bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Animal Grouping for Protection From Parasites: Selfish Herd and Encounter-Dilution Effects
Authors: Mooring Michael S. , Hart Benjamin L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGrouping has been widely accepted as a mechanism for protection from predation. Just as has been apparent with predation, there is now ample evidence that parasites (biting flies, warble flies and parasitoids) can impact an animal's individual fitness. Some aspects of grouping, namely an encounter-dilution effect and the selfish herd effect, appear to apply as much to protection of animals from flying parasites as protection from predators. The encounter-dilution effect provides protection when the probability of detection of a group does not increase in proportion to an increase in group size (the encounter effect), provided that the parasites do not offset the encounter effect by attacking more members of the group (the dilution effect). The selfish herd effect provides protection from flying parasites to animals that are in the center of a group or more closely placed to other animals. Most of the quantitative evidence for the protection from flying parasites from grouping comes from studies on ungulates. Further investigation of these effects among a variety of taxa is needed for a full appreciation of the role of parasites in animal grouping and sociality.
Mother-Offspring Separation and Acoustic Stereotypy: a Comparison of Call Morphology in Two Species of Pinnipeds
Authors: Insley Stephen J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractI have compared structural variation of the primary vocalizations used between mother-offspring pairs in two species of pinnipeds that differ fundamentally in their breeding behaviour: northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) mothers and offspring normally are together throughout the nursing period; northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) females regularly separate from their offspring while nursing. Two predictions were tested: (1) these vocalizations should be individually-distinct (stereotyped) in females and pups of both species if they serve to function for recognition, and (2) because individuality should be more pronounced in a species where separations and reunions are common, the vocalizations used between northern fur seal mother-offspring pairs should be more individually-stereotyped than those of the northern elephant seal. Principal components analyses revealed structural differences between the calls of females and pups in both species. Analysis of variance showed the calls of individual seals to be acoustically distinct in all cases. The calls used between mother-offspring pairs of northern fur seals were more stereotyped than those of northern elephant seals. These calls had less within-individual variation, greater among-individual variation and were more often correctly predicted in discriminant analyses. The results indicate that selective pressure to develop vocal recognition exists in both species but is greater in the northern fur seal.
Individual Recognition of Nestling Distress Screams By European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris)
Authors: Chaiken Marthaleah 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIndividual recognition of nestling distress screams by European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was assessed by comparing the responses of free-living parents to playbacks of screams recorded from their own young or from neighbouring chicks. Individual variation in the acoustic structure of distress screams was analysed to assess whether they were likely to afford an acoustic basis for individual recognition. Parents hearing screams of their own young were significantly more likely to make diving attacks on the speaker than parents hearing the screams of neighbouring chicks. Thus nestling screams appear to function as individually indentifiable calls for aid. Multivariate analysis of variance employing 9 acoustic parameters of nestling screams revealed significant differences among groups of screams recorded from different chicks, suggesting that screams could afford a suitable basis for individual recognition. Post-hoc F-tests suggest that the period and extent of rapid frequently modulations would provide the best cues to the identity of the caller.
Clans and Harems in a Colony of Hamadryas and Hybrid Baboons: Male Kinship, Familiarity and the Formation of Brother-Teams
Authors: Colmenares Fernando 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThree features of the hamadryas society, Papio hamadryas, which are quite unique among Old World monkeys, are its multileveled structure (i.e. harems, clans, bands, troop), the reported pattern of female dispersal (i.e. males tend to remain in their natal clans whereas females tend to move between clans and bands), and the special bonds that develop between adult males. It has also been hypothesized that the males of a clan are genetically related. In this paper a causal approach is adopted in order to investigate the proximate factors which can account for the structure/dynamics of socio-spatial group organization observed over two years in a large colony of hamadryas and hybrid baboons housed in an outdoor enclosure in the Madrid Zoo, containing 18 adult males with known kin relations. I first examined the types of grouping observed in the colony and the alternative social strategies used by the different male individuals during their ontogenetic trajectories for acquiring, and maintaining, females. Since the hamadryas baboon is considered a female-transfer species, I studied whether the sex that stays, that is, the males, developed some kind of mutual affiliative relationship, as one would predict, and whether their inter-male bonding preferences were based on genetic relatedness or on familiarity (i.e. sharing the same developmental environment during socialization).
