Physiological Stress and Refuge Behavior by African Elephants

摘要: Physiological stress responses allow individuals to adapt changes in their status or surroundings, but chronic exposure stressors could have detrimental effects. Increased hormone secretion leads short-term escape behavior; however, no studies assessed the potential of longer-term behavior, when are a physiological state. Such refuge behavior is likely take two forms, where an individual population restricts its space use patterns spatially (spatial hypothesis), alters temporally (temporal hypothesis). We tested spatial and temporal hypotheses by comparing among three African elephant populations maintaining different fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations. In support hypothesis, that maintained elevated FGM concentrations (iSimangaliso) used 20% less reserve than did with lower (Pilanesberg) similar size, 43% elephants smaller Phinda reserve. found mixed for hypothesis; home range sizes iSimangaliso not differ day compared nighttime, areas within ranges differently between night. Elephants all reserves generally selected forest woodland habitats over grasslands, exotic plantations native habitat types. Our findings suggest associated restricted altered preferences resemble facultative behavioral response. can maintain levels ≥6 years following translocation, during which they exhibit result human disturbance conditions. Wildlife managers planning translocate animals, initiate other management activities responses, should consider for, consequences of, behavior.