Activity budgets and use of enclosed space by wild boars (Sus scrofa) in captivity

This research was conducted on a captive group of eight wild boars: Four wildborn adults (one male and three females) and four piglets (one male and three females), born in captivity two months before the beginning of the study. They were housed in the Rome Zoo in a 1,000 sq m enclosure furnished with trees, mud pools, a water basin, and two small barns. Data on eight behavioral states (sleeping, resting, rooting, eating, walking, standing, scratching, and nursing) were collected by instantaneous sampling at 10-minute intervals. The spatial location of each subject was also noted, as well as closeness to conspecifics. Results showed that adults and piglets differed in their activity budgets. Activity patterns showed a significant correlation with the mean temperatures. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the use of the exhibit areas between adults and piglets. This study suggests a social structure in which the core is constituted by females and their yearlings. The nonbreeding female has a more marginal position than the breeding ones. Finally, the male tends to be even more peripheral and solitary. Our results are partly consistent with the data obtained in studies on free-ranging wild boars (Mauget, 1980; Dardaillon, 1984).     

Activity budgets and use of exhibit space by South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in a Zoological Park setting

Six individuals of Tapirus terrestris (two adult males, one juvenile male, and three adult females) were observed the first three months of 1982 at Audubon Park and Zoological Garden. Data for fourteen behavioral states were collected by scan sampling at ten-minute intervals throughout the day and twice throughout the night in an open air, mixed-species exhibit. The data were analyzed to calculate activity budgets and space use. Sleeping, eating, foraging, walking, and standing made up the major portions of the activity budgets. “Natural” activity patterns, as in the wild for browsing ungulates, were displayed under captivity in variously modified form. The characteristics of an individual, especially the reproductive state, affected both activity budget and space use. Zoo regimen significantly modified activity budgets and space use by the animals.     

Enclosure utilization,activity budgets,and social behavior of captive chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) during the rut

An observational study of chamois behavior during the rut was conducted at the Los Angeles Zoo. The herd consisted of an adult male, two adult females, two subadult females, and two kids (1.1). During the 13-week study, observers collected scan data on all animals and recorded all occurrences of selected social behaviors during interactions which involved the adult male. Scan observations showed that open areas of the enclosure close to the public were the least preferred, and areas with good rest places were used most. Overall the herd spent 73% of their time stationary, 13% foraging/feeding, 6% moving, and less than 5% each in object investigation, maintenance, play, and social behavior. The adult male rested and fed less, and stood vigilant and engaged in social behavior more frequently than the others. Nearest neighbor data showed clear patterns of kin association beyond the mother-last kid bond. The adult male interacted most often with the regular keepers, the subordinate female and the oldest subadult female. Interactions with the females consisted mostly of herding and sexual behaviors, while those with keepers were almost exclusively competitive/aggressive. While most findings paralleled those from studies of wild chamois, no study has previously reported long-lasting associations among kin.     

蒙新河狸夏季夜间活动节律和时间分配

2011 年7 ～8 月和2012 年7 ～ 8 月,采用瞬时扫描取样法和焦点动物取样法研究了新疆布尔根河狸保护区蒙新河狸夏季夜间行为节律和时间分配,结果表明:夏季蒙新河狸活动高峰呈晨昏型。觅食和移动行为分别占69.5% 和24.5% ,修饰、警戒和其他行为的时间比例依次是3.4% 、0.4% 、2.2% 。利用Pearson’s correlation 检验发现移动和警戒行为之间存在显著正相关,而觅食行为分别与移动、修饰和其他行为之间呈极显著负相关,与警戒存在显著负相关;Mann-Whitney U 检验表明年龄因素对河狸各种行为的影响不显著(P > 0. 05)。     

圈养大熊猫妊娠期行为变化及活动节律研究

: 由于环境条件与自身生理状况的变化,动物往往会做出相应的反应,从而形成特定条件下的活动节律模式。大熊猫有效配种后即进入妊娠期,但亦有假孕现象出现,而其激素变化与妊娠个体无异,因此,分析2种妊娠类型个体在妊娠期行为的异同,有助于其饲养管理措施的实施。2013年3—8月,采用瞬时扫描取样法和全事件记录法对成都大熊猫繁育研究基地的6只受配大熊猫进行行为和活动节律研究。结果表明:休息是大熊猫妊娠期最主要的行为方式,其次是摄食和运动,而妊娠行为则较少,主要表现为假妊娠个体与妊娠个体在反应期的求适和妊娠行为时间上差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。因此,通过对妊娠期大熊猫行为的研究,将为其饲养与管理提供行为学方面的技术依据。     

Parental care in captive siamangs (Hylobates syndactylus)

Siamangs exhibit paternal care to the extent that the male of a monogamous unit carries its infant offspring beginning late in the infant's first year of life. Field studies have documented this but without behavioral detail. It has been hypothesized that the transfer is facilitated by a desertion of the infant by the female. An infant siamang born in captivity at the Washington Park Zoo, Portland, Oregon, was observed through its first year of life. The infant transfer to the male was documented in captivity and was associated with a high rate of infant-initiated contact with the male and a high rate of infant retrieval by the female. The study concludes that the infant probably played a key role in facilitating the transfer to the male.     