Copulation and Mate Guarding in the Yellow-Billed Magpie Pica Nuttalli and a Comparison With the Black-Billed Magpie P. Pica
Authors: Birkhead T.R. , Clarkson K. , Reynolds M.D. , Koenig W.D. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Yellow-billed magpies breed in loose colonies. Extra-pair courtship is frequent, and a comparison (I) between two adjacent areas with different inter-nest distances, and (2) with solitary, territorial European black-billed magpies, indicates that either an aggregated distribution of nests, or a relatively loose territorial system in yellow-billed magpies increases opportunities for extra-pair behaviour. Male yellow-billed magpies guard their partner by closely following them from five days before the first egg is laid. Pair copulations were infrequent, occurring 3 or 4 times per clutch, and mainly over days -5 to -3. Territoriality, which is most pronounced during the female's fertile period, may enable the male to guard his partner while simultaneously foraging to provide her with food.
'Food' Calls Produced By Adult Female Rhesus (Macaca Mulatta) and Japanese (M. Fuscata) Macaques, Their Normally-Raised Offspring, and Offspring Cross-Fostered Between Species
Authors: Owren Michael J. , Dieter Jacquelyn A. , Seyfarth Robert M. , Cheney Dorothy L. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
We tested a recent claim that rhesus and Japanese macaque offspring cross-fostered between species exhibit vocal learning by producing 'food' calls typical of their adoptive rather than their genetic species (MASATAKA & FUJITA, 1989). Our study population consisted of four groups of socially-reared animals housed outdoors - two of each species. Food calls produced by adult female rhesus and Japanese macaques did not differ at the species level, although individual differences were clearly present. Food calls produced by normally raised offspring differed both between individuals and between species. In spite of statistically significant differences, however, immatures in the two species still showed substantial overlap on every acoustic feature that was measured. Evidence from four cross-fostered offspring was equivocal. Two rhesus macaques raised in Japanese macaque social groups produced calls that were typical of their own species. Some measurements from calls produced by two cross-fostered Japanese macaques fell closer to mean values for normal rhesus than for those of their own species. However, these measurements were still within the observed range of variation shown by normally raised Japanese macaques. We conclude that food calling behavior of cross-fostered Japanese macaques may have shown modification, but that any such effect was not based on a species-specific adult model. Given the variability of these sounds and the lack of species differences in adult female vocalizations, food calls do not present a good opportunity to test for vocal learning in cross-fostered rhesus and Japanese macaques.
Daytime and Nighttime Enuresis: a Functional Disorder and Its Ethological Decoding
Authors: Haug-Schnabel G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn wetting children (functional enuresis nocturna and diurna) days and nights with perfect bladder control alternate with wet days and nights. Changes of behaviourial regulation are responsible for the temporary disfunction of bladder control when awake or asleep. By means of long-term behaviour observations of wetting children in their families and in kindergarten we succeeded in isolating different forms of wetting. Wetting during zealous play, referred to as enuresis diurna type A, occurs when the bladder is filled during an intensive play activity. Wetting due to conflict (enuresis diurna type B) as well as nighttime wetting (enuresis nocturna) occur independently of the filling of the bladder, but directly depending on preceding stressful events. Step by step the information from the behaviour observations are incorporated into the functional diagram of the regulation of micturition until the elements of the faulty regulation in functional enuresis can be demonstrated. In the wetting child the need for loving attention has become the signal for the micturition. This learned association is the pathological part within the behaviour regulation. Functional enuresis is an example for a modification of biologically adaptive behaviourial elements by unfavourable environmental conditions.
Monogamy in the European Starling
Authors: Wright Jonathan , Cuthill Innes 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Recent theoretical and experimental studies appear to provide a comprehensive explanation for the evolutionary, and short-term, stability of biparental care in birds. However, much of the intraspecific variation in the absolute and relative contribution by the male and female remains to be explained. Most studies of the natural variation across pairs reveal positive correlations between the level of male and female nest defence or brood provisioning, but some species show negative relations, or between-season variability in the direction of the relationship. This study examines the determinants of male and female provisioning rate in monogamous European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), in terms of the patterns of male display, pairing patterns, laying phenology and clutch attributes. There was assortative pairing by body size and, controlling for female body size, larger males attracted relatively fecund mates. Males that sang relatively more, controlling for these body size effects, were paired with females that laid earlier. Female nest provisioning rates to experimentally standardized broods were positively correlated with female size, but male provisioning rates were unrelated to either song or any other attributes of themselves or their mates.
