Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos
Abstract Currently, most studies on ungulates' behavior are conducted during the daylight hours, but their nocturnal behavior patterns differ from those shown during day. Therefore, it is necessary to observe ungulates' behavior also overnight. Detailed analyses of nocturnal behavior have...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10777 |
| _version_ | 1827396091421655040 |
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| author | Jennifer Gübert Gaby Schneider Max Hahn‐Klimroth Paul W. Dierkes |
| author_facet | Jennifer Gübert Gaby Schneider Max Hahn‐Klimroth Paul W. Dierkes |
| author_sort | Jennifer Gübert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Currently, most studies on ungulates' behavior are conducted during the daylight hours, but their nocturnal behavior patterns differ from those shown during day. Therefore, it is necessary to observe ungulates' behavior also overnight. Detailed analyses of nocturnal behavior have only been conducted for very prominent ungulates such as Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), African Elephants (Loxodonta africana), or livestock (e.g., domesticated cattle, sheep, or pigs), and the nocturnal rhythms exhibited by many ungulates remain unknown. In the present study, the nocturnal rhythms of 192 individuals of 18 ungulate species from 20 European zoos are studied with respect to the behavioral positions standing, lying—head up, and lying—head down (the typical REM sleep position). Differences between individuals of different age were found, but no differences with respect to the sex were seen. Most species showed a significant increase in the proportion of lying during the night. In addition, the time between two events of “lying down” was studied in detail. A high degree of rhythmicity with respect to this quantity was found in all species. The proportion of lying in such a period was greater in Artiodactyla than in Perissodactyla, and greater in juveniles than in adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:45:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19e61504f6fb46b9b12386e7ebaec3ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:45:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-19e61504f6fb46b9b12386e7ebaec3ef2023-12-29T00:26:15ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-12-011312n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10777Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoosJennifer Gübert0Gaby Schneider1Max Hahn‐Klimroth2Paul W. Dierkes3Faculty of Biological Sciences Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt GermanyInstitute of Mathematics Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt GermanyFaculty of Computer Sciences TU Dortmund University Dortmund GermanyFaculty of Biological Sciences Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt GermanyAbstract Currently, most studies on ungulates' behavior are conducted during the daylight hours, but their nocturnal behavior patterns differ from those shown during day. Therefore, it is necessary to observe ungulates' behavior also overnight. Detailed analyses of nocturnal behavior have only been conducted for very prominent ungulates such as Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), African Elephants (Loxodonta africana), or livestock (e.g., domesticated cattle, sheep, or pigs), and the nocturnal rhythms exhibited by many ungulates remain unknown. In the present study, the nocturnal rhythms of 192 individuals of 18 ungulate species from 20 European zoos are studied with respect to the behavioral positions standing, lying—head up, and lying—head down (the typical REM sleep position). Differences between individuals of different age were found, but no differences with respect to the sex were seen. Most species showed a significant increase in the proportion of lying during the night. In addition, the time between two events of “lying down” was studied in detail. A high degree of rhythmicity with respect to this quantity was found in all species. The proportion of lying in such a period was greater in Artiodactyla than in Perissodactyla, and greater in juveniles than in adults.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10777African ungulatesbehavioral rhythmsecology of savannah animalsnocturnal behaviorREM sleep positionzoo animals |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Gübert Gaby Schneider Max Hahn‐Klimroth Paul W. Dierkes Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos Ecology and Evolution African ungulates behavioral rhythms ecology of savannah animals nocturnal behavior REM sleep position zoo animals |
| title | Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos |
| title_full | Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos |
| title_fullStr | Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos |
| title_short | Nocturnal behavioral patterns of African ungulates in zoos |
| title_sort | nocturnal behavioral patterns of african ungulates in zoos |
| topic | African ungulates behavioral rhythms ecology of savannah animals nocturnal behavior REM sleep position zoo animals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10777 |
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