竹巴笼矮岩羊昼间行为节律和时间分配

2008年11月中旬至2009年1月中旬和2009年3月至8月,采用瞬时扫描取样法和目标取样法在竹巴笼自然保护区对矮岩羊的昼间行为节律和时间分配进行了研究,结果表明:矮岩羊的昼间行为活动有明显的节律性,活动高峰出现的时间与矮岩羊昼间取食高峰时间基本一致。取食和卧息是最主要的行为方式,分别占总观察频次的53.83%和27.76%,频次较少的是站立和移动,分别占总观察频次的9.93%和8.24%,其它行为所占频次最少,只有0.24%,昼间2个取食高峰(9:00-11:00, 17:00-19:00)和1个卧息高峰(11:00-16:00),呈现出取食-休息-取食的规律。Kruskal-Wallis H 检验表明,季节因素对矮岩羊取食(P <0.05)、卧息(P <0.05)和其它行为(P <0.05)所占时间影响显著,而对移动(P >0.05)和站立(P >0.05)行为影响不显著。各年龄段之间其它行为所占的时间比例差异显著(P<0.05),而取食(P>0.05)、移动(P>0.05)、卧息(P>0.05)和站立(P>0.05)所占时间比例差异不显著;对比分析不同性别矮岩羊昼间行为时间分配差异,雌性的取食、移动和卧息的时间略高于雄性,而站立和其他行为时间低于雄性;Mann-Whitney U 检验对不同性别矮岩羊昼间的各种行为差异进行分析表明:性别因素对矮岩羊昼间时间分配和行为节律产生一定程度的影响,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

Effect of milk deprivation during the lactation period on performance and digestive enzyme activities of the piglets following weaning

Post-weaning performance of piglets from systems where lactation is disrupted (e.g. from multisuckling systems) is superior to conventionally reared piglets. The objective of this study was to establish whether restricted growth prior to weaning caused by disruption of suckling was an important factor in post-weaning performance and also whether there were related changes in gastro-intestinal development. Ten litters of eight piglets were used in a split-plot design. Half of each litter (limited suckling, LS) had suckling disrupted by separation from their dam for 7 h/day from day 14 to 28 after farrowing. The remainder of each litter was allowed to suck normally (normal suckling, NS). The same amount of creep feed was offered to LS piglets as consumed by NS littermates on the previous day. There were no differences in weight between LS and NS piglets at 14 days of age, but restricting access to the sow reduced weaning weight at 28 days of age (7.96 v. 9.00 kg; LS v. NS; P < 0.01; s.e.d. 0.23). Feed intakes were greater for LS than NS piglets over the first 28 days post weaning, particularly in the 1st week after weaning when feed efficiency was also improved (0.91 v. 0.62 kg gain per kg feed; P < 0.01; s.e.d. 0.08). As a result, LS piglets grew more rapidly in the first 28 days post weaning, particularly in the first 7 days after weaning. Subsequent performance to 8 weeks was similar for both groups. Digestive organ weights were not different at 2 and 9 days after weaning; nor were small intestine specific enzyme activities significantly different ( P>0.05). Pancreatic trypsin activity was, however, greater ( P < 0.01) for LS pigs on both days 2 and 9 post weaning. In conclusion the restriction of growth as a result of limited suckling itself is an important factor in determining post-weaning performance and may be related to development of pancreatic trypsin activity.     

Physicochemical limnology of the Tongue River Reservoir,Montana

A one year physicochemical survey was conducted on the Tongue River Reservoir, a run of the river impoundment in southeastern Montana. The Tongue River was the only significant inflow and supplied 93, 96 and 97% of the nutrient, major ion and water inputs to the impoundment. Heat advected from inflowing water accounted for 17% of the energy gained during the summer heating cycle. The annual nutrient load to the reservoir from the river was 20.2 g m^–2 total nitrogen (TN) and 3.8 g m^–2 total phosphorus (TP). Due to the absence of reducing conditions at depth and the complex seasonal pattern of water movement through the reservoir, 99% of the TN load was discharged but 49% of the TP load was retained in the reservoir.