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Author Hewitt, S.E.; Macdonald, D.W.; Dugdale, H.L.
Title Context-dependent linear dominance hierarchies in social groups of European badgers, Meles meles Type Journal Article
Year 2009 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.
Volume 77 Issue 1 Pages 161-169
Keywords David's score; directed aggression; dominance rank; European badger; grooming behaviour; linear dominance hierarchy; Meles meles; reproductive success; relatedness; social status
Abstract (up) A social hierarchy is generally assumed to exist in those mammalian societies in which the costs and benefits of group living are distributed unevenly among group members. We analysed infrared closed-circuit television footage, collected over 3 years in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, to test whether social groups of European badgers have dominance hierarchies. Analysis of directed aggression between dyads revealed linear dominance hierarchies in three social-group-years, but patterns within social groups were not consistent across years. Dominance hierarchies were significantly steeper than random in five out of six social-group-years. In those social-group-years where a linear hierarchy was determined, there was an effect of sex on dominance rank, with females gaining significantly higher rank than males in two social-group-years. Overall, rank was not related to age, nor did it appear to affect the likelihood of an individual being wounded, or an individual's breeding status. The latter resulted from nonorthogonality between sex and breeding status, as there were only two breeding males. Overall, hierarchies were primarily dominated by breeding females, and may occur when breeding competition arises. Relatedness, unreciprocated allogrooming and sequential allomarking were not consistently related to levels of directed aggression across social-group-years. We suggest that dominance structures within European badger groups may be context dependent, with future study required to complete our understanding of where, and when, they arise.
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ISSN 0003-3472 ISBN Medium
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4695
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Author McCann, J.S.; Heird, J.C.; Bell, R.W.; Lutherer, L.O.
Title Normal and more highly reactive horses. II. The effect of handling and reserpine on the cardiac response to stimuli Type Journal Article
Year 1988 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 19 Issue 3-4 Pages 215-226
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Abstract (up) A split-plot experiment evaluated the effect of handling and reserpine on the autonomic heart-rate response of yearling horses to various stimuli. The emotionality levels of 32 Quarter-Horse yearlings were rated by 4 experienced horsemen on a scale from 1 to 4 (1 = most nervous and erratic disposition; 4=quiet disposition). The yearlings were subsequently classified and penned based on their emotionality level; normal or nervous. Within each emotionality group, one-half the yearlings were handled daily for 14 days and the other one-half remained free in the pens. Following the handling treatment, every yearling was individually exposed to a series of stimuli, while the heart rate was monitored via a radio-telemetry system. A second treatment, reserpine, was subsequently given intramuscularly (0.005 mg/kg body weight) to one-half the yearlings of each treatment combination of emotionality and handling. The heart rate of the yearlings to the same series of stimuli previously employed was determined at 24 and 120 h and 16 days following the reserpine injection. Summarizing the results, the handled yearlings tended to exhibit lower heart rates with the handling stimulus, but the heart rate with a more novel stimulus was not affected by the previous handling treatment. Reserpine tended to suppress the heart rate of the unhandled group during the presence of a handler, but the permanency of this effect was not evident 16 days after the drug was administered. The reserpine-treated groups tended to exhibit the lowest heart-rate response to stimuli during the 120-h test-day following the administration of the drug. Heart-rate responses to the stimuli were not different between the normal and nervous yearlings.
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ISSN 0168-1591 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4817
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Author Scheibe, K.M.; Schleusner, T.; Berger, A.; Eichhorn, K.; Langbein, J.; Dal Zotto, L.; Streich, W.J.
