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Author Cameron, E.Z.; du Toit, J.T.
Title Winning by a neck: tall giraffes avoid competing with shorter browsers Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication The American naturalist Abbreviated Journal Am Nat
Volume 169 Issue 1 Pages 130-135
Keywords Acacia/growth & development; Animals; Feeding Behavior/*physiology; Neck/*anatomy & histology; Plant Leaves/growth & development; Ruminants/*anatomy & histology/*physiology; South Africa
Abstract (down) With their vertically elongated body form, giraffes generally feed above the level of other browsers within the savanna browsing guild, despite having access to foliage at lower levels. They ingest more leaf mass per bite when foraging high in the tree, perhaps because smaller, more selective browsers deplete shoots at lower levels or because trees differentially allocate resources to promote shoot growth in the upper canopy. We erected exclosures around individual Acacia nigrescens trees in the greater Kruger ecosystem, South Africa. After a complete growing season, we found no differences in leaf biomass per shoot across height zones in excluded trees but significant differences in control trees. We conclude that giraffes preferentially browse at high levels in the canopy to avoid competition with smaller browsers. Our findings are analogous with those from studies of grazing guilds and demonstrate that resource partitioning can be driven by competition when smaller foragers displace larger foragers from shared resources. This provides the first experimental support for the classic evolutionary hypothesis that vertical elongation of the giraffe body is an outcome of competition within the browsing ungulate guild.
Address Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. ezcameron@zoology.up.ac.za
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1537-5323 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:17206591 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 410
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Author König von Borstel, U.; Küllmar, A.
Title A pilot study on horses‘ behaviour and distance travelled in a “Paddock Trail” husbandry system Type Conference Article
Year 2015 Publication Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting Abbreviated Journal Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords
Abstract (down) With most modern horse husbandry systems, horses’ locomotory behavior is quantitatively as well as qualitatively considerably altered, compared to the slow and continuous movement shown by horses living under conditions similar to those they have evolved under. This lack of locomotion as well as the change in quality of locomotion is thought to be responsible for a number of health issues seen in present day horses. The aim of the present study was to assess behaviour and particularly locomotion in horses kept in a husbandry system specifically designed to stimulate locomotory behaviour in horses. This type of husbandry system is named “Paddock Trail”, (PT) but is also known as “Paddock Paradise”, and the key concept of this husbandry system involves strategic placement of small portions of feed along a track which is an integral part of this husbandry system. For the present study, 11 horses, not used for riding or other activities and kept in one Paddock Trail husbandry system were available. Seven horses used in equine assisted therapy lessons and housed individually in conventional paddock-boxes (IB) served as a control group. Both groups of horses were composed of a similar mixture of horses with regard to age and breeds. Using time-sampling, behaviour of the horses was observed in 8 bouts (4 morning and 4 afternoon sessions) of 5 hours each. In addition, the average speed and distance covered was assessed in 3 (PT) and 5 (IB) horses, respectively, using a GPS system. Since the GPS signal is blocked by buildings and reliable recording would not be possible indoors, the IB horses were recorded only during their work in the therapy sessions. The behavioural observations revealed that the PT horses allocated a larger proportion of time to locomotory behaviour compared to the IB horses (on average 12 vs 3% of the 5 h observation periods; P<0,05), and in turn resting behaviour was reduced in PT horses compared to IB horses (30 vs. 46%; P<0,05). Time spent grazing (10 vs. 8%) and feeding other than grazing (47 vs. 44%) did not differ significantly between the two groups of horses in the two different husbandry systems (P>0,1). In addition, resting and feeding behaviour was influenced by social rank, such that higher ranking horses spent more time feeding and less time resting compared to horses of lower ranks (both P<0,05). Within the 5 hour observation periods, horses of the PT system covered on average a distance of 2,7 km at an average speed of 0,5 km/h. In comparison, IB horses covered during their work in the therapy sessions on average a distance of 2,1 km at an average speed of 3,6 km/h for a duration of 35 minutes. Although the confounding of groups of horses with husbandry system and although the GPS data does not allow for a direct comparison of the husbandry systems and does not cover the entire 24 hours of a day, these data indicate along with the behavioural observations that the PT system stimulates the horses to increase their locomotory behaviour.

