Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Animal behavior'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Animal behavior.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Animal behavior.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Burks, Kyle Douglas. "The science of animal introductions : toward a methodology for scientific animal management." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29565.
Full text
2
SHETTEL-NEUBER, MARY JOYCE. "ZOO EXHIBIT DESIGN: A POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF ANIMAL ENCLOSURES." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/188163.
Full textAbstract:
The present study, in contrast with previous work that has isolated one or two important factors influencing the status of the zoo, considered the three important zoo reference groups--animals, visitors, and staff members--and their interrelationships within the zoo environment. Two approaches were used to investigate the system of interactions within the zoo. First, an in-depth examination of a new set of naturalistic exhibits was performed. Second, a comparison of two of these naturalistic exhibits with two older, sterile exhibits which housed the same species at the same zoo was made. Multiple methods were used in the present study and included behavior mapping of visitors, staff, and animals, timing of visitor stays at exhibits, tracking of visitors through the exhibits, a visitor questionnaire, and interviews with staff members. One major finding was the lack of correspondence among the major groups as to the acceptability of exhibits. For example, one exhibit which was considered beneficial to the enclosed animals and was well utilized and positively evaluated by visitors presented staff members with great difficulties in animal containment and exhibit maintenance. Comparisons of naturalistic enclosures and sterile cement enclosures housing the same species revealed no consistent, clear-cut differences in animal and visitor behavior, however, attitudinal differences were found for staff members and visitors. Visitors and staff members preferred the naturalistic exhibits and perceived them as more beneficial to animals and visitors. These findings were discussed in terms of theoretical and applied issues relevant to zoo design and management and to research in zoos.
3
Kardos, Monique. "A study in behaviour conservation : applying ecological learning theory to the maintenance of species-typical behaviour in small carnivores in a zoo environment /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phk179.pdf.
Full text
4
Duncan-LaCoste, Lisbeth. "A controversy about animal consciousness /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5708.
Full text
5
Reinertsen, Megan E. "Pairing in captive chilean flamingos as a function of social separation methods." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29457.
Full text
6
Ogden, Jacqueline Jean. "A comparative evaluation of naturalistic habitats for captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29173.
Full text
7
Denton-Edmundson, Matthew. "The Animal Life." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/78391.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis puts forward a theory for a new basis of the rights and dignities of animals. The first chapter explains how the neurobiological output / input model can be applied to animal behavior, and suggests that animals—from fruit flies to chimpanzees—and humans are most similar in their desire to experiment with the world around them. The remaining chapters explore the practical implications of considering animals through the output / input model, using literature, the author’s personal experience, biological observations, and historical anecdotes. These chapters seek to prove that animals have much more to offer us than milk and meat.Master of Arts
8
Ward, Richard Miles Peary. "Behavioral responses of lynx to declining snowshoe hare abundance." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25065.
Full textAbstract:
The behavioral responses of lynx (Lynx canadensis) to declines in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) abundance were examined in the southwestern Yukon. Between April 1982 and June 1984 11 lynx were radio-tagged and monitored within and near the Kluane Game Sanctuary. Lynx mean home range size increased from 13.2 to 39.2 km² concurrent with a decline in snowshoe hare abundance from 14.7 to 0.2 hares/ha. Below about 0.5 hares/ha several lynx abandoned their home ranges and became nomadic, although they remained within the general study area. Track transects through areas known to have different snowshoe hare densities indicated that, lynx concentrated their foraging efforts in areas of relatively high snowshoe hare abundance. Lynx abandoned these areas after hare abundance declined. Lynx foraging effort in terms of distance travelled per day showed a curvilinear relationship to snowshoe hare abundance. Straight-line daily travel distance remained constant at 2.2 to 2.7 km/day above 1.0 hare/ha. Below 1.0 hares/ha, straight-line daily travel distances increased rapidly, reaching 5.5 km/day at 0.2 hares/ha. Three of 7 radio-tagged lynx dispersed 250 km or more from the study area during the period of rapid decline in hare abundance in 1982. No similar long distance dispersal was recorded after hare densities stabilized at less than 1.0 hares/ha. Trapping mortality was responsible for the loss of 7 of 9 radio-tagged lynx that travelled outside the game sanctuary. One lynx died, and is believed to have starved, during the winter or spring of 1984. The high rate of trapping mortality outside the game sanctuary suggests that refugia in wilderness areas are important in maintaining lynx populations during periods of low recruitment.Science, Faculty of
Zoology, Department of
Graduate
9
Farrand, Alexandra. "The effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour and welfare of zoo mammals." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/300.
Full textAbstract:
There is evidence that the presence of the visiting public affects the behaviour of zoo-housed mammals. Understanding the effect of visitors is important in improving animal welfare, achieving zoo conservation goals, increasing visitor education/entertainment, and facilitating interpretation of data on zoo animal biology. A series of studies and experiments focusing on the effect of zoo visitors on captive mammal behaviour is presented. The influence of visitor density on a range of primates and large carnivores is examined. Methodological concerns regarding the operational definition of visitor density in the literature are expressed and a clarification of terms which may be helpful when comparing previous research is provided. Visitor noise data, using an objective measure of the variable, and its relationship to visitor density are also presented. External and internal visual barriers between visitors and zoo animals were hypothesised to moderate the visitor effect and enrich the environment of the study groups. Camouflage nets mounted on the outside of enclosure viewing windows had little impact on primate or felid behaviour, with the exception of the Sumatran orangutan group, who showed a trend toward decreased social play in the presence of the external barrier. Polar bear behaviour showed evidence of an enriched environment, with trends toward increased levels of swimming and decreased levels of resting. An internal visual barrier, which prevented visitors from having visual contact with the golden lion tamarins when the nonhuman primates were behind it, was also tested and elicited more extensive trends toward behavioural change than did the nets. Both Sumatran orangutans and zoo visitors were provided with a similar puzzle feeder in an effort to enrich the orangutan enclosure, and improve the visitor experience. It was hypothesised that the orangutans might be stimulated by watching visitors manipulate the device, but this did not occur. Orangutan use of the puzzle feeder within their enclosure was also unaffected. Olfactory stimuli were introduced into primate and felid enclosures and visitor viewing areas to investigate the role olfaction may play in the visitor effect. Although olfactory stimuli had an extensive significant effect on the behaviour of the study groups when it was introduced into the enclosure, there was little change when visitors were associated with the olfactory stimuli which suggest there may not be an olfactory visitor effect in primates or felids. The effect of visitors on petting zoo-housed mixed-breed goats, llama, and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs was studied and compared to their behaviour without the presence of visitors. The goats were unaffected and the llama showed only a trend toward decreased levels of sitting in the presence of visitors. The Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs were significantly affected by the presence of visitors, exhibiting decreased inactivity and social behaviour. The hypothesis that a sustained absence of visitors would result in a more intense visitor effect was tested and was not supported by the data. An additional experiment investigating the effect of visitor grooming on the petting zoo study species showed that, while visitors spent more time interacting with the animals in the grooming condition, xiv the behaviour of the study animals indicated that they did not find visitor grooming rewarding. Data on the interaction between visitor density and the various experimental techniques tested here indicate that visitor density may impact animal response to environmental enrichment, supporting previous findings in the literature. In the presence of visual barriers, foraging devices, and olfactory stimuli, the relationship between animal behaviour and visitor density changed significantly, both qualitatively and quantitatively. These results suggest that collecting visitor density data when testing environmental enrichment techniques could be helpful when assessing their effectiveness, ultimately improving the welfare of zoo-housed mammals. Based on the data presented here, in conjunction with the literature, a closing discussion outlines proposed refinements to the visitor effect research guidelines published by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2005).
10
Bashaw, Meredith J. "Social behavior and communication in a herd of captive giraffe." Diss., Available online, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004:, 2003. http://etd.gatech.edu/theses/available/etd-04082004-180020/unrestricted/bashaw%5Fmeredith%5Fj%5F200312%5Fphd.pdf.
Full text
11
Congdon, Elizabeth R. "Natal dispersal and new group formation in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in a seasonally flooded savanna of Venezuela." Diss., St. Louis, Mo. : University of Missouri--St. Louis, 2007. http://etd.umsl.edu/r2441.
Full text
12
Thiele, Claire Elizabeth. "Dominance behavior within captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)." Kent State University Honors College / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1526413821772221.
Full text
13
Lindqvist, Ann-Sophie. "Nandrolone decanoate, behaviour and brain : animal experimental studies /." Göteborg : Dep. of Psychology, Univ., 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2077/68.
Full text
14
Bassett, Lois. "Effects of predictability of feeding routines on the behaviour and welfare of captive primates." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3319.
