Behavioural context and possible function of scent marking by cheek rubbing in the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1650-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Ferron ◽  
Jean-Pierre Ouellet
Keyword(s):  
Relative Frequency ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Contextual Analysis ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Behaviour Pattern ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Resting Sites ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Marking Behaviour

A contextual analysis of scent marking by cheek rubbing in wild red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), based on the study of behavioural time budgets and sequences, is presented. Scent-marking rates do not differ significantly between adult males and females. Comparison of the relative frequency of occurrence of each behaviour pattern in a scent-marking context with the relative frequency of these patterns in all other contexts reveals that locomotion, alertness, grooming, food carrying, and gnawing have a higher probability of occurrence when there is cheek rubbing. These results concur with earlier findings in captivity. Contextual analysis in the wild clearly indicates low association of cheek rubbing with social context and greater use of this behaviour at grooming and resting sites and along the path used by the marking animal. This suggests that cheek rubbing is mainly self-oriented to maintain the animal's familiarity with its home range. This scent-marking behaviour may also be used to advertise occupancy of a given territory to conspecifics.

The structure and function of muskox preorbital glands

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1134-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Gray ◽  
Peter F. Flood ◽  
Janice E. Rowell
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Hair Follicles ◽  
Behaviour Pattern ◽  
Sweat Glands ◽  
Play Fighting ◽  
The Face ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Lacrimal Bone ◽  
Marking Behaviour ◽  
And Function

The preorbital gland of the muskox is a relatively large pear-shaped structure lying rostral to the eye between the skin and the lacrimal bone. It surrounds a narrow tubular invagination of the skin, which conveys the largely aqueous secretion to the surface of the face. This tube, which enters the gland at its rostrolateral extremity and runs caudodorsally, is partially filled with stiff hairs that arise from follicles in its wall. Most of the gland consists of tightly packed apocrine sweat glands, but large sebaceous glands are associated with the hair follicles of the central tube. The myoepithelium of the sweat glands is highly developed but the facial muscles overlying the gland are very thin and probably do not contribute significantly to the expulsion of secretion. Secretion is mechanically expressed when the animal rubs the area of the gland on something firm such as its own foreleg (gland rubbing) or a prominent object in the environment (rubbing). The gland is functional in both sexes throughout the year but is much larger in males. In the wild, scent marking and gland rubbing occur during aggressive encounters between individuals within a herd, between herds, and between muskoxen and other species. Gland rubbing in females and subadults is usually restricted to interspecific encounters but in males it occurs in most intense agonistic situations. Wild calves performed the self-marking behaviour as early as 1 week of age when play fighting. Captive muskoxen did not rub their preorbital gland on the foreleg but commonly rubbed it on objects. The authors believe that the principal function of the preorbital gland is to provide an olfactory component of the threat behaviour pattern.

Observations on Activity Patterns, Population and Den Characteristics of The Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster Along Badger Creek, Victoria.

1995 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
J.L. Gardner ◽  
M. Serena
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Irrigation Channels ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Hydromys Chrysogaster

The Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster is Australia's largest amphibious rodent, occupying freshwater rivers, lakes, and coastal and estuarine habitats throughout the continent (Watts and Aslin 1981). Little is known of the species' social organisation or use of space in the wild although Harris (1978) suggested that adults might be intrasexually aggressive. The home ranges of all sex and age classes overlap to some extent but home ranges of adults of the same sex appear to overlap less (Harris 1978). Adult males occupy the largest home ranges which overlap those of one or more females. In captivity individuals kept in groups form hierarchies in which only the dominant females usually breed successfully (Olsen 1982). Fighting occurs primarily among males, with the highest incidence of injuries observed at the beginning of the main September-March breeding season (Olsen 1980, 1982). The results of trapping studies indicate that population density may vary considerably, with the greatest numbers of animals typically occupying man-modified habitats such as irrigation channels or fish farms (McNally 1960, Watts and Aslin 1981, Smales 1984). Aggressive behaviour appears to be related to pelage colour (phenotype) and population density; the higher the density the greater the number of injured individuals (Olsen 1980).

scholarly journals Evaluación de la morfometría de pellets como método de categorización de sexos y edades en venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus mexicanus) en Puebla, México.

