科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
Giant panda courtship behavior includes multimodal signaling assemblages consisting of olfactory, vocal, and postural elements. While signaling is generally conspicuous, successful copulation is inconsistently achieved in captivity, even when female behavioral and physiological data indicate that ovulation is imminent. We set out to characterize these complex patterns of social behavior by observing interactions between 26 unique pairs of giant pandas housed in adjoining pens throughout the females' reproductive cycle. We categorized social behaviors from a transactional perspective and examined social exchanges via analyses of the relative frequency of social behaviors, and via the sequential relationship between male and female social behavior. From non-estrus to peak-estrus, we found that the relative frequency of female affiliative and sexual behavior increased and that the relative frequency of ambivalent and aggressive behavior decreased. Male behavior was fairly constant, except for sexual behavior, which increased during peak-estrus, when it was facilitated by female sexual behavior. Sequential analysis of social interactions showed that preceding behavior had a significant influence over the other panda's response behavior primarily during peak-estrus, suggesting that pandas are most responsive to conspecific signaling during the peri-ovulatory period. However, behavioral momentum was a dominant feature of the intra-individual transitions. Females maintained sexual, ambivalent, and neutral behavior during interactions significantly more than would be expected by chance, with male behavior bearing little influence once the behavior was initiated. A similar pattern was also observed in males, who maintained affiliative, interested, and neutral behaviors. Overall, our data suggest that the multimodal signals used by giant pandas during courtship do not consistently evoke a discrete, immediate response from receivers. Instead, signals appear to advertise reproductive condition and influence potential mates over longer timeframes, suggesting the potential tonic role of communication.
- 出版日期2013-10
