The Effect of Male Presence on Female Behavior in Gemsbok and Addax Alfred Runkel & Claire Taberski, Advisor: Sue Margulis

Canisius College, Buffalo

Introduction In captive settings, the addition and removal of a male may be used as a mechanism in regulating reproduction in hoofstock. We have data on two species of hoofstock, gemsbok (Oryx gazella) and addax (Addax nasomaculatus), from the Buffalo Zoo, collected over two years. During the first year, males were in the herds for at least part of the year, while during the second year, males were not introduced to the herds. We hypothesized that females would exhibit more active behavior when males were in the herds than when no males were present.

Methods The gemsbok herd at the Buffalo Zoo consists of a male Jumanji, and two females, Kaylee and Natalie, and the addax herd consists of a male Guinness and three females, Samonya, Xadda, and Delmonico. Data were collected from late March-October of 2012 and March-August of 2013. In 2012, the gemsbok male (Jumanji) was with the females for approximately half the time, and in an adjacent yard the rest of the time and for all of 2013. For the addax, the male Guinness, was housed with the females in 2012, but not 2013. Using instantaneous sampling and all-occurrence behavioral sampling every minute for 10 minute periods per subject, we collected data using a hand-held Psion palm-top device. In 2012, we had 35 observation sessions per gemsbok. For addax, this ranged form 18-42 per animal. In 2013, there were 22 observations per gemsbok and 24 per addax. The behaviors we recorded are shown in the ethogram. We summarized data by year and used descriptive statistics to highlight patterns.

Results

Acknowledgements: We appreciate the support and hospitality of the Buffalo Zoo, especially Dave Gritzmacher, Jerry Aquilina, Dr. Donna Fernandes, and the hoofstock keepers.

We thank Jacqueline Ball for assistance with data collection in 2012.

The graphs above depict the percent of time that each species exhibited each behavior (chewing cud, foraging, standing, resting, self-care, locomotion) for 2012 and for 2013. Although the differences are small, they suggest that females may have shown more locomotion and less resting when a male was in the group.

Discussion Although our sample size was too small to allow for statistical analysis, we did see patterns emerge between the years that could be related to the species’ courtship rituals. The addax stood more frequently when a male was in the group, which is similar to addax receptive behavior. The gemsbok spent more time moving when a male was mixed in, which may be related to the female gemsbok behavior of “circling,” part of a courtship ritual.

Natalie

Kaylee

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Chew cud Forage Standing Resting Self-care Locomote

Addax

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Chew cud Forage Standing Resting Self-care Locomote

Gemsbok

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Samonya

Addax on exhibit zoochat.com

Conclusions Male presence may influence behavior in the two species of hoofstock we studied. Females were more active when a male was in the group. This could relate to courtship behavior, or may be a sign of more displacements directed towards the females, or females trying to avoid males if the females were not receptive. This information is useful for zoos in that it allows them to better explain the behaviors displayed. Activity levels may vary based on whether or not a male is in the group.

Chew cud Chewing food previously consumed, standing or lying

Forage Looking for or consuming food from feeder or ground

Stand Inactive, eyes open or closed (upright posture)

Rest Inactive, eyes open or closed (lying down)

Self-care Self-grooming or scratching, using horns, hooves, or teeth. Self-maintenance

Locomote Normal or stereotypic movement (pacing)

Ethogram