Urine marking at food and caches in captive coyotes

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 776-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred H. Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Urine Marking ◽  
Food Odors ◽  
Feeding Observations

Urine marking of food and caches was studied in a group of captive coyotes, Canis latrans. During feeding observations, coyotes frequently urine marked the food pile and individual food items that had been carried and dropped some distance from the pile. In addition, food items which had been stolen were often marked. However, marking of food did not reserve it for the marking animal. Others usually ignored the urine mark and ate the item. The significant increase in urine marking of food during the breeding season suggested that it was involved in the expression of dominance in intrasexual rivalries. Cache marking was quite different. Urine marking never occurred when food was cached and rarely occurred while the cache still contained food. However, once the cache was emptied, urine marking usually occurred. Thus at caches, urine marking evidently serves a "book-keeping" role, indicating that the caches are no longer worth investigating although food odors might still linger.

Observations on the biology of the common torpedo (Torpedo torpedo, Linnaeus, 1758) and marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata, Risso, 1810) from Egyptian Mediterranean waters

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 693 ◽  
Author(s):  
SH Abdel-Aziz
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Strong Correlation ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Size At Maturity ◽  
Torpedo Marmorata ◽  
Food Items ◽  
The Common ◽  
Males And Females

The reproductive biology and diets of Torpedo torpedo and T. marmorata from Egyptian Mediterranean waters are described. Males and females reached a maximum size of 39.1 and 40.8 cm total length (TL), respectively, in T. torpedo and 38.6 and 61.2 cm TL, respectively, in T. marmorata. The size at maturity of males of T. torpedo and T. marmorata is 18 and 25.5 cm TL, respectively, and of females, is 22 and 35.5 cm TL, respectively. Both species exhibit aplacental viviparity. T. torpedo has a restricted breeding season, and individual females appear to breed annually, whereas T. marmorata females appear to have a more extended reproductive cycle (probably breeding every two years). In both species, males are capable of mating every year. In T. torpedo, mating occurs between December and February, ovulation in March-April, and parturition in late August and September after five to six months of gestation. Individuals of T. marmorata mate between November and January, ovulate between December and February, and give birth the following December after 10-12 months of gestation. Mean embryos sizes are 7.3 cm TL (range 4.6-8.2 cm TL) for T. torpedo and 8.5 cm TL (range 5.8-10.1 cm TL) for T. marmorata. Observations in Egyptian Mediterranean waters show a strong correlation between ovarian and uterine fecundity and the length of the mother in both species. Fish are an important component of the diet of the two species, as, to a lesser extent, are crustaceans for T. torpedo and cephalopods for T. marmorata. Juveniles eat a wide variety of food items, whereas adults feed only on fish.

Urine-Marking and Caching Behavior in the Wolf

Behaviour ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 76 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 280-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred H. Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Urine Marking ◽  
Food Odors ◽  
The One ◽  
A Site ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe relationship between urine-marking and caching was studied in two captive groups of wolves (Canis lupus). It was found that urine-marking never occurred when a cache was stocked, rarely occurred during later investigations if some food was still present, but usually occurred soon after the cache was emptied. The animal marking an empty cache was often not the one which had exploited it. Once an empty cache was marked it received little further attention, as opposed to caches that were empty but not urine-marked. These results suggest that urine-marking may enhance foraging efficiency in wolves by signalling that a site contains no more edible food despite the presence of lingering food odors.

scholarly journals Patterns of Consumption and Diet Differentiation for Three Breeding Warbler Species During a Spruce Budworm Outbreak

The Auk ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 216-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. McMartin ◽  
I. Bellocq ◽  
S. M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
The Other ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Species Pairs ◽  
Food Niche

Abstract Diets of three warbler species were analyzed during a spruce budworm outbreak in the boreal forest of northern Ontario. Beetles constituted a large portion of the food items consumed by Cape May (Dendroica tigrina), Bay-breasted (Dendroica castanea), and Tennessee (Vermivora peregrina) warblers early in the breeding season (7–11 June), and caterpillars were the most frequently used food category shortly later (18–24 June). Differences in diet served to differentiate the warbler species in the earlier period when Bay-breasted Warblers consumed more beetles, Tennessee Warblers consumed more caterpillars, and Cape May Warblers consumed more flies than the other species. Only Bay-breasted Warblers' continuing preference for beetles differentiated the warblers' diets in the later period. Food-niche overlaps increased for two of the three warbler species pairs between the two periods in June, but there was no change in the overlap between Bay-breasted and Cape May warbler diets.

