Research On Behavior And Fecal Steroid In Cage Cultured Brown Eared Pheasants (Crossoptilon Mantchuricum) During Breeding Season

From March to May,2012 and February to April,2013 we have a study on cage cultured brown eared pheasants (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) in an artificial cage of Pangquangou National Reserve. We observed the behavior in breeding season, recorded the fighting behavior, confirm the rank order of cage cultured brown eared pheasants, and analyzed the influence factors of nest-site selection to artificial nest. We also collected their feces samples to extract and measure the steroid hormones (testosterone and progesterone) in the feces samples. The purpose is, by discussing the variation of steroid hormones in feces of brown eared pheasants in breeding season and the relationship with the behavior, to monitor the status of reproduction and to give some suggestion to the artificial breeding and protection of this species.The main results are as follows:7 behaviors of brown eared pheasants were recorded, including feeding, walking, resting, preening, sand-bathing, alerting and breeding. Two kinds of mating fashions were found among the males who had fixed or unfixed mates. The frequence of behaviors had no significant difference (P>0.05) between two kinds of males. Males with different territorial behaviors had an singnificant difference (P<0.05) in resting and alerting. The cage cultured brown eared pheasants preferred to nest and lay eggs in an artificial nest with fine shield and dry ground. Pheasants in different ranks also showed obvious individual differences in night perch behavior.The testosterone levels of the paired males were significantly higher than the unpaired individuals in breeding season (P<0.01), and the testosterone levels of the paired males began to rise earlier than the unpaired individuals. The progesterone levels of the paired females were significantly higher than that of unpaired individuals (P<0.01). The testosterone levels of sub-adults were significantly lower than adult males (P<0.01), but the variation of testosterone levels was similar to adult paired males. The testosterone levels of the males in 2013 were significantly lower than the results of males in 2012 (P<0.01), the concrete reasons need more research.The feeding behavior was negative correlated with the concentration of testosterone (P<0.05), the alert behavior and courtship behavior of males was positive correlated with the concentration of testosterone (P<0.05). The walking behavior was negative correlated with the standard deviation of the testosterone (P<0.05), but the alert behavior was positive correlated with the standard deviation of the testosterone (P<0.05). The rank of males was significantly positive correlated with theconcentration of testosterone (P<0.01).