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Author Quaranta, A.; Siniscalchi, M.; Vallortigara, G.
Title Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli Type Abstract
Year 2007 Publication Current biology : CB Abbreviated Journal Curr Biol
Volume 17 Issue 6 Pages R199-R201
Keywords
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Cell Press Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0960-9822 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5733
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Sebilo, M.; Mayer, B.; Nicolardot, B.; Pinay, G.; Mariotti, A.
Title Long-term fate of nitrate fertilizer in agricultural soils Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Abbreviated Journal PNAS
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords
Abstract Increasing diffuse nitrate loading of surface waters and groundwater has emerged as a major problem in many agricultural areas of the world, resulting in contamination of drinking water resources in aquifers as well as eutrophication of freshwaters and coastal marine ecosystems. Although empirical correlations between application rates of N fertilizers to agricultural soils and nitrate contamination of adjacent hydrological systems have been demonstrated, the transit times of fertilizer N in the pedosphere–hydrosphere system are poorly understood. We investigated the fate of isotopically labeled nitrogen fertilizers in a three–decade-long in situ tracer experiment that quantified not only fertilizer N uptake by plants and retention in soils, but also determined to which extent and over which time periods fertilizer N stored in soil organic matter is rereleased for either uptake in crops or export into the hydrosphere. We found that 61–65% of the applied fertilizers N were taken up by plants, whereas 12–15% of the labeled fertilizer N were still residing in the soil organic matter more than a quarter century after tracer application. Between 8–12% of the applied fertilizer had leaked toward the hydrosphere during the 30-y observation period. We predict that additional exports of 15N-labeled nitrate from the tracer application in 1982 toward the hydrosphere will continue for at least another five decades. Therefore, attempts to reduce agricultural nitrate contamination of aquatic systems must consider the long-term legacy of past applications of synthetic fertilizers in agricultural systems and the nitrogen retention capacity of agricultural soils.
Address
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5730
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Author Warmuth, V.; Eriksson, A.; Bower, M.A.; Cañon, J.; Cothran, G.; Distl, O.; Glowatzki-Mullis, M.-L.; Hunt, H.; Luís, C.; do Mar Oom, M.; Yupanqui, I.T.; Zabek, T.; Manica, A.
Title European Domestic Horses Originated in Two Holocene Refugia Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal PLoS ONE
Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages e18194 EP -
Keywords
Abstract <p>The role of European wild horses in horse domestication is poorly understood. While the fossil record for wild horses in Europe prior to horse domestication is scarce, there have been suggestions that wild populations from various European regions might have contributed to the gene pool of domestic horses. To distinguish between regions where domestic populations are mainly descended from local wild stock and those where horses were largely imported, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity in 24 European horse breeds typed at 12 microsatellite loci. The distribution of high levels of genetic diversity in Europe coincides with the distribution of predominantly open landscapes prior to domestication, as suggested by simulation-based vegetation reconstructions, with breeds from Iberia and the Caspian Sea region having significantly higher genetic diversity than breeds from central Europe and the UK, which were largely forested at the time the first domestic horses appear there. Our results suggest that not only the Eastern steppes, but also the Iberian Peninsula provided refugia for wild horses in the Holocene, and that the genetic contribution of these wild populations to local domestic stock may have been considerable. In contrast, the consistently low levels of diversity in central Europe and the UK suggest that domestic horses in these regions largely derive from horses that were imported from the Eastern refugium, the Iberian refugium, or both.</p>
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Public Library of Science Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5710
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Horváth, G.; Blahó, M.; Kriska, G.; Hegedüs, R.; Gerics, B.; Farkas, R.; Åkesson, S.
Title An unexpected advantage of whiteness in horses: the most horsefly-proof horse has a depolarizing white coat Type Journal Article
Year 2010 Publication Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Abbreviated Journal
Volume 277 Issue 1688 Pages 1643-1650
Keywords
Abstract White horses frequently suffer from malign skin cancer and visual deficiencies owing to their high sensitivity to the ultraviolet solar radiation. Furthermore, in the wild, white horses suffer a larger predation risk than dark individuals because they can more easily be detected. In spite of their greater vulnerability, white horses have been highly appreciated for centuries owing to their natural rarity. Here, we show that blood-sucking tabanid flies, known to transmit disease agents to mammals, are less attracted to white than dark horses. We also demonstrate that tabanids use reflected polarized light from the coat as a signal to find a host. The attraction of tabanids to mainly black and brown fur coats is explained by positive polarotaxis. As the host's colour determines its attractiveness to tabanids, this parameter has a strong influence on the parasite load of the host. Although we have studied only the tabanid–horse interaction, our results can probably be extrapolated to other host animals of polarotactic tabanids, as the reflection–polarization characteristics of the host's body surface are physically the same, and thus not species-dependent.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5702
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Vallortigara, G.; Chiandetti, C.; Sovrano, V.A.
Title Brain asymmetry (animal) Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science Abbreviated Journal WIREs Cogn Sci
Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 146-157
Keywords
Abstract Once considered a uniquely human attribute, brain asymmetry has been proved to be ubiquitous among non-human animals. A synthetic review of evidence of animal lateralization in the motor, sensory, cognitive, and affective domains is provided, together with a discussion of its development and possible biological functions. It is argued that investigation of brain asymmetry in a comparative perspective may favor the link between classical neuropsychological studies and modern developmental and evolutionary biology approaches. WIREs Cogni Sci 2011 2 146–157 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.100 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1939-5086 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5687
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Rose-Meierhöfer, S.; Standke, K.; Hoffmann, G.
Title Auswirkungen verschiedener Gruppengrößen auf Bewegungsaktivität, Body Condition Score, Liege- und Sozialverhalten bei Jungpferden Type Journal Article
Year 2010 Publication Züchtungskunde Abbreviated Journal Züchtungskunde
Volume 82 Issue 4 Pages 282–291
Keywords Liegen, Aktivität, Gruppenhaltung, Jungpferde, Sozialverhalten, Body Condition Score [Lying behaviour, activity behaviour, group housing, young horses, social behaviour, Body Condition Score]
Abstract Ziel der Untersuchung war es, herauszufinden, welche Auswirkungen eine Erhöhung der

