Changes In Spatial Behavior Research Articles

Ageing red deer alter their spatial behaviour and become less social.

Social relationships are important to many aspects of animals' lives, and an individual's connections may change over the course of their lifespan. Currently, it is unclear whether social connectedness declines within individuals as they age, and what the underlying mechanisms might be, so the role of age in structuring animal social systems remains unresolved, particularly in non-primates. Here we describe senescent declines in social connectedness using 46 years of data in a wild, individually monitored population of a long-lived mammal (European red deer, Cervus elaphus). Applying a series of spatial and social network analyses, we demonstrate that these declines occur because of within-individual changes in social behaviour, with correlated changes in spatial behaviour (smaller home ranges and movements to lower-density, lower-quality areas). These findings demonstrate that within-individual socio-spatial behavioural changes can lead older animals in fission-fusion societies to become less socially connected, shedding light on the ecological and evolutionary processes structuring wild animal populations.

Wild boar under fire: the effect of spatial behaviour, habitat use and social class on hunting mortality

AbstractThe wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an ungulate of major management concern, often controlled only by indiscriminate, recreational hunting, which represents its main cause of death. Several studies have dealt with the effects of hunting on wild boar populations, pointing out controversial changes in spatial behavior and habitat use related to it. However, little information on the relationship between spatial behavior, habitat use and hunting mortality is available. In this study, 105 wild boars were monitored by means of radio‐tracking. Their cause of death was assessed, thus confirming the major role of hunting. For 89 of them, spatial behavior and habitat use as well as social class were related to hunting mortality. Spatial behavior, expressed as home range size, average daily distance among fixes and familiarity with the hunting area, resulted in having no strong effect on hunting mortality. Conversely, the relationship between the wild boar and the habitat, expressed in the proportion of forests in the home range, landscape complexity and habitat diversity, had a major role in predicting hunting mortality. In particular, the best model including social class and refuges pointed out a positive effect of landscape complexity on hunting mortality, while animals having a higher proportion of forests in their home range (assessed when this did not overlap the protected area) were less likely to be culled. Adult males and subadults of both sexes were more liable to be hunted than family groups. On the whole, behavioral and ecological differences in hunting vulnerability should be taken into account in management plans in order to optimize population management.

Distribuição espacial da matéria orgânica, grau de floculação e argila dispersa em água em área de vegetação natural em regeneração e pastagem

Este experimento objetivou analisar as alterações no comportamento espacial dos atributos do solo: matéria orgânica (MO), argila dispersa em água (ADA) e grau de floculação (GF) em áreas ocupadas com vegetação natural em regeneração e em pastagem. As amostras de solo foram coletadas na profundidade de 0,0-0,2 m em uma grade amostral com 64 pontos, espaçados 10 m. Os dados foram submetidos à análise descritiva e, em seguida, foi realizada a análise geoestatística. Observaram-se os maiores valores para ADA e os menores valores de GF na área de pastagem. Todos os atributos apresentam dependência espacial para as duas áreas em estudo, com ajuste dos modelos esférico e exponencial. A confecção dos mapas temáticos por meio da krigagem ordinária permitiu melhor visualização da distribuição espacial dos atributos de solo.

Temperature-mediated habitat use and selection by a heat-sensitive northern ungulate

