Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2024
Department
Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science
Abstract
Wild populations of New England cottontails (NECs, Sylvilagus transitionalis) are declining and occupy a small proportion of their historic range. To conserve this species, wild-caught cottontails participate in a reintroduction breeding program. To increase the program’s productivity, this study described breeding behavior in pairings with (n = 3 pairings) and without (n = 9 pairings) reproductive success. Females were paired with two males consecutively and behaviors were recorded using 24 h continuous video footage. Activity peaked between 19:00 and 06:00. Copulation was only observed in successful pairings, and the gestation period was 31 days. Successful pairings had a significantly higher rate of follows (p < 0.001) and a lower rate of dashes (p < 0.0001) compared to unsuccessful pairings. Females had significantly higher rates of charge (p < 0.0005), chase (p < 0.0003), and dash (p < 0.0016) than males. Males had higher rates of follow (p < 0.005) than females. Males and females altered their behavior in the presence of different potential mates, suggesting that mate compatibility may influence breeding program productivity. This study significantly expands the understanding of NEC breeding behavior and is applicable to the management of this imperiled species living at low densities in fragmented landscapes.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Volume
5
Issue
3
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Petit, H., Perrotti, L., & Richard, J. T. (2024). Behavioral Interactions and Mate Compatibility Influence the Reproductive Success of New England Cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) in a Conservation Breeding Program. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 5(3), 507-519. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg5030034
Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg5030034
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.