Variation in sexual behaviors in a group of captive male Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis): motivated by physiological changes?

Wu, Haiping; Hao, Yiming; Yu, Xueying; Xian, Yijie; Zhao, Qingzhong; Daoquan, Chen; Kuang, Xin; Kou, Z.-B.; Feng, K.-K.; Gong, Wei; Wang, Ding

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.06.018

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The female beluga reproductive tract is less complex (fewer vaginal folds and shorter cumulative length of vaginal folds) than several odontocete species known to engage in sperm competition, in which these folds may allow for sperm selection or limit penile penetration (Orbach et al 2017). In aquaria, most beluga conceptions occur after testes begin to regress and testosterone concentrations begin to fall (Robeck, Steinman et al 2005;Richard, Schmitt et al 2017), in contrast to convention in vertebrates, including other odontocetes (Wells 1984;Wingfield et al 1990;Wu et al 2010). Taken together, these observations suggest a reduced role for sperm competition or male contest competition relative to other species of cetaceans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care

2021

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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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care

2021

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“…Non-agonistic social behaviors have been observed in captive finless porpoises. For example, in captive Yangtze finless porpoises, sociosexual behavior [22], [23] and rubbing of the body against a ridge with horny tubercles have been observed (Sakai, unpublished). Moreover, a previous study reported that a female frequently approached a male and that this was followed by body contact or swimming in union [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Porpoises Choose Their Associates? A New Method for Analyzing Social Relationships among Cetaceans

Sakai

Wang

et al. 2011

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundObserving and monitoring the underwater social interactions of cetaceans is challenging. Therefore, previous cetacean studies have monitored these interactions by surface observations. However, because cetaceans spend most of their time underwater, it is important that their underwater behavior is also continuously monitored to better understand their social relationships and social structure. The finless porpoise is small and has no dorsal fin. It is difficult to observe this species in the wild, and little is known of its sociality.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe swim depths of 6 free-ranging finless porpoises were simultaneously recorded using a time-synchronized bio-logging system. Synchronous diving was used as an index of association. Two pairs, #27 (an immature female estimated to be 3.5 years old) and #32 (an adult male), #28 (a juvenile male estimated to be 2 years old) and #29 (an adult male), tended to participate in long periods of synchronized diving more frequently than 13 other possible pairs, indicating that the 4 porpoises chose their social partners. The adult males (#32, #29) tended to follow the immature female (#27) and juvenile male (#28), respectively. However, during synchronized diving, the role of an initiator often changed within the pair, and their body movements appeared to be non-agonistic, e.g., rubbing of bodies against one another instead of that on one-side, as observed with chasing and escaping behaviors.Conclusions/SignificanceThe present study employed a time-synchronized bio-logging method to observe the social relationships of free-ranging aquatic animals based on swimming depth. The results suggest that certain individuals form associations even if they are not a mother and calf pair. Long synchronized dives occurred when particular members were reunited, and this suggests that the synchronized dives were not a by-product of opportunistic aggregation.

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“…Ultrasonography, in contrast, is a noninvasive alternative, and is increasingly applied to explore the appearances and measurements of abdominal and superficial tissues/organs in small live dolphins and porpoises (Brook et al . ; Brook ; Wu et al . 2010 a , b ; Kot et al .…”

Section: Yangtze Finless Porpoise Biodatamentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasonography of mammary glands in finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) at different reproductive stages

Zeng

Huang

Hao

et al. 2017

Marine Mammal Science

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Variation in sexual behaviors in a group of captive male Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis): motivated by physiological changes?

Cited by 17 publications

References 24 publications

Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care

Minimally invasive physiological correlates of social behaviour in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care

Do Porpoises Choose Their Associates? A New Method for Analyzing Social Relationships among Cetaceans

Ultrasonography of mammary glands in finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) at different reproductive stages

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