Ethological Research Articles

Health and behaviour consequences of feral horse relocation

Despite ongoing projects involving the breeding and release of equids into semi-wild and wild environments, insufficient information is available in the literature that describes strategies used by equids to adapt and survive in a novel environment. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of naïve, feral Equus caballus (horse) mares to cope in a novel feral horse environment and investigate possible reasons why some may not survive this challenge. Four mares taken from a semi-arid desert environment remained in good health but significantly changed their movement behaviour pattern when surrounded by prime grazing habitat in a mesic temperate grassland. Three of the four mares captured from the prime grazing habitat and released in the semi-arid desert habitat died, apparently due to stress and/or starvation, within 8 weeks of release. The fourth mare survived 4 months but lost considerable weight. The group of mares relocated to the semi-arid desert environment had difficulty adapting to relocation and did not take up the movement behaviour strategy of local horses, which required long distance treks from a central water hole to distant feeding areas at least 15 km away. The movement behaviour, range use and health consequences of relocating equids may be of interest to wildlife ecologists, animal behaviourists and horse welfare groups. The observations may be used to guide those intending on relocating managed domestic and native horses to novel habitats.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees: Session Introduction

F or those of us involved with the Department of Defense (DoD), 40 years ago the DoD implemented local com­ mittee oversight and approval responsibilities over re­ search activities. Twenty-five years ago, as you have been reminded, USDA and NIH implemented major revisions to their regulations and policies, respectively, to create what we now know as animal care and use committees. Our three panelists will cover the past, present, and future of the mul­ tiple activities these committees perform to advise and sup­ port the humane and appropriate care and use of laboratory animals. Our first speaker is Dr. Ralph Dell, who is now a private consultant. Previously he served as Director of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research at the National Research Council and as Chairman of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Columbia University. Dr. Dell re­ ceived his MD from the University of Pennsylvania and is board certified in Pediatrics. He is a Council member emeri­ tus for AAALAC International. Our next speaker, Dr. Kathryn Bayne, is the Global Director for the Association of Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. In this role, she directs the accreditation program worldwide, traveling exten­ sively to advance AAALAC’s accreditation program and laboratory animal welfare. Prior to this position, she worked at the NIH leading a research program on nonhuman primate psychological well-being and environmental enrichment programs for primates, cats, dogs, and swine. She has pub­ lished over 40 articles on the subject, is a certifi ed animal behaviorist, and is internationally renowned for her work in laboratory animal behavior. She has also published exten­ sively on accreditation of laboratory animal programs.

A Rare eth�ology of acute abdomen syndrome �n ch�ldhood: Pr�mary Tors�on of the Greater Omentum � A Case Report

Primary torsion of the greater omentum is a rare ethiology of acute abdomen syndrome in children. An eight year old boy was admitted to our clinic with the complaints of sudden onset abdominal pain and vomiting. The patient was urgently operated because of acute abdomen syndrome diagnosis. Torsion of the omentum majus identified as the primary etiology of the patient underwent excision of the omentum. This case has been reported because of its rare incidance.

Swarm Cognition: an interdisciplinary approach to the study of self-organising biological collectives

Basic elements of cognition have been identified in the behaviour displayed by animal collectives, ranging from honeybee swarms to human societies. For example, an insect swarm is often considered a “super-organism” that appears to exhibit cognitive behaviour as a result of the interactions among the individual insects and between the insects and the environment. Progress in disciplines such as neurosciences, cognitive psychology, social ethology and swarm intelligence has allowed researchers to recognise and model the distributed basis of cognition and to draw parallels between the behaviour of social insects and brain dynamics. In this paper, we discuss the theoretical premises and the biological basis of Swarm Cognition, a novel approach to the study of cognition as a distributed self-organising phenomenon, and we point to novel fascinating directions for future work.

