The effect of environmental variables on the activity patterns of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in captivity: onset, duration and cessation of activity
Lindsay A. Hogan A B E , Steve D. Johnston A , Allan T. Lisle A , Alan B. Horsup C , Tina Janssen D and Clive J. C. Phillips B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
C Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, Rockhampton, Qld 4701, Australia.
D Rockhampton Botanical Gardens and Zoo, Rockhampton, Qld 4700, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: lindsay.hogan@uqconnect.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 59(1) 35-41 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO11006
Submitted: 1 February 2011 Accepted: 24 May 2011 Published: 8 July 2011
Abstract
The influence of scotoperiod, ambient temperature and humidity on the activity of captive wombats was examined to differentiate environmental influence from that pertaining to food availability. The activity of 12 wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) housed at Rockhampton Zoo was remotely monitored by digital video-surveillance for one year, with environmental variables simultaneously recorded via dataloggers. Mean proportion of total daily time spent active was 18.2 ± 1.8%. Mean daily time spent active varied seasonally according to changes in temperature and humidity. Mean daily activity was greater during winter (301 ± 17 min) and spring (295 ± 16 min), than summer (234 ± 16 min) and autumn (238 ± 15 min) with differences due to a decrease in the number and length of activity bouts in summer and autumn; presumably these results reflect a need to maintain heat balance associated with exposure to elevated temperatures. Activity was positively correlated with temperature during winter (r = 0.60) and spring (r = 0.52) but negatively correlated during summer (r = –0.58) and autumn (r = –0.49), suggesting the existence of a thermoneutral zone where activity is maximised. We conclude that activity in captive wombats is influenced by environmental variables.
Additional keywords: circadian rhythm, emergence, nocturnalism, thermoregulation.
References
ABM (2009). Rockhampton/Murraylands area home page. Australian Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/Rockhampton [Accessed 10 October 2009]Brown, G. D. (1984). Thermoregulation in the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) in an alpine habitat. In ‘Thermal Physiology’. (Ed. J. R. Hales.) pp. 331–334. (Raven Press: New York.)
Cooper, C. E., and Withers, P. C. (2004). Influence of season and weather on activity patterns of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) in captivity. Australian Journal of Zoology 52, 475–485.
| Influence of season and weather on activity patterns of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) in captivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
D’vander, H., Huisman, E. A., Kanis, E., and Osse, J. W. M. (Eds) (1999). ‘Regulation of Feed Intake.’ (CAB International Publishing: United Kingdom.)
Evans, M. C. (2000). Ecological energetics of wombats. Ph.D. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale.
Evans, M. C. (2008). Home range, burrow-use and activity patterns in common wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Wildlife Research 35, 455–462.
| Home range, burrow-use and activity patterns in common wombats (Vombatus ursinus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Evans, M. C., Green, B., and Newgrain, K. (2003). The field energetics and water fluxes of free-living wombats (Marsupialia: Vombatidae). Oecologia 137, 171–180.
| The field energetics and water fluxes of free-living wombats (Marsupialia: Vombatidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12883985PubMed |
Finlayson, G. R. (2002). Warren-use, home range and activity levels in the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, University of Melbourne.
Finlayson, G. R., Shimmin, G. A., Temple-Smith, P. D., Handasyde, K., and Taggart, D. (2003). Monitoring the activity of a southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons, using temperature dataloggers. Australian Mammalogy 25, 205–208.
Finlayson, G. R., Shimmin, G. A., Temple-Smith, P. D., Handasyde, K. A., and Taggart, D. A. (2005). Burrow use and ranging behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in the Murraylands, South Australia. Journal of the Zoological Society of London 265, 189–200.
| Burrow use and ranging behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in the Murraylands, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Green, R. A., and Bear, G. D. (1990). Seasonal cycles and daily activity patterns of rocky mountain elk. Journal of Wildlife Management 54, 272–279.
| Seasonal cycles and daily activity patterns of rocky mountain elk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hogan, L. A. (2004). The behaviour of captive common wombats (Vombatus ursinus). B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, The University of Queensland, Gatton.
