1,721,023 research outputs found
To feed or not to feed? Testing different hypotheses on rut-induced hypophagia in a mountain ungulate
No full textIn many ruminant species, males dramatically reduce forage intake during the rut. To date, different hypotheses have been suggested to explain this rut-induced hypophagia. To assess the predictions of the main hypotheses, we analysed Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) activity budget and compared the behaviour of males and females before, during, and after the rut. Only males spent significantly less time foraging during the rut than outside of it, whereas females allocated a similar proportion of time to foraging before, during, and after the rut. Our results showed that during the rut males also reduced lying time, while the ratio of time spent feeding to time spent lying did not change for males among periods. In conclusion, during the breeding season males maximized energy intake when not actively engaged in mating activities and rut-induced hypophagia appeared to result from time budget constraints generated by mating-related activities. Accordingly, the foraging constraint hypothesis seems appropriate to explain this phenomenon in Alpine ibex males
Revisione dello studio di fattibilità per la reintroduzione dello stambecco delle Alpi (Capra ibex Linnaeus, 1758) sulle pale di San Martino, sulle Dolomiti Bellunesi e suoi comprensori montuosi limitrofi
No full textPrimi risultati dell’uso delle fototrappole per valutare la distribuzione, i ritmi di attività e il comportamento alimentare degli ungulati nella Tenuta di Castelporziano
No full textIs horn length crucial for Alpine chamois?
No full textAnimal weapons are one of the most studied morphological traits, particularly in Artiodactyla. Since in polygynous species males with larger weapons tend to be more successful in gaining access to females, researchers have traditionally focused on horn size. However, in species with limited horn size, weapon size has been assumed to have a reduced or null effect on life history traits. We examined the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the length of the second and third segments of Alpine chamois horns (Rupicapra rupicapra) in a population living in a poor environment. Our aim was to test how environmental conditions affected weapon growth and whether compensatory growth occurred. We showed that horn length was isometric to body size, although male horns grew more quickly. Ecological factors such as snow and forage availability affected weapon length, though mildly. No sign of compensatory growth was detected. We inferred that chamois mainly use horns as armament in intrasexual interactions. However, horn length was not a key element since horn growth remained isometric, at least under suboptimal ecological conditions. In species without extreme weapons, the handicap caused by longer horns is likely not compensated by an increase in individual fitness
Space use, habitat selection and activity patterns of female sardinian mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) during the lambing season
No full textWe analysed space use, habitat selection and activity patterns in female mouflons using radio tracking during lambing. During the birth period, mothers increased their home ranges to reach birth places suitably covered by Mediterranean scrubland. During lactation, mothers used Mediterranean scrubland more than non-mothers. Mothers decreased the use of meadows precisely when, according to a grass quality index, productivity of meadows was highest; this was likely due to the lack of concealment for lambs that would, thus, be vulnerable to eagle attacks. Accordingly, females are argued to adopt anti-predator tactics during lactation, trading high-quality foraging meadows for safer scrubland that provides good concealment for lambs. Despite the high temperatures recorded during the day in this period, lactating females showed greater activity levels, due to their need to meet greater energetic demands for lactation. This effort by mouflon mothers in such a poor environment as the Sardinian accounted for their lower productive success than in other European populations
Territorial behaviour of male roe deer: a telemetry study of spatial behaviour and activity levels
No full textThe roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is considered a special case of territorial ungulate. This study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of male roe deer territoriality by exploring its spatial use and activity patterns. We divided the territorial period (March- August) into three two-month sampling periods and found that the home range (HR) size of 13 radio-collared males averaged from 47.9 ± 14.5 ha to 109.7 ± 31.9 ha. We classified the spatial behaviour of eight out of the 13 males into three groups and concluded that HR size variation alone did not explain the potential territorial status. Nevertheless, it was indicative of their territorial status when considered along with the bucks’ age, spatial movements and activity levels. The activity levels of July-August were significantly lower than the activity levels of March-April. HR size variation of the males monitored significantly contributed to explain the variations in their activity levels. Old bucks were significantly less active than other males, especially during July-August. To sum up, we found an indication of an influence of spatial profiles on activity levels, though a larger sample will be needed in order to better understand differences in age and territorial status, and inter-individual differences in activity
Hunting seasons in relation to biological breeding seasons and the implications for the control or regulation of ungulate populations
No full text- …