The open field test as a method for ethology in Kunming mice: test-retest reliability

Objective To explore the test-retest reliability of the open field test,as a method for ethology in Kunming mice. Methods The behavior of adult male Kunming mice in the open field test was recorded twice,once for five minutes, with a one-week inter-trial interval. The following parameters were evaluated:number of central squares; number of peripheral squares; percent of central squares; number of horizontal squares; number of rearings; total score; and number of fecal boli. Subsequently,the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the agreement index (Kappa) were calculated for each of these parameters. Results Both ICC and Kappa for total score( ICC =0.902, P＜0.01; Kappa =0.680, P＜0.01; r=0.815, P＜0.01 ) showed a good reliability and correlation between the test trials. Only ICC for number of central squares ( ICC = 0. 578, P ＜ 0.01 ), number of peripheral squares( ICC =0.615, P＜0.01 ) ,percent of central squares(ICC=0.523, P＜0.01) ,number of horizontal squares( ICC = 0. 607, P ＜ 0.01 ) and number of rearings ( ICC = 0. 606, P ＜ 0.01 ) indicated a fair reliability between the test trials. Neither ICC nor Kappa for number of fecal boli displayed a significant reliability between the test trials. The difference of these parameters between test and retest, such as number of peripheral squares( t =3.01, P＜0.01 ),number of horizontal squares( t = 3.34, P ＜ 0.01 ) and total score( t = 7.86, P ＜ 0.01 ) were significant. Conclusion The parameter,total score for Kunming mice in the open field test,is found to be stable over time, and indicates a good reliability with a one-week inter-trial interval. Key words: Open field test; State anxiety; Ethology; Test-retest reliability; Kunming Mice

Dynamic research about the change of the behavior and hippocampal volume of rat depressive model

Objective To explore the dynamic change and correlation of the behavior and hippocampal volumes by MRI of rat depressive model. Methods Based on the evaluation of ethology, thirty SD rats were randomly and equally divided into control group and model group which was exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress for 8 weeks. The body weight, fluid consumption test and Morris water maze test were done at the beginning and per week while the bilateral hippocampal volumes of every rat were measured by high field MRI at the beginning and per two weeks. Results Based on the behavioral data,the rat depressive model was established successfully,and changed dynamically. On 4th week,the left hippocampal volumes of depressive rat were significantly reduced (model group(37.13 ±2.40)mm3 ,control group (39.05 ±2.05)mm3, t=2.36, P＜0.05) while the right ones did not. On 6th week, the right ones began to reduce significantly ( model group ( 37.85 ± 2.11 ) mm3, control group ( 39.44 ± 2.10 ) mm3, t = 2.07, P ＜ 0.05 ) while the left one still reduced, but the extent of the left's reduction was bigger than the right( left:15% ,right:8% ). And there was apparent correlation between the behavior and the reduction of hippocampal volumes. Conclusion The behavior and hippocampal volumes of rat depressive model changes dynamically,and there was a regularity of them. Key words: Depressive model; Behavior; Magnetic resonance imaging; Hippocampus

A survey of owners' perceptions of fear of fireworks in a sample of dogs and cats in New Zealand

