|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Wasser, S.K.; Keim, J.L.; Taper, M.L.; Lele, S.R.
Title The influences of wolf predation, habitat loss, and human activity on caribou and moose in the Alberta oil sands Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment Abbreviated Journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords
Abstract Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and moose (Alces alces) populations in the Alberta oil sands region of western Canada are influenced by wolf (Canis lupus) predation, habitat degradation and loss, and anthropogenic activities. Trained domestic dogs were used to locate scat from caribou, moose, and wolves during winter surges in petroleum development. Evidence obtained from collected scat was then used to estimate resource selection, measure physiological stress, and provide individual genetic identification for precise mark–recapture abundance estimates of caribou, moose, and wolves. Strong impacts of human activity were indicated by changes in resource selection and in stress and nutrition hormone levels as human-use measures were added to base resource selection models (including ecological variables, provincial highways, and pre-existing linear features with no human activity) for caribou. Wolf predation and resource selection so heavily targeted deer (Odocoileus virginiana or O hemionus) that wolves appeared drawn away from prime caribou habitat. None of the three examined species showed a significant population change over 4 years. However, caribou population estimates were more than double those of previous approximations for this area. Our findings suggest that modifying landscape-level human-use patterns may be more effective at managing this ecosystem than intentional removal of wolves.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Ecological Society of America Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1540-9295 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes doi: 10.1890/100071 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5397
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Stuber, G.D.; Sparta, D.R.; Stamatakis, A.M.; van Leeuwen, W.A.; Hardjoprajitno, J.E.; Cho, S.; Tye, K.M.; Kempadoo, K.A.; Zhang, F.; Deisseroth, K.; Bonci, A.
Title Excitatory transmission from the amygdala to nucleus accumbens facilitates reward seeking Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Abbreviated Journal Nature
Volume advance online publication Issue Pages (up)
Keywords
Abstract The basolateral amygdala (BLA) has a crucial role in emotional learning irrespective of valence1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 23. The BLA projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is thought to modulate cue-triggered motivated behaviours4, 6, 7, 24, 25, but our understanding of the interaction between these two brain regions has been limited by the inability to manipulate neural-circuit elements of this pathway selectively during behaviour. To circumvent this limitation, we used in vivo optogenetic stimulation or inhibition of glutamatergic fibres from the BLA to the NAc, coupled with intracranial pharmacology and ex vivo electrophysiology. Here we show that optical stimulation of the pathway from the BLA to the NAc in mice reinforces behavioural responding to earn additional optical stimulation of these synaptic inputs. Optical stimulation of these glutamatergic fibres required intra-NAc dopamine D1-type receptor signalling, but not D2-type receptor signalling. Brief optical inhibition of fibres from the BLA to the NAc reduced cue-evoked intake of sucrose, demonstrating an important role of this specific pathway in controlling naturally occurring reward-related behaviour. Moreover, although optical stimulation of glutamatergic fibres from the medial prefrontal cortex to the NAc also elicited reliable excitatory synaptic responses, optical self-stimulation behaviour was not observed by activation of this pathway. These data indicate that whereas the BLA is important for processing both positive and negative affect, the glutamatergic pathway from the BLA to the NAc, in conjunction with dopamine signalling in the NAc, promotes motivated behavioural responding. Thus, optogenetic manipulation of anatomically distinct synaptic inputs to the NAc reveals functionally distinct properties of these inputs in controlling reward-seeking behaviours.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved. Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1476-4687 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes 10.1038/nature10194 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5398
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author McFarland, R.; Majolo, B.
Title Reconciliation and the Costs of Aggression in Wild Barbary Macaques (Macaca sylvanus): A Test of the Integrated Hypothesis Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Ethology Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up) no-no
Keywords
Abstract The ‘integrated hypothesis’ predicts that reconciliation (the post-conflict friendly interaction between former opponents observed in various group-living species) functions to reduce anxiety and the risk of aggression from the former opponent or a bystander in the aftermath of a conflict. It also predicts that relationship quality between opponents affects the occurrence of reconciliation and modulates the anxious response of the opponents after a conflict. Because of the asymmetric nature of aggressive interactions, the cost of aggression is likely to differ between the victim and the aggressor. The aim of this study was to test the predictions of the ‘integrated hypothesis’ independently for the victim and the aggressor of a conflict. We collected data on two wild groups of Barbary macaques. This study represents, to our knowledge, the first systematic test of the integrated hypothesis on wild, non-provisioned animals. Victims of aggression were at a greater risk of receiving aggression from the former opponent or a bystander after a conflict and showed elevated anxiety. We found no such costs for the aggressor. Reconciliation reduced anxiety in the victim but did not reduce their risk of receiving aggression. Finally, relationship quality affected the occurrence of reconciliation but did not modulate post-conflict anxiety. The results of our study show that the costs of aggression are asymmetrically distributed between the victim and the aggressor. Such differences are likely to lead to different social tactics used by the victim and the aggressor in the aftermath of a conflict.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1439-0310 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5416
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ramsden, S.; Richardson, F.M.; Josse, G.; Thomas, M.S.C.; Ellis, C.; Shakeshaft, C.; Seghier, M.L.; Price, C.J.
Title Verbal and non-verbal intelligence changes in the teenage brain Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Abbreviated Journal Nature
Volume advance online publication Issue Pages (up)
Keywords
