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Author Berger, J.
Title Organizational systems and dominance in feral horses in the Grand Canyon Type Journal Article
Year 1977 Publication Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Abbreviated Journal Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.
Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 131-146
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Abstract (up) 1. Several aspects of the behavioral ecology of feral horses (Equus caballus) were studied in Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. Most bands contained three to five horses that included one stallion and his harem. Males that did not obtain a harem remained solitary. Throughout the study bands remained stable in composition.

2. Home ranges for all bands decreased in size in successive warm months, probably due to increased ambient temperature and drought. This resulted in greater utilization of spring areas that led to increased interband confrontation and agonistic display.

3. Territoriality was not observed in individual horses or bands, but bands hierarchial in both inter- and intraband structures. Interband stallion dominance was reinforced through posturing and fighting. Intraband hierarchies, as determined by dominance coefficients, were independent of individual size in three of four bands.

4. Indexes of nervousness (NER), calculated while horses were drinking, showed that stallions were less nervous than mares. A low NER was correlated with individuals leading toward drinking areas, whereas a high NER existed in individuals initiating flight although no single horse acted consistently as a leader.

5. Diurnal activity patterns were correlated with ambient temperatures.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 748
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Author Negi,G. C. S.; Rikhari, H. C.; Ram,Jeet; Singh, S. P.
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 (up) 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 Schmidt, R.; Amrhein, V.; Kunc, H.P.; Naguib, M.
Title The day after: effects of vocal interactions on territory defence in nightingales Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication The Journal of Animal Ecology Abbreviated Journal T. J. Anim. Ecol.
Volume 76 Issue 1 Pages 168-173
Keywords Aggression; Animals; Male; Songbirds/*physiology; *Territoriality; Time Factors; Vocalization, Animal/*physiology
Abstract (up) 1. Models on territory acquisition and tenure predict that territorial animals benefit by adjusting territorial defence behaviour to previous challenges they had experienced within the socially complex environment of communication networks. 2. Here, we addressed such issues of social cognition by investigating persisting effects of vocal contests on territory defence behaviour in nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos (Brehm). 3. Using interactive playback during nocturnal song of subjects, a rival was simulated to countersing either aggressively (by song overlapping) or moderately (by song alternating) from outside the subjects' territory. Thereby, the time-specific singing strategy provided an experimentally controlled source of information on the motivation of an unfamiliar rival. 4. Expecting that nightingales integrate information with time, the same rival was simulated to return as a moderately singing intruder on the following morning. 5. The results show that the vigour with which male nightingales responded to the simulated intrusion of an opponent during the day depended on the nature of the nocturnal vocal interaction experienced several hours before. 6. Males that had received the song overlapping playback the preceding night approached the simulated intruder more quickly and closer and sang more songs near the loudspeaker than did males that had received a song alternating playback. 7. This adjustment of territory defence strategies depending on information from prior signalling experience suggests that integrating information with time plays an important part in territory defence by affecting a male's decision making in a communication network.
Address Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, PO Box 100 131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany. rouven.schmidt@uni-bielefeld.de
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2749
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Author Murray, Martyn G.; Brown, David
Title Niche Separation of Grazing Ungulates in the Serengeti: An Experimental Test Type Journal Article
Year 1993 Publication The Journal of Animal Ecology Abbreviated Journal T. J. Anim. Ecol.
Volume 62 Issue 2 Pages 380-389
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Abstract (up) 1. The niche separation of three species of alcelaphine antelope (wildebeest, topi and hartebeest) with similar body size was compared by measuring bite weight, bite rate, intake rate and selectivity of tame animals in plots containing grass at different growth stages. 2. On growing swards, hartebeest had a smaller bite weight and lower intake rate, and were also less selective of green leaf, than either topi or wildebeest. On senescent swards, hartebeest were more selective of leaf than the other two species. 3. Wildebeest had a faster bite rate than either topi or hartebeest on swards with low biomass and high protein content of green leaf (green flush). Bite weight and intake rate of wildebeest and topi were similar despite the difference in breadth of their incisor rows. 4. Topi were significantly more selective of green leaf than the other two species and were the only species to maintain a rapid bite rate on swards with high green leaf biomass. 5. The feeding experiments did not reveal significant cross-overs between species in the rate of food intake on different grass types, but each species was most proficient either in leaf selection or bite rate when feeding on grass swards in a particular growth stage. We suggest that growth stage is a primary determinant of niche separation. 6. In Serengeti, grazing ungulates which migrate are specialists of the earlier growth stages of grass which tend to be transient, while those that are residential specialize on late growth stages which are more enduring. The mobility of species, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of pastures containing different growth stages of grass, contribute to niche separation.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3544
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Author Meriggi,A.; Lovari, S.
Title A Review of Wolf Predation in Southern Europe: Does the Wolf Prefer Wild Prey to Livestock? Type Journal Article
Year 1996 Publication Journal of Applled Ecology Abbreviated Journal J. Appl. Ecol
Volume 33 Issue Pages 1561-1571
Keywords Canis lupus, conservation, food habits, prey abundance, prey availability.
Abstract (up) 1. The recent recovery of the wolf in southern Europe has not yet removed the risk

