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Author Linklater, W.L.; Cameron, E.Z.; Minot, E.O.; Stafford, K.J.
Title Feral horse demography and population growth in the Kaimanawa Ranges, New Zealand Type (up) Journal Article
Year 2004 Publication Wildl. Res. Abbreviated Journal
Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 119-128
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Abstract Although feral horses are a common management problem in numerous countries, detailed and long-term demographic studies are rare. We measured the age and sex structure, and pregnancy, birth and death rates in a population of 413 feral horses in New Zealand during 1994&#8211;98 and used them to construct a model simulating population growth. Survivorship increased with age (0&#8211;1 years old = 86.8%, 1&#8211;2 = 92.3%, 2&#8211;4 = 92.4%, &#8805;? 4 years old = females 94%, males 97% per annum). Birth sex ratio parity, a slight female bias in the adult sex ratio (92 males per 100 females) and higher adult male survivorship indicated lower average survivorship for young males than females that was not detectable in mortality statistics. Pregnancy and foaling rates for mares &#8805;? 2 years old averaged 79 and 49%, respectively. Foaling rates increased as mares matured (2&#8211;3-year-old mares = 1.9%, 3&#8211;4 = 20.0%, 4&#8211;5 = 42.1%, &#8805;? 5 = 61.5% per annum). Young mares had higher rates of foetal and neonatal mortality (95% of pregnancies failed and/or were lost as neonatal foals in 2&#8211;3-year-old mares, 70.6% in 3&#8211;4, 43.2% in 4&#8211;5, and 31% in mares &#8805;? 5 years old). Population growth was 9.6% per annum (9.5&#8211;9.8, 95% CI) without human-induced mortalities (i.e. r = 0.092). Our model, standardised aerial counts, and historical estimates of annual reproduction suggest that the historical sequence of counts since 1979 has overestimated growth by ~50% probably because of improvements in count effort and technique.</p>
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3695
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Author Cameron, E.Z.; Linklater, W.L.; Stafford, K.J.; Minot, E.O.
Title Maternal investment results in better foal condition through increased play behaviour in horses Type (up) Journal Article
Year 2008 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.
Volume 76 Issue 5 Pages 1511-1518
Keywords Equus caballus; feral horse; maternal investment; play
Abstract Play behaviour is widespread in mammals, but benefits to play have been difficult to demonstrate. Physical training is one of the many proposed hypotheses, suggesting that males and females should play differently, that increased maternal investment should lead to increases in play, and that increases in play should result in physical advantages. In a population of feral horses, Equus caballus, males and females did not differ in their play behaviour except that males initiated more of their play bouts than females. Maternal condition influenced play behaviour only in males, with sons of mothers in good condition playing more. However, when we controlled for maternal effects by comparing a son and a daughter of the same mother, daughters played more when their mother was in poor condition and sons played more when their mother was in good condition. Mothers of foals that played more lost more condition. Therefore, the difference in play behaviour could not be explained by offspring sex or maternal condition alone, but play behaviour mirrored variation in maternal investment. In addition, those individuals that played more survived better and had better body condition as yearlings despite weaning earlier. Since increased activity has been linked to enhanced musculoskeletal development in domestic horses, we suggest that play provides a link between increased maternal investment, increased body condition and future reproductive success in feral horses, and probably in other species.
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ISSN 0003-3472 ISBN Medium
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4709
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Author Cameron, E.Z.; Setsaas, T.H.; Linklater, W.L.
Title Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses Type (up) Journal Article
Year 2009 Publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Abbreviated Journal Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
Volume 106 Issue 33 Pages 13850-13853
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Abstract In many mammals, females form close social bonds with members of their group, usually between kin. Studies of social bonds and their fitness benefits have not been investigated outside primates, and are confounded by the relatedness between individuals in primate groups. Bonds may arise from kin selection and inclusive fitness rather than through direct benefits of association. However, female equids live in long-term social groups with unrelated members. We present 4 years of behavioral data, which demonstrate that social integration between unrelated females increases both foal birth rates and survival, independent of maternal habitat quality, social group type, dominance status, and age. Also, we show that such social integration reduces harassment by males. Consequently, social integration has strong direct fitness consequences between nonrelatives, suggesting that social bonds can evolve based on these direct benefits alone. Our results support recent studies highlighting the importance of direct benefits in maintaining cooperative behavior, while controlling for the confounding influence of kinship.
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Notes 10.1073/pnas.0900639106 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5152
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Author Linklater, W.L.; Cameron, E.Z.; Stafford, K.J.; Austin, T.
Title Chemical immobilisation and temporary confinement of two Kaimanawa feral stallions Type (up)
Year 1998 Publication New Zealand veterinary journal Abbreviated Journal N Z Vet J
Volume 46 Issue 3 Pages 117-118
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ISSN 0048-0169 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:16032032 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 412
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