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Non-invasive methods for sex and steroid homones determination in gibbons of the genus Nomascus
Bolechová, Petra ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Pavel, Pavel (referee)
The gibbon primates of the family Nomascus are classified as critically endangered species, and, to date, basic understanding and information about their biology is missing. With regard to the status of these animals in the wild and captive populations in zoos, being familiar with their reproduction, may improve captive breeding programs. Data collection in this study was to be carried out by the practical use of non-invasive methods (polymerase chain reaction for DNA extraction and enzyme immunoassays), using faecal samples for analysis. The first method, polymerase chain reaction, was used for sex determination in juveniles, because of their coat colour and visual similarity of secondary sex characteristic in both sexes; it is not possible to determinate sex without handling the animal. Another main purpose of this study is to try and answer the hypothesis regarding the ovarian cycle of females, factors influencing their hormone concentration and also the onset of sexual maturity in females and the timing of their fur colour change. Hypotheses were checked by monitoring the concentration of progesterone and oestrogen faecal metabolites and by evaluation of the composition of breeding groups of gibbons with the ZOO influence. During a four year period (from 2010 till 2014), there were a total of 51 animals analysed from 16 different zoos with a faecal sample count totalling 1618 samples. The results confirmed the use of noninvasive methods for sex determination, and thus ensuring the maximum welfare standards. Endocrinological analysis confirmed the hypothesis of the influence of the environment (ZOO) to the hormone concentrations and female´s pregnancy effect in conjunction with her age on the final results of the male - father hormone concentrations. The initial information in this study is the confirmation of the onset of ovarian cycle in young females without connection to their fur colour change and a significant factor of a mother´s impact and her territoriality. This study is the first to present a long term monitoring of ovarian cycles in females and hormone concentrations of other individuals, both male and female, and from various age groups. The results allow us to understand the possible impact of zoo environments on the reproductive status of these gibbons and contribute to the general improvement of breeding management.
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The ontogeny of vocalisation in gibbons Nomascus
Hradec, Michal ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Pavel, Pavel (referee)
Knowledge of the ontogeny and development of vocalization in primates play a crucial role in understanding the evolution of the human language. Unlike the great apes, gibbons produce a remarkable vocal performance, which includes complex species- and sex-specific patterns. Many studies in the past focused on research of the acoustic pattern in adult individuals. Yet, it remains unclear how the males develop their sex-specific pattern of vocalization.
This dissertation focuses on two specific periods in the ontogenetic development of acoustic structures in male Northern-white cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) and Southern-yellow cheeked gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae). The results showed that the first time immature males (juvenile and adolescent) produced female acoustically structured great calls in duets with their mothers. How the great call was structured in immature males differed from the great call of their mothers; the difference being in spectro-temporal parameters from. The most significant difference between juvenile and adolescent males in the production of female vocalization was the presence of a twitter vocalization towards the end of their call. The results show that the twitter was a regular part of female vocalization in juvenile males around four years of age, while younger males produced this vocalization exceptionally. The second period in the ontogeny of vocalization in immature males (adolescent) was characterized by the fact that after five years of age, the development of the male acoustic structure begins. During this period, we did not observe the production of the female vocalization great call in any of the monitored Nomascus gibbon individuals. Results show that the ontogenetic process of the male song in Northern-white cheeked gibbons (N. leucogenys) did not develop in the same sequence as in adults which produced different notes and phrases. The immature male (adolescent male) first time developed the multi-modulation phrase (coda) and the staccato note (syllables) simultaneously at the beginning of this study, but, it was observed that they started producing the boom note four months later. Conversely, the development of the acoustic structure in male Southern-yellow cheeked gibbons (N. gabriellae) was characterized only by the development of a multi-modulation phrase. Development of the staccato syllables was not noted in this species during the study. The results support the interpretation that the development of the male acoustic structure closely corresponds to the growth of the vocal tract and physiological changes associated with reaching sexual maturity.
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Behavioural selection criteria for Czech police puppies to assess their chances of certification.
Hradecká, Lenka ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Martin, Martin (referee)
The project based on behavioural tests of 7 week old German Shepherd puppies performed in police kennel in Prackovice nad Labem and Domažlice. The project focused on verification of the usability and improvement of the selection of puppies using behavioural test. We tested the possibility of environmental effect (presence of shooting range near the kennel Domažlice) on the later success of puppies in the behavioural test. The aim of the project was collecting additional data which were use to improve and verify procedure for early selection of puppies. We checked the possibility of habituation breeding females and their puppies to noise, including monitoring of the different environments in the kennels in. It was found that different results are affected by of their mothers. This means that puppies raised by mothers from the police kennel near shooting range are better evaluated later in the disciplines of evaluating response to noise compared with pups from mothers of police kennel without shooting range. Worse response to noise had pups from litters with a higher number of pups.
Reviews summarizing the literature on heritability of behavioural traits in dogs have been published repeatedly over the last four decades. The conclusions of these reviews vary to some extent. We applied meta-analysis and re-evaluated the literature available collecting 47 references dealing with heritability of behavioural traits in domestic dogs. For each study included, data was extracted for individual behavioural traits. Each of these traits was entered into the analysis as a separate unit of measure, giving a total of 1761 measures. We classified the traits measured in each study into five functional categories (Environment, Herding, Hunting, Play, and Psychical characteristic). The metaanalysis has shown low general heritability of the categorised behavioural traits analysed. Thus, the commonly used behaviour tests for many breeds, to determine the dog's eligibility for reproducing, traditionally required by many associations, is not supported by the present results of the meta-analysis.