Keywords horse, husbandry, paddock trail, locomotion, behaviour
Address
Corporate Author König von Borstel, U. Thesis
Publisher Xenophon Publishing Place of Publication Wald Editor ; Krueger, K.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 978-3-95625-000-2 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Id - Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5898
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Author Aurich, J.
Title Equine Science and Management Programme in Vienna Type Conference Article
Year 2008 Publication IESM 2008 Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords
Abstract (down) With a growing importance of equestrian sports and horse breeding, there is an increasing need for well-trained professionals in the equine sector. While well-established vocational training programmes exist in Germany, they do neither provide qualifications for leading positions nor train for scientific work on the horse. The need for specific equine university programmes has been questioned occasionally, however, neither university programmes in equine veterinary medicine (focussing on diseased horses) nor animal science (focussing on food-producing farm animals) meet the broad requirements of today`s equine industry.

The first academic programme in equine science and management in the German-speaking countries was established in 2003 by the Universities of Veterinary Sciences and Agricultural Sciences in Vienna, Austria. The 3-year bachelor programme (180 ECTS points) includes sciences, anatomy, physiology, genetics, nutrition, ethology, economics, marketing, management, legislation, reproduction, healtcare, equitation science and organisation of breeding and equestrian sports. Courses are provided by the partner universities and by lecturers from practise and equestrian organisations including the German and Austrian equestrian federations. Lectures and seminars are complemented by a scientific thesis and placements in the equine industry.

Out of 100-150 applicants each year, 50 students are selected on the basis of their previous activities, a written test and interviews. Students are coming from Austria (40%), Germany (50%) and other countries (10%) ensuring a truly European programme. The majority of students enter the programme directly after leaving secondary school, but approx. 20% have undergone previous vocational training (e.g. Pferdewirt).

About 40% of the graduates enter into subsequent MSc programmes in animal science or agribusiness. Others are studying for an MBA or a degree in veterinary medicine, journalism, law and other disciplines. Graduates from the 2003 class finish their MSc in agriculture this year at universities in Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom and some of them will continue with a doctorate. Students not entering graduate programmes after obtaining their BSc do work as stud managers or management assistants in Germany and English-speaking countries or are employed by equestrian organisations such as the German and Austrian national federation, equestrian journals, equine nutrition companies, non-university research and consulting institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture and in a variety of other fields. The success of the Vienna equine programme has also encouraged activities at other universities and programmes with near-similar curricula have recently been established in Germany and Switzerland.

In conclusion, graduates of the Vienna equine science programme follow a wide-range of professional and academic activities within the equine industry. This spectrum is by far more extensive than the sector covered by professionals from traditional vocational training. With practical experience obtained on the job, adaequately qualified graduates will more and more obtain leading positions. In addition, the programme is a first step in the training of future researchers and teachers. By promoting and conducting research on the horse, equine science programmes do also secure the leading role of the European equine industry for the future.
Address University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna, Austria. joerg.aurich@vu-wien.ac.at, phone +43 1 250775400, fax +43 1 250775490
Corporate Author Aurich, J. Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference IESM 2008
Notes Talk 15 min IESM 2008 Approved yes
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4503
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Author Bonnie, K.E.; Horner, V.; Whiten, A.; de Waal, F.B.M.
Title Spread of arbitrary conventions among chimpanzees: a controlled experiment Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Abbreviated Journal Proc Biol Sci
Volume 274 Issue 1608 Pages 367-372
Keywords
Abstract (down) Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have a rich cultural repertoire--traditions common in some communities are not present in others. The majority of reports describe functional, material traditions, such as tool use. Arbitrary conventions have received far less attention. In the same way that observations of material culture in wild apes led to experiments to confirm social transmission and identify underlying learning mechanisms, experiments investigating how arbitrary habits or conventions arise and spread within a group are also required. The few relevant experimental studies reported thus far have relied on cross-species (i.e. human-ape) interaction offering limited ecological validity, and no study has successfully generated a tradition not involving tool use in an established group. We seeded one of two rewarded alternative endpoints to a complex sequence of behaviour in each of two chimpanzee groups. Each sequence spread in the group in which it was seeded, with many individuals unambiguously adopting the sequence demonstrated by a group member. In one group, the alternative sequence was discovered by a low ranking female, but was not learned by others. Since the action-sequences lacked meaning before the experiment and had no logical connection with reward, chimpanzees must have extracted both the form and benefits of these sequences through observation of others.
