Comparison of body weights between captive and free-ranging juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsoni)

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1916-1920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah H. Harding ◽  
Josefine C. Rauch

Body weights of free-ranging and captive juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsoni) were determined at regular intervals during the nonhibernating season. Animals in captivity gained weight at a faster rate and to a greater extent than those in their natural habitat. Attainment of maximum weights in captive ground squirrels was associated with a reduction in food intake and could not be related to food availability, a change in temperature, or in photoperiod.

2003 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. V. STOREHEIER ◽  
B. E. H. VAN OORT ◽  
M. A. SUNDSET ◽  
S. D. MATHIESEN

Management of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in the northern regions have historically focused on reindeer–vegetation interactions, while few data on the food intake of these animals exist. Dry matter intake (DMI) was therefore estimated successively during winter in reindeer calves fed (i) ad libitum pelleted reindeer feed (RF-80; n=6), (ii) fed ad libitum mixed lichens (n=6) and (iii) in free-ranging reindeer calves (n=3) on natural winter pasture (March/April; 69 °N). Faecal output, determined with faeces collection bags, was 24±4, 6±3 and 22±3 g DM/day/kg BM0·75 in reindeer fed RF-80, mixed lichens and on winter pasture, respectively. Actual DMI of reindeer in captivity fed RF-80 and mixed lichens was 70±10 g DM/day/kg BM0·75 and 27±8 g DM/day/kg BM0·75, respectively. The DMI of the captive reindeer calves was accurately estimated on both diets on the basis of the digestibility of their diet and their faecal output. Using the same method, the DMI of free-ranging reindeer calves on natural winter pastures in northern Norway was estimated to be 34–61 g DM/day/kg BM0·75. The present study discusses factors that influence the food intake of reindeer in winter with emphasis on the seasonal regulation of appetite and DMI in these Arctic ruminants.


Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1083-1095 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Chen ◽  
Q. Liu ◽  
Y.G. Shao ◽  
L.J. Tan ◽  
Z.F. Xiang ◽  
...  

Animals alter their behaviour during habituation to novel environments. Echolocating bats exhibit remarkable flexibility in their acoustic signals to sense diverse microhabitats. Previous studies have described intra-individual variation in echolocation calls of bats in different environments, but few studies have systematically quantified these changes in detail. We investigated variation in echolocation call structure of the great leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros armiger during habituation to a novel, captive environment. Echolocation calls of free-ranging bats were recorded in the natural habitat and in captivity over a three-week period. We found that bats exhibited significant changes in some call parameters following introduction to the novel captive environment, and some parameters changed continuously over time. We observed plasticity in peak frequency, pulse duration and pulse rate during the captive period. This suggests that variation in echolocation calls of bats in response to a novel captive environment is a progressive process, during which bats adjust echolocation call structure to habituate gradually to their surroundings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1262-1267
Author(s):  
Haojun Yang ◽  
Hanyang Liu ◽  
YuWen Jiao ◽  
Jun Qian

Background: G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5) is involved in a number of metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the role of TGR5 after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP). Methods: Wild type and TGR5 knockout mice (tgr5-/-) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to establish the obesity model. GBP was performed. The changes in body weight and food intake were measured. The levels of TGR5 and peptide YY (PYY) were evaluated by RT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Moreover, the L-cells were separated from wild type and tgr5-/- mice. The levels of PYY in L-cells were evaluated by ELISA. Results: The body weights were significantly decreased after GBP in wild type mice (p<0.05), but not tgr5-/- mice (p>0.05). Food intake was reduced after GBP in wild type mice, but also not significantly affected in tgr5-/- mice (p>0.05). The levels of PYY were significantly increased after GBP compared with the sham group (p<0.05); however, in tgr5-/- mice the expression of PYY was not significantly affected (p>0.05). After INT-777 stimulation in L-cells obtained from murine intestines, the levels of PYY were significantly increased in L-cells tgr5+/+ (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that GBP up-regulated the expression of TGR5 in murine intestines, and increased the levels of PYY, which further reduced food intake and decreased the body weight.


