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Author Nicol, C. J.
Title Equine learning: progress and suggestions for future research Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 193-208
Keywords Learning; Horse; Equine; Discrimination; Training
Abstract Horses are well able to form classical and instrumental associations and so the focus of much recent research has been on the stimulus control of instrumental learning. Horses appear to discriminate using spatial cues more easily than other stimulus features, as indicated both by the speed of initial task acquisition and by the extent to which acquired discriminations can be reversed. Phenomena associated with discrimination learning in laboratory animals, including generalisation and peak shift, have been demonstrated in horses. However, the ability of horses to classify stimuli into categories is more controversial. Although there is some evidence that horses may be able to form categories based on similarities in the physical appearance of different stimuli, there is currently no evidence that they are able to develop abstract concepts. Their performance on social learning tasks has also been poor. Few correlations are observed between the learning ability of individual horses on different tasks, suggesting that it may not be possible to classify individual horses as `good' or `poor' learners. Better learning performance by horses that are naturally calm is probably due to reduced interference in the learning process. Correct handling procedures can lower reactivity levels in horses, and may facilitate learning in some circumstances. Future research on equine learning needs to take into account the complex nature of equine social interaction. Studies on the effects of stress on learning, and on social and spatial cognition, are also particularly needed.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 405
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Author Broom, M.; Cannings, C.
Title Modelling Dominance Hierarchy formation as a Multi-player game Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Journal of Theoretical Biology Abbreviated Journal J. Theor. Biol.
Volume 219 Issue 3 Pages 397-413
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Abstract Animals who live in groups need to divide available resources amongst themselves. This is often achieved by means of a dominance hierarchy, where dominant individuals obtain a larger share of the resources than subordinate individuals. This paper introduces a model of dominance hierarchy formation using a multi-player extension of the classical Hawk-Dove game. Animals play non-independent pairwise games in a Swiss tournament which pairs opponents against those which have performed equally well in the conflict so far, for a fixed number of rounds. Resources are divided according to the number of contests won. The model, and its emergent properties, are discussed in the context of experimental observations.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 450
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Author Moons, C.; Heleski, C.R.; Leece, C.M.; Zanella, A.J.
Title Conflicting Results in the Association Between Plasma and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Foals Type Manuscript
Year 2002 Publication Havemeier Workshop Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
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Abstract Introduction

Glucocorticoids are present in many biological fluids as a free fraction or bound to Corticoid

Binding Globulins (CBG) (Matteri et al, 2000). There are conflicting claims regarding the validity of

saliva as a biological fluid to measure cortisol in horses (Lebelt et al, 1996; McGreevy and Pell, 1998;

van der Kolk et al, 2001). Measuring changes in salivary cortisol levels in normal horses and horses

with Cushing`s disease van der Kolk and collaborators (2001) demonstrated the validity of saliva to

assess adrenal function. Puzzling results were reported by McGreevy and Pell (1998) who suggested

that plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations in horses showing oral stereotypies were correlated

but this association was non-existent in control animals. Investigating the responses of foals to

branding and foot-trimming Zanella et al (unpublished results) were unable to identify a relationship

between plasma and salivary cortisol levels in foals. In several species, levels of cortisol in plasma and

saliva are tightly correlated (Fenske, 1996). Cortisol found in blood consists of a fraction bound to

corticoid binding globulin (CBG) and a free, unbound fraction. Free cortisol represents the

biologically active fraction of this steroid hormone. Salivary cortisol reflects the unbound fraction

found in plasma or serum and it passes readily through the parotid membrane (Riad-Fahmy, 1983;

Horning Walker et al,1977). Unbound steroids transfer rapidly between plasma and saliva

