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Author Geisbauer, G.; Griebel, U.; Schmid, A.; Timney, B url  doi
openurl 
  Title Brightness discrimination and neutral point Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2004 Publication Canadian Journal of Zoology Abbreviated Journal Can. J. Zool  
  Volume 82 Issue 4 Pages 660-670  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Abstract: Equine brightness discrimination ability and color discrimination were measured using a two-choice discrimination

task. Two Haflinger horses (Equus caballus L., 1758) were trained to discriminate 30 different shades of grey

varying from low to high relative brightness. Their ability to distinguish shades of grey was poor, with calculated

Weber fractions of 0.42 and 0.45. In addition, a “neutral point” test to determine the dimensionality of color vision

was carried out. Three hues of blue-green were tested versus a range of grey targets with brightnesses similar to those

of the blue-green targets. A neutral point was found at about 480 nm. Thus, we can conclude that horses possess

dichromatic color vision.
 
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3649  
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Author Hogan, J. doi  openurl
  Title Causation: the study of behavioural mechanisms Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2005 Publication Animal Biology (formerly Netherlands Journal of Zoology) Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 55 Issue 4 Pages 323-341  
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  Abstract This paper describes current work on the causal analysis of behaviour systems. It is noted that while causal work investigating the neural, hormonal, and genetic bases of behaviour is flourishing, work being conducted at a strictly behavioural level of analysis has declined greatly over the past 40 years. Nonetheless, most recent research on animal cognition and applied ethology is still being carried out at a behavioural level of analysis and examples of both types of research are presented: memory mechanisms of food-storing birds and decisions of spider-eating jumping spiders, as well as feather pecking in fowl and animal welfare issues, are all briefly discussed. Finally, I discuss the similarities between neural network modelling and early ethological models of motivation, and then show how a modern version of Lorenz's model of motivation can account for current research findings on dustbathing in chickens and sleep in humans. I conclude that valuable information can still be obtained by research at a behavioural level of analysis.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3134  
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Author Bolhuis, J. doi  openurl
  Title Function and mechanism in neuroecology: looking for clues Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2005 Publication Animal Biology (formerly Netherlands Journal of Zoology) Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 55 Issue 4 Pages 457-490  
  Keywords  
  Abstract The four questions that Niko Tinbergen identified for behavioural biology ? evolution, function, development and causation ? are all important and should be studied in their own right. Recently, there has been a debate as to whether these four questions should be investigated separately or whether they should be integrated. Integration of the four questions has been attempted in novel research disciplines such as cognitive ecology, evolutionary psychology and neuroecology. Euan Macphail and I have criticised these integrative approaches, suggesting that they are fundamentally flawed as they confound function and mechanism. Investigating the function or evolutionary history of a behaviour or cognitive system is important and entirely legitimate. However, such investigations cannot provide us with answers to questions about the mechanisms underlying behaviour or cognition. At most, functional or evolutionary considerations can provide clues that may be useful for a causal analysis of the underlying mechanisms. However, these clues can be misleading and are often wrong, as is illustrated with examples from song learning and food storing in birds. After summarising the main issues in the neuroecology debate, I discuss some misunderstandings that were apparent in the responses to our critique, as well as some recent relevant data. Recent results do not support the neuroecological approach. Finally, I suggest that the way forward is a cautious and critical use of functional and evolutionary clues in the study of the mechanisms of behaviour.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3396  
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Author King, S.R.B.; Gurnell, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Scent-marking behaviour by stallions: an assessment of function in a reintroduced population of Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication Journal of Zoology Abbreviated Journal J Zool  
  Volume 272 Issue 1 Pages 30-36  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Abstract Scent marking is a common form of intraspecific communication in mammal species, and using faeces or urine is a cost-effective way of signalling competitive ability and resource holding power. Marking is ritually performed by male equids, and here we assess the function of male scent-marking behaviour in a recently introduced population of Przewalski horses Equus ferus przewalskii in Mongolia. Two forms of scent marking were observed: defecation on stud piles formed from repeated dunging in the same place, and overmarking of faeces and urine of mares. Stud piles were marked with dung by the harem holder and sniffed before and after dung was deposited. They were not found specifically at the periphery of harem ranges but occurred for the most part along routes used by the horses, and were more common in the core parts of harem ranges or where harem ranges overlapped. Thus, rather than being used to defend range boundaries, stud piles were placed predominantly where they would be encountered by male intruders. Mare excreta were covered with urine by the stallion, but were only sniffed before they were marked, not after. These marks appear to advertise to the mare and other, intruding stallions that the harem holder was the mare's consort and that the interloper should not risk trying to steal the mare or sneak a mating. Thus, the two forms of marking by harem holders appear to combine as first and second lines of defence of paternity rights in male intrasexual competition.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ King2007 Serial 2315  
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Author Sigurjonsdottir, H.; Thorhallsdottir, A.; Hafthorsdottir, H.; Granquist S. doi  openurl
  Title The Behaviour of Stallions in a Semiferal Herd in Iceland: Time Budgets, Home Ranges, and Interactions Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2012 Publication International Journal of Zoology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 2012 Issue Article ID 162982 Pages  
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  Abstract A permanent herd of Icelandic horses with four stallions and their harems was studied for a total of 316 hours in a large pasture (215 ha) in May 2007 in Iceland. Interactions between stallions of different harems and other aspects of the horses' behaviour were studied. One stallion and nine horses were introduced into the pasture prior to the study to examine the reactions of the resident stallions to a newcomer. The stallions spent significantly less time grazing than other horses and were more vigilant. Home ranges overlapped, but harems never mixed. The stallions prevented interactions between members of different harems indirectly by herding. Generally, interactions between resident stallions were nonviolent. However, encounters with the introduced stallion were more aggressive and more frequent than between the other stallions. Here, we show that four harems can share the same enclosure peacefully. The social network seems to keep aggression at a low level both within the harems and the herd as a whole. We encourage horse owners to consider the feasibility of keeping their horses in large groups because of low aggression and because such a strategy gives the young horses good opportunities to develop normally, both physically and socially.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5823  
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Author Leadbeater, E. url  doi
openurl 
  Title What evolves in the evolution of social learning? Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2015 Publication Journal of Zoology Abbreviated Journal J Zool  
  Volume 295 Issue 1 Pages 4-11  
  Keywords social learning; associative learning; social information use  
  Abstract Social learning is fundamental to social life across the animal kingdom, but we still know little about how natural selection has shaped social learning abilities on a proximate level. Sometimes, complex social learning phenomena can be entirely explained by Pavlovian processes that have little to do with the evolution of sociality. This implies that the ability to learn socially could be an exaptation, not an adaptation, to social life but not that social learning abilities have been left untouched by natural selection. I discuss new empirical evidence for associative learning in social information use, explain how natural selection might facilitate the associative learning process and discuss why such studies are changing the way that we think about social learning.  
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  ISSN 1469-7998 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 6015  
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