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Author |
Elhay, M.; Newbold, A.; Britton, A.; Turley, P.; Dowsett, K.; Walker, J. |
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Title |
Suppression of behavioural and physiological oestrus in the mare by vaccination against GnRH |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Australian Veterinary Journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Aust Vet J |
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Volume |
85 |
Issue |
1-2 |
Pages |
39-45 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Antibodies/blood; Estradiol/blood; *Estrus/drug effects/physiology; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/*immunology/*pharmacology; Horses/*physiology; Luteinizing Hormone/blood; Ovulation/*drug effects/physiology; Progesterone/blood; Safety; Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects/physiology; Time Factors; Vaccination/veterinary |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE: To examine the immunogenicity of an equine immunocontraceptive vaccine and its efficacy in controlling hormone-related behaviour. DESIGN: A total of 24 mares at two sites in Australia were vaccinated with an immunocontraceptive vaccine comprising gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to a carrier protein in immunostimulating complex as an adjuvant. Twelve animals at each site received a placebo of adjuvant alone and served as controls for seasonal oestrus, hormonal and behaviour patterns. Animals were observed for injection site reactions, ovarian and follicular activity, and serum levels of antibody, 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone in the weeks following vaccination. Mares were also examined for oestrous behaviour by teasing with a stallion. RESULTS: All mares responded to vaccination. Two weeks following the second vaccination there was a peak in antibody response to GnRH that declined gradually over the following weeks. Commensurate with the elevated anti-GnRH antibody there was a marked effect on ovarian activity with a reduction in 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone levels in the 24 vaccinated mares. There was also a reduction of oestrus-related behaviour as determined by a teaser stallion. This effect lasted a minimum of 3 months and correlated with the initial level of antibody response. CONCLUSION: Following a conventional two-dose immunisation regime this commercially available equine immunocontraceptive vaccine was effective at inhibiting oestrous behaviour for at least 3 months. This vaccine has a high level of safety since there were no significant local reactions nor were there any adverse systemic responses to vaccination. |
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Veterinary Medicines Research and Development, Pfizer Animal Health, Parkville, VIC 3052. Martin.Elhay@pfizer.com |
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0005-0423 |
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PMID:17300452 |
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Call Number |
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Serial |
1831 |
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Author |
Spadavecchia, C.; Arendt-Nielsen, L.; Spadavecchia, L.; Mosing, M.; Auer, U.; van den Hoven, R. |
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Title |
Effects of butorphanol on the withdrawal reflex using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia |
Abbreviated Journal |
Vet Anaesth Analg |
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Volume |
34 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
48-58 |
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Keywords |
Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology; Animals; Butorphanol/*pharmacology; Consciousness; Electric Stimulation; Electromyography; Female; Forelimb/physiology; Horses/*physiology; Male; Pain/veterinary; Pain Threshold/*drug effects; Reflex/*drug effects |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a single intravenous dose of butorphanol (0.1 mg kg(-1)) on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses. STUDY DESIGN: 'Unblinded', prospective experimental study. ANIMALS: Ten adult horses, five geldings and five mares, mean body mass 517 kg (range 487-569 kg). METHODS: The NWR was elicited using single transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the palmar digital nerve. Repeated stimulations were applied to evoke temporal summation. Surface electromyography was performed to record and quantify the responses of the common digital extensor muscle to stimulation and behavioural reactions were scored. Before butorphanol administration and at fixed time points up to 2 hours after injection, baseline threshold intensities for NWR and temporal summation were defined and single suprathreshold stimulations applied. Friedman repeated-measures analysis of variance on ranks and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used with the Student-Newman-Keul's method applied post-hoc. The level of significance (alpha) was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Butorphanol did not modify either the thresholds for NWR and temporal summation or the reaction scores, but the difference between suprathreshold and threshold reflex amplitudes was reduced when single stimulation was applied. Upon repeated stimulation after butorphanol administration, a significant decrease in the relative amplitude was calculated for both the 30-80 and the 80-200 millisecond intervals after each stimulus, and for the whole post-stimulation interval in the right thoracic limb. In the left thoracic limb a decrease in the relative amplitude was found only in the 30-80 millisecond epoch. CONCLUSION: Butorphanol at 0.1 mg kg(-1) has no direct action on spinal Adelta nociceptive activity but may have some supraspinal effects that reduce the gain of the nociceptive system. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Butorphanol has minimal effect on sharp immediate Adelta-mediated pain but may alter spinal processing and decrease the delayed sensations of pain. |