AIMS: To establish reliable information regarding the behavioural responses of dogs and cats to fireworks in New Zealand; record interventions used by owners, and their perceived efficacies; and establish the prevalence of firework-related injury, and quantify owners' attitudes towards fireworks. METHODS: A questionnaire targeting dog and cat owners was distributed via the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Animals Voice magazine and 25 veterinary clinics. The questionnaire covered demographics of animals, fear of fireworks, severity of the fear, and behaviours exhibited. Also included were treatments tried, source and perceived efficacy, prevalence of injury, and owners' attitudes towards the sale of fireworks for private use. RESULTS: From a total of 8,966 questionnaires distributed, 1,007 valid questionnaires were returned, representing 3,527 animals. Of these 1,635 (46%) animals displayed a level of fear of fireworks recognisable to their owners. Owners of dogs identified a significantly higher fear response than owners of cats but the duration of these fear responses did not differ between species. Fear of fireworks frequently resulted in dogs exhibiting active fear behaviours, whereas cats were more likely to exhibit hiding and cowering behaviours. A significantly increased severity and duration of fear response over time in dogs and cats was associated with owners who comforted them when they displayed a fearful response. Only 141/890 (15.8%) of owners sought professional treatment from a veterinarian, animal behaviourist or animal trainer for their animals, with variable efficacy. Six percent (51/923) of animals had received physical injuries from fireworks. The majority (837/1,007; 83%) of respondents, regardless of whether they owned a fearful animal or not, supported a ban on the sale of fireworks for private use. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide valuable information that is, as yet, unsubstantiated in New Zealand, although potential biases exist due to the non-random selection of respondents. Differences between dogs and cats were likely due to differing responses to fear-provoking stimuli between the species. Owner-reported increase in fearful response over time for comforted animals may indicate a negative impact on the longer-term psychological welfare of their animal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The greater the awareness of effective treatment plans for animals that suffer from a fear of fireworks, the greater the possibility that this fear can be reduced. Wider dissemination of effective owner behaviour and treatment programmes for firework fears is needed to improve levels of professional treatment for dogs and cats.

Effect of intraperitoneal injection of thalidomide on pain behaviors in a mouse model of bone cancer pain

Objective To investigate the effect of intraperitoneal injection of thalidomide on pain behaviors in a mouse model of bone cancer pain. Methods 36 male C3H/HeJ mice were divided randomly into tumor group (n= 18) and sham group (n= 18) ,six mice from each group were chosen to examine the time course of changes in behavior after tumor cells inoculated to the bone. 2 × 105 osteosarcoma NCTC 2472 cells were implanted into the intramedullary space of the right femurs of mice to induce ongoing bone cancer related pain behaviors. The sham group was inoculated by α-MEM without any cells. On the day before inoculation,the tumor mice were divided randomly into tumor + thalidomide group and tumor + vehicle group. The sham group mice were further divided randomly into sham + thalidomide group and sham + vehicle group. Pain ethology indexes such as paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) were observed on 1 d before inoculation and on 3 d ,5 d ,7 d, 10 d, 14 d after inoculation. Results ( 1 ) At day 7 after the operation, compared with sham mice ( 1. 70 ± 0. 33 ) g, PWMT of tumor mice decreased to ( 1.07 ± 0. 30) g (P ＜ 0. 05 ). At day 10, PWTL shortened to ( 12.60 ± 1.69 ) s (P ＜ 0. 05 ) compared with sham mice ( 17.70 ± 1.54 ) s. And the pain behaviors of tumor mice were aggravated along with the development of cancer pain. (2) At day 7 after the operation, compared with tumor + vehicle group ( 1. 07 ± 0.39 ) g, PWMT of tumor + thalidomide group increased to ( 1. 53 ± 0. 39 ) g (P ＜0.05). At day 10, PWTL extended to ( 16.48 ± 1.13 ) s compared with sham mice ( 12.64 ± 1. 56) s (P ＜0. 05 ). Conclusion Intraperitoneal injection of thalidomide can efficiently relieve mechanical hyperalgia and thermal hyperalgia in a mouse model of bone cancer pain. Key words: Thalidomide; Bone cancer pain; Mechanical hyperalgesia; Thermal hyperalgesia

The prevalence of HIV infection and the risk factors among MSM in 4 cities, China

