Study On The Breeding Behavior Of Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus Hemionus Hemionus)

For the purpose of researching the breeding behavior regularity, understanding the reproduction state and reproductive biology characteristics of the Asiatic wild ass, the main breeding behaviors were observed. At the some time, the estrus and mating, parturition and sexual behavior were defined. It's the first time that the parturition behavior spectrum and mating index of male wild ass were obtained. In this research, some valuable and basic information were provided for understanding the reproductive status of the wild ass, and basic data also was provided for the formulating to the protection measures, It's important to the population expansion and protection of the Asiatic wild ass.The method of focal-sampling and the method of scan-sampling and focal-sampling were combined to record and observe the main breeding behaviors of two small populations (one male with three females and two males with three females) of wild ass living in Inner Mongolia Chaganhada Su'mu, Da'erhan Maoming'an Lianheqi Tenggenaoer District (Baotou city) and National Nature Reserve for Urad Haloxylon Forest-Asiatic Wild Ass (Bayannur city). The consequence of the observation and analysis were as follows:1.The estrus and mating behavior, parturition process and postpartum behavioral expression were observed and recorded. According to the functional characteristics, the breeding behavior of the wild ass (35 independent behavior units) were divided into four types, such as combating behavior, sexual behavior, parturition behavior, interacting behavior of mother-young. At last, the reproductive behavior spectrum of the wild ass were established.2. By observing the mating behavior of the male Asiatic wild ass, part mating index of the male wild ass were obtained. The results showed that every male mounted 4.2 ± 1.7 (n=14) times and ejaculated 3.7 ± 1.3 (n = 13) each day averagely. The average sexual solicitation duration (begin from flirting to mounting or one goes away) was 26.6 ± 22.0 s (n= 13), the twitching duration was 10.6 ± 1.9 s (n= 14), and the penis implantation duration was 18.3 ± 8.8 s (n= 13). The mounting interval was 685.7 ± 569.6 s (n= 14), and the ejaculate interval was 924.0 ± 790.0 s (n= 10)3. There was no copulatory lock during mating, and the male usually ejaculated following a single intromission after several thrusts. The percentage of ejaculations happening again within an hour was about 85.7%. The wild ass had a copulatory pattern with no lock, thrusting, multiple intromission, and single ejaculation, which belonged to copulatory pattern No.11 in Dewsbury's copulatory-patterned system. The wild ass was no longer plugged after the ejaculation, it also belonged to copulatory pattern No.12 in Dixon's copulatory-patterned system.4.The time budget of wild ass during the daytime for the reproduction period was that:Feeding (47.37%), Resting (22.01%), Standing and gazing (14.61%), Moving (10.89%), Sexual behavior (2.62%), Others (2.50%). The male was that Feeding (40.75%), Standing and gazing (23.16%), Resting (15.67%), Moving (15.01%), Sexual behavior (3.44%), Others (1.97%); the female was that Feeding (53.99%), Resting (28.35%), Moving (6.78%), Standing and gazing (6.06%), Others (3.02%), Sexual behavior (1.80%).5. The diurnal activity rhythm of wild ass during the daytime for the reproduction period was that:two feeding peaks of the female wild ass appeared in the morning and gloaming (one at 6:00-7:00 and another at 18:00?19:00), The feeding valley at 13:00?14:00. The resting peaks at 13:00?14:00, and the two sexual behavior peaks at 7:00-8:00 and 18:00?19:00. Sexual behavior only appeared in the morning and gloaming, it was similar to the male ass. The three feeding peaks of the male wild ass at 5:00-6:00,17:00?18:00 and 19:00?20:00, The feeding valley at 13:00?14:00, and the two resting peaks of the male wild ass at 13:00?14:00 and 15:00?16:00. The three standing and gazing peaks of the male wild ass at 7:00-8:00,16:00-17:00 and 18:00?19:00 (each of standing and gazing percentages> 30%), and the valley at 13:00?14:00.