Discrimination of familiarity and sex from chemical cues in the dung by wild southern white rhinoceros

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Cinková ◽  
Richard Policht
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros

scholarly journals Serum protein electrophoresis in healthy and injured southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. e0200347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma H. Hooijberg ◽  
Michele Miller ◽  
Carolyn Cray ◽  
Peter Buss ◽  
Gerhard Steenkamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serum Protein ◽  
Protein Electrophoresis ◽  
Serum Protein Electrophoresis ◽  
Ceratotherium Simum ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros ◽  
Ceratotherium Simum Simum

scholarly journals Proximity-based vocal networks reveal social relationships in the Southern white rhinoceros

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Jenikejew ◽  
Brenda Chaignon ◽  
Sabrina Linn ◽  
Marina Scheumann
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Communication Networks ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Group Living ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros ◽  
Social Associations ◽  
High Level

Abstract Vocal communication networks can be linked to social behaviour, allowing a deeper understanding of social relationships among individuals. For this purpose, the description of vocal dyads is fundamental. In group-living species, this identification is based on behavioural indicators which require a high level of reactivity during social interactions. In the present study, we alternatively established a proximity-based approach to investigate whether sex-specific differences in vocal communication reflect social behaviour in a species with rather loose social associations and low levels of reactivity: the Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). We performed audio- and video recordings of 30 captive animals from seven groups. Vocal networks for the four most common call types were constructed by considering conspecifics at close distance (≤ 1 body length) to the sender as potential receivers. The analysis of the resulting unidirectional structures showed that not only the sex of the sender but also the sex of the potential receiver, the quality of social interactions (affiliative or agonistic) as well as association strength predict the intensity of vocal interactions between group members. Thus, a proximity-based approach can be used to construct vocal networks providing information about the social relationships of conspecifics—even in species with loose social associations where behavioural indicators are limited.

162 REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES, PREGNANCY AND REVERSAL OF LONG TERM ACYCLICITY IN CAPTIVE SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS AT HAMILTON ZOO

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 180 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Morrow ◽  
S. Kudeweh ◽  
M. Goold ◽  
S. Standley
Keyword(s):  
Average Length ◽  
Young Female ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Embryonic Loss ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros ◽  
Reproductive Cycles ◽  
Autumn And Winter

In 1999, the New Zealand captive population of Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) was increased with the addition of six wild-caught founders. We report on the breeding success of two females (est. 5 to 6 years at import) and a female born in 2000 (conceived in the wild). Fecal samples were collected 1 to 3 times per week from females (n = 3) for several periods (5 to 24 months) between 2000 and 2008. Reproductive cycles and pregnancy were characterized using fecal progestogen concentrations, observations of courtship behaviour and parturition dates. The average length of the reproductive cycle was 31.6 ± 0.6 days (range 26–38 days, n = 34 cycles). Four pregnancies were confirmed in one female with a sex ratio of 1 female to 3 males (including 1 male loss at an estimated 5 months of gestation), known gestation lengths were 514 and 507 days. In the non-reproducing adult female, long cycles (67.2 ± 1.3 days, n = 5) were detected in addition to regular cycles (31.9 ± 0.9 days, n = 13) during the first 3 years in captivity, consistent with previous reports (Schwarzenberger F et al. 1998 An. Repro. Sci. 53, 173–190; Brown JL et al. 2001 Zoo Biol. 20, 463–486). The absence of breeding behavior and low progestogen concentrations for an extended 4-year period was cause for concern for the Australasian Species Management Programme managers (Hermes R et al. 2004 An. Repro. Sci. 82–83, 49–60; Hermes R et al. 2006 Theriogenology 65, 1492–1515). In 2007, the social structure of the Hamilton Zoo rhinoceros group was altered by exchanging the breeding male and two male offspring for a wild-caught male from Auckland Zoo. Within two months of arrival the long-term acyclic female had resumed cycling and had conceived six months after introduction of the new male. The young captive-born female continued to have regular length cycles and mating was observed with the new male. Recently, early embryonic loss was determined by ultrasound in the young female having a long 70 day cycle determined by fecal analysis. Fecal progestogen concentrations were useful for diagnosing pregnancy after 3 months gestation with concentrations four times higher than luteal phase concentrations by 9 to 12 weeks after mating (n = 3). Two females exhibited seasonal acyclic periods characterized by low progestogen concentrations corresponding to decreasing daylength (autumn and winter months). Fecal progestogen monitoring of reproductive status and pregnancy combined with behaviour observations has provided valuable information for breeding management decisions and planning for parturition in this population. The reversal of long-term acyclicity and a resulting pregnancy that represents two original founders is particularly significant for the genetic diversity of the Australasian population of white rhinoceros.

scholarly journals Activation of Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) Estrogen Receptors by Phytoestrogens: Potential Role in the Reproductive Failure of Captive-Born Females?

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 1444-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Tubbs ◽  
Phillip Hartig ◽  
Mary Cardon ◽  
Nicole Varga ◽  
Matthew Milnes
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptors ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Reproductive Failure ◽  
Vertebrate Species ◽  
Ceratotherium Simum ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros ◽  
Ceratotherium Simum Simum

The captive southern white rhinoceros (SWR; Ceratotherium simum simum) population serves as an important genetic reservoir critical to the conservation of this vulnerable species. Unfortunately, captive populations are declining due to the poor reproductive success of captive-born females. Captive female SWR exhibit reproductive problems suggested to result from continual ovarian follicular activity and prolonged exposure to endogenous estrogen. However, we investigated the potential role of exogenous dietary phytoestrogens in the reproductive failure of SWR by cloning and characterizing in vitro phytoestrogen binding and activation of recombinant SWR estrogen receptors (ESR). We compared those characteristics with recombinant greater one-horned rhinoceros (GOHR; Rhinoceros unicornis) ESR, a species that receives similar captive diets yet reproduces relatively well. Our results indicate that phytoestrogens bind rhino ESR in a manner similar to other vertebrate species, but there are no differences found in phytoestrogen binding affinity of SWR ESR compared with GOHR ESR. However, species-specific differences in ESR activation by phytoestrogens were detected. The phytoestrogen coumestrol stimulated greater maximal activation of SWR ESR1 than GOHR ESR1. SWR ESR2 were also more sensitive to phytoestrogens and were activated to a greater extent by both coumestrol and daidzein. The concentrations in which significant differences in ESR activation occurred (10−7 to 10−5m) are consistent with circulating concentrations measured in other vertebrate species. Taken together, these findings suggest that phytoestrogens potentially pose a risk to the reproductive health of captive SWR. However, additional studies are needed to further clarify the physiological role of dietary phytoestrogens in the reduced fertility of this species.

Effect of supplementary feeding on the social behaviour and distribution patterns of free-ranging southern white rhinoceros

Mammalia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Cinková ◽  
Udo Ganslosser ◽  
Petra Kretzschmar
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
The Social ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractAn increasing number of free-ranging southern white rhinos (

scholarly journals Erratum to: Parentage analysis in a managed free ranging population of southern white rhinoceros: genetic diversity, pedigrees and management

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1691-1691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail S. Guerier ◽  
Jacqueline M. Bishop ◽  
Stuart J. Crawford ◽  
Anne Schmidt-Küntzel ◽  
Ken J. Stratford
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Parentage Analysis ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals First insights into the vocal repertoire of infant and juvenile Southern white rhinoceros

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. e0192166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina N. Linn ◽  
Michael Boeer ◽  
Marina Scheumann
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
White Rhinoceros ◽  
Southern White Rhinoceros
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