Full textAbstract:
The effects of variations in the predictability of appetitive events, such as feeding, have rarely been studied in animals in general or primates in particular. Feeding animals on highly predictable temporal schedules often results in the performance of food anticipatory activity (FAA), characterised by increased arousal and activity and thought to be detrimental to welfare. Temporally unpredictable feeding schedules have been interpreted as resulting in improved welfare. However, if feeding is made unpredictable by preceding it with an unreliable signal, it may result in frustration and aggression. It is suggested here that two distinct but overlapping types of predictability exist. 'Temporal' predictability describes whether an event occurs at fixed or variable intervals, whereas 'signalled' predictability relates to the reliability of a signal preceding the event. This thesis examines the effects of each of these types of predictability in relation to feeding. Welfare was assessed in laboratory-housed common marmosets( Callithrix jacchus) using behavioural measures, which were identified in the context of the routine stressor of human handling and weighing. The signalled and temporal predictability of presentation of a desirable titbit was subsequently experimentally manipulated. It was found that temporally unpredictable presentation of food, preceded by an unreliable signal, was associated with substantially increased stress-related behaviours in this species. If no signal was used, stress increased to a moderate level, but if the food delivery followed a reliable signal there were few behavioural changes compared to control animals. Temporally predictable feeding, without a signal, was associated with lower rates of stress-related behaviour than temporally unpredictable, unsignalled feeding. However, deviations from this temporally predictable schedule, representing delays to feeding, resulted in marked increases in stress. The results were confirmed with a further study, worked around existing feeding routines and using a different primate species, the stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides). Based on these findings it is suggested that the most beneficial schedule for feeding captive primates is a temporally unpredictable one, which appears to buffer animals against the negative effects of delays as well as minimising FAA. Presentation of a reliable signal before food delivery appears to minimise the stress intrinsically associated with a temporally unpredictable routine. These recommendations represent a simple and inexpensive method of improving the welfare of captive primates.
15
Arcese, Peter. "Intrasexual competition, dispersal, territoriality and the mating system of the song sparrow on Mandarte Island, B.C." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/28616.
Full textAbstract:
I consider the relationship between natal dispersal, the acquisition of breeding resources and the proximate maintenance of the mating system in a population of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) resident on Mandarte Island, B.C.. The general hypothesis tested was that intrasexual competition for the resources that limit reproduction in each sex is the main factor affecting patterns of natal dispersal, territory turnover and mating system organization. This study reveals differences in the competitive ability of individuals and the consequences of these for natal dispersal, territory acquisition and the ability to monopolize mates.
In this population, natal dispersal, territoriality and the mating system are related through the common mechanism of intrasexual competition for breeding resources. This competition affected reproduction within each sex, and in the opposite sex, raising potential conflicts of interest between mated males and females. I identify correlates of competitive ability, and consider how individuals of each sex maximize the number of young they raised.
All suitable habitat was defended even at low density, resulting in high levels of competition for space. Song sparrows contested for territories year-round. Most settlers were yearlings, but several males were older and had previously owned a territory. Most floaters settled by evicting owners from all or part of their territories, in contrast to the assumption of most models of dispersal that floaters gain territories only after an owner's death. Relative age and dominance within cohorts affected recruitment and territorial status in the year following hatch in each sex. Differences in age also affected territorial and mating behaviour, particularly in males. Although competitive ability varied with age, differences in competitive ability between males persisted through life.
Approximately 9% of male breeding attempts occurred after a male territory owner had evicted a neighbour and thereby gained access to an additional female. Polygynous males raised more young than monogamous males. Females vigorously defended their territories against female intruders, presumably to prevent polygyny by their mates. Females in polygynous groups often lost the aid of their mate, and raised fewer young, because polygynous males did not aid two females simultaneously. Adding supplemental food altered female time budgets, increased their ability to prevent settlement by female floaters, and increased their reproductive success. This suggests that females are constrained in the amount of time they can spend in territory defence by time spent foraging. The maintenance of monogamy was affected by differences in the abilities of individual males and females to defend their territories against intruders of the same sex. Dispersal distances were similar among sexes, in contrast to the usual pattern of female-biased dispersal in birds. Given the intense territorial behaviour of males and females, this study supports the hypothesis that biases in dispersal arise when territory establishment is substantially more difficult in one sex than the other. Dispersal on Mandarte was unrelated to inbreeding, common parentage, or reproductive success. However, emigrants from Mandarte were socially subordinate birds that must have outbred if they settled successfully. Female emigrants from local populations in the vicinity of Mandarte may settle more often than males. Dispersal occurred as young birds established ranges in the period following independence, from which they challenged or replaced owners. Adding food during the breeding period reduced dispersal in males and females in late summer and the following spring. Competitive ability probably affects dispersal from the natal population, the likelihood of settlement, and the time of settlement for those birds that remain in the natal population.Science, Faculty of
Zoology, Department of
Graduate
16
Stoinski, Tara Suzanne. "Behavioral differences between captive-born, reintroduced golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia) and their wild-born offspring." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/30368.
Full text
17
Gillis, Darren Michael. "Animal aggregation, interference and the ideal free distribution." Thesis, McGill University, 1985. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=63332.
Full text
18
Dillard, Jacqueline Rae. "ECOLOGY, MONOGAMY, AND THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMAL FAMILIES." UKnowledge, 2019. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/biology_etds/59.
Full textAbstract:
Family-living has been recognized as a necessary prerequisite for the evolution of advanced cooperative societies, yet the evolutionary and ecological processes that drive the coupling of different forms of cooperation in family-based societies are still poorly understood. In my dissertation, I investigate the correlated evolution of parental care, monogamy, and cooperative breeding in a variety of family-based taxa. I explore the mating and social behavior of family-living beetles with incipient cooperation to better understand the factors driving these social traits. Specifically, I evaluate different causes of extra-pair mating in socially monogamous beetles, the potential benefits that young adult offspring may gain from remaining in the family group, and how these behaviors correspond to different ecological niches. These studies demonstrated that many of the factors predicted to favor family-living in cooperatively breeding animals fail to explain delayed dispersal and family cohesion in this beetle group. In a phylogenetic comparative study of birds, I further evaluate how ecological selective pressures drive the correlated evolution of monogamy, biparental cooperation, and cooperative breeding. Taken together, these studies have implications for our general understanding of the evolution of cooperation, and suggest the action of previously unrecognized processes in shaping and pairing social behaviors.
19
Fagerstedt, Patriq. "Neural mechanisms for the control of posture, locomotion and steering : a behavioral, electrophysiological and modeling study in lamprey /." Stockholm, 2000. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2000/91-628-4283-8/.
Full text
20
Mills, Vanessa. "Applying ecological learning theory to the conservation of behaviour in species housed in a zoo environment : an empirical examination /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 1998. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phm6579.pdf.
Full text
21
Muehlmann, Amber M. "Pharmacological challenges of an animal model of self-injurious behavior." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2005. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0011875.
Full text
22
Bitetti, Angelo. "MiRNA degradation by a conserved target RNA regulates animal behavior." Thesis, Paris 6, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017PA066276.
Full textAbstract:
L’objectif de mon projet principal de thèse est de déterminer la fonction biologique d’un lncARN conservés chez le zebrafish que nous avons appelé libra. La séquence de libra étant hautement homologue à la région 3’UTR de la protéine Nrep. Ces deux transcrits, libra et Nrep, contiennent en effet un site de liaison au miARN profondément conservé et inhabituellement complémentaire au miR-29. En utilisant à le modèle souris et les cellules murines, nous avons décrypté la relation régulatrice entre ce transcrit conservé dans l’évolution des vertébrés et la voie métabolique des miARN. Nous avons montré que Nrep limite le domaine d’expression de miR-29 au cervelet, et qu’il le déstabilise en rognant sa séquence. Notre travail révèle donc le premier exemple de dégradation endogène ciblée des miARN (ou TDMD). De plus, un ensemble d’expériences in vivo sur les modèles zebrafish et souris, nous a permis de démontrer que libra et Nrep contrôlent tout les deux le comportement animal. Via la perturbation génétique du site de liaison au miARN de Nrep murin, nous avons observé que ce gène régule le dosage du miR29 de part son site de liaison aux miARN, et que cette régulation est nécessaire à un comportement animal normal. Dans la seconde partie de ma thèse, je décris une stratégie exploré afin de déréguler les lncARN de la manière la moins invasive possible. Les lncARN sont actuellement neutralisés par des approches qui introduisent de vastes changements de séquence au niveau génomique. Nous avons donc développer une stratégie in vivo, appliquée au zebrafish, qui inactive les lncARN via l’insertion génomique d’une séquence ribozyme autoclivante ou d’un signal polyA prématuréThe goal of my main thesis project was to determine the biological function of a deeply conserved zebrafish long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) which we called libra. libra shows sequence similarity with the 3'UTR of the NREP a protein coding transcript. Both libra and Nrep contain a deeply conserved and unusually complementary microRNA (miRNA) binding site for miR-29. Using both the mouse model and mouse cell lines, we deciphered the regulatory relationship between this conserved transcript and the miRNA pathway. We showed that Nrep restricts the spatial expression domain of miR-29 in the cerebellum and that it destabilizes miR-29 through 3' trimming. Until now, only viral transcripts and artificial reporters engineered to contain highly complementary miRNA binding sites have been shown to regulate miRNAs in this fashion. Thus, our work uncovers the first example of endogenous target-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD). In addition, through a set of in vivo experiments in zebrafish and mouse, we showed that both libra and Nrep control normal animal behavior. By genetically disrupting the miR-29 binding site in Nrep in mouse, we showed that Nrep regulates miR-29 dosage through its miR-29 site and controls animal behavioral. In a second part of my thesis I describe a strategy to genetically downregulate lncRNAs in a minimally invasive manner. Approaches to knock-out lncRNAs that do not introduce vast sequence changes at the genomic level have not been adequately developed yet. I present our in vivo strategy applied to the zebrafish model using a genomic knock-in of a self-cleaving ribozyme sequence and a premature poly(A) signal to knock-out lncRNAs
23
Bitetti, Angelo. "MiRNA degradation by a conserved target RNA regulates animal behavior." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Paris 6, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017PA066276.
