T1: Case Study 1 (Penguins and Cheetahs)* done Flashcards

1
Q

What are the characteristics of the Magellanic Penguins when moving

A
  1. migration behavior (newcomers from ohio moved to san francisco)
    — moved from 12/24/02 to 2/14/03
  2. Monogamy
  3. this behavior had never been observed in captive penquins before and those at the san fran zoo did not do it again
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2
Q

What were the negative side effects of moving zoos?

A

they under went a “catastrophic molt”
- some had issues with eating/fasting

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3
Q

Characteristics of penguins

A
  1. captive penguins are truly colonial, no hierarchy, lack of social structure
  2. penguins are flock birds they do things as a group

– social facilitation

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4
Q

What is social facilitation

A

the phenomenon in which a behavior of an animal increases the occurrence of the same behavior among its social partners

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5
Q

What are the characteristics of social facilitation

A

When the performance of a behavior by an animal increases the probability of other animals also engaging in that behavior or increasing the intensity of the behavior

— when the performance of an instinctive pattern of behavior by an individual acts as a releaser for the same behavior in others

– the energizing of dominant behaviors by the presence of others

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6
Q

What is the situation of genetic variability with the cheetah

A

– “rare breed” smithsonian magazine in march 2008 by Guy Gugliotta

– Laurie Marker: world experts on cheetahs

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7
Q

What are the characteristics of cheetahs

A

Acinoynx jubatus
Bullet shaped heads
aerobatic gate, oversized heart

the fastest land animal, 0-70 in 4 secs

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8
Q

What are more physical charactersics of cheetahs

A

Acinonyx from greek = “non moving claws” – limited retractability of the claws

jubatus from latin= refers to the dorsal crest of this animal

  • facial tear streaks
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9
Q

What is unique about king cheetahs

A
  • born with stripes (Acinonyx rex)
    -rare mutation: large blotchy spots with three dark/wide stripes down to the tail

the same gene is responsible for the striped mackerel and classic pattern in tabby cats

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10
Q

What is the gene that changes the color of the stripes in cats

A

Transmembrane Aminiopeptidase Q (Taqpep)
- every blotched tabby had mutations in both copies of this gene, whereas every mackeral cat had at lease one copy without the mutation

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11
Q

In cheetahs Taqpep did not control the skin colors,

A

bc levels of the gene did not changes between dark and light areas; Edn3 was active at the base of the black hairs

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12
Q

Levels of Taqpep increases throughout gestation…

A

Taqpep establishes a pattern of stripes or spots which is then implemented by varying levels of Edn3 as embryo grows

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13
Q

“The Big Four” are… (wrong answers)

A
  • tigers, lions, panthers, jaguares, the purring cats
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14
Q

Taqpep determines…

A

the actual pattern

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15
Q

Edn3 controls what?

A

controls hair color in the cat’s coat pattern

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16
Q

What are the physical characteristics of cheetahs

A
  1. rough coat; advantage because they have not been hunted for pelts
  2. Low fertility
  3. Females define the social order; they are solitary
  4. Weak immune system
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17
Q

Describe the cheetah reproduction system

A
  1. induced ovulators: mating-induced pre-ovulatory LH surges
  2. Females mature at 2 years of age — they leave their natal families
  3. Polyoestrus
  4. Polyandrous: females can mate with several males
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18
Q

Describe cheetah reproduction system part 2

A
  1. gestation is 3 months; altricial species
  2. cubs have a “mohawk-type appearance)
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19
Q

what is low genetic variability in cheetahs

A

a prolonged period of inbreeding, following a genetic bottle neck during the last ice age

20
Q

What is the impact of multiple matings (MM) on genetic variation

A
  1. females cheetahs bear single litters with multiple fathers, but those fathers are rarely near neighbors
  2. we perceive it as “promiscuity” but this is actually an adaptation that allows female cheetahs to increase the odds of survival
21
Q

what are the two other alternative hypotheses to explain why MM is common in cheetahs

A
  1. MM is a strategy to avoid expending extra energy fending off would be suitors
  2. MM evolved as a way to deter infanticide
22
Q

What is significant about cheetahs in captivity? Example?