Title ETHOSYS (R)--new system for recording and analysis of behaviour of free-ranging domestic animals and wildlife Type Journal Article
Year 1998 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 55 Issue 3-4 Pages 195-211
Keywords Telemetry; Diurnal patterns; Activity; Rhythms; Feeding and nutrition
Abstract (up) A storage telemetry system has been developed to monitor domestic animals and wildlife, and has been tested under variable conditions on sheep, Przewalski horse and mouflon. It can be used for automatic recording of different patterns of behaviour, such as activity and feeding, and is based on advanced analysis of sensor-emitted signals. The system is made up of collars (ETHOREC) with sensors and electronic devices for behaviour recording, a central station (ETHOLINK) and software for data transmission and processing (ETHODAT). All components of the ETHOREC recording device are integrated in the collar. Long-time recording of behaviour through up to four different channels and in numerous animals at one and the same time are necessary elements to facilitate biorhythmic analysis of animals under free-ranging conditions. The results obtained from this telemetry system were compared with visual observations on six sheep and four Przewalski horses. Parallel recordings were taken from four sheep, using a recorder for jaw movements. Locomotor activity usually was rated somewhat higher by observers, whereas feed uptake was rated lower. Higher feed uptake values were measured by means of the jaw movement recorder, although deviations thus measured varied less than those noticed by visual observations. All measured series exhibited significant correlations with control values. The system, consequently, was found to be more suitable for determination of diurnal patterns, change over time and relative comparison between behaviour levels than it actually was for measurement of absolute duration of a given behaviour.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2237
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Author Feh, C.
Title Alliances and reproductive success in Camargue stallions Type Journal Article
Year 1999 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.
Volume 57 Issue 3 Pages 705-713
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Abstract (up) A study of a herd of Camargue horsesEquus caballus, showed that while the majority of high-ranking stallions held single-male harems, some sons of low-ranking mares, being low ranking themselves, formed alliances that could last a lifetime. The two stallions were each other's closest associate and preferential grooming partner. Alliances were based on coalitions in which either both partners confronted an intruder synchronously or the dominant of the pair tended the female(s) while the subordinate simultaneously displayed towards the rival. Alliance partners were of similar age but were not more closely related to each other than to other stallions in the herd. Long-term paternity data revealed that subordinates sired close to a quarter of the foals born into the alliance group, and significantly more foals than low-ranking stallions in the herd adopting a `sneak'-mating strategy. The dominant appeared to benefit from the presence of his subordinate partner. Fights occurred all year round, and the subordinate stallion of each alliance pair fought outside competitors more than twice as often as the dominant. Forming short-term alliances before defending mares on their own may enhance long-term reproductive success for both partners. Other benefits to both partners include higher survivorship of their foals and increased access to proven reproductive mares. These results suggest that the relationship between alliance partners is based on mutualism, but several conditions for reciprocity seem to be fulfilled: the benefit to the dominant (assistance in fights), and the benefit to the subordinate (access to reproduction), are both costly to the other partner and delayed in time.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 469
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Author Sappington, B.K.F.; McCall, C.A.; Coleman, D.A.; Kuhlers, D.L.; Lishak, R.S.
Title A preliminary study of the relationship between discrimination reversal learning and performance tasks in yearling and 2-year-old horses Type Journal Article
Year 1997 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 53 Issue 3 Pages 157-166
Keywords Cognition; Learning; Horse; Training
Abstract (up) A study was conducted to determine the relationship between discrimination reversal learning and performance tasks in horses. Ten yearling and seven 2-year-old mares and geldings of Arabian (n = 4), Quarter Horse (n = 9), and Thoroughbred (n = 4) breeding were given a two-choice discrimination task in which either a black or a white bucket contained a food reward for ten trials per day during 19 test days. The spatial position of the buckets was varied on a random schedule. The rewarded bucket color was reversed each time a subject met criterion of eight correct choices per day for 2 consecutive days. Discrimination reversal testing was followed by 6 days of performance tasks: three crossing a wooden bridge and three jumping an obstacle to reach food and conspecifics, within a maximum allotted time of 15 min day-1. Total reversals attained by the horses were low (x = 1.5 +/- 0.9). All subjects did attain at least one reversal, and six had two or more reversals. No differences (P > .05) were detected between ages or sexes, nor among breeds in discrimination reversal learning or performance test measurements. However, there was a trend towards a breed difference (P <= 0.09) in the mean number of correct responses to the first reversal criterion. Correlations between reversal learning results and performance task results were extremely low, indicating that the discrimination reversal learning test was not useful for predicting success at these performance tasks. Results from the two performance tasks also showed little correlation (r = 0.04, P < 0.91), indicating that horses might not use the same approach when solving the problem of crossing these two obstacles. The overall poor performance of the horses on the discrimination reversal task suggests horses may have difficulty reversing previously learned tasks.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 826
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Author Khalil, A.M.; Kaseda, Y.