Full textAbstract:
L’objectif de mon projet principal de thèse est de déterminer la fonction biologique d’un lncARN conservés chez le zebrafish que nous avons appelé libra. La séquence de libra étant hautement homologue à la région 3’UTR de la protéine Nrep. Ces deux transcrits, libra et Nrep, contiennent en effet un site de liaison au miARN profondément conservé et inhabituellement complémentaire au miR-29. En utilisant à le modèle souris et les cellules murines, nous avons décrypté la relation régulatrice entre ce transcrit conservé dans l’évolution des vertébrés et la voie métabolique des miARN. Nous avons montré que Nrep limite le domaine d’expression de miR-29 au cervelet, et qu’il le déstabilise en rognant sa séquence. Notre travail révèle donc le premier exemple de dégradation endogène ciblée des miARN (ou TDMD). De plus, un ensemble d’expériences in vivo sur les modèles zebrafish et souris, nous a permis de démontrer que libra et Nrep contrôlent tout les deux le comportement animal. Via la perturbation génétique du site de liaison au miARN de Nrep murin, nous avons observé que ce gène régule le dosage du miR29 de part son site de liaison aux miARN, et que cette régulation est nécessaire à un comportement animal normal. Dans la seconde partie de ma thèse, je décris une stratégie exploré afin de déréguler les lncARN de la manière la moins invasive possible. Les lncARN sont actuellement neutralisés par des approches qui introduisent de vastes changements de séquence au niveau génomique. Nous avons donc développer une stratégie in vivo, appliquée au zebrafish, qui inactive les lncARN via l’insertion génomique d’une séquence ribozyme autoclivante ou d’un signal polyA prématuréThe goal of my main thesis project was to determine the biological function of a deeply conserved zebrafish long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) which we called libra. libra shows sequence similarity with the 3'UTR of the NREP a protein coding transcript. Both libra and Nrep contain a deeply conserved and unusually complementary microRNA (miRNA) binding site for miR-29. Using both the mouse model and mouse cell lines, we deciphered the regulatory relationship between this conserved transcript and the miRNA pathway. We showed that Nrep restricts the spatial expression domain of miR-29 in the cerebellum and that it destabilizes miR-29 through 3' trimming. Until now, only viral transcripts and artificial reporters engineered to contain highly complementary miRNA binding sites have been shown to regulate miRNAs in this fashion. Thus, our work uncovers the first example of endogenous target-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD). In addition, through a set of in vivo experiments in zebrafish and mouse, we showed that both libra and Nrep control normal animal behavior. By genetically disrupting the miR-29 binding site in Nrep in mouse, we showed that Nrep regulates miR-29 dosage through its miR-29 site and controls animal behavioral. In a second part of my thesis I describe a strategy to genetically downregulate lncRNAs in a minimally invasive manner. Approaches to knock-out lncRNAs that do not introduce vast sequence changes at the genomic level have not been adequately developed yet. I present our in vivo strategy applied to the zebrafish model using a genomic knock-in of a self-cleaving ribozyme sequence and a premature poly(A) signal to knock-out lncRNAs
24
Stella, Judith Lynn. "An Investigation of Environmental Factors that Affect the Behavior and Welfare of Domestic Cats (Felis sylvestris catus)." The Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1364486788.
Full text
25
Vondran, Jodi C. "A two pan feeding trial with companion dogs: considerations for future testing." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/15891.
Full textAbstract:
Master of ScienceFood Science
Edgar Chambers IV
Palatability of pet foods is judged by the use of animals in colonies. Pet food manufacturers would like to understand how palatable a food is compared to another food. This generally is accomplished by a two pan test where a pet has the opportunity to freely choose between two foods. Preference is evaluated through the use of an intake ratio, the ratio of the amount of test food consumed divided by the total amount of the foods consumed. Although this is easy to do in laboratories, another option would be to do such studies with animals in more ‘real-life’ home environments. The purpose of this study was to develop, and test a method to capture feeding information from a study of canines in the home environment and analyze the results of the palatability tests. Individual dog owners were screened for information on the household and pets. Twenty-five dogs of different ages, breeds and sizes were selected to participate on the in-home panel. Seven different palatability tests were performed using the in-home panel with four of those tests being replicated; a total of 11 comparative tests. These dogs were tested using a proprietary computer-based technology that collected information about intake of each food for each individual dog for a duration of seven days for each of the 11 comparative studies. Data was analyzed and resulted in showing that differences between foods can be found. Statistical analyses compared initial day one data to subsequent day data collected during each study to determine whether a full seven day test was needed. In addition, comparisons were made to compare the impact of prior foods eaten to subsequent preferences of the dogs. Results of the in-home panel were the same on day one as for all seven days of testing. Also, previous exposure to a food did not alter subsequent preference for that food. Such data has implications for pet food manufacturers related to timing and cost of testing.
26
Mendelson, Scott Douglas. "Serotonin receptor subtypes and sexual behaviour in the female rat." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25470.
Full textAbstract:
Recently, it has been discovered that serotonin (5-HT) receptors exist as subtypes in the mammalian brain. At least two major subtypes that differ in their distribution, and affinity for serotonergic drugs, have now been described. These receptors have been labeled 5-HT₁, and 5-HT₂ receptors. The purpose of this thesis is to determine what roles the 5-HT₁, and 5-HT₂ receptors might play in the modulation of sexual behaviour in the female rat.
The administration of the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist pirenperone inhibited sexual receptivity in adult, ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats that had been primed either chronically with estradiol benzoate (EB), or acutely with EB plus varying doses of progesterone (P). An inhibition occurred at peripherally administered doses of 50, 100 and 150, but not 25 µg/kg of pirenperone. Pirenperone also inhibited receptivity when administered intraventricularly at a dose of 15 µg/kg, however this dose of pirenperone was ineffective when administered peripherally. Increasing the dose of P did not attenuate the inhibitory effect of pirenperone. The 5-HT₂ antagonists ketanserin (2.5 mg/kg) and spiperone (250 µg/kg) also inhibited receptivity in females that had been primed with EB plus P. The inhibitory effect of pirenperone was attenuated by the 5-HT₂ agonist quipazine , however the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (20 mg/kg), and the 5-HT₁, agonists 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethytryptamine (5MeODMT) (200 µg/kg) and tryptamine (2 mg/kg) did not attenuate the effect of pirenperone. Quipazine, 5-HTP, and 5MeODMT did not effect receptivity in females that had been primed with EB plus P, however tryptamine inhibited receptivity. Whereas the nonselective 5-HT antagonist methysergide (3 mg/kg) failed to have an effect on receptivity in females that had been primed with EB, methysergide coadministered with quipazine facilitated receptivity. Pirenperone also inhibited proceptivity in females that had been primed with EB plus P. Although quipazine did not attenuate the inhibitory effect of pirenperone upon proceptivity, quipazine alone facilitated proceptivity in females that had been primed either with EB, or with EB and P. Methysergide did not effect proceptivity, and 5-HTP, 5MeODMT, and tryptamine were also ineffective with regards to proceptivity.
The results of the present series of experiments are not entirely consistent with Meyerson's widely held theory of serotonergic inhibition , rather they suggest a dual role for 5-HT in female sexual behaviour. Therefore, a new theory regarding the role of 5-HT in sexual behaviour is proposed. Specifically, it is proposed that inhibitory effects of 5-HT are mediated by activity at 5-HT₁, receptors, whereas facilitatory effects are mediated by activity at 5-HT₂ receptors.Arts, Faculty of
Psychology, Department of
Graduate
27
Oberski, Iddo M. "Dynamics of grooming and grooming reciprocation in a group of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3463.
Full textAbstract:
Grooming relationships between adult male chimpanzees are often reciprocal, i.e. individuals receive grooming from those they groom. Grooming may be reciprocated at the same time it is received (mutual grooming), or later within the same grooming session. Alternatively, it can be reciprocated at a much later stage, in another session. An analysis of individual grooming sessions at the dyadic level was used to investigate how chimpanzees reciprocate grooming within these sessions. This study describes the grooming and reciprocation of grooming by male chimpanzees, living in a multi-male, multi-female group at the Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland. A method for the analysis of dyadic grooming relationships was based on the presence or absence of mutual and unilateral grooming in a session, which allows seven types of grooming session to be distinguished. Grooming session was defined empirically, and the duration of the bout criterion interval (BCl) depended on the presence or absence of oestrous females. For comparison, however, the same BCI was used throughout. Without oestrous females, grooming was primarily reciprocated in sessions with mutual grooming and unilateral grooming by both participants. This kind of session proved highly cooperative and each male adjusted the duration of his unilateral grooming to that of mutual grooming, rather than to the duration of unilateral grooming by the other male. Mutual grooming was less important to dyads which had a strong grooming relationship. It is suggested that mutual grooming serves as an indication of the motivation to groom unilaterally. There was no indication that males reciprocated on the basis of TIT-FOR-TAT within these sessions, or between sessions in general. Alternative hypotheses of mutual grooming were only partly confirmed in that some dyads used mutual grooming to reduce the (already very short) time they spent in grooming. However, mutual grooming did not arise from the accidental overlap in the grooming of two partners. In the presence of oestrous females, grooming cooperation between the males broke down, and this was the result of heightened aggression as well as the presence of oestrous females itself. The balance in grooming given and received shifted in the direction of dominants (i.e. dominants received more) under the influence of oestrous females, but in the opposite direction under the influence of aggression. Feeding had no effect on the reciprocity of groormng. There was considerable dyadic variation. Some dyads groomed more when there were oestrous females, others groomed less. Some dyads had proportionally less mutual grooming with increasing numbers of oestrous females, others had more. There were generally no clear patterns of grooming reciprocation over longer time-spans than the session, but the overall degree of reciprocity of a dyad was frequently reached at the end of each day. Tracing the degree of reciprocation over a few weeks indicated that some dyads' grooming was governed by dominance, whereas that of others by cooperation.