Gruppengröße bei Jungpferden auf die Bewegungsaktivität, das Liege- und Sozialverhalten

und die Körperkondition hat. Hierfür wurden insgesamt 42 Pferde im Alter von ein

bis zwei Jahren in Laufstallhaltung in die Untersuchung einbezogen. Die Jungpferde aus

der Bewegungs- und Liegeverhaltensanalyse waren in zwei Kleingruppen (acht und

11 Tiere) und einer Großgruppe (23 Tiere) aufgestallt.

In der Bewegungsaktivität waren deutliche Unterschiede zu erkennen. Es ließ sich ein

positiver Einfluss einer höheren Tierzahl nachweisen, aber kein Einfluss des Alters. Beim

Ruheverhalten konnten höhere Liegezeiten und -frequenzen mit einer Zunahme der

Gruppengröße und eine Abnahme der Liegezeit mit zunehmendem Alter ermittelt werden.

Eine Störung des Liegeverhaltens durch Gruppengrößen, die nicht der natürlichen

Herdenstruktur des Pferdes entsprechen, wurde nicht nachgewiesen. Jedoch hatte die

Haltung der Jährlinge in der großen Gruppe einen Anstieg der repulsiven Verhaltensweisen

zur Konsequenz. Zudem zeigte die Bestimmung des Body Condition Scores

Unterschiede in der Körperkondition bei den Jährlingen der Groß- bzw. der Kleingruppe.

Einem Mangel an Bewegung, der für das Auftreten von Gliedmaßenerkrankungen und

Verhaltensstörungen verantwortlich gemacht wird, kann durch die Haltung von Jungpferden

in großen Gruppen entgegengewirkt werden.

