关键词: 朱鹮, 行为谱, PAE编码系统, 野化训练, 再引入, 行为多样性

Abstract

Aim: Acclimation training plays a critical role in reintroduction of Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon). Effective behavior training before releasing animals into the wild, to some extent, determines whether the released individuals can survive and reproduce successfully in the environment. Currently, there is still a lack of in-depth and systematic researches as well as quantitative indicators on the behavior of Crested Ibis, making it difficult to scientifically evaluate the adaptability of individuals and the effectiveness of acclimation training. Therefore, it is necessary to establish and refine the ethogram and posture-act-environment (PAE) coding system for the Crested Ibis, exploring practical applications of the PAE-coded ethogram. This will lay a foundation for behavioral monitoring and behavioral ecology of acclimated Crested Ibis.
Methods: Based on observations from December 2009 to January 2011, and from June to September 2023, we used focal-animal sampling and instantaneous and scan sampling methods in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, and instantaneous and scan sampling method in Crested Ibis Ecological Park in Yang County, Shaanxi Province, to observe and record the behavior of Crested Ibis acclimated in large cages. Then, we explored the impact of sampling methods on the behavioral diversity of Crested Ibis in Yancheng City. In addition, we calculated the behavioral diversity of Crested Ibis and compared the differences between Yancheng City and Yang County.
Results: We refined the ethogram and PAE coding system for Crested Ibis during the non-breeding season. Specifically, we identified and defined a total of 112 behaviors categorized into 19 groups: 74 individual behaviors in 12 categories, 19 interactive behaviors in 2 categories, 7 community behaviors in 2 categories, and 12 abnormal behaviors in 3 categories. In addition, we coded 9 postures (P codes), 112 acts (A codes), and 13 environments (E codes) within PAE coding system for Crested Ibis. The analysis results showed that in natural behaviors, the absolute diversity (H) and maximal diversity (H_max) in focal-animal sampling were significantly higher than those in instantaneous and scan sampling, with no significant difference in relative diversity (R). For abnormal behaviors, the absolute diversity (H) and maximal diversity (H_max) in focal-animal sampling were also significantly higher than those in instantaneous and scan sampling, while the relative diversity (R) was significantly lower than that in instantaneous and scan sampling. Moreover, for natural behaviors, the absolute diversity (H) and maximal diversity (H_max) of Crested Ibis undergoing acclimation training in Yancheng were significantly lower than those of Crested Ibis in Yang County, with the relative diversity (R) being significantly higher than that of Crested Ibis in Yang County.
Conclusion: Based on the PAE coding system, our study calculated the behavioral diversity of Crested Ibis to validate the feasible pathway of the PAE coding system in simplify animal behavior recording and quantitative analysis. Our study provided a significant example of correctly selecting sampling methods in animal behavior observation and recording. The results indicated that the variability or uncertainty of animal behavior patterns (i.e. behavioral diversity) at different sites can indirectly reflect environmental conditions of acclimation training animals. This provided a “behavioral dictionary” and behavior-based assessment methods for monitoring the health condition and selecting the best breeding individuals among captive animals. In addition, our study offered an important scientific evaluation method for assessing the wild adaptability of endangered wild animals and the effectiveness of acclimation training before their release into the wild.

Key words: Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon), ethogram, PAE coding system, acclimation training, reintroduction, behavior diversity