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela A. Camargo–Sanabria ◽  
Salvador Mandujano
Keyword(s):  
Odocoileus Virginianus ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fuzzy Classification ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Sex Structure ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Unreliable Method ◽  
Para Determinar ◽  
Age And Sex

Resumen: Tanto desde una perspectiva ecológica como de manejo, es importante conocer la proporción de sexos y la estructura de edades de las poblaciones de venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus). Sin embargo, en aquellos lugares donde no es posible ver directamente a los animales en vida libre, no es sencillo determinar su edad y sexo por lo que se han empleado métodos indirectos como el análisis morfométrico de los pellets. Con el fin de determinar si la variación entre pellets de individuos de diferentes edades y sexo permite su correcta categorización, se colectaron los grupos fecales de individuos conocidos en cautiverio en la UMA-Zoológico Flor del Bosque, Puebla. Se obtuvieron 180 muestras de las cuales 18 fueron de crías (< 1 año), 78 de juveniles (2-3 años) y 84 de adultos (> 3 años). Se comparó el promedio de todas las variables morfométricas entre grupos fecales de un mismo individuo y entre individuos de la misma clase de edad y sexo. Nuestros resultados sugieren que dada la alta variación presentada en las medidas morfométricas de los pellets de un mismo individuo en una misma época y entre épocas del año, y la baja variación mostrada entre grupos fecales de individuos de diferentes clases de edad y sexo, el análisis morfométrico de pellets es una metodología poco confiable para determinar la estructura de edad y sexo de una población de O. v. mexicanus. En consecuencia, la técnica de clasificación fuzzy no logra una categorización adecuada de la población en estudio pues sólo separa a los machos adultos de 5 y 6 años, mientras que los machos de menor edad y juveniles, así como hembras adultas y juveniles no son discriminados en clases separadas. Se sugiere realizar análisis similares a este con otras subespecies de venado que no exhiban un fuerte dimorfismo sexual como aquellas distribuidas hacia el centro y sur de México. Palabras clave: estructura de edades, método indirecto, pellets, técnica fuzzy, Odocoileus  virginianus.Abstract: Both from an ecological perspective as management, it is important to know the sex ratio and age structure of populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). However, in places where you can not directly see the animals in the wild is not easy to determine their age and sex so indirect methods have been used as a morphometric analysis of the pellets. To determine whether the variation between pellets of individuals of different age and sex allows proper categorization, fecal groups were collected from known individuals in captivity in the Zoo UMA-Flor del Bosque, Puebla. We obtained 180 samples of which 18 were young (<1 year), 78 juveniles (2-3 years) and 84 adults (> 3 years). We compared the average for all morphometric variables between groups fecal same individual and between individuals of the same age class and sex. Our results suggest that given the high variation shown in the body measures of the pellets from the same individual in the same season and between seasons, and low fecal variation shown between groups of individuals of different age classes and sex, analysis morphometry of pellets is an unreliable method to determine the age and sex structure of a population of O. v. mexicanus. Consequently, the fuzzy classification technique does not achieve appropriate categorization of the study population because only separates adult males of 5 and 6 years, while younger males and juveniles and adult females and juveniles are not discriminated against in separate classes. Similar analysis suggested this to other subspecies of deer that do not exhibit strong sexual dimorphism as those distributed to the central and southern Mexico.Key words: Structure of ages, indirect method, pellets, technology fuzzy, Odocoileus  virginianus.

Scent marking in coyotes

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Don Bowen ◽  
Ian McTaggart Cowan
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Jasper National Park ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Marking Behaviour

The scent marking behaviour of coyotes, Canis latrans, was studied in Jasper National Park, Alberta, during the period 1974–1976. Results show that adult males and females scent mark throughout their territory at all times of the year. Urine is most frequently used in marking. The rate of scent marking at the edge of the territory is approximately twice that in the center. This increase is accomplished by reducing the distance between scent-mark sites and increasing the proportion of multiple marks. All members contribute to the marking behaviour of the pack, although the dominant male marks most frequently. The scent marks of neighbours at territory borders are not avoided but vigourously marked. Nevertheless, it appears that marking is associated with the maintenance of territory.

