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| Author | Bolhuis, J. | ||||
| Title | Function and mechanism in neuroecology: looking for clues | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2005 | Publication | Animal Biology (formerly Netherlands Journal of Zoology) | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 55 | Issue  |
4 | Pages | 457-490 |
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| Abstract | The four questions that Niko Tinbergen identified for behavioural biology ? evolution, function, development and causation ? are all important and should be studied in their own right. Recently, there has been a debate as to whether these four questions should be investigated separately or whether they should be integrated. Integration of the four questions has been attempted in novel research disciplines such as cognitive ecology, evolutionary psychology and neuroecology. Euan Macphail and I have criticised these integrative approaches, suggesting that they are fundamentally flawed as they confound function and mechanism. Investigating the function or evolutionary history of a behaviour or cognitive system is important and entirely legitimate. However, such investigations cannot provide us with answers to questions about the mechanisms underlying behaviour or cognition. At most, functional or evolutionary considerations can provide clues that may be useful for a causal analysis of the underlying mechanisms. However, these clues can be misleading and are often wrong, as is illustrated with examples from song learning and food storing in birds. After summarising the main issues in the neuroecology debate, I discuss some misunderstandings that were apparent in the responses to our critique, as well as some recent relevant data. Recent results do not support the neuroecological approach. Finally, I suggest that the way forward is a cautious and critical use of functional and evolutionary clues in the study of the mechanisms of behaviour. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 3396 | ||
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| Author | Geisbauer, G.; Griebel, U.; Schmid, A.; Timney, B | ||||
| Title | Brightness discrimination and neutral point | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2004 | Publication | Canadian Journal of Zoology | Abbreviated Journal | Can. J. Zool |
| Volume | 82 | Issue |
4 | Pages | 660-670 |
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| Abstract | Abstract: Equine brightness discrimination ability and color discrimination were measured using a two-choice discrimination task. Two Haflinger horses (Equus caballus L., 1758) were trained to discriminate 30 different shades of grey varying from low to high relative brightness. Their ability to distinguish shades of grey was poor, with calculated Weber fractions of 0.42 and 0.45. In addition, a “neutral point” test to determine the dimensionality of color vision was carried out. Three hues of blue-green were tested versus a range of grey targets with brightnesses similar to those of the blue-green targets. A neutral point was found at about 480 nm. Thus, we can conclude that horses possess dichromatic color vision. |
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 3649 | ||
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| Author | Healy, S.D.; Jones, C.M. | ||||
| Title | Animal learning and memory: an integration of cognition and ecology | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2002 | Publication | Zoology | Abbreviated Journal | Zoology |
| Volume | 105 | Issue |
4 | Pages | 321-327 |
| Keywords | cognitive ecology; spatial learning and memory; adaptive specialisation | ||||
| Abstract | Summary A wonderfully lucid framework for the ways to understand animal behaviour is that represented by the four [`]whys' proposed by Tinbergen (1963). For much of the past three decades, however, these four avenues have been pursued more or less in parallel. Functional questions, for example, have been addressed by behavioural ecologists, mechanistic questions by psychologists and ethologists, ontogenetic questions by developmental biologists and neuroscientists and phylogenetic questions by evolutionary biologists. More recently, the value of integration between these differing views has become apparent. In this brief review, we concentrate especially on current attempts to integrate mechanistic and functional approaches. Most of our understanding of learning and memory in animals comes from the psychological literature, which tends to use only rats or pigeons, and more occasionally primates, as subjects. The underlying psychological assumption is of general processes that are similar across species and contexts rather than a range of specific abilities. However, this does not seem to be entirely true as several learned behaviours have been described that are specific to particular species or contexts. The first conspicuous exception to the generalist assumption was the demonstration of long delay taste aversion learning in rats (Garcia et al., 1955), in which it was shown that a stimulus need not be temporally contiguous with a response for the animal to make an association between food and illness. Subsequently, a number of other examples, such as imprinting and song learning in birds (e.g., Bolhuis and Honey, 1998; Catchpole and Slater, 1995; Horn, 1998), have been thoroughly researched. Even in these cases, however, it has been typical for only a few species to be studied (domestic chicks provide the [`]model' imprinting species and canaries and zebra finches the song learning [`]models'). As a result, a great deal is understood about the neural underpinnings and development of the behaviour, but substantially less is understood about interspecific variation and whether variation in behaviour is correlated with variation in neural processing (see review by Tramontin and Brenowitz, 2000 but see ten Cate and Vos, 1999). | ||||
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| ISSN | 0944-2006 | ISBN | Medium | ||
| Area | Expedition | Conference | |||
| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4741 | ||
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| Author | de Villiers, M.S.; Richardson, P.R.K.; van Jaarsveld, A.S. | ||||
| Title | Patterns of coalition formation and spatial association in a social carnivore, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2003 | Publication | Journal of Zoology | Abbreviated Journal | J Zool |
| Volume | 260 | Issue |
4 | Pages | 377-389 |
| Keywords | coalitions; social systems; Carnivora; Lycaon pictus | ||||