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Anesthesiology Section, Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. claudia.spadavecchia@veths.no |
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1467-2987 |
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PMID:17238962 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
92 |
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Author |
Stamps, J.A. |
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Title |
Growth-mortality tradeoffs and 'personality traits' in animals |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Ecology Letters |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ecol Lett |
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Volume |
10 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
355-363 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal; *Growth; *Mortality; *Personality |
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Abstract |
Consistent individual differences in boldness, reactivity, aggressiveness, and other 'personality traits' in animals are stable within individuals but vary across individuals, for reasons which are currently obscure. Here, I suggest that consistent individual differences in growth rates encourage consistent individual differences in behavior patterns that contribute to growth-mortality tradeoffs. This hypothesis predicts that behavior patterns that increase both growth and mortality rates (e.g. foraging under predation risk, aggressive defense of feeding territories) will be positively correlated with one another across individuals, that selection for high growth rates will increase mean levels of potentially risky behavior across populations, and that within populations, faster-growing individuals will take more risks in foraging contexts than slower-growing individuals. Tentative empirical support for these predictions suggests that a growth-mortality perspective may help explain some of the consistent individual differences in behavioral traits that have been reported in fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other animals with indeterminate growth. |
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Address |
University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. jastamps@ucdavis.edu |
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1461-0248 |
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PMID:17498134 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4100 |
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Author |
Clauss, M.; Castell, J.C.; Kienzle, E.; Schramel, P.; Dierenfeld, E.S.; Flach, E.J.; Behlert, O.; Streich, W.J.; Hummel, J.; Hatt, J.-M. |
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Title |
Mineral absorption in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as compared with the domestic horse |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) |
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Volume |
91 |
Issue |
5-6 |
Pages |
193-204 |
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Abstract |
To test whether mineral recommendations for horses are likely to guarantee adequate mineral provision for black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), we investigated the apparent absorption (aA) of macro- and microminerals in eight black rhinoceroses from three zoological institutions in a total of 32 feeding trials with total faecal collection, with additional data from three unpublished studies (18 feeding trials). Feeds and faeces were analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Co. The resulting aA coefficients, and the linear relationships of apparently absorbable dietary mineral content to total dietary mineral content [per 100 g dry matter (DM)], were compared with data for domestic horses. Rhinoceroses had significantly higher aA coefficients for Ca and Mg (because of a higher calculated 'true' absorption), and lower ones for Na and K (because of calculated higher endogenous faecal losses). High absorption efficiency for divalent cations is hypothesized to be an adaptation to a natural diet of particularly high Ca:P ratio (approximately 14:1); an effective removal of Ca from the ingesta guarantees sufficient P availability at the fermentation site in the hindgut. Higher faecal losses of Na and K are hypothesized to be linked to a higher faecal bulk per DM intake in black rhinoceroses as compared with horses because of a generally lower digestive efficiency. There were no relevant differences in the absorption patterns of microminerals. In particular, there were no discernable differences in Fe absorption within the rhinoceroses for diets with and without tannin supplementation. Several of the zoo diets assessed in this study were deficient in Cu, Mn or Zn, and most contained excessive levels of Fe when compared with horse requirements. The findings of this study indicate that differences in mineral absorption between occur even between species of similar digestive anatomy; that in particular, Ca absorption might vary between hindgut fermenters with Ca:P ratio in their natural diet; that Na might be a particularly limiting factor in the ecology of free-ranging rhinoceroses; that moderate doses of tannins do not seem to markedly influence mineral absorption; and that diets for captive animals should contain adequate, but not excessive mineral levels. |
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Address |
Division of Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland. mclauss@vetclinics.uzh.ch |
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0931-2439 |
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PMID:17516940 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2619 |