A

three cubs born at Philadelphia zoo in 1956; all died within three months

23
Q

What are the challenges of cheetahs

A
  • hunted heavily in the last century
    -about 50-75 % of cubs dies within months of births
  • 2,500 of these live in Namibia
  • 1980 researchers at the national zoo, began to study reproductive characteristics
    -examined cheetah DNA
24
Q

Genetic problems: who is David Wildt (NIH)

A

David Wildt (NIH) found shocking low sperm counts
- large proportion (70%) of sperm were malformed

25
Q

Who is Stephen O’ Brien (NIH)?

A

he was sent blood samples and studied domestic cat DNA as a model for human viral cancers
– he found that cheetahs were all essentially the same

cheetahs are virtual clones

26
Q

Why does low genetic variability matter

A
  1. moderate to high variability provides buffering capacity
  2. Low genetic variability causes whole populations to be susceptible to the same pathogens and it is associated to little ability to withstand environmental challenges
27
Q

How did a lot of generically diverse cat populations die?

A

viral peritonitis (FIP)

  • 60% of cheetahs in 1982 wildlife safari died

-same disease in diverse populations would kill 2-5%

28
Q

at wildlife safari with marker in charge…

A

they had the most successful breeding operation

raised more than 100 clubs in 16 years

29
Q

What was the use of Anatolian shepherds

A
  • marker’s strategy in Namibia; help local ranchers protect their livestock from cheetahs to avoid killing of cheetahs
30
Q

What are the conclusions of cheetahs

A

cheetahs science facility in front royal, VA (affiliated with the Smithsonian National Zoo)
- world-wide population at ~10,000 in 26 countries

31
Q

How will we protect these endangered species

A
  1. protecting and studying in the wild
    - artificial insemination, frozen semen
    - females must choose male mates
  2. educating the public
32
Q

How are the African wild dogs similar to the cheetahs

A

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) have much lower variability at MHC (major histocompatibility complex) than other canids

33
Q

Why are wild dogs unique with their females

A

uniquely among social carnivores, the female scatter from the natal pack once sexually mature and the young pups are allowed to feed first on carcasses

34
Q

What are the unique characteristics of wild dogs about mating

A
  1. “inbreeding avoidance” via mate selection
  2. Computer-population simulations: all populations continuing to avoid incestrous mating will become extinct within 100 years due to the unavailability of unrelated mates

they species largely exterminated in africa – the impact of reduced numbers of suitable unrelated mates

35
Q

What are the Genus Panthera “The Big Four”

A

Tigers: Panthera tigris
Lions: Panthera leo
Jaguars: Panther onca
Leopards: Panthera pardus

“roaring cats”

36
Q

What are the names of the other “big cats”

A

Cheetahs: Acinonyx jubatus
Pumas: Puma concolor
Lynx: Lynx canadensis

37
Q

what are the traits of “roaring cats”

A

in roaring cars, the hyoid bone is not completely ossified

  • the purr sounds: from a combination of a completely ossified hyoid and special vocal fold that allow air vibrations while both exhaling and inhaling
38
Q

What are the traits of the tiger

A
  • largest of cat species
  • several subspecies
    -distinctive vertical black stripes that are unique in each individual
39
Q

What are the Ocelli

A

white or light colored, eye- spots on the back of the ears; intraspecies communication

40
Q

What are the traits of the lion

A

second largest of the big four
no coat pattern although males have mane
most sociable live in prides
females do most of hunting

41
Q

What are the traits of the the jaguar

A

Third largest of the big four
- rosettes are larger
- good swimmers

42
Q

What are the traits of the leopard

A

smallest of four cats in the Panthera genus
- rosettes smaller and more closely spaces than jaguars

43
Q

What are the traits of the panther

A
  • this is not a species “panther” is used for leopards or jaguars that are almost black in color
  • melanistic leopards and melanistic jaguars form a mutations
    -over production of pigment that turns the coat black
44
Q

What are the traits of puma

A

cubs are born with spots
dark facial markings

45
Q

What are the traits of the lynx

A
  • reference to the luminescence of its reflective eye
    -padded paws for walking on snow; natural snowshoes
    -ear tufts aid in hearing