Records |
Author |
Hemelrijk, C.K. |
Title |
Understanding Social Behaviour with the Help of Complexity Science (Invited Article) |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
108 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
655-671 |
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Abstract |
Abstract In the study of complexity, a new kind of explanation has been developed for social behaviour. It shows how patterns of social behaviour can arise as a side-effect of the interaction of individuals with their social or physical environment (e.g. by self-organization). This development may influence our ideas about the direct causation and evolution of social behaviour. Furthermore, it may influence our theories about the integration of different traits. This new method has been made possible by the increase in computing power. It is now applied in many areas of science, such as physics, chemistry, sociology and economics. However, in zoology and anthropology it is still rare. The major aim of this paper is to make this method more generally accepted among behavioural scientists. |
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Blackwell Verlag, GmbH |
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1439-0310 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5200 |
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Author |
Ceacero, F.; Landete-Castillejos, T.; Garcia, A.J.; Estevez, J.A.; Gallego, L. |
Title |
Kinship Discrimination and Effects on Social Rank and Aggressiveness Levels in Iberian Red Deer Hinds |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
113 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
1133-1140 |
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Abstract |
Abstract Kin recognition is a widespread phenomenon that allows individuals to benefit by enhancing their inclusive fitness, and one of its most common forms is reducing aggressiveness towards relatives. We carried out an experiment with Iberian red deer hinds (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) in order to examine kin biases in dominance behaviour and its consequences on social rank. Three enclosed groups (n = 36, 23 and 21, respectively) were monitored during two lactation seasons and social rank hierarchies were assessed by analysing aggressive interactions matrices with Matman 1.1 software. Aggressive interactions between related hinds was significantly smaller than expected (chi2 = 5.02, df = 1, p = 0.025), not only between mother and daughter but also in second and third kinship degrees. Although rates of aggressiveness were similar to data published relating free-ranging C. e. scoticus, aggressive interactions with relatives were significantly smaller (chi2 = 39.0, df = 1, p < 0.001). This reduction of aggressiveness between related hinds was not the result of these hinds having a lower social rank: social rank was only related to age and weight, but not to kinship degree, calf sex or calving date. The decrease of aggressiveness towards first-, second- and third-degree relatives shows a complex kin recognition system in deer. Possible nepotistic roles in lactation include preventing milk thefts by non-kin and disturbing feeding of unrelated hinds. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4311 |
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Author |
Martín, J.; López, P.; Bonati, B.; Csermely, D. |
Title |
Lateralization When Monitoring Predators in the Wild: A Left Eye Control in the Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2010 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
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Pages |
no-no |
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Abstract Lateralization is the function specialization between left and right brain hemispheres. It is now ascertained in ectotherms too, where bias in eye use for different tasks, i.e., visual lateralization, is widespread. The lateral eye position on the head of ectotherm animals, in fact, allows them to observe left/right stimuli independently and allows lateralized individuals to carry out left and right perceived tasks at the same time. A recent study conducted on common wall lizards, Podarcis muralis, showed that lizards predominantly monitor a predator with the left eye while escaping. However, this work was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting owing to the difficulty of carrying out lateralization experiments under natural conditions. Nevertheless, field studies could provide important information to support what was previously found in the laboratory and demonstrate that these traits occur in nature. In this study, we conducted a field study on the antipredatory behavior of P. muralis lizards. We simulated predatory attacks on lizards in their natural environment. We found no lateralization in the measure of eye used by the lizard to monitor the predator before escaping from it, but the eye used was probably determined by the relative position of the lizard and the predator just before the attack. This first eye used did not affect escape decisions; lizards chose to escape toward the nearest refuge irrespective of whether it was located to the lizard’s left or right side. However, once they had escaped to a refuge, lizards had a left eye–mediated bias to monitor the predator when first emerging from the refuge, and this bias was likely independent of other environmental variables. Hence, these field findings support a left eye–mediated observation of the predator in P. muralis lizards, which confirms previous findings in this and other species. |
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Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
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1439-0310 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5182 |
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Author |
Biondi, L.M.; García, G.O.; Bó, M.S.; Vassallo, A.I. |
Title |
Social Learning in the Caracara Chimango, Milvago chimango (Aves: Falconiformes): an Age Comparison |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2010 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
116 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
722-735 |
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Abstract |
