Application of change-point analysis to determine winter sleep patterns of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from body temperature recordings and a multi-faceted dietary and behavioral study of wintering

Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Anne-Mari Mustonen⁴  Terttu Lempiäinen⁷  Mikko Aspelund³  Paavo Hellstedt²  Katri Ikonen⁴  Juhani Itämies⁸  Ville Vähä⁵  Jaakko Erkinaro⁵  Juha Asikainen⁴  Mervi Kunnasranta¹  Pekka Niemelä⁶  Jari Aho⁹  Petteri Nieminen⁴ 

[1] Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 3, FI-20520, Turku, Finland

[2] Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

[3] Department of Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111 FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland

[4] Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland

[5] Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 413, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland

[6] Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland

[7] Botanical museum, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland

[8] Zoological museum, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland

[9] Municipal Veterinary Clinic of Joensuu, Takilatie 5, FI-80110, Joensuu, Finland

关键词: Winter sleep;    Nyctereutes procyonoides;    Home range;    GPS tracking;    Foraging ecology;    Fatty acid signature;    Change-point analysis;    Body temperature;   

Others  :  1085747
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6785-12-27

 received in 2012-06-12, accepted in 2012-12-06,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

A multi-faceted approach was used to investigate the wintertime ecophysiology and behavioral patterns of the raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, a suitable model for winter sleep studies. By utilizing GPS tracking, activity sensors, body temperature (T_b) recordings, change-point analysis (CPA), home range, habitat and dietary analyses, as well as fatty acid signatures (FAS), the impact of the species on wintertime food webs was assessed. The timing of passive bouts was determined with multiple methods and compared to T_b data analyzed by CPA.

Results

Raccoon dogs displayed wintertime mobility, and the home range sizes determined by GPS were similar or larger than previous estimates by radio tracking. The preferred habitats were gardens, shores, deciduous forests, and sparsely forested areas. Fields had close to neutral preference; roads and railroads were utilized as travel routes. Raccoon dogs participated actively in the food web and gained benefit from human activity. Mammals, plants, birds, and discarded fish comprised the most important dietary classes, and the consumption of fish could be detected in FAS. Ambient temperature was an important external factor influencing T_b and activity. The timing of passive periods approximated by behavioral data and by CPA shared 91% similarity.

Conclusions

Passive periods can be determined with CPA from T_b recordings without the previously used time-consuming and expensive methods. It would be possible to recruit more animals by using the simple methods of data loggers and ear tags. Hunting could be used as a tool to return the ear-tagged individuals allowing the economical extension of follow-up studies. The T_b and CPA methods could be applied to other northern carnivores.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Mustonen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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