After being kept in captivity and isolated from natural predators for more than 1,200 years, P6re David＇s deer has been reintroduced in China and now occurs in a reserve where human activity is the only potential thr...After being kept in captivity and isolated from natural predators for more than 1,200 years, P6re David＇s deer has been reintroduced in China and now occurs in a reserve where human activity is the only potential threat. Antipredator vigilance i~ an important component of survival for many prey animals in their natural habitat. Do deer still adjust vigilance as a function of risk after such a long period of relaxed predation pressure？ Here, we examined vigilance levels in P6re David＇s deer groups as a function of group size, sex and level of human disturbance. The results showed that individual vigilance significantly decreased with group size in all-female groups but not in all-males or mixed-sex groups. In rutting season, males compete with one another and harass females, and we argue that vigilance is partly aimed at threatening males and that such vigilance increases with group size. This explains why overall vigilance did not vary with group size for males in general and for females in mixed-sex groups. Vigilance increased in more disturbed areas but in in male deer only. The results indicate that despite relaxed predation pressure over centuries, P6re David＇s deer can still adjust antipredator responses as a function of perceived risk. Such information may become useful in the rewilding programme now under way for this species in China [Current Zoology 59 （2）： 265-270, 2013].展开更多
To understand the pattern of vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer and its adaptation to human disturbance,we carried out an experiment in the Dafeng Père David’s Deer Nature Reserve.In a large paddock,w...To understand the pattern of vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer and its adaptation to human disturbance,we carried out an experiment in the Dafeng Père David’s Deer Nature Reserve.In a large paddock,we observed vigilance behaviors of free-ranging Père David’s deer.In spring and summer,we used a laser-range finder to measure the alert-distance of the Père David’s deer group in the large paddock.Our data indicate that the vigilance behaviors in Père David’s deer included scanning,stare,walking away,flee,alarm calls and pawing ground for alert.After statistical analysis,we found that:(1)the expression of vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer was depend on intensity of human disturbance;(2)keeping seasonal factors constant,there was a significant difference among different types of alert distances;furthermore,the stare distance was significantly longer than the distance of walking away and fleeing;(3)the stare distance in semi-free ranging Père David’s deer in summer was significantly greater than in spring,but the distances of walking away and the distances of fleeing exhibited no significant difference between the two seasons.These results indicated that:(1)the main factor affecting vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer was human disturbance under the captive breeding situation and(2)Père David’s deer adopted different vigilance behavior in response to human disturbance under different circumstances.In animal conservation,it is important to consider the relationship between vigilance behavior and human disturbance.展开更多
基金Acknowledgements Financial support for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 31000174 ＆ No. Jl103512）. We thank Prof. Ding Yuhua and other staff members at Dafeng Milu National Natural Reserve for supporting our field research in the reserve. We also thank Xianlong Li, Rongrong Wang, Jia He, Dameng Li, Ruonan Jia, Yilei Hua, and Long Wang for help with the field work, and Chen Ge and Cheng Huang for useful discussions.
文摘After being kept in captivity and isolated from natural predators for more than 1,200 years, P6re David＇s deer has been reintroduced in China and now occurs in a reserve where human activity is the only potential threat. Antipredator vigilance i~ an important component of survival for many prey animals in their natural habitat. Do deer still adjust vigilance as a function of risk after such a long period of relaxed predation pressure？ Here, we examined vigilance levels in P6re David＇s deer groups as a function of group size, sex and level of human disturbance. The results showed that individual vigilance significantly decreased with group size in all-female groups but not in all-males or mixed-sex groups. In rutting season, males compete with one another and harass females, and we argue that vigilance is partly aimed at threatening males and that such vigilance increases with group size. This explains why overall vigilance did not vary with group size for males in general and for females in mixed-sex groups. Vigilance increased in more disturbed areas but in in male deer only. The results indicate that despite relaxed predation pressure over centuries, P6re David＇s deer can still adjust antipredator responses as a function of perceived risk. Such information may become useful in the rewilding programme now under way for this species in China [Current Zoology 59 （2）： 265-270, 2013].
文摘To understand the pattern of vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer and its adaptation to human disturbance,we carried out an experiment in the Dafeng Père David’s Deer Nature Reserve.In a large paddock,we observed vigilance behaviors of free-ranging Père David’s deer.In spring and summer,we used a laser-range finder to measure the alert-distance of the Père David’s deer group in the large paddock.Our data indicate that the vigilance behaviors in Père David’s deer included scanning,stare,walking away,flee,alarm calls and pawing ground for alert.After statistical analysis,we found that:(1)the expression of vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer was depend on intensity of human disturbance;(2)keeping seasonal factors constant,there was a significant difference among different types of alert distances;furthermore,the stare distance was significantly longer than the distance of walking away and fleeing;(3)the stare distance in semi-free ranging Père David’s deer in summer was significantly greater than in spring,but the distances of walking away and the distances of fleeing exhibited no significant difference between the two seasons.These results indicated that:(1)the main factor affecting vigilance behavior in Père David’s deer was human disturbance under the captive breeding situation and(2)Père David’s deer adopted different vigilance behavior in response to human disturbance under different circumstances.In animal conservation,it is important to consider the relationship between vigilance behavior and human disturbance.
