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Author Palme, R.
Title Measuring fecal steroids: guidelines for practical application Type Journal Article
Year 2005 Publication Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Abbreviated Journal Ann N Y Acad Sci
Volume 1046 Issue Pages 75-80
Keywords Animals; Feces/*chemistry; Immunoassay/methods; Reproducibility of Results; Specimen Handling/methods; Steroids/*analysis
Abstract During the past 20 years, measuring steroid hormone metabolites in fecal samples has become a widely appreciated technique, because it has proved to be a powerful, noninvasive tool that provides important information about an animal's endocrine status (adrenocortical activity and reproductive status). However, although sampling is relatively easy to perform and free of feedback, a careful consideration of various factors is necessary to achieve proper results that lead to sound conclusions. This article aims to provide guidelines for an adequate application of these techniques. It is meant as a checklist that addresses the main topics of concern, such as sample collection and storage, time delay extraction procedures, assay selection and validation, biological relevance, and some confounding factors. These issues are discussed briefly here and in more detail in other recent articles.
Address Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. Rupert.Palme@vu-wien.ac.at
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0077-8923 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:16055844 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4081
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Author Bayly, K.L.; Evans, C.S.; Taylor, A.
Title Measuring social structure: A comparison of eight dominance indices Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Behavioural Processes Abbreviated Journal Behav. Process.
Volume 73 Issue 1 Pages 1-12
Keywords Social status; Methods; Behaviour in groups
Abstract Measurement of social status is an important component of many behavioural studies. A variety of techniques have been developed and adopted, but while there have been some analyses of index properties using simulated data, the rationale for selecting a method remains poorly documented. As a first step in exploring the implications of index choice, we compared the characteristics of eight popular indices by applying each to the same data set from interactions between male fowl Gallus gallus, the system in which social hierarchies were first described. Data from eight social groups, observed over four successive breeding seasons, were analysed to determine whether different indices produced consistent dominance scores. These scores were then used in tests of the relation between social status and crowing to explore whether index choice affected the results obtained. We also examined the pattern of dominance index use over the last decade to infer whether this has likely been influenced by tradition, or by taxa of study animal. Overall agreement among methods was good when groups of birds had perfectly linear hierarchies, but results diverged when social structure was more complex, with either intransitive triads or reversals. While all regression analyses revealed a positive relationship between dominance and vocal behaviour, there were substantial differences in the amount of variance accounted for, even though the original data were identical in every case. Index selection can hence perturb estimates of the importance of dominance, relative to other factors. We also found that several methods have been adopted only by particular research teams, while the use of others has been taxonomically constrained, patterns implying that indices have not always been chosen solely upon their merits. Taken together, our results read as a cautionary tale. We suggest that selection of a dominance index requires careful consideration both of algorithm properties and of the factors affecting social status in the system of interest.
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4289
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Author Bartosova, J.; Dvorakova, R.; Vancatova, M.; Svobodova, I.
Title Comprehension of human pointing gesture in domestic horses: Effect of training method Type Conference Article
Year 2008 Publication IESM 2008 Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords Human-horse communication, Pointing, Training methods, Horsemanship
Abstract Horses have been considered to rely on human gesticular cues (McKinley and Sambrook 2000, Anim Cogn 3:13-22; and recently Maros et al. 2008, Anim Cogn 11:457-466), however large variability among individuals tested in two-ways object choice tasks was found. Part of the horses in those studies (40 and 26 %, respectively) even failed to pass adequately through the training session which preceded the testing phase and served to learn a horse to carry out a task. Therefore, we alternated the experimental design designed by McKinley and Sambrook (reduced number of testing trials to 10 per horse to keep its attention, applied just one, a dynamic-sustained pointing cue with touching the bucket, etc.), and tested an effect of training method, sex, age, and learning on proportion of correct choices. We hypothesised, that horses trained by “traditional” method (TTM) will get lower score than those experienced with “horsemanship-based” methods (HTM), being characterized by closer and more frequent human-horse contact and also extended exercising “from the ground” with frequent using of arms cues. Despite simplification of the methods, only about 60 % of tested horses passed through the training phase (i.e., learned to come to and upturn the bucket with hidden treat). Successful completion of training phase was reached regardless of age or sex of a horse, but by the training method; HTM horses ran better compared to TTM ones. No significant effect of age, sex, or learning (i.e., trial order within all 10), and training method as well was found on proportion of correct trials in the testing phase. Horses made a correct choice in more than 70% of trials. Individual scores ranged from 50 to 100 %. In conclusion, horses showed high level of comprehension of human pointing gesture, regardless of their sex or age. No effects of training method or learning process within a test suggest low impact of handling and learning on the level of comprehension at least of the most vivid human pointing gesture. Horses trained by methods based on “natural human-horse communication” did enhance cooperation with people.