Territorial Marking With Faeces in Badgers (Meles Meles) : a Comparison of Boundary and Hinterland Latrine Use
Authors: Roper T.J. , Conradt L. , Butler J. , Christian S.E. , Ostler J. , Schmid T.K. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Badgers (Meles meles) defecate, urinate and scent mark at latrines which seem
to have a territorial function. The main aim of the present study was to
compare defecation patterns at boundary and hinterland latrines, in order to
test the hypothesis that these two types of latrine have a similar function.
We investigated latrine use by means of a year-round survey of all the
latrines in 7 badger territories, by bait-marking of 15 territories, and by
monitoring latrine use in 6 radio-collared badgers belonging to three social
groups. The spatial distribution of latrines within a territory was bimodal,
with the greatest densities oflatrines close to the outside, and close to
the centre, of the territory respectively. Boundary latrines were larger and
more consistently used than hinterland latrines, but these differences could
be accounted for by the fact that boundary latrines are visited by the
members of more than one social group. Defecation at latrines was subject to
seasonal variation, with a major peak in latrine use in spring and a minor
peak in autumn. The spring peak was largely attributable to an increase in
the use of hinterland latrines, the autumn peak to an increase in the use of
boundary latrines. Males visited boundary latrines considerably more often
than did females, but both sexes visited hinterland latrines equally often.
Overmarking occurred equally often at both types of latrine and involved
animals from the same as well as from different groups, but there was a
significant tendency for more between-group than within-group overmarking.
Overmarking occurred mainly on fresh, as opposed to old, faeces deposits.
The sex and seasonal differences in use of boundary latrines suggest that
these function at least partly as a form of mate-guarding, to deter
neighbouring males from entering a territory for mating purposes. It is less
clear why females mark at hinterland latrines. One possibility, consistent
with the observed spatial distribution of hinterland latrines, is that they
function to defend the main burrow system, which is used for breeding;
another is that they carry information about social status. Overmarking
probably serves to obliterate the marks of competitors, which are members of
neighbouring social groups in the case of boundary latrines, but may be
members of the same social group in the case of hinterland latrines. We
conclude that previous ideas about the function of territoriality in
badgers, and about the information conveyed by latrines, are
oversimplified.
Incubation Development and Asynchronous Hatching in Junglefowl
Authors: Meijer T. , Siemers I. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
In gallinaceous birds and other nidifugous species, it is thought that
effective incubation does not start before the last egg is laid, and young
hatch synchronously (LACK, 1968). We investigated the egg-laying and
nest-attendance pattern of the precocial nidifugous red Burmese Junglefowl
Gallus gallus spadiceus, and its consequences for the asynchrony of embryo
development and of hatching. Eggs were laid in sequences, followed by pause
days. Egg-weight in these sequences decreased by 0.6 g/egg. When laying,
females sat in the nest for 1-3 h/day, and attended the nest overnight on
days on which the last eggs of a clutch were laid. At the moment the last
egg was laid, first eggs were already attended for 40 h (range 16-84 h),
which resulted in extreme developmental asynchrony at the end of laying
(measured as the diameter of the area vasculosa). Last eggs of clutches
decreased markedly in weight (by more than 1 g/egg) and had shorter
incubation times than the heavier first eggs. Eggs hatched asynchronously
over a period of 15 h (range 7-33 h) and in the order of laying. The
development of incubation behaviour, asynchrony of embryo development and of
hatching of the precocial nidifugous Junglefowl, corresponded to a high
degree to what is known of altricial species.
Matman: a Program for the Analysis of Sociometric Matrices and Behavioural Transition Matrices
Authors: DE VRIES Han , Netto Willem J. , Hanegraaf Peter L.H. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
MatMan is a program for performing a variety of ethological analyses of frequency (interaction) matrices and transition matrices. These analyses include linear hierarchy indices for dominance matrices (APPLEBY, 1983), reorganization of a dominance matrix such that the subjects are in rank order, matrix correlation methods such as Mantel's test (MANTEL, 1967) and rowwise matrix correlation (DE VRIES, 1993), methods based on information theory (STEINBERG, 1977), and the calculation of expected and residual values in transition matrices with defined or undefined diagonal. In addition, MatMan offers some useful options for manipulating matrices. Import of matrices from The Observer (NOLDUS, 1991) and SAS is, within certain limitations, possible. Export of matrices is possible to the programs CORAN (1985), Vegrow (FRESCO, 1989), NCSS (HINTZE, 1987), SAS and SPSSPC.