Seasonal changes in food selection and nutrition of captive platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Thomas ◽  
Kathrine A. Handasyde ◽  
Peter Temple-Smith ◽  
Marissa L. Parrott
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
Seasonal Factors ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

Anecdotal observations of captive platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) suggest that they show a seasonal preference for particular foods, but this has never been rigorously measured. This study aimed to determine seasonal food preferences and energy consumption of captive platypuses so that better protocols for maintaining platypuses in captivity can be developed. Seven platypuses were fed an ad libitum diet with all food items weighed in and out of tanks. Food items were analysed for energy, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Platypuses preferred less mobile prey (mealworms, earthworms and fly pupae) over highly mobile prey (crayfish). There was no significant seasonal change in preference for different dietary items, which is more likely to be driven by prey behaviour. Crayfish contributed the largest percentage (mass) consumed and was highly nutritious. While the relative percentage of items in the diet did not change seasonally, the quantity eaten did. The mean energy intake of platypuses was 921 kJ kg–1 day–1 and varied seasonally, being lowest during the breeding season (810 kJ kg–1 day–1) and highest in the postbreeding season (1007 kJ kg–1 day–1). These changes were associated with preparation and recovery from the breeding season. We conclude that the platypus diet is influenced by nutrition and seasonal factors as well as by prey behaviour. This knowledge will contribute to improving the husbandry and management of platypuses, which are widely recognised as difficult to maintain in captivity.

Food habits and space use of gray foxes in relation to sympatric coyotes and bobcats

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 1794-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer CC Neale ◽  
Benjamin N Sacks
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Lynx Rufus ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
Urocyon Cinereoargenteus ◽  
Interspecific Relationships ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Frequent Consumption ◽  
Canid Species

To investigate interspecific relationships between gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and sympatric coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Lynx rufus), we quantified occurrence of food items in carnivore scats and used relative abundances of scats on transects to assess space use. Dietary-overlap indices between the two canid species were high during summer and fall ([Formula: see text] = 0.89) when fruits were prevalent in scats of both species, and were lower during winter and spring ([Formula: see text] = 0.70) when fruits were less available. Foxes differed most from coyotes in their relatively less frequent ungulate consumption. Fox–bobcat dietary-overlap indices were relatively low in summer and fall ([Formula: see text] = 0.37) and greater in winter and spring ([Formula: see text] = 0.74). Foxes differed most from bobcats in their more frequent consumption of fruits and less frequent consumption of lagomorphs. Abundance of fox scats was positively correlated with abundance of coyote scats during both winter–spring (r = 0.52, p = 0.02) and summer–fall (r = 0.75, p < 0.001) and with abundance of bobcat scats during winter–spring (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) and summer–fall (r = 0.22, p > 0.10). Thus, despite similarities in diet, we found no evidence that gray foxes avoided these larger predators in space.

scholarly journals Preying frequency of white-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 39-49
Author(s):  
Habibon Naher ◽  
Noor Jahan Sarker
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Dhaka City ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
Food Items

A study was conducted on ‘Preying frequency of White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus 1758) in Bangladesh’ from September 2008 to September 2011 at Nikunja-1 in Dhaka City Corporation area. The objectives of the study were to know the average preying frequency per day in different months and seasons. Scan sampling method was followed to study the kingfishers’ behaviour. At regular interval (5 minutes), day long observation was made with some observatory equipments. It preyed 4.1± 2.3 times per day on an average. They had bimodal feeding patterns, at morning (0701-1200 h) and afternoon (1401-1800 h). At noon they avoided preying. December was the highest preying month and summer was the highest unsuccessful preying season in the year. The food items composed of 36.6% arthropods and 61.1% fishes. Arthropods were preyed for 1.5 times and fishes for 2.5 times on an average per day. In association with arthropods and fishes they also preyed on amphibians and reptiles occasionally. Arthropods were preferred highly during non breeding season but fishes were preferred in breeding season for saving time and energy.ECOPRINT 22: 39-49, 2015

