Bird tolerance to humans in open tropical ecosystems.

Animal tolerance towards humans can be a key factor facilitating wildlife-human coexistence, yet traits predicting its direction and magnitude across tropical animals are poorly known. Using 10,249 observations for 842 bird species inhabiting open tropical ecosystems in Africa, South America, and Australia, we find that avian tolerance towards humans was lower (i.e., escape distance was longer) in rural rather than urban populations and in populations exposed to lower human disturbance (measured as human footprint index). In addition, larger species and species with larger clutches and enhanced flight ability are less tolerant to human approaches and escape distances increase when birds were approached during the wet season compared to the dry season and from longer starting distances. Identification of key factors affecting animal tolerance towards humans across large spatial and taxonomic scales may help us to better understand and predict the patterns of species distributions in the Anthropocene.

Circus Animal Welfare: analysis through a fivedomain approach

This study aims to review the current available literature regarding circus animals from the perspective of the five domains proposed for evaluating animal welfare to identify the critical points in the use of these animals and understand how circus spectacles affect their mental state and health. Exhibiting animals in circuses continues to be a popular practice today in some countries such as Germany, Spain, or Australia. However, animals' biological needs are not always prioritized due to the inadequate diets, reduced housing spaces, deficient social interaction, and handling that predisposes them to develop stereotypies and alter mental states due to chronic stress. Animal circuses are considered a controversial practice that can decrease the welfare of animals. Understanding the possible negative consequences on animal welfare (mental state and physical health) could contribute to planning strategies to improve the quality of life of wildlife animals exhibited in circuses worldwide.

Rhesus macaques build new social connections after a natural disaster.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather-related disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and droughts. Understanding resilience and vulnerability to these intense stressors and their aftermath could reveal adaptations to extreme environmental change. In 2017, Puerto Rico suffered its worst natural disaster, Hurricane Maria, which left 3,000 dead and provoked a mental health crisis. Cayo Santiago island, home to a population of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), was devastated by the same storm. We compared social networks of two groups of macaques before and after the hurricane and found an increase in affiliative social connections, driven largely by monkeys most socially isolated before Hurricane Maria. Further analysis revealed monkeys invested in building new relationships rather than strengthening existing ones. Social adaptations to environmental instability might predispose rhesus macaques to success in rapidly changing anthropogenic environments.

Face-to-face interactions between mothers and female infants in wild bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus).

Once considered uniquely human, mother-infant face-to-face interactions (FF) were observed in a few captive primates. In these studies, FF were correlated to physical contact suggesting a mechanism mediating proximity between mother and infant, as is the case for humans. We investigated this hypothesis in wild capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) during the first year of life of eight female infants. Data were weekly focal-day videos of infants from which we recorded FF with mothers. We expected FF would increase with infants' age (as time in contact with mothers decreased) and would more likely occur in the absence of physical contact between the dyad. There was no effect of age in the proportion of interaction time spent in FF, nor in types of FF. A quarter of FF episodes occurred in the absence of physical contact between the dyad, and in most of them physical contact was resumed following the FF. Contrary to predictions, the stability in the first year, mainly when mothers-female infants were in contact, indicates that FF act primarily promoting opportunities for affective communication and intuitive care. However, we found some supportive evidence for the hypothesis that FF regulate proximity between mother and infant, mainly in resume physical contact.

Activity budget and social behavior of urban capuchin monkeys, Sapajus sp. (Primates: Cebidae)

Constant changes in natural environments impose challenges to wild animal populations, especially those that depend on social life. We gathered data on the activity budget and social interactions of a capuchin monkey (Sapajus sp.) group of 17 individuals confined to an urban green area receiving human food supplementation. We observed the capuchins between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, three days a month, between January 2012 and June 2013 (total of 530 hours of direct observations). We collected 15,208 behavioral records through instantaneous scan sampling and 2,538 events of social interaction in an adapted version of the “all occurrences” method. Activity budget of capuchins was dominated by traveling (42%) and foraging (38%), followed by feeding (10%), social interactions (5%), resting (4%), and others (2%). Except for feeding, the time spent on other activities varied across sex-age classes. Social interactions of capuchins were dominated by affiliative interactions (80%), mainly social play, followed by agonistic (11%) and cooperative (10%) interactions. Sexual interactions were rare (0.4%) and often involved juveniles (45% of the events). Juveniles performed most of the social interactions, followed by the alpha male, and were the main receptors of grooming, food sharing, and agonism. On the other hand, they were the main group involved in allocarrying of infants. Grooming between females and from them to alpha male was infrequent. However, grooming of the alpha male towards the adult females was frequent. We interpreted the deviations in the activity budget and social interactions of the urban capuchins as effects of human food supplementation and restriction on dispersal, illustrating the behavioral ability of capuchin monkeys to adjust their activity in human-altered environments.(AU)

