Records |
Author |
Gácsi, M.; Kara, E.; Belényi, B.; Topál, J.; Miklósi, Á. |
Title |
The effect of development and individual differences in pointing comprehension of dogs |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Animal Cognition |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Cogn. |
Volume |
12 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
471-479 |
Keywords |
Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Animals; *Association Learning; Attention; Chi-Square Distribution; Choice Behavior; *Comprehension; *Concept Formation; Dogs/*psychology; Female; *Gestures; Humans; Male; Orientation; Statistics, Nonparametric |
Abstract |
In spite of the rather different procedures actually used in comparative studies to test the ability of different species to rely on the human pointing gesture, there is no debate on the high performance of dogs in such tasks. Very little is known, however, on the course through which they acquire this ability or the probable factors influencing the process. Important developmental questions have remained unsolved and also some methodological concerns should be addressed before we can convincingly argue for one interpretation or another. In this study we tested 180 dogs of different age (from 2 months to adults) to investigate their performance in the human distal momentary pointing gesture. The results, analyzed at both the group and the individual levels, showed no difference in the performance according to age, indicating that in dogs the comprehension of the human pointing may require only very limited and rapid early learning to fully develop. Interestingly, neither the keeping conditions nor the time spent in active interaction with the owner, and not even some special (agility) training for using human visual cues, had significant effect on the success and explained individual differences. The performance of the dogs was rather stable over time: during the 20 trials within a session and even when subsamples of different age were repeatedly tested. Considering that in spite of the general success at the group level, more than half of the dogs were not successful at the individual level, we revealed alternative “decision-making rules” other than following the pointing gesture of the experimenter. |
Address |
Department of Ethology, Eotvos University, Budapest, Hungary. gm.art@t-online.hu |
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Language |
English |
Summary Language |
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Original Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1435-9456 |
ISBN |
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Conference |
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Notes |
PMID:19130102 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4969 |
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Author |
Romano, N.; Vitale, F.; Alesi, D.R.; Bonura, F.; La Licata, R.; Intonazzo, V.; Dardanoni, G.; Mammina, C. |
Title |
The changing pattern of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in intravenous drug users. Results of a six-year seroprevalence study in Palermo, Italy |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1992 |
Publication |
American Journal of Epidemiology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am J Epidemiol |
Volume |
135 |
Issue |
11 |
Pages |
1189-1196 |
Keywords |
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*epidemiology; Adolescent; Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Antibodies/blood; HIV Infections/*epidemiology; HIV Seroprevalence/*trends; *Hiv-1; Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood; Heroin; Humans; Incidence; Italy/epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/*epidemiology; Time Factors |
Abstract |
A cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study was carried out between 1985 and 1990 in 1,567 heterosexual intravenous drug users who had been seen at the AIDS Regional Reference Center in Palermo, Italy, to evaluate the rate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seroprevalence in this group and its long-term trend. Sixty serum samples collected from drug users in 1980 and 1983, before the founding of the Center (1985), were tested as well. Some demographic and behavioral risk factors were studied in a subgroup of intravenous drug users enrolled in 1985, 1987, and 1990 for their possible association with HIV-1. These factors were also studied in relation to hepatitis B virus infection, since both viruses share the same modes of spread. These drug users had a higher prevalence of markers for hepatitis B virus than of HIV-1 antibodies, and the prevalence rates in sera collected declined over time for both infections. The presence of both antibodies to HIV-1 and markers for hepatitis B virus was independently associated with the age of the drug user, the duration of drug use, and the year of serum collection. Antibodies to HIV-1 were observed more frequently in females than in males. No relation was found between education or employment status and the presence of HIV-1 antibodies or hepatitis B virus markers. Although new HIV-1 infections still occur, the decline in seroprevalence observed at the end of the 1980s might be related to modifications in social behavior among newer drug users, partial exhaustion of the susceptible population, and increasing risk awareness in more experienced users. |
Address |
Giuseppe D'Alessandro Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy |
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English |
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ISSN |
0002-9262 |
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Notes |
PMID:1626537 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5258 |
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Author |
White, A.M.; Swaisgood, R.R.; Czekala, N. |
Title |
Ranging patterns in white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum: implications for mating strategies |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Animal Behaviour |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
Volume |
74 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
349-356 |
Keywords |
Ceratotherium simum simum; foraging; habitat choice; home range use; mate choice; mating systems; ranging pattern; resource distribution; white rhinoceros |
Abstract |