Address Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, CZ-104 00 Praha Uhrineves, Czech Republic
Corporate Author Bartosova, J. Thesis
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Area Expedition Conference IESM 2008
Notes Talk 15 min IESM 2008 Approved yes
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4464
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Author Silk, J.; Cheney, D.; Seyfarth, R.
Title A practical guide to the study of social relationships Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews Abbreviated Journal Evol. Anthropol.
Volume 22 Issue 5 Pages 213-225
Keywords observational methods; behavioral analysis; methods; dyadic relationships; social bonds
Abstract Behavioral ecologists have devoted considerable effort to identifying the sources of variation in individual reproductive success. Much of this work has focused on the characteristics of individuals, such as their sex and rank. However, many animals live in stable social groups and the fitness of individuals depends at least in part on the outcome of their interactions with other group members. For example, in many primate species, high dominance rank enhances access to resources and reproductive success. The ability to acquire and maintain high rank often depends on the availability and effectiveness of coalitionary support. Allies may be cultivated and coalitions may be reinforced by affiliative interactions such as grooming, food sharing, and tolerance. These findings suggest that if we want to understand the selective pressures that shape the social behavior of primates, it will be profitable to broaden our focus from the characteristics of individuals to the properties of the relationships that they form with others. The goal of this paper is to discuss a set of methods that can be used to quantify the properties of social relationships.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor (up) Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1520-6505 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5748
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Author Hostetter, A.B.; Cantero, M.; Hopkins, W.D.
Title Differential use of vocal and gestural communication by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in response to the attentional status of a human (Homo sapiens) Type Journal Article
Year 2001 Publication Journal of Comparative Psychology Abbreviated Journal J. Comp. Psychol.
Volume 115 Issue 4 Pages 337-343
Keywords Animals; *Attention; *Communication Methods, Total; Female; *Gestures; Humans; Male; Motivation; Pan troglodytes/*psychology; Social Environment; Species Specificity; *Vocalization, Animal
Abstract This study examined the communicative behavior of 49 captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), particularly their use of vocalizations, manual gestures, and other auditory- or tactile-based behaviors as a means of gaining an inattentive audience's attention. A human (Homo sapiens) experimenter held a banana while oriented either toward or away from the chimpanzee. The chimpanzees' behavior was recorded for 60 s. Chimpanzees emitted vocalizations faster and were more likely to produce vocalizations as their 1st communicative behavior when a human was oriented away from them. Chimpanzees used manual gestures more frequently and faster when the human was oriented toward them. These results replicate the findings of earlier studies on chimpanzee gestural communication and provide new information about the intentional and functional use of their vocalizations.
Address Department of Psychology, Berry College, USA
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Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor (up) Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN 0735-7036 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:11824896 Approved yes
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4970
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Author Scheidhacker, M.; Bender, W.; Vaitl, P.
Title Die Wirksamkeit des therapeutischen Reitens bei der Behandlung chronisch schizophrener Patienten Type Journal Article
Year 1991 Publication Der Nervenarzt Abbreviated Journal Nervenarzt
Volume 62 Issue 5 Pages 283-287
Keywords Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Animals; Attention; Chronic Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; *Horses; Humans; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotherapy/*methods; Schizophrenia/*rehabilitation; *Schizophrenic Psychology; Self Concept; *Sports
Abstract After describing horse-riding as a facility in managing mentally ill patients, a program for chronic schizophrenic in-patients is presented. Clinical experience with this program and also results of a controlled study are reported. The therapeutic value and slope for horse-riding are discussed in relation to different diagnoses.
