bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Strangers On Rhesus Monkey Groups
Authors: Wade Ted D.
Published: April 2008

Observations were made of behaviour in each of 3 different laboratory groups of rhesus monkey adult females and infants for 5-6 replications of conditions in which either: (l) a group was undisturbed for at least a week, (2) a stranger adult male was present for 2 weeks, or a stranger adult female was present for 1/3 day in either (3) the group witltout a stranger male, or (4) the group with a stranger male. Groups behaviourally discriminated between their own members and strangers and between strangers of different sex. Strangers discriminated between other strangers and core group members. The presence of a stranger affected behaviour among core animals, the type of effect differing with the stranger's sex, and a stranger also affected behaviour between core animals and another stranger. These consequences of the presence of strangers were complex, but all could be explained by assuming that: (I) when more than two adult monkeys are together they are likely to have or attempt to form alliances, with high rates of affiliative and aggressive behaviour within an alliance, and cooperative aggression directed at non-alliance members, and that (2) females tend to prefer as alliance partners, in order, males most, then familiar females, and unfamiliar females least, while males tend to prefer less familiar over more familiar females. The latter preference may be a reason for inter-troop transfer by males in free-living troops. There was decreased tolerance among females, especially unfamiliar ones, in the presence of males. Such a mechanism might be a contriltitor to the stability of troop affiliation in free-living females. Various effects seen led to the viewpoint that while behaviour is determined by both individual characteristics and by the overall context of the group, these factors are quite interrelated, in that each contributes to the other. Group context "effects" may account for behavioural differences between the groups studied.
Communication Within and Between Family Groups of Siamang (Symphalangus Syndactylus)
Authors: Chivers David J.
Published: April 2008

The close coordination of family groups of siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) by subtle visual signals contrasts with the very loud and complex calls which figure prominently in relations between groups to space them effectively through the habitat. The siamangs' repertoire of facial expressions, vocalisations, and expressive gestures, postures and movements are contrasted with that of the white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar. The ways in which siamang move about their small range in a highly coordinated manner, with frequent pauses for resting and grooming, and for feeding, are described. Reference is made to the structure of group calling bouts and to conflicts between groups. There is discussion of the possibility that the group cohesion results from group members becoming able to predict accurately the movements of each other, and of the possible way in which aggressive acts are countered by conciliatory ones.
Courtship Display, Agonistic Behavior and Social Dynamics in the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias Jubatus)
Authors: Sandegren Finn E.
Published: April 2008

Females of the Steller sea lion perform elaborate courtship displays in a period of about 15 days around the time when ovulation and copulation should occur. These displays are directed towards and strongly stimulate the males. The display is of a submissive nature but elements related to sexual, aggressive and take-off behavior are also involved. The most striking features of the display are when the female mounts, climbs over and bites different parts of the male's body, then rushes away and makes intention movements of departing to sea or crossing to another territory, normally eliciting a strong response from the male she is courting and intensive territorial activity among the surrounding males. Towards the end of the breeding season when the number of estrous females decreases the frequency of display among individual females increases. This is probably a response to declining territorial motivation among males. But as long as there are displaying females in the colony new males replace the departing ones. It is suggested that the display functions as a social releaser, primarily reinforcing territorial and sexual motivation among males. Also, the display through its influence on dominance relations could have a far reaching impact on, among other things, the stability of the male and female social structures and pup mortality.
Predatory Behavior of Yellow Baboons
Authors: Hausfater Glenn
Published: April 2008

1. A group of 32 yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in the Masai-Amboseli National Park, Kenya, caught and ate 45 vertebrate prey items during 2519.19 hours of observation. 2. Eighty percent of the prey items were mammals and the most frequently eaten species were African hares (Lepus capensis), vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and neonate gazelle (Cazella granti and G. thomsoni) in that order. The details of predatory behavior for each prey species are described. 3. Rates of predation were significantly higher during the long dry season than during other months of the year, although no correlation was found between total monthly rainfall and monthly rates of predation. A lognormal model however provided a good fit to the monthly rate of predation data suggesting that the rate of predation by Amboseli baboons was affected by several factors that acted multiplicatively with respect to each other and were themselves related to rainfall or dryness. 4. A mean of 2.3 individuals fed directly from the carcass of each prey item. A mean of 3.5 individuals per prey item fed directly or indirectly, i.e., on scraps, from each carcass. In general, both the number of individuals who fed from each carcass and the duration of their feeding bouts was dependent upon the gross body size of the prey item. Adult males fed directly from the carcass of prey items for about three times more minutes than expected from their number in the group; other classes of individuals fed directly from prey carcasses for only one-fourth as many minutes as expected. In general, an adult male would be expected to feed on each category of vertebrate prey at least once per year, while individuals of all other age-sex classes would be expected to feed on most prey categories only once every two years. 5. The most frequent social behavior around prey items was agonistic bouts; no cooperation, simultaneous feeding or specific begging gestures were observed. 6. Estimates of the total number of prey killed annually by Amboseli baboons indicate that baboon predation probably has a negligible effect on prey populations other than vervet monkeys. 7. It is speculated that the need for vitamin B12 underlies baboon predatory behavior, and perhaps that of other primate species as well.
The Effect of Female Color, Size, Dominance and Early Experience Upon Mate Selection in Male Convict Cichlids, Cichlasoma Nigrofasciat Um Günther (Pisces, Cichlidae)
Authors: Weber Peter G. , Weber Suzanne P.
Published: April 2008