Abstract Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a standardized measure of human intellectual capacity that takes into account a wide range of cognitive skills1. IQ is generally considered to be stable across the lifespan, with scores at one time point used to predict educational achievement and employment prospects in later years1. Neuroimaging allows us to test whether unexpected longitudinal fluctuations in measured IQ are related to brain development. Here we show that verbal and non-verbal IQ can rise or fall in the teenage years, with these changes in performance validated by their close correlation with changes in local brain structure. A combination of structural and functional imaging showed that verbal IQ changed with grey matter in a region that was activated by speech, whereas non-verbal IQ changed with grey matter in a region that was activated by finger movements. By using longitudinal assessments of the same individuals, we obviated the many sources of variation in brain structure that confound cross-sectional studies. This allowed us to dissociate neural markers for the two types of IQ and to show that general verbal and non-verbal abilities are closely linked to the sensorimotor skills involved in learning. More generally, our results emphasize the possibility that an individual’s intellectual capacity relative to their peers can decrease or increase in the teenage years. This would be encouraging to those whose intellectual potential may improve, and would be a warning that early achievers may not maintain their potential.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved. Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1476-4687 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes 10.1038/nature10514 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5422
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Pays, O.; Sirot, E.; Fritz, H.
Title Collective Vigilance in the Greater Kudu: Towards a Better Understanding of Synchronization Patterns Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Ethology Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up) no-no
Keywords
Abstract Collective detection of predators is one of the main advantages of living in groups in prey species. However, the mechanisms linking individual and collective vigilance remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated individual and collective vigilance in a natural population of greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), a gregarious ruminant living under high predation risk. Controlling for environmental, individual and group factors, we show that the proportion of time during which at least one individual was vigilant increased with group size, whereas individual investment in vigilance decreased. We also show that individuals tended to synchronize both vigilance and feeding activities. More generally, and whatever the considered group size, we demonstrate how the independent scanning assumption underestimated both the proportion of time during which no individual was vigilant and the proportion of time during which all individuals were simultaneously vigilant, but overestimated the proportion of time during which one vigilant individual only was present. Our results thus contrast with the point of view that the alternative to independent vigilance is coordinated vigilance and plead for a better description of the processes whereby reciprocal influences between individuals shape collective patterns of vigilance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1439-0310 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5425
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Noy, L.; Dekel, E.; Alon, U.
Title The mirror game as a paradigm for studying the dynamics of two people improvising motion together Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords
Abstract Joint improvisation is the creative action of two or more people without a script or designated leader. Examples include improvisational theater and music, and day-to-day activities such as conversations. In joint improvisation, novel action is created, emerging from the interaction between people. Although central to creative processes and social interaction, joint improvisation remains largely unexplored due to the lack of experimental paradigms. Here we introduce a paradigm based on a theater practice called the mirror game. We measured the hand motions of two people mirroring each other at high temporal and spatial resolution. We focused on expert actors and musicians skilled in joint improvisation. We found that players can jointly create novel complex motion without a designated leader, synchronized to less than 40 ms. In contrast, we found that designating one player as leader deteriorated performance: The follower showed 2–3 Hz oscillation around the leader's smooth trajectory, decreasing synchrony and reducing the range of velocities reached. A mathematical model suggests a mechanism for these observations based on mutual agreement on future motion in mirrored reactive–predictive controllers. This is a step toward understanding the human ability to create novelty by improvising together.
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 10.1073/pnas.1108155108 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5493
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Romero L. M.
Title Using the reactive scope model to understand why stress physiology predicts survival during starvation in Galápagos marine iguanas Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication General and Comparative Endocrinology Abbreviated Journal Gen Comp Endocrinol
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords Reactive scope; Allostasis; Glucocorticoids; Stress; Survival
Abstract Even though the term “stress” is widely used, a precise definition is notoriously difficult. Notwithstanding this difficulty, stress continues to be an important concept in biology because it attempts to describe how animals cope with environmental change under emergency conditions. Without a precise definition, however, it becomes nearly impossible to make testable a priori predictions about how physiological and hormonal systems will respond to emergency conditions and what the ultimate impact on the animal will be. The reactive scope model is a recent attempt to formulate testable predictions. This model provides a physiological basis to explain why corticosterone negative feedback, but not baseline corticosterone concentrations, corticosterone responses to acute stress, or the interrenal capacity to secrete corticosterone, is correlated with survival during famine conditions in Galápagos marine iguanas. Reactive scope thus provides a foundation for interpreting and predicting physiological stress responses.
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 0016-6480 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5584
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Steidele, N.
Title Beobachtungen einer Przewalski-Junggesellenherde im Jahresverlauf unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Ruheverhalten und Rangordnung Type Manuscript
Year 2011 Publication Dissertation Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords
Abstract
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 5662
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Schnerr, C. U.
Title Feldstudie zur Epidemiologie und Bekämpfung von Strongyliden in Pferdebeständen im Raum Baden- Württemberg Type Manuscript
Year 2011 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords
Abstract In der Zeit von April 2005 bis März 2006 wurden bei 105 Pferden monatlich