The behavioural response of animals to unfavourable climatic conditions has received increased attention recently. While many studies have examined the behavioural responses of endotherms to cold temperatures, thermoregulatory behaviour may also occur in response to heat stress. We evaluated whether a heat-sensitive northern ungulate, the moose, Alces alces , showed thermoregulatory behaviour in response to ambient temperature in two populations in southern Norway. We quantified the seasonal habitat use of GPS-collared adult females, as well as fine-scale habitat selection patterns, in relation to time of day and critical temperature thresholds thought to induce heat stress. We also assessed whether temperature-associated changes in spatial behaviour led to a shift in the availability of thermal cover and forage at the chosen location. Frequent exposure to temperatures above critical thresholds occurred in both summer and winter and in both study areas. Moose responded by seeking thermal shelter in mature coniferous forest and avoiding open habitat types, leading to a decrease in local forage availability in summer but not in winter. Differences in habitat choice in response to temperature were most pronounced at twilight. We found that fine-scale habitat selection analyses, using step-selection functions, more effectively revealed thermoregulatory behaviour in both seasons and populations than did habitat use. This is because habitat selection analyses are better able to identify limiting factors operating at different spatiotemporal scales than is habitat use. Our results clearly show that ambient temperature affected fine-scale behavioural decisions of moose with consequences for forage accessibility, especially during summer. As the climate changes, the limiting effect of ambient temperature (cold and high) on animal behaviour is likely to increase, potentially influencing individual fitness and population dynamics. ► Climate is increasingly considered a mediator in animal spatial behaviour. ► We modelled habitat use and selection of a heat-sensitive northern ungulate. ► Thermoregulatory behaviour was stronger in summer than in winter. ► Thermoregulatory behaviour is best modelled using a habitat selection framework. ► Temperature should be considered in habitat–fitness relationships.

The effects of the neurotoxin DSP4 on spatial learning and memory in Wistar rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of DSP4-induced noradrenaline depletion on learning and memory in a spatial memory paradigm (holeboard). Since Harro et al. Brain Res 976:209–216 (2003) have demonstrated that short-term effects of DSP4 administration include both noradrenaline depletion and changes in dopamine and its metabolites—with the latter vanishing within 4 weeks after the neurotoxic lesion—the behavioural effects observed immediately after DSP4 administration cannot solely be related to noradrenaline. In the present study, spatial learning, reference memory and working memory were therefore assessed 5–10 weeks after DSP4 administration. Our results suggest that the administration of DSP4 did not lead to changes in spatial learning and memory when behavioural assessment was performed after a minimum of 5 weeks following DSP4. This lack of changes in spatial behaviour suggests that the role of noradrenaline regarding these functions may be limited. Future studies will therefore have to take into account the time-course of neurotransmitter alterations and behavioural changes following DSP4 administration.

Seasonal changes in hippocampus size and spatial behavior in mammals and birds

Hippocampus is involved in processing of environmental spatial information, and its size is known to correlate positively with spatial abilities in mammals and birds. Comparisons between species suggest that amount of spatial information processed (the mean area of home range in particular) is related with hippocampus size. Do seasonal and age changes in hippocampus size correlate with seasonal dynamics of spatial behaviour during ontogenesis? The data obtained through observational and experimental studies confirm the possibility that hippocampus size may be subjected to adaptive modifications along with cyclic changes in spatial behavior. In course of seasonal dynamics, strong positive correlation was found between hippocampus mass, home range size, and mobility of small mammals. Recently, first facts demonstrating seasonal changes of hippocampus and spatial behaviour (in connection with food-storing and brood parasitism) were found in birds. A lot of facts obtained for different taxonomical groups shows parallel seasonal changes in spatial behaviour and morphology of brain region functionally related to such behaviour. Thus, in adult birds and mammals, not only behaviour but also brain structure is phenotypically flexible in response to seasonally changing environment. Morphophysiological mechanisms of hippocampus seasonal changes are also discussed.

Effect of co-application of Alpha1-Adrenergic antagonist and D2 antagonist on locomotion and behavior of rats in a place avoidance task

Study of a neurotransmitter substrate of spatial navigation is one of the most investigated topics in cognitive neurosciences. Active allothetic place avoidance (AAPA) task is a spatial behavioral paradigm allowing simultaneous assessment of changes in spatial behavior and locomotion of experimental animals. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of alpha1-adreneregic and dopamine D2 receptors in the locomotor activity and the spatial efficiency in the AAPA task. We administered specific receptor antagonists prazosin (1 and 2 mg/kg) and sulpiride (10 and 30 mg/kg) either separately, or co-applied them together. Results show that co-application of both drugs affects locomotion and behavior of rats at the doses, which cause minor or no impairments when injected independently. Such a potentiation of effect suggests that both types of receptors act synergistically to regulate the locomotion in the AAPA task. However future experiments are required to elucidate whether the behavioral deficit occurs as a result of decreased locomotion, or evolves as a stand - alone phenomenon. The presented experiments also support the usefulness of the AAPA task in the study of animal cognition.