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Author |
Machnik, M.; Hegger, I.; Kietzmann, M.; Thevis, M.; Guddat, S.; Schanzer, W. |
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Title |
Pharmacokinetics of altrenogest in horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Vet Pharmacol Ther |
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Volume |
30 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
86-90 |
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Keywords |
Administration, Oral; Animals; Chromatography, Liquid/veterinary; Doping in Sports/prevention & control; Horses/*metabolism; Male; Mass Spectrometry/veterinary; Progesterone Congeners/administration & dosage/blood/*pharmacokinetics/urine; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection/veterinary; Trenbolone/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/blood/pharmacokinetics/urine |
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Abstract |
The Federation Equestre Internationale has permitted the use of altrenogest in mares for the control of oestrus. However, altrenogest is also suspicious to misuse in competition horses for its potential anabolic effects and suppression of typical male behaviour, and thus is a controlled drug. To investigate the pharmacokinetics of altrenogest in horses we conducted an elimination study. Five oral doses of 44 mug/kg altrenogest were administered to 10 horses at a dose interval of 24 h. Following administration blood and urine samples were collected at appropriate intervals. Altrenogest concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The plasma levels of altrenogest reached maximal concentrations of 23-75 ng/mL. Baseline values were achieved within 3 days after the final administration. Urine peak concentrations of total altrenogest ranged from 823 to 3895 ng/mL. Twelve days after the final administration concentrations were below the limit of detection (ca 2 ng/mL). |
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Address |
Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. m.machnik@biochem.dshs-koeln.de |
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0140-7783 |
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PMID:17217407 |
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no |
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Serial |
1841 |
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Author |
Schmidt, R.; Amrhein, V.; Kunc, H.P.; Naguib, M. |
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Title |
The day after: effects of vocal interactions on territory defence in nightingales |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
The Journal of Animal Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
T. J. Anim. Ecol. |
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Volume |
76 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
168-173 |
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Keywords |
Aggression; Animals; Male; Songbirds/*physiology; *Territoriality; Time Factors; Vocalization, Animal/*physiology |
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Abstract |
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. |
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Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, PO Box 100 131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany. rouven.schmidt@uni-bielefeld.de |
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0021-8790 |
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PMID:17184365 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2749 |
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Author |
Momozawa, Y.; Takeuchi, Y.; Tozaki, T.; Kikusui, T.; Hasegawa, T.; Raudsepp, T.; Chowdhary, B.P.; Kusunose, R.; Mori, Y. |
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Title |
SNP detection and radiation hybrid mapping in horses of nine candidate genes for temperament |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Animal Genetics |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim Genet |
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Volume |
38 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
81-83 |
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Keywords |
Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Breeding; Horses/*genetics/physiology; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Radiation Hybrid Mapping; *Temperament |
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Address |
Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan |
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0268-9146 |
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PMID:17257195 |
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no |
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Serial |
1834 |
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Author |
Dunbar, R.I.M.; Shultz, S. |
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Title |
Understanding primate brain evolution |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci |
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Volume |
362 |
Issue |
1480 |
Pages |
649-658 |
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We present a detailed reanalysis of the comparative brain data for primates, and develop a model using path analysis that seeks to present the coevolution of primate brain (neocortex) and sociality within a broader ecological and life-history framework. We show that body size, basal metabolic rate and life history act as constraints on brain evolution and through this influence the coevolution of neocortex size and group size. However, they do not determine either of these variables, which appear to be locked in a tight coevolutionary system. We show that, within primates, this relationship is specific to the neocortex. Nonetheless, there are important constraints on brain evolution; we use path analysis to show that, in order to evolve a large neocortex, a species must first evolve a large brain to support that neocortex and this in turn requires adjustments in diet (to provide the energy needed) and life history (to allow sufficient time both for brain growth and for 'software' programming). We review a wider literature demonstrating a tight coevolutionary relationship between brain size and sociality in a range of mammalian taxa, but emphasize that the social brain hypothesis is not about the relationship between brain/neocortex size and group size per se; rather, it is about social complexity and we adduce evidence to support this. Finally, we consider the wider issue of how mammalian (and primate) brains evolve in order to localize the social effects. |
