Food access in captive Ammotragus: The role played by hierarchy and mother-infant interactions

An analysis of individuals' behavior when accessing a restricted food source (troughs) was carried out in a captive population of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). Access to the troughs followed a strict hierarchical order, as higher-ranking individuals fed before lower-ranking ones. Unweaned male and female calves made use of the troughs from the ages of 2 and 3 months, respectively. Both fed from the troughs more frequently and for longer periods when their mother was present, which allowed them to make use of the troughs while skipping the hierarchical order. Calves received fewer threats when in proximity to their mothers, particularly in high-ranking families. Mothers defended their calves from other herdmates more frequently when at the feeding area than in other areas of the herd. However, only sated mothers let their calves feed freely from the troughs; unsated mothers showed an aggressive behavior even toward their calves. I conclude that a maternal presence is necessary for aoudad calves to successfully feed from troughs, and that families of higher social rank benefit by getting access to this food source earlier in the day and are disturbed less than low-ranking families.Supported by Dirección General de Investigación Project REN2000-1470 GLO.Peer reviewe

La caza como recurso renovable y la conservación de la naturaleza

Reseña Bibliografíca.-- Colección: ¿Qué sabemos de?, Vol. 47.-- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Los libros de la Catarata. Madrid, España. (136 p).-- Formato impreso: ISBN 978-84-00-09760-8Peer Reviewe

Segregació sexual en cérvols

Molts herbívors de gran mida habitualment viuen en grups separats de mascles i femelles amb les cries que només es troben en època de reproducció. Una investigació conduïda a la UAB i a l'Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC) ha analitzat aquesta segregació sexual en cérvols ibèrics (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) arribant a la conclusió de que les raons de la separació són complexes, sent important l'ambient climàtic del mediterrani i les necessitats tròfiques dels animals.Muchos herbívoros de gran tamaño habitualmente viven en grupos separados de machos y hembras con las crias que sólo se encuentran en época de reproducción. Una investigación conducida en la UAB y el Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC) ha analizado esta segregación sexual en ciervos ibéricos (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) llegando a la conclusión de que las razones de la separación son complejas, siendo importante el ambiente climático del mediterráneo y las necesidades tróficas de los animales

Arrui – Ammotragus lervia (Pallas, 1777)

Mamíferos - Orden Artiodactyla - Familia Bovidae en la Enciclopedia Virtual de Vertebrados Españoles, http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/. Versiones anteriores: 11-11-2002; 3-02-2004; 21-12-2004; 9-04-2007; 5-08-2008; 2-04-2012A comprehensive review of the natural history of the Barbary Sheep Ammotragus lervia in Spain.Peer reviewe

Characterization of the estrous cycle and reproductive traits of the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) in captivity

In this study the estrous cycle of the aoudad has been analyzed and characterized for the first time, using non-invasive methods for tracking reproductive cyclicity. The duration of the estrous cycle is 23 days (range 16-32 days), with a luteal phase of 17 days (range 12-27 days) and an interluteal phase of 6 days (range 3-14 days). The estrous cycle did not differ between females, but it was affected by the time of the year. Intra-individual variation of the cycle was observed in one out of the nine individuals. The average hormone concentration values, the estrogen:progestogen ratio, as well as their minimum and maximum values for each interluteal and luteal phases of the estrous cycle, are shown. Inter-individual differences found in these values were basically associated with age. Females tended to start their cycle when in the presence of an adult male. Anoestrus was observed in study females except for the oldest (14 years old). Age and anoestrus onset were correlated, with younger females starting earlier than the older ones. This study reveals that Ammotragus reproductive biology is more similar to that of Capra than Ovis, except for some endocrinological features.This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Education and Research (grant CGL2004-00603) and the European Regional Development Fund.Peer reviewe

Maternal state affects intestinal changes of rat pups at weaning

Two treatments of hooded rat (Rattus norvegicus) mothers after the birth of their pups affected the stage of development at which their pups started to take solid food and showed an increase in the expression of sucrase, an enzyme needed for digesting solid food. The pups of mothers that became pregnant in a post-partum oestrus showed the changes significantly earlier than those in the control group (Fig. 1A, B). The pups of mothers that had been mildly food-restricted after birth showed the changes significantly later than those in the control group. In brief, the pups of the pregnant mothers weaned first, the control pups next and those of food-restricted mothers weaned last. Differences in the timing of weaning between the three groups occurred in the absence of differences in pup body weight at the time of weaning. Within each experimental group, on the day in which sucrase expression showed the first detectable increase, sucrase activity was strongly predicted by the weight of the pups shortly after birth (Fig. 3). Pregnant mothers put on weight rapidly before implantation and their pups prepared for early weaning even though they did not differ in body weight from control pups (Fig. 4A, B). Food-restricted mothers were significantly lighter than control mothers and, with lighter pups before weaning started, settled for a longer period of suckling.Peer reviewe

Habitat suitability modelling reveals a strong niche overlap between two poorly known species, the broom hare and the Pyrenean grey partridge, in the north of Spain

In the present work, we derive a habitat suitability model of the broom hare and the Pyrenean grey partridge in the Cantabrian Mountains by using the Ecological Niche Factor Analysis. Both species are endemic to the northern of Iberian mountains, and because of the vulnerability of the hare to endangerment or extinction and because of the great inter-est in the partridge, this habitat requires specific conservation measures. Literature on these animals’ biology and ecology is practically nonexistent. Habitat suitability analyses show that the hare and partridge occupy very similar ecological niches, characterized by a high percentage of broom and heather scrublands, high altitude and slope, and limited human accessibility. We have identified differences in habitat selection between the Pyre-nean grey partridge and other subspecies of partridge present in central-northern Europe. Our results indicate a probable metapopulation structure for both the hare and partridge; however, according to our predictive maps, there is a high connectivity between suitable habitats. Current decline of traditional rural activities, such as mountain livestock, are affecting the mosaic landscape. This, in turn, enhances biodiversity in the area and, parti-cularly, the viability of these valuable animal populations.We acknowledge financial supported by the project PBI-05-010 granted by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La ManchaPeer reviewe

Vicuña (Vicugna v. mensalis) herds modify their behaviour after being captured and sheared: implications on conservation and management

Póster presentado al Joint meeting of the 33rd International Ethological Conference (IEC) & the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB), celebrado en Newcastle-Gateshead (UK) del 4 al 8 de agosto de 2013.We present here evidence of a modification in foraging and guarding rates in vicuña herds subject to a traditional shearing management in Central Andes, Perú. The study was conducted from March to December 2011. We recorded behaviour of a vicuña population made up of ca. 300 individuals, living in semi-captive conditions and captured once a year for shearing. We registered foraging and guarding rates of adult males and females as well as calves, and distinguished three periods: before being captured, after being captured for marking and after being captured for shearing. Guarding behaviour is predominantly made by males, it is negatively related to group size, and varies according to the habitat and management period, decreasing significantly after shearing. Foraging behaviour rate is higher in females than in males and lambs, and significantly increases for all individuals after capture and shearing, it is positively related to group size. We hypothesize that after shearing vicuñas are prone to increase their daily foraging rate due to energy demands; this affecting their guarding rate and in turn their vulnerability to predators.Thanks to funding obtained in the Fifth Call for Research in Ecology and Conservation Biology from BBVA Foundation (BIOCON08-059).Peer Reviewe