Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Pengamatan perilaku reproduksi pada rusa sambar (rusa unicolor) betina dan hubungannya dengan kadar progesteron abstrak rusa sambar (rusa unicolor) merupakan salah satu satwa liar yang berstatus rentan (vulnerable) sehingga keberhasilan program konservasi dan penangkaran sangat bergantung pada pemahaman fisiologi reproduksinya. penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis hubungan antara perilaku reproduksi dan konsentrasi metabolit progesteron. penelitian dilakukan pada tiga individu rusa sambar betina dewasa di taman rusa lamtanjong, aceh besar, selama februari-april 2026. pengamatan perilaku dilakukan menggunakan metode focal animal sampling dan continuous sampling, sedangkan konsentrasi metabolit progesteron feses diukur menggunakan metode enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). intensitas perilaku estrus dihitung melalui reproductive behaviour score (rbs) yang merupakan penjumlahan perilaku acceptance of anogenital sniffing (rs2), proceptive behaviour (rs3), standing heat (rs4), tail lifting (rs6), mounting accepted (rs7), proximity maintenance (rs8), dan urination with presentation (rs10). hubungan antara konsentrasi metabolit progesteron dan rbs dianalisis menggunakan korelasi spearman dengan pendekatan time-lag, yaitu memasangkan konsentrasi progesteron pada waktu pengambilan sampel dengan rbs pada pengamatan berikutnya (interval ≤4 hari). hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perilaku reproduksi dan profil metabolit progesteron bervariasi antar individu. individu a1 dan a3 memperlihatkan fluktuasi progesteron yang tinggi, sedangkan a2 menunjukkan pola hormonal yang lebih stabil. analisis korelasi menunjukkan hubungan positif sedang tetapi tidak signifikan pada a1 (ρ = 0,547; p = 0,127), hubungan negatif sangat lemah dan tidak signifikan pada a2 (ρ = -0,100; p = 0,873), serta hubungan negatif kuat dan signifikan pada a3 (ρ = -0,756; p = 0,011). analisis gabungan seluruh individu menunjukkan kecenderungan hubungan negatif antara konsentrasi metabolit progesteron dan rbs (ρ = -0,395; p = 0,056). dapat disimpulkan bahwa hubungan antara metabolit progesteron dan perilaku reproduksi bersifat individual. penurunan konsentrasi metabolit progesteron cenderung diikuti oleh peningkatan perilaku reproduksi pada sebagian individu, namun metabolit progesteron belum dapat digunakan sebagai satu-satunya indikator untuk memprediksi perilaku reproduksi pada rusa sambar betina. kata kunci: elisa, estrus behaviour score, metabolit progesteron feses, perilaku estrus, rusa unicolor

OBSERVATION OF REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN FEMALE SAMBAR DEER (Rusa unicolor) AND ITS CORRELATION WITH PROGESTERONE LEVELS ABSTRACT The sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) is classified as a vulnerable species, necessitating a thorough understanding of its reproductive physiology for effective conservation and captive breeding. This study examined the relationship between reproductive behavior and fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations in female sambar deer. Three adult females at Lamtanjong Deer Park, Aceh Besar, Indonesia, were observed from February to April 2026 using focal animal and continuous sampling methods, while fecal progesterone metabolites were quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Estrous behavior intensity was assessed using the Reproductive Behaviour Score (RBS), calculated as the sum of frequencies of anogenital sniffing acceptance (RS2), proceptive behavior (RS3), standing heat (RS4), tail lifting (RS6), accepted mounting (RS7), proximity maintenance (RS8), and urination with presentation (RS10). Spearman's rank correlation with a time-lag approach (≤4-day interval) was applied to evaluate the relationship between progesterone metabolite concentrations and RBS. Results revealed considerable individual variation in both behavioral and hormonal profiles. Individuals A1 and A3 exhibited marked fluctuations in progesterone metabolite concentrations, whereas A2 displayed a relatively stable profile. Correlation analysis showed a moderate non-significant positive relationship in A1 (ρ = 0.547, p = 0.127), a very weak non-significant negative relationship in A2 (ρ = -0.100, p = 0.873), and a strong significant negative relationship in A3 (ρ = -0.756, p = 0.011). The combined dataset demonstrated a moderate negative trend between progesterone metabolites and RBS (ρ = -0.395, p = 0.056). In conclusion, the relationship between progesterone metabolites and reproductive behavior is highly individual-specific. Although declining fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations tended to be followed by increased reproductive behavior in some individuals, progesterone metabolites alone cannot be considered a reliable predictor of reproductive behavior in female sambar deer. Keywords: ELISA, fecal progesterone metabolites, reproductive behavior, Reproductive Behaviour Score (RBS), Rusa unicolor.