This study investigates the role of female color, size, and dominance, and the influence of early color experience in mate selection by male Convict cichlids, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum. Dark wild-type male fish were reared by dark parents in dark schools (dark homogenous group), and by mixed dark and white parents in mixed schools (dark mixed group), until sexual maturity. Correspondingly a white homogenous group and a white mixed group were also established. Each male was then allowed to choose a mate among two dark (mixed group) and two white (mixed group) females. Males tended to spawn more often with dark females and always spawned with dominant females. Female size is positively correlated with female dominance and this may be either as a cause or as an effect of female dominance. Early color experience appears to be unimportant in male mate selection.
The Patterning of Preening and Other Comfort Behaviour in a Herring Gull
Authors: van RHIJN Johan G.
Published: April 2008

The patterning of body-care behaviour in the Herring Gull has been studied by means of: (a) qualitative observations on four individuals, and (b) application of six quantitative analytical methods on the behaviour recordings of the dominant gull (which was least influenced by other individuals). The qualitative observations led to the conclusion that in a body-care sequence a number of sharp behaviour switches occur in a fixed order; between successive switches the following "main components" could occur: bathing, shaking, oiling, and preening. The quantitative methods with their results can be recapitulated as follows: 1. An analysis of frequencies of the different behaviour elements suggested that within the "main components" these frequencies tended to change gradually over time. 2. The distributions of the behaviour elements were further studied by means of the temporal relations between events of the same element. This analysis revealed that each element occurred in "bouts", which could be interspersed with events of other elements. 3. It was also studied whether different elements had similar distributions over the observation time. This method was concentrated on the behaviour during short intervals between events of the same element; its results indicated that different elements had different distributions over time, although these distributions could be partially overlapping. 4. The sequential patterning of these different frequency distributions was studied in detail by measuring the interval durations between events of different elements. The results of these four analytical methods could be explained by postulating a programme for sequencing and/or timing of smooth changes in the probabilities of occurrence of the different behaviour elements within each "main component". 5. By means of transition analysis it was investigated whether apart from the slow frequency changes, rapid processes also played a role. Because of differences between reciprocal transitions, it was concluded that those rapid processes were important too. 6. From the frequencies of the combinations between movements and the places to which they were directed, a certain amount of dependence between the components of separate behaviour events could be proved. The results of this study have been discussed in relation to Van lersel & Bol's study on preening in terns. It was argued that their threshold model was too simple for a satisfactory explanation of the patterning of body-care behaviour. The discussion of the present results in relation to hierachical models was more successful. The mechanism underlying body-care behaviour can be considered as a programme with a main routine (order of main components) and several sub-routines. The role of state variables in this programme has been illustrated in two diagrams.
Electrically Elicited Vocalization From the Brain of the House Finch (Carpodacus Mexicanus)
Authors: Epro Richard A.
Published: April 2008

Vocalizations were electrically elicited from the brains of thirty-eight male and female house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) using acute procedures and local anesthetic. Nine types of call notes were produced including notes which sounded like song elements, but complete normal song was never evoked. Vocalizations could be electrically elicited from all parts of the brain except the cerebellum, but the widest variety of calls and the points yielding vocalizations at the lowest threshold were located in the midbrain around the nucleus mesencephalicus lateralis pars dorsalis. Precise anatomical localization of call type was not found and all calls were elicited from both males and females.
Social Relationships Among Adult Male and Female Baboons. I. Behaviour During Sexual Consortship
Authors: Seyfarth Robert M.
Published: April 2008

