A note on the consistency of a behavioral play marker in piglets

Background

Play behavior has been proposed as a new potential indicator of animal welfare. Animals play only if they are in a relaxed state. Play may improve adaptability to challenging environments which may be of interest in the breeding objective. Little information is available on play behavior in livestock species. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether play behavior in post-weaned piglets can be induced instantly in the presence of additional space and whether play markers are body weight, sex, and litter dependent. It is investigated whether playfulness is elicited by the moment or if this measure is consistent over different days.

Methods

Thirty two piglets from four litters were released into a corridor and video recorded for eight min at 37, 41, 44 and 48 d of age. The first test was considered as an adjustment period and was not included in the analysis. In the second to the fourth test, joyful brusque movements (jumping, turning and running) were recorded with a camera and total number of movements (JOY#) and total time (JOYtime) were estimated individually. Animals were weighed at 41 d of age.

Results

Females had higher scores of JOY# and JOYtime than males but this was significant only for JOY# at 41 d of age (P < 0.05). The effect of age was highly significant both for JOY# and JOYtime (P < 0.01). Animals with a higher JOY# and JOYtime also expressed a higher JOY# and JOYtime in the other tests, but this was significant only between 44 and 48 d of age (P < 0.01). Body weight at 41 d of age was not significantly related to JOY# and JOYtime in any of the tests.

Conclusions

Locomotor play was induced instantly by the provision of increased space allowance. Litter origin had a significant effect on play behavior. In addition, locomotor play scores were consistent between two of the three tests.     

北京开放性公园游人行为痕迹四季对比研究——以紫竹院公园为例

本研究以紫竹院公园为调查对象,采用行为痕迹调查法对北京开放性公园使用者行为痕迹进行调查,从数量、类型、分布等不同方面分析痕迹产生的原因。结果表明：（1）根据使用者行为痕迹特点,将其划分为四种类型：累积型痕迹、磨损型痕迹、该有却没有的痕迹和公园设计、管理型痕迹,其中,磨损型痕迹和累积型痕迹是游人行为痕迹的主要类型。（2）一年四季中游人行为痕迹数量由多到少依次是秋季、夏季、春季、冬季。（3）累积型痕迹在一年中的变化及一天中的变化明显。本文建议：加强公园管理,倡导游人文明游园,改进公园设计。     

山楂叶螨的交配行为

通过培养皿保湿培养接螨叶片、使用解剖镜观察记录山楂叶螨的交配行为过程,比对不同交配次数对雌成螨行为及其交配时间的影响,进而掌握其繁殖规律,探索其交配机制并丰富其行为学理论。结果显示,雄螨帮助雌螨蜕皮,蜕皮完成后马上进行交配,以第1次交配时间最长,后续交配时间明显缩短,且随交配次数增多,山楂叶螨的产卵量、孵化率均有所增加,但其寿命明显减短。山楂叶螨24 h内可进行多次交配,其中雄螨占主导地位,积极寻找繁育后代的机会,雌螨受精囊有最高承载力,第3次交配后多为无效交配。孤雌生殖后代全为雄螨,交配次数影响后代性比。     

昆虫性信息素生物学研究与应用进展

近年来,利用昆虫本身生理生化特性和行为学特点作为害虫防治的新技术日益受到重视,其中性信息素的研究尤为突出。性信息素是昆虫交配时两性相互寻找过程中的重要纽带和必备因素,可以保证昆虫在种群内雌雄个体之间性的联系及物种有条不紊的繁衍。昆虫性信息素具有专一、高效、无毒、无污染、不伤益虫等优点。就近些年来的昆虫性信息素生物学特性及应用的情况进行了较为详细的概述,并对其进行了展望。     

鸽的雌雄鉴别技术

在总结前人经验的基础之上,通过对鸽胚胎和鸽的行为进行仔细观察,对鸽的雌雄鉴别方法进行了新的分类,分别从外观和体形、行为和反应及分子水平3个方面,介绍了鸽生长过程中的4个阶段(鸽胚胎、乳鸽、童鸽和成年鸽)的雌雄鉴别技术。     

日全食对鸟类行为影响初探

2009年7月22日8时15分开始,一场日全食在我国长江流域上演,九江市是本次日全食的最佳观测点之一。万物的生长靠太阳,一切生命活动的维持无不与太阳息息相关。日全食的发生必然会引起动物异常反应,而处于最佳观测点九江市且动物资源比较丰富的庐山,观测日全食对动物的影响就有着特别的意义。庐山保护区设立7个组观测野生动物对日食的反应,发现不同物种对日全食反应存在差异,主要从鸟类和蝉的反应进行了分析。发现鸟类活动行为快速的经历了一个傍晚-黑夜-早晨的波动过程,活动频次有：正常—强—弱—强—正常的明显波动;蝉的鸣叫强度和频次有：正常—强—超强—强—正常的明显波动。     

几种生态因子对笼养川金丝猴行为的影响

[目的]探究几种生态因子(温度、人为干扰、笼舍大小等)对笼养川金丝猴行为的影响。[方法]采用瞬时扫描技术、焦点动物取样法于2005年9月至2006年7月对济南市动物园的13只川金丝猴进行研究。[结果]结果表明:温度、人为干扰、笼舍大小等因素都对金丝猴的行为及时间分配产生显著影响。温度变化对金丝猴的取食、休息、运动、睡眠、拥抱等行为有显著影响。当游客人数较多时,对金丝猴的休息、运动、梳理等行为均有显著影响。小笼舍内,金丝猴94.47%的时间用于取食、休息与睡眠,其他行为非常少,但出现了特殊的转圈行为。[结论]该研究为笼养川金丝猴的迁地保护提供了第一手资料。     

Assessing rural peoples’ intention to adopt sustainable forest use and management practices in South Africa

This study examined rural peoples’ intention to adopt sustainability practices in communally managed forests in Vhembe district, South Africa, using the theory of planned behavior as a conceptual framework. A total of 155 respondents were surveyed. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that rural people have a strong intention to adopt sustainable forest-use and management practices. Out of the three constructs comprising the theory of planned behavior, subjective norm (SN) and attitude to behavior (AB) positively correlated with intention, with SN having the strongest influence on intention. Perceived behavioral control (PBC), which is the third construct, negatively correlated with intention. The study indicates that respondents’ subjective belief about the approval or disapproval of sustainable forest management (SFM) practices by other relevant people mainly influenced their intention to adopt or not adopt such practices. Thus, strategies and policies to enhance the sustainable management of communally owned forests in South Africa need to consider local actor contexts and sociocultural norms and values. In this regard, the engagement of influential people at the community level, and the demonstration of the short- and long-term benefits of sustainable forest use and management practices offer promising entry points.     

南京地区黑水鸡繁殖期行为生态研究

[目的]全面了解南京地区黑水鸡繁殖期行为分配及生活习性,为黑水鸡的生境管理及保护提供科学依据。[方法]通过野外扫描取样与目标取样的方法研究繁殖期内黑水鸡行为节律与时间分配特点。[结果]野外观察表明,在黑水鸡繁殖期内,觅食行为所占时间分配比例最大,为74%;其次为游泳行为,为15%;行走行为占黑水鸡繁殖期行为的4%;黑水鸡在12：00～13：00时段有1个觅食行为低峰;在觅食行为及其时间分配上成鸟与幼鸟的差异极其明显。[结论]觅食行为是黑水鸡在繁殖期行为中的最主要行为,应在该阶段加强对黑水鸡生境管理,避免人为干扰。