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British Academy Centenary Research Project, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. rimd@liv.ac.uk |
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0962-8436 |
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PMID:17301028 |
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no |
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Serial |
2099 |
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Author |
Whiten, A.; van Schaik, C.P. |
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Title |
The evolution of animal 'cultures' and social intelligence |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci |
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Volume |
362 |
Issue |
1480 |
Pages |
603-620 |
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Decades-long field research has flowered into integrative studies that, together with experimental evidence for the requisite social learning capacities, have indicated a reliance on multiple traditions ('cultures') in a small number of species. It is increasingly evident that there is great variation in manifestations of social learning, tradition and culture among species, offering much scope for evolutionary analysis. Social learning has been identified in a range of vertebrate and invertebrate species, yet sustained traditions appear rarer, and the multiple traditions we call cultures are rarer still. Here, we examine relationships between this variation and both social intelligence-sophisticated information processing adapted to the social domain-and encephalization. First, we consider whether culture offers one particular confirmation of the social ('Machiavellian') intelligence hypothesis that certain kinds of social life (here, culture) select for intelligence: 'you need to be smart to sustain culture'. Phylogenetic comparisons, particularly focusing on our own study animals, the great apes, support this, but we also highlight some paradoxes in a broader taxonomic survey. Second, we use intraspecific variation to address the converse hypothesis that 'culture makes you smart', concluding that recent evidence for both chimpanzees and orang-utans support this proposition. |
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Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK |
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0962-8436 |
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Notes |
PMID:17255007 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
729 |
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Author |
Arlettaz, R.; Patthey, P.; Baltic, M.; Leu, T.; Schaub, M.; Palme, R.; Jenni-Eiermann, S. |
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Title |
Spreading free-riding snow sports represent a novel serious threat for wildlife |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Proceedings. Biological Sciences / The Royal Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Biol Sci |
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Volume |
274 |
Issue |
1614 |
Pages |
1219-1224 |
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Abstract |
Stress generated by humans on wildlife by continuous development of outdoor recreational activities is of increasing concern for biodiversity conservation. Human disturbance often adds to other negative impact factors affecting the dynamics of vulnerable populations. It is not known to which extent the rapidly spreading free-riding snow sports actually elicit detrimental stress (allostatic overload) upon wildlife, nor what the potential associated fitness and survival costs are. Using a non-invasive technique, we evaluated the physiological stress response induced by free-riding snow sports on a declining bird species of Alpine ecosystems. The results of a field experiment in which radiomonitored black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) were actively flushed from their snow burrows once a day during four consecutive days showed an increase in the concentration of faecal stress hormone (corticosterone) metabolites after disturbance. A large-scale comparative analysis across the southwestern Swiss Alps indicated that birds had higher levels of these metabolites in human-disturbed versus undisturbed habitats. Disturbance by snow sport free-riders appears to elevate stress, which potentially represents a new serious threat for wildlife. The fitness and survival costs of allostatic adjustments have yet to be estimated. |
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Address |
Zoological Institute, Division of Conservation Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. raphael.arlettaz@nat.unibe.ch |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0962-8452 |
ISBN |
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Medium |
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Expedition |
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Conference |
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Notes |
PMID:17341459 |
Approved |
no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4075 |
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