Address Living Links, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. kebonni@emory.edu
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0962-8452 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:17164200 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 157
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Author Rendall, D.; Seyfarth, R.M.; Cheney, D.L.; Owren, M.J.
Title The meaning and function of grunt variants in baboons Type Journal Article
Year 1999 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.
Volume 57 Issue 3 Pages 583-592
Keywords
Abstract (down) Wild baboons Papio cynocephalus ursinus, give tonal, harmonically rich vocalizations, termed grunts, in at least two distinct, behavioural contexts: when about to embark on a move across an open area ('move' grunts); and when approaching mothers and attempting to inspect or handle their young infants ('infant' grunts). Grunts in these two contexts elicit different responses from receivers and appear to be acoustically distinct (Owren et al. 1997 Journal of the Acoustical Society of America101 2951-2963). Differences in responses to grunts in the two contexts may, then, be due to acoustic differences, reflecting at least a rudimentary capacity for referential signalling. Alternatively, responses may differ simply due to differences in the contexts in which the grunts are being produced. We conducted playback experiments to test between these hypotheses. Experiments were designed to control systematically the effects of both context and acoustic features so as to evaluate the role of each in determining responses to grunts. In playback trials, subjects differentiated between putative move and infant grunts. Their responses based only on the acoustic features of grunts were functionally distinct and mirrored their behaviour to naturally occurring move and infant grunts. However, subjects' responses were in some cases also affected by the context in which grunts were presented, and by an interaction between the context and the acoustic features of the grunts. Furthermore, responses to grunts were affected by the relative rank difference between the caller and the subject. These results indicate that baboon grunts can function in rudimentary referential fashion, but that the context in which grunts are produced and the social identity of callers can also affect recipients' responses. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Address Departments of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, U.S.A
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-3472 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:10196047 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 696
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Author Gerber, B.; Hendel, T.
Title Outcome expectations drive learned behaviour in larval Drosophila Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Abbreviated Journal Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci.
Volume 273 Issue 1604 Pages 2965-2968
Keywords
Abstract (down) Why does Pavlov's dog salivate? In response to the tone, or in expectation of food? While in vertebrates behaviour can be driven by expected outcomes, it is unknown whether this is true for non-vertebrates as well. We find that, in the Drosophila larva, odour memories are expressed behaviourally only if animals can expect a positive outcome from doing so. The expected outcome of tracking down an odour is determined by comparing the value of the current situation with the value of the memory for that odour. Memory is expressed behaviourally only if the expected outcome is positive. This uncovers a hitherto unrecognized evaluative processing step between an activated memory trace and behaviour control, and argues that learned behaviour reflects the pursuit of its expected outcome. Shown in a system with a simple brain, an apparently cognitive process like representing the expected outcome of behaviour seems to be a basic feature of behaviour control.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 3525
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Author Horváth, G.; Blahó, M.; Kriska, G.; Hegedüs, R.; Gerics, B.; Farkas, R.; Åkesson, S.