28
Knauer, Mark. "Genetics of gilt estrous behavior." NCSU, 2009. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-10302009-095808/.
Full textAbstract:
Studies were conducted to develop and analyze gilt estrous behavior traits. Variance components, genetic correlations, and genetic line differences were estimated for gilt estrus, puberty, growth, composition, structural conformation, and first litter sow reproductive measures. Four groups of Landrace-Large White gilts (n=1,225, GIS of NC) from 59 sires and 330 dams were utilized. Heritability (h2) estimates for estrous traits; estrus length, maximum strength of standing reflex with a boar, total strength of standing reflex with a boar, maximum strength of standing reflex without a boar, total strength of standing reflex without a boar, vulva redness, strength of vulva reddening and swelling (VISUAL VULVA), and vulva width were 0.21, 0.13, 0.26, 0.42, 0.42, 0.26, 0.45, and 0.58, respectively. For puberty traits; age at puberty, puberty weight, puberty backfat, and puberty longissimus muscle, h2 estimates were 0.29, 0.39, 0.41, and 0.38, respectfully. The h2 of whether or not a gilt farrowed a litter (STAY1) was 0.14. Age at puberty had favorable genetic associations with estrus length, maximum strength of standing reflex with a boar, vulva redness, STAY1, and age at first farrowing (AFF) (-0.23, -0.32, 0.20, -0.27, and 0.76, respectively). Genetic correlations between estrus length and the standing reflex traits with STAY1 (0.34 to 0.74) and AFF (-0.04 to -0.41) were positive and negative, respectively. Growth rate had unfavorable genetic correlations with estrus length, the standing reflex traits, vulva redness, STAY1, and AFF (0.30, 0.14 to 0.34, -0.19, 0.52, and -0.25, respectfully). Backfat had unfavorable genetic associations with estrus length, age at puberty, and first litter total number born (TNB1) (0.29, -0.26, and 0.47, respectively). Vulva redness and TNB1 had favorable phenotypic and genetic correlations (-0.14 and -0.53, respectively). For estrous traits, crossbred performance was superior to the pure-line average for estrus length, total strength of standing reflex with a boar, vulva redness, VISUAL VULVA, and vulva width. These findings imply the use of F1 females would increase estrus length and improve vulva traits. The unfavorable genetic associations between production and reproduction traits further strengthen the need for a balanced selection objective. Based on these results it was concluded that selection for a younger age at puberty would have correlated responses of improved gilt estrous behavior and sow reproductive lifetime.
29
Foote, Christopher J. "An experimental examination of behavioural isolation between sockeye salmon and kokanee, the anadromous and non-anadromous forms of Oncorhynchus nerka." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/28777.
Full textAbstract:
The genetic relationship of anadromous (sockeye salmon) and non-anadromous (kokanee) Oncorhynchus nerka was examined in conjunction with the breeding behaviour of the two forms to determine: (1) if there is evidence of genetic divergence between the forms where they spawn sympatrically; (2) if such divergence is associated with significant premating isolation between the forms and; (3) if premating isolation results directly from the size difference between the forms (sockeye are much larger than kokanee at maturity).
Both sexes exhibit spawning territoriality; females establish and defend particular nest sites until death or displacement, males defend access to specific females from other males until the female has spawned out, they are displaced, or leave to compete for additional mates. Size and prior access to resources (mates and/or specific areas) are significant factors in intrasexual aggression in both sexes, with size the major factor in males and prior access the major factor in females.
Females accompanied by males larger than themselves lose weight at a faster rate than those accompanied by males smaller than themselves. Weight loss is related to egg loss,
indicating females spawn at a faster rate when accompanied by large males. Male mate preference depends on the size of the male. Males of various sizes prefer females of their own size or larger over females smaller than themselves. In contrast, all sizes of males tested demonstrated no preference between females of their own size and those larger. Large males, which have the widest range of potential mates (because of male intrasexual competition and female choice), are the most selective and small males, which have the narrowest range of potential mates, are the least selective.
There were significant differences in allele frequencies between sympatrically spawning sockeye and kokanee. However, there were no consistent differences between sockeye and kokanee at any of five polymorphic loci examined. The extent of genetic differentiation between sympatric forms appears to be less than that between neighbouring populations of the same form, judging from an examination of allele frequencies and/or allele compositions.
There was extensive assortative mating by form between sockeye and kokanee, which was not totally accounted for by the large size difference. In the two systems examined, males preferred to mate with females of their own form. In sockeye, such preferences are expected because of the size difference between forms. In kokanee, such preferences are not expected based on size alone, suggesting the evolution of premating isolating mechanisms. The degree of premating isolation was positively correlated with the extent of genetic divergence between sympatric forms.
The results of this study are related to existing models of sympatric speciation to hypothesize that sockeye and kokanee have diverged in sympatry. The probable differences in selection between the marine and freshwater environments coupled with the assortative mating resulting from their size difference may have caused subsequent genetic divergence. This divergence appears to have been followed by the evolution of premating isolation.Science, Faculty of
Zoology, Department of
Graduate
30
Paixão, Sandro José. "Efeito de distintas cores de lâmpadas de LED na produção e no comportamento de frangos de corte." Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 2014. http://repositorio.utfpr.edu.br/jspui/handle/1/1526.
Full textAbstract:
A produção brasileira de frangos de corte tem atingido níveis de produção e de exportação elevados, conquistando a liderança das exportações mundial. Isso tudo deve-se a inúmeros fatores, tais como o melhoramento genético, a ambiência, a nutrição e as questões relacionadas ao bem-estar e sanidade das aves. A iluminação natural, em que a maioria das aves eram criadas, tanto matrizes como os frangos de corte, foi migrando em sua quase totalidade no formato de fornecimento de iluminação artificial. Atualmente existem fontes distintas para se fornecer iluminação artificial, seja pelo comprimento de onda (cor da luz)como pela própria lâmpada (fluorescente, incandescente, vapor de sódio, LED, etc.). O tipo de iluminação artificial utilizado pode aumentar ou reduzir o consumo de energia, como também pode afetar o desempenho produtivo e comportamental das aves. Em muitos casos, o sistema de fornecimento de luz mais encontrado nos aviários é composto por um grande número de lâmpadas de alta potência, mas com uma eficiência luminosa baixa. Uma forma de tentar minimizar essa carga instalada, e diminuir os custos com energia elétrica é utilizando lâmpadas que apresentem uma eficiência luminosa melhor, como por exemplo, as lâmpadas fluorescentes e as lâmpadas de LED (Light-Emitting Diode). Neste contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi abordar por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica, a importância de distintas cores de iluminação de LED nos índices zootécnicos e comportamentais de frangos de corte,bem como abordar a importância da utilização de novas tecnologias. Para tanto, elaborou-se um capítulo de revisão bibliográfica, destacando a importância da cadeia avícola no mundo e justificando a importância do tema em questão. Já o segundo capítulo, aborda como tema: “Efeito de distintas cores de lâmpadas de LED na produção e comportamento de frangos de corte e a respectiva influência nos custos com energia elétrica na atividade".The Brazilian production of broilers has reached high levels of production and exportation,gaining leadership on the world exports. This is all due to numerous factors, such as genetic improvement, the ambience, nutrition and other factors related to the welfare and health of the birds. The natural lighting where most birds were raised, both broiler breeders and broilers, has been almost entirely migrated to the artificial form of illumination. Currently there are different sources of roviding artificial lighting, either by the wavelength (color of light), as well as by the lamp itself (fluorescent, incandescent, sodium vapor, LED, etc.). The type of artificial lighting used can increase or reduce energy consumption, but can also affect the behavior and productive performance of the birds. In many cases, the lightning system most often found in aviaries consists of a large number of high-powered lamps, but with a low luminous efficiency. One way to try to minimize this installed load and reduce electricity costs, is using lamps that have a better luminous efficiency, such as fluorescent lamps and LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lamps. In this context, the objective of this study is to address through a literature review, the importance of different colors of LED lighting in zootechnical and behavioral indices of broilers, as well as to address the importance of using new technologies. To this end, it was prepared a chapter of literature review, highlighting he importance of poultry production in the world and justifying the importance of the topic. The second chapter addresses the theme: "Effect of different colors of LED lamps in the production and behavior of broilers and its influence on electricity costs in the activity."