Activity budget and social behavior of urban capuchin monkeys, Sapajus sp. (Primates: Cebidae)

Constant changes in natural environments impose challenges to wild animal populations, especially those that depend on social life. We gathered data on the activity budget and social interactions of a capuchin monkey (Sapajus sp.) group of 17 individuals confined to an urban green area receiving human food supplementation. We observed the capuchins between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, three days a month, between January 2012 and June 2013 (total of 530 hours of direct observations). We collected 15,208 behavioral records through instantaneous scan sampling and 2,538 events of social interaction in an adapted version of the “all occurrences” method. Activity budget of capuchins was dominated by traveling (42%) and foraging (38%), followed by feeding (10%), social interactions (5%), resting (4%), and others (2%). Except for feeding, the time spent on other activities varied across sex-age classes. Social interactions of capuchins were dominated by affiliative interactions (80%), mainly social play, followed by agonistic (11%) and cooperative (10%) interactions. Sexual interactions were rare (0.4%) and often involved juveniles (45% of the events). Juveniles performed most of the social interactions, followed by the alpha male, and were the main receptors of grooming, food sharing, and agonism. On the other hand, they were the main group involved in allocarrying of infants. Grooming between females and from them to alpha male was infrequent. However, grooming of the alpha male towards the adult females was frequent. We interpreted the deviations in the activity budget and social interactions of the urban capuchins as effects of human food supplementation and restriction on dispersal, illustrating the behavioral ability of capuchin monkeys to adjust their activity in human-altered environments.

Ecology and neurophysiology of sleep in two wild sloth species.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Interspecific variation in sleep measured in captivity correlates with various physiological and environmental factors, including estimates of predation risk in the wild. However, it remains unclear whether prior comparative studies have been confounded by the captive recording environment. Herein we examine the effect of predation pressure on sleep in sloths living in the wild. DESIGN: Comparison of two closely related sloth species, one exposed to predation and one free from predation. SETTING: Panamanian mainland rainforest (predators present) and island mangrove (predators absent). PARTICIPANTS: Mainland (Bradypus variegatus, five males and four females) and island (Bradypus pygmaeus, six males) sloths. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded using a miniature data logger. Although both species spent between 9 and 10 h per day sleeping, the mainland sloths showed a preference for sleeping at night, whereas island sloths showed no preference for sleeping during the day or night. Standardized EEG activity during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep showed lower low-frequency power, and increased spindle and higher frequency power in island sloths when compared to mainland sloths. CONCLUSIONS: In sloths sleeping in the wild, predation pressure influenced the timing of sleep, but not the amount of time spent asleep. The preference for sleeping at night in mainland sloths may be a strategy to avoid detection by nocturnal cats. The pronounced differences in the NREM sleep EEG spectrum remain unexplained, but might be related to genetic or environmental factors.

Possible limits and advances of environmental enrichment for wild animals

The field of research in environmental enrichment aims at enhancing the welfare of captive animals through the assessment and establishment of adequate environmental and social features. It has generated significant amount of data about procedures which may reduce stress and undesirable behaviors, and promote the performance of the species-specific behaviors in captivity contexts. We here present a brief introduction on the concepts and methods used in the area followed by indications of possible advances through the integration of behavioural and physiological data, the adoption of a comparative perspective and the use of an individual approach in research and in husbandry.(AU)

A área de pesquisa em enriquecimento ambiental visa promover melhora na qualidade de vida de animais cativos através do estudo e da implementação de características ambientais e de interação mais adequadas. A área tem gerado conhecimento relevante para a redução do estresse e de comportamentos indesejáveis e para a promoção da exibição do repertório típico das espécies em animais mantidos no cativeiro. No texto, apresentamos uma breve revisão sobre conceitos e métodos utilizados na área, seguida da indicação de avanços possíveis, através da integração de dados comportamentais e fisiológicos, da adoção de uma perspectiva comparativa e do uso de uma abordagem individual na pesquisa e no manejo.(AU)

Limites e avanços possíveis do enriquecimento ambiental para animais silvestres / Possible limits and advances of environmental enrichment for wild animals

The field of research in environmental enrichment aims at enhancing the welfare of captive animals through the assessment and establishment of adequate environmental and social features. It has generated significant amount of data about procedures which may reduce stress and undesirable behaviors, and promote the performance of the species-specific behaviors in captivity contexts. We here present a brief introduction on the concepts and methods used in the area followed by indications of possible advances through the integration of behavioural and physiological data, the adoption of a comparative perspective and the use of an individual approach in research and in husbandry.