1. During 15 months' observation of a troop of free-ranging baboons, 13 of 16 female sexual cycles included a period of sexual consortship. Sexual consortships were defined in terms of both frequent proximity and exclusive sexual interaction between partners. 2. Female preference, male preference, and female rank were all important in determining the frequency with which specific individuals formed sexual consortships. The Alpha male was preferred by 7 of the 8 adult females, and, as a result, was involved in 10 of the 13 sexual consortships. The subordinate male formed sexual consortships twice when 2 females were swollen simultaneously and once when a female preferred him over the Alpha male. In the former two cases the higher-ranking female consorted with the Alpha male and the lower-ranking female with the subordinate male. In the latter case the Alpha male did not interfere with the subordinate male's sexual consortship. As an indication of male preference, on one occasion both the Alpha and the subordinate male ignored the presents of a fully swollen female, even though she was the only sexually receptive female in the troop at the time. 3. Sexual consortships were formed from 1 to 14 days after the female had become fully swollen, and invariably ended at least one full day before the onset of deturgescence. Sexual consortships ranged in length from 1 to 8 days, with a mean length of 3.5 days. "Successful" sexual consortships (i.e. those which resulted in conception) were more likely than others to be in progress on cycle days D-7, D-6, and D-5. 4. In the days preceding sexual consortship, females were more important than males for both the maintenance of proximity and the initiation of mounts. In contrast, during sexual consortship males were more important for the maintenance of proximity, while females were relatively less responsible for the initiation of mounts. 5. During sexual consortship partners maintained a generally higher rate of mounts with insertion that at other times, and their mounts with insertion were more "clumped" in time. There was no indication, however, of any peak in sexual activity relative to a particular day before the onset of deturgescence. 6. The formation of a sexual consortship did not appear to interrupt a female's social interactions with other animals in the troop. In most cases, however, proximity between females and their offspring increased during the period immediately after consortship had ended. 7. Although rates of female-female aggression were not affected by the formation of sexual consortship, adult females were more likely both to ignore threats from higher-ranking individuals and to be supported by adult males during sexual consortship than at other times.
Body Color Pattern and the Aggressive Behavior of Male Pumpkinseed Sunfish (Lepomis Gibbosus) During the Reproductive Season
Authors: Stacey Peter B. , Chiszar David
Published: April 2008

Male pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) readily attacked plywood models placed into their nests. Models containing red features (iris, opercular flap) received more attacks and aggressive displays than models lacking these features or than models which had these features painted black. This indicates that in the pattern of the male pumpkinseed, the red portion of the opercular flap and the red iris are social releasers for aggressive behavior. These features fade in subordinate pumpkinseeds in the laboratory and also in female pumpkinseeds before they enter the male's nest during reproduction. This pattern change would therefore function to decrease aggressive behavior directed at these individuals. A conspicuous feature of the female pumpkinseed is the presence of lateral bars. When bars were added to models, reductions in aggressive behavior were consistently observed. Hence, bars appear to inhibit male aggression. Bluegill sunfish (L. macrochirus) nest sympatrically with pumpkinseeds and interspecific nest defense was commonly seen. A conspicuous feature of male bluegills is a dark spot in the area of the dorsal fin rays. When such a spot is added to models, increases in aggressive behavior were observed in male pumpkinseeds. Hence, this feature may provide a basis for interspecific recognition and reproductive isolation. Finally, pumpkinseeds responded more vigorously to models than did bluegills. This may imply that the former are more attuned to morphological features than the latter. Bluegills, on the other hand, may be more attuned to the behavior of nest intruders. This hypothesis agrees with differences in the nesting ecology of these species.
Activity Periods and Patterns of Social Interaction: a Neglected Problem
Authors: Harcourt A.H.
Published: April 2008

Animals tend to divide their days into longish periods of different predominant maintenance activities, such that, for instance, early morning and late afternoon feeding periods are clearly separated by a midday rest period. Frequencies of social behaviour are known to change with change in the predominant activity. As an obvious example, grooming tends to be more frequent during rest periods than when the animals are moving and feeding. However, the possibility that patterns, as opposed to frequencies, of social interaction could change through the day has rarely been mentioned, let alone considered in detail. Data from a two-year field study of wild mountain gorilla, show that patterns of social interaction do indeed change with the predominant maintenance activity : neglect of such variation can lead to, at best, ignorance of interesting facets of behaviour and, at worst, misleading conclusions about the social relationships of the study animals.
Etablissement Des Relations Preferentielles Chez Les Bovins Domestiques
Authors: Bouissou Marie-France , Andrieu Sylvie
Published: April 2008

