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Behavioural repertoire of the bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus): agonistic interactions, mating behaviour and parent–offspring relations

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Abstract

A free-ranging bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) population was observed over a period of 3 years, thereby enabling a detailed description of the behavioural repertoire of this widespread but barely investigated solitary African antelope species. Agonistic and submissive behaviour patterns are described, among them several hitherto un-described behaviour patterns—such as “escorting”, where territorial males guide intruders to the periphery of their territory—and “push-up position”, an extreme form of submissive behaviour. Furthermore, we report on behaviour patterns of males and females during mating as well as on behaviour patterns of parents directed towards their offspring. Again, we describe a hitherto unknown behaviour: the protection of calves by adult males, which may be a socio-positive behaviour directed towards their offspring led by kin selection.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Research Division of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology for the permission to conduct this research in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This study was carried out in affiliation with the Uganda Institute of Ecology, Mweya, Uganda, and was generously supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). All work conducted was in compliance with Ugandan law. We are greatly indebted to Jonathan Baranga, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda; Hans Klingel, University of Braunschweig, Germany; and Harald Schliemann, University of Hamburg, Germany, for their continuous support for our project. Ludwig Siefert, Makerere University, Uganda, kindly assisted in the field and provided technical support for the project. The collection of a number of data was done with the help of Solomon Kyabulima, for which we owe him our gratitude. Lots of thanks to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Opwonya, especially Joyce Atim, for her dedication to our laboratory as well as for their friendship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    Torsten Wronski & Ralf Wanker

  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science with Education, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, 1410, Mbarara, Uganda

    Ann Apio

  3. Abteilung für Evolutionsbiologie/Spezielle Zoologie, Institut für Biochemie/Biologie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany

    Martin Plath

  4. Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Martin Plath

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  1. Torsten Wronski
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Correspondence to Torsten Wronski.

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Wronski, T., Apio, A., Wanker, R. et al. Behavioural repertoire of the bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus): agonistic interactions, mating behaviour and parent–offspring relations. J Ethol 24, 247–260 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0186-y

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