Study on factors that increase or decrease the vigilance behavior of wild animals: the effect of species differences and visual stimuli

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06353
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 41050:Environmental agriculture-related
• Research Institution: Azabu University
• Principal Investigator: Kase Chihiro 麻布大学, 獣医学部, 講師 (60738772)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 新奇物反応 / 警戒行動 / 野生動物管理 / 行動の種差

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Focusing on visual stimuli as a factor that increases or decreases vigilance behavior of wild mammals, we quantified species and individual differences in vigilance behavior toward a novel object. Comparison of the initial alert behavior of Japanese deer, wild boar, raccoon dogs, badgers, masked palm civets, and raccoons revealed differences in behavior patterns among species and among individuals within the same species. Regarding the effect of the presence or absence of movement of a novel object on the initial warning behavior and habituation, it was suggested that badgers showed lower warning response and faster habituation compared to wild boars. The effects of movement on vigilance behavior in both species were slight, and the mere addition of movement did not appear to be sufficient to control the behavior of wild animals.

Free Research Field

応用動物行動学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでに新奇物を用いた警戒行動の調査は様々な動物種で実施されてきたが、同じ手法を用いて複数の動物種間で比較を行った例は少ない。今回の研究により、これまでに多くのフィールドワーカーが感覚的に感じていた動物種による警戒反応の違いを定量化することができた。また、同種においてもその反応には個体差があるが、今回は十分なデータとは言えないが個体差の幅もある程度把握できた。これにより、動物種差・個体差を踏まえた野生動物の「個体管理」を行う上での基礎的知見の一部を得ることができた。