| Abstract | In many social species, relationships within groups seem to be non-random but related to variables such as rank, kinship or sexual attractiveness. The endangered African wild dog Lycaon pictus is a social carnivore that lives in large, stable packs, and intra-pack associations might be expected to display similar patterns. We investigated patterns of coalition formation (support during dominance interactions, and partnership interactions) and resting associations between members of a captive pack of 19 wild dogs. The social organization of the captive pack was similar to that of free-ranging packs in many respects. Polyadic (group) incidents of coalition support were also observed in a free-ranging pack. Patterns of coalition formation in the captive pack were related to rank. Most aggressive interactions involved high-ranking individuals (particularly the alpha, beta and third-ranking males) and coalitionary support tended to reinforce the existing hierarchy. However, there was at least one example of support influencing a successful rank challenge. Support was affected by potential risks and benefits, the latter including dominance through association and revolutionary alliances. An even stronger pattern overlaid associations between pack members: coalitions and resting associations were strongest between members of the same age–sex cohort, and may have enabled the eventual dominance of younger pack members over adults. Among adults, coalitionary associations were sometimes overridden by intersexual relationships. The results from this captive pack suggest that wild dogs are sensitive to differences in competitive ability. This information, in conjunction with strong affiliative bonds between littermates, is used to manoeuvre for position in the social hierarchy. It may also be important during dispersal, in encounters with other dispersing groups of the same sex. Although most features of the social structure of the captive pack were comparable to those of free-ranging packs, aspects such as the influence of relatedness on coalition formation still need to be explored. | ||||
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| Publisher | Blackwell Publishing Ltd | Place of Publication | Editor | ||
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| ISSN | 1469-7998 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5249 | ||
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| Author | Weckerly, Floyd W. | ||||
| Title | Social bonding and aggression in female Roosevelt elk | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 1999 | Publication | Canadian Journal of Zoology | Abbreviated Journal | Can J Zool |
| Volume | 77 | Issue |
9 | Pages | 1379-1384 |
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| Abstract | Abstract: The relationship between degree of social bonding (extent of association among individuals) and level of aggression in ruminants is unclear. I examined social bonding and aggression in three groups of female Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) over 2 years. I hypothesized that when animals are socially bonded, bouts of aggression will be won by the individual initiating the aggression, occur quickly, and involve little physical contact, and the level of aggression does not correlate with group size. The degree of social bonding was high among individuals in all groups. Dyads of known individuals were together >80% of the time. A permutation analysis indicated that groups with the observed sizes had <0.001 chance of random association, except on one occasion when the probability was 0.72 for one group. Using focal-animal sampling, aggressive interactions were won 72% of the time by the initiator, occurred quickly (<5 s), and involved little physical contact, and the level of aggression was not correlated with group size. The level of aggression was, however, significantly lower in one of the groups. This group may have had access to more abundant food resources than the other groups. Socially bonded elk conducted aggressive interactions in a fashion that did not disrupt social stability. Résumé : La relation entre le degré de liaison sociale (importance des associations entre individus) et l`agressivité n`est pas claire chez les ruminants. J`ai étudié les liaisons sociales et l`agressivité chez trois groupes de femelles du Cerf de Roosevelt (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) pendant 2 ans. J`ai posé en hypothèse que, chez les animaux liés socialement, la victoire devrait être emportée par l`individu qui entreprend l`agression, l`agression devrait être de courte durée, se faire avec peu de contacts physiques et la fréquence des agressions ne devrait pas être liée à la taille du groupe. Des paires d`individus passaient plus de 80% de leur temps ensemble. Une analyse des permutations a démontré que, chez les groupes des tailles observées, la probabilité d`une association aléatoire était de moins de 0,001, sauf en un cas où cette probabilité a été évaluée à 0,72 chez un groupe. Par échantillonnage directionnel, j`ai observé que les interactions agressives étaient gagnées par l`individu attaquant 72% du temps, étaient de courte durée (<5 s), se faisaient avec peu de contacts physiques et leur fréquence n`était pas reliée à la taille du groupe. Il y avait cependant moins d`agressivité chez l`un des groupes. Il se peut que ce groupe ait eu accès à plus de ressources alimentaires que les autres. Chez les cerfs liés par des liens sociaux, l`agressivité ne se manifeste pas de façon à déséquilibrer la stabilité sociale. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4268 | ||
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| Author | Sigurjonsdottir, H.; Thorhallsdottir, A.; Hafthorsdottir, H.; Granquist S. | ||||
| Title | The Behaviour of Stallions in a Semiferal Herd in Iceland: Time Budgets, Home Ranges, and Interactions | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2012 | Publication | International Journal of Zoology | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 2012 | Issue |
Article ID 162982 | Pages | |
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| Abstract | A permanent herd of Icelandic horses with four stallions and their harems was studied for a total of 316 hours in a large pasture (215 ha) in May 2007 in Iceland. Interactions between stallions of different harems and other aspects of the horses' behaviour were studied. One stallion and nine horses were introduced into the pasture prior to the study to examine the reactions of the resident stallions to a newcomer. The stallions spent significantly less time grazing than other horses and were more vigilant. Home ranges overlapped, but harems never mixed. The stallions prevented interactions between members of different harems indirectly by herding. Generally, interactions between resident stallions were nonviolent. However, encounters with the introduced stallion were more aggressive and more frequent than between the other stallions. Here, we show that four harems can share the same enclosure peacefully. The social network seems to keep aggression at a low level both within the harems and the herd as a whole. We encourage horse owners to consider the feasibility of keeping their horses in large groups because of low aggression and because such a strategy gives the young horses good opportunities to develop normally, both physically and socially. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5823 | ||
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