shannon l. fredebaugh, eduardo j. fernandez, and william timberlake
DESCRIPTION
Possible Influences of Positive Scent Stimuli on the Behavior of Captive Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus). Shannon L. Fredebaugh, Eduardo J. Fernandez, and William Timberlake Indiana University and the Indianapolis Zoo. Results - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Possible Influences of Positive Scent Stimuli on the Behavior of Captive Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)
Shannon L. Fredebaugh, Eduardo J. Fernandez, and William Timberlake Indiana University and the Indianapolis Zoo
Polar Bear BackgroundIn the wild, polar bears may travel 1,200 to 2,500 miles during seasonal migrations and up to 15 miles a day to find food (Reeves, Stewart, Clapham, & Powell, 2002).
Foraging is engaged through smell since polar bears have such sensitive noses that they can smell a seal more than 20 miles away (Domico, 1988).
Many predatory animals in zoos exhibit stereotypic behaviors – pointless repetitive activities – often related to feeding time (Grindod & Cleaver, 2001; Carlstead, Seidensticker, & Baldwin, 1991).
Enrichment in the form of food and other food-related stimuli can disrupt stereotypic activities.Fixed time intervals using food helped to decrease stereotypic behaviors (Fernandez & Timberlake, 2004).Hypothesis: Scent stimuli should provide cues to encourage focal search behaviors, thus disrupting general search foraging loops (i.e., stereotypic activity).
SubjectsTwo polar bears at the Indianapolis ZooA female, named Tundra and a male named TritonBoth are captive born Tundra is 20 years old and Triton is 9 years old
MethodsEthogram - General behaviors observed for a given animal or species – 21 behaviors and 7 classes of behaviors Stereotypies – pace swimming, pacing, and circle swimming1st Set of Baseline (BL) – 5 days of regular observations – no spray bottle1st Set of Spray (FT-1’)– 5 days of “polar bear spray” on fixed time interval
Five sprays each minute for middle half hourBoth sets were repeated, but 2nd BL with water spray bottle on FT-1’Instantaneous time samples – every 15s
ResultsTundra: behaviors did not seem to change overall, but exhibited more food oriented behaviors during the spray time (t = 1.835, p = .096).Triton:
Significant decreases in inactivity before and during the spray periods (t = 2.384, p = 0.028; t = 2.173, p = 0.043).Stereotypic behaviors increased before the spray and inactivity decreased after the spray (t = 2.043, p = 0.056; t = 1.750, p = 0.097).Triton’s enclosure use, grooming, and activity levels increased when he was alone (t = 2.015, p = 0.059; t = 1.974, p = 0.064; t = 2.368, p = 0.029).
DiscussionThe increase in food-oriented behaviors suggests that Tundra did attend to the scents. However, the scents had no effect on her other behaviors.Polar bears are solitary animals in the wild, and this may help explain Triton’s increase in activity and exhibit use when Tundra was not on exhibit.The spray may not have been as effective due to external stimuli including other scents, such as seals next to their exhibit and food in zoo.The spray elicits decreases in inactivity. However, the lack of consumption may not allow for the completion of foraging activity, and thus may exacerbate stereotypic activity.Tangible food/objects appear to have a greater effect for a longer time on decreasing stereotypies (Altman, 2000; Frenandez & Timberlake, 2004).
Contact InformationShannon Fredebaugh
Ohio Wesleyan UniversityHWCC Box No. 1689 Delaware, OH 43015
(440) [email protected]
Triton Tundra
BEFORE
0
20
40
60
80
100
DURING
% O
F O
CC
UR
RE
NC
E
0
20
40
60
80
100
AFTER
Stereo
Inactive
Social
Active
Other
0
20
40
60
80
100
BLSPRAY
TUNDRABEFORE
0
20
40
60
80
100
DURING
% O
F O
CC
UR
RE
NC
E
0
20
40
60
80
100
AFTER
Stereo
Inactive
Social
Active
Other
0
20
40
60
80
100
BLSPRAY
TRITON*
*
*
*
TRITON
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
TUNDRA
before
during
after
% O
F O
CC
UR
RE
NC
E
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4BLSPRAY
ENTROPY
Stereo
Inactive
Social
Active
Other
% O
F O
CC
UR
RE
NC
E
0
20
40
60
80
100
TRITON
ALONEW/ TUNDRA
*
entropy
% O
F O
CC
UR
RE
NC
E
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
ENTROPY*
*
Figure 1: Triton’s Classes of Behaviors Before, During and After Spray
Presentation
Figure 3: Entropy Before, During and After Spray Presentation
Figure 4: Triton’s Classes of Behaviors and Entropy Depending on Tundra’s
Presence
Figure 2: Tundra’s Classes of Behaviors Before, During and After Spray
Presentation
= significant (p = .05)
= approaching significance (p = .10)…
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Sarah Goss-Robertson and India Swearingen for helping collect data.
ReferencesAltman, J. D., (2000). Effects of Inedible, Manipulable Objects on Captive Bears. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 2, 123-132.Carlstead, K., Seidensticker, J., & Baldwin, R. (1991). Environmental enrichment for zoo bears. Zoo Biology, 10, 3-16.Domico, Terry. Bears of the World. New York: Facts On File, 1988. Fernandez, E. & Timberlake, W.(2004). Fixed-Time Food Schedules and Their Effects on Activity Patterns in Two Adult Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus).Grindod, J. A. E. & Cleaver, J. A. (2001). Environmental Enrichment Reduces the Performance of Stereotypic Circling Behaviour in Captive Common Seals (Phoca vitulina). Animal Welfare, 10, 53 – 63.Reeves, R. R., Stewart, B. S., Clapham, P. J., & Powell, J. A. (2002). National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World. New York (NY): Chanticleer Press, Inc. 39 p.