31
Cless, Isabelle T. "A Dissection of Pacing in Zoo-Housed Polar Bears: How Details of the Behavior Can Suggest Motivational and Causal Factors." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1435017139.
Full text
32
Anness, Lorna Margaret. "Social relationships of infants of resident females and infants of immigrant females in mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei)." Scholarly Commons, 1990. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2198.
Full textAbstract:
This study compares social behavior of infants of resident mothers and infants of immigrant mothers in social groups of the mountain gorilla, Gorilla gorilla beringei.
Infants of immigrant mothers spent more time in proximity to their mothers during group resting. They spent more time in solo play and less time in social play during group feeding. Their opportunity for social interaction with peers may be restricted mostly to group rest periods and their social play levels during this time are higher than infants with resident mothers. However, during both group resting and feeding they spent less time near other infants and they initiated fewer dyadic play bouts.
33
Cook, Michelle Elizabeth. "Environmental and social factors influence communications used during crayfish agonistic interactions." Bowling Green, Ohio : Bowling Green State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=bgsu1212431269.
Full text
34
Walls, Trinity. "Personality in the Brush-legged Wolf Spider:Behavioral Syndromes and their Effects on Mating Success in Schizocosa ocreata." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1544101158248781.
Full text
35
Reid, Clio. "Exploration-avoidance and an anthropogenic toxin (lead Pb) in a wild parrot (kea: Nestor notabilis) : a thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Ecology and Biodiversity /." ResearchArchive@Victoria e-Thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10063/897.
Full text
36
Biliero, Conrado Luis [UNESP]. "Comportamento de vacas e bezerros Girolandos em pastagem e sua relação com o nível de cortisol fecal como indicador de estresse." Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/115869.
Full textAbstract:
Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-03T11:52:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0
Previous issue date: 2014-07-22Bitstream added on 2015-03-03T12:06:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1
000810790.pdf: 680944 bytes, checksum: 5bebeac6900ff8428ba55baf3da491f6 (MD5)Alguns fatores relacionados a produção de leite, como ambiente e manejo, podem alterar o bem estar dos animais provocando estresse e trazendo prejuízos a produção. Daí a importância do estudo do comportamento animal, sua relação com o aumento do cortisol e seus efeitos na produção leiteira. Dez vacas Girolanda e seus bezerros foram avaliados durante as primeiras catorze semanas de lactação. Foram feitas análises comportamentais e colheita de fezes semanais para determinação do nível de cortisol das vacas e dos bezerros. As observações e medidas dos comportamentos foram realizadas após o parto, durante 3 dias por semana, nas 14 primeiras semanas de lactação. Foram analisadas as posições e comportamentos alimentares e maternos das vacas e o comportamento filial dos bezerros. Os valores de cortisol nas fezes para os bezerros foram de 17,87 ng/g de fezes para o parto e 12,51 ng/g de fezes nas semanas após o parto. Os valores de cortisol nas fezes para as vacas foram de 11,71 ng/g de fezes para o parto e 7,59 ng/g de fezes nas semanas após o parto. Para bezerros foi verificada associação entre o cortisol e alguns dos comportamentos, com valores de correlação baixos (r² < 0,30) entre cortisol e Levanta-se, Anda, e Mama' e valores médios de correlação (r² < 0,30 e r² < 0,70) entre o cortisol e Deitado, Procura pelos tetos e 'Tenta mamar. Para vacas também foi verificada associação entre o cortisol mensurado nas fezes e alguns comportamentos maternos. Neste caso, foram encontrados valores de correlação baixos (r ²< 0,30) entre o cortisol e Facilita a mamada e valores médios de correlação (r² < 0,30 e r² < 0,70) entre o cortisol e Lambe a cria, Estimula a cria a mamar, Deixa mamar, Anda ou movimenta-se e Afasta-se da cria. As analises de regressão demonstraram que foi possível descrever equações preditorias que fornecem informações importantes sobre a relação cortisol e ...
Some factors related to milk production, such as environment management can alter the welfare of animals causing stress and damages to production. Hence, the importance of the study of animal behavior, its relation with increased cortisol and its effects on milk production. Ten girolando cows and their calves were evaluated during the first fourteen weeks of lactation. Behavioral analysis and collection of feces occured weekly stool to determine the level of cortisol in cows and calves. The observations and measurements of the behaviors were performed after delivery, for 3 days a week, in the first 14 weeks of lactation. Positions and eating behaviors and maternal cows and filial behavior of calves were analyzed. The levels of cortisol in the feces for calves were 17.87 ng / g feces in parturition and 12.51 ng / g of feces in the weeks after birth. The cortisol levels in stools for cows were 11.71 ng / g feces in parturition and 7.59 ng / g of feces in the weeks after birth. For calves, was association between cortisol and some of the behaviors with low correlation values (r ² <0.30) between cortisol and Rises, Come, and Nurse and average correlation (r ² <0 , 30 and r² <0.70) between cortisol and Lick, Search by ceilings and Tries to feed herself. For cows also was association between cortisol measured in stool and some maternal behaviors. In this case, low values of correlation (r ² <0.30) were found between cortisol and facilitates breastfeeding and average correlation (r ² <0.30 and r ² <0.70) between cortisol and Lick the calf, stimulates suckling , Lets calf , Walk or moving and Deviate creates the . The regression analysis showed that it was possible to describe preditorias equations that provide important information about the relationship cortisol and behavior of calves. Correlations in Lying dow, ises, Standing, searsh and Tries to feed herself were checked. For cows is possible to observe ...
37
Biliero, Conrado Luis. "Comportamento de vacas e bezerros Girolandos em pastagem e sua relação com o nível de cortisol fecal como indicador de estresse /." Jaboticabal, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/115869.
Full textAbstract:
Orientador: João Albert NegrãoBanca: Mauro Dal Secco de Oliveira
Banca: Andrea Roberto Bueno Ribeiro
Resumo: Alguns fatores relacionados a produção de leite, como ambiente e manejo, podem alterar o bem estar dos animais provocando estresse e trazendo prejuízos a produção. Daí a importância do estudo do comportamento animal, sua relação com o aumento do cortisol e seus efeitos na produção leiteira. Dez vacas Girolanda e seus bezerros foram avaliados durante as primeiras catorze semanas de lactação. Foram feitas análises comportamentais e colheita de fezes semanais para determinação do nível de cortisol das vacas e dos bezerros. As observações e medidas dos comportamentos foram realizadas após o parto, durante 3 dias por semana, nas 14 primeiras semanas de lactação. Foram analisadas as posições e comportamentos alimentares e maternos das vacas e o comportamento filial dos bezerros. Os valores de cortisol nas fezes para os bezerros foram de 17,87 ng/g de fezes para o parto e 12,51 ng/g de fezes nas semanas após o parto. Os valores de cortisol nas fezes para as vacas foram de 11,71 ng/g de fezes para o parto e 7,59 ng/g de fezes nas semanas após o parto. Para bezerros foi verificada associação entre o cortisol e alguns dos comportamentos, com valores de correlação baixos (r² < 0,30) entre cortisol e "Levanta-se", "Anda", e "Mama' e valores médios de correlação (r² < 0,30 e r² < 0,70) entre o cortisol e "Deitado", "Procura pelos tetos" e 'Tenta mamar". Para vacas também foi verificada associação entre o cortisol mensurado nas fezes e alguns comportamentos maternos. Neste caso, foram encontrados valores de correlação baixos (r ²< 0,30) entre o cortisol e "Facilita a mamada" e valores médios de correlação (r² < 0,30 e r² < 0,70) entre o cortisol e "Lambe a cria", "Estimula a cria a mamar", "Deixa mamar", "Anda ou movimenta-se" e "Afasta-se da cria". As analises de regressão demonstraram que foi possível descrever equações preditorias que fornecem informações importantes sobre a relação cortisol e ...
Abstract: Some factors related to milk production, such as environment management can alter the welfare of animals causing stress and damages to production. Hence, the importance of the study of animal behavior, its relation with increased cortisol and its effects on milk production. Ten girolando cows and their calves were evaluated during the first fourteen weeks of lactation. Behavioral analysis and collection of feces occured weekly stool to determine the level of cortisol in cows and calves. The observations and measurements of the behaviors were performed after delivery, for 3 days a week, in the first 14 weeks of lactation. Positions and eating behaviors and maternal cows and filial behavior of calves were analyzed. The levels of cortisol in the feces for calves were 17.87 ng / g feces in parturition and 12.51 ng / g of feces in the weeks after birth. The cortisol levels in stools for cows were 11.71 ng / g feces in parturition and 7.59 ng / g of feces in the weeks after birth. For calves, was association between cortisol and some of the behaviors with low correlation values (r ² <0.30) between cortisol and "Rises", "Come", and "Nurse" and average correlation (r ² <0 , 30 and r² <0.70) between cortisol and "Lick", "Search by ceilings" and "Tries to feed herself". For cows also was association between cortisol measured in stool and some maternal behaviors. In this case, low values of correlation (r ² <0.30) were found between cortisol and "facilitates breastfeeding" and average correlation (r ² <0.30 and r ² <0.70) between cortisol and "Lick the calf"," stimulates suckling "," Lets calf "," Walk or moving "and" Deviate creates the ". The regression analysis showed that it was possible to describe preditorias equations that provide important information about the relationship cortisol and behavior of calves. Correlations in Lying dow, "ises", "Standing", "searsh" and "Tries to feed herself" were checked. For cows is possible to observe ...
