Frumkin Nathan B, Wey Tina W, Exnicios Megan, Benham Caroline, Hinton Mitchell G, Lantz Samantha, Atherton Carolyn, Forde Debbie, Karubian Jordan
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Zoo Biol. 2016 Mar-Apr;35(2):111-9. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21274. Epub 2016 Feb 16.
Because zoos typically house animals for extended periods of time, longitudinal studies can play an important role in evaluating and optimizing animal care and management. For example, information on patterns of aggression and mating behavior across years can be used to monitor well-being, assess response to changes to group composition, and promote successful reproduction. Here, we report on patterns of aggression and pair bonding by American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) at the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans USA across 4 years (2012-2015), a period that included a simultaneous introduction and removal of individuals in 2014. At the population level, overall rates and social network indices of aggressive interactions were relatively stable over the study period, without a strong signal of the 2014 replacement event. At the individual level, flamingos exhibited a high degree of within-individual consistency in levels of aggression initiated (W = 0.530, P < 0.001), and received (W = 0.369, P = 0.042). In terms of pair bonds, females re-paired with the same individuals across years more frequently (between 58% and 100% from year to year) than they switched mates, and no bonds were established between pre-existing and introduced individuals. These findings indicate a high degree of stability in aggression and pair bonding behavior in this population of captive flamingos, at both the population and individual level. Longitudinal studies such as this one provide an opportunity to better our understanding of flamingos and other long-lived, group-living animals along with their management needs, especially in terms of maintaining social cohesion in captivity and improving captive breeding programs.
由于动物园通常会长期饲养动物，纵向研究在评估和优化动物护理与管理方面可以发挥重要作用。例如，多年来关于攻击行为和交配行为模式的信息可用于监测动物的健康状况、评估对群体组成变化的反应，并促进成功繁殖。在此，我们报告了美国新奥尔良奥杜邦动物园的美洲红鹳（Phoenicopterus ruber）在4年（2012 - 2015年）间的攻击行为和配对模式，这一时期包括2014年同时进行的个体引入和移除。在种群水平上，研究期间攻击互动的总体发生率和社会网络指数相对稳定，没有2014年替换事件的强烈信号。在个体水平上，红鹳在发起攻击（W = 0.530，P < 0.001）和遭受攻击（W = 0.369，P = 0.042）的水平上表现出高度的个体内一致性。在配对方面，雌性红鹳多年来与同一配偶重新配对的频率更高（每年在58%至100%之间），而不是更换配偶，并且原有个体和引入个体之间没有建立配对关系。这些发现表明，在圈养红鹳种群中，攻击行为和配对行为在种群和个体水平上都具有高度的稳定性。这样的纵向研究为我们更好地了解红鹳以及其他长寿、群居动物及其管理需求提供了机会，特别是在维持圈养环境中的社会凝聚力和改进圈养繁殖计划方面。