Title An unexpected advantage of whiteness in horses: the most horsefly-proof horse has a depolarizing white coat Type Journal Article
Year 2010 Publication Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Abbreviated Journal
Volume 277 Issue 1688 Pages 1643-1650
Keywords
Abstract (down) White horses frequently suffer from malign skin cancer and visual deficiencies owing to their high sensitivity to the ultraviolet solar radiation. Furthermore, in the wild, white horses suffer a larger predation risk than dark individuals because they can more easily be detected. In spite of their greater vulnerability, white horses have been highly appreciated for centuries owing to their natural rarity. Here, we show that blood-sucking tabanid flies, known to transmit disease agents to mammals, are less attracted to white than dark horses. We also demonstrate that tabanids use reflected polarized light from the coat as a signal to find a host. The attraction of tabanids to mainly black and brown fur coats is explained by positive polarotaxis. As the host's colour determines its attractiveness to tabanids, this parameter has a strong influence on the parasite load of the host. Although we have studied only the tabanid–horse interaction, our results can probably be extrapolated to other host animals of polarotactic tabanids, as the reflection–polarization characteristics of the host's body surface are physically the same, and thus not species-dependent.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5702
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Author Ödberg, F.
Title History of schooling and its relation with conditioning laws and welfare Type Conference Article
Year 2012 Publication Proceedings of the 2. International Equine Science Meeting Abbreviated Journal Proc. 2. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg
Volume in press Issue Pages
Keywords
Abstract (down) While writings from the Hittite Kikkuli and the Greek hippiatrica concerned stamina training and mainly veterinary aspects, the first explicit writings left about schooling are from the hand of Xenophon. He showed already a plight to understand the horse’s behaviour and apply an animal-friendly schooling. What happened in Roman times and early middle ages is unclear through a lack of documents. Literature increased in late middle ages (a few Iberic authors and the Italian Rusius) but remained scarce. One presumes knights were brutal because of the strength of bits and spurs, but iconography shows also horses ridden without coercion. Linear progress in schooling cannot be found before the transition between the renaissance and baroque periods. Writings from renaissance masters such as Grisone, Fiaschi, Pignatelli and de la Broue, show a generally violent way of schooling (excepted Conte and Pavari) strangely contrasting with appeals for kindness. One then observes from the 17th century authors to the 18th century baroque masters a gradual improvement concerning important aspects: evolving 1/ from anthropomorphism to understanding horse behaviour, and 2/ from coercion to obtaining gradually suppleness and applying the laws of physics concerning weight distribution. Many baroque and early 19th century masters had understood intuitively conditioning laws discovered scientifically in the 20th century by the Pavlovians and behaviourists. The essence of schooling was settled in the baroque period. It subsided unfortunately in the 19th (with better survival in Germany, Austria and Iberic countries) because of a/ more interest for racing and hunting, b/ the French revolution that closed academies and c/ mass army training. Pressure of competition in the 20th nearly eradicated academic tradition. In the second part we translate some fundamental riding principles into scientific terminology. “Independence of aids” is based on discrimination of stimuli and overshadowing. “Discretion of aids” on generalization and second-order conditioning. “Descente de mains et de jambes” on avoidance of habituation, of confusion, and of the impossibility to apply negative reward. “Legs without hands, hands without legs” on avoidance of experimental neurosis due to contradictory stimuli. Time permitting, processes such as positive social modelling and occasion setting will be explained. The above mentioned principles are rarely applied nowadays. The FEI holds a large responsibility in the acceptance, even institutionalizing, of a probably animal-unfriendly riding. It is also shameful that some schools, that for years, or even centuries, were the guardians of old principles, are relinquishing them under commercial pressure. All too often, modern riding is obviously animal-unfriendly for the intuitive rider. Scientists however seek facts. Frequency of conflict behaviours is an indicator at ethological level. However, some horses could be in learned helplessness. There is no litmus test for that (except complicated avoidance learning procedures). There is a need for physiological stress parameters according to breed, age, sex. Horses schooled according to different philosophies are often from different breeds making matched-pairs studies difficult. The important role of pre- and postnatal experience complicates precise scientific evaluation in everyday equine practice. One cannot standardize ontogeny in horses as in laboratory animals. Keywords: academic riding principles, history, learning theory, welfare KW -
Address
Corporate Author Odberg, F. Thesis
Publisher Xenophon Publishing Place of Publication Wald Editor Krueger, K.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN 978-3-9808134-26 Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5532
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Author Guo, K.; Meints, K.; Hall, C.; Hall, S.; Mills, D.
