STUDY OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to characterize sleep patterns and determine factors, including sex, age, season, and environmental pressures, that influence sleep in the endangered black rhinoceros (rhino; Diceros bicornis bicornis). DESIGN: To noninvasively observe sleep behavior of wild rhinos, digital infrared cameras were erected on poles at two bedding sites from September 2009 to March 2010. SETTING: The study site was located in South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) in the Main Camp (Addo) and Nyathi sections. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,417 photos captured rhino sleep behavior on eight individual rhinos during 40 separate sleeping bouts (Addo, n = 15; Nyathi, n = 25). INVENTIONS: N/A. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that age and season did not affect rhino sleep behavior (P > 0.05); however, sex did influence the length of sleep bouts with males (n = 27; mean, 105.6 ± 11.3 min; range, 14.0-202.0 min) sleeping longer (F(1,48) = 6.93, P = 0.01) than females (n = 13; mean, 58.6 ± 10.4 min; range, 11.0-132.0 min). Park section did not influence the length of sleep episodes, but did affect (rw(40) = 0.88; P < 0.025) the time at which rhinos slept (Addo, 20:00-24:00; Nyathi, 20:00-04:00). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to characterize sleep behavior in wild black rhinos. This study resulted in a greater understanding of the biologic factors that affect sleep in wild rhinos and can provide information to assist their management and conservation.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to characterize sleep patterns and determine factors, including sex, age, season, and environmental pressures, that influence sleep in the endangered black rhinoceros (rhino; Diceros bicornis bicornis). DESIGN: To noninvasively observe sleep behavior of wild rhinos, digital infrared cameras were erected on poles at two bedding sites from September 2009 to March 2010. SETTING: The study site was located in South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) in the Main Camp (Addo) and Nyathi sections. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,417 photos captured rhino sleep behavior on eight individual rhinos during 40 separate sleeping bouts (Addo, n = 15; Nyathi, n = 25). INVENTIONS: N/A. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that age and season did not affect rhino sleep behavior (P > 0.05); however, sex did influence the length of sleep bouts with males (n = 27; mean, 105.6 ± 11.3 min; range, 14.0-202.0 min) sleeping longer (F(1,48) = 6.93, P = 0.01) than females (n = 13; mean, 58.6 ± 10.4 min; range, 11.0-132.0 min). Park section did not influence the length of sleep episodes, but did affect (rw(40) = 0.88; P < 0.025) the time at which rhinos slept (Addo, 20:00-24:00; Nyathi, 20:00-04:00). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to characterize sleep behavior in wild black rhinos. This study resulted in a greater understanding of the biologic factors that affect sleep in wild rhinos and can provide information to assist their management and conservation.
Entities:
Keywords:
Black rhinoceros; in situ population; predation risks; sex; sleep characterization
Authors: Niels C Rattenborg; Horacio O de la Iglesia; Bart Kempenaers; John A Lesku; Peter Meerlo; Madeleine F Scriba Journal: Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci Date: 2017-11-19 Impact factor: 6.237
Authors: Elizabeth W Freeman; Jordana M Meyer; Jed Bird; John Adendorff; Bruce A Schulte; Rachel M Santymire Journal: Conserv Physiol Date: 2014-02-03 Impact factor: 3.079