Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare
Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals’ needs and be part of an evid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2401 |
| _version_ | 1827731489267122176 |
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| author | Kristine M. Gandia Elizabeth S. Herrelko Sharon E. Kessler Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith |
| author_facet | Kristine M. Gandia Elizabeth S. Herrelko Sharon E. Kessler Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith |
| author_sort | Kristine M. Gandia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals’ needs and be part of an evidence-based approach to welfare assessment. We measured and analyzed the observational behavioral data of 13 zoo-housed giant pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>), across life stages and between sexes, each month for one year using live camera footage from six zoos across the world. Our results indicate that life stage was associated with changes in overall activity, feeding, locomotion, and pacing, and that sex influenced scent anointing and anogenital rubbing. Overall, the circadian rhythms showed three peaks of activity, including a nocturnal peak, as seen in wild giant pandas. We also found associations between sexual-related, stereotypical/abnormal, and feeding behavior, which are possibly linked to the timing of migration of wild pandas, and elucidated the relationship between a mother and cub, finding that they concentrate maternal behaviors to mainly after closing hours. Understanding these cycle patterns can aid animal care staff in predicting changing needs throughout the day, year, and life cycle and preemptively provide for those needs to best avoid welfare concerns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:32:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-112b4557138b4324b3fc1599029d0b9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:32:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-112b4557138b4324b3fc1599029d0b9a2023-11-18T22:32:32ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-07-011315240110.3390/ani13152401Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good WelfareKristine M. Gandia0Elizabeth S. Herrelko1Sharon E. Kessler2Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith3Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UKSmithsonian’s National Zoo, Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USAPsychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UKPsychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UKCircadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals’ needs and be part of an evidence-based approach to welfare assessment. We measured and analyzed the observational behavioral data of 13 zoo-housed giant pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>), across life stages and between sexes, each month for one year using live camera footage from six zoos across the world. Our results indicate that life stage was associated with changes in overall activity, feeding, locomotion, and pacing, and that sex influenced scent anointing and anogenital rubbing. Overall, the circadian rhythms showed three peaks of activity, including a nocturnal peak, as seen in wild giant pandas. We also found associations between sexual-related, stereotypical/abnormal, and feeding behavior, which are possibly linked to the timing of migration of wild pandas, and elucidated the relationship between a mother and cub, finding that they concentrate maternal behaviors to mainly after closing hours. Understanding these cycle patterns can aid animal care staff in predicting changing needs throughout the day, year, and life cycle and preemptively provide for those needs to best avoid welfare concerns.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2401circadiancircannualanimal welfarecaptivebehaviorbreeding |
| spellingShingle | Kristine M. Gandia Elizabeth S. Herrelko Sharon E. Kessler Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare Animals circadian circannual animal welfare captive behavior breeding |
| title | Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare |
| title_full | Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare |
| title_short | Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare |
| title_sort | understanding circadian and circannual behavioral cycles of captive giant pandas i ailuropoda melanoleuca i can help to promote good welfare |
| topic | circadian circannual animal welfare captive behavior breeding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2401 |
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