Characteristic activity patterns of female mouflons (Ovis orientalis musimon) in the lambing period

Abstract We analysed the activity pattern of wild mouflon sheep (Ovis orientalis musimon) in the lambing season for 2 consecutive years. The activity data was recorded automatically by the storage-telemetry-system, ETHOSYS. The animals were equipped with electronic collars of about 300 g, which continuously sampled behaviour in time intervals of 30 min over 50 days. Lambing was accompanied by decreased daily activity budgets of 3–5 consecutive days. The sequence of daily activity budgets around parturition were compared with other periods of lower activity using discriminant analysis. Birth patterns were found to differ significantly in width, depth and shape from normal fluctuations in daily activity. Calculating the discriminant function from the 1995 data, we accurately predicted the 1996 minima in activity caused by lambing. The jackknife method, providing an even more precise misclassification rate, was 93% accurate. Changes in activity patterns and space utilization in the period peri partum in the wild are discussed in contrast to what happens for animals at pasture or in enclosures.

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