[It is often discussed that the inactivity of horses causes diseases of their musculoskeletal system. Due to these problems the objective of the investigation was to quantify if the size of a group has an effect on the behaviour of young horses. Data from 42 horses in the age of one to two years have been involved in the investigation. The data of two small groups were compared with data of one big group with 23 horses. The movement and lying behaviour of 28 horses were measured with ALT pedometers. The social behaviour of 33 yearlings was documented by direct observation. The results show that the median of the movement time of horses in group A is 82 minutes per day. In group B this increases to a median of 101 and group C reaches the highest median of 149. In the case of lying time an increasing group size leads to a longer duration and a higher frequency of lying, whereas an increase in the age reduces the lying duration. International research studies have shown that keeping of horses in big group husbandry systems is not very common by the owners of horses. In contrast these investigations have shown that horse keeping in big groups has no negative influence on the social behaviour and the Body Condition Score of young horses.]
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5671
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Greco, B.J.; Brown, T.K.; Andrews, J.R.M.; Swaisgood, R.R.; Caine, N.G.
Title Social learning in captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Abbreviated Journal Animal Cognition
Volume 16 Issue 3 Pages 459-469
Keywords Elephants; Loxodonta; Social learning; Imitation; Animal cognition
Abstract Social learning is a more efficient method of information acquisition and application than trial and error learning and is prevalent across a variety of animal taxa. Social learning is assumed to be important for elephants, but evidence in support of that claim is mostly anecdotal. Using a herd of six adult female African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park, we evaluated whether viewing a conspecific’s interactions facilitated learning of a novel task. The tasks used feeding apparatus that could be solved in one of two distinct ways. Contrary to our hypothesis, the method the demonstrating animal used did not predict the method used by the observer. However, we did find evidence of social learning: After watching the model, subjects spent a greater percentage of their time interacting with the apparatus than they did in unmodeled trials. These results suggest that the demonstrations of a model may increase the motivation of elephants to explore novel foraging tasks.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Springer-Verlag Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5668
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Hoffmann, G.; Bockisch, F.-J.; Kreimeier, P.
Title Einfluss des Haltungssystems auf die Bewegungsaktivität und Stressbelastung bei Pferden in Auslaufhaltungssystemen Type Journal Article
Year 2009 Publication Landbauforschung – vTI Agriculture and Forestry Research Abbreviated Journal
Volume 2 Issue 59 Pages 105-112
Keywords Bewegung, Cortisol, Herzfrequenzvariabilität (HFV), Pferd, Verhalten [movement, cortisol, heart rate variability (HRV), horse, behaviour]
Abstract Frühere Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass die tägliche Bewegung für die Gesunderhaltung der Pferde notwendig ist. Inwieweit sich jedoch unterschiedliche Bewegungsangebote auf das Stress-und Bewegungsverhalten von Pferden in einer Gruppen-Auslaufhaltung auswirken und ob der Bewegungsbedarf der Pferde durch eine Auslaufhaltung ohne zusätzliche Bewegung gedeckt werden kann, ist der Literatur bisher nicht zu entnehmen. Daher sollte in der nachfolgend beschriebenen Untersuchung der Frage nachgegangen werden, welche Auswirkungen verschiedene Bewegungsangebote auf die Bewegungsaktivität von Pferden in Gruppen-Auslaufhaltungen haben und ob diese das Wohlbefinden der Tiere beeinflussen. Letzteres wurde durch Messung der Herzfrequenzvariabilität und Bestimmung von Cortisolmetaboliten im Pferdekot erfasst und die Bewegungsaktivität der Pferde wurde mit ALT-Pedometern bestimmt.

Verglichen wurden eine Einzel-und Gruppenhaltung mit jeweils angrenzendem Auslauf, aber ohne eine zusätzliche Bewegung der Pferde außerhalb des Stalls. In drei weiteren Varianten der Gruppenhaltung bekamen die Pferde täglichen Auslauf auf einer unbegrünten Koppel, auf einer Weide oder durch gezielte Bewegung in einer Führanlage. Die Bewegungsaktivität konnte durch die zusätzliche Bewegung in Form von Weide oder Führanlage signifikant gesteigert werden.

Ein zusätzliches Bewegungsangebot führte bei den Pferden zu einer Abnahme der Stressbelastung und sollte auch den Pferden ermöglicht werden, die in einer Gruppenhaltung gehalten werden, um ihre physische und psychische Gesundheit zu erhalten.

[Former studies confirm the necessity of daily movement for the health of a horse. But so far no description could be found in the literature how different movement offerings impact the stress and movement behaviour of horses in group husbandries with close-by discharge. The same holds true for the question whether a discharge husbandry system can meet the movement requirements of horses if there isn&#65533;t any additional movement possibility. The aim of the present study was to examine different movement offerings, their effects on the movement activities of horses in a group horse husbandry with close-by discharge and the impact of the movement on the wellbeing of the animals.

The heart rate variability and the concentration of the cortisol metabolites in the horse excrement were analyzed for detecting the wellbeing of the horses. Additionally ALT-Pedometers were used for determining the movement activity.

