Aspects of time budgets, activity patterns and rut-related changes in behavior are well documented in temperate un-gulates; however, the application of this understanding to tropical and sub-tropical ungulate species ...Aspects of time budgets, activity patterns and rut-related changes in behavior are well documented in temperate un-gulates; however, the application of this understanding to tropical and sub-tropical ungulate species has attracted less attention and remains an area that may re-shape our knowledge of ungulate behavior. Eld＇s deer Cervus eldi hainanus has a tropical and sub-tropical distribution on Hainan Island, China, and males have an extended rut exceeding five months during which they do not maintain harems or defend resources. We studied males from the only remaining population on Hainan Island, and describe rut-related changes in behavior by collecting data on time budgets and activity patterns. We show that male Eld＇s deer do not fol- low a strict crepuscular activity pattern, do not spend the majority of their time foraging and do not increase foraging nor display rut-induced hypophagia during rut, in obvious contrast to temperate ungulates. These results are discussed in light of current hy- potheses explaining the proximate mechanisms governing feeding time in ungulates, while appreciating the need for further re-search .展开更多
Understanding life history patterns,individual fitness and population fitness can assist with conservation of endangered species.Field data on life history traits(i.e.age specific fecundity,age specific mortality,age ...Understanding life history patterns,individual fitness and population fitness can assist with conservation of endangered species.Field data on life history traits(i.e.age specific fecundity,age specific mortality,age at first reproduction,litter size and adult life expectancy)were collected from 121 Hainan Eld’s deer(Cervus eldi hainanus Thomas,1918),an in situ herd of an endemic,rare and endangered cervid inhabiting Bangxi Natural Reserve of Hainan Island,from 1990 to 2002.First,we constructed a dynamic life table to analyze the life history pattern of the population,which showed that the difference between the average lifespan of males and females was not significant(P>0.05),and that the difference between the average lifespan of the whole Hainan Eld’s deer population and that of other Eld’s deer populations living in South Asia(P>0.05),North America(P>0.05)and Europe(P>0.05)was not significant.Second,we used individual reproductive success or number of offspring of a male over its lifetime to estimate male individual fitness.Statistic analysis showed that male individual fitness was not significantly correlated with total antler velvet mass.Third,we used the population intrinsic rate of increase to measure population fitness,and population fitness of Hainan Eld’s deer was compared with similar indexes of 5 other cervid species.Hainan Eld’s deer population fitness index was 0.012,the second lowest value relative to other cervids.Results indicated that this rare species is still endangered and is in need of additional protection.展开更多
基金Funding for this study was provided by National Nature Science Foundation of China （30430120）. We followed guidelines for the use of animals in research as pub-lished by the journal Animal Behaviour. We thank staff at Hainan Datian National Nature Reserve for assistance during our field research with special thanks to Li Shanyuan and Xing Yichang who graciously contributed their time and effort during this study.
文摘Aspects of time budgets, activity patterns and rut-related changes in behavior are well documented in temperate un-gulates; however, the application of this understanding to tropical and sub-tropical ungulate species has attracted less attention and remains an area that may re-shape our knowledge of ungulate behavior. Eld＇s deer Cervus eldi hainanus has a tropical and sub-tropical distribution on Hainan Island, China, and males have an extended rut exceeding five months during which they do not maintain harems or defend resources. We studied males from the only remaining population on Hainan Island, and describe rut-related changes in behavior by collecting data on time budgets and activity patterns. We show that male Eld＇s deer do not fol- low a strict crepuscular activity pattern, do not spend the majority of their time foraging and do not increase foraging nor display rut-induced hypophagia during rut, in obvious contrast to temperate ungulates. These results are discussed in light of current hy- potheses explaining the proximate mechanisms governing feeding time in ungulates, while appreciating the need for further re-search .
基金We are grateful to Mr Youfeng Zheng and Mr Daliang Fu of the Bangxi Natural Reserve of Hainan Province for their help in the course of field data collection.We sincerely thank anonymous reviewers for comments and suggestions that helped to improve the manuscript.The research was supported by the Key National Natural Science Foundation(Fund No.30430120)China Postdoctoral Fund No.20070410635 and the Introduction of Higher-Level-Talents Foundation of Central South University of Forestry and Technology(Fund No.101-0630).
文摘Understanding life history patterns,individual fitness and population fitness can assist with conservation of endangered species.Field data on life history traits(i.e.age specific fecundity,age specific mortality,age at first reproduction,litter size and adult life expectancy)were collected from 121 Hainan Eld’s deer(Cervus eldi hainanus Thomas,1918),an in situ herd of an endemic,rare and endangered cervid inhabiting Bangxi Natural Reserve of Hainan Island,from 1990 to 2002.First,we constructed a dynamic life table to analyze the life history pattern of the population,which showed that the difference between the average lifespan of males and females was not significant(P>0.05),and that the difference between the average lifespan of the whole Hainan Eld’s deer population and that of other Eld’s deer populations living in South Asia(P>0.05),North America(P>0.05)and Europe(P>0.05)was not significant.Second,we used individual reproductive success or number of offspring of a male over its lifetime to estimate male individual fitness.Statistic analysis showed that male individual fitness was not significantly correlated with total antler velvet mass.Third,we used the population intrinsic rate of increase to measure population fitness,and population fitness of Hainan Eld’s deer was compared with similar indexes of 5 other cervid species.Hainan Eld’s deer population fitness index was 0.012,the second lowest value relative to other cervids.Results indicated that this rare species is still endangered and is in need of additional protection.