Title Left gaze bias in humans, rhesus monkeys and domestic dogs Type Journal Article
Year 2009 Publication Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.
Volume 12 Issue 3 Pages 409-418
Keywords Biomedical and Life Sciences
Abstract (down) While viewing faces, human adults often demonstrate a natural gaze bias towards the left visual field, that is, the right side of the viewee’s face is often inspected first and for longer periods. Using a preferential looking paradigm, we demonstrate that this bias is neither uniquely human nor limited to primates, and provide evidence to help elucidate its biological function within a broader social cognitive framework. We observed that 6-month-old infants showed a wider tendency for left gaze preference towards objects and faces of different species and orientation, while in adults the bias appears only towards upright human faces. Rhesus monkeys showed a left gaze bias towards upright human and monkey faces, but not towards inverted faces. Domestic dogs, however, only demonstrated a left gaze bias towards human faces, but not towards monkey or dog faces, nor to inanimate object images. Our findings suggest that face- and species-sensitive gaze asymmetry is more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously recognised, is not constrained by attentional or scanning bias, and could be shaped by experience to develop adaptive behavioural significance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Springer Berlin / Heidelberg Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5353
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Author Becker-Birck, M.; Biau, S.; Aurich, C.; Möstl, E.; Ille, N.; Aurich, J.
Title Heart rate and heart rate variability in the horse and its rider: different responses to training and a public equestrian performance Type Conference Article
Year 2012 Publication Proceedings of the 2. International Equine Science Meeting Abbreviated Journal Proc. 2. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg
Volume in press Issue Pages
Keywords
Abstract (down) While detailed information exists on the cardiovascular response of horses to racing or endurance, much less is known about cardiovascular function of the rider in equestrian sports. Combined analysis of the horse-rider-team has not been investigated so far. In this study, we have analyzed changes in heart rate and heart variability (HRV) variables SDRR (standard deviation of beat-to-beat interval) and RMSSD (root mean square of successive beat-to-beat intervals) both in well-trained horses (n=9) and their highly experienced riders (n=7) during the airs above the ground (sauteurs en liberté of the Cadre noir de Saumur) at a public performance and at an identical, but non-public training session, both lasting for exactly 7 min. Heart rate in the horses and riders increased during the airs above the ground, both in training and in the public performance (p<0.001 over time). In the horses, this increase did not differ between training and public performance (training: from 35±6 in the stable to 97±17 beats/min during riding, performance: from 43±13 to 103±13 beats/min, respectively). In contrast, in the riders, the increase in heart rate was significantly more pronounced (p<0.01) during the public performance (basal value 91±10, maximum 150±15 beats/min) than during training (basal value 94±10, maximum 118±12 beats/min). With regard to HRV in horses, overall SDRR did not change significantly over time and did not differ significantly between training and performance. RMSSD decreased during both training and performance to the same extent, indicating a decrease in parasympathetic (vagal) tone. In the riders, both HRV variables decreased significantly during riding (p<0.001) and for SDRR the decrease was more pronounced (p<0.05) during an equestrian performance compared to a training session. During the performance SDRR decreased from a basal value of 5.0±1.5 to a minimum of 3.2±0.6 msec while respective values for the training session were 5.3±1.1 and 2.3±1.1 msec. Both a public performance and an identical training session of the airs above the ground in the ridden horse caused an increase in heart rate and a decrease in HRV variables. While increases in heart rate are mainly caused by physical activity, decreases in HRV also indicate a stress response. The cardiovascular response in the horses did not differ between a training session and a public performance but clear differences could be demonstrated in the riders. During a public performance, the increase in heart rate and decrease in SDRR were more pronounced than during a similar training session. In conclusion, the presence of an audience thus causes more pronounced sympathoadrenal activity in experienced riders than the same equestrian tasks ridden without spectators present. In contrast, the presence of an audience was without effect on sympathoadrenal activity in experienced horses. KW -
Address
Corporate Author Becker-Birck, M.; Thesis
Publisher Xenophon Publishing Place of Publication Wald Editor Krueger, K.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 978-3-9808134-26 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5550
Permanent link to this record