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| Author | Krueger, K. | ||||
Title  |
Social learning and innovative behaviour in horses | Type | Conference Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting | Abbreviated Journal | Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
| Volume | Issue | Pages | |||
| Keywords | social learning, innovative behaviour, Equus caballus, cognitive capacities | ||||
| Abstract | The evaluation of important parameters for measuring the horses’ cognitive capacities is one of the central topics of the equine behaviour team at Nürtingen-Geislingen University. Social complexity has been said to be one of the settings in which needs for cognitive capacities arise in animals. A variety of studies throughout the last two decades proved the horses’ social complexity to be far more elaborate than previously assumed. Horses form social bonds for the protection of offspring, intervene in encounters of others, identify group mates individually and easily orientate in a fission fusion society. In such socially complex societies, animals will benefit from learning socially. In many bird and primate species the degree of social complexity correlates nicely with the species abilities for social learning. Social learning was, therefore, argued to be an indicator for elaborate mental capacities in animals. We were delighted to prove that horses actually copy social behaviour and techniques for operating a feeding apparatus from older and higher ranking group members. In a recent study we found young horses, at the age of 3 to 12, to copy the operation of a feeding apparatus from a human demonstrator. Social learning seems to work nicely in horses when the social background of the animals is considered. The degree to which individual animals adapt to changes in their social or physical environment by finding innovative solution appears to be the other side of the coin, of whether animals adjust to challenges by social learning. It is not very astonishing, that along with the animals’ social complexity and their ability to learn socially also the degree to which they show innovative behaviour was claimed to be one of the most important demonstrations of advanced cognitive capacities. In a recent approach, we started to ask horse owners and horse keepers in many countries to tell us about unusual behaviour of their horses via a web site (http://innovative-behaviour.org). To date, we received 204 cases of innovative behaviour descriptions from which six cases were clear examples of tool use or borderline tool use. We categorized the innovative behaviours into the classes, a) innovations to gain food, b) innovations to gain freedom, c) social innovations, d) innovations to increase maintenance, and e) innovations that could not be clearly assigned to a category. About 20% of the innovative horses showed more than one innovation. These animals could be termed “true innovators”. Again, young horses were more innovative than older ones with the age group 5 – 9 showing the highest number of innovative behaviour descriptions. In a nutshell, the horses’ cognitive capacities appear to be underestimated throughout the last decades. The horses’ social complexity is far more elaborate than previously assumed, horses learn socially from conspecific and humans, some of them demonstrate innovative behaviour adaptations to their environment and even simple forms of tool use. |
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| Corporate Author | Krueger, K. | Thesis | |||
| Publisher | Xenophon Publishing | Place of Publication | Wald | Editor | |
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| Series Editor | Series Title | Abbreviated Series Title | |||
| Series Volume | in prep | Series Issue | Edition | ||
| ISSN | ISBN | 978-3-95625-000-2 | Medium | ||
| Area | Expedition | Conference | |||
| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5848 | ||
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| Author | Fischhoff, I.R.; Sundaresan, S.R.; Cordingley, J.; Larkin, H.M.; Sellier, M.-J.; Rubenstein, D.I. | ||||
| Title |
Social relationships and reproductive state influence leadership roles in movements of plains zebra, Equus burchellii | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2007 | Publication | Animal Behaviour. | Abbreviated Journal | Anim. Behav. |
| Volume | 73 | Issue | 5 | Pages | 825-831 |
| Keywords | collective movements; drinking; equid; Equus burchellii; foraging; group dynamics; motivation; plains zebra; reproductive status; social relationships | ||||
| Abstract | In animal groups, collective movements emerge from individual interactions. Biologists seek to identify how characteristics of actors in these groups, and their relationships, influence the decision-making process. We distinguished two basic factors determining leadership in group choices: identity and state. We hypothesized that identity is more important to leadership in groups with stable relationships, which permit the development of habitual roles. In groups with fluid membership, particular individuals or subgroups are less likely to emerge as consistent leaders. Instead, we predicted that movement initiation in unstable groups depends on individual state at the time of the decision. We characterized how identity and reproductive state influenced leadership patterns in the movements of plains zebra. As in many other mammals, lactation in this species significantly alters water and energy needs. We investigated leadership in tightly knit harems and loosely bonded herds of multiple harems. Harem females tended to have habitual roles in the initiation of harem movement. In herds, however, we found no consistent leaders among harems. At both levels of social organization, lactation was a key determinant of leadership. In harems, lactating females were more likely to initiate movement than nonlactating females. In turn, harems containing lactating females were more likely to lead herd movements. Thus, we conclude that social relationships and reproductive state together shape the interactions that produce group behaviours. One benefit to lactating females of leading herd movements is preferential access to scarce water. Thus, leadership roles in group decisions may have fitness consequences. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ room B 3.092 | Serial | 1825 | ||
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| Author | Heitor, F.; do Mar Oom, M.; Vicente, L. | ||||
| Title |
Social relationships in a herd of Sorraia horses: Part II. Factors affecting affiliative relationships and sexual behaviours | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2006 | Publication | Behavioural Processes | Abbreviated Journal | Behav. Process. |
