Behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer: sex-specific behavior comparisons

The aim of this study was to document the behavior of captive alpine musk deer and to determine if daily behavior patterns varied between females and males. From August 2002 to January 2003, focal sampling was used to observe 32 adult captive alpine musk deer (13 female and 19 male) at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF), Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province. Results indicated similar behavior patterns for males and females, with only two out of 12 recorded behaviors showing significant sex differences. In comparison to females, males rested for a longer duration and exhibited tail pasting more frequently. This study also provided the first recording of tail pasting by female musk deer.     

Behavioral sensitivity to microwave irradiation

In "Behavioral sensitivity to microwave irradiation" by N. W. King et al. (23 Apr., p. 398), lines 1 to 8, coltumn 2, page 399, should read " basis of the level of focusing current used to control and monitor the output power of the magnetron (25). A shift from zero to a present level of available power in the exposure cavity was accomplished by applying 5 kv of 60-hz a-c voltage to the anode of the magnetron."     

Behavioral sensitivity to microwave irradiation

Rats assayed by the technique of conditional suppression were able to detect the presence of 12.25-centimeter microwaves at doses of power approximating 0.5 to 6.4 milliwatts per gram. The assay, which controlled for sensitization, for pseudo and temporal conditioning, and for several possible sources of artifactual cueing, revealed that irradiation by microwaves, although lacking the saliency of an auditory stimulus, can function as a highly reliable cue. Efficiency of detection was strongly and positively related to the amount of microwave energy to which the rats were exposed.