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Author Schmied, C.; Waiblinger, S.; Scharl, T.; Leisch, F.; Boivin, X. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Stroking of different body regions by a human: Effects on behaviour and heart rate of dairy cows Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 109 Issue 1 Pages 25-38  
  Keywords Cattle; Tactile stimulation; Human-animal relationship; Social licking  
  Abstract From observations of intra-specific social grooming in cattle and studies on human stroking in other species, we hypothesised that cows' reactions to human stroking differ depending on the body regions being stroked. Moreover, we tested, whether cows `reactions to stroking change with the animals' experience of stroking. Sixty dairy cows were stroked in three different body regions, i.e. the withers, W, neck ventral, NV (both licked often in social grooming) and the lateral chest, LC (licked rarely), in a balanced order during 10-min sessions. Behavioural reactions and heart rate during stroking as well as reactions to the human just after stroking were recorded. Two test sessions were carried out with 3 weeks of treatment in-between. During this period, the cows were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: three groups received 5 min of daily stroking in either W, NV or LC and the last one (control group) was exposed to simple human presence. During stroking W and NV, cows showed longer neck stretching and ear hanging than during stroking LC (P < 0.001). Moreover, ear hanging was shown longer when W was stroked as compared to NV (P < 0.001), but neck stretching was observed longer during stroking NV as compared to W only after the treatment period (P < 0.01). In the first test session, more animals showed head shaking and head throwing during stroking W and NV than LC (P < 0.01), whereas in the second test session these behaviours were observed only in few animals. In the first test session heart rate was higher during stroking W than the other body regions (P <= 0.01). In the second test session, the lowest heart rate was found during stroking NV (P < 0.05). Finally, contact with the experimenter following stroking differed for the three body regions stroked in both test sessions (first: P = 0.06, second: P < 0.01); contact was shortest for LC. When comparing both test sessions, stretching the neck and ear hanging increased (P < 0.001), while head shaking and head throwing decreased (P < 0.05); there was no difference for heart rate and contact with the experimenter. The four treatments had no influence on reactions to stroking. To conclude, stroking of body regions often licked during social grooming led to more responses than stroking the one licked rarely. Some reactions, such as stretching the neck, are also observed during social licking. This suggests that cows may in part perceive human stroking of body regions often licked similarly to social licking. This knowledge could be of interest for an improvement in quality of human-cattle interactions.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4395  
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Author Taillon, J.; Côté, S. doi  openurl
  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 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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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4423  
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Author Scheiber, I. B.R.; WeiB, B. M.; Hirschenhauser, K.; Wascher, C. A.F.; Nedelcu, J.T.; Kotrschal, K. doi  openurl
  Title Does 'Relationship Intelligence' Make Big Brains in Birds? Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication The Open Biology Journal Abbreviated Journal Open Biol J  
  Volume 1 Issue Pages 6-8 (3)  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Lately, Emery et al. developed a bird-specific modification of the *social brain hypothesis*, termed *relationship intelligence hypothesis*. Although the idea may be valuable, we doubt that it is supported by sufficient evidence and critically discuss some of the arguments raised by the authors in favour of their new idea.  
  Address AKonrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle fur Ethologie, Fischerau 11, 4645 Gruenau im Almtal, Austria.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4504  
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Author Schloegl, C.; Kotrschal, K.; Bugnyar, T. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Modifying the object-choice task: Is the way you look important for ravens? Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Behavioural Processes Abbreviated Journal Behav. Process.  