Mestre
38
Carminatti, Marina de Oliveira Ferraz. "Efeitos da paridade da mãe e do sexo do filhote sobre o estilo de cuidado materno e desenvolvimento de filhotes de macacos-prego (cebus sp)." Universidade de São Paulo, 2009. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/47/47132/tde-08122009-095236/.
Full textAbstract:
Dentre os mamíferos, a ordem Primates é caracterizada por uma gestação longa e, normalmente, nascimento de um único filhote por período reprodutivo. Ainda assim, as fêmeas primatas dão a luz a filhotes pouco desenvolvidos, que requerem grande investimento parental, realizado principalmente por elas. O prolongado período pós-parto, em que o filhote depende integralmente de seu cuidador para alimentação, transporte e proteção, é chamado de infância e perdura até o momento em que o indivíduo é capaz de sobreviver sozinho. Nesse período é possível observar o estilo de cuidado materno, medido através do investimento da mãe em cuidados para seu filhote. É nesse mesmo período que as relações afetivas entre mãe e filhote e com os outros membros do grupo são estabelecidas. Em algumas espécies de mamíferos, incluindo primatas, há diferença entre o investimento materno das mães em relação ao sexo do filhote ou a paridade e posição hierárquica delas. Nesse trabalho, verifiquei o efeito da paridade da mãe e do sexo do filhote sobre o estilo de cuidado materno e desenvolvimento físico e social dos filhotes de um grupo semi-livre de macacos-prego. Além disso, a presente pesquisa deu continuidade a um estudo anterior, com o mesmo grupo, também sobre estilo de cuidado materno e desenvolvimento dos filhotes. Assim, também foi objetivo deste trabalho comparar estas variáveis em função de mudanças na demografia do grupo e nas condições ambientais. Os dados foram coletados no Parque Ecológico do Tietê entre setembro de 2006 e abril de 2008, através dos métodos de animal-focal e todas as ocorrências, e analisados através de análises de agrupamentos e de variância. O estilo de cuidado materno parece estar relacionado com a paridade da mãe, mães primíparas têm maior investimento, de maneira geral, em amamentação, transporte e manutenção da proximidade de seus filhotes, enquanto multíparas investem mais em catação, mas as diferenças não foram significativas. O desenvolvimento físico e social dos filhotes não foi afetado pela mudança na demografia do grupo, mas sim pela mudança das condições ambientais. Uma alteração na disponibilidade do alimento provisionado provocou aumento nas taxas de locomoção do grupo em busca de alimento. O aumento na distância entre mães e filhotes também foi observado e esteve relacionado ao crescimento das redes familiares que promovem a proteção do filhote por indivíduos aparentados que não somente suas mães. O investimento materno foi maior em filhotes machos. Quanto ao desenvolvimento, filhotes fêmeas se alimentaram e se locomoveram independentemente mais que filhotes machos, ainda que a locomoção independente tenha sido maior para machos no início do desenvolvimento. Filhotes fêmeas, no entanto, mantiveram relações de proximidade mais fortes com a mãe e com os outros membros do grupo. O maior investimento materno em machos, independente da paridade das mães, é esperado em populações de primatas em que a oferta de alimento não é limitante do sucesso reprodutivo das fêmeas e em que, portanto, o sexo com maior variabilidade de sucesso reprodutivo em função de habilidades competitivas é o masculino.In comparison with other mammals, the order Primates is characterized by a prolonged gestation and by the birth of a single offspring in each reproductive period. Besides, female primates give birth to very immature infants that require great parental investment performed mainly by the mothers. Infancy is the post-partum period in which the young is completely dependent on its care-giver for feeding, transportation and protection, and lasts up until the individual is capable of surviving on its own. During this period we can observe the style of maternal care by measuring the mothers investment in care given to her offspring. The affiliative relationship between the infant and its mother, as well as with other members of the social group are established throughout this same period. In some mammal species, including primates, maternal care can differ according to the sex of the infant, and on female parity and hierarchical position. In this study I investigate the effect of mothers parity and on infants sex on the style of maternal care and on the physical and social development of the offspring in a group of semi-free tufted capuchin monkeys. Furthermore, this research followed a previous study, carried out with the same group of monkeys, also regarding the style of maternal care and development of young. Therefore it is also the goal of this study to compare these variables considering differences in group demography and in the environmental conditions between the two study periods. Data were collected at Parque Ecológico do Tietê from September 2006 to April 2008. Data were collect through focal-animal and all occurrences methods, and analyzed by cluster and variance analysis. The style of maternal care seems to be related to the parity of the mother. Primiparous mothers generally invest more in nursing, transportation and in maintaining proximity with their offspring while multiparous mothers invest more in grooming. However the differences were not statistically significant. The physical and social development of the young were not affected by the demographic changes undergone by the group, but were, on the other hand, affected by changes in environmental conditions. An alteration in the availability of provisioned food resulted in an increase in the rate of locomotion of the group in search for food. An increase in the distance between mother and offspring was also noted and was related to the growth of family networks, leading to the protection of the young by kin related individuals besides their mother. There was greater maternal investment in male infants. Regarding infant development, female infants had higher frequencies of independent feeding and locomotion than male infants, even though independent locomotion was greater for males at the beginning of their development. Female infants also maintained greater proximity with their mothers and with other members of the group than male infants. A greater maternal investment in male offspring, independent of the parity of mothers, is expected in primate populations living in areas where food supply is not limiting of females reproductive success, which is the case of the study area, because in such populations males present greater variability than females in reproductive success.
39
Takamatsu, Adriana Toyoda. "Aloamamentação em cobaias Cavia porcellus." Universidade de São Paulo, 2007. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/47/47132/tde-23112007-140405/.
Full textAbstract:
A aloamamentação parece desafiar o princípio geral de que o cuidado materno deve restringir-se à própria prole. Embora a aloamamentação em cobaias domésticas Cavia porcellus - espécie em que um macho dominante pode reproduzir-se com várias fêmeas em um sistema de harém e em que os filhotes são precoces e capazes de ingerir alimentos sólidos logo depois do nascimento - já tenha sido observada, não foi submetida até o momento a um estudo sistemático. Na presente pesquisa, realizada com cobaias comuns (Etapa 1) e cobaias albinas (Etapa 2), buscamos descrever os aspectos básicos da interação fêmea-filhote ao longo das primeiras quatro semanas de vida dos filhotes, comparando a freqüência e a duração da amamentação de fêmeas mantidas sozinhas com a sua ninhada (Condição FS, 20 fêmeas) à de fêmeas pareadas quando as ninhadas tinham no máximo 3 dias de diferença (Condição FP, 19 pares de fêmeas), uma condição em que pode surgir aloamamentação. Verificou-se que, apesar da existência de apego em relação à mãe (os filhotes na condição FP permaneciam próximos à mãe e mamaram mais dela do que da fêmea alheia), aproximadamente 60 % dos filhotes alomamaram. A aloamamentação, que se concentrou na primeira semana de vida com um decréscimo marcado em seguida e que não era sempre recíproca, decorreu basicamente da iniciativa dos filhotes. Os resultados não apóiam a hipótese funcional da aloamamentação enquanto competição entre os filhotes por um superávit de alimentação, mas indicam que constitui uma estratégia oportunista dos filhotes, propiciada pelas características da organização social das cobaias.Allosuckling seems to challenge the general principle according to which maternal care should be retricted to offspring. While already reported, allosuckling in domestic guinea pigs Cavia porcellus - a species in which males may breed with several females, in a harem system, and in which pups are precocious and able to ingest solid food shortly after birth - has not been, to now, systematically described. The aim of the present research, performed with common guinea pigs (Phase 1) and albino guinea pigs (Phase 2) was to describe female-pups interactions throughout development, and to compare such interactions in isolated females with their litter (FS condition, 20 females) and in paired females with their litter (FP condition, 19 pairs), a condition in which allosuckling performance is likely to happen. In spite of pups\' attachment to their mothers (in condition FS, pups remained nearer to their mother than to the other lactating female and had longer and more frequent nursing episodes with her), allosuckling was relatively frequent (approximately 60% of pups were allonursed). Allosuckling peak occurred during the first week of life and markedly decreased thereafter, being mainly under the control of pups. Results do not favor a functional explanation of allosuckling as a competitive strategy of pups for a surplus of food, but suggest it is an opportunistic strategy which is made possible by the specific nature of guinea pigs social organization.
40
Rapin, Kathryn. "Do laboratory syndromes predict field behavior? Comparison of laboratory based syndromes and field based measurements." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1459776389.
Full text
41
Lundén, Gabrielle. "Play Behavior and its Importance for Welfare in Chickens and Other Farm Animals." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Biologi, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-167835.