Abstract Milvago chimango is a gregarious raptor showing great ecological plasticity. Their ability to explore new resources has allowed them to survive in areas with increasing human modification. In this study, we evaluated the social learning ability in wild-caught individuals of M. chimango. In particular, we tested whether an ‘observer’ individual could improve the acquisition of a novel behaviour by watching a ‘demonstrator,’ and we examined the effects of age of both observers and demonstrators on social learning. We measured the ability of 18 observers to open an opaque Plexiglas box containing food, and we compared their performance to that of 10 control birds who did not watch a demonstrator solve the task. Prior to watching a demonstrator, only two of the observers and two of the control birds were able to open the box. After watching a demonstrator, 67% of observers were able to open the box, outperforming control birds in speed and success. Juvenile observers were more successful and faster than adults at contacting and opening the box. The age of the demonstrator did not influence the observers’ likelihood of success. These results showed that M. chimango are able to learn a box-opening task with a hidden food reward by observing the behaviour of a conspecific and that this behaviour persisted over several days. Social learning ability in M. chimango might allow certain behavioural patterns, such as those related to novel resource acquisition in modified environments, to be socially transmitted among individuals in a population. |
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Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
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1439-0310 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5283 |
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Author |
Hemelrijk, C.K.; Hildenbrandt, H. |
Title |
Self-Organized Shape and Frontal Density of Fish Schools |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
114 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
245-254 |
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Abstract |
Abstract Models of swarming (based on avoidance, alignment and attraction) produce patterns of behaviour also seen in schools of fish. However, the significance of such similarities has been questioned, because some model assumptions are unrealistic [e.g. speed in most models is constant with random error, the perception is global and the size of the schools that have been studied is small (up to 128 individuals)]. This criticism also applies to our former model, in which we demonstrated the emergence of two patterns of spatial organization, i.e. oblong school form and high frontal density, which are supposed to function as protection against predators. In our new model we respond to this criticism by making the following improvements: individuals have a preferred ‘cruise speed’ from which they can deviate in order to avoid others or to catch up with them. Their range of perception is inversely related to density, with which we take into account that high density limits the perception of others that are further away. Swarm sizes range from 10 to 2000 individuals. The model is three-dimensional. Further, we show that the two spatial patterns (oblong shape and high frontal density) emerge by self-organization as a side-effect of coordination at two speeds (of two or four body lengths per second) for schools of sizes above 20. Our analysis of the model leads to the development of a new set of hypotheses. If empirical data confirm these hypotheses, then in a school of real fish these patterns may arise as a side-effect of their coordination in the same way as in the model. |
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Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
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1439-0310 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5202 |
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Author |
Huang, S.-P.; Yang, S.-Y.; Hsu, Y. |
Title |
Persistence of Winner and Loser Effects Depends on the Behaviour Measured |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
117 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
171-180 |
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Abstract |
Abstract Recent contest experience can influence an individual’s behaviour in subsequent contests. When the probability of winning a subsequent contest is used to quantify experience effects, a loser effect usually lasts longer than a winner effect. This conclusion, however, may be caused by this probability understating the persistence of the influence of a winning experience on contest decisions. Using Kryptolebias marmoratus, a mangrove killifish, as the study organism, we investigated whether different conclusions about the relative persistence of winning and losing experiences would be reached when different aspects of contest behaviour (probability of initiating attacks, probability of winning non-escalated and escalated contests, escalation rate and contest duration) were measured. The results indicated that the apparent persistence of the effect of winning or losing experiences varied with the behaviour studied. When the likelihood to initiate attacks was used, no winner effect was detected while the loser effect lasted for <1 d. When escalation rate was used, the winner effect lasted for 2–4 d, while the loser effect lasted for 1–2 d. When the probability of winning non-escalated contests was used, the winner effect was detectable for <1 d, while the loser effect lasted for 2–4 d. And, when contest duration was used, the winner effect was detectable for 2–4 d, but no loser effect was detectable. These results show that (1) the probability of winning a subsequent contest understated the persistence of the influence of a winning experience on the fish’s contest decisions, (2) the measures most effective at detecting winner effects are different from those most effective at detecting loser effects and (3) in K. marmoratus, both effects can be detected 2 d after the completion of experience training but both dissipate in 4 d. |
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Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5317 |
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Author |
Mersmann, D.; Tomasello, M.; Call, J.; Kaminski, J.; Taborsky, M. |
Title |
Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
117 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
675-690 |
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Abstract |