To access the prevalence of HIV infection and the associated factors among urban MSM in China. Participants were recruited using respondent driven sampling and snowball sampling method in Beijing, Harbin, Zhengzhou and Chengdu city. A face-to-face questionnaire was administrated to collect relevant demographic and ethological data; 5 ml venous blood sample was taken from each subject to measure HIV antibody in serum (samples were first screened by colloidal gold, latex chromatographic and double-antigen sandwich ELISA method, positive samples were further confirmed by immunoblotting method). The characteristics of HIV infection was described and the risk factors were analyzed. A total of 1864 MSM were recruited and the prevalence of HIV was 6.7% (125/1864). It was 9.5% (24/252) among MSM older than 39 years and it was 1.9% (2/105) among those less than 20 years old. The prevalence was 8.4% (31/371) among MSM with junior level education and was 4.8% (41/858) among those with college level education. It was 10.3% (35/340) among MSM with sexual partner old than him for over 10 years while it was 5.0% (58/1168) among those having sexual partner within 10 years older. The prevalence of HIV infection was 8.9% (61/695) among MSM with unprotected receptive anal sex and it was 5.5% (64/1169) among those without unprotected receptive anal sex. The risk factors independently associated with HIV infection included being older than 39 years (OR = 6.5, 95%CI: 1.5 - 28.7), with junior or lower level education (OR = 1.8, 95%CI: 1.2 - 2.7), having sexual partner older than himself for over 10 years (OR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.3 - 3.3) and having unprotected receptive anal intercourse (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1 - 2.4). MSM had a high rate of HIV infection. Older age, lower level education, having older sexual partner and unprotected receptive anal intercourse were related to HIV infection.

GPS Technology and Human Psychological Research: A Methodological Proposal

Animal behaviorists have made extensive use of GPS technology since 1991. In contrast, psychological research has made little use of the technology, even though the technology is relatively inexpensive, familiar, and widespread. Hence, its potential for pure and applied psychological research remains untapped. We describe three methods psychologists could apply to individual differences research, clinical research, or spatial use research. In the context of individual differences research, GPS technology permits us to test hypotheses predicting specific relations among patterns of spatial use and individual differences variables. In a clinical context, GPS technology provides outcome measures that may relate to the outcome of interventions designed to treat psychological disorders that, for example, may leave a person homebound (e.g. Agoraphobia, PTSD, TBI). Finally, GPS technology provides natural measures of spatial use. We, for example, used GPS technology to quantify traffic flow and exhibit use at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Interested parties could easily extend this methodology some aspects of urban planning or business usage. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v1i1_wolf

GPS Technology and Human Psychological Research: A Methodological Proposal

Animal behaviorists have made extensive use of GPS technology since 1991. In contrast, psychological research has made little use of the technology, even though the technology is relatively inexpensive, familiar, and widespread. Hence, its potential for pure and applied psychological research remains untapped. We describe three methods psychologists could apply to individual differences research, clinical research, or spatial use research. In the context of individual differences research, GPS technology permits us to test hypotheses predicting specific relations among patterns of spatial use and individual differences variables. In a clinical context, GPS technology provides outcome measures that may relate to the outcome of interventions designed to treat psychological disorders that, for example, may leave a person homebound (e.g. Agoraphobia, PTSD, TBI). Finally, GPS technology provides natural measures of spatial use. We, for example, used GPS technology to quantify traffic flow and exhibit use at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Interested parties could easily extend this methodology some aspects of urban planning or business usage. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v1i1_wolf

GPS Technology and Human Psychological Research: A Methodological Proposal

Animal behaviorists have made extensive use of GPS technology since 1991. In contrast, psychological research has made little use of the technology, even though the technology is relatively inexpensive, familiar, and widespread. Hence, its potential for pure and applied psychological research remains untapped. We describe three methods psychologists could apply to individual differences research, clinical research, or spatial use research. In the context of individual differences research, GPS technology permits us to test hypotheses predicting specific relations among patterns of spatial use and individual differences variables. In a clinical context, GPS technology provides outcome measures that may relate to the outcome of interventions designed to treat psychological disorders that, for example, may leave a person homebound (e.g. Agoraphobia, PTSD, TBI). Finally, GPS technology provides natural measures of spatial use. We, for example, used GPS technology to quantify traffic flow and exhibit use at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Interested parties could easily extend this methodology some aspects of urban planning or business usage. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v1i1_wolf