of local extinction. Wolf populations are fragmented and often comprise fewer than

500 individuals. In North America, northern and eastern Europe, wolves feed maiiily

on wild herbivores. In southern Europe, this canid has apparently adapted to feed

also on fruit, rubbish, livestock, small and medium-size mammals.

2. The main conservation problem lies with predation o n domestic ~ingulates,w liich

leads to extensive killing of wolves. The reintroduction of wild large herbivores has

been advocated as a means of reducing attacks on livestock, but predatiori on the

latter may remain high if domestic ungulates are locally abundant.

3. Our synthesis of 15 studies, published in the last 15 years, on food habits of the

wolf in southern Europe, has shown that ungulates have been the main diet component

overall. A significant inverse correlation was found between the occurrence (%) of

wild and domestic ungulates in the diet. The presence of relatively few wild ungulate

species was necessary to reduce predation on livestock.

4. Selection of wild and domestic ungulate prey was influenced mainly by their local

abundance, but also by their accessibility. Feeding dependence on rubbish was local

and rare. In Italy, the consumption of riibbish/fruit and that of ungulates was significantly

negatively correlated. Diet breadth increased as the presence of large prey

in tlie diet decreased.

5. The simultaneous reintroduction of severa1 wild ungulate species is likely to reduce

predation on livestock and may prove to be one of the most effective conservation