Les interactions sociales, la rÃ©partition spatiale et le comportement lors d'une situation de compÃ©tition alimentaire ont Ã©tÃ© Ã©tudiÃ©s sur deux troupeaux de gÃ©nisses constituÃ©s chacun par la rÃ©union de 3 groupes de 4 animaux, placÃ©s ensemble soit Ã  6 mois soit Ã  12 mois. Les rÃ©sultats obtenus sur ces deux troupeaux ont Ã©tÃ© comparÃ©s Ã  ceux obtenus, au cours d'une prÃ©cÃ©dente Ã©tude, sur un troupeau constituÃ© par la rÃ©union de 4 groupes de 4 animaux Ã©levÃ©s ensemble depuis la naissance. Quelque soit l'Ã¢ge auquel les animaux ont Ã©tÃ© regroupÃ©s, ils Ã©changent moins d'interactions agonistiques entre eux qu'avec des animaux rencontrÃ©s plus tard; mais cette diffÃ©rence ne se retrouve plus 6 mois aprÃ¨s la rÃ©union des groupes constituÃ©s Ã  6 ou 12 mois alors qu'elle persiste au moins un an aprÃ¨s la rÃ©union des groupes d'Ã©levage. De plus, les animaux rÃ©unis Ã  6 ou 12 mois sont plus agressifs entre eux que ceux Ã©levÃ©s ensemble depuis la naissance. Ils ne sont pas spatialement associÃ©s (sauf lors de l'alimentation) contrairement Ã  ceux Ã©levÃ©s ensemble; enfin ils ne montrent pas de tolÃ©rance particuliÃ¨re lors d'une situation de compÃ©tition alimentaire. Il semble exister une pÃ©riode de sensibilitÃ© particuliÃ¨re pour la crÃ©ation des relations prÃ©fÃ©rentielles entre les individus d'un groupe ; elle se situerait avant 6 mois chez les Bovins, et pourrait Ãªtre limitÃ©e par l'apparition des relations de dominance.
Le Chant Du Manchot Empereur Et Sa Signification Adaptative
Authors: Jouventin Pierre , Guillotin Michel , Cornet André
Published: April 2008

Chez les Sphéniscidés, la reconnaissance individuelle est acoustique mais elle est facilitée par le repère topographique que constitue le nid. Chez le Manchot empereur, l'incubation est itinérante. Aussi son comportement vocal est-il particulièrement intéressant à étudier sous ses multiples aspects : 1) Par conditionnement, il a été mis en évidence que les fréquences audibles allaient de 30 à plus de 12 500 Hz. L'intervalle minimum perçu entre 2 sons a été obtenu par la même méthode: il est inférieur à 15 millisecondes alors que la résolution temporelle chez l'homme est de 50 millisecondes. 2) Par des mensurations de sonagrammes, il a été mis en évidence que les chants d'un même individu sont plus de 10 fois plus stables que ceux de l'ensemble de la population. La fixité du découpage temporel fournit une base physique à l'identification acoustique. 3) Après deux échecs dus aux difficultés du terrain, des expériences de phono-comportement ont pu être effectuées sur le Manchot empereur en vue de préciser le paramètre physique de l'identification vocale. Des enregistrements, certains modifiés, des chants du conjoint ont été diffusés aux mâles couveurs et leurs réactions ont été notées. Les résultats montrent que: l'identification vocale existe; l'identification peut se faire à l'aide seulement d'un fragment du chant du conjoint; la modification du rythme du chant (découpage temporel) empêche toute identification; la modification des fréquences du chant ne gène en rien l'identification. Le découpage temporel est donc bien l'élément déterminant de la reconnaissance individuelle chez le Manchot empereur. 4) Les chants des deux sexes ont été ramenés à des types structurels qui permettent d'ébaucher les régles de syntaxe de ce code. 5) Lorsqu'ils se trouvent à moins de 7 mètres l'un de l'autre, les chanteurs évitent de superposer leur chant. 6) Les couples se tiennent muets jusqu'à la ponte. Il a été montré expérimentalement que ce silence avait une valeur de survie en empêchant la formation de trios qui se formeraient par suite de l'absence de barrière territoriale. 7) Une série d'expérimentations a montré en particulier que les mouvements du poussin déclenchent l'adoption mais que les parents reconnaissent leur poussin par son chant. 8) La méthode de mesure des sonagrammes employée précédemment a permis de montrer qu'au niveau individuel, les chants des poussins sont aussi stables que ceux des adultes. Mais la variabilité au niveau de la population est moins grande ce qui entraine une différenciation moins nette des chants de poussins, en accord avec leur plus faible nombre. 9) Un poussin élevé par l'homme ignorait ensuite ses congénères. L'ontogenèse de son chant et de celui des poussins de la colonie a montré qu'à la différence des Manchots territoriaux, la structure du chant ne se modifiait quasiment pas chez cette espèce de l'éclosion au départ en mer, ce qui semble une autre adaptation à l'absence de territoire.
Cognitive, Developmental and Social Aspects of Responsiveness To Novel Objects in a Family Group of Marmosets (Sag Uinus Fuscicollis)
Authors: Menzel E.W. , Menzel Charles R.
Published: April 2008