A área de pesquisa em enriquecimento ambiental visa promover melhora na qualidade de vida de animais cativos através do estudo e da implementação de características ambientais e de interação mais adequadas. A área tem gerado conhecimento relevante para a redução do estresse e de comportamentos indesejáveis e para a promoção da exibição do repertório típico das espécies em animais mantidos no cativeiro. No texto, apresentamos uma breve revisão sobre conceitos e métodos utilizados na área, seguida da indicação de avanços possíveis, através da integração de dados comportamentais e fisiológicos, da adoção de uma perspectiva comparativa e do uso de uma abordagem individual na pesquisa e no manejo.

Profile of wild Neotropical spiny rats (Trinomys, Echimyidae) in two behavioral tests.

The performance of three closely related species of spiny rats was compared in the elevated plus-maze and in the open-field tests. Laboratory rats were also evaluated. It was hypothesized that such tests should reveal differences in anxiety and exploratory profile among the wild species, which differ with respect to habitat, type of social organization and locomotion pattern. No consistent differences were found among the spiny rats, as assessed by conventional parameters, while such differences were detected between the domesticated lines. The social spiny rats (Trinomys yonenagae), which live in dunes, differed from the solitary sylvan species (T. iheringi and T. albispinus) in only one index of anxiety (open arms end-exploring). Nevertheless, thigmotaxis in novel environments exists in these spiny rats just as it does in the laboratory rats. During the tests, the sylvan species relied on erratic movements and T. iheringi was the most active species, whereas T. yonenagae employed vigilance and direct escape locomotion. This latter feature may be due to challenges imposed by open environments. Defecation score was reduced for all wild rats: it may represent a predation avoidance response. Concerning ethological measures, T. iheringi presented the highest scores of grooming, in both test situations, and T. albispinus the highest scores of rearing in the open-field. The great within-species variability found in the spiny rats may have concealed anxiety differences among them, despite the ability of both tests to reveal plesiomorphic behavioral characteristics, such as thigmotaxis. Our results also support the use of ethological approach in these tests.

Food transfers in wild and reintroduced golden lion tamarins, Leontopithecus rosalia.

We collected data from wild and reintroduced golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) to describe the behavior of donor and recipient during food transfers, evaluate the effect of supplemental feeding on food transfer behavior, and examine various hypotheses concerning the function of food transfers in primates. Behavioral observations were conducted on 12 groups of tamarins with young (N = 30) between the ages of 1 week and 1 year old. Results show that food transfers involve various behaviors, from steals by recipients to offers by donors; transfers mostly derive from adults and are directed at immature weaned young (between 3 and 9 months old); and that most items transferred were prey or fruits that require skill to process. Eleven percent of food transfers were preceded by an adult vocalization specific to that context, whereas 86% were preceded by conspicuous infant vocalizations and begging behavior. The most common vocalizations were loud and atonal (rasps) and broad banded frequency modulated (trills). Infants born to reintroduced parents vocalized less, whereas reintroduced adults vocalized more before transferring food than their wild counterparts. Reintroduced adults and young received more food transfers (4.4 per hr) than did wild-born adults and young (2.2 per hr). Our findings suggest that food transfer in golden lion tamarins is best understood as provisioning of young that have not fully developed foraging skills to ensure they get the necessary resources for growth and survival.