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Reproduction failure as a counterstrategy against potential infanticide
Ivanková, Lucia ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Adéla, Adéla (referee)
The domestic cat is along with the dog recently the most common and popular pet. Unlike the dog the cat kept her appearance and nature without major changes despite long years of domestication. She has been highly adaptive to extremely variable conditions.
Beeing a prolific species she breeds succesfully in wide range of enviromental conditions and in a large spectrum of climatic conditions from subarctic to tropical regions. She reproduces successfully in urban colonies in high density of thousands of cats per square kilometre as well as in arctic regions with the population density equal to one cat per square kilometre. Mating strategy varies from promiscuous behaviour, through polygyny/polyandry system, to monogamy.
The infanticide in felinae is a common reproductive strategy. Male kills dependent offspring sired by another male in order to hasten the female oestrus and to reproduce with her himself. In domestic cats the infanticide attracts long-lasting discussion. However, in reality reports on the incidence of infanticide has been scarce.
One of the possible female counter-strategies is pregnancy block, known as a Bruce effect. The mated female blocks the blastocyte implantation when facing the treath of possible infanticide to avoid waste of energy by delivering offspring with poor chance for survival. Based on the questionnaire survey we have estimated the possibility of reproduction failure in a situation of potential male infanticide. From data which we have obtained we could not yet check the advanced hypothesis due to lack of variation and very few recorded cases of reproduction failure. On the other hand, we have accumulated extended information of the cat reproduction. In the future we are planning to collect more data in order to be able to test properly the hypothesis.
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An effect of environmental factors on foetal development in mammals
Sedláčková, Lucie ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Bučková, Katarína (referee)
The development of fetus begins with merging of male and female sex cells, of the sperm with the egg, and with the formation of zygote. This moment triggers a complex process of prenatal development, a period very sensitive to changes and adverse conditions in the mothers surroundings. Such circumstances may include poor nutrition, sudden changes in the mothers social environment, a high occurrence of predators, stressful experiences due to inadequate handling and many other factors. All of these are connected by a frequently spelled term - stress.
It is stress that causes excessive discharge of glucocorticoid hormones, for example cortisol. This glucocorticoid is necessary for fetal growth and for induction of certain enzymes, such as lung surfactants. Under certain conditions, maternal cortisol can reach abnormal values. Consequently, the excess of cortisol impacts the fetus in high concentrations, which may negatively influence the growth of the fetus and its development.
In mammals, the mothers stress during her pregnancy not only increases her own cortisol levels, but also decreases the expression and activity of glucocorticoid barrier enzyme 11beta-HSD2 in the placenta; therefore, the fetus is less protected. On the other hand, this affects placental production and metabolism of other proteins and hormones sensitive to glucocorticoid, such as prostaglandins, progesterone, estrogens, glucose transporter and placental lactogen. Additionally, inhibition of 11beta-HSD2 by prenatal stress might contribute to low birth weight and to pregnancy diseases, such as premature birth.
Prenatal stress mainly affects brain development. The effects of prenatal stress in mammals have been observed with increased latency for games, indirect locomotion behavior, anxiety and impaired memory. Prenatal stress is also associated with greater volatility and attention disorders, which are also connected with a reduced learning ability. It has been ascertained that prenatally stressed individuals may exhibit increased aggressive behavior, demasculinized and feminized behavior has been observed in males.
The effects of prenatal stress are transmissible to the next generation and there is evidence that these are manifested to a greater extent in the following generations.
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Role of laterality in agonistic behaviour of red deer II
Jirsová, Adéla ; Bartoš, Luděk (advisor) ; Kouba, Marek (referee)
The theoretical part of this diploma thesis deals with the role of brain laterality of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in agonistic behaviour. Therefore, the largest part of the review of published scientific outcome is devoted to the agonistic behaviour, namely it focuses on the fights between males during the autumn rut. Battles are strictly ritualized and males adhere to strict rules. The role of laterality in animals is being recently studied and the outcomes so far indicates that, particularly in agonistic interactions the laterality may play a significant role. Brain lateralization is simply a preference for one or the other hemisphere in certain activities. The main topic of this thesis is how laterality affects combat of red deer.
The research part took place in a deer-park Zátoň where the duels between stags in rut were recorded. We also used videos from farms Podlesko and Žalany and a deer-park Milešov. These records were processed in the program Noldus Observes, with emphasis placed on the facts which deer was the initiator of the fight and his position to opponent, or with which eye the opponent was perceived at the beginning, but also during the fight. Data were statistically evaluated in SAS software (version 9.4., SAS Institute Inc.). We observed a strong tendency that the winner also initiates the interaction. Chance, that the winner will be the initiator, was compared to recipient 15 times higher. Initiator estimates his option in the battle to win, so he does not let the duel quit before it comes to physical confrontation. Regardless of the character of the behaviour initiator approached his rival more likely on right eye. There was statistically significant demonstrated initiator access to the recipient from the right side in parallel walk as well as in direct physical engagement. As stags train fights during the whole year, so even in the rut are information processed by the left hemisphere, which controls the routine affairs. We can say, that the deer fights during the rut are so frequent, when applies the routine of using antlers as a weapons and therefore we observe right side preference.
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