| Volume | 73 | Issue | 3 | Pages | 231-239 |
| Keywords | Horse; Equus; Affiliative relationship; Rank; Kinship; Aggressiveness | ||||
| Abstract | The influence of age, dominance rank, kinship and aggressiveness over affiliative relationships and sexual behaviours were analysed in a herd of Sorraia horses, Equus caballus, kept under extensive management. Subjects were 10 adult mares 5-18 years old that had known each other since birth, and a stallion introduced into the group for breeding for the first time. Kinship coefficient and dominance rank were the most important factors affecting affiliative relationships. Bonds were reciprocal and stronger among mares with higher kinship. Mares spent more time in proximity to close-ranking and lower-ranking females. Mares with stronger affiliative relationships or higher relatedness were not less aggressive towards each other. Affiliative relationships between the stallion and the mares were not reciprocal: lower-ranking mares formed stronger bonds with the stallion but he preferred the less genetically related mares for proximity. However, the stallion was involved in sexual behaviours more frequently with the mares that were more genetically related to him. These results suggest that kinship beyond close relatives may affect affiliative relationships both among familiar and among unfamiliar horses. However, the influence of kinship does not imply that horses possess a kin recognition system and alternative explanations are discussed. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | refbase @ user @ | Serial | 462 | ||
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| Author | Zucca, P.; Cerri, F.; Carluccio, A.; Baciadonna, L. | ||||
| Title |
Space availability influence laterality in donkeys (Equus asinus) | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | Publication | Behavioural Processes | Abbreviated Journal | Behav. Process. | |
| Volume | In Press, Uncorrected Proof | Issue | Pages | ||
| Keywords | Cerebral lateralization; Donkey; Footedness; Welfare; Equus asinus | ||||
| Abstract | Cerebral lateralization is the portioning of the cognitive functions between the two cerebral hemispheres. Several factors, like embryological manipulations, light exposure, health conditions, sex and age can influence the left-right brain asymmetries and contribute to increasing the variability in the strength and direction of laterality within most species. We investigated the influence of an environmental constraint, namely space availability, as a new source of variation on laterality in an adult vertebrate model, the donkey. In a baseline condition we tested whether donkeys show a motor lateralization bias at population level, while in an experimental condition we manipulated space availability to verify if a reduction in this parameter could represent a new source of variation in laterality. Results show that donkeys are lateralized at population level with a strong bias to standing with the right forelimb advanced over the left and that a reduction of space availability is an important source of variation in the laterality strength and direction within this species. The comparative analysis of the environmental and developmental factors that give origin to neural and behavioural laterality in animal models will be very important for a better understanding of the evolutionary origin of such multifaceted phenomenon. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0376-6357 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5400 | ||
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| Author | h:, M.; Lévy, F.; Fortin, M.; Leterrier, C.; LansadLansade, L. | ||||
| Title |
Stress and temperament affect working memory performance for disappearing food in horses, Equus caballus | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2013 | Publication | Animal Behaviour | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 86 | Issue | 6 | Pages | 1233-1240 |
| Keywords | delayed-response task emotion; equid; Equus caballus; fearfulness; individual difference; personality; stress; temperament | ||||
| Abstract | In the present study, we sought to determine the influence of stress and temperament on working memory for disappearing food in horses. After assessment of five dimensions of temperament, we tested working memory of horses using a delayed-response task requiring a choice between two food locations. Delays ranging from 0 to 20 s were tested. The duration of working memory for disappearing food was first characterized without stressors (N = 26). The horses were then divided into two groups and their performance was assessed under stressful (exposure to acute stressors prior to testing, N = 12) or control conditions (N = 12). Results showed that the duration of working memory for disappearing food lasted at least 20 s under nonstressful conditions, and that under stressful conditions this duration lasted less than 12 s. This stress-induced impairment confirms in a nonrodent species that working memory performance is very sensitive to exposure to stressors. In addition, working memory performance in horses is influenced by the temperamental dimension of fearfulness according to the state of stress: fearful horses showed better performance under control conditions and worse performance under stressful conditions than nonfearful horses. These findings are discussed in the context of the Yerkes–Dodson law of stress and performance. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0003-3472 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5746 | ||
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| Author | Moehlman, P.D.; Kebede, F.; Yohannes, H. | ||||
| Title |
The African wild ass (Equus africanus): conservation status in the horn of Africa | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 1998 | Publication | Applied Animal Behaviour Science | Abbreviated Journal | Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
| Volume | 60 | Issue | 2-3 | Pages | 115-124 |
| Keywords | Equus africanus; Critically endangered; Extinction | ||||
| Abstract | From 1989 to 1996, surveys were made in most of the historic range of African wild asses in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. From the 1970s to the mid 1990s populations of African wild asses (Equus africanus, Fitzinger, 1857) in Somalia and Ethiopia have declined from approximately 6 to 30 per 100 km2 to 1 or 2 per 100 km2. Given the current IUCN criteria, they are Critically Endangered (CR) and face extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future, as their populations have been reduced by at least 80% over the last 10+ years (IUCN, 1994). Basic research is needed on this species as scientific information on its reproductive biology, behavior, ecology, and genetics is very limited. Improved support needs to be provided to existing parks and reserves and new multiple use reserves need to be established. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 2380 | ||
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| Author | Wolter, R.; Pantel, N.; Stefanski, V.; Möstl, E.; Krueger, K. | ||||
| Title |
The role of an alpha animal in changing environmental conditions | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2014 | Publication | Physiology & Behavior | Abbreviated Journal | Physiol. Behav. |
| Volume | 133 | Issue | Pages | 236-243 | |
| Keywords | Alpha male; Horse; Equus ferus przewalskii; Bachelor group; Group structure | ||||
| Abstract | Abstract The maintenance and development of conservation areas by grazing of large herbivores, such as Przewalski's horses, is common practice. Several nature conservation areas house male bachelor groups of this species. When males are needed for breeding they are removed from the groups, often without considering group compositions and individual social positions. However, alpha animals are needed for ensuring group stability and decision making in potentially dangerous situations in several species. To investigate the role of the alpha male in a bachelor group, we observed the behaviour of five Przewalski's horse males during the enlargement of their enclosure. We analyzed the group's social structure and movement orders, as well as the animals' connectedness, activity budgets, and whether they moved with preferred group members and how factors such as social rank influenced the horses' behaviour. We also investigated the excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) via faeces of the horses while exploring a new area as a parameter of glucocorticoid production. Our results show that the alpha male is important for a bachelor group in changing environmental conditions. The alpha male had the highest level of connectedness within the group. When exploring the new environment, its position in the group changed from previously being the last to being the first. Furthermore the whole group behaviour changed when exploring the new area. The stallions showed reduced resting behavior, increased feeding and did not stay close to each other. We found that the excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites of most horses rose only marginally during the first days on the new area while only the alpha male showed a significant increased amount of glucocorticoid production during the first day of the enclosure enlargement. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0031-9384 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5818 | ||
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| Author | Proops, L.; Walton, M.; McComb, K. | ||||
| Title |
The use of human-given cues by domestic horses, Equus caballus, during an object choice task | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2010 | Publication | Animal Behaviour. | Abbreviated Journal | Anim. Behav. |
| Volume | 79 | Issue | 6 | Pages | 1205-1209 |
| Keywords | domestication; Equus caballus; horse; interspecific communication; marker cue; pointing; social cognition | ||||
| Abstract | Selection pressures during domestication are thought to lead to an enhanced ability to use human-given cues. Horses fulfil a wide variety of roles for humans and have been domesticated for at least 5000 years but their ability to read human cues has not been widely studied. We tested the ability of 28 horses to attend to human-given cues in an object choice task. We included five different cues: distal sustained pointing, momentary tapping, marker placement, body orientation and gaze (head) alternation. Horses were able to use the pointing and marker placement cues spontaneously but not the tapping, body orientation and gaze alternation cues. The overall pattern of responding suggests that horses may use cues that provide stimulus enhancement at the time of choice and do not have an understanding of the communicative nature of the cues given. As such, their proficiency at this task appears to be inferior to that of domestic dogs, Canis lupus familiaris, but similar to that of domestic goats, Caprus hircus. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0003-3472 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5083 | ||
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| Author | Schneider, G.; Krueger, K. | ||||
| Title |
Third-party interventions keep social partners from exchanging affiliative interactions with others | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2012 | Publication | Animal Behaviour | Abbreviated Journal | Anim. Behav. |
| Volume | 83 | Issue | 2 | Pages | 377-387 |
| Keywords | Equus caballus; horse; rank; social bond; social network; third-party intervention | ||||
| Abstract | Third-party interventions are defined as the interruption of dyadic interactions by third animals through direct physical contact, interposing or threats. Previous studies focused on the analysis of interventions against agonistic encounters. However, there have been no evaluations of interventions against affiliative behaviours, particularly in relation to the intervening animal�s social relationships and its social and spatial position. Horses, Equus caballus, are an interesting model species, as interventions against affiliative interactions occur more frequently than against agonistic interactions. In this study, 64 feral horses displayed 67 interventions in affiliative interactions and eight interventions in agonistic interactions within the observation period. We analysed the interventions in affiliative encounters, and found that it was mainly higher-ranking females that intervened in the affiliative interactions of group mates in the stable horse harems. The intervening animals took an active part in affiliative and agonistic encounters within the group, but did not occupy particular social roles or spatial positions. They intervened in affiliative interactions in which group mates with which they had social bonds interacted with other members of the group. They targeted the nonbonded animal and approached the one with which they were socially bonded. We suggest some species use third-party interventions in affiliative interactions to prevent competition for preferred social interaction partners from escalating into more costly agonistic encounters. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0003-3472 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5492 | ||
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