The effects of transport stress on tiger physiology and behavior
Tigers are often transported for education, conservation, and zoo enhancement purposes, however the effect of transfer on them has not yet been documented. Our objective was to evaluate how transport affects the behavior and physiology of tigers, taking into account previous experience with the transport procedure. We simulated transport by relocating five tigers in a […]
Coping with nonrepairable body damage: effects of wing damage on foraging performance in bees
Nonrepairable body damage such as tooth and wing wear commonly occur in animals and can dramatically alter their behaviour. We critically examined the effects of nonrepairable damage in a model system that enabled us to separate the effects of damage from other correlated effects of senescence. Compared to sham controls, honeybees with 20% of their […]
Experience improves courtship in male fruit flies
Much of the research on learning in fruit flies has focused on the genetic and cellular basis of learning. The evolutionary relevance of learning in these tiny, short-lived insects is not well understood. Relying on the knowledge that male fruit flies learn in the context of courtship, I tested whether such learning improves male courtship. […]
Relevance of brain and behavioural lateralization to animal welfare
The left and right sides of the brain are specialised to process information in different ways and to control different categories of behaviour. Research on a range of species has shown that the left hemisphere controls well-established patterns of behaviour performed in non-stressful situations, whereas the right hemisphere responds to unexpected stimuli and controls escape […]
Hormonal changes related to paternal and alloparental care in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
The physiological mechanisms of parental and alloparental care in cooperatively breeding nonhuman primate species such as the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) are poorly known. In this study, we examined prolactin and cortisol plasma levels of fathers and older offspring of both sexes, with and without previous experience in infant carrying, around parturition and during infant […]
Effects of experience on preference between forced and free choice.
Preference between forced choice and free choice in concurrent-chain schedules of reinforcement was investigated in pigeons after exposure to particular combinations of terminal links. In Experiment 1, in which terminal links always ended with reinforcers, one of three pairs of terminal links was arranged as preexposure: (a) both terminal links had only one key (forced […]
The “male effect” in sheep and goats: a review of the respective roles of the two olfactory systems
In sheep and goats, exposure of seasonally anestrous females to sexually active males results in activation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and synchronized ovulation. This phenomenon is named “the male effect” and seems to constitute a major factor in the control of reproductive events. This effect depends mostly on olfactory cues and is largely mimicked […]
Stereotypic Behaviour in Wild Caught And Laboratory Bred Bank Voles (clethrionymus Glareolus)
Stereotypic behaviour is generally associated with animals maintained in restrictive environments, and has rarely been described in wild or free-ranging animals. The difference between captive and wild populations may be due to their genetic predisposition or to experience of environmental factors. To investigate genetic and environmental factors, we compared the behaviour of 12 wild caught […]
Paternal behavior in rodents
The literature on paternal behavior in rodents includes reports of many species; however, paternal behavior appears more prevalent among muroid and hystricomorph rodents than in the sciurids. Many reports of paternal behavior are based on small numbers of animals observed under special conditions. Where systematic studies have been conducted, the most salient feature of rodent […]
Effects of origin, experiences early in life, and genetics on bitterweed consumption by sheep
Bitterweed is one of the most detrimental poisonous plants to sheep production in west central Texas. Sheep typically avoid the plant unless alternative forage is limited. When consumption does occur, some flocks and individuals are able to consume bitterweed and avoid toxicosis. Our objective was to determine the importance of site of origination (long-term exposure), […]