Prey switching and feeding habits of eastern coyotes in relation to snowshoe hare and white-tailed deer densities

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 1885-1897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent R Patterson ◽  
Lawrence K Benjamin ◽  
François Messier
Keyword(s):  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Severe Winter ◽  
Important Food ◽  
Prey Switching ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Winter Conditions

We investigated the influence of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) availability on the feeding habits of coyotes (Canis latrans) in Nova Scotia from 1992 to 1997. We hypothesized that coyotes would switch from deer to hare as hare abundance increased. Based on the analysis of 2443 scats, deer and hare were the dominant food items. Other important food items included small mammals, and fruits during late summer. In areas where they were readily available, coyotes fed predominantly on hare during winter, with the use of deer declining as hare density increased. However, the functional response was not proportional to the changes in the relative densities of deer or hare. This was particularly evident at low deer densities, where coyotes continued to feed largely on deer, even in the presence of high hare densities. The consumption of deer fawns during June and July exceeded that of hare in all areas, despite high hare densities in some areas. Overall, high use of deer appeared to have been associated with increased vulnerability due to winter severity or, in the case of young fawns, inability to escape. During mild winters, we suspect that coyotes are forced to focus their hunting efforts on prey other than deer, regardless of density, owing to low vulnerability of deer. When severe winter conditions occur, coyotes switch to feeding mainly on deer.

Food of the Short-Tailed Shearwater, Puffinus-Tenuirostris, in Tasmania

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 481 ◽  
Author(s):  
IJ Skira
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Main Food ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Minor Part ◽  
Puffinus Tenuirostris ◽  
A Minor

Food from stomachs of 396 short-tailed shearwaters collected at three colonies was analysed. The main food items found were the euphausiid Nyctiphanes australis, and arrow squid Notodarus sloani gouldi, with fish, other crustaceans and squids forming a minor part of the diet. Plastic particles were common particularly at the beginning of the breeding season but gradually decreased in frequency as the season progressed.

PELLETS AND PREY REMAINS AS INDICATORS OF THE DIET OF TWO SYMPATRIC SKUAS (AVES: STERCORARIIDAE) ON KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (03) ◽  
pp. 674-684
Author(s):  
Ana Olívia de Almeida Reis ◽  
◽  
Erli Schneider Costa ◽  
João Paulo Machado Torres ◽  
Maria Alice Santos Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
King George Island ◽  
Brown Skua ◽  
Admiralty Bay ◽  
South Polar Skua ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prey Remains ◽  
South Polar

South Polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) and Brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi) have opportunistic feeding habits and are the dominant predators in terrestrial Polar regions. These skuas exploit a wide range of food items, including marine organisms, other birds, and even garbage. In the present study, we compare the diets of these two skua species during the breeding season, using pellets and prey remains collected within their territories. The samples were collected at six sites in Admiralty Bay, on King George Island, Antarctica. We identified eight different items, which we classified as “penguin”, “flying bird”, “skua”, “fish”, “gastropod”, “krill”, “egg” and “marine debris”. In the first breeding season (2008/2009), penguins and flying birds were the food resources more abundant for both skua species, and their diet composition was similar. In the second breeding season (2010/2011) South Polar skua exploited more fish and flying birds than Brown skua; the latter exploited more eggs and penguins. Our findings corroborate those of previous studies, demonstrating that in sympatry South Polar skua exploit more fish than Brown skua. The diet of South Polar skua also varied between breeding seasons, reflecting the opportunistic foraging behavior of these skuas. As in other studies, we recorded that skua is a food resource for both skua species, but it was more common in the diet of South Polar skua. Marine debris was recorded only in the samples of Brown skua. Birds are important food items for both skuas, although significant differences were found in the diets of these sympatric species, with shifts in the composition of the diet probably reflecting fluctuations in the abundance of prey populations, which are known to be common at Admiralty Bay, although more data will be needed to confirm this link.

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