Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care
Simultaneous observations of reproductive physiology and behaviour were conducted on a group of two male and two female belugas under professionally managed care for one year to explore potential mating strategies. Weekly blow sampling for progesterone in females was used to define the breeding seas...
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2021
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5504 https://doaj.org/article/60508f245a8b4f64b4d12d0832fbe679 |
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:60508f245a8b4f64b4d12d0832fbe679 2023-05-15T15:41:53+02:00 Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care Justin T. Richard Rachael Levine Tracy A. Romano Becky L. Sartini 2021-07-01 https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5504 https://doaj.org/article/60508f245a8b4f64b4d12d0832fbe679 en eng Norwegian Polar Institute 0800-0395 1751-8369 doi:10.33265/polar.v40.5504 https://doaj.org/article/60508f245a8b4f64b4d12d0832fbe679 undefined Polar Research, Vol 40, Pp 1-16 (2021) reproduction cetacean mating strategies blow steroid hormones aquarium envir socio Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2021 fttriple https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5504 2023-01-22T19:25:18Z Simultaneous observations of reproductive physiology and behaviour were conducted on a group of two male and two female belugas under professionally managed care for one year to explore potential mating strategies. Weekly blow sampling for progesterone in females was used to define the breeding season by detecting three oestrous cycles in one female. Twice weekly blow sampling for testosterone and twice monthly testes measurements via ultrasonography were used to detect reproductive seasonality in both males. Female–male association frequency varied longitudinally, with 70% of all interactions occurring during the 16-week breeding season. Male–male associations did not vary seasonally. Male display behaviours towards the female occurred 14.8 times more frequently during the breeding season (0.164 ± 0.188 behaviours/min) than outside of the breeding season (0.011 ± 0.042 behaviours/min). The cycling female responded variably to male display behaviours by altering swim speed or body orientation towards the male. Although this small sample size limits broad conclusions, the frequent display behaviours, low copulation rate and lack of serious male–male aggression are consistent with predictions for pre-copulatory female mate choice developed from the current knowledge of beluga reproductive physiology. These observations, which are not feasible for wild belugas, provide important management considerations because reduced opportunities for mate choice could limit the reproductive rate, especially in small populations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Polar Research Unknown Polar Research 40 |
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Open Polar |
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Unknown |
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fttriple |
language |
English |
topic |
reproduction cetacean mating strategies blow steroid hormones aquarium envir socio |
spellingShingle |
reproduction cetacean mating strategies blow steroid hormones aquarium envir socio Justin T. Richard Rachael Levine Tracy A. Romano Becky L. Sartini Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
topic_facet |
reproduction cetacean mating strategies blow steroid hormones aquarium envir socio |
description |
Simultaneous observations of reproductive physiology and behaviour were conducted on a group of two male and two female belugas under professionally managed care for one year to explore potential mating strategies. Weekly blow sampling for progesterone in females was used to define the breeding season by detecting three oestrous cycles in one female. Twice weekly blow sampling for testosterone and twice monthly testes measurements via ultrasonography were used to detect reproductive seasonality in both males. Female–male association frequency varied longitudinally, with 70% of all interactions occurring during the 16-week breeding season. Male–male associations did not vary seasonally. Male display behaviours towards the female occurred 14.8 times more frequently during the breeding season (0.164 ± 0.188 behaviours/min) than outside of the breeding season (0.011 ± 0.042 behaviours/min). The cycling female responded variably to male display behaviours by altering swim speed or body orientation towards the male. Although this small sample size limits broad conclusions, the frequent display behaviours, low copulation rate and lack of serious male–male aggression are consistent with predictions for pre-copulatory female mate choice developed from the current knowledge of beluga reproductive physiology. These observations, which are not feasible for wild belugas, provide important management considerations because reduced opportunities for mate choice could limit the reproductive rate, especially in small populations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Justin T. Richard Rachael Levine Tracy A. Romano Becky L. Sartini |
author_facet |
Justin T. Richard Rachael Levine Tracy A. Romano Becky L. Sartini |
author_sort |
Justin T. Richard |
title |
Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
title_short |
Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
title_full |
Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
title_fullStr |
Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
title_full_unstemmed |
Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
title_sort |
minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (delphinapterus leucas) under human care |
publisher |
Norwegian Polar Institute |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5504 https://doaj.org/article/60508f245a8b4f64b4d12d0832fbe679 |
genre |
Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Polar Research |
genre_facet |
Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Polar Research |
op_source |
Polar Research, Vol 40, Pp 1-16 (2021) |
op_relation |
0800-0395 1751-8369 doi:10.33265/polar.v40.5504 https://doaj.org/article/60508f245a8b4f64b4d12d0832fbe679 |
op_rights |
undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5504 |
container_title |
Polar Research |
container_volume |
40 |
_version_ |
1766374762135683072 |