GPS Technology and Human Psychological Research: A Methodological Proposal

Animal behaviorists have made extensive use of GPS technology since 1991. In contrast, psychological research has made little use of the technology, even though the technology is relatively inexpensive, familiar, and widespread. Hence, its potential for pure and applied psychological research remains untapped. We describe three methods psychologists could apply to individual differences research, clinical research, or spatial use research. In the context of individual differences research, GPS technology permits us to test hypotheses predicting specific relations among patterns of spatial use and individual differences variables. In a clinical context, GPS technology provides outcome measures that may relate to the outcome of interventions designed to treat psychological disorders that, for example, may leave a person homebound (e.g. Agoraphobia, PTSD, TBI). Finally, GPS technology provides natural measures of spatial use. We, for example, used GPS technology to quantify traffic flow and exhibit use at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Interested parties could easily extend this methodology some aspects of urban planning or business usage. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v1i1_wolf

GPS Technology and Human Psychological Research: A Methodological Proposal

Animal behaviorists have made extensive use of GPS technology since 1991. In contrast, psychological research has made little use of the technology, even though the technology is relatively inexpensive, familiar, and widespread. Hence, its potential for pure and applied psychological research remains untapped. We describe three methods psychologists could apply to individual differences research, clinical research, or spatial use research. In the context of individual differences research, GPS technology permits us to test hypotheses predicting specific relations among patterns of spatial use and individual differences variables. In a clinical context, GPS technology provides outcome measures that may relate to the outcome of interventions designed to treat psychological disorders that, for example, may leave a person homebound (e.g. Agoraphobia, PTSD, TBI). Finally, GPS technology provides natural measures of spatial use. We, for example, used GPS technology to quantify traffic flow and exhibit use at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Interested parties could easily extend this methodology some aspects of urban planning or business usage.

Leaders in animal behavior: the second generation

1. Understanding ourselves Richard D. Alexander 2. Motherhood, methods, and monkeys: an intertwined professional and personal life Jeanne Altmann 3. Coming together Patrick Bateson 4. My life and hard times Jerram L. Brown 5. Individuals, societies and populations Tim Clutton-Brock 6. Birds, butterflies and behavioural ecology Nicholas B. Davies 7. King Solomon's herring gulls world Marian Stamp Dawkins 8. Growing up in ethology Richard Dawkins 9. A passion for primates Frans B. M. de Waal 10. Taking my cues from nature's clues Stephen T. Emlenl 11. A most unlikely animal behaviorist Bennett G. Galef 12. Watcher: the development of an evolutionary biologist Patricia Adair Gowaty 13. Myths, monkeys, and motherhood: a compromising life Sarah Blaffer Hardy 14. Luck, chance and choice John R. Krebs 15. My life with birds Gordon H. Orians 16. Reflections before dusk Geoff A. Parker 17. An improbable path Michael J. Ryan 18. Birds, babies, and behaving Meredith J. West 19. A brief just-so story of my life (a few of the reminiscences that are fit to print) Mary Jane West-Eberhard 20. A bird in the hand John C. Wingfield 21. Living with birds and conservation Amotz Zahavi.

Effects of magnesium valprote on behavior and lipid peroxidation of brain in chronic stress depression mice

Objective To explore the effects of magnesium valprote on behaviors and lipid peroxidation of brain in chronic stress depression mice.Methods 40 male mice were randomly divided into normal control group,model group, amitriptyline control group and magnesium valprote group, and.10 mice each group.Except normal control group,other groups were separated one mouse in each box and exposed to 21 days chronic unpredictable stressors, and the mice of normal control group were fed in a box and stress-free.During the stress, the mice of amitriptyline control group were applied amitriptyline(0.2 mg/10g) by intragastric every day,magnesium valprote group were given intragastrically magnesium valprote (0.8 mg/10g), and the mice of model and normal control group were administrated with normal sodium of the same volume by the same method.On 7th, 14th,21st day, all mice weight were weighed and weight gain was calculated.The ethology examination was performed by using jigglecage connected with Biology Function Experiment System and experiment of sucrose solution consumption after the chronic stress.At the end of experiment, all mice were killed, and then their brains were removed and made into brain homogenate.The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) in brain homogenate were analyzed by spectrophotometry.Results Compared with model group, magnesium valprote group were increased on locomotor activity number(97.50 ± 20.54,302.30± 39.04, t = 31.1432, P ＜ 0.01 ), sucrose solution consumption ( ( 15.30 ± 3.60 ) ml, ( 23.70 ± 4.45 ) ml, t =9.8446, P＜0.01) ,body weight gain(( 10.56 ± 1.53)g,( 12.63 ±2.12)g, t=5.3113, P=0.007) ,the activity of SOD( t =3.8428, P=0.004) ,and GSH-Px( t= 3.4143, P=0.007), but decreased on irritation number( t =17.1370, P ＜ 0.01 ) and the content of MDA( t= 11.0778, P = 0.002).Conclusion Magnesium valprote can ameliorate behavior impairment of chronic stress-induced depression mice, and the observed antidepressant-like effects may be related to inhibition lipid peroxidation of mice brain. Key words: Magnesium valprote ; Chronic stress ; Ethology ; Behavior ; Lipid peroxidation ;