koprologische Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Die Pferde waren zu zwei Drittel

Jungtiere (≤ 4 Jahre) und ein Drittel > 4 Jahre. Die zur Verfügung stehenden vier

Betriebe befanden sich alle im Raum Baden-Württemberg.

Die Kotproben wurden mit Hilfe der Flotation auf Magen-Darmnematoden untersucht

und anschließend einer quantitativen Eizahlbestimmung nach Mc Master unterzogen.

Ab einem Eigehalt von 250 Eiern pro Gramm Kot (EpG) wurden die Pferde

entsprechend der Gruppenzugehörigkeit entweder mit Pyrantel oder Ivermectin

behandelt.

Es wurden bei 73 Pferden ausschließlich Strongylideneier nachgewiesen; bei vier

Pferden waren in der Flotation zusätzlich Eier von Parascaris equorum zu finden.

Bei 28 (26,7%) der untersuchten Pferde wurden in keiner der 12 untersuchten

Proben Eier von Magen-Darmnematoden nachgewiesen. Insgesamt mussten

57 (54,3%) der Pferde über den gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum hinweg nicht

behandelt werden. 48 (45,7%) Pferde mussten mindestens einmal anthelminthisch

behandelt werden. Kein Pferd musste häufiger als dreimal behandelt werden.

In den Monaten August bis November war der Anteil an positiven Proben der

Jungtiere signifikant höher als bei den Pferden > 4 Jahre. Innerhalb der

Jungtiergruppe nahm die Höhe der Strongyliden-Eiausscheidung mit zunehmendem

Alter signifikant ab.

Ebenso nahm die Anzahl der positiven Proben im Laufe des

Untersuchungszeitraums signifikant ab.

Die beiden zur Entwurmung eingesetzten Substanzen (Pyrantel und Ivermectin)

waren voll wirksam. In 98,8% der untersuchten Proben war ein Rückgang der

Ei-Ausscheidung noch vier Wochen nach der Behandlung auf 0 EpG nachweisbar,

d. h. es gab keinerlei Anzeichen für das Vorliegen von Resistenzen gegen die

eingesetzten Substanzen.

Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen sind ein weiterer Beweis dafür, dass mit Hilfe der

selektiven anthelminthischen Behandlung die Anzahl der Entwurmungen –

insbesondere auch bei Jungtieren – deutlich gesenkt werden kann.

Die Eiausscheidung und damit die Weidekontamination werden mit Hilfe dieses

Verfahrens deutlich reduziert.

[Between April 2005 and March 2006 monthly koprological examinations where

carried out on 105 horses.

Two third of the horses were young animals (≤ 4 years) and a third were > 4 years

old.

The four farms on hand were all located in the Baden- Württemberg area.

Faecal samples were examined for gastro-intestinal nematodes by means of flotation

and subsequently subjected to an egg-quantity counting according to Mc Master.

Starting from an egg content of 250 eggs per gram faeces (EpG), the horses were

treated with either Pyrantel or Ivermectin according to their group affiliation.

In 73 horses solely Strongyle eggs were detected; the flotation of four horses

additionaly showed eggs of Parascaris equorum.

In 28 (26,7%) of the examined horses none of the 12 examined samples showed

eggs of gastro-intestinal nematodes.

Overall 57 (54,3%) horses didn´t need any treatment during the total examination

cycle. 48 (45,7%) of the horses needed at least one anthelminthic treatment.

None of the horses needed to be treated more than three times.

From August to November the rate of positive samples within the group of young

animals was significantly higher than in the horses > 4 years.

Whithin the group of young animals the level of Strongyle egg excretions dropped

significantly with advancing age.

Likewise, the number of positive samples also dropped significantly in the course of

the examination cycle.