Effects of farming practices on spatial behaviour of common voles

This study aimed to reveal changes in spatial behaviour of common voles (Microtus arvalis) after alteration of their habitat by farming practices. Radio-collared common voles were tracked before and after mulching, mowing, harvesting wheat, and ploughing in the flood plain of the river Unstrut in central Germany. Voles undisturbed by agricultural practices were tracked on a mulchland, an abandoned pasture, and a cattle pasture. There was a large decrease in home-range size after harvesting wheat (96%, P<0.001). Changes after mowing (–74%, P=0.06) were almost significant whereas changes after mulching were not (+14%, P=0.60). On the cattle pasture we found a decrease in home-range size (42%, P=0.03) possibly due to increased spatial activity of cattle in autumn. There was a positive correlation of home-range size and vegetation height for plots with and without farming activity but no correlation with vegetation cover, population density, and breeding. Radio-collared common voles did not show evasive movements and farming practices did not cause a shift of centres of activity. Common voles clearly reacted to sudden changes in vegetation height, which may indicate an immediate response to predation risk.

Dispersal patterns of Corsican mouflon ewes: importance of age and proximate influences

The dispersal patterns of radio-collared Corsican mouflon ( Ovis musimon) ewes inhabiting a low Mediterranean massif in the south of France were followed. Despite spatial instability being more marked in winter and spring, females ( n = 17) remained on a single home range. The changes in spatial behaviour which appeared in March did not seem to be linked solely to ecological parameters. The use of the spring range was particularly noticeable among the different seasonal ranges since it was characterised by long-distance movements ( n=16, x=740±320 m) and the large overall area used ( x=330±90 ha). The age of individuals had an important influence on space use. With increasing age, spatial patterns became more firmly fixed, which appeared to be linked to a better understanding of the different ecological and social contexts occurring in the population. Some characteristics of spatial behaviour may create certain management difficulties in the introduction or reintroduction of the species. Age and season seem to have a strong effect on the organization of spatial patterns. Managers and hunters should therefore consider the implications of the age of individuals and thus their stage of development, and also of the season, to guide management decisions. For example, disturbance of young individuals must be strictly limited, particularly during the spring and the rut which appear to be important periods in the organization of spatial behaviour patterns.

Homing to Hibernating Sites in Helix pomatia Involving Detailed Long‐term Memory

AbstractHibernation sites and home ranges of marked snails were recorded in the field for several years. Each individual usually returned to the same relatively small hibernating area every year. Shifts between alternative hibernation areas sometimes occurred. Most of the observed non‐returns can be explained by changes in spatial behaviour of the preceding season rather than disorientation. Observations and experiments show the existence of a detailed memory related to topographical features of the hibernating area and lasting for at least three years. The snails seem to orientate towards a goal area which has been memorized at the preparations for hibernation during previous years. Experiments seem to indicate the importance of chemical cues. A probably adaptive potential for very detailed memorizing of topographical cues allows for localization of hibernation areas less than 30 cm in radius, and even accurate returns to previous sites, although no traces of these are left. It seems that the supposedly primitive brain of gastropods like Helix has a capability for complex and long‐term spatial memory similar to that of the vertebrate brain.

Behavioral Correlates of Urban Spatial Structure

(1971). Behavioral Correlates of Urban Spatial Structure. Economic Geography: Vol. 47, PERSPECTIVES ON URBAN SPATIAL SYSTEMS, pp. 49-58.