A breeding pair of S. fuscicollis and their young (total N=6 in the first experiment and 8 in the other three experiments) were housed in a relatively large and heavily vegetated greenhouse and tested on their reactions to novel, innocuous inanimate objects. Some supplementary data were obtained on another such group of four individuals. The animals seemed to know the nature and relative positions of objects in their home environment ; i.e. to be capable of "cognitive mapping". Thus, for example, they detected a single novel object among up to 30 simultaneously presented test objects; they discriminated changes in an object's location and orientation; they responded more to changes in two or more parameters than to changes in only one parameter; and they showed apparent object constancy. These discriminations could be made at almost any randomly-designated location in the greenhouse, and with inter-trial intervals of 23 hours or more. Many aspects of the animals' behavior, including the order in which the various individuals approached a given object, the amount of time they remained at the object, and the likelihood (and order) of their responding to it again on subsequent trials, were highly predictable from their ages. There was, however, no "true" single linear correlation value between age and responsiveness. With appropriate sampling of one's subjects, objects and stages of group habituation, one could in fact find any correlation one chooses, from + 1.00 to -1.00; and age-response functions (and changes therein) were orderly functions of other variables.
Flock Size and Behaviour in Captive Red-Billed Weaverbirds (Quelea Quelea): Implications for Social Facilitation and the Functions of Flocking
Authors: Lazarus John
Published: April 2008

As a consequence of the anti-predator functions of flocking it is predicted that as flock size increases individual birds will (i) spend less time vigilant for predators and more time feeding, and (2) show fewer escape responses. These predictions are corroborated here in experiments with captive flocks of the red-billed weaverbird Quelea quelea varying in size from I to 32 individuals. In Experiment i the presence of companions reduced feeding latency and increased the rate of pecking. Feeding behaviour by the companion(s) was not necessary to produce these effects and did not produce additional facilitation of the rate of pecking, but feeding companions were more potent facilitators of the onset of pecking than non-feeding companions. The number of companions influenced different measures of feeding in different ways but facilitation reached a ceiling with three companions. These and other findings in the social facilitation literature are interpreted in the light of various propositions concerning the functions of flocking behaviour. In Experiment 2 undisturbed birds with companions made less frequent head-turns (possibly vigilant responses), wing-flicks (flight intention movements), hops and flights than birds on their own but the number of companions had no effect on the frequency of these responses. All responses correlated significantly and positively across individuals. Solitary individuals were more often perched, and less often on the ground, than those in flocks, a finding compatible with greater safety in flocks in the normal feeding habitat of the species. These (undisturbed) birds, in flocks of 1, 2 and 4, had lower rates of head-turning than those in another experiment (LAZARUS, 1979), which had been subjected to 10 alarm stimuli; in larger flocks there was no difference in the rate of head-turning. An alternative interpretation of the experimental results is evaluated and a possible reason for the weak effect of flock size considered.
Social Rank and Food Access in Red Deer Stags
Authors: Appleby Michael C.
Published: April 2008

The behaviour of a free-living group of male red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on the Isle of Rhum, Scotland, was studied throughout the year to investigate the relations between social dominance and food access. The study is based on the collection of agonistic interactions between members of the study group outside the rutting season. Analysis of these confirmed that dyadic dominance relationships summate to a very clear agonistic hierarchy, while seasonal changes in frequency and type of interactions suggested that rank in the hierarchy may affect access to food through direct feeding interference. This would constitute a selective advantage of the acquisition of high rank. A behaviour pattern in which a stag displaces a subordinate and takes over his feeding-site is proposed as a mechanism of direct feeding interference. It occurs throughout the year, but with a frequency closely related to changes in food availability and quality. The proportion of such interactions that an individual wins is related to his rank, so advantages gained from this behaviour would primarily benefit high-ranking stags. These are likely to consist of improved body condition and winter survival. The importance of high rank in obtaining access to limited food was supported by the results of a simple experiment providing a small area of fertilized grass. Most of the grazing in the area was due to the highest-ranking stag present at any time.
Alerting and Message Components in Songs of Rufous-Sided Towhees
Authors: Richards Douglas G.
Published: April 2008

In numerous species of passerine birds the initial few notes of the song have a narrow frequency range and wide temporal spacing when compared with the rest of the song. This structure is well adapted for high detectability when the song is acoustically degraded during passage through the environment. The song of the rufous-sided towhee (Pipilo eythrophtalmus) consists of relatively tonal introductory syllables followed by a complex rapid trill. The trill is capable of carrying more information than the introduction, but is inherently less detectable at a distance owing to degradation by reverberation, amplitude fluctuation, and frequency-dependent attenuation. Signal detection theory predicts that the detectability of the trill will be increased when it is preceded by the introductory syllables, owing to the removal of uncertainty concerning the time of arrival of the signal. This is alerted detection. I performed field experiments using playback of recorded song to towhees to test the hypothesis that these introductory syllables facilitate detection of conspecific song at a distance. Tape recordings of normal and artificially degraded full songs, introduction, and trills were played to territorial male towhees. Normal songs, degraded songs, and normal trills elicited strong territorial defense responses, indicating recognition as adequate species-specific song, and confirming that sufficient information is contained in the trill for species recognition. Degraded trills alone elicited little response. Both normal and degraded introductions also elicited little response, demonstrating that the increased response to a degraded full song over that to a degraded trill is not due to any species-specific characteristics of the introduction, but rather to its function as an alerting stimulus.
Side-Directed Communication and Agonistic Interactions in Chimpanzees
Authors: De Waal Frans B.M. , Van Hooff Jan A.R.A.M.
Published: April 2008

