to the off season. Future studies investigating the use of fecal hormone metabolites in crocodilians are necessary to understand differences between individuals and species, to further elucidate the interactions between hormones and environmental factors, such as social housing, and to develop long-term datasets for the management of this species.