  Volume 77 Issue 1 Pages 61-65  
  Keywords Gaze; Modification; Object-choice task; Raven  
  Abstract Most animals seem to have difficulties in using gaze cues to find hidden food in object-choice tasks. For instance, chimpanzees usually fail in these tests, even though they are capable of following other's gaze geometrically behind barriers. Similar to chimpanzees, common ravens are skilled in tracking other's gaze but fail in object-choice tasks. We here explored whether procedural modifications, which had been used successfully in chimpanzees, would also yield positive results in ravens. In our modifications (a) the experimenter approached the cup while gazing at it, (b) the gaze cue was accompanied by a sound and (c) the experimenter could actually see the food while giving the gaze cue. Two out of seven birds performed above chance level in some of these conditions. However, we ascribe this improvement to the individuals' learning ability rather than to an understanding of the communicative nature of the task. This interpretation is further supported by results of a follow-up experiment suggesting that ravens may not rely on conspecifics' gaze cues for finding food caches in a natural foraging context. In sum, our results suggest that ravens may not transfer their gaze follow abilities to foraging situations involving hidden food.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4505  
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Author Krueger, K. (ed) pdf  isbn
openurl 
  Title Proceedings of the International Equine Science Meeting 2008 Type Conference Volume
  Year 2008 Publication IESM 2008 Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  Keywords Equine Ecology; Equine Sociality; Equine Learning; Equine Cognition; Equine Welfare  
  Abstract Target group: Biologists, Psychologists, Veterinarians and Professionals

Meeting target: Because the last international meeting on Equine Science took place a couple years ago, there is an urgent need for equine scientists to exchange scientific knowledge, coordinate research provide knowledge for practical application, and discus research results among themselves and with professionals who work with horses. Additionally, dialog concerning the coordination of the study “Equitation Science” in Europe is urgently needed. Coordination and cooperation shall arise from the meeting, enrich the research, and advance the application of scientific knowledge for the horses` welfare.
 
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  Publisher Xenophon Verlag Place of Publication Wald Editor Krueger, K.  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
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  ISSN ISBN 978-3-9808134-0-2 Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4508  
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Author Feh, C.; Munkhtuya, B. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Male infanticide and paternity analyses in a socially natural herd of Przewalski`s horses: Sexual selection? Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Behavioural Processes Abbreviated Journal Behav. Process.  
  Volume 78 Issue 3 Pages 335-339  
  Keywords DNA paternity analysis; Human disturbance; Male infanticide; Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii); Sexual selection  
  Abstract The sexual selection hypothesis explains infanticide by males in many mammals. In our 11-year study, we investigated this hypothesis in a herd of Przewalski's horses where we had witnessed infanticidal attacks. Infanticide was highly conditional and not simply linked to takeovers. Attacks occurred in only five of 39 cases following a takeover, and DNA paternity revealed that, although infanticidal stallions were not the genetic fathers in four cases out of five, stallions present at birth did not significantly attempt to kill unrelated foals. Infanticide did not reduce birth intervals; only in one case out of five was the infanticidal stallion, the father of the next foal; mothers whose foals were attacked subsequently avoided associating with infanticidal stallions. Therefore, evidence for the sexual selection hypothesis was weak. The “human disturbance” hypothesis received some support, as only zoo bred stallions which grew up in unnatural social groups attacked foals of mares which were pregnant during takeovers.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4632  
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Author Corballis, M.C. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Of mice and men – and lopsided birds Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Cortex Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 44 Issue 1 Pages 3-7  
  Keywords Cerebral asymmetry; Handedness; Evolution; Laterality  
  Abstract The article by Zucca and Sovrano (2008, this issue) represents part of a new wave of studies of lateralization in nonhuman species. This work is often in conflict with earlier studies of human cerebral asymmetry and handedness, and the associated claim that these asymmetries are uniquely human, and perhaps even a result of the “speciation event” that led to modern humans. It is now apparent that there are close parallels between human and nonhuman asymmetries, suggesting that they have ancient roots. I argue that asymmetries must be seen in the context of a bilaterally symmetrical body plan, and that there is a balance to be struck between the adaptive advantages of symmetry and asymmetry. In human evolution, systematic asymmetries were incorporated into activities that probably are unique to our species, but the precursors of these asymmetries are increasingly evident in other species, including frogs, fish, birds, and mammals – especially primates.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4634  
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Author Arakawa, H.; Arakawa, K.; Blanchard, D.C.; Blanchard, R.J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title A new test paradigm for social recognition evidenced by urinary scent marking behavior in C57BL/6J mice Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Behavioural Brain Research Abbreviated Journal Behav. Brain. Res.  