Full textAbstract:
Play is a self-motivated seemingly non-functional behavior mainly observed in young animals. Moreover, play behaviors can be divided into three categories; social play, object play and locomotor play. The type of activity the category contains varies, as play behaviors vary between species. Play behavior is seen as an indicator of positive emotions in animals, therefore play could be an indicator of welfare. However, the relationship between play and welfare requires further studies. In this study, information was compiled from various articles about play and its relation to welfare. Above all, the study focuses on welfare and play in chickens, as studies on chickens are most lacking. Play provides several benefits regarding motor training, social cohesion and cognitive training. Livestock such as calves, piglets and lambs have all been observed playing. No play has been confirmed in chickens which is mainly due to lack of research. However, play has been observed in other bird species, including birds within the order Galliformes. Amount and type of play varies depending on the environment, which suggests that animal welfare has a great significance for play. If no play occurs, one could conclude that welfare needs to be improved. Lack of play observed in chickens could be due to poor welfare or lack of research. After all, presence of play in other bird species increases the probability that chickens also play. Results indicate that play could be used as an indicator for welfare.
42
Baird, Bonnie Ann Baird. "Ambassador Animal Welfare: Using Behavioral and Physiological Indicators to Assess the Well-Being of Animals Used for Education Programs in Zoos." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1522956181121788.
Full text
43
Amora, Tacyana Duarte. "Padrões ecológicos do sagui-do-nordeste Callithrix jacchus (Primates, Callitrichidae) em uma área de caatinga no alto sertão sergipano." Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, 2013. http://ri.ufs.br:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4422.
Full textAbstract:
The common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, is endemic to the Brazilian Northeast, where it is found in the humid Atlantic Forest and the more arid Caatinga. While there have been numerous studies in the Atlantic Forest, the ecology of the species in the Caatinga is poorly known. The present study aimed to provide a systematic data base on the ecology of the species in this semiarid environment, and contribute to the understanding of its specializations for survival under extreme conditions. Three groups (G1, G2, and G3) were monitored in the Grota do Angico Natural Monument (Sergipe, Brazil) between October, 2001, and September, 2012. Data were collected on the behaviour and feeding ecology of G1 and the home ranges of all three groups. Quantitative behavioural data were collected in focal animal samples (adults only), with 5-minute samples being collected at 5-minute intervals throughout the daily activity period. The position of the group during each sample was recorded with a GPS, and mapped on a virtual 50 m x 50 m grid for the measurement of the home range. The members of group G1 spent most of their time at rest (36.26%), foraging (29.26%), and moving (17.17%), and much less time engaging in social activities (1.81%). Considerable variation was observed during the course of the year in the duration of the daily activity period, but an adjusted time budget revealed only slight variation in behavioural pattern over the course of the year. Up to a point, the diet of the study group was typical of C. jacchus, being based primarily on the consumption of plant exudates and insects, but the consumption of unusual alternative resources peaked in some months, with leaves contributing up to 39.74% of the diet in December, nectar 30.81% in November, and toxic fruit 23.08% in August. Terrestrial bromeliads and cacti were other also included in the diet. The groups were relatively small in size, with between two and eight members, but occupied unexpectedly large home ranges 14.94 hectares for G1, 41.16 ha for G2, and 26.15 ha for G3, many times larger than those recorded in other environments. Overall, the results of the present study re-emphasise the adaptive potential of C. jacchus for survival in extreme conditions of climate and resource availability, with clear evidence of the adoption of alternative ecological strategies in the Caatinga in comparison with the Atlantic Forest.O sagui do nordeste Callithrix jacchus é nativo do nordeste brasileiro, e pode ser encontrado desde regiões de Floresta Atlântica até áreas mais secas como a Caatinga. É uma espécie de primata amplamente estudada em outros biomas, mas as informações disponíveis para a Caatinga são extremamente limitadas. Este estudo visou fornecer dados sistemáticos sobre a ecologia da espécie neste bioma semiárido e contribuir para o entendimento das especializações adotadas frente às condições extremas do ambiente. Três grupos (G1, G2 e G3) foram monitorados no Monumento Natural Grota do Angico (Sergipe, Brasil) entre outubro de 2011 e setembro de 2012. Os dados de padrões comportamentais e de alimentação foram coletados para G1 e as áreas de vida descritas para os três grupos. Os dados comportamentais foram coletados através da amostragem Animal Focal (apenas os adultos) com sessões de cinco minutos e intervalo de cinco minutos entre elas, durante o período diário de atividades. A posição do grupo foi marcada com um GPS a cada focal e inserida em um grid virtual de 50 x 50 metros para obter a área de vida. Os membros do grupo G1 passaram a maior parte de tempo estacionários (36,26%), em forrageio (29,26%) e em deslocamento (17,17%) e menos tempo e se dedicando às atividades sociais (1,81%). Foram observadas variações consideráveis ao longo do ano na duração do período diário de atividades do grupo, mas um ajuste de tempo no orçamento de atividades revelou apenas uma ligeira variação no padrão do comportamento ao longo do período de estudo. Até certo ponto a dieta do grupo de estudo foi típica para C. jacchus, baseada primariamente no consumo de exsudatos de plantas e insetos, mas o consumo de recursos alternativos incomuns atingiram picos em alguns meses, com folhas contribuindo com 39,74% da dieta em dezembro, néctar com 30,81% em novembro e frutas tóxicas com 23,08% em agosto. Bromélias terrestres e cactos também foram inclusos na dieta. Os grupos foram relativamente pequenos em tamanho, de dois a oito indivíduos, mas inesperadamente ocuparam grandes áreas de vida 14,94 hectares para G1, 41.16 ha para G2, e 26.15 ha para G3, áreas muito maiores que aquelas registradas para outros ambientes. No geral, os resultados obtidos no presente estudo reenfatizam o potencial adaptativo de C. jacchus para sobrevivência em condições extremas de clima e disponibilidade de recursos, com claras evidências da adoção de estratégias ecológicas alternativas na Caatinga em comparação à Floresta Atlântica.
44
Robson, Drew Norman. "Thermal navigation in larval zebrafish." Thesis, Harvard University, 2013. http://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:10827.
Full textAbstract:
Navigation in complex environments requires selection of appropriate actions as a function of local cues. To gain a quantitative and mechanistic understanding of zebrafish thermal navigation, we have developed a novel assay that requires animals to rely exclusively on thermosensory information in the absence of other cues such as vision or mechanosensation. We show that zebrafish use both absolute and relative temperature information to restrict their locomotor trajectories to a preferred temperature range. We identify components of movement that are modulated solely by absolute temperature, as well as components that are modulated by both absolute and relative temperature. Specifically, we find that dwell time between movements and displacement per movement depend solely on absolute temperature, whereas turn magnitude and turn direction bias are modulated by absolute and relative temperature. To evaluate whether these sensorimotor relationships could explain thermal restriction in our navigation assay, we performed Monte Carlo simulations of locomotor trajectories based on all or subsets of these relationships. We find that thermosensory modulation of turn magnitude and turn direction bias constitute the core navigation strategy in larval zebrafish, while modulation of dwell time accelerates the execution of this strategy at noxious temperatures. Modulation of turn direction bias represents a novel strategy not found in invertebrate models, whereby animals correct unfavorable headings by preferentially turning in a preferred turn direction until they obtain a favorable heading. Modulating turn direction bias in response to recent sensory experience is an effective strategy for selecting favorable headings in organisms that do not have a dedicated sampling phase before each reorientation event.
45
Butts, Taylor L. "Animal-Assisted Therapy to Increase Independent Reading forChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder." Scholar Commons, 2019. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7754.
Full textAbstract:
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has become a popular intervention for the health and behavioral community as evidenced by media attention. The research that has been done on AAT has been mostly qualitative and anecdotal. The current study adds to the literature on AAT by collecting quantitative data on AAT. A multiple baseline design across three participants was used to evaluate the independent reading duration under a baseline condition (no dog present) and a non-contingent access to dog condition (which simulated how dog therapy is typically conducted). If reading did not increase during the non-contingent dog condition, a contingent access to the dog condition was implemented to determine if the participants would engage in increased reading duration to earn access to the dog. In this study, noncontingent access to the therapy dog resulted in increased reading duration for two of the participants. One participant showed variable results in the noncontingent phase and required the introduction of the contingent dog phase, which resulted in increases in reading duration.
46
Gehm, Tauane Paula. "Efeitos da separação materna sobre o desenvolvimento de respostas sociais em ratos." Universidade de São Paulo, 2017. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/47/47132/tde-05022018-150751/.