Address Bezirkskrankenhaus Haar b. Munchen
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language German Summary Language Original Title Die Wirksamkeit des therapeutischen Reitens bei der Behandlung chronisch schizophrener Patienten. Experimentelle Ergebnisse und klinische Erfahrungen
Series Editor (up) Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0028-2804 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes [The effectiveness of therapeutic horseback-riding in the treatment of chronic schizophrenic patients. Experimental results and clinical experiences] Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5067
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Author Dreschel, N.A.; Granger, D.A.
Title Methods of collection for salivary cortisol measurement in dogs Type Journal Article
Year 2009 Publication Hormones and Behavior Abbreviated Journal Horm. Behav.
Volume 55 Issue 1 Pages 163-168
Keywords Dog; Canine; Salivary cortisol; Methods; Measurement; Stress
Abstract Salivary cortisol has been increasingly used as a measure of stress response in studies of welfare, reaction to stress and human–animal interactions in dogs and other species. While it can be a very useful measure, there are a number of saliva collection issues made evident through studies in the human and animal fields which have not been investigated in the canine species. Collection materials and the volume of saliva that is collected; the use of salivary stimulants; and the effect of food contamination can all dramatically impact cortisol measurement, leading to spurious results. In order to further examine the limitations of the collection method and the effects of collection material and salivary stimulant on salivary cortisol levels, a series of clinical, in vitro and in vivo studies were performed. It was found that there is a large amount of inter- and intra-individual variation in salivary cortisol measurement. Beef flavoring of collection materials leads to unpredictable variability in salivary cortisol concentration. Using salivary stimulants such as citric acid also has the potential to affect cortisol concentration measurement in saliva. Hydrocellulose appears to be a useful collection material for salivary cortisol determination. Recommendations for collection materials and use of salivary stimulants are presented.
Address
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Series Editor (up) Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0018-506x ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5560
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Author Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, M.M.; Blok, M.B.; Begeman, L.; Kamphuis, M.C.D.; Lameris, M.C.; Spierenburg, A.J.; Lashley, M.J.J.O.
Title Workload and stress in horses: comparison in horses ridden deep and round ('rollkur') with a draw rein and horses ridden in a natural frame with only light rein contact Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Tijdschrift Voor Diergeneeskunde Abbreviated Journal Tijdschr Diergeneeskd
Volume 131 Issue 5 Pages 152-157
Keywords Animal Husbandry/methods; Animals; Biomechanics; Blood Glucose/analysis; Female; Heart Rate/physiology; Hematocrit/veterinary; Horses/blood/*physiology; Hydrocortisone/blood; Lactic Acid/blood; Physical Conditioning, Animal/adverse effects/*physiology; Stress, Physiological/blood/etiology/veterinary
Abstract 'Rollkur' or 'overbending' is the low and deep riding of a dressage horse during training or warming up. Lately, this technique has been criticized, and not necessarily objectively, on welfare grounds. To be able to evaluate these criticisms, more needs to be known about the workload and stress of horses being ridden 'rollkur'. The aim of the present study was to compare the workload of eight riding-school horses when being ridden deep and round with a draw rein ('rollkur') and when being ridden in a natural frame with only light rein contact ('free'). Workload (as measured by heart rate and blood lactate concentration) was slightly higher when horses were ridden 'rollkur' than when they were ridden 'free'. There were no differences in packed cell volume, or glucose and cortisol concentrations. No signs of uneasiness or stress could be determined when the horses were ridden 'rollkur'. Subjectively, all horses improved their way of moving during 'rollkur' and were more responsive to their rider.
Address Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 12, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.sloet@vet.uu.nl
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Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor (up) Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0040-7453 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:16532786 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5638
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