Knowledge about a species’ reproductive parameters such as breeding behaviours is a vital building block for essential conservation actions, especially for endangered species. Despite this, there is a considerable knowledge gap about the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) maternal behaviours, as well as the timing of den independence for the cubs. It has been assumed that female snow leopards change their behaviours post-denning and that the cubs leave their den together with their mothers around two to three months of age. However, until this day no quantitative data has been used to analyse female behaviours post-denning and when the cubs leave their den. I analysed pre- and post-denning activity for seven GPS-collared snow leopard females in Tost Mountains of southern Mongolia during the years 2010 to 2019. With linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models, I found that female snow leopards with small cubs changed their behavioural patterns and space use by decreasing their monthly home range size, compared to females with older or no cubs. When the cubs became six months old, there were no detectable differences in these behaviours which suggests that the cubs started to travel continuously with their mother at the age of 5-6 months. The rate at which the collars successfully acquired positions decreased considerably during the early phase of denning when the female spent considerable time at the den sites where the collars could not communicate with the satellites. The age of the cubs when the female left the den ranged from 21-61 days (mean =44 days), suggesting that snow leopard females use their dens for 1.5 ± 0.5 months. This study provides the first estimate of the extent of den use by snow leopards, as well as the first estimates of post-denning behavioural patterns for snow leopard females and their cubs.

Submitted by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2014-07-02T19:17:01Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_ParametrosEletrocardiograficosFelideos.pdf: 1978816 bytes, checksum: c75f12605857fede385cf4c299cea0a7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2014-07-21T20:18:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_ParametrosEletrocardiograficosFelideos.pdf: 1978816 bytes, checksum: c75f12605857fede385cf4c299cea0a7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-21T20:18:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_ParametrosEletrocardiograficosFelideos.pdf: 1978816 bytes, checksum: c75f12605857fede385cf4c299cea0a7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Pretendeu-se estabelecer os parâmetros eletrocardiográficos (ECG) para felinos selvagens da Amazônia - Panthera onca (onça pintada), Leopardus pardalis (jaguatirica), Leopardus wiedii (gato-maracajá) e Herpailurus yaguarondi (gato-mourisco). Dentre estes felinos, 17 animais pertenciam ao Parque Zoobotânico Dr. Adhemar Monteiro (Capitão Poço/PA) e 2 animais ao 2° Batalhão de Infantaria de Selva (Belém/PA). Embora, o exame eletrocardiográfico não cause dor aos animas, é necessária a realização de contenção química, visto que os animais são perigosos e estressados. Dessa forma, instaurou-se um protocolo de contenção química, visando evitar fugas, estresse excessivo e proteger a integridade física dos animais e do examinador/auxiliares. Antes de serem sedados os animais passaram por jejum alimentar de 24 horas e hídrico de 12 horas. Posteriormente, foram contidos quimicamente, através do uso associativo entre os anestésicos cloridrato de ketamina (10mg/Kg) e cloridrato de xilazina (1mg/Kg), utilizando dardos com auxílio de uma zarabatana ou aplicação intra-muscular após contenção física com puçá. Na realização do eletrocardiograma utilizou-se o mesmo protocolo usado para os animais domésticos. A média de batimentos cardíacos foram os seguintes: 90 bpm para jaguatiricas, 106 bpm gato-maracajá, 166 bpm gato-mourisco e 91 bpm onças pintadas. A maioria das espécies apresentaram ritmo sinusal normal. O eixo elétrico médio variou de 90° a 120°. Os complexos QRS foram predominantemente positivos em DI, DII, DIII e AVF, e negativos em AVR e AVL. As derivações pré-cordiais apresentaram resultados semelhantes aos esperados para o gato doméstico. Os parâmetros observados durantes este estudo, correlacionados com os animais domésticos, apresentaram algumas diferenças, que se devem em função das diferenças fisiológicas associadas ao maior tamanho corporal dos felinos selvagens. Este é um estudo pioneiro visando solucionar problemas com relação ao ECG de felinos selvagens da Amazônia. Portanto, investigações mais amplas sobre o mesmo tema são necessárias para estabelecer critérios a respeito de anormalidades nessas espécies, devendo incluir outras drogas anestésicas e relatórios para combinações de características eletrocardiográficas de animais com doença cardíaca e com distúrbios eletrolíticos. / Intended to establish the parameters for electrocardiographic wild cats of the Amazon - Panthera onca (jaguar), Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), Leopardus wiedii (margay) e Herpailurus yaguarondi (jaguarundi). Among these cats, 17 animals belonged to the Park Zoo Dr. Adhemar Monteiro (Capitão Poço/PA) and 2 animals to the 2° Batalhão de Infantaria de Selva (Belém/PA). Although the electrocardiographic examination does not cause pain to animals, it is necessary to carry out chemical containment, since the animals are dangerous and stressful. Thus, a protocol was put in place to contain chemicals, to prevent leakage, excessive stress and protect the physical integrity of the animal and the investigator / assistant. Before being sedated, the animals underwent abstinence from food for 24 hours and water for 12 hours. They were anesthetized with ketamine (10 mg/kg) combined with xylazine (1 mg/kg) using darts with the aid of a blowpipe or through syringes and needles. In the implementation of the electrocardiogram using the same protocol used for domestic animals. The mean heart rate were the following: 90 bpm for ocelots, 106 bpm margay, 166 bpm jaguarundi, and 91 bpm jaguar. The most common rhythm detected was normal sinus rhythm. QRS complexes were predominantly positive in leads DI, DII, DIII, and AVF, and negative in AVR and AVL. The parameters observed during this study, described for domestic carnivores were analyzed, and they did not greatly differ from those of larges felids, taking into account the greater weight and corporal mass of large felids. This is a pioneering study in order to solve problems related to the ECG of wild cats of the Amazon. Wider investigations on the same subject are necessary to establish criteria for the recognition of abnormalities in these species and should be include other anesthetic drug(s) combinations and reports of electrocardiographic features of animals with cardiac disease and electrolytes disturbances.