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Author Kralj-Fiser, S.; Scheiber, I.B.R.; Blejec, A.; Moestl, E.; Kotrschal, K. doi  openurl
  Title Individualities in a flock of free-roaming greylag geese: behavioral and physiological consistency over time and across situations Type Journal Article
  Year 2007 Publication (up) Hormones and Behavior Abbreviated Journal Horm Behav  
  Volume 51 Issue 2 Pages 239-248  
  Keywords Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Corticosterone/metabolism; Feces; Female; Geese/*physiology; Individuality; Male; Personality/*physiology; Population Density; Reproducibility of Results; Seasons; *Social Behavior; Social Environment; Testosterone/*metabolism  
  Abstract The concept of personality implies individual differences in behavior and physiology that show some degree of repeatability/consistency over time and across contexts. Most studies of animal personality, particularly studies of individuals' variation in physiological mechanisms, have been conducted on selected individuals in controlled conditions. We attempted to detect consistent behaviors as well as physiological patterns in greylag ganders (Anser anser) from a free-roaming flock living in semi-natural conditions. We tested 10 individuals repeatedly, in a handling trial, resembling tests for characterization of “temperaments” in captive animals. We recorded the behavior of the same 10 individuals during four situations in the socially intact flock: (1) a “low density feeding condition”, (2) a “high density feeding condition”, (3) a “low density post-feeding situation” and (4) while the geese rested. We collected fecal samples for determination of excreted immuno-reactive corticosterone (BM) and testosterone metabolites (TM) after handling trials, as well as the “low density feeding” and the “high density feeding” conditions. BM levels were very highly consistent over the repeats of handling trials, and the “low density feeding condition” and tended to be consistent over the first two repeats of the “high density feeding condition”. Also, BM responses tended to be consistent across contexts. Despite seasonal variation, there tended to be inter-test consistency of TM, which pointed to some individual differences in TM as well. Aggressiveness turned out to be a highly repeatable trait, which was consistent across social situations, and tended to correlate with an individual's resistance during handling trials. Also, “proximity to the female partner” and “sociability” – the average number of neighboring geese in a close distance while resting – were consistent. We conclude that aggressiveness, “affiliative tendencies” and levels of excreted corticosterone and testosterone metabolites may be crucial factors of personality in geese.  
  Address University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Slovenia. simona.kralj@guest.arnes.si  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
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  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0018-506X ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes PMID:17196200 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4189  
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Author Stöwe, M. & Kotrschal, K. doi  openurl
  Title Behavioural phenotypes may determine whether social context facilitates or delays novel object exploration in ravens. Type Journal Article
  Year 2007 Publication (up) International Journal of Ornithology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 148 Issue Suppl 2 Pages 179-184  
  Keywords Corvus corax – Novel object exploration – Personality – Social facilitation  
  Abstract Individuals consistently differ in behavioural phenotypes. Here we examine the interaction between behavioural phenotype and response to social context during novel object exploration in a neophobic corvid species, the raven (Corvus corax). The presence of conspecifics tends to encourage object exploration and learning but may also delay or even inhibit exploratory behaviour. Factors such as individual differences in response to social context may determine whether the presence of a conspecific facilitates or inhibits approach to novel objects. We confronted eleven six-month-old hand-raised ravens with novel objects, both individually and in dyadic combinations. We defined individuals as “fast” and “slow” explorers on the basis of their approach latency to novel objects when tested individually. The presence of a conspecific delayed the approach of fast birds to novel objects. Slow birds, in contrast, approached the novel objects with lower latencies and spent more time close to them when in dyads with fast siblings than when alone. The individuals" approach behaviour seemed to determine whether social context facilitated or delayed exploratory behaviour. This may contribute to explaining ambiguous results concerning the effects of social context in previous studies.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4507  
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Author Wascher, C.A.F.; Fraser, O.N.; Kotrschal, K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Heart Rate during Conflicts Predicts Post-Conflict Stress-Related Behavior in Greylag Geese Type Journal Article
  Year 2010 Publication (up) PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal PLoS ONE  
  Volume 5 Issue 12 Pages e15751  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Background

Social stressors are known to be among the most potent stressors in group-living animals. This is not only manifested in individual physiology (heart rate, glucocorticoids), but also in how individuals behave directly after a conflict. Certain ‘stress-related behaviors’ such as autopreening, body shaking, scratching and vigilance have been suggested to indicate an individual's emotional state. Such behaviors may also alleviate stress, but the behavioral context and physiological basis of those behaviors is still poorly understood.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We recorded beat-to-beat heart rates (HR) of 22 greylag geese in response to agonistic encounters using fully implanted sensor-transmitter packages. Additionally, for 143 major events we analyzed the behavior shown by our focal animals in the first two minutes after an interaction. Our results show that the HR during encounters and characteristics of the interaction predicted the frequency and duration of behaviors shown after a conflict.

Conclusions/Significance

To our knowledge this is the first study to quantify the physiological and behavioral responses to single agonistic encounters and to link this to post conflict behavior. Our results demonstrate that ‘stress-related behaviors’ are flexibly modulated by the characteristics of the preceding aggressive interaction and reflect the individual's emotional strain, which is linked to autonomic arousal. We found no support for the stress-alleviating hypothesis, but we propose that stress-related behaviors may play a role in communication with other group members, particularly with pair-partners.
 
  Address  
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  Publisher Public Library of Science Place of Publication Editor  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5298  
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Author Scheiber, I. B.R.; WeiB, B. M.; Hirschenhauser, K.; Wascher, C. A.F.; Nedelcu, J.T.; Kotrschal, K. doi  openurl
  Title Does 'Relationship Intelligence' Make Big Brains in Birds? Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication (up) The Open Biology Journal Abbreviated Journal Open Biol J  
  Volume 1 Issue Pages 6-8 (3)  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Lately, Emery et al. developed a bird-specific modification of the *social brain hypothesis*, termed *relationship intelligence hypothesis*. Although the idea may be valuable, we doubt that it is supported by sufficient evidence and critically discuss some of the arguments raised by the authors in favour of their new idea.  
  Address AKonrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle fur Ethologie, Fischerau 11, 4645 Gruenau im Almtal, Austria.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4504  
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