A single and a group husbandry system, each with closeby discharge, were compared when horses had no additional movement outside the stable. In three further variants the group husbandry was supplemented with daily time on a non-grassy pasture land, a pasture or in a horse walker. Pasture or horse walker increased movement activity significantly. Nevertheless an additional movement offering resulted in a lower stress load of the horses and should also be allowed to horses in group husbandry systems to ensure the horse&#65533;s physical and mental health.]
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5661
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author Hoffmann; G.
Title Bewegungsaktivität und Stressbelastung bei Pferden in Auslaufhaltungssystemen mit verschiedenen Bewegungsangeboten Type Manuscript
Year 2008 Publication Dissertation Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords
Abstract Pferdehaltungssysteme mit angrenzenden Ausläufen gelten als eine sehr tiergerechte

Haltungsform, da sie den Tieren eine gewisse Bewegungsmöglichkeit

bieten. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es, zu erfassen, ob der angrenzende

Auslauf selbst einen ausreichenden Anreiz zur Bewegung darstellt und wie sich verschiedene

Bewegungs- und Platzangebote auf die Bewegungsaktivität von Pferden

in einer Gruppen-Auslaufhaltung auswirken. Zudem wurde ermittelt, welche Auswirkung

die Bewegungsform bzw. –intensität auf das Wohlbefinden der Tiere hat.

Der Großteil der in Deutschland gehaltenen Pferde verbringt die meiste Zeit des

Tages im Stall, obwohl mittlerweile bekannt ist, dass Pferde unter natürlichen

Haltungsbedingungen 12 bis 16 Stunden des Tages in Bewegung verbringen. Der

Optimierung der Stallhaltungssysteme gilt daher ein besonderes Interesse.

Zu diesem Zweck wurden von September 2004 bis Oktober 2005 Versuche mit 24

Warmblutstuten im Alter von 1½ bis 3½ Jahren in Einzel- und Gruppen-

Auslaufhaltungssystemen durchgeführt. Jeweils sechs Pferde bildeten eine Versuchsgruppe.

In jeder Gruppe fanden fünf Varianten von einer ca. dreiwöchigen

Dauer statt. Die Gruppenhaltung wurde dabei durch drei unterschiedliche Zusatzbewegungsangebote

(2 Std. Weide / Tag, 2 Std. unbegrünte Koppel / Tag, 1 Std. Freilauf-

Führanlage / Tag) ergänzt. In der Einzel-Auslaufhaltung (Box mit 45 m²-großem

angrenzenden Auslauf) und in einer Versuchsvariante der Gruppenhaltung bekamen

die Pferde hingegen keine zusätzliche Bewegung außerhalb des Stallhaltungssystems

angeboten. Das Gruppenhaltungssystem selbst war durch die räumliche

Trennung der Funktionsbereiche (Liegen, Fressen, Trinken, Bewegen) gekennzeichnet

und der angrenzende Auslauf war 270 m² groß. In einer zusätzlichen Versuchsphase

fand in der Gruppenhaltung eine Erweiterung des permanent zugänglichen

Auslaufs auf insg. 540 m² statt.

Die Bewegungsaktivität wurde mit Pedometern erfasst, die an jeweils einem Hinterbein

der Pferde befestigt wurden und ergänzend fand eine Analyse von Videoaufzeichnungen

statt. Zur Beurteilung der Stressbelastung fanden Messungen der Herz192

Zusammenfassung

frequenzvariabilität (Parameter HF und SD2) und der fäkalen Cortisolmetabolitenkonzentration

statt.

Die Auswertung des Bewegungsverhaltens ergab, dass eine zusätzliche zweistündige

freie Bewegung der Pferdegruppe auf einer Weide zu einer deutlichen

Steigerung der durchschnittlichen Bewegungsaktivität (149,6 Min. / Tag) führt,

ebenso wie eine einstündige Bewegung in einer Führanlage (173,0 Min. / Tag). Eine

unbegrünte Koppel regte die Pferde der Gruppenhaltung hingegen nicht zu vermehrter

Bewegung an (131,6 Min. / Tag), sondern bewirkte z. T. sogar eine Abnahme

der Bewegungsaktivität. In der Gruppen-Auslaufhaltung ohne zusätzliches Bewegungsangebot

war die Bewegungsaktivität ebenfalls gering (125,8 Min / Tag) und

während der Einzel-Auslaufhaltung ohne Zusatzbewegung zeigten die Pferde die

geringste Bewegungsaktivität (102,3 Min. / Tag).

Bei der alleinigen Analyse der Bewegungszeit im Stallhaltungssystem war kein signifikanter

Einfluss der zusätzlichen Bewegung außerhalb des Stallsystems auf die

übrige Fortbewegung feststellbar.

Auch eine Vergrößerung des an den Stall angrenzenden Auslaufs im Gruppenhaltungssystem

hatte keinen steigernden Einfluss auf das Bewegungsverhalten der

Pferde.

