Grouping patterns and social organization in Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica): feeding strategy matters

Han, Lei; Blank, David A.; Wang, Muyang; Yang, Weishen; Silva, Antonio Alves da; Alves, Joana

doi:10.25225/fozo.065.2019

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Gregarious animals synchronize their foraging activities and resources; hence, there is less dietary variation among the individuals (Galef and Giraldeau, 2001). Some species whose populations or groups segregate and/or aggregate show great differences in regional and seasonal dietary selection and adaptation, which cause remarkable variation in microbial communities (Ruckstuhl and Neuhaus, 2002;Han et al, 2019;Stone et al, 2019). On the other hand, sexual dimorphism exists in diet and microbial communities (Bowyer, 2004;Ruckstuhl, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation and Sexual Dimorphism of the Microbiota in Wild Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

et al. 2020

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Microbiota of the wild blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) presents a seasonal variation due to different dietary selection and feeding strategies from different ecological niches chosen by different sex in summer. To address those issues, we analyzed the variation of gut microbiota based on the material from the feces, with 16S rRNA and meta-genome aimed to explore seasonal and gender differences. The results indicate that seasonal dietary changes and gender differentiation, as expected, cause the variation in sheep's gut microbiota structure. The variation of the former is more significant than the latter. Dominant Firmicutes exists a significantly higher abundance in summer than that in winter. Subordinate Bacteroides expresses no seasonal difference between the two seasons. Compared with the winter group, the summer group is featured by abundant enzymes digesting cellulose and generating short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as beta-glucosidase (EC: 3.2.1.21) for cellulose digestion, and butyrate kinase (EC:2.7.2.7) in butyrate metabolism, implying that the changes of the composition in intestinal flora allow the sheep to adapt to the seasonalized dietary selection through alternated microbial functions to reach the goal of facilitating the efficiency of energy harvesting. The results also show that the blue sheep expresses a prominent sexual dimorphism in the components of gut microbiota, indicating that the two sexes have different adaptations to the dietary selection, and demands for physical and psychological purposes. Thus, this study provides an example of demonstrating the principles and regulations of natural selection and environmental adaptation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation and Sexual Dimorphism of the Microbiota in Wild Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

et al. 2020

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“…Numerous studies have confirmed that the size of mixed-sex groups of ungulates are generally larger than single-sex groups [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ], including goitered gazelle [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The most important benefit of staying in larger mixed-sex groups, other than mating opportunities, could, in fact, be that individuals can afford to spend less time being vigilant than in smaller groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Goitered Gazelle Gazella subgutturosa Responded to Human Disturbance by Increasing Vigilance Rather than Changing the Group Size

Wang

Blank

et al. 2022

Biology

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Nonlethal human disturbances have been confirmed to have a negative effect on wildlife in a variety of ways, including on behaviors. In many studies, the impact of human disturbances on gregarious species of wildlife is assessed through changes in their social organization and vigilance. In our study in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, China, we wanted to estimate the impacts of differing levels of human disturbances on two different group types (mixed-sex and all-male) of goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa, living in three functional zones (experimental, buffer, and core zones), which represent high, medium, and low human disturbance levels, respectively. In addition, we studied the time spent vigilant as a function of group size with different levels of human disturbances in the three zones. In general, mixed-sex gazelle groups were of similar sizes in the three different zones, while all-male groups slightly differed in their sizes between the experimental and buffer zones. This may indicate that human disturbances have varying effects on the different group types, with smaller-sized, single-sex groups being more significantly affected by human disturbances than larger-sized, mixed-sex groups. Goitered gazelle showed higher vigilance levels in the experimental zone than in the two other zones. A trend of decreasing vigilance varying linearly with group size was also found in the three zones, and the rate of decrease was higher in the experimental zone. Increased habitat fragmentation and human activities brought goitered gazelle and humans closer together in the core zone. Therefore, stopping mining activities and returning the reserve to a continuous habitat with fewer environmental disturbances is the best way to establish and protect a stable population of this endangered species of gazelle.

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Vigilance behaviour in Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica): Effect of group size, group type, sex and age

Han

Blank

Wang

et al. 2020

Behavioural Processes

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Grouping patterns and social organization in Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica): feeding strategy matters

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 9 publications

References 43 publications

Seasonal Variation and Sexual Dimorphism of the Microbiota in Wild Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

Seasonal Variation and Sexual Dimorphism of the Microbiota in Wild Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

Goitered Gazelle Gazella subgutturosa Responded to Human Disturbance by Increasing Vigilance Rather than Changing the Group Size

Vigilance behaviour in Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica): Effect of group size, group type, sex and age

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