In aquaculture,it is important to estimate in advance how much food cultured animals would take.The rate of food consumption by cultured animals to available food amount is defined as the food intake rate(FIR) in this...In aquaculture,it is important to estimate in advance how much food cultured animals would take.The rate of food consumption by cultured animals to available food amount is defined as the food intake rate(FIR) in this paper.To some extents,FIR reflects the quality of food,the health of cultured animals and the delivery efficiency.In practice,it is difficult to estimate in advance the accurate quantity of food that cultured animal needs.Usually,food is provided more than the need by animals,causing excess food that may pollute water and environment.Our experiments in past years show that FIR at 80% is recommended.展开更多
This study examines whether a group of captive false killer whales(P seudorca crassidens) showed variations in the vocal rate around feeding times. The high level of motivation to express appetitive behaviors in capti...This study examines whether a group of captive false killer whales(P seudorca crassidens) showed variations in the vocal rate around feeding times. The high level of motivation to express appetitive behaviors in captive animals may lead them to respond with changes of the behavioral activities during the time prior to food deliveries which are referred to as food anticipatory activity. False killer whales at Qingdao Polar Ocean World(Qingdao, China) showed signifi cant variations of the rates of both the total sounds and sound classes(whistles, clicks, and burst pulses) around feedings. Precisely, from the Transition interval that recorded the lowest vocalization rate(3.40 s/m/d), the whales increased their acoustic emissions upon trainers' arrival(13.08 s/m/d). The high rate was maintained or intensifi ed throughout the food delivery(25.12 s/m/d), and then reduced immediately after the animals were fed(9.91 s/m/d). These changes in the false killer whales sound production rates around feeding times supports the hypothesis of the presence of a food anticipatory vocal activity. Although sound rates may not give detailed information regarding referential aspects of the animal communication it might still shed light about the arousal levels of the individuals during different social or environmental conditions. Further experiments should be performed to assess if variations of the time of feeding routines may affect the vocal activity of cetaceans in captivity as well as their welfare.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Science Foundation of China, Key Lab. of Marine Ecology & Environment, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of Chinathe National High-Technology R&D Program of China (863 Program, No. 2006AA09Z418)
文摘In aquaculture,it is important to estimate in advance how much food cultured animals would take.The rate of food consumption by cultured animals to available food amount is defined as the food intake rate(FIR) in this paper.To some extents,FIR reflects the quality of food,the health of cultured animals and the delivery efficiency.In practice,it is difficult to estimate in advance the accurate quantity of food that cultured animal needs.Usually,food is provided more than the need by animals,causing excess food that may pollute water and environment.Our experiments in past years show that FIR at 80% is recommended.
基金Supported by grants from the Institute of Hydrobiology,Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘This study examines whether a group of captive false killer whales(P seudorca crassidens) showed variations in the vocal rate around feeding times. The high level of motivation to express appetitive behaviors in captive animals may lead them to respond with changes of the behavioral activities during the time prior to food deliveries which are referred to as food anticipatory activity. False killer whales at Qingdao Polar Ocean World(Qingdao, China) showed signifi cant variations of the rates of both the total sounds and sound classes(whistles, clicks, and burst pulses) around feedings. Precisely, from the Transition interval that recorded the lowest vocalization rate(3.40 s/m/d), the whales increased their acoustic emissions upon trainers' arrival(13.08 s/m/d). The high rate was maintained or intensifi ed throughout the food delivery(25.12 s/m/d), and then reduced immediately after the animals were fed(9.91 s/m/d). These changes in the false killer whales sound production rates around feeding times supports the hypothesis of the presence of a food anticipatory vocal activity. Although sound rates may not give detailed information regarding referential aspects of the animal communication it might still shed light about the arousal levels of the individuals during different social or environmental conditions. Further experiments should be performed to assess if variations of the time of feeding routines may affect the vocal activity of cetaceans in captivity as well as their welfare.