Ethology of the Asian Teleost Badis badis. V. Dynamics of Fanning and other Parental Activities, with Comments on the Behavior of the Larvae and Postlarvae2,3

Ethology of the Asian Teleost Badis badis. V. Dynamics of Fanning and other Parental Activities, with Comments on the Behavior of the Larvae and Postlarvae2,3

Aspects of the Social Ethology of Some Kalahari Rodents

Studied the social structure of nine rodent species in a subdesert environment by means of direct observation and live- and snaptrapping. Six social groupings — asocial, solitary dispersed; social, solitary clustered; social, communal pair; social, communal but non-colonial; social, communal with little contact; social, communal with close contact (colonial) — are recognized. Diurnal species tend to live in colonies, probably with mutual warning systems against predators. For most species the social structure exhibited is an adaptation to predation, with the effect of food requirements playing a subsidiary role. Larder hoarding is common in solitary and asocial species.

Effect of Busui Jiannao Prescription on ethology, GSH content and GSH-PX activity in brain of PD model rats

Objective To study the effect of Busui Jiannao Prescription on ethology, GSH content and GSH-PX activity in brain of PD model rats. Methods Forty-five the aging pure C57BL rats were divided into a negative injury group, a model group, and a Chinese medicine group. PD animal model were established by injection with MPTP and were treated with Busui Jiannao Prescription by intragastric administration. Score changes of PD model rats in the test of pole-climbing and suspending were observed. GSH content and GSH-PX activity were further measured. Results After treating with Busui Jiannao Prescription, the test scores in pole-climbing and suspending were improved, GSH content and GSH-PX activity in substantia nigra were increased. Conclusion Busui Jiannao Prescription can regulate the behavior coordination and repair the damage of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of PD model rats. Key words: Busui Jiannao Prescription; PD model rat; Ethology; GSH; GSH-PX

Physiological mechanisms for food-hoarding motivation in animals.

The study of ingestive behaviour has an extensive history, starting as early as 1918 when Wallace Craig, an animal behaviourist, coined the terms 'appetitive' and 'consummatory' for the two-part sequence of eating, drinking and sexual behaviours. Since then, most ingestive behaviour research has focused on the neuroendocrine control of food ingestion (consummatory behaviour). The quantity of food eaten, however, is also influenced by the drive both to acquire and to store food (appetitive behaviour). For example, hamster species have a natural proclivity to hoard food and preferentially alter appetitive ingestive behaviours in response to environmental changes and/or metabolic hormones and neuropeptides, whereas other species would instead primarily increase their food intake. Therefore, with the strong appetitive component to their ingestive behaviour that is relatively separate from their consummatory behaviour, they seem an ideal model for elucidating the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the control of food hoarding and foraging. This review focuses on the appetitive side of ingestive behaviour, in particular food hoarding, attempting to integrate what is known about the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating this relatively poorly studied behaviour. An hypothesis is formed stating that the direction of 'energy flux' is a unifying factor for the control of food hoarding.