Die Stressbelastung der Pferde war in den Varianten der Gruppenhaltung mit zweistündigem

Weidegang (SD2: 82,9 ms; Cortisolmetaboliten: 29,0 nmol / kg Kot) sowie

der einstündigen Bewegung in einer Freilauf-Führanlage (SD2: 99,2 ms; Cortisolmetaboliten:

27,7 nmol / kg Kot) am geringsten. Die Untersuchungen zeigten eine

Stresszunahme in der Gruppenhaltung mit zweistündigem Auslauf auf einer unbegrünten

Koppel ohne Futterangebot (SD2: 101,3 ms; Cortisolmetaboliten:

39,6 nmol / kg Kot) sowie in der Variante der Gruppenhaltung ohne zusätzliches Bewegungsangebot

(SD2: 113,3 ms; Cortisolmetaboliten: 38,4 nmol / kg Kot). Dem

Mittelwert der Gruppe nach zu folgern hatten die Pferde während der Einzelhaltung

ohne Zusatzbewegung eine sehr große Stressbelastung (SD2: 123,8 ms; Cortisolmetaboliten:

37,5 nmol / kg Kot). Ein Vergleich der Gruppen- und Einzelhaltung hinsichtlich

der Herzfrequenzvariabilität hat jedoch gezeigt, dass insg. 70 % der Pferde

während der Haltung in einer Gruppe weniger Stress empfinden. Es gab aber auch

Zusammenfassung 193

Pferde (30 %), die in der Einzelhaltung eine abnehmende Stressbelastung zeigten,

wobei hier der Einfluss der Rangordnung eine entscheidende Rolle zu spielen

scheint.

Durch die Auswertung mehrerer Messparameter (sowohl für Stress- als auch für Bewegungsverhalten)

werden gleichgerichtete Tendenzen bei den Versuchsvarianten

deutlich, allerdings ist eine eindeutige Gewichtung der Parameter nicht möglich.

Somit ist die methodische Vorgehensweise dieser Untersuchung sehr positiv und als

notwendig anzusehen, da die Messdaten auch immer gewissen Schwankungen

durch externe Einflüsse unterliegen.

Allgemein ist festzuhalten, dass Auslaufhaltungssysteme zwar eine gewisse

Anregung zur Bewegung bieten, aber mit maximal vier Stunden (insg. 62 – 248 Min.)

Bewegung pro Tag war der tägliche Anteil an Bewegung sehr viel geringer als

beispielsweise bei Pferden in freier Wildbahn oder ganzjähriger Weidehaltung. Somit

deckt ein Auslaufhaltungssystem trotz getrennter Funktionsbereiche und eines

großen Auslaufs nicht den Bewegungsbedarf der Pferde, wenn keine zusätzlichen

Bewegungsanreize und –möglichkeiten angeboten werden.

Eine zusätzliche Bewegung von Pferden ist nicht nur zur Gesunderhaltung des

Bewegungsapparates und der Körperfunktionen notwendig, sondern auch um das

Wohlbefinden und die Ausgeglichenheit der Pferde zu steigern.

[Horse husbandry systems with close-by discharge are considered to be a very livestock-

friendly housing form, as they offer a certain movement opportunity for the

animals. The aim of the present study was to examine how different movement and

space offerings affect the movement activities of horses in a group horse husbandry

with close-by discharge, and whether the discharge provides itself an adequate

incentive for movement. The impact that the form or rather intensity of movement has

on the wellbeing of the animals was also established.

Most of the horses held in Germany spend most of the day in the stable, although it is

meanwhile known that horses under natural housing conditions are 12 to 16 hours of

the day in motion. Therefore the improvement of stable housing systems applies a

special interest.

For this purpose, 24 warmblood mares, aged from 1½ to 3½ years, were studied in

single and group discharge husbandry systems from September 2004 until October

2005. Six horses formed an experimental group. In every group five variants of approximately

three weeks were proceeded. Thereby the group husbandry was supplemented

with three different additional movement opportunities (2 h pasture / day,

2 h non-grassy pasture land / day, 1 h free range horse walker / day). In the single

discharge husbandry (single box with 45 sq. m-large close-by discharge) and in one

experimental variant of the group husbandry got the horses, however, offered no additional

movement outside the husbandry system. The group husbandry system itself

was marked by the spatial division of the functional areas (lying, eating, drinking,

moving) and the close-by discharge measured 270 sq. m. In an additional phase of

the study, and expansion of the permanently accessible close-by discharge to

540 sq. m was found.

