Changes in 24-hour activity patterns with growth of white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus)
Titel:
Changes in 24-hour activity patterns with growth of white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus)
Auteur:
Jacobsen, Nadine K.
Verschenen in:
Biological rhythm research
Paginering:
Jaargang 15 (1984) nr. 3 pagina's 213-226
Jaar:
1984-11
Inhoud:
The activity and behavior of captive white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus) were monitored throughout 24-h periods between birth and weaning at 92 d old (from 2.9 to 25.4 kg body weight). Behaviors were observed concurrently with the continuously telemetered record of time spent in the inactive (lying-resting and lying-ruminating) and the active behavioral state (standing, foraging, walking, playing, and running activities). Both the time allocations to lying and nonlying activities and their temporal distributions between diurnal and nocturnal phases are related to growth of the fawns. Fawns had a strong concealment discipline in the first week of life, as nonlying activities occupied less than 10% of the diel period. By 8 wk of age (heavier than 15 kg), 26% of the diel period was spent in nonlying activity. Most of the time-in-activity of young fawns was spent standing until fawns grew heavier than 7 kg, thereafter standing activity decreased rapidly as foraging occupied about 80% of the active behavioral state. The time expended in rumination increased rapidly as the intake of solid foods increased. Walking, playing, and running activities occupied more of the older fawn's time-in-activity, but were highly variable and not significantly related to growth. The phasing of activity also changed with growth from a strong diumality characteristic of the young fawn to marked crepuscular-nocturnality as fawns exceeded 15 kg.
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