(Walker,1989; Scott et al 1990). Saliva flow-rate does not appear to influence saliva cortisol levels in

different species (Hubert and de Jong-Meyer, 1989; Walker 1989, Scott et a, 1990). In horses, Lebelt

et al (1996) reported that salivary and plasma total cortisol in stallions were correlated. We

hypothesized that changes in salivary cortisol in foals would show a pattern that is correlated to that of

plasma free and plasma total cortisol concentrations in foals. In addition, we anticipated that the lack

of good sampling techniques provides an explanation for the failure in determining the association

between salivary and plasma cortisol in foals.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 470
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Author Wakeling,E
Title Feral Horses of the West Type Conference Volume
Year 2002 Publication Abbreviated Journal
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 516
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Author Seaman, S.C.; Davidson, H.P.B.; Waran, N.K.
Title How reliable is temperament assessment in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)? Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 175-191
Keywords Temperament assessment; Behavioural tests; Horses; Active and passive copers; Factor analysis
Abstract Differences in behavioural characteristics between individuals of the same species are often described as being due to the temperament of the individuals. These differences can have enormous implications for welfare with some individuals apparently being able to adapt to environmental challenge more easily than others. Such differences have resulted in animals often being described as either `active' copers, which try to escape from or remove an aversive stimulus, or `passive' copers, which show no outward signs of a situation being aversive, thus, appearing to be unaffected. Tests previously developed to assess the temperament of animals have been criticised for several reasons. Behaviour is often recorded and categorised using methods that are not objective and tests are generally carried out once with no consideration of whether or not behavioural responses are consistent over time. This study takes these factors into account. The behaviour of 33 horses was recorded in three types of test--an arena test, response to a person and response to an object. In order to test whether or not responses were consistent over time, the tests were repeated three times with an average of 9 days between trials. Test results were validated using responses from questionnaires completed by the farm team leader. The data were analysed using an initial principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis. The horses were found to behave consistently over the three trials in their responses in the arena test. The responses to the person test and the object test were similar to each other; however, these responses were not consistent over trials. The behaviour in the arena test was unable to be used to make a prediction of behaviour in the person and object tests and vice versa. The responses shown by the horses did not enable them to be categorised as either active or passive copers. Behavioural responses in the tests were not predictive of the response to a startle test (water spray), nor could they be used to predict status or response to being reintroduced to the group after testing. There was no relationship between the responses in the tests and the ratings given by the farm team leader. It was concluded that horses vary widely in their responses to artificial behavioural tests, with only the responses to an open-field arena test being consistent over time, and therefore, the only type of test which can indicate some core factor of temperament.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 520
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Author Ord, T.J.; Evans, C.S.
Title Interactive video playback and opponent assessment in lizards Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Behavioural Processes Abbreviated Journal Behav. Process.
Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 55-65
Keywords Animal communication; Display; Lizard; Playback; Visual signal
Abstract Video playback has been used to explore many issues in animal communication, but the scope of this work has been constrained by the lack of stimulus-subject interaction. In many natural contexts, each participant's signalling behaviour is dependent from moment-to-moment on that of the other. Analyses of acoustic communication demonstrate the value of reproducing such social contingencies. We assessed the utility of interactive playback for studies of visual signalling by comparing the responses of male Jacky dragons, Amphibolurus muricatus, to interactive and non-interactive digital video playbacks of a life-sized conspecific. Displays produced by lizards in the interactive condition had the effect of suppressing the aggressive display of their simulated opponent. Each stimulus sequence generated during an interactive playback was subsequently played to a size-matched control animal. Males that could interact with the video stimulus responded principally with aggressive displays, while those that could not produced a mixture of aggressive and appeasement signals. Adding a degree of receiver responsiveness is hence sufficient to alter the type of signal evoked, even when video stimuli are physically identical. Interactive playback permits the experimental study of a broader range of theoretical topics and can enhance the realism of video stimuli.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 539
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Author Ord, T.J.; Peters, R.A.; Evans, C.S.; Taylor, A.J.
Title Digital video playback and visual communication in lizards Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.
Volume 63 Issue 5 Pages 879-890