In the large colony of chimpanzees in Arnhem Zoo (Netherlands) 70% of the agonistic encounters occurred as part of interactions involving three or more individuals. The present paper treats an example of one such multi-animal interaction. The example serves to illustrate how we analyse and interpret interaction structures, individual roles and strategies. Special attention is paid to side-directed communication: i.e. behaviour that agonistically involved apes show towards non-opponents. A multi-variate analysis of the contexts of this highly variable behaviour indicates that it can be divided into several functional categories; taking refuge; seeking reassurance; enlisting support; begging for support and taking courage. In general, side-directed behaviour facilitates intervention by third parties. But sometimes its function may be to appease potential supporters of the opponent, and thus keep them from interfering.
Responses in Mice To a Novel Object
Authors: Misslin René , Ropartz Philippe
Published: April 2008

The responses in mice towards a novel object depend first of all on the extent of the contrast between the object and the configuration of the background. A novel object placed in a familiar environment released avoidance and burying responses, while the same object placed in a novel environment increased contacts with it and reduced burying. However, even when it was placed in a novel environment, novel object continued to be aversive. These responses also depended on rearing: animals reared in a cage with various objects exhibited a higher number of contacts than mice reared in an "impoverished" environment. Furthermore, burying behaviour can be considered as a species - typical defensive reaction towards a novel object in mice, although these responses have probably no single biological function.
Postnatal Consequences of Prenatal Sound Stimulation in the Sheep
Authors: Vince Margaret A. , Armitage Sally E. , SHILLITO WALSER Elisabeth , Reader Margaret
Published: April 2008

Two experiments were carried out to test the hypothesis that prenatal sound stimulation has postnatal effects in sheep. In the first, a group of domesticated ewes was stimulated with an alien sound and their lambs' response to the same sound was compared with that of lambs born to unstimulated mothers. In the second experiment a group of Soay ewes was stimulated with an alien sound and a comparable group stimulated with a series of bleats. Lambs born to these ewes were tested with both sound stimuli. Lambs tested with sound patterns which they had not heard before birth showed more heart rate acceleration during or after stimulation than did lambs tested with sounds which could already have been familiar. This difference was much greater in the response to alien than to species sounds, and it was less consistent on the first than on subsequent trials. There was also a tendency for a marked change in the respiratory pattern, evidenced as a sigh, to occur in response to familiar sound.
Relationships Between Social Structure and Response To Novelty in Captive Jackdaws, Corvus Monedula L., I. Response To Novel Space
Authors: Katzir Gadi
Published: April 2008

The response of six groups of captive, handreared jackdaws, Corvus monedula L. (Aves), to a novel space was tested. Birds were tested in groups and were free to make contact with the novelty or remain in a familiar area. The individual manner of response was related to the social position of the individual. i) Exploratory behaviour occurred in bouts. Familiarization with the novelty was mostly gradual, but in some groups after an initial delay, the entire group began to explore and then to enter the novel space very rapidly ("avalanche"). ii) In each group one or two birds performed most of the early exploration, and termed "initiators". iii) The initiator in each group was distinguished from all others by duration and by frequency measures. Both for approach and for entering of the novel space (a) birds that scored high on the frequency measure, scored high also on the duration measure, (b) birds that scored high on either measure, for the approach, were the most likely to score high on that measure for the entering. iv) In all six groups the "initiators" were sociall mid or low ranking birds. v) Top ranking birds were distinguished from all others by the combination of two features; (a) they did not act as initiators, and (b) they were not the last to peak in their duration inside the novel space. It is argued that top ranking birds are more conservative, and that it benefits them as they have relatively more to lose and less to gain by being exploratory. The converse is true for mid or low ranking birds, which may benefit by exploiting resources outside the reach of the high ranking birds.
Object Play and Social Treatment of Prey in Bush Dogs and Crab-Eating Foxes
Authors: Biben Maxeen
Published: April 2008

Object play behaviour in captive parent-raised litters of bush dogs (Speothos venaticus) and crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) is investigated. Cerdocyon, an individual hunter, shows a rich repertoire of object play patterns, defends and competes for objects, rarely plays with objects in groups, and spends less time in object play than in non-object-oriented social interactions. Speothos, a group hunter of relatively large prey, shows comparatively few object play patterns, shares rather than competes for objects, and spends as much time in object-oriented social interactions as in non-object-oriented social interactions. These results, and data from the literature on other carnivores, suggest a relationship between treatment of objects during play and later social treatment of prey.
Utilisation De L'Espace Dans Un Groupe De Periplaneta Americana
Authors: Rivault Colette
Published: April 2008