The movement activity was documented with pedometers attached respectively to

one hind leg of the horse and a supplementary analysis of video documentation. To

evaluate the stress exposure measurements of heart frequency variability (parameters

HF and SD2) and of the faecal cortisol metabolite concentration were performed.

Summary 195

The interpretation of the movement behaviour showed that additional two hours of

free movement on a pasture led to a significant increase in the average movement

activity (149.6 min / day), as well as one hour movement in a horsewalker did

(173.0 min / day). The non-grassy pasture land, however, didn’t inspire the horses of

the group husbandry to increased movement (131.6 min / day), but sometimes even

caused a decrease in movement activity. In the group discharge husbandry without

additional movement opportunities the movement activity was also low

(125.8 min / day), and during the single discharge husbandry without additional

movement the horses showed the least movement activity (102.3 min / day).

In analysing only the movement time in the stable system was no significant impact

of the additional movement outside the housing system to the rest of locomotion

ascertainable.

As well an expansion of the close-by stable discharge in the group husbandry system

had no increasing influence on the movement behaviour of the horses.

The stress exposure of the horses was least in the variations of group husbandry

with two hours on a pasture (SD2: 82.9 ms; cortisol metabolites: 29.0 nmol / kg faeces)

as well as one hour of movement in a free range horse walker (SD2: 99.2 ms;

cortisol metabolites: 27.7 nmol / kg faeces). The studies showed a rise in stress in

group husbandry with two hours of movement on a non-grassy pasture land without

feeding opportunity (SD2: 101.3 ms; cortisol metabolites: 39.6 nmol / kg faeces) as

well as in the variation of the group husbandry without additional movement offerings

(SD2: 113.3 ms; cortisol metabolites: 38.4 nmol / kg faeces). Judging from the mean

of the group the horses had a very high stress exposure in the variation of the single

husbandry without additional movement offerings (SD2: 123.8 ms; cortisol metabolites:

37.5 nmol / kg faeces). But a comparison of the group and single husbandry in

terms of the heart frequency variability showed that alltogether 70 % of the horses

experienced less stress if hold in a group. However, some horses (30 %) showed

reducing stress in the single husbandry, whereas here the influence of social hierarchy

seems to play a decisive role.

196 Summary

In consequence of the examination of several measuring parameters (both for stressand

for movement behaviour) parallel aligned tendencies become apparent in the

experimental variants, however, is a unique weighting of the parameters not possible.

Thus, the methodological approach of this study is to be regarde as very positive and

necessary, since the data always vary with some fluctuations by external influences.

In general it can be established that discharge husbandry systems offer some incentive

for the horse to move, but with a maximum of four hours (overall 62 – 248 min) of

movement per day, the daily proportion of movement was much less than, for example,

in the case of wild horses or year-round pasture keeping. Thus, if no additional

movement incentives and possibilities are offered, the discharge husbandry system

doesn’t cover the movement needs of the horse despite separate functional areas

and a large outside discharge.

Additional movement is not only necessary to keep the musculoskeletal system and

bodily functions of the horse healthy, but also to ensure the horse’s well being and

mental balance.]
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5660
Permanent link to this record
 
 
Author McComb, K.; Shannon, G.; Durant, S.M.; Sayialel, K.; Slotow, R.; Poole, J.; Moss, C.
Title Leadership in elephants: the adaptive value of age Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Abbreviated Journal Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B.
Volume 278 Issue 1722 Pages 3270-3276
Keywords
Abstract The value of age is well recognized in human societies, where older individuals often emerge as leaders in tasks requiring specialized knowledge, but what part do such individuals play in other social species? Despite growing interest in how effective leadership might be achieved in animal social systems, the specific role that older leaders may play in decision-making has rarely been experimentally investigated. Here, we use a novel playback paradigm to demonstrate that in African elephants (Loxodonta africana), age affects the ability of matriarchs to make ecologically relevant decisions in a domain critical to survival—the assessment of predatory threat. While groups consistently adjust their defensive behaviour to the greater threat of three roaring lions versus one, families with younger matriarchs typically under-react to roars from male lions despite the severe danger they represent. Sensitivity to this key threat increases with matriarch age and is greatest for the oldest matriarchs, who are likely to have accumulated the most experience. Our study provides the first empirical evidence that individuals within a social group may derive significant benefits from the influence of an older leader because of their enhanced ability to make crucial decisions about predatory threat, generating important insights into selection for longevity in cognitively advanced social mammals.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial (down) 5652
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