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Relationships of Social Behavior and the Captive Environment to Reproduction in Female Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Metrione, Lara Colleen

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2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.

Reproductive success is poor among captive female southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). This study examined reproductive success; estrous cyclicity, as evidenced in progesterone profiles; and corticosterone concentrations and their relationships to social behavior and the social and captive housing environments for 45 female white rhinos. Behavioral observations of aggression, dominance, sexual behavior, and sexual play interactions were recorded. Social group size and composition, enclosure size, and other housing characteristics were assessed through review of zoo records. Progesterone and corticosterone in serum or their metabolites in fecal samples were measured by enzyme immunoassay.

Progestagen profiles provided evidence (luteal phases) of ovulatory cycles in 22/35 non-pregnant females, 12 of whom were nulliparous. Four adolescents showed evidence of estrous cycles at 29-42 months of age. Nulliparous, captive-born females and wild-caught, parous females engaged in sexual play less often than adolescents (p < 0.05); acyclic (p = 0.097) and pregnant (p = 0.051) females tended to engage in sexual play less often than adolescents; but subordinate females engaged in sexual play more often than dominant females (p < 0.05).

The proportion of females that have had calves was larger for females housed in enclosures (>0.01 km2; p = 0.001) and in groups with >2 females/adolescents (p = 0.003) than in smaller enclosures or groups. Ovulatory cycles were observed in a larger proportion of females held in enclosures >0.01 km2 (p = 0.032) and with a novel male (p = 0.038) than in smaller enclosures or with familiar males. The proportions of females having calves and ovulatory cycles were not influenced (p > 0.05) by dominance.

Average fecal corticosterone metabolite (hereinafter, corticosterone) concentration differed (p < 0.05) across institutions and was higher (p < 0.05) in wild-caught than in captive-born females. Corticosterone concentration did not differ (p > 0.05) between dominant and subordinate females, between acyclic and cycling females, or between nulliparous and parous females. Corticosterone concentrations were not elevated (p > 0.05) for females housed in any of the environmental conditions assessed with the exception that housing with a female companion known from adolescence was associated (p = 0.057) with lower corticosterone than housing with no female companion or one introduced during adulthood.

A larger proportion of females had calves when housed in a social group in large enclosures, and ovulatory cycles were more prevalent in females housed in large enclosures with novel males. Housing females with another female known from adolescence might minimize the perception of stressful stimuli. Documentation of cyclicity in nulliparous females suggests that reproductive failure in white rhinos occurs during conception or early pregnancy, and acyclicity does not appear to be associated with elevated corticosterone. Lower frequencies of sexual play behavior among nulliparous and acyclic females compared to adolescents suggest that reductions in the frequency of sexual play behavior as females mature could be useful for identifying those who might be prone to reproductive difficulties. Wild-caught females engaged in less sexual play behavior than adolescents and had higher corticosterone than captive-born females, both of which indicate a stress response.

John Harder, PhD (Committee Chair)
Leslie Jackson, PhD (Committee Member)
Randy Nelson, PhD (Committee Member)
Linda Penfold, PhD (Committee Member)
J. Andrew Roberts, PhD (Committee Member)
David Stetson, PhD (Committee Member)
262 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Metrione, L. C. (2010). Relationships of Social Behavior and the Captive Environment to Reproduction in Female Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291142867

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Metrione, Lara. Relationships of Social Behavior and the Captive Environment to Reproduction in Female Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). 2010. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291142867.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Metrione, Lara. "Relationships of Social Behavior and the Captive Environment to Reproduction in Female Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1291142867

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)