L'utilisation de l'espace dans un groupe bisexué de Periplaneta americana présente des caractéristiques particulières liées à l'espèce et à son organisation sociale. Sur une période de 24 h., les femelles passent 60% de leur temps dans les abris situés en haut du terrarium. Les mâles passent 80 à 85% sur les parois libres en haut du terrarium, notamment les zones bordant les abris occupés par les femelles. Les femelles passent un temps relativement long sur le plancher (7%) lors du dépôt des oothèques. La répartition dans l'espace est sensiblement la même en LD: 12-12 et LL. On constate d'autre part, que les mâles dominants passent davantage de temps que les dominés dans les zones à fort indice d'attraction, autour des abris des femelles et restent moins de temps dans les abris en bas du terrarium. Cette utilisation de l'espace est liée à une connaissance précise du milieu et des autres individus du groupe.
Effects of Early Experience and Male Activity On Mate Choice in Mallard Females (Anas Platyrhynchos)
Authors: Kruijt J.P. , Bossema I. , Lammers G.J.
Published: April 2008

The sexual preference of mallard females exposed in early life to individuals of either a white or a wild strain was examined in tests in which an individual female was separated by wire from two males, one on either side of the cage. One male was of the same strain as that with which the female was reared (RS male), the second of the other type (NRS male). Inciting to a male by a female was used as the main measure of her preference; inciting to one male was positively correlated with overt aggression directed to the other male. Most females showed a preference for RS males; though this was more often the case with females reared socially with conspecifics than with those which had visual and acoustical contacts only in their early life. Females also tended to prefer the male most interested in her, as expressed by the male's approach, following and staying near. No evidence was obtained that females preferred males belonging to her own strain. Contrary to earlier views it is concluded that early experience influenced the sexual preference of females and that they respond to activity differences of males. Females showed no indications of being able to recognize and respond to the normal nuptial plumage of males independently of such experience. Implications of our findings for pair-formation in nature and the significance of social displays of males for pair-formation are discussed.
The Effects of Male Nuptial Coloration On Stickleback Aggression: a Reexamination
Authors: Rowland William J.
Published: April 2008

1. Territorial male threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, do not always attack an intruder (a dummy) with red undersides more than one lacking this feature even when it is presented within their own territory. Males in this study showed an overall tendency to bite a dummy without red undersides more than one with this feature during both simultaneous and serial presentations. 2. Considerable variation in attack rates exists between individual males, but whether or not a given male attacks the nonred dummy more appears to be unrelated to whether he exhibits high or low attack rates. 3. Males showed an increased attack rate after they acquired eggs in their nest, but the tendency for a male to attack the nonred dummy more than the red one appears to be unchanged after he acquires eggs. 4. It is suggested that the nuptial coloration of male threespine sticklebacks be interpreted more generally as an indicator of the male's social and physiological status, emphasizing its intimidating effects as well as its aggression eliciting effects for rival males. This is consistent with the observation that nuptial coloration is capable of increasing avoidance as well as attack in rival males and increasing sexual attractiveness to females.
Intra- and Interspecific Aggression By the Central American Midas Cichlid Fish, Cichlasoma Citrinellum
Authors: Losey George S.
Published: April 2008

Intra- and interspecific aggression by the Central American cichlid fish, Cichlasoma citrinellum, was studied to examine the similarity in aggression toward different species and the degree to which interspecific responses depended on intraspecific cucs. One hour encounters were staged between C. citrinellum focal individuals, and subordinate opponents of the same species, C. zaliosum, Pseudotropheus zebra and Haplochromis polystigma. C. zaliosum is a strikingly similar and sympatric species while P. zebra and H. polystigma are morphologically dissimilar allopatric species. Attention was focussed on the effects of species similarity and feeding cues on interspecific aggression. Analyses were based on the relationship between stimuli from opponents and responses by the focal individual. A "conditional chance" technique was developed for this purpose and its reliability was tested against a computerized agonistic exchange with known parameters. The conditional chance method proved to be more accurate than traditional chi-square or information theoretical measures. At least a portion of the causation of interspecific aggressive response depends on the same cues as intraspecific behavior. The intensity of the aggressive response decreased with increasingly dissimilar opponents, but the qualitative response characteristics remained largely the same. Notable exceptions were a failure to honor an apparent appeasement signal, Lateral Roll, when given by another species and a lack of aggressive response when a strongly dissimilar species withdrew or fled. Differences were found in the aggressiveness of response by different focal individuals. However, focal individuals disagreed most strongly in their response to the similar species, C. zaliosum. Two responsed very aggressively and, while support for the hypothesis is weak, they may have perceived their opponents as odd conspecific fish. The others showed less aggression and their response resembled that shown to dissimilar species. Observing the opponent feed acted as an experiential cue and served to increase the aggressiveness of response to all subsequent stimuli from that opponent. While the duration of this increase and the effects of different feeding types are not known, response to ecological cues such as feeding could help to focus "mistaken-identity" aggression on competitors. This could be a first evolutionary step toward minimizing the maladaptive effects of interspecific aggression without forsaking the defense of resources against competitive species.
Visual and Acoustic Display in Uca Mordax and U. Burgersi, Sibling Species of Neotropical Fiddler Crabs. I. Waving Display
Authors: Von Hagen Heinrich-Otto
Published: April 2008

