Results

Before vs after the move

Elza

Comparison between mean percentage of the total number of observations per spray type and phase for the animal Elza (lion). Before the move, water (blue) and pheromone (purple), and after the move, water (light blue) and pheromone (light purple). Asterisk (***) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.001, asterisk (**) indicates p < 0.01 and asterisk (*) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.05.  The whiskers represent standard errors. 

Inactive behavior significantly decreased when comparing before and after during the water control (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.01). There was no significant decrease for the behavior category stereotypic when comparing before and after the move for the putative pheromone treatment (Mann-Whitney U test: p > 0.05). Explorative and stereotypic behavior significantly increased when comparing before and after during the water control (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.05, p < 0.05).

Explorative behavior significantly increased after the move during the water control (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.001).

Simba

Inactive behavior significantly decrease when comparing before and after during the water control (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.05). There was no significant decrease for the behavior category stereotypic when comparing before and after the move for the putative pheromone treatment (Mann-Whitney U test: p > 0.05). Maintenance, active and vocalizations behavior significantly increased when comparing before and after during the pheromone treatment (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.05).

Maintenance behavior significantly increased before the move during the water control (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.05). Active and vocalization behavior significantly increased after the move during the pheromone treatment (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.01, p < 0.01).

Comparison between mean percentage of the total number of observations per spray type and phase for the animal Simba (lion). Before the move, water (blue) and pheromone (purple), and after the move, water (light blue) and pheromone (light purple). Asterisk (***) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.001, asterisk (**) indicates p < 0.01 and asterisk (*) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.05. The whiskers represent standard errors.

Putative pheromone effect on behaviors

Tsezar

Mean percentage of the total number of observations for Tsezar (tiger) in each behavior category across both observation phases. The blue bar illustrates the water control and the purple bar the pheromone treatment. Asterisk (**) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.01, between spray types. The whiskers represent standard errors.

There was no significant difference between spray types for the behavior category stereotypic (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p > 0.05). Other and maintenance behavior significantly increased during the water control (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.01, p < 0.01).

Manuschka

Inactive and stereotypic behavior significantly increased during the pheromone treatment (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Maintenance and explorative behavior significantly increased during the water control (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.001, p < 0.001).

Mean percentage of the total number of observations for Manuschka (lion) in each behavior category across both observation phases. The blue bar illustrates the water control and the purple bar the pheromone treatment. Asterisk (***) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.001 and asterisk (**) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.01, between spray types. The whiskers represent standard errors.

Elza

Mean percentage of the total number of observations for Elza (lion) in each behavior category across both observation phases. The blue bar illustrates the water control and the purple bar the pheromone treatment. Asterisk (***) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.001 and asterisk (**) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.01, between spray types in the two observation phases. The whiskers represent standard errors.

Inactive behavior significantly increased during the pheromone treatment (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.001). Active, stereotypic, other and explorative behavior significantly increased during the water control (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001).

Simba

Active and vocalizations behavior significantly increased during the pheromone treatment (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Maintenance behavior significantly increased during the water control (Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc test: p < 0.001).

Mean percentage of the total number of observations for Simba (lion) in each behavior category across both observation phases. The blue bar illustrates the water control and the purple bar the pheromone treatment. Asterisk (***) indicates a significant difference of p < 0.001 between spray types in the two observation phases. The whiskers represent standard errors.
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