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Chemocommunication and social behaviour in three Panthera species in captivity, with particular reference to the lion, P.leo
This project is a contribution towards the understanding of the mechanisms involved in
the chemocommunication systems of large mammals. Data are included on the social
behaviour and use of scent marking for the African lion, P. leo as well as two other
Panthera species namely the Siberian tiger, P. tigris altaica, and the leopard, P. pare/us.
The study was conducted in three Zoos or Safariparks in Denmark: K0benhavn Zoo,
Givskud Safaripark and Knuthenborg Safaripark.
Data were collected in three ways. The first part of the project comprised behavioural
observations of the undisturbed social and marking patterns of the study groups. Particular
attention was paid towards Spraymarking, Scrape/urination and normal Urination but
Clawing, Chinrubbing and Defaecation were also recorded. Methods were developed
which made it possible to collect samples of scent marks from the study animals. The
scent samples collected were used in the second part of the field work, which involved an
experimental investigation in which the animals were presented with scent marks from
foreign individuals of varying sex, age or reproductive status. These experiments were
conducted both in the "natural" setting of the outdoor enclosures as well as in the artificial
surroundings of the night cages of the animals. In the third and final part of the study the
scent mark samples collected were subjected to chemical analysis using the "Headspace"
procedure on a combined Gas Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometre.
The activity and social interactions of the animals, although under influence of the
captive environment, were generally close to what one would expect to see for wild
animals. Each animal showed a distinct activity pattern and social repertoire, but more
general differences between the sex/age groups were also found. Males tended to stand
more than females or cubs and show higher levels of Investigation, whereas females
generally moved more than males. Cubs played more than the two adult groups. These
trends were seen in all three species.
Each animal had a distinct marking repertoire, but generally the male patterns were
dominated by Sprayrmarking followed by Scrape/urination, whereas the female patterns
were much more variable. Male lions had higher rates of Spraymarking and significantly
higher rates of Scrape/urination than females. No significant difference was found
between Sprayrnarking rates of male and female tigers, but both had significantly higher
rates than castrated tiger males. The leopard male had higher rates of the two marking
types than the female.
Male lions showed a bias towards Spraymarking over Scrape/urination in territorial
contexts, but no such bias in social contexts. The females showed no bias in markings in
either context.
Investigation of experimental marks were dominated by Scenting and Flehmen and
very little Licking and Overmarking was seen.
In the chemical analysis 58 compounds were identified in lion urine samples. Lion
male samples overlapped significantly more in compound composition with other male
samples than they did with female samples. The majority of the lions overlapped more
within their own samples than they did with samples from other lions, and for seven out of
16 lions this difference was significant. Male lions had a significantly higher absolute
concentration of 2-butanone than females, and females had a significantly higher relative
concentration of acetone than did males.
57 compounds were identified in tiger urine samples. All tigers overlapped more
within their own samples than between theirs and other samples from same sex
individuals, but only one significantly so. Castrated tiger males had higher concentration
of 5-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-hepten-3-one than the intact male.
In leopard urine samples 18 compounds were identified.
Possible candidates for species and sex identifying compounds were put forward for
lions and tigers. On average two lion samples overlapped significantly more in compound
composition thall did a lion sample and a tiger sample. This was also the case for the
overlap between two tiger samples compared to a tiger and a lion sample. Leopard
samples overlapped equally with lion and tiger samples.
The results are discussed in relation to what is known about the same species living in
the wild. Furthermore the use of chemical signals are discussed in relation to their
chemical and physical properties, and their function in a territorial context is commented
upon