Battles for mates and food: Intraspecific combat in island tigersnakes (Notechis ater) from southern Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Shine ◽  
M. Firmage
Keyword(s):  
Interference Competition ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Sexual Competition ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
The Social ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Prey Resources ◽  
Large Adult

AbstractMale-male combat occurs in mainland populations of tigersnakes (Notechis scutatus), but authorities have disagreed as to whether or not this behaviour also occurs in island tigersnakes (Notechis ater). In this paper, we confirm that intraspecific combat frequently occurs between island tigersnakes maintained in captivity. Two different kinds of combat bouts were observed. We interpret the first type (ritualised "wrestling" matches between large adult males) as a reflection of sexual competition. This behaviour was seen in snakes from each of the island populations investigated, including Tasmania. Agonistic behaviour was exhibited by females and juveniles as well as by adult males: however, this second type of combat was always initiated by the introduction of food items to the enclosure, and incorporated vigorous biting as well as (or instead of) wrestling. Further observations, in the field as well as in captivity, are needed before we can interpret the functional significance of this behaviour. The food-induced combat may be an artifact of high densities of captive snakes, or alternatively may be exhibited in the wild also. We speculate that the high abundance of tigersnakes on some islands, and the highly clumped nature of prey resources (e.g. muttonbird chicks) in both space and time, may have favoured direct interference competition for prey items between island tigersnakes. If so, some elements of the social system of island tigersnakes may resemble the condition seen in many lizard species, rather than in other snakes.

scholarly journals On the modulation and maintenance of hibernation in captive dwarf lemurs

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina B. Blanco ◽  
Lydia K. Greene ◽  
Robert Schopler ◽  
Cathy V. Williams ◽  
Danielle Lynch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Restriction ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Biological Rhythms ◽  
Food Ingestion ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Cheirogaleus Medius ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Metabolic Strategies

AbstractIn nature, photoperiod signals environmental seasonality and is a strong selective “zeitgeber” that synchronizes biological rhythms. For animals facing seasonal environmental challenges and energetic bottlenecks, daily torpor and hibernation are two metabolic strategies that can save energy. In the wild, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar are obligate hibernators, hibernating between 3 and 7 months a year. In captivity, however, dwarf lemurs generally express torpor for periods far shorter than the hibernation season in Madagascar. We investigated whether fat-tailed dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus medius) housed at the Duke Lemur Center (DLC) could hibernate, by subjecting 8 individuals to husbandry conditions more in accord with those in Madagascar, including alternating photoperiods, low ambient temperatures, and food restriction. All dwarf lemurs displayed daily and multiday torpor bouts, including bouts lasting ~ 11 days. Ambient temperature was the greatest predictor of torpor bout duration, and food ingestion and night length also played a role. Unlike their wild counterparts, who rarely leave their hibernacula and do not feed during hibernation, DLC dwarf lemurs sporadically moved and ate. While demonstrating that captive dwarf lemurs are physiologically capable of hibernation, we argue that facilitating their hibernation serves both husbandry and research goals: first, it enables lemurs to express the biphasic phenotypes (fattening and fat depletion) that are characteristic of their wild conspecifics; second, by “renaturalizing” dwarf lemurs in captivity, they will emerge a better model for understanding both metabolic extremes in primates generally and metabolic disorders in humans specifically.

scholarly journals Previously unknown behavior in parasitic cuckoo females: male-like vocalization during migratory activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Swetlana G. Meshcheryagina ◽  
Alexey Opaev
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Harmonic Spectrum ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Neck Extension ◽  
Migratory Activity ◽  
Call Production ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Combined Features ◽  
Female Call