The fiddler crabs Uca mordax and U. burgersi, living sympatrically from Guatemala to southern Brazil, were until recently discussed as belonging to only one species, because their similarities refer not only to morphology but also to their waving displays, which were called "indistinguishable". A frame-by-frame analysis of motion pictures taken in Trinidad (W.I.) confirmed the presence of many similarities in respect to the special "jerking" type of waving display, the mean duration of routine waves, the effect of increasing excitation, the pattern of leg-waving and the presence of a "precursory" downstroke" of the major cheliped. However, a closer analysis of certain components or elements of the display yielded various interspecific differences. In burgersi there is the tendency to omit the precursory downstroke and to extend all motion components at the cost of all kinds of pauses, while in mordax the contrary is true. Furthermore, the movements of the minor cheliped show a different pattern in the two species. The differences found are discussed in respect to differences in the allometry of the major cheliped and from an evolutionary point of view. It is concluded that the waving display of mordax represents the more ancestral type. The role of the waving display as a possible means of reproductive isolation will be discussed in part II of this study dealing with the acoustic display.
Optimisation of Nut-Cracking With Natural Hammers By Wild Chimpanzees
Authors: Boesch Christophe , Boesch Hedwige
Published: April 2008

The chimpanzees of the Tai National Park, Ivory Coast, use sticks and stones to open 5 different species of nuts. In spite of an unfavourable availability of the material in the forest, the animals choose their tools adaptively. For cracking harder nuts, they use harder and heavier tools and transport tools more often and from farther away. Some aspects of the evolution of tool-use in primates are discussed.
Oestrous Behaviour and Female Choice in the African Elephant
Authors: Moss Cynthia J.
Published: April 2008

1. During the course of an eight year field study of African elephants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, from September, 1972 to December, 1980, females were seen exhibiting oestrous behaviour on 154 occasions, during which 43 copulations were witnessed. 2. Five categories of oestrous behaviour are described: a) wariness, b) the oestrous walk, c) the chase, d) mounting, and e) consort behaviour. 3. The oestrous behaviour as described was found to be temporally associated with ovulation, as judged by conceptions, in 70.7% of 58 cases. 4. The duration of oestrous periods is estimated at 2-6 days. 5. On average Amboseli females conceived once every 5 years and for each of these conceptions the female may only have been in oestrus once. 6. Evidence from the Amboseli study suggests that some females may exercise choice in mating partners. For example, females were able to elude their pursuers in 69.4% of all chases (n = 134). Observation of female behaviour during oestrus suggested that some females preferred to mate with males in the largest size class, particularly those in musth. 7. Two possible short-term advantages to females exercising choice in mating partners are suggested: a) avoidance of harassment from other bulls; and b) Large males in musth may be more likely to impregnate a female. 8. A possible long-term advantage to mating with a Large, and therefore older, male could be his ability to pass on a trait for longevity. 9. Although females may be exercising choice among the size/age classes, male-male competition among the Large males may override female choice on the individual level.
Chaffinch Song Repertoires and the Beau Geste Hypothesis
Authors: Dawson S.M. , Jenkins P.F.
Published: April 2008

The aim of this investigation was to determine to what extent song repertoires and singing behaviour of chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) evolved as a means by which resident birds deceive intruders into overestimating the density of residents, making the area appear less suitable for settlement. (1) The chaffinches studied did not show a significant tendency to change song posts synchronously any more than would be expected by chance. (2) Approximately 90% of song type/song post changes were asynchronous. (3) Half of the birds did not repeat their song types with equal frequency, nor did they distribute their singing effort evenly over all the song posts. (4) The degree of similarity between song types in the same repertoire and the degree of similarity between song types from different individuals were not found to be significantly different. (5) No correlation between song rate and repertoire size was found, but it was concluded that seasonal biases strongly restricted this facet of the investigation. On the basis of these findings it is concluded that the evolution of repertoires and singing behaviour in chaffinches seems unlikely to have occurred in conformity with the Beau Geste hypothesis.
Alternative Mechanisms of Social Organization in Monkeys
Authors: Rowell T.E. , Olson D.K.
Published: April 2008

Observations on a captive group of patas monkeys were supplemented with field observations to analyse the process by which a gregarious animal keeps track of the position and activity of other group members and regulates the distance between them and itself. This process can take place without the exchange of specialised signals (displays) and is described as a mechanism of group organisation alternative to a mechanism based on the exchange of displays. Displays and formalised interaction patterns can provide additional, complementary information, especially about transient features of social organisation.