1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
IJ Rooke ◽  
SD Bradshaw ◽  
RA Langworthy

Total body water content (TBW) and TBW turnover were measured by means of tritiated water (HTO) in free-ranging populations of silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis, near Margaret River, W.A. Birds were studied in their natural habitats during spring and summer, and compared with a vineyard population in summer. In the natural habitat TBW content was found to be 77.6% in spring, which was not significantly different from that measured in summer (78.3%). Birds in vineyards in summer, however, were dehydrated, with a TBW content of 69.4%. Calculated rates of water influx for spring, summer and summer vineyards birds were 1.44,2.20 and 0.65 ml g.day-' respectively. These water turnover rates are much higher than those of any other bird yet studied. Dehydration was marked in the vineyard birds, with a significantly lower TBW content and an average net water loss of 0.63 ml day-'. Laboratory studies showed that silvereyes have a low tolerance to sodium loading. Their tolerance is, however, quite adequate for them to drink the most concentrated free water available to them in the field. Ingestion of concentrated sugar solutions of up to 25% did not provoke an osmotic diuresis and thus cannot account for the dehydration and negative water balance of vineyard birds.


1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1023-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. McEwan

The growth curves of minimum body weights of fast-growing caribou reared in captivity and slow-growing wild caribou are compared. Captive animals exhibit a cyclical pattern of growth characteristic of other cervid species. The differences in the declining growth constants of wild caribou compared to captive caribou are attributed to environmental factors and activity, resulting in higher maintenance costs.


1957 ◽  
Vol 188 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Fregly ◽  
N. B. Marshall ◽  
J. Mayer

Goldthioglucose-obese mice cannot adjust their food intake to meet the increased energy requirements due to cold. At all ambient temperatures above 15°C the spontaneous running activity of these animals is less than that observed for nonobese controls. Activity of obese mice is maximal at 19°C and minimal at 15°C or lower. Body weights decrease during exposure to cold. In contrast to that of obese mice, running activity of nonobese controls is maximal at an ambient temperature of 25°C but nearly ceases at 15°C or lower. The food intake of these animals increases in the cold and remains elevated even at temperatures at which activity decreases. The body weight of nonobese controls is either maintained constant or increases during exposure to cold air.


2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Megid ◽  
Carlos R. Teixeira ◽  
Adriana Cortez ◽  
Marcos B. Heinemann ◽  
João M.A.P. Antunes ◽  
...  

Infectious diseases in wild animals have been increasing as a result of their habitat alterations and closer contact with domestic animals. Canine distemper virus (CDV) has been reported in several species of wild carnivores, presenting a threat to wildlife conservation. We described the first case of canine distemper virus infection in lesser grison (Galictis cuja). A free-ranging individual, with no visible clinical sigs, presented sudden death after one day in captivity. Molecular diagnosis for CDV infection was performed using whole blood collected by postmortem intracardiac puncture, which resulted positive. The virus phylogeny indicated that domestic dogs were the probable source of infection.


Zoo Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Collins ◽  
Ilse Corkery ◽  
Amy Haigh ◽  
Sean McKeown ◽  
Thomas Quirke ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 175815592110524
Author(s):  
Berenika Mioduszewska ◽  
Mark O’Hara ◽  
Rafał Stryjek

Raptor cognition has received limited research attention, despite the importance of comparative investigations for reconstructing the evolution of complex cognition. Field studies provide essential ecological context for cognition in the natural habitat, although this approach is often challenging due to extensive procedures involved in cognitive testing. One predisposition suggested to contribute to problem-solving behaviour is the response to novel stimuli. In this pilot study, a novel object test was conducted on an outdoor feeding platform to assess the neotic responses of a single wild free-ranging Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo), a generalist/opportunist diurnal predator species. Additionally, data on its daily activity were collected. As predicted, the subject expressed low neophobia and some exploratory behaviours. Interestingly, it repeatedly arrived on the platform in low light conditions. This study highlights the influence of foraging ecology on cognitive predispositions and offers a field method for research on raptor cognition.


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