  Volume 190 Issue 1 Pages 97-104  
  Keywords Social recognition; Urine marking; Familiarity; Context recognition; C57BL/6J mice  
  Abstract Olfaction is a major sensory element in intraspecies recognition and communication in mice. The present study investigated scent marking behaviors of males of the highly inbred C57BL/6J (C57) strain in order to evaluate the ability of these behaviors to provide clear and consistent measures of social familiarity and response to social signals. C57 males engage in scent marking when placed in a chamber with a wire mesh partition separating them from a conspecific. Male mice (C57 or outbred CD-1 mice) showed rapid habituation of scent marking (decreased marking over trials) with repeated exposure at 24-h intervals, to a stimulus animal of the C57 or CD-1 strains, or to an empty chamber. Subsequent exposure to a genetically different novel mouse (CD-1 after CD-1 exposure, or CD-1 after C57 exposure) or to a novel context (different shaped chamber) produced recovery of marking, while responses to a novel but genetically identical mouse (C57 after C57 exposure) or to the empty chamber did not. This finding demonstrated that male mice differentiate familiar and novel conspecifics as expressed by habituation and recovery of scent marking, but neither C57 or CD-1 mice can differentiate new vs. familiar C57 males; likely due to similarities in their odor patterns. The data also indicate that scent marking can differentiate novel from familiar contexts.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4639  
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Author Blumstein, D. T.; Barrow, L.; Luterra, M. doi  openurl
  Title Olfactory Predator Discrimination in Yellow-Bellied Marmots Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Ethology Abbreviated Journal Ethology  
  Volume 114 Issue 11 Pages 1135 - 1143  
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  Abstract The mechanism underlying olfactory predator identification may be relatively experience-independent, or it may rely on specific experience with predators. A mechanism by which prey might identify novel predators relies on the inevitable creation of sulfurous metabolites that are then excreted in the urine of carnivorous mammals. We tested whether free-living, yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) and mid-sized herbivores that fall prey to a variety of carnivorous mammals could discriminate herbivore (elk-Cervus elephas) urine from predator (red fox-Vulpes vulpes, coyote-Canis latrans, mountain lion-Felis concolor, wolf-Canis lupus) urine, a novel herbivore (moose-Alces alces), and a distilled water control. We further asked how specific this assessment was by testing whether marmots responded differently to predators representing different levels of risk and to familiar vs. unfamiliar predators. We found that marmots responded more to urine from coyotes (a familiar predator on adults), mountain lions (a potentially unfamiliar predator that could kill adults) and wolves (a locally extinct predator that could kill adults) than to elk urine (a non-predator). Red fox (a predator that poses a risk only to recently emerged marmot pups) urine elicited a less substantial (but not significantly so) response than coyote urine. Marmots can identify predators, even novel ones, using olfactory cues, suggesting that experience with a specific predator is not required to identify potential threats.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4641  
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Author Smith, J.E.; Kolowski, J.M.; Graham, K.E.; Dawes, S.E.; Holekamp, K.E. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Social and ecological determinants of fission-fusion dynamics in the spotted hyaena Type Journal Article
  Year 2008 Publication Animal Behaviour. Abbreviated Journal Anim. Behav.  
  Volume 76 Issue 3 Pages 619-636  
  Keywords competition; conflict resolution; cooperative hunting; Crocuta crocuta; ecological constraints; group living; social rank  
  Abstract Theory predicts that individuals living in fission-fusion societies, in which group members frequently change subgroups, should modify grouping patterns in response to varying social and environmental conditions. Spotted hyaenas, Crocuta crocuta, are long-lived carnivores that reside in permanent social groups called clans. Clans are complex, fission-fusion societies in which individual members travel, rest and forage in subgroups that frequently change composition. We studied two clans in Kenya to provide the first detailed description of fission-fusion dynamics in this species. Because social and ecological circumstances can influence the cohesiveness of animal societies, we evaluated the extent to which specific circumstances promote the formation of subgroups of various sizes. We found that cooperative defence of shared resources during interclan competition and protection from lions were cohesive forces that promoted formation of large subgroups. We also tested hypotheses suggesting factors limiting subgroup size. Mothers with small cubs avoided conspecifics, thereby reducing infanticide risk. Victims of aggression either reconciled fights or separated from former opponents to reduce the immediate costs of escalated aggression in the absence of food. As predicted by the ecological constraints hypothesis, hyaenas adjusted their grouping patterns over both short and long time scales in response to feeding competition. Crocuta were most gregarious during periods of abundant prey, joined clanmates at ephemeral kills in numbers that correlated with the energetic value of the prey and gained the most energy when foraging alone because cooperative hunting attracted numerous competitors. Overall, our findings indicate that resource limitation constrains grouping in this species.  
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  Notes (up) Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4676  
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