How animals use space has important consequences for feeding ecology, social organization, mating strategies and conservation management. In white rhinoceros, female home ranges are much larger than male territories, suggesting that movement patterns are influenced by factors other than resource distribution. In this study we placed radiotransmitters on 15 female white rhinoceros, recording 1758 locations and collecting behavioural data during 1671 observation sessions, making this the largest data set of its kind in this species. We investigated how habitat variables and male territories influenced female movement and reproductive behaviour. Female home ranges were approximately 20 km2 and core areas were 5 km2, with male territories roughly the same size as female core areas. Female range size did not vary with season, but the pattern of space use did vary. Females used grassland habitat preferentially, utilizing these areas significantly more than expected based on availability. Findings relevant to the mating strategy include: (1) the amount of grassland in a male's territory predicted female use of the territory; (2) the time that a female spent in a male's territory was a significant predictor of reproductive activity with the male, indicating that females probably mate with the most familiar male; and (3) the temporal pattern of female space use suggests that females did not increase mate sampling behaviour nor did they become more choosy about which males they visited when reproductively active. These findings suggest that males may maximize reproductive success by defending areas containing more grassland habitat. |
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ISSN |
0003-3472 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6146 |
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Author |
Ronnenberg, K.; Habbe, B.; Gräber, R.; Strauß, E.; Siebert, U. |
Title |
Coexistence of wolves and humans in a densely populated region (Lower Saxony, Germany) |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2017 |
Publication |
Basic and Applied Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Basic. Appl. Ecol. |
Volume |
25 |
Issue |
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Pages |
1-14 |
Keywords |
Grey wolf; ; Habitat use; Species distribution models; Predator-prey interactions |
Abstract |
Since the first sporadic occurrences of grey wolves (Canis lupus) west of the Polish border in 1996, wolves have shown a rapid population recovery in Germany. Wolves are known to avoid people and wolf attacks on humans are very rare worldwide. However, the subjectively perceived threat is considerable, especially as food-conditioned habituation to humans occurs sporadically. Lower Saxony (Germany) has an exceedingly higher human population density than most other regions with territorial wolves; thus, the potential for human-wolf conflicts is higher. Using hunters' wildlife survey data from 455 municipalities and two years (2014-2015) and data from the official wolf monitoring (557 confirmed wolf presences and 500 background points) collected between 2012-2015, grey wolf habitat selection was modelled using generalized additive models with respect to human population density, road density, forest cover and roe deer density. Moreover, we tested whether habitat use changed in response to human population and road density between 2012/2013 and 2014/2015. Wolves showed a preference for areas of low road density. Human population density was less important as a covariate in the model of the survey data. Areas with higher prey abundance (5-10 roe deer/km2) and areas with >20% forest cover were preferred wolf habitats. Wolves were mostly restricted to areas with the lowest road and human population densities. However, between the two time periods, avoidance of human density decreased significantly. Recolonization of Germany is still in its early stages and it is unclear where this process will halt. To-date authorities mainly concentrate on monitoring measures. However, to avoid conflict, recolonization will require more stringent management of wolf populations and an improved information strategy for rural populations. |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1439-1791 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6397 |
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Author |
Strien, A.J.; Swaay, C.A.M.; Termaat, T. |
Title |
Opportunistic citizen science data of animal species produce reliable estimates of distribution trends if analysed with occupancy models |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Journal of Applied Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Appl Ecol |
Volume |
50 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
1450-1458 |
Keywords |
Bayesian inference; citizen science; detection; distribution; hierarchical modelling; Jags; monitoring; site occupancy |
Abstract |
Summary Many publications documenting large-scale trends in the distribution of species make use of opportunistic citizen data, that is, observations of species collected without standardized field protocol and without explicit sampling design. It is a challenge to achieve reliable estimates of distribution trends from them, because opportunistic citizen science data may suffer from changes in field efforts over time (observation bias), from incomplete and selective recording by observers (reporting bias) and from geographical bias. These, in addition to detection bias, may lead to spurious trends. We investigated whether occupancy models can correct for the observation, reporting and detection biases in opportunistic data. Occupancy models use detection/nondetection data and yield estimates of the percentage of occupied sites (occupancy) per year. These models take the imperfect detection of species into account. By correcting for detection bias, they may simultaneously correct for observation and reporting bias as well. We compared trends in occupancy (or distribution) of butterfly and dragonfly species derived from opportunistic data with those derived from standardized monitoring data. All data came from the same grid squares and years, in order to avoid any geographical bias in this comparison. Distribution trends in opportunistic and monitoring data were well-matched. Strong trends observed in monitoring data were rarely missed in opportunistic data. Synthesis and applications. Opportunistic data can be used for monitoring purposes if occupancy models are used for analysis. Occupancy models are able to control for the common biases encountered with opportunistic data, enabling species trends to be monitored for species groups and regions where it is not feasible to collect standardized data on a large scale. Opportunistic data may thus become an important source of information to track distribution trends in many groups of species. |
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Publisher |
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd |
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ISSN |
0021-8901 |
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Notes |
doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12158 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6437 |
Permanent link to this record |