Abstract Recent studies have suggested that domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) engage in highly complex forms of social learning. Here, we critically assess the potential mechanisms underlying social learning in dogs using two problem-solving tasks. In a classical detour task, the test dogs benefited from observing a demonstrator walking around a fence to obtain a reward. However, even inexperienced dogs did not show a preference for passing the fence at the same end as the demonstrator. Furthermore, dogs did not need to observe a complete demonstration by a human demonstrator to pass the task. Instead, they were just as successful in solving the problem after seeing a partial demonstration by an object passing by at the end of the fence. In contrast to earlier findings, our results suggest that stimulus enhancement (or affordance learning) might be a powerful social learning mechanism used by dogs to solve such detour problems. In the second task, we examined whether naïve dogs copy actions to solve an instrumental problem. After controlling for stimulus enhancement and other forms of social influence (e.g. social facilitation and observational conditioning), we found that dogs’ problem solving was not influenced by witnessing a skilful demonstrator (either an unknown human, a conspecific or the dog’s owner). Together, these results add to evidence suggesting that social learning may often be explained by relatively simple (but powerful) mechanisms. |
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Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5409 |
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Author |
Black, J.M. |
Title |
Preflight Signalling in Swans: A Mechanism for Group Cohesion and Flock Formation |
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Journal Article |
Year |
1988 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
Volume |
79 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
143-157 |
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Abstract The preflight behaviour of whooper swans Cygnus cygnus and Bewick's swans Cygnus columbianus bewickii was examined to determine the adaptive significance of the ritual. Analysis of the preflight sequence revealed that the rate of signalling became significantly faster as the time of takeoff approached. This provides the first quantitative evidence that a threshold of excitability is responsible for triggering synchronised flight in social units. Two ultimate and two proximate factors that affect this threshold were uncovered. They are: 1) Maintaining proximity to partners—flight was delayed by birds with non-attentive mates and signalling lasted on average four times longer than those whose mates showed more interest. 2) Maintaining flock cohesiveness—birds which performed signals for longer periods while swimming among uninterested birds were successful in attracting followers 61% of the time. 3) The bird's feeding performance related to dominance status—less successful feeders (potentially hungry birds), flew after little time and few signals. 4) The type of feeding opportunity at the eventual destination—birds which flew to provided feeds (nutritious barley) spent less time performing preflight signals than when they flew to forage on grass fields. |
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Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5315 |
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Vervaecke, H.; Stevens, J.; Vandemoortele, H.; Sigurjönsdöttir, H.; De Vries, H. |
Title |
Aggression and dominance in matched groups of subadult Icelandic horses (Equus caballus) |
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Journal Article |
Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Journal of Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Ethol. |
Volume |
25 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
239-248 |
Keywords |
Equus – Dominance – Aggression – Hierarchy – Steepness |
Abstract |
Abstract We studied sex differences in the nature of aggression and dominance behaviour in two newly formed groups of 1-year-old Icelandic horses. One herd contained nine geldings, the other nine mares. The groups were matched with regard to dominance-determining traits such as age, weaning age, composition of native herd, social experience, genetic origin, body condition and maternal dominance status. High-ranking individuals of both sexes were more aggressive, high-ranking males were older, and high-ranking females had a better body condition. Frequencies of aggressions were similar in both groups. The mares reacted significantly more by showing submission upon an aggression rather than by not responding or by escalating the aggression. For the geldings, this difference was not observed due to a lower tendency to submit. A linear dominance hierarchy was found in both groups. David`s scores provided additional information regarding cardinal rank distances and were used to calculate steepness of hierarchies. The female hierarchy was somewhat steeper compared to the male hierarchy, suggesting somewhat lower despotism among males. This was mainly a consequence of the lower unidirectionality in male submission. Male contests occurred predominantly between dyads at top and mid positions, suggesting a low degree of acceptance of the hierarchy. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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2192 |
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Author |
Heitor, F.; Vicente, L. |
Title |
Affiliative relationships among Sorraia mares: influence of age, dominance, kinship and reproductive state |
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Journal Article |
Year |
2010 |
Publication |
Journal of Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Ethol. |
Volume |
28 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
133-140 |
Keywords |
Sorraia horse – Affiliative relationship – Dominance – Kinship – Reproductive state |
Abstract |
Abstract Affiliative relationships among mares were examined in a managed group of Sorraia horses, Equus caballus, over a 3-year period. We assessed the influence of age, dominance, kinship and reproductive state on the strength of affiliative relationships and diversity of partners. The herd comprised 9–11 mares that had known each other since birth, their foals and a stallion that remained in the group exclusively during the breeding season. In contrast to a previous study, kinship did not significantly affect bonds. Mares tended to spend more time in proximity to those in the same reproductive state. Affiliative relationships among mares were relatively stable but their strength decreased after foaling, possibly as a function of foal protection and bonding between dam and foal. There was no consistent evidence that mares disengaged from affiliative relationships with increasing age. As expected, dominant mares and barren mares contributed the most to affiliative relationships. Dominance rank increased with age, but dominance relationships were stable and did not change after foaling. Overall, reproductive state was the factor that had the most consistent influence on affiliative relationships among Sorraia mares. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5100 |
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