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Abstract Experimental analyses of dynamic visual signals have to overcome the technical obstacle of reproducing complex motor patterns such as those found in courtship and threat displays. Video playback offers a potential solution to this problem, but it has recently been criticized because of sensory differences between humans and nonhuman animals, which suggest that video stimuli might be perceived as deficient relative to live conspecifics. Quantitative comparisons are therefore necessary to determine whether video sequences reliably evoke natural responses. Male Jacky dragons, Amphibolurus muricatus, compete for territories using complex displays delivered in a rapid stereotyped sequence. We evaluated video playback as a technique for studying this visual signal. Digital video sequences depicting a life-sized displaying male were indistinguishable from live male conspecifics in the rate and structure of aggressive displays evoked. Other measures of social behaviour suggested that video stimuli were more effective in this context. Lizards produced significantly more appeasement displays and had higher rates of substrate licking and locomotor activity in response to video playback than to confined male opponents, which failed to produce aggressive displays. Lizards tracked temporal changes in the display rate of video stimuli and were also sensitive to individual differences in morphology and behaviour between video exemplars. These results show that video stimuli are appropriate for the experimental analysis of Jacky dragon aggressive displays. We compare the potential shortcomings of video playback with those of other techniques and conclude that no approach offers a panacea, but that several have complementary characteristics. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 540
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Author Pepperberg, I.M.
Title Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Current Directions in Psychological Science Abbreviated Journal Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci.
Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 83-87
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Abstract Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) solve various cognitive tasks and acquire and use English speech in ways that often resemble those of very young children. Given that the psittacine brain is organized very differently from that of mammals, these results have intriguing implications for the study and evolution of vocal learning, communication, and cognition.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 580
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Author Weeks, J.W.; Crowell-Davis, S.L.; Heusner, G.
Title Preliminary study of the development of the Flehmen response in Equus caballus Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 329-335
Keywords Horse behavior; Flehmen; Foal development
Abstract The flehmen response is commonly seen in most ungulates as well as in several other species (e.g. felids). The behavior is most often thought to be part of the sexual behavioral repertoire of males. One reigning hypothesis suggests that this behavior allows the male to determine the estrous state of a female through the chemosensory functions of the vomeronasal organ. However, females and young of both sexes also exhibit this behavior. Horse foals most frequently show the flehmen response during their first month of life with colts showing the behavior more often than fillies. This study tested the flehmen response on male and female foals throughout their pre-pubertal period. Foals were separately presented estrous and non-estrous urine weekly during the first month of life and then monthly until they were approximately 7 months of age. No significant differences were found between male and female foals for the following variables: latency to flehmen, duration of flehmen, frequency of flehmen and sniffs.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 615
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Author Rivera, E.; Benjamin, S.; Nielsen, B.; Shelle, J.; Zanella, A.J.
Title Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial training: the comparison between pastured versus stalled horses Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 235-252
Keywords Horses; Housing; Training; Behavior; Stress; Cortisol; Welfare
Abstract Horses kept in stalls are deprived of opportunities for social interactions, and the performance of natural behaviors is limited. Inadequate environmental conditions may compromise behavioral development. Initial training is a complex process and it is likely that the responses of horses may be affected by housing conditions. Sixteen 2-year-old Arabian horses were kept on pasture (P) (n=8) or in individual stalls (S) (n=8). Twelve horses (six P and six S) were subjected to a standardized training procedure, carried out by two trainers in a round pen, and 4 horses (two P and two S) were introduced to the round pen but were not trained (C; control). On sample collection day 0, 7, 21 and 28, behavior observations were carried out, blood samples were drawn and heart rates were monitored. Total training time for the stalled horses was significantly higher than total time for the pastured horses (S: 26.4+/-1.5 min; P: 19.7+/-1.1; P=0.032). The stalled group required more time to habituate to the activities occurring from the start of training to mounting (S: 11.4+/-0.96; P: 7.3+/-0.75 min; P=0.007). Frequency of unwanted behavior was higher in the stalled horses (S: 8.0+/-2.0; P: 2.2+/-1.0; P=0.020). Pastured horses tended to have higher basal heart rates on day 0 (S: 74.7+/-4.8; P: 81.8+/-5.3 bpm; P=0.0771). While the physiological data failed to identify differences between housing groups, the behavioral data suggest that pasture-kept horses adapt more easily to training than stalled horses.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 717
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