Allonursing in cervids

Bc. Gabriela Vodenková

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Allonursing, nursing of non-filial offspring is very interesting form of cooperative breeding. It was observed in many kinds of mammals and explained by several hypotheses. However, there are still a lot of unexplored species and most of the hypotheses are mutually exclusive. Targets of this thesis were two endangered cervids – Eld´s deer and Finnish forest reindeer, in which allonursing has never been studied before. The aim of the research was to describe nursing behaviour and assess occurrence and extent of allonursing behaviour. We also tested possible factors that may affect rate of nursing success and (allo)nursing duration. During 2016 and 2017, herds of both species were observed in Prague ZOO. We had unique possibility to observe rare Eld´s deer twins. For Eld´s deer, we evaluated 111 nursing bouts. Forty five percent of these bouts were non-filial ones. For Finnish forest reindeer, we recorded 82 nursing bouts, from which 18 % were allonursing bouts. Rate of nursing success was not influenced by any of the factors in both species. Females of Eld´s deer preferred non-filial calves in terms of nursing duration. Nursing duration in Eld´s deer was then affected by parity, position, sniffing, initiating and terminating. Allonursing duration in Eld´s deer was influenced by multiple suckling, sniffing, initiating and terminating. Only nursing duration in Finnish forest reindeer was affected - just by sniffing. For Eld´s deer, we reported second largest extent of allonursing among cervids. Observed extent of allonursing in Finnish forest reindeer falls within the range found in semi-domesticated reindeer. To reveal possible explanations of non-filial nursing in both species, further investigation is needed.

Keywords

allonursing, allosuckling, social behaviour, parental care, deer, reindeer, zoo

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 26. 4. 2018

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Markéta Gloneková, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Wildlife Management in the Tropics and Subtropics