Behavioral ecology of large animals in the dry zone in Sri Lanka : From molecular ecology to conservation.

本研究旨在调查生活在斯里兰卡东南部干旱地区的亚洲象和印度孔雀的行为生态学。对于亚洲象，我们关注的是人与象冲突(HEC)的机制。对于印度孔雀，我们的目标是弄清它们在自然种群中的交配系统。在研究期间，我们总共进行了10次实地考察：2003年，T长谷川和坎波斯在8月，Takatsuki在9月，T&M Hasegawa在12月到1月；2004年，Takatsuki在3月，Takatsuki和Campos在5-6月，Campos在7-8月，Ransirini在10月，T Hasegawa，Saito，Suetsugu(10-11月)，T Hasegawa在12月；Campos从12到1月。在HEC研究中，我们在大象经常袭击农田的五个村庄分配了当地的田间助理，获得了主要结果。每月积累大象对大象生态破坏、人类反应等方面的数据。我们还为2005年4月在研究区活动的一头大公象安装了GPS发射器。尽管准备了很长时间，但我们仍能收到数据，原因不明。来自粪便样本的DNA分析也在日本的野外和动物园进行了试验。虽然我们成功地在亚洲象中发现了一些单倍型，但在野外收集单独鉴定的粪便样本仍然很困难。在对孔雀的研究中，因为孔雀太害羞而不能被观察，所以需要一些时间才能找到合适的观察地点。最后，我们可以找到一个很好的位置，在那里我们可以在池塘上方观察它们的自然行为。与日本人口相比，斯里兰卡自然人口中男性的求偶区域分布更广。男性发声率也被测量和分析。

This research aims to investigate behavioral ecology of the Asian elephant and the Indian peafowl living in the dry-zone in South-East Sri Lanka. For the Asian elephant, we focused on the mechanism of human-elephant conflict (HEC). For the Indian peafowl, we aim to clarify their mating system in the natural populations. During the study periods, we conducted our field work 10 times in total : in 2003, T Hasegawa & Campos in August, Takatsuki in September, T & M Hasegawa from December to January ; in 2004, Takatsuki in March, Takatsuki and Campos from May to June, Campos from July to August, Ransirini in October, T Hasegawa, Saito, Suetsugu from October to November, T Hasegawa in December ; Campos from December to January. The main results are obtained about HEC research in which we allocate local field assistants in five villages where elephant frequently raid crop fields. Data were accumulated monthly about elephant ecology damage caused by the elephants, human responses and so on. We also attached a GPS transmitter for one big male elephant that were ranging in research area in April 2005. In spite of long preparation, we could receive data by unknown reasons. DNA analyses from fecal samples were also tried both in field and in zoos in Japan. Although we successfully found some haplotypes among Asian elephants, it is still difficult to collect individually-identified dung samples in the field. On peafowl research, it took some time to find suitable site to observe because peafowl are too shy to be observed. Finally, we could find good location where we can observe their natural behavior over the pond. Compared with Japanese population, males' courtship territories disperse more widely in the natural population in Sri Lanka. Rate of male vocalization is also measured and analized.