Wild Mustang Research Paper

Intro A wild mustang’s responses to abiotic and biotic factors can either be forced or an inclination. Their natural instinctive responses come out with mating, climate, competition, defense, food availability, and communication, while they are forced to respond to climate, and pollution. Wild mustang’s behaviors towards biotic factors have only somewhat changed over the years, as some biotic factors have not changed, while some have. Their behaviors towards abiotic factors have changed, because the factors have changed themselves. For example, their predators have stayed the same, but their food availability have changed because of the changing climate. Competition has also dramatically changed as they are an endangered species. The climate

They are also referred to as “long-day breeders” because the females come into heat as the days increase in length in the spring. Mares are also “seasonally polyestrous,” meaning they have multiple heat cycles throughout the spring and summer. The natural breeding season for horses in the Northern Hemisphere is the spring or summer. Light is the controlling factor in causing mares to come into heat in early spring. Estrus is another term used to define being in heat. Mares will cycle several times during the breeding season if they do not conceive and become pregnant. The most intense estrus behavior occurs when the mare is most sexually receptive to the stallion. Intense estrus behaviors lasts about three days. A mare in heat may actively seek out and attempt to stay in the vicinity of a stallion. During the peak of estrus, the mare may sniff, lick, or nuzzle the stallion. A mare in heat will also urinate frequently, particularly if a stallion is teasing her to test her receptiveness. She is also likely to raise her tail and assume a breeding stance. The classic behavioral display of the stallion when it checks a mare to see if she’s ready is to lift its nose into the air and curl his upper lip. This is called the Flehmen response. The stallion will often be impatient, alert, hyperactive, and restless. Vocalization is common. The stallion will frequently nudge the mare, apparently

As the abiotic factors, and biotic factors of the world continue to change, and evolve, so will the wild mustang. They will sometimes be forced to deal with different factors they have yet to face because the abiotic factors are constantly changing. The abiotic factors such as climate, pollution, and communication, and the biotic factors of mating, competition, defense, and food will continue to affect the wild mustangs behaviors, whether they be forced, or an