Hormonal and behavioral relationships during estrus in the giant panda

摘要: Nonlactating female giant pandas experience a single estrus during the spring mating season. Although both hormonal and behavioral aspects of have been reported on captive females, little is known about relationship between them. Data were collected three successive seasons, revealing high degree regularity in estrogen profiles temporal pattern associated behaviors. The birth live cub last using artificial insemination, confirmed time ovulation as occurring shortly after peak urinary values. In this study, we examined occurrence scent marking, rear presentations, chirp bleat vocalizations, tail-up display, plotted their relative to underlying We conclude that role expression these behaviors neither simple nor directly causal. Temporal associations indicate triggering rather than maintenance function for implicated. This analysis provides clear identification estrous behaviors, but form most likely vary females seasons. Zoo Biol 20:537–543, 2001. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.