Behringer Verena, Clauss Wolfgang, Hachenburger Katja, Kuchar Alexandra, Möstl Erich, Selzer Dieter
Working Group Ethology, Institute of Animal Physiology, University of Giessen, Wartweg 95, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Primates. 2009 Apr;50(2):190-3. doi: 10.1007/s10329-008-0121-2. Epub 2009 Jan 15.
This study documents the cortisol levels in the saliva of a bonobo group, especially that of a bonobo female which had given birth for the first time. During a long study in Zoological Garden Frankfurt, Germany, a bonobo baby was born on 3 August 2007. Due to the fission-fusion keeping system employed, the bonobos were divided into two groups on this day. Their behavior was observed regularly and saliva was also collected. The bonobos had been trained to chew cotton wool and to give back the samples. The cortisol response was tested twice a day before birth and three times on the day of parturition. Before birth, no observable indication behavior was seen, but an increase in the cortisol concentration of the expectant mother was found. Parturition occurred at 8 pm. The next morning, the group with the newborn was visibly more active, which correlated with the fact that their cortisol levels were increased in the morning in comparison to the second group. During the day, cortisol decreased in both groups, only it was higher throughout the day in the new mother. In the evening, the two groups showed nearly the same cortisol levels. These data indicate that there is indeed a relation between observable behavior and the cortisol level in bonobo saliva. Therefore, the cortisol level can be regarded as a suitable indicator for verifying behavioral events.
这项研究记录了一群倭黑猩猩唾液中的皮质醇水平，特别是首次分娩的一只倭黑猩猩雌性的皮质醇水平。在德国法兰克福动物园进行的一项长期研究中，一只倭黑猩猩幼崽于2007年8月3日出生。由于采用了裂变融合饲养系统，当天倭黑猩猩被分成了两组。它们的行为被定期观察，同时也收集唾液。倭黑猩猩经过训练会咀嚼棉球并归还样本。在出生前每天测试两次皮质醇反应，分娩当天测试三次。出生前，未观察到明显的指示行为，但发现准妈妈的皮质醇浓度有所增加。分娩于晚上8点发生。第二天早上，有新生幼崽的那组明显更活跃，这与它们早上的皮质醇水平相比第二组有所升高这一事实相关。白天，两组的皮质醇水平都有所下降，只是新妈妈的皮质醇水平一整天都更高。晚上，两组的皮质醇水平几乎相同。这些数据表明，倭黑猩猩唾液中的可观察行为与皮质醇水平之间确实存在关联。因此，皮质醇水平可被视为验证行为事件的合适指标。
