小熊猫育幼期间时间分配、活动节律以及育幼行为的研究

Behavioral Changes and Activity Rhythms of Red Pandas during Nursing Period

育幼期是动物生长发育和繁衍的关键期,而产后30 d幼仔死亡率高发,是为其存活的关键时期。通过研究母体育幼期间的时间分配,活动节律以及育幼行为,将有助于提高其成活率,以及种群数量与质量。小熊猫的育幼期间的时间分配与活动节律缺乏系统的研究。本文采用瞬时扫描取样法和全事件记录法,对2013至2016年期间4只育幼期小熊猫进行了研究。结果表明:1)休息行为(58.32%±1.78%)是主要表现形式,其次为育幼(20.43%±2.39%)、探究(6.89%±0.71%),运动(6.27%±0.88%)、求适(5.59%±0.69%)、摄食行为(2.49%±0.56%);2)育幼行为仅在01:00~5:00较低,摄食行为主要发生在19:00~21:00和01:00;3)育幼与摄食、运动、求适和休息显著负相关(P<0.01);而运动与摄食、求适行为显著性正相关(P<0.05);4)在育幼行为中,舔仔的发生频率最高(68.64%±3.02%),其次为哺乳行为(23.45%±2.71%)。

The nursing season is the key period for the growth and development of animals. The mortality of animal babies is really high during the first month after their birth, so the nursing season is especially important for their survival. By researches on the activity rhythms, time budget and nursing behaviors of endangered species during nursing season, the survival rate of the babies of endangered species can be enhanced, aiming to improve their population. As a companion of the giant panda, the red panda is also a competitive animal to the giant panda in food, in spite of its scarce quantity, gentle temperament, highly ornamental value, the researchers and animal keepers still pay little attention to the lovely species. Thus, studies were made of the time budgets, activity rhythms and nursing behaviors of four female red pandas in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding from 2013 to 2016, by using instantaneous scan sampiing and all-occurrence recording methods. It was found that resting was the main activity of red pandas during nursing season, followed by nursing behaviors, exploring, moving, grooming and feeding. The average percent of nursing behaviors during one day was about 20%, except for 01：00 -5：00 in the morning; Feeding behaviors occurred more frequently on 19：00 - 21：00 and 01：00 in the morning. Nursing behaviors had an extremely significant negative correlation to feeding and moving behaviors （ P 〈 0. 05 ） and a significant negative correlation to grooming and resting behaviors（ P 〈 0. 01 ） ; Moving behaviors had an extremely significant positive correlation to grooming and feeding behaviors （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. As for the nursing behaviors,licking the cub occurred the most frequently, reaching up to 70% , and followed by lactating, which was made up to 24%. The results showed the activity rhythms, time budget and nursing behaviors of red pandas, therefore able to have a better understanding of the living habits of red pandas during nursing season, and improve the population of the endangered species.