Both substances (Pyrantel and Ivermectin) applied for deworming were fully effective.

Even a further 4 weeks after treatment the examined sample showed a drop of egg

excretion to 0 EpG in 98,8% of the samples, in other words there were no signs of

prevailing resistance appearances towards the applied substance.

The present studies are further proof that the number of dewormings-especially in

young animals can be distinctly reduced by means of selective anthelminthic

treatments.

Egg excretion and therewith pasture land contamination can be clearly reduced by

means of this procedure.]
Address
Corporate Author Thesis Ph.D. 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 5722
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Flauger, B.
Title The introduction of horses into new social groups with special regard to their stress level Type Manuscript
Year 2011 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords Pferd; Equiden; Eingliederungstechnik; Integrationspferd; Stress; Cortisol; Endokrine Reaktion; Gruppenhaltung; Verletzungsgefahr; Aggression; Futterplatzwahl; Kot; Geruchssinn; Mensch-Pferd Interaktion; horse; equids; introduction technique; integration horse; stress; cortisol; endocrine response; group housing; injury risk; aggression; feeding decision; faecal sample; olfaction; human-horse interaction
Abstract Horses are a highly social species living in complex social systems which should require them to memorise and generalise social experiences and distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. In the main part of my thesis I concentrated on the specific conflict situation of a horse being introduced into a new social group, and investigated its behaviour and stress level. Horses were either introduced (1) immediately, (2) after an observation period, or (3) together with an integration horse after an observation period. Additionally, in the second part of my thesis I arranged several experiments to elaborate additional aspects which could affect the behaviour of horses during introductions. In this study I could describe a simplified method for measuring stress through the analysis of faecal GCMs in horses. An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for 11-oxoaetiocholanolone using 11-oxoaetiocholanolone-17-CMO: BSA (3?,11-oxo-A EIA) as antigen showed high amounts of immunoreactive substances. The new assay increases the accuracy of the test and lowers the expenses per sample; also storing of samples at room temperature after collection is less critical. This is a big advantage both in the field of wildlife management of equids and in the field of equestrian sports (chapter 1). Comparing the different introduction techniques, the introduction with an integration horse led to significantly less total interactions and lower levels of aggression than the introduction of single horses, both immediately and after several days of observing the new group. Additionally, by observing the behaviour of the horses during everyday sociality I could develop a formula describing the interrelationship between expected aggression level and enclosure size per horse. The curve takes an exponential shape. Starting from a space allowance of 300 m2 and more per horse, the amount of aggressions per hour approaches zero. For the reduction of aggression levels and injury risks in socially kept horses I recommend an enclosure size of at least 300 m2 per horse (chapter 2). I further investigated the stress level of the introduced animals. Horses which were immediately introduced did not show elevated faecal GCMs. In contrast, horses which were introduced after an observation period had slightly elevated values 2 and 3 days after the introduction. For horses introduced together with an integration horse faecal GCMs were significantly above the baseline value on the day of introduction and 1 day after it. These differences between introduction techniques indicate that the introduction event itself is not as stressful as previously assumed. Rather standing together with an integration horse and not being able to integrate immediately into the complete group elicits stress in horses (chapter 3). In the commentary of chapter 4 several studies are discussed which failed to demonstrate social learning in horses. It is argued that they did not consider important aspects which could have an influence, such as the dominance status or the social background of the horses (chapter 4). In chapter 5 a social feeding situation was investigated. The social rank as well as the position of conspecifics affected the feeding strategy of horses. Domestic horses used social cognition and strategic decision making in order to decide where to feed. When possible they tended to return to the same, continuously supplied feeding site and switched to an ?avoidance tendency? in the presence of dominant horses or when another horse was already feeding there (chapter 5). One possibility to recognize group members is through olfactory recognition. In chapter 6 it is shown that horses are able to distinguish their own from their conspecifics? faeces. In addition, they paid most attention to the faeces of those group members from which they received the highest amount of aggressive behaviour (chapter 6). Horses show cognitive abilities because they are able to use humans as local enhancement cues when searching for food, independently of their body posture or gaze consistency when the persons face them. Moreover, they seem to orientate on the attention of familiar persons more than of unfamiliar persons (chapter 7). Altogether, the results of this thesis provide further support for the view that horses show good conflict resolution strategies. They are perfectly able to deal with the conflict situation of being introduced to new group members, and the introduction event itself is not as stressful as previously assumed. It is rather suggested that standing together with an integration horse and not being able to integrate immediately into the complete group elicits stress in horses. All additional experimental set-ups could demonstrate that horses are well capable of social cognition.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis Ph.D. 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 @ epub18463 Serial 5736
Permanent link to this record