Abstract Background In the last decade, enigmatic male-like cuckoo calls have been reported several times in East Asia. These calls exhibited a combination of vocal traits of both Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) and Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) advertising calls, and some authors therefore suggested that the enigmatic calls were produced by either Common × Oriental Cuckoo male hybrids or Common Cuckoo males having a gene mutation. However, the exact identity of calling birds are still unknown. Methods We recorded previously unknown male-like calls from three captive Oriental Cuckoo females, and compared these calls with enigmatic vocalizations recorded in the wild as well as with advertising vocalizations of Common and Oriental Cuckoo males. To achieve this, we measured calls automatically. Besides, we video-recorded captive female emitting male-like calls, and compared these recordings with the YouTube recordings of calling males of both Common and Oriental Cuckoos to get insight into the mechanism of call production. Results The analysis showed that female male-like calls recorded in captivity were similar to enigmatic calls recorded in the wild. Therefore, Oriental Cuckoo females might produce the latter calls. Two features of these female calls appeared to be unusual among birds. First, females produced male-like calls at the time of spring and autumn migratory activity and on migration in the wild. Because of this, functional significance of this call remained puzzling. Secondly, the male-like female call unexpectedly combined features of both closed-mouth (closed beak and simultaneous inflation of the ‘throat sac’) and open-mouth (prominent harmonic spectrum and the maximum neck extension observed at the beginning of a sound) vocal behaviors. Conclusions The Cuculus vocalizations outside the reproductive season remain poorly understood. Here, we found for the first time that Oriental Cuckoo females can produce male-like calls in that time. Because of its rarity, this call might be an atavism. Indeed, female male-like vocalizations are still known in non-parasitic tropical and apparently more basal cuckoos only. Therefore, our findings may shed light on the evolution of vocal communication in avian brood parasites.

Methods of scent marking in the domestic cat

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1093-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary N. Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Tree Bark ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Felis Silvestris ◽  
Felis Silvestris Catus ◽  
The Face ◽  
Visual Mark

Carnivores use various scent-marking methods. Semi-feral domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) were observed to use the same means as their wild counterparts. Adult males performed most urine spray marking. Cats scratched tree bark, producing a visual mark, and probably used trees both as markers and for claw sharpening. Most scratching trees were located along frequently used paths rather than along territorial boundaries or scattered randomly throughout a home range. Bark consistency affected the tree species that were scratched, with soft bark preferred. Although deposition of faeces and urine was recorded, there was no clear evidence for their use as territorial markers; cats primarily eliminated away from the core area of the home range. Most faeces were buried, although exposed deposits were also observed. Cats also rubbed against objects, probably using glandular secretions from the face and tail areas to scent mark. Males rubbed objects more than females, and males scent marked more. Individual males may use different means of scent marking. Scent marking in this study supports the idea that cats do not defend territories, instead patrolling and reinforcing marks throughout a looser home range. The suggestion has been made that different forms of marking may serve separate signalling functions.

Catarrhine juvenile mortality in captivity, under seminatural conditions, and in the wild

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 935-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. W. J. Debyser
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Mortality ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild

scholarly journals Reintroduction of the Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba) in Northern Brazil: Establishing a Population in a Protected Area

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rodrigues Vilarta ◽  
William Wittkoff ◽  
Crisomar Lobato ◽  
Rubens de Aquino Oliveira ◽  
Nívia Gláucia Pinto Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Lines ◽  
Food Supplementation ◽  
Territorial Disputes ◽  
Amazon Forest ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Viable Population ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Northern Brazil ◽  
Native Foods

Brazil has the highest number of parrots in the world and the greatest number of threatened species. The Golden Conure is endemic to the Brazilian Amazon forest and it is currently considered as threatened by extinction, although it is fairly common in captivity. Here we report the first reintroduction of this species. The birds were released in an urban park in Belem, capital of Para State, where the species was extinct more than a century ago. Birds were trained to recognize and consume local food and to avoid predators. After the soft-release, with food supplementation and using nest boxes, we recorded breeding activity in the wild. The main challenges before the release were the territorial disputes within the aviary and the predation by boa snakes. During the post-release monitoring the difficulties were the fast dispersion of some individuals and the dangers posed by anthropic elements such as power lines that caused some fatalities. Released birds were very successful at finding and consuming native foods, evading predators, and one pair reproduced successfully. Monitoring continues and further releases are programmed to establish an ecologically viable population.

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