ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA >

2023 , Vol. 43 >Issue 5: 479 - 488

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150765

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Analysis of factors influencing vigilance and physiological stress in Przewalski’s gazelle

  • LIU Ruoshuang ,
  • SHI Jianbin ,
  • LIU Dingzhen ,
  • SHEN Xinchen ,
  • WANG Qingqing ,
  • XU Xuefei ,
  • GUO Dongsheng ,
  • DONG Shikui ,
  • ZHANG Yu ,
  • HE Yubang ,
  • WU Yonglin
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  • 1 School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
    2 Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
    3 School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
    4 Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Qinghai Province, Xining 810000, China;
    5 Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, Xining 810007, China

Received date: 2022-12-12

  Revised date: 2023-05-16

  Online published: 2023-09-22

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Abstract

Animals develop physiological and behavioral responses to cope with natural stressors (e. g., predators) or anthropogenic stressors (e. g., road traffic). However, these responses may affect the health and survival of individuals, leading to a range of serious wildlife conservation problems. Elevated glucocorticoid concentration and increased vigilance are two common responses to predation risk in mammals. Chronic high-level glucocorticoid concentration and vigilance occur at the expense of other life maintenance and reproduction activities, reflecting a trade-off between individual survival and future fecundity. In this study, a non-invasive sampling method was employed to collect fresh fecal samples from female Przewalski’s gazelles (Procapra przewalskii) and the cortisol concentrations in the samples were measured using ELISA. Focal-animal all-occurrence sampling and scan sampling of behavior were applied to collect data on the vigilance behaviour of female gazelles. Generalized linear mixed model was used to investigate the effects of different types of stressors on the fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) concentration and vigilance of female Przewalski’s gazelles. In wild Przewalski’s gazelle populations, reproductive status was the main factor influencing FGMs and vigilance (F = 39. 162, P < 0. 001), with higher FGMs and vigilance behavior in the lambing season than the rutting season. Anthropogenic stressors were important factors affecting FGMs of female Przewalski’s gazelles, with road and railway traffic contributing more to their physiological stress than natural predators and grassland fences (F = 87. 482, P < 0. 001). The negative impact of socio-economic development on wildlife is an inevitable challenge for Przewalski’s gazelle conservation. We should undertake great efforts to balance socio-economic development and wildlife conservation, and build a harmonious community for both humans and nature.

Key words： Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii); Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM); Vigilance; Anthropogenic stress

Cite this article

LIU Ruoshuang , SHI Jianbin , LIU Dingzhen , SHEN Xinchen , WANG Qingqing , XU Xuefei , GUO Dongsheng , DONG Shikui , ZHANG Yu , HE Yubang , WU Yonglin . Analysis of factors influencing vigilance and physiological stress in Przewalski’s gazelle[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2023 , 43(5) : 479 -488 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150765

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