Body movement as an indicator of proceptive behavior in nurse sharks ( Ginglymostoma cirratum )
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Body movement as an indicator of proceptive behavior in nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) Helen Colbachini & Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto & Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto & Rafael Caprioli Gutierrez & Otto Bismarck Fazzano Gadig
Received: 19 June 2020 / Accepted: 9 August 2020 # Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Nurse sharks are vulnerable of extinction in Brazil. Although its reproductive behavioral repertoire is already known, including indications that females are not passive to the attempts of males, no indication of proceptive behavior of females of this species is known. Considering that proceptive behavior is what initiates or increases the probability of a male exhibiting sexual behaviors directed at a female, the present study carried out behavioral observations in two groups of nurse sharks in reproductive period to identify possible proceptive behaviors. The present work identified a new behavior, here referred to as Body Movement (BM), as an indicator of proceptivity. This behavior corresponded on average to 47.68% of the reproductive behaviors performed by the females and its occurrence was positively correlated (r = 0.5143341 / p = 0.04152 Spearman) with the occurrence of socio-reproductive behaviors of males. Being able to identify signs of proceptivity in animals is important to understand the H. Colbachini : O. B. F. Gadig Elasmobranch Research Lab, São Paulo State University, Bioscience Institute, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, São Vicente, SP 11330-900, Brazil H. Colbachini (*) : R. C. Gutierrez Aquário de São Paulo, R. Huet Bacelar, 407SPSão Paulo 04275-000, Brazil e-mail: [email protected] C. S. Pizzutto : P. N. Jorge-Neto Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Husbandry, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87SPSão Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
reproductive context in which a group is found and to allow greater attention to animals that are able to reproduce, in order to create more efficient reproductive management programs to develop long-term sustainable population management. Keywords Copulatory behavior . Body movement . Courtship behavior . Reproductive behavior
Introduction Habitat change, overexploitation, invasive species and climate change are some of the main threats that many natural populations face. These threats decrease the species’ potential for persistence, making them more susceptible to stochastic events that can lead to extinction. In this context, it is essential to have management plans focused on conservation and ex-situ management appears as a strong ally in preventing the extinction of endangered species (Conway 2011; IUCN/SSC 2014). Among ex-situ extinction prevention strategies, conservation breeding programs are highlighted. However, it is important to emphasize the fact that these programs are challenging and should not be considered as emergency treatments of last resort, being a tool that must be implemented before species reach an irreversible threat level (Conde et al. 2011). Many species of elasmobranchs
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