Full textAbstract:
A separação materna é um procedimento bastante utilizado com ratos, no qual a prole é privada do contato com a mãe por algumas horas diárias no período anterior ao desmame, observando-se os efeitos sobre o desenvolvimento comportamental e biológico dos filhotes. O objetivo desta tese foi investigar o efeito da separação materna no desenvolvimento de respostas sociais em ratos de ambos os sexos mais especificamente, sobre o brincar social, entre os dias pós-natais 28 e 36; sobre o comportamento sexual, entre a puberdade e a idade adulta; e sobre o comportamento materno, na idade adulta, de fêmeas submetidas à separação materna na infância. Para tanto, os episódios de separação foram conduzidos por 3hs diárias, entre os dias pós-natais 2 e 14, tendo como controle ratos não expostos a esse procedimento. Observou-se que os animais submetidos ao procedimento de separação materna emitiram mais respostas de brincar do que os animais controle. No que se refere ao desenvolvimento sexual, machos submetidos ao procedimento na infância tiveram frequência elevada de respostas de cópula menos efetivas, em detrimento das mais efetivas. Já nas fêmeas, constatou-se um atraso no início da puberdade, além de elas terem se tornado atrativas para machos em idade mais precoce que o grupo controle. Por fim, quando as fêmeas submetidas à separação materna na infância se tornaram mães, suas proles tiveram proporção sexual alterada, com maior número de machos, e índices de mortalidade menores. Ademais, mãe e filhotes foram mais atraídos pelo cheiro do ninho em teste olfativo, em comparação ao grupo controle. Esses resultados sugerem que a separação materna tem efeitos extensos sobre o desenvolvimento de respostas sociais, indicando a necessidade da condução de mais estudos que investiguem os motivos pelos quais esse evento, na infância, leva às alterações observadasMaternal separation is a frequently used procedure with rats in which the offspring is daily deprived of the contact with the mother during a few hours in the period previous to weaning in order to observe the effects on the behavioral and biological development of the pups. Our aim in this study is to explore the effect of maternal separation on the development of social responses in rats of both sexes, specifically on the social play, between the post-natal days 28 and 26; on the sexual behavior, between puberty and adulthood; and on maternal behavior of females in adulthood that underwent maternal separation during childhood. Therefore, the separation episodes were conducted for 3 hours daily between post-natal days 2 and 14. Rats not exposed to this procedure were used as control. We observed that animals submitted to the maternal separation procedure emitted more play responses than control animals. Regarding sexual development, males submitted to maternal separation had high frequency of less effective copula over more effective copula. The females presented a delay in puberty and became attractive to the males in a more precocious age than the control group. Lastly, when the females submitted to maternal separation became mothers their offspring had altered sexual ratio with a higher number of males and a lower mortality rate. In addition, the mother and her pups were more attracted by the nests odor than the control group in an olfactory test. These results suggest that maternal separation has extensive effects on the development of social responses, indicating the necessity of more studies that investigate why this event in childhood leads to the observed alterations
47
Rittinger, Madi. "The Effects of Domestication on Aggression in Fish." Ohio Dominican University Honors Theses / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=oduhonors1494230931148878.
Full text
48
García, Galea Eduardo A. "Control social del atractivo en un sistema de elección de pareja basado en un sesgo estético." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/334162.
Full textAbstract:
En la naturaleza observamos individuos que se comunican honestamente con otros aun cuando el engaño parece la opción más ventajosa. Esta tesis estudia mediante qué mecanismos la comunicación honesta se mantiene en uno de los escenarios donde más esperaríamos la corrupción del sistema por parte de los emisores: la elección de pareja basada en un sesgo estético por parte de las hembras. Bajo este escenario, los machos, que resultan atractivos a las hembras porque expresan aquellos caracteres sexuales que satisfacen un sesgo estético preexistente.
En esta tesis se estudia un mecanismo, al que llamamos “control social del atractivo”, en el que son los propios machos quienes velan por que sus competidores no expresen un atractivo mayor del correspondiente a su calidad. Este control se llevaría a cabo mediante un incremento de los episodios agonísticos que un macho deshonesto sufriría. La existencia de este mecanismo se ha estudiado en el portaespada Xiphophorus hellerii, un actinopterigio de la familia de los pecílidos. Los machos de dicha especie expresan un carácter intersexual, la espada, consistente en una prolongación de los radios inferiores de la aleta caudal. Dicho carácter parece explotar un sesgo presente en las hembras a favor de los machos de mayor tamaño aparente. Sin embargo, la espada se expresa honestamente ya que existe una correlación positiva entre el tamaño del cuerpo y la longitud de la espada. En consecuencia, debe existir algún mecanismo que prevenga que los machos expresen un espada más larga de la que le correspondería según su tamaño.
En el primer capítulo, se testa la existencia de los comportamientos que los machos deberían expresar para que pudiese existir un control social del atractivo eficaz. En un primer experimento se demuestra que los machos de portaespada, al presentarles dos intrusos, tienden a atacar al más atractivo, el de espada más larga, cuando existe una diferencia de atractivo entre intrusos suficiente. Esta conducta la denominamos “intolerancia al atractivo”. En un segundo experimento de este mismo capítulo, se observa como la intolerancia al atractivo es ejercida por los machos dominantes hacia los subordinados. Así, sólo los machos dominantes, que también son los de mayor tamaño, pueden expresar las espadas más largas sin sufrir un incremento en el número de episodios agonísticos sufridos.
El segundo capítulo de la tesis se dedica a comprobar cuáles son los costes asociados al ser agredido y derrotado. En el primer experimento de este capítulo se demuestra que los machos recuerdan y compiten por monopolizar aquellas zonas donde hubo hembras de tal manera que los machos agredidos y derrotados son expulsados de dichas zonas. En consecuencia, parece existir un coste intrasexual asociado a la derrota. Además, el segundo experimento del capítulo evidencia que las hembras prefieren a aquellos machos que han visto vencer, lo que implica un coste intersexual asociado a la derrota ya que un macho perdedor pierde atractivo frente las hembras.
En el último capítulo se desarrollan una serie de simulaciones para ilustrar la lógica subyacente al control social del atractivo. Estas simulaciones muestran que la intolerancia al atractivo es una estrategia que desplazaría la estrategia original de agredir al azar y que una vez fijada en la población provocaría una asociación positiva entre calidad y atractivo de los machos.
En definitiva, las experiencias realizadas sugieren que la espada es una señal intersexual cuya expresión honesta está garantizada por el control social del atractivo. Además, este mecanismo puede emerger evolutivamente como respuesta adaptativa a la expresión de cualquier señal intersexual potencialmente deshonesta independientemente del formato de dicha señal.This thesis focuses on how male-male competition could ensure the honest signaling of those intersexual traits that exploit female pre-existing biases by means of a mechanism called “social control of attractiveness”. We explored this possibility in the green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) by testing whether male-male competition guarantees the body size-dependent expression of the sword, an intersexual trait displayed by males that fits a female pre-existing bias. In the first chapter of the thesis, I present two experiments in order to show that males actually express the required behavior that is expected to cause the social control of attractiveness. In the first experiment, I presented two intruder males to a resident male. The latter tended to direct its attacks towards the most attractive intruder when the difference in attractiveness between them was big enough. The second experiment showed that only small males suffered a punishment inflicted by large ones and that this punishment was associated to their attractiveness. The second chapter of the thesis shows that, following an attack, a defeated male suffers an intrasexual cost by losing access to females, as well as an intersexual cost owing to the fact that females prefer the winner of the contests that they eavesdrop. This is expected to generate a social control of attractiveness that ensures an honest expression of the sword according to body size, given that only the largest males would be able to express the longest swords without paying intra and intersexual costs. This reasoning is supported by the simulations presented in the third chapter where it is shown that the preference for attacking the most attractive competitors is a strategy that could invade the population and, once it is fixed, it could ensure a positive correlation between male quality and attractiveness. Thus, this mechanism, unlike the handicap principle, does not need to make assumptions about the biological details of the system. Therefore, when male quality is related to fighting ability, any potentially dishonest signal initially evolved to exploit female pre-existing biases could be controlled by such mechanism.
49
Bidder, Owen R. "A movement ecology toolkit : novel biotelemetry methodologies for elucidating animal behaviour and location." Thesis, Swansea University, 2014. https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42816.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis aims to address some of the deficiencies that exist in this discipline, in order to widen the applicability of biotelemetry methods and ultimately provide new data which will improve our understanding of animal movement strategies.
50
Smith, Rosemary Josephine. "Predation risk and the community organization of montane ground squirrels and a phylogenetic test of the association between diurnal activity and gregarious behavior in mammals." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185454.
Full textAbstract:
Predation risk strongly influences the ecology and evolution of animal behaviors. However, anti-predator responses differ among species. Tradeoffs between anti-predator abilities and foraging efficiencies across habitats can promote the coexistence of ecologically similar species. In general, larger animals may better exploit riskier habitats; smaller animals, resources at low densities. I studied two montane ground squirrels Spermophilus lateralis and Tamias minimus in Colorado. Using food trays, I determined that the smaller T. minimus foraged more efficiently near meadow edges and was competitively superior to S. lateralis there. In contrast, S. lateralis had no preference for either edge or far habitat, but was competitively superior to T. minimus farther from the edge. I predicted, correctly, the exclusion of S. lateralis from meadows with primarily edge habitat. I proposed three alternatives to explain the observed patterns of habitat use: satiation, travel cost, or perceived predation risk. In a series of manipulations of energetic costs, protective cover, and predators, I eliminated all but the predation risk hypothesis. S. lateralis perceives less risk farther from the edge of the meadow than T. minimus. Faster harvesting and running speeds might decrease perceived predation risk. S. lateralis and T. minimus both experienced diminishing returns while foraging in food trays. Due to a higher encounter rate, S. lateralis harvested seeds significantly faster than T. minimus. S. lateralis also ran faster than T. minimus (3.14 m/s and 2.13 m/s, respectively). Gregarious animals may detect predators before solitary ones. I suggest that due to differences between sensory modes, this advantage occrues only to animals using vision. Thus, I predicted that gregariousness as a predator detection strategy should evolve only in diurnal animals. To test this, I mapped diurnal activity and gregarious behavior onto a phylogeny of eutherian mammals, and than calculated their degree of association. I found strong support for my prediction. This pattern may occur in other mobile animals. The data also suggest an association between larger body size and open habitat use among diurnal, gregarious organisms, paralleling a result from Colorado ground squirrels.