Age at sexual maturity, first parturition and reproductive senescence in wild lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca): Implications for harvest sustainability

Bizri, Hani R. El; Fa, Julia E.; Valsecchi, João; Bodmer, Richard E.; Mayor, Pedro

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.04.009

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In reality, the rates, onset, and trajectory of aging often depart from this pattern and vary greatly among and within species [8,13,37]. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, and researching the proximate drivers has become a key topic in the study of aging with wide-ranging implications for life-history theory, population ecology, and wildlife management [53,60,88].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of age on foraging behavior in two closely related albatross species

2020

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Background Foraging performance is widely hypothesized to play a key role in shaping age-specific demographic rates in wild populations, yet the underlying behavioral changes are poorly understood. Seabirds are among the longest-lived vertebrates, and demonstrate extensive age-related variation in survival, breeding frequency and success. The breeding season is a particularly critical phase during the annual cycle, but it remains unclear whether differences in experience or physiological condition related to age interact with the changing degree of the central-place constraint in shaping foraging patterns in time and space. Methods Here we analyze tracking data collected over two decades from congeneric black-browed (BBA) and grey-headed (GHA) albatrosses, Thalassarche melanophris and T. chrysostoma, breeding at South Georgia. We compare the foraging trip parameters, at-sea activity (flights and landings) and habitat preferences of individuals aged 10–45 years and contrast these patterns between the incubation and early chick-rearing stages. Results Young breeders of both species showed improvements in foraging competency with age, reducing foraging trip duration until age 26. Thereafter, there were signs of foraging senescence; older adults took gradually longer trips, narrowed their habitat preference (foraging within a smaller range of sea surface temperatures) (GHA), made fewer landings and rested on the water for longer (BBA). Some age-specific effects were apparent for each species only in certain breeding stages, highlighting the complex interaction between intrinsic drivers in determining individual foraging strategies. Conclusions Using cross-sectional data, this study highlighted clear age-related patterns in foraging behavior at the population-level for two species of albatrosses. These trends are likely to have important consequences for the population dynamics of these threatened seabirds, as young or old individuals may be more vulnerable to worsening environmental conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of age on foraging behavior in two closely related albatross species

2020

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“…In these species, reproduction probability of young females is more sensitive to environmental conditions and usually shows larger variability than reproduction probability of prime‐aged females (Gaillard et al., 2000; Hadley et al., 2006). Because population recruitment decreases as age at primiparity advances, variation in age at primiparity has considerable effects on demographic rates and harvest sustainability (El Bizri et al., 2019; Mace et al., 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and reproduction trade‐offs can estimate previous reproductive history in alpine ungulates

Larue

Pelletier

Côté

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Life‐history theory predicts energy allocation trade‐offs between traits when resources are limited. If females reduce allocation to growth when they reproduce, annual growth could reveal past reproductive effort, which would be useful to assess population dynamics and harvest sustainability. The potential and accuracy of growth measures for predicting reproductive success have rarely been evaluated with individuals with known reproductive history. We used long‐term monitoring of annual growth and reproduction of marked female bighorn sheep and mountain goats, two species in which primiparity normally occurs well before growth completion, to evaluate growth versus reproduction trade‐offs and their potential for predicting reproductive history of young females using mixed models and 10‐fold block cross‐validation. We documented a significant reduction in mass gain and horn growth in young reproducing females of both species. This trade‐off was affected by individual differences in energy acquisition and allocation because population density and previous allocation to growth affected the trade‐off. We then parameterized models to predict individual reproductive history of young females based on the growth traits subjected to a reproductive trade‐off. The accuracy of predictive models ranged from 85.2% to 91.0% across species and traits, indicating that growth is a good predictor of reproductive history. This method is especially useful for population management of species with traits that form permanent visible yearly annuli because they retain a record of annual growth that allows retrospective estimation of reproductive history over multiple years. Synthesis and applications. We show that because growth significantly decreased in years of allocation to reproduction, annual growth increments provide insights on reproductive history of young females. Population or temporal differences in reproduction of young females affect demographic rates and sustainable harvest. Growth measures of traits that form yearly annuli, such as teeth and horns, could be easily obtained at a low cost from animals harvested or found dead in multiple species. Thus, predictive models of reproductive history based on annual growth could assist conservation and management in a broad range of species.

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“…The pacas could face high levels of hunting deaths and could be easily caught. This may occur in situations of high hunting pressure, reported by several authors [12][13][14][15][16], or when other targeted species are reduced in numbers and pacas may then become selected prey. In turn, behavioural plasticity may favour the species' survival: by not avoiding foraging, even in supposedly dangerous situations, pacas can increase their energy intake, therefore having better fitness, and reproducing more efficiently.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The paca (Cuniculus paca), a Neotropical caviomorph rodent, provides the most soughtafter game meat in all its range [8], and therefore faces high hunting pressure [9][10][11]. The unsustainable hunting of the paca has led to local depletion of the species in several locations, especially due to its relatively low reproductive rate [12][13][14][15][16]. However, due to its wide distribution, occurrence in a number of protected areas, and presumed large population, the paca is unlikely to be declining and, consequently, it is categorized as being of least concern on the IUCN Red List [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperament, Plasticity, and Emotions in Defensive Behaviour of Paca (Mammalia, Hystricognatha)

Nogueira

Nogueira-Filho

Duarte

et al. 2021

Animals

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Within a species, some individuals are better able to cope with threatening environments than others. Paca (Cuniculus paca) appear resilient to over-hunting by humans, which may be related to the behavioural plasticity shown by this species. To investigate this, we submitted captive pacas to temperament tests designed to assess individual responses to short challenges and judgement bias tests (JBT) to evaluate individuals’ affective states. Results indicated across-time and context stability in closely correlated “agitated”, “fearful” and “tense” responses; this temperament dimension was labelled “restless”. Individual “restless” scores predicted responses to novelty, although not to simulated chasing and capture by humans in a separate modified defence test battery (MDTB). Restless animals were more likely to show a greater proportion of positive responses to an ambiguous cue during JBT after the MDTB. Plasticity in defensive behaviour was inferred from changes in behavioural responses and apparently rapid adaptation to challenge in the different phases of the MDTB. The results indicate that both temperament and behavioural plasticity may play a role in influencing paca responses to risky situations. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of understanding the role of individual temperament traits and behavioural plasticity in order to better interpret the animals’ conservation status and vulnerabilities.

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Age at sexual maturity, first parturition and reproductive senescence in wild lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca): Implications for harvest sustainability

Cited by 11 publications

References 43 publications

Effects of age on foraging behavior in two closely related albatross species

Effects of age on foraging behavior in two closely related albatross species

Growth and reproduction trade‐offs can estimate previous reproductive history in alpine ungulates

Temperament, Plasticity, and Emotions in Defensive Behaviour of Paca (Mammalia, Hystricognatha)

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