title: Behavioral predictors of copulation in captive Key Largo woodrats (Neotoma floridana smalli).
abstract: The development of a captive breeding program for the endangered Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli) presents special challenges due to aggressive behavior toward conspecifics, a low reproductive rate, and limited information on estrous cycles. In an effort to identify behavioral predictors of copulation, we observed 17 Key Largo woodrats prior to and during 267 male-female pairing events, 76 of which resulted in copulation. Predictors of copulation include male-female interactions at the door of the tube connecting their enclosures, raspy vocalizations, pre-mounting lordosis, and chasing. A binary logistic regression model based on pre-pairing behaviors correctly predicted the outcome of 78.7% of observed pairing events, and a similar model based on intra-pairing behaviors correctly predicted the outcome of 86.1% of observed pairing events. Behavior-based models may be useful in the management of captive breeding programs for this and other endangered species.
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animal Programs Administration, Education and Science Department, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA. Christina.Alligood@disney.com
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Alligood
authors.forename: Catharine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wheaton
authors.forename: Andre J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Daneault
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D005260:Female; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal