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Author R. A. J. Taylor doi  openurl
  Title The Behavioural Basis of Redistribution I. The Delta -Model Concept Type Journal Article
  Year 1981 Publication The Journal of Animal Ecology Abbreviated Journal T. J. Anim. Ecol.  
  Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 573-586  
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  Abstract (1) A conceptual model is developed in which spatial behaviour is density-dependent. The behaviour is classified as congregatory or migratory according to whether it results in movement towards or away from population concentrations. (2) Spatial behaviour is shown to result from both individual and population interactions. (3) The stability properties of the model are explored and it is shown how, under particular conditions, populations obeying the model have a population density regulating mechanism. (4) The similarity between the model and the potential energy curve of physics is noted, but it is emphasized that this is a behavioural not a physical model.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 720  
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Author Negi,G. C. S.; Rikhari, H. C.; Ram,Jeet; Singh, S. P. doi  openurl
  Title Foraging Niche Characteristics of Horses, Sheep and Goats in an Alpine Meadow of the Indian Central Himalaya Type Journal Article
  Year 1993 Publication The Journal of Applied Ecology Abbreviated Journal J. Appl. Ecol  
  Volume 30 Issue 3 Pages 383-394  
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  Abstract 1. Data on plant species foraged, foraging hours, bite rate, bite size and species dry matter (DM) removed per species per bite were collected in tussock grass-forb (Grass-F), forb-tussock grass (Forb-G), Trachydium-forb (Forb), Rhododendron-Cassiope and early successional communities from May to September in a moderately foraged Central Himalayan alpine meadow in order to study the foraging niche characteristics of horses, sheep and goats. 2. The three animals together grazed 30 plant species, of which 20 were grazed by horses, 22 by sheep and 16 by goats. 3. The average foraging hours (5.2-13.2), bites per minute (23-51) and mg DM per bite (59-99) for horses, sheep and goats were significantly different in different communities and months. 4. The foraging search cost, reckoned as distance walked per unit DM eaten, was highest for goats (15.4 km kg$^{-1}$), followed by sheep (8.1 km kg$^{-1}$) and horses (1.2 km kg$^{-1}$). 5. Of the total intake of horses (3.25 kg DM day$^{-1}$), the Forb community alone accounted for 40%. Sheep (0.74 kg DM day$^{-1}$) resembled horses in this respect. In contrast, the contribution of this community was negligible in the diet of goats in which the Grass-F community contributed most to the intake. 6. Forbs were the largest dietary category for all animal species. The selection ratio varied from 0.7 to 11.3 for forbs, 1.0 to 7.2 for sedges and 1.1 to 2.5 for grasses. 7. Response breadth (in terms of species grazed) was similar for horses and sheep (0.46 vs. 0.43) and somewhat wider for goats (0.49). 8. Grazing pressures below the carrying capacity of the community appeared to favour botanical diversity.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3545  
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Author Edwards, P. J.; Hollis, S. doi  openurl
  Title The Distribution of Excreta on New Forest Grassland Used by Cattle, Ponies and Deer Type Journal Article
  Year 1982 Publication The Journal of Applied Ecology Abbreviated Journal J Appl Ecol  
  Volume 19 Issue 3 Pages 953-964  
  Keywords  
  Abstract (1) The distribution of excreta on areas of reseeded grassland in the New Forest used by free-ranging cattle, ponies and fallow deer was shown to be non-random. Distinct latrine areas were recognized where the faeces of all three herbivore species were concentrated, and where the majority of urinations occurred. The mosaic of latrine and non-latrine areas can be detected in aerial photographs in which non-latrine areas appear as light-grey patches set in a matrix of the dark grey latrine areas. During the 3 years of the study the position of the mosaic proved to be relatively stable. (2) The latrine areas were characterized by an uneven sward about 50 mm tall with abundant thistles (Cirsium spp.) and ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). Non-latrine areas had an even and very closely cropped sward between 10 and 20 mm tall. Soil chemical analysis of the two kinds of area revealed significantly higher levels of exchangeable potassium in latrine areas, and on one site significantly higher levels of magnesium and organic matter. No significant differences were detected in soil reaction, nor in phosphorus or calcium levels. (3) Observations of grazing animals revealed a tendency, at all times of year, for ponies to avoid grazing in latrine areas. In winter and spring this tendency was very slight, but from midsummer until late autumn a substantial majority of grazing ponies were to be found in non-latrine areas. In contrast, only 2% of the cattle observations made over a period of 20 months were of animals grazing in non-latrine areas. (4) The standing crop of dung and the rate of dung production on the two kinds of area were monitored for 12 months on one lawn. The amount of pony dung produced on non-latrine areas was only 16.5% of that in latrine areas, while for cattle the corresponding value was 28.7%. It is argued that the observed pattern has been created by selective grazing and eliminatory behaviour of the ponies, and that the excreta of cattle and deer are largely confined to pony latrine areas because these animals are unable to graze the very short herbage of non-latrine areas.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2287  
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Author Berger, J.; Cunningham, C. doi  openurl
  Title Size-Related Effects on Search Times in North American Grassland Female Ungulates Type Journal Article
  Year 1988 Publication Ecology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 69 Issue 1 Pages 177-183  
  Keywords no keywords available  
  Abstract Feeding and searching (= vigilance) rates arise as a result of many interrelated factors including trophic level, diet, reproductive condition, sex, habitat, body mass, and potential predation pressure. Because of unique ecological conditions in which the confounding influences of all but two of these variables could be minimized, we examined the hypothesis that body mass alone accounts for interspecific differences in search times, and tested it with females of four sympatric native North American ungulates (Bison bison, Antilocapra americana, Ovis canadensis, and Odocoileus hemionus). When the effects of group size were controlled, smaller bodied species were more vigilant (per unit body mass) than larger ones. However, search times (ST) also scaled to body mass, and between 81 and 97% of the ST variance was explained by either exponential or power functions. To remove the potential bias that predators exert different influences on species of varying size, search times of bison in areas with and without their major predator, wolves (Canis lupus), were contrasted; search times did not differ between sites. Our results highlight the importance of designing field research that controls for confounding variables prior to attempting to scale behavioral processes to ecological events. See full-text article at JSTOR  
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  Publisher Ecological Society of America Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
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  ISSN 0012-9658 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2233  
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Author Lima, S.L. doi  openurl
  Title Predation Risk and Unpredictable Feeding Conditions: Determinants of Body Mass in Birds Type Journal Article
  Year 1986 Publication Ecology Abbreviated Journal Ecology  
  Volume 67 Issue 2 Pages 377-385  
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  Notes doi: 10.2307/1938580 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5141  
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Author McNaughton, S. J.; Georgiadis, N.J. doi  openurl
  Title Ecology of African Grazing and Browsing Mammals Type Journal Article
  Year 1986 Publication Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 17 Issue Pages 39-66  
  Keywords  
  Abstract INTRODUCTION Africa is the earth's second largest continent, comprising 20% of its surface. Largely tropical, Africa extends as well into temperate zones to 37 N and 35 S. Eastern and southern Africa display steep elevation gradients due to the prevalence there of volcanic orogeny and rifting (29). Local landscapes are distinguished by substantial geological heterogeneity, dissected land forms, and resultant steep gradients of precipitation and vegetation. The consequent pronounced fragnientation of habitats and sharp juxtaposition of distinct vegetation types, combined with climatic oscillations in geological time, contributed to major adaptive radiations of the mammalian fauna (102, 120). Early zoological expeditions recorded that habitat fragmentation and wide spatial variation of animal densities and diversities were distinctive features of African ecosystems (92, 138, 162, 226). Those early records provided the bases of natural history information on animal distributions, habitat preferences, feeding habits, and general ecology; scientific research followed only much later (201). Modem scientific study of African savanna-grassland mammals began in the 1950s (23, 24, 107, 108, 148, 149, 197,203, 204, 210,230), long after the distributions and densities of the major game animals had been affected by growing human populations, colonial land and hunting policies, and virulent exotic diseases that affected the animals both directly and indirectly (57). The mammalian fauna has been increasingly isolated and fragmented within game reserves of varying size, habitat diversity, and animal species diversity; the ability to sustain it in the absence of active management is increasingly questioned (112, 187). For species with population sizes greater than 100 individuals, game reserve area (A) and faunal ...  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4255  
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Author Ben-Shahar, R. doi  openurl
  Title Habitat classification in relation to movements and densities of ungulates in a semi-arid savanna Type Journal Article
  Year 1995 Publication African Journal of Ecology Abbreviated Journal Afr. J. Ecol.  
  Volume 33 Issue Pages 50-63  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Habitat types were classified in a semi-arid nature reserve in South Africa in order to assess the spatial requirements of resident ungulates, namely zebra, wildebeest and impala. Multivariate analyses showed patterns of soil factors and plant species associations that corresponded with variations of local geological formations and the abundance of plants. The response of ungulates to habitats of different degrees of complexity in terms of soils and plant species associations was examined on the basis of annual occurrence. New habitat types were described through merging or subdividing the existing classification. New habitat categories which corresponded with high occurrences of ungulates provided better indications of the resource requirements for large herbivores. Wildebeest were restricted in their habitat requirements and were characterized by high seasonal densities in bottom lands, particularly during the late wet period. There was a considerable overlap in the preference of habitat types between wildebeest and zebra although zebra were aggregated during longer periods within the dolerite formation. Impala had a consistent annual preference for the granite formation where seepage lines and bottom lands were inhabited seasonally by large herd concentrations.

Résumé

On a classifié les types d'habitat dans une réserve naturelle semiaride d'Afrique du Sud, dans le but d'évaluer les exigences spatiales des ongulés qui y vivent, c'est à dire les zèbres, les gnous et les impalas. Des analyses multivariées ont révélé des schémas pour les facteurs du sol et pour les associations d'espèces végétales qui correspondent aux variations des formations géologiques locales et à l'abon-dance des plantes. On a examiné la réponse des ongulés à des habitats de complexité différente en termes de sols et d'associations d'espéces végétales, d'après leur présence annuelle. On a décrit de nouveaux types d'habitats en fusionnant ou en subdivisant la classification existante. Les nouvelles catégories d'habitats qui correspondaient à des présences abondantes d'ongulés ont fourni de meilleures indications sur les ressources exigées par les grands herbivores. Les gnous se limitaient aux endroits qui répondaient a leurs exigences et se caractérisaient par de hautes densités saisonnières dans les régions basses, spécialement pendant la dernière saison des pluies. Il y avait un recouvrement considérable des types d'habitats préferés par les gnous et les zébres, encore que les zébres se rassemblent plus longtemps dans la formation doléritique. Les impalas marquent une préférence annuelle constante pour la formation granitique où les sources et les terres basses sont occupées de façon saisonnière par des hardes très concentrées.
 
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2227  
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Author Ben-Shahar, R doi  openurl
  Title Selectivity in large generalist herbivores: feeding patterns of African ungulates in a semi-arid habitat Type Journal Article
  Year 1991 Publication African Journal of Ecology Abbreviated Journal Afr. J. Ecol.  
  Volume 29 Issue 4 Pages 302-315  
  Keywords diet; forage production; grazing; wildebeest; zebra  
  Abstract Feeding habits of free-ranging wildebeest and zebra were monitored in a semi-arid nature reserve, bordering the southwestern part of Kruger National Park, South Africa. The purpose of study was to distinguish and define the feeding niches of two roughage grazers that occur in similar habitat types. The monthly compositions of diets were evaluated by direct observations of feeding bouts over a period of two years when rainfall patterns were average and animal populations were stable. Other analyses evaluated the standing biomass of grass species in the reserve during the wet summer and dry winter seasons.

A considerable overlap of grass species composition was found in the diets of wildebeest and zebra. Ordination of bi-monthly records of the diet composition showed greater variations in scores of grasses in zebra diet in comparison to wildebeest. Seasonal patterns were more apparent in the wildebeest diet. Preference ranking of grass species indicated that zebra diet remained constant in winter and summer. Wildebeest diet however, alternated with seasons, showing high preferences during the winter months for grass species which were rejected during summer.

The combined assessment of results from three separate statistical methods analysing temporal patterns and preferences in diet composition revealed contradictory trends. The solution, however, relied on the initial assumptions posed. Hence, wildebeest and zebra are essentially generalist feeders which show a limited amount of preference in their choice of diet.
 
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2226  
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Author Cant, M.A.; Field, J. doi  openurl
  Title Helping effort in a dominance hierarchy Type Journal Article
  Year 2005 Publication Behavioral Ecology Abbreviated Journal Behav. Ecol.  
  Volume 16 Issue 4 Pages 708-715  
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  Abstract In many cooperatively breeding species, group members form a dominance hierarchy or queue to inherit the position of breeder. Models aimed at understanding individual variation in helping behavior, however, rarely take into account the effect of dominance rank on expected future reproductive success and thus the potential direct fitness costs of helping. Here we develop a kin-selection model of helping behavior in multimember groups in which only the highest ranking individual breeds. Each group member can invest in the dominant's offspring at a cost to its own survivorship. The model predicts that lower ranked subordinates, who have a smaller probability of inheriting the group, should work harder than higher ranked subordinates. This prediction holds regardless of whether the intrinsic mortality rate of subordinates increases or decreases with rank. The prediction does not necessarily hold, however, where the costs of helping are higher for lower ranked individuals: a situation that may be common in vertebrates. The model makes two further testable predictions: that the helping effort of an individual of given rank should be lower in larger groups, and the reproductive success of dominants should be greater where group members are more closely related. Empirical evidence for these predictions is discussed. We argue that the effects of rank on stable helping effort may explain why attempts to correlate individual helping effort with relatedness in cooperatively breeding species have met with limited success.  
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  Notes 10.1093/beheco/ari051 Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 760  
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Author Krama, T. [1]; Krams, I. [2] doi  openurl
  Title Cost of mobbing call to breeding pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca Type Journal Article
  Year 2005 Publication Behavioral Ecology Abbreviated Journal Behav. Ecol.  
  Volume 16 Issue Pages 37-40  
  Keywords ntipredator behavior, Ficedula hypoleuca, mobbing calls, mobbing costs, pied flycatcher.  
  Abstract Mobbing signals advertise the location of a stalking predator to all prey in an area and recruit them into the inspection aggregation. Such behavior usually causes the predator to move to another area. However, mobbing calls could be eavesdropped by other predators. Because the predation cost of mobbing calls is poorly known, we investigated whether the vocalizations of the mobbing pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, a small hole nesting passerine, increase the risk of nest predation. We used mobbing calls of pied flycatchers to examine if they could lure predators such as the marten, Martes martes. This predator usually hunts by night and may locate its mobbing prey while resting nearby during the day. Within each of 56 experimental plots, from the top of one nest-box we played back mobbing sounds of pied flycatchers, whereas blank tapes were played from the top of another nest-box. The trials with mobbing calls were carried out before sunset. We put pieces of recently abandoned nests of pied flycatchers and a quail, Coturnix coturnix, egg into each of the nest-boxes. Nest-boxes with playbacks of mobbing calls were depredated by martens significantly more than were nest-boxes with blank tapes. The results of the present study indicate that repeated conspicuous mobbing calls may carry a significant cost for birds during the breeding season.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4092  
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