measures.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 6387
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Author Mills, M.G.L.; Shenk, M.G.L.
Title Predator--Prey Relationships: The Impact of Lion Predation on Wildebeest and Zebra Populations Type Journal Article
Year 1992 Publication The Journal of Animal Ecology Abbreviated Journal T. J. Anim. Ecol.
Volume 61 Issue 3 Pages 693-702
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Abstract (up) 1. The role of lion Panthera leo predation in the dynamics of blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus and zebra Equus burchelli populations was investigated through simulation models. The data used in the models were from intensive observations over 4 years in the south-east of the Kruger National Park. 2. Population estimates of wildebeest and zebra were made from aerial surveys, sex and age ratios from ground counts. Lion numbers were determined from observations of marked and radio-collared animals. Predation was studied by following lions for continuous periods of up to 336 h. 3. Two models were constructed. Model 1 ascertained the number of killing lions (adult females) that could be supported by each prey population while remaining stable. A single model was constructed for the sedentary wildebeest population. A summer and winter model was constructed for the semi-migratory zebra population. The sensitivity of the parameters in the model was tested by changing their value by 10%. In model 2, the kill age structure for each species was changed to determine the number of killing lions the altered prey selection parameters could support. 4. There was no difference in the vulnerability of either species to predation. Zebra foals (<1 year) were killed more frequently than expected. No selection for sex or by season could be found for either species. 5. Model 1 predicted that the wildebeest population stabilizes with 7.7 killing lions, close to the number in the study area. The winter zebra population stabilizes with 6.8 killing lions and the summer zebra population with 19.4. Manipulation of kill rate followed by adult fecundity rate had the greatest effect on population size of both species. In model 2, wildebeest predation was made selective towards calves and zebra predation was made non-selective for sex and age. With these parameters the wildebeest population stabilizes with 10.7 killing lions and the zebra population with 5.4 in winter and 15.1 in summer. 6. The models suggest that lion predation affected wildebeest more severely than zebra during the study. This was through the way in which lions selected their prey, and because of the sedentary behaviour of the wildebeest, as opposed to the semi-migratory behaviour of the zebra.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2376
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Author Wittig, R.M.; Boesch, C.
Title “Decision-making” in conflicts of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): an extension of the Relational Model Type Journal Article
Year 2003 Publication Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Abbreviated Journal Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.
Volume 54 Issue 5 Pages 491-504
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Abstract (up) >We examined the &#8220;decision-making&#8221; process of aggressive interactions within a community of wild chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes verus) in the Ta&#239; National Park, C&#244;te d&#8217;Ivoire (West Africa). Costs and benefits were investigated for 876 dyadic aggressive interactions among 18 adults (including 4 independent adolescents) of either sex. An extended version of the Relational Model was developed to describe the dynamics of the &#8220;decision-making&#8221; process in Ta&#239; chimpanzees, which suggests that the net benefit determines the occurrence of conflicts. Both sexes fought more frequently for the resources that were most important to them, food for females and social contexts for males. Individuals used two different strategies according to their likelihood of winning the aggressive interaction, determined by the dominance relationship of the conflict partners. Dominant initiators had longer and more intense aggressive interactions, but they limited their social disadvantages by fighting non-cooperative partners. Subordinate initiators had shorter and less intense aggressive interactions, but risked more social costs, which they could reduce afterwards by reconciliation. Both strategies included a positive overall net benefit. The extended Relational Model fits the complexity of wild chimpanzee conflicts and allows for more flexibility in the &#8220;decision-making&#8221; compared to the original version.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2206
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Author Illius,A. W.; Gordon, I. J.
Title The Allometry of Food Intake in Grazing Ruminants Type Journal Article
Year 1987 Publication The Journal of Animal Ecology Abbreviated Journal T. J. Anim. Ecol.
Volume 56 Issue 3 Pages 989-999
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Abstract (up) A simulation model of grazing mechanics in ruminants shows that, due to the allometric relations of bite size and metabolic requirements to body size, small animals are able to subsist on shorter swards than large animals. (2) The density of nutrients in the grazed horizon of the modelled swards markedly affected the ability of animals of a given body size to satisfy their energy requirements. (3) By extension, the allometric relationships would be expected to apply in selective grazing and browsing species in their choice of food items of different size and nutrient content. (4) The results support the argument that sexual segregation and habitat choice of dimorphic species is an effect of scramble competition for limited resources, the males thus being excluded from mutually preferred swards. (5) The model provides an explanation for two interspecific phenomena amongst grazers: grazing succession and grazing facilitation.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4265
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Author Taillon, J.; Côté, S.
Title Are faecal hormone levels linked to winter progression, diet quality and social rank in young ungulates ? An experiment with white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) fawns Type Journal Article
Year 2008 Publication Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Abbreviated Journal Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.
Volume 62 Issue 10 Pages 675-677
Keywords Diet quality – Glucocorticoids – Social rank – Testosterone – White-tailed deer
Abstract (up) Abstract Hormones play a central role in the physiology and behaviour of animals. The recent development of noninvasive techniques has increased information on physical and social states of individuals through hormone measurements. The relationships among hormones, life history traits and behaviours are, however, still poorly known. For the first time, we evaluated natural winter glucocorticoid and testosterone levels in young ungulates in relation to winter progression, diet quality and social rank. Overwinter, levels of glucocorticoid and testosterone decreased, possibly due to the decline of fawns" body mass. The relationships between hormone levels and diet quality were surprising: Fawns fed the control diet presented higher glucocorticoid and lower testosterone levels then fawns fed the poor diet, suggesting that control fawns faced a higher nutritional stress than those on the poor diet. Similarly to other studies on social mammals, we found no relationship between faecal glucocorticoid levels and social rank, suggesting that social stress was similar for dominant and subordinate fawns during winter. Testosterone levels were not correlated to social rank as found previously in groups of individuals forming stable social hierarchies and maintaining stable dominance relationships. The simultaneous suppression of glucocorticoid and testosterone levels suggests for the first time that young ungulates present a hormonal strategy to prevent fast depletion of limited proteins and fat resources during winter.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4423
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Author Kokko, H.; Lopez-Sepulcre, A.
Title The ecogenetic link between demography and evolution: can we bridge the gap between theory and data? Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Ecology Letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume 10 Issue 9 Pages 773-782
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Abstract (up) Abstract Calls to understand the links between ecology and evolution have been common for decades. Population dynamics, i.e. the demographic changes in populations, arise from life history decisions of individuals and thus are a product of selection, and selection, on the contrary, can be modified by such dynamical properties of the population as density and stability. It follows that generating predictions and testing them correctly requires considering this ecogenetic feedback loop whenever traits have demographic consequences, mediated via density dependence (or frequency dependence). This is not an easy challenge, and arguably theory has advanced at a greater pace than empirical research. However, theory would benefit from more interaction between related fields, as is evident in the many near-synonymous names that the ecogenetic loop has attracted. We also list encouraging examples where empiricists have shown feasible ways of addressing the question, ranging from advanced data analysis to experiments and comparative analyses of phylogenetic data.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4226
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