Behavioral predictors of copulation in captive Key Largo woodrats (Neotoma floridana smalli)

Alligood, Christina; Wheaton, Catharine J.; Daneault, Andre J.; Carlson, Robert; Savage, Anne

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2008.08.003

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The average latent time between successive copulations was 7 min ( n = 44 latent periods from 18 of 19 pairings resulting in multiple copulations). Our observed pregnancy rate of 58% (19/33) was substantially higher than that among captive Key Largo woodrats [10/76; Alligood et al, ]. Average gestation length was 38 days, ranging from 37 to 39 days (Table ).…”

Section: Demonstration Of Efficacymentioning

confidence: 51%

“…Accordingly, daily observations were conducted from 60 to 120 min after lights‐out, a temporal window that we felt maximized our probability of observing male–female interactions while accommodating logistical constraints of the program. Allegheny woodrat behavioral cues indicative of sexual receptivity were similar to those observed in Key Largo woodrats [female: raspy vocalizations, lordosis, non‐aggressive boxing through the wire mesh door; male: raspy vocalizations, marking with ventral scent gland, non‐aggressive boxing through the wire mesh door; Alligood et al, ; Soltis et al, ]. We initiated pairings only when behavioral cues were observed reciprocally by both the male and an adjoined female.…”

Section: Description Of the Processmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) captive propagation to promote recovery of declining populations

Smyser

Swihart

2014

Zoo Biology

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The Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) is endemic to the eastern United States with local distributions restricted to rocky habitats within deciduous forests. Over the last 40 years, woodrats have declined precipitously due to an array of human-mediated pressures. There is growing interest in the captive propagation of woodrats as a tool to promote in situ conservation, but their solitary social structure, territorial behavior, and low fecundity present challenges for the attainment of levels of ex situ reproduction sufficient to support reintroduction programs. In 2009 we established a captive breeding program with 12 wild-caught individuals (4.8) collected from Indiana and Pennsylvania. Restricting breeding to wild-caught individuals, over 26 months we produced 19 litters comprised of 43 pups (26.17), of which 40 (24.16) survived to weaning. In sum, wild-caught individuals readily habituated to the captive environment and the low fecundity of woodrats was offset by high survival rates for both adults and juveniles. Therefore, when managed appropriately, captive Allegheny woodrat populations should be capable of supporting the release of surplus individuals to augment in situ conservation measures.

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Section: Demonstration Of Efficacymentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Description Of the Processmentioning

confidence: 87%

Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) captive propagation to promote recovery of declining populations

Smyser

Swihart

2014

Zoo Biology

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“…Researchers have maintained colonies of Eastern wood rats successfully in captivity (Alligood et al, 2011;Alligood et al, 2009;Dewsbury, 1974;Kinsey, 1976;Knoch, 1968;Smyser and Swihart, 2014;Worth, 1950). Smyser and Swihart (2014) and Alligood et al 2011 developed successful strategies for captive breeding of endangered Allegheny wood rats and Key Largo wood rats, respectively, with eventual re-introduction to the wild.…”

Section: Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a colony of captive Eastern wood rats, a tyrannical social organization developed in which one animal killed or wounded all others (Kinsey, 1976). Alligood et al (2009) housed Key Largo wood rats individually in custom-designed wire mesh caging with opaque nest boxes. However, Williams (1980) reported that fighting in captivity is uncommon, even in overcrowded or multigenerational cages, and the males do not attack pups (Williams, 1980).…”

Section: Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In field and laboratory studies, Escherich (1981) found that male N. cinera fought ferociously for harems of one to three females (Escherich, 1981). Caging could be joined via wire mesh tubing and effective behavioral markers of breeding receptivity were determined to allow safe pairing of male and female animals for breeding (Alligood et al, 2009). Alligood et al (2009) housed Key Largo wood rats individually in custom-designed wire mesh caging with opaque nest boxes.…”

Section: Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biology and Diseases of Other Rodents

Donnelly

Bergin

Ihrig

2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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Estimating Key Largo woodrat abundance using spatially explicit capture-recapture and trapping point transects

et al. 2016

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The Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli) is an endangered rodent with a restricted geographic range and small population size. Establishing an efficient monitoring program of its abundance has been problematic; previous trapping designs have not worked well because the species is sparsely distributed. We compared Key Largo woodrat abundance estimates in Key Largo, Florida, USA, obtained using trapping point transects (TPT) and spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) based on statistical properties, survey effort, practicality, and cost. Both methods combine aspects of distance sampling with capture–recapture, but TPT relies on radiotracking individuals to estimate detectability and SECR relies on repeat capture information to estimate densities of home ranges. Abundance estimates using TPT in the spring of 2007 and 2008 were 333 woodrats (CV = 0.46) and 696 (CV = 0.43), respectively. Abundance estimates using SECR in the spring, summer, and winter of 2007 were 97 (CV = 0.31), 334 (CV = 0.26), and 433 (CV = 0.20) animals, respectively. Trapping point transects used approximately 960 person‐hours and 1,010 trap‐nights/season. Spatially explicit capture–recapture used approximately 500 person‐hours and 6,468 trap‐nights/season. Significant time was saved in the SECR survey by setting large numbers of traps close together, minimizing time walking between traps. Trapping point transects were practical to implement in the field, and valuable auxiliary information on Key Largo woodrat behavior was obtained via radiocollaring. In this particular study, detectability of the woodrat using TPT was very low and consequently the SECR method was more efficient. Both methods require a substantial investment in survey effort to detect any change in abundance because of large uncertainty in estimates. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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Behavioral predictors of copulation in captive Key Largo woodrats (Neotoma floridana smalli)

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) captive propagation to promote recovery of declining populations

Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) captive propagation to promote recovery of declining populations

Biology and Diseases of Other Rodents

Estimating Key Largo woodrat abundance using spatially explicit capture-recapture and trapping point transects

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