F:\ALCES\Supp2\PAGEMA~1\Rus6s.PDF ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 BOGOMOLOVA AND KUROCHKIN - PARTURITION ACTIVITY 27 PARTURITION ACTIVITY OF MOOSE Ekaterina M. Bogomolova and Yuriy A. Kurochkin Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Russian Academy of Medical Science, Moscow, Russia ABSTRACT: Behavior of female moose (Alces alces) during parturition was studied in 1977–1990 on the Kostroma experimental moose farm. We found that moose parturition behavior is organized on the systems principle and aimed at the calf’s survival. The corresponding system is formed only at the time of parturition on the basis of inherent elements of behavior. We report the results of our investigation of cardiac and respiratory dynamics (as indicators of emotional states) during parturition. ALCES SUPPLEMENT 2: 27-31 (2002) Key words: behavior, heart rate, moose, parturition, telemetry The concept of systemogenesis sug- gested by Anokhin (1948) reveals aspects in an organism’s prenatal development that specifically prepare it for the postnatal en- counter with species-specific factors of the environment. As a result of this series of events, the bases of functional systems of newborn behavior are formed that must help the newborn adequately fit into its new environment (Bogomolova and Kurochkin 1984, 1985, 1987). Our data revealed that the adaptive abilities of the newborn are necessary, but obviously insufficient, for its survival and normal development after birth. Even such precocial newborns as moose calves need their mother’s specific care during the first period of their lives. This species-specific maternal care, along with the newborn’s innate adaptive behavior, is designed strictly to prepare the calf for the critical timing of its main biological tasks. There have been few studies of the parturition behavior of moose (Altmann 1963, Stringham 1974, Cederlund 1987). We de- signed the present study to investigate etho- logical and physiological aspects of moose activity, especially those aspects that en- hance the normal species-specific develop- ment of newborn calves. We used the systems approach before, during, and just after labor. METHODS This study was conducted in 1977–1990 on the Kostroma experimental moose farm in natural or near-natural environments. The behavior and heart rate (HR) characteris- tics of moose cows before, during, and after labor were studied, as well as those of their fetuses and newborn calves. Emotional reactions of animals were characterized on the basis of HR and respiratory dynamics in biologically important situations. The study animals were 30 female moose, which had many births during the investigation period, and 225 newborn calves. Behavior before, during, and several hours after parturition was investigated in large (0.5–2 ha) enclo- sures with natural vegetation or directly in the forest. We observed the entire parturi- tion and postpartum interaction of mother and newborn in 62 situations. In 32 other cases, the observation of mother-newborn interaction began shortly after labor. Radiotracking systems “Los-2” and bioradiotelemetric systems “Los-3” (de- PARTURITION ACTIVITY - BOGOMOLOVA AND KUROCHKIN ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 28 signed by F. M.Minaev) were used, as well as night-vision apparatus and radio commu- nication between observers by means of portable radiostations (“Lastochka-M”). Animal responses were captured using still photography, film, and videorecording, and moose vocalizations were recorded on mag- netic audiotape for subsequent sonographic analysis. To estimate heart rate dynamics, HR diagrams were made either by averag- ing the 3–5 RR-intervals or by calculating without averaging. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrated the seasonal character of moose parturition. In the Kostroma region, moose generally give birth in May; 70% of calves are born during the first half of May (Bogomolova and Kurochkin 1984). This is a cornerstone of the entire systemic organization of moose cow paren- tal behavior. In early May the growth of green plants begins, which are the main food for moose calves and their mothers. Thus, the offspring gain access to forage as early as possible and have the opportunity to procure the optimal mass to survive during winter. Moose in the last period of pregnancy revealed the same specific alterations in their behavior and physiological state de- scribed in other ungulates: swelling of the udder, appearance of colostrum, and refus- ing preferred food. Additionally, we found an increase in the locomotor activity of cow moose 2–3 days before labor. Having the opportunity to observe the behavior of radio-tagged animals, we found 2 typical features of moose prepartum behavior. First, moose seem to remember the location of previous births and every year, before their next labor, they returned to the same area of the forest. We found 4 subsequent birthing locations of radio-tagged moose that were less than 200 m from each other (the whole area of the cow’s home range is about 60 km2). Second, 1–3 days before labor, cows became aggressive to yearlings and drove them away. At the same time, however, cows not pregnant continued to stay with their yearlings for several more months. These behaviors, well-timed to the moment of labor, increase the probability of newborn calf survival, therefore, they are useful for the species. Breathing rate (BR) of moose in the late period of pregnancy fluctuated between 15 and 60 respirations per minute; often there were breathing delays for 10–25 seconds. Generally the HR of cows in normal cir- cumstances was relatively regular. There were short bursts (5–30 sec) of rapid HR, increasing up to 100–105 beats per minute (bpm) during strong muscular efforts and in response to significant external signals. The HR and BR indices of pregnant cows in a quiet state were much more variable than moose that were not pregnant. Fetal HR in the last month before par- turition was about 2 times higher and more variable than the mother’s HR. Short-term (2–5 sec), sudden increases of fetal HR up to 190 bpm were observed episodically. They do not correlate with the mother’s and other fetus’ HR alterations. Fetal ECG revealed long-term (up to 30–40 min) peri- ods of rather stable basic HR; for example, 100–120 or 120–130 bpm. Relative inde- pendence of mother and fetus HR was found by comparisons in different situa- tions. Such autonomy of fetal heart activity may provide the optimal conditions for its development. One peculiarity of moose prepartum behavior, important for successful calf sur- vival, is the tendency to find the most soli- tary place for labor. Only 2 of 140 labors that we observed happened in the presence of other cow moose. Such behavior of a solitary forest animal is obviously purpose- ful from the biological point of view, espe- cially because the other cows may be ag- ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 BOGOMOLOVA AND KUROCHKIN - PARTURITION ACTIVITY 31 showed excitation, displayed threatening facial expressions, and sometimes kicked their calves with the front legs. Each calf’s survival is guaranteed not only by its mother’s behavior, but also by the set of its own inherent reactions (oral automatism, following response, etc.). REFERENCES ALTMANN, M. 1963. Naturalistic studies of maternal care in moose and elk. Pages 233-255 in H.L. Rheingold, editor. Maternal behavior in mammals. John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York, USA. ANOKHIN, P. R. 1948. System organization for the general conformity of evolution- ary processes. Bulletin of Experimen- tal Biology and Medicine 26:81–90. (In Russian). BOGOMOLOVA, E. M., and Y. A. KUROCHKIN. 1984. Parturition in a moose-cow. Behavior of a moose-cow and a new- born calf. Zoological Journal 63:1713– 1724. (In Russian). , and . 1985. System or- ganization of behavioral acts of animals in natural existence conditions. Bulletin of the Academy of Medical Science 2:79–85. (In Russian). , and . 1987. System or- ganization of behavioral acts. Pages 353–369 in Functional systems of or- ganisms. Medicina, Moscow, Russia. (In Russian). CEDERLUND, B. M. 1987. Parturition and early development of moose (Alces alces L.) calves. Swedish Wildlife Re- search Supplement1:399–422. STRINGHAM, S. F. 1974. Mother-infant relations in moose. Naturaliste Canadien 101:325–369.