Manejo reprodutivo da capivara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris hydrochaeris L. 1766) sob sistema intensivo de criaçäo / Reproductive management of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris hydrochaeris L. 1766) at intensive system

Pesquisa as técnicas adequadas para o manejo da capivara em cativeiro, e para tanto procura estabelecer o seu real potencial reprodutivo e estudar o seu comportamento. Realiza 3 estudos: o primeiro levanta as taxas reprodutivas a partir de dados de fichas individuais dos animais nascidos em cativeiro, no segundo analisa as causas dos infanticídios e no terceiro observa 2 grupos de reproduçäo para verificar a ocorrência do comportamento alomaternal. Os Ss foram selecionados entre os animais da CIZBAS (Comissäo de Investigaçäo em Zootecnia e Biologia de Animais Silvestres), ESAL/USP, em manejo intensivo. Para análise comparativa dos intervalos entre partos de fêmeas que pariram isoladas e em baias de reproduçäo, seleciona dados de 11 pariçöes ocorridas em baias maternidade (isoladas) e 22 em baias de reproduçäo (em grupo). Os resultados apontam grandes diferenças individuais nos índices reprodutivos, verificados através de desvios-padröes muito altos, como idade de primeira pariçäo, intervalo médio entre partos e n§ médio de filhotes por parto. A idade média de primeira pariçäo das fêmeas foi 48,33 + ou - 24,82 meses, o n§ médio de filhotes por pariçäo foi 3,28 + ou - 1,55) e o intervalo médio entre partos (15,71 + ou - 10,38). Indica que esses resultados podem estar relacionados a grande variabilidade genética entre os indivíduos do plantel, o tamanho da ninhada, o intervalo entre partos e o início de vida reprodutiva säo provavelmente conseqüência das técnicas de manejo empregadas, como densidade populacional e isolamento para pariçäo. Verificou a morte de 27,57 por cento dos filhotes provocados por infanticídios causados pela introduçäo de fêmeas näo-familiarizadas em grupos de reproduçäo. Constata que as fêmeas näo discriminam seus filhotes em relaçäo aos de outra fêmea do mesmo grupo, ocorrendo amamentaçäo cruzada e comportamento creche

A organizaçäo social de queixadas (Tayassu pecari Link 1814) e caititus (Tayassu tajacu Wetzel, 1917) em cativeiro / Social organization of white-lipped pecary (Tayassu pecari Link 1814) and collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu Wetzel 1917) in captivity

Queixadas e caititus säo exemplos de animais da fauna brasileira que há muito vem sendo explorados através da caça de subsistência; somente o estabelecimento de planos racionais para utilizaçäo desses recurso naturais irá possibilitar a sobreviência dessas espécies. Com o objetivo de estabelecer práticas adequadas para o seu manejo, tanto em condiçöes naturais ou em cativeiro, descreve o comportamento e a estrutrura social dessas espécies, através da observaçäo de um grupo de queixadas (N=11) e caititus (N=14) criados em cativeiro. A formaçäo do grupo ocorreu a partir da introduçäo de animais de diferentes procedências em um mesmo local. Estuda as relaçöes de dominância social para ambas as espécies, no entanto somente as queixadas puderam ser ordenadas em uma estrutura hierárquica. Aponta que ambas as espécies toleram a introduçäo de indivíduos estranhos. Os animais, contudo, dividiram-se em subgrupos de acordo com sua procedência. Tanto para as queixadas quanto para os caititus é possível manter mais de um macho reprodutor nos grupos. Recomenda a formaçäo de grupos de caititus apenas por fêmeas aparentadas

The maul of the wild. Animal attacks can produce significant trauma.

Wild-animal attacks are almost an anachronism in our day and age. They remind us that humans can still be food or prey. Cougar attacks, though rare, produce significant trauma. Characteristic patterns of injury and wound infection should be appropriately identified and treated. As we protect wild-animal species and acknowledge their right to share territory, interactions--and possibly attacks--are likely to increase. Awareness, education, knowledge and prevention, rather than the elimination of animal populations, may be the best way to control wild-animal attacks on humans in the future.

Social organization in a wild population of Callithrix jacchus. I. Group composition and dynamics.

Data are presented on group dynamics in a wild population of the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, in northeastern Brazil. Three marked and habituated groups were observed, and composition noted, for at least 5 days a month over 12-18 consecutive months. Group sizes ranged from 5 to 15 individuals, and changes in group composition were the result of births, immigrations, and disappearances. No immigrations into the main study groups were observed throughout the study period. None of the three known emigrants was known to join an established or incipient group for up to 10 weeks after their departure. One group contained only breeding individuals and their offspring. Observations of recruitment and loss in the other two groups suggest that they, too, were extended family groups. The group dynamics described in studies of other populations of Callithrix suggest that extended family groups, or at least groups consisting of breeding individuals and their close relatives, may be characteristic of those populations.