The Chick's Preference for Certain Features of the Maternal Cluck Vocalization in the Domestic Fowl (Gallus Gallus)
Authors: Kent J.P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe predominant frequency, rate of clucking and intensity of the maternal cluck vocalization of the broody hen (Gallus gallus) are described. The frequency, rate of clucking, and level of intensity of the cluck vocalizations were altered independently of each other. Three-day-old chicks were given a simultaneous choice test between the normal and an altered cluck or between the two altered clucks in a 'T' shaped simultaneous choice test apparatus. No significant preferences were found when the frequency was increased or decreased by 25% (Experiment 1A) but the chicks significantly prefer the normal cluck over a cluck with a 33% increase in frequency. The preference for the normal cluck over the 33% decrease in frequency was nearly significant (Experiment 1B). Thus, there exists an optimal frequency range for the maternal cluck vocalization of the domestic hen. When the rate of clucking was increased or decreased by 25% the chicks preferred the higher rate of clucking in all conditions (Experiment 2). However, the highest rate of clucking used in this experiment was close to that of the normal cluck. When the intensity was increased or decreased by 100% no significant preferences were found in any choice test (Experiment 3). This contrasts with earlier findings possibly due to a methodological difference.
Brood Size and Offspring Age Affect Risk-Taking and Aggression in Nest-Guarding Common Gobies
Authors: Magnhagen Carin , Vestergaard Klaus 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The importance of brood size, offspring age, and male size for parental care behaviour was studied in the common goby, Pomatoschistus microps. In field observations, the aggression of nest guarding males was measured as attacks towards a finger when disturbing the nest. Attacking males had larger and more developed clutches compared to non-attacking males, but did not differ in body size. In another set of observations nest guarding males were exposed to a predator (eelpout, Zoarces viviparus) and subsequently chased away from their nests. Time away from the nest decreased significantly with egg developmental stage, i.e. with the time the male had spent guarding a particular brood. However, no correlations with male body length or numbers of eggs in the nest were found. We conclude that male common gobies evaluate future reproductive success by using brood age and brood size as cues for making decisions about risk-taking and aggressive behaviour during parental care.
The Concept and Definition of Dominance in Animal Behaviour
Authors: Drews Carlos 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe concept of dominance has contributed greatly to our understanding of social structure in animals. Over the past three decades, however, a variety of concepts and definitions of dominance have been introduced, leading to an ongoing debate about the usefulness and meaning of the concept. Criticisms aimed at one definition of dominance do not necessarilly apply to other definitions. Existing definitions can be structural or functional, refer to roles or to agonistic behaviour, regard dominance as a property of individuals or as an attribute of dyadic encounters, concentrate on aggression or on the lack of it, and be based either on theoretical constructs or on observable behaviour. Thirteen definitions of dominance are reviewed, and their usefulness assessed with respect to their descriptive value. The predictive and explanatory values of definitions are specific to the questions asked in each particular study and are not considered as criteria to judge the usefulness of the dominance concept. By virtue of its high descriptive value, the original definition of dominance by SCHJELDERUPP-EBBE (1922, Z.Psychol. 88: 226-252) emerged as the basis to formulate a structural definition with wide applicability and which reflects the essence of the concept: Dominance is an attribute of the pattern of repeated, agonistic interactions between two individuals, characterized by a consistent outcome in favour of the same dyad member and a default yielding response of its opponent rather than escalation. The status of the consistent winner is dominant and that of the loser subordinate. Dominance status refers to dyads while dominance rank, high or low, refers to the position in a hierarchy and, thus, depends on group composition. Dominance is a relative measure and not an absolute property of individuals. The discussion includes reference to the heritability of dominance, application of dominance to groups rather than individuals, and the role of individual recognition and memory during agonistic encounters.
Responses of Foraging Sanderlings To Human Approaches
Authors: Roberts Gilbert , Evans Peter R. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Sanderlings Calidris alba were put to flight by walking towards them as they foraged at the water's edge on a sandy beach. Studies of the responses of birds to disturbances have concentrated on the relationship between group size and the distance from the cause of the disturbance at which members of the group take flight (the flight reaction distance). The study of responses to disturbance is extended to consider the frequencies with which birds took flight; their flight directions (whether towards the approacher and then in behind or whether ahead of the approacher); and the distances to which they flew. The nearest birds to the approacher tolerated approaches to well within the range at which the approacher should have been visible. When the nearest birds flew, the likelihood of other birds flying decreased as the distance by which they were further