IIBYT   23944
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES BIOLOGICAS Y TECNOLOGICAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Behavioural pattern of zoo-housed Collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) exposed to natural photoperiod and temperature variation.
Autor/es:
EGUIZABAL GABINA; BUSSO JUAN MANUEL; SUPERINA MARIELLA; FERREYRA MARIANA
Lugar:
Berlin
Reunión:
Conferencia; 10th International Conference on Behaviour, Physiology and Genetics of Wildlife.; 2015
Institución organizadora:
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
Resumen:
Behaviour constitutes a natural response elicited when animals experience environmental stimulus such as physical (e.g. light, temperature) or biotic factors (e.g. social interactions, reproductive state). In recent years, behavioural observations have become a non-invasive tool increasingly used on the fields of ex situ animals? management and welfare. In addition, this type of evaluation may be the first step to future studies on the activity pattern and stress physiology in wildlife. This study was aimed to describe the behaviour of zoo-housed collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla). Between October and December 2014 (3 weeks), adult anteaters from Zoológico de Córdoba (Argentina) were monitored (exhibition area: n=2, 1♀ and 1♂; veterinary hospital, n=4; 2♀ and 2♂). Animals were exposed to natural photoperiod and temperature conditions, and fed daily on a diet based on balanced food. The ethogram was established and validated for the species previously at the zoo (EGUIZÁBAL et al., 2013). Behavioural categories were: a) resting, b) locomotion, c) feeding, d) exploring and e) stereotyped. Frequency of each category was registered using the instant method, performing 2 individual evaluations one day a week. Briefly, during each evaluation (30 minutes), behaviour exhibited by the animal was recorded every 2 minutes (total: 1920 frequency registries). Absolute frequency for each category was then transformed into percentage and statistically analysed using Kruskal Wallis test. One of the males was excluded from analysis because the location and structure of the shelter prevented its observation on several occasions. A high percentage (84,9±7,9%; Mean±ESM) of natural behaviours (a-d) was registered: a) 48,9±12,1; b) 9,2±2,9; c) 12,8±2,6 and d) 14,0±4,6. Foraging behaviour (feeding + exploring, c+d) varied between 16 and 34%. Although stereotyped (e) was higher in males (34,3±0,0%) than females (2,3±2,4%), there were no significant differences between gender. Moreover, no gender differences were registered in any category. Finally, results indicate that zoo- housed collared anteaters exhibited mainly natural behaviours. We consider that more detailed studies relating the environmental conditions (e.g. social and physical factors) are required to understand the variation of unnatural behaviours in the species. In this context, behavioural assessment constitutes a simple and easy to implement strategy to monitor individual stress responses to management of ex situ animals.