Hogan, L. A., Phillips, C. J. C., Lisle, A., Horsup, A. B., Janssen, T., and Johnston, S. D. (2009). Remote monitoring of the behaviour and activity of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Australian Mammalogy 31, 123–135.
| Remote monitoring of the behaviour and activity of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hogan, L. A., Johnston, S. D., Lisle, A. T., Horsup, A. B., Janssen, T., and Phillips, C. J. C. (2010a). Stereotypies and environmental enrichment in captive southern hairy-nosed wombats, Lasiorhinus latifrons. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 126, 85–95.
| Stereotypies and environmental enrichment in captive southern hairy-nosed wombats, Lasiorhinus latifrons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hogan, L. A., Phillips, C. J. C., Horsup, A. B., Keeley, T., Nicolson, V., Lisle, A., Janssen, T., and Johnston, S. D. (2010b). Monitoring male southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) reproductive function and seasonality in a captive population. Animal Reproduction Science 118, 377–387.
| Monitoring male southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) reproductive function and seasonality in a captive population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3c%2FntFSrsw%3D%3D&md5=b4cfa7d606e021d607710810ecd347a7CAS | 19892498PubMed |
Hogan, L. A., Phillips, C. J. C., Keeley, T., Lisle, A., Horsup, A. B., Janssen, T., and Johnston, S. D. (2010c). Non-invasive methods of oestrus detection in captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Animal Reproduction Science 119, 293–304.
| Non-invasive methods of oestrus detection in captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktVait7o%3D&md5=5084950ec0ef9c69e8c4093ca4cd1292CAS | 20163924PubMed |
Hogan, L. A., Phillips, C. J. C., Lisle, A. T., Horsup, A. B., Janssen, T., and Johnston, S. D. (2010d). Reproductive behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Australian Journal of Zoology 58, 350–361.
| Reproductive behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hudson, R. J., and White, R. G. (Eds) (1985). ‘Bioenergetics of Wild Herbivores.’ (CRC Press Incorporated: Florida.)
Johnson, C. N. (1991). Behaviour and ecology of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Kinlaw, A. (1999). A review of burrowing by semi-fossorial vertebrates in arid environments. Journal of Arid Environments 41, 127–145.
| A review of burrowing by semi-fossorial vertebrates in arid environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGill, J. M. (2003). Burrow architecture and its relationship to activity schedules of the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) (Marsupialia: Vombatidae). B.Sc. (Honours) Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.
McIlroy, J. (1973). Aspects of the ecology of the common wombat, Vombatus ursinus. Ph.D. Thesis, Australia National University, Canberra.
Owen-Smith, N. (1998). How high temperatures affect the daily activity and foraging time of a subtropical ungulate, the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). Journal of the Zoological Society of London 246, 183–192.
| How high temperatures affect the daily activity and foraging time of a subtropical ungulate, the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taggart, D., Shimmin, G., Ratcliff, J. R., Steele, V. R., Dibben, R., Dibben, J., White, A., and Temple-Smith, P. D. (2005). Seasonal changes in the testis, accessory glands and ejaculate characteristics of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Marsupialia: Vombatidae). Journal of the Zoological Society of London 266, 95–104.
| Seasonal changes in the testis, accessory glands and ejaculate characteristics of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Marsupialia: Vombatidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wells, R. T. (1978a). Field observations of the hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Australian Wildlife Research 5, 299–303.
| Field observations of the hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wells, R. T. (1978b). Thermoregulation and activity rhythms in the hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Australian Journal of Zoology 26, 639–651.
| Thermoregulation and activity rhythms in the hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wemelsfelder, F. (1993). The concept of animal boredom and its relationships to stereotyped behaviour. In ‘Stereotypic Animal Behaviour: Fundamentals and Applications to Welfare’. (Eds A. B. Lawrence and J. Rushen.) pp. 65–98. (CAB International Publishing: United Kingdom.)
Woolnough, A. P. (1998). The feeding ecology of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii (Marsupialia: Vombatidae). Ph.D. Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.
