Cardiac and Behavioral Responses of Mountain Sheep to Human Disturbance
MacArthur RA, Geist V, Johnston RH. 1982. Cardiac and Behavioral Responses of Mountain Sheep to Human Disturbance. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 46(2):351-358
Telemetered heart rates (HR) and behavioral responses of mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) reacting to human disturbance in the Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary, southwestern Alberta, were recorded. Cardiac and behavioral responses of sheep (4 ewes, 1 ram) to an approaching human were greatest when the person was accompanied by a dog or approached sheep from over a ridge. Reactions to road traffic were minimal as only 8.8% of vehicle passes elicited HR responses. No reactions to helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft were observed at distances exceeding 400 m from sheep. Responses to disturbance were detected using HR telemetry that were not evident from behavioral cues alone. However, mean duration of the HR response (138.6 sec) was not greater (P > 0.05) than mean period of the behavioral reaction when sheep were alert or withdrawing from harassing stimuli (112.4 sec). Use of HR telemetry in harassment research is discussed.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- MacArthur, Robert; Geist, Valerius; Johnston, Ronald
- Units
- LAKE
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Artiodactyla (Even-Toed Ungulates), Bovidae (Bovids), Human Impact, Mammalia (Mammals), Ovis canadensis (Bighorn Sheep), Physiology, Presence (Biodiversity), Taxa Links To References