Title Early experience affects developmental behaviour and timing of harem formation in Misaki horses Type Journal Article
Year 1998 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 59 Issue 4 Pages 253-263
Keywords Feral horse; Young male; Social behavior; Developmental stage
Abstract (up) A study was made of the behavior of young male Misaki feral horses in the developmental stage, by observing nine of them once a week from January 1988 to December 1996. The relationship between behavior before separation and in the developmental stage was also investigated. This stage begins just after young males separate from their natal band or mothers, and it continues until they start to form harems. The duration of the developmental stage in the study ranged from 0.6 to 3.9 years, depending on the age of the young males at the time of separation. Young males associated with three types of social groups at the beginning of the developmental stage, according to their social groups before separation. These were bachelor groups, harem groups and wandering female groups. During this period, males joined the three groups, mixed sex groups and sometimes were solitary. It was considered that these associations provided a good opportunity for males to acquire different behavioral patterns and experiences before they entered the next stage. Depending on the groups with which they associated, young males that spent more time with bachelor groups had the longest average developmental stage. They associated with harem groups more often during the breeding season and more frequently with other groups or were solitary during the non-breeding season. This may be a transition period because by the end of this stage all males had spent time in solitude before forming their own harem bands.
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Call Number Serial 2021
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Author Lansade, L.; Bouissou, M.-F.; Erhard, H.W.
Title Reactivity to isolation and association with conspecifics: A temperament trait stable across time and situations Type Journal Article
Year 2008 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 106 Issue 2-4 Pages 355-373
Keywords Horse; Equus caballus; Temperament; Trait; Isolation; Conspecific association; Stability
Abstract (up) A temperament trait is generally defined as individual differences in behaviour that are present early in life and relatively stable across situations and over time. The aim of this study was to test the existence of a trait <<gregariousness>> in horses, by testing the stability across situations and over time of the responses to different social events. Sixty-six Welsh ponies and 44 Anglo-Arab horses were successively tested at 8 months and 1.5 years of age. Among them, 33 ponies and 21 horses were also tested at 2.5 years of age. They were submitted to four test situations: isolation and separation from, attraction towards and passing conspecifics. We carried out the analysis using each of four test groups as a unit (e.g. 33 Welsh ponies born in 2001, tested in isolation). Isolation and separation stood out as tests that showed a high consistency within test, across tests and across time. The most interesting behavioural parameter was the frequency of neighing, which was well correlated with other parameters measured in the same tests, such as defecation, locomotion and vigilance, as well as across the 3 years (e.g. for separation test: 0.41 < R < 0.61). Therefore, the behaviour of neighing observed in separation or isolation tests as early as 8 months of age appears to be a good indicator of similar behaviour in similar situations later in life, but also of other behaviours which can render the horse difficult to use. No parameter recorded during the attraction test presented stability across situations and time: the reactions to this test were not the expression of a stable characteristic of the individual and did not reflect the same characteristic as the three other tests. Of the different parameters recorded during the passing conspecifics test, the time to cross the arrival line near conspecifics showed good stability across years (0.35 < R < 0.68). This parameter was also correlated with many others recorded during the same test, and also, to a certain extent, to the frequency of neighing in the isolation and separation tests. This stability across responses expressed in various social contexts, and this stability over time, from 8 months to 2.5 years of age suggest the existence of a trait of gregariousness in the horse. From a practical point of view, that means it is possible to estimate the level of gregariousness of a horse as early as 8 months of age. Furthermore, additional analysis shows that gregariousness decreases with age.
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Call Number Admin @ knut @ Serial 4350
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Author Smith, J.M.; Parker, G.A.
Title The logic of asymmetric contests Type Journal Article
Year 1976 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.
Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 159-175
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Abstract (up) A theoretical analysis is made of the evolution of behavioural strategies in contest situations. It is assumed that behaviour will evolve so as to maximize individual fitness. If so, a population will evolve an [`]evolutionarily stable strategy', or ESS, which can be defined as a strategy such that, if all members of a population adopt it, no [`]mutant' strategy can do better. A number of simple models of contest situations are analysed from this point of view. It is concluded that in [`]symmetric' contests the ESS is likely to be a [`]mixed' strategy; that is, either the population will be genetically polymorphic or individuals will be behaviourally variable. Most real contests are probably asymmetric, either in pay-off to the contestants, or in size or weapons, or in some [`]uncorrelated' fashion; i.e. in a fashion which does not substantially bias either the pay-offs or the likely outcome of an escalated contest. An example of an uncorrelated asymmetry is that between the [`]discoverer' of a resource and a [`]late-comer'. It is shown that the ESS in asymmetric contests will usually be to permit the asymmetric cue to settle the contest without escalation. Escalated contests will, however, occur if information to the contestants about the asymmetry is imperfect.
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5103
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Author i Rios, J.F.; Houpt, K.
Title Sexual behavior in geldings Type Journal Article
Year 1995 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 46 Issue 1-2 Pages 133-135
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Abstract (up) Abstract

In response to a request published in Equus, a magazine for those interested in horses, 85 owners of older geldings exhibiting sexual behavior completed history forms. The mean age of geldings was 16 f 5 years. Only 39 of the owners had had the gelding for at least a year before the behavior was noted. These cases could be used to determine the true age of onset of the problem. When log survivorship was used to determine whether there were one or two different populations, a break or change in the slope at age 16 indicated that there are two populations. One population shows the behavior from the time of castration and the other first exhibits the behavior in old age, possibly in response to an ACTH secreting pituitary adenoma. A total of 40% of the horses were Quarterhorses, the most numerous breed in the US; 78% of the horses were purebreds. Fewer than half the owners knew the age at which their horse had been castrated because they did not own the horse at the time.

The mean age at castration, when known, was 3.3 f 2.5 years. The reason for contacting us was sexual behavior (70%), aggression (24%). or some other problem ( 1 o/o). Whether or not aggression was the presenting problem, most of the horses showed aggression (95%), particularly towards other geldings (88%)) but also towards people (3 1%). Copulatory behavior (mounting) was shown by 69% of the geldings and half of those were able to intromit. These findings indicate that the sexual behavior of geldings is a problem for owners and that aggression usually accompanies sexual behavior.

The owners were encouraged to send serum samples taken before and after human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) administration for testosterone and estrone sulfate analysis to determine whether residual testicular tissue was responsible for the horse’s behavior. Of the 14 horses tested, only one had elevated levels of testosterone indicating that there was residual testicular tissue. A total of six of the owners agreed to treat their horses with cyproheptadine at a dose of 8 mg day- ’ gradually increased to 88 mg day- ’ per horse. A total of three of the horses showed a decline in sexual and aggressive behavior, one got worse and two had side effects and treatment was withdrawn.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3627
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Author Albright, J.; Sun, X.; Houpt, K.
Title Does cribbing behavior in horses vary with dietary taste or direct gastric stimuli? Type Journal Article
Year Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl Anim Behav Sci
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords Horse; Stereotypy; Cribbing; Diet
Abstract (up) Abstract Concentrated feed diets have been shown to drastically increase the rate of the cribbing, an oral stereotypy in horses, but the specific component causing the rise has not been identified. Furthermore, the mechanism through which feed affects cribbing has not been explored. In the first experiment of this study, we quantified the latency to crib and number of cribs in 15 min after the horses tasted various grain, sugar, and artificial sweetener solutions. Undiluted grain stimulated the most cribs (P < 0.01) compared with all other solutions, and shortest latency to crib, although this was significantly higher only when compared with diluted grain (P = 0.03). In Experiment 2, latency to crib and number of cribs in 15 min after the grain and sugar solutions were administered via nasograstric tube were also evaluated. There were no statistical differences among cribbing responses to grain, fructose, and water administered directly to the stomach although grain stimulated cribbing behavior more quickly than 10% fructose (P = 0.03) and 100% tap water (P = 0.04). These results confirm that highly palatable diets, possibly mediated through the opioid and dopaminergic systems, are one of the most potent inducers of cribbing behavior. The highly palatable taste remains the probable “cribogenic” factor of concentrated diet, although gastric and post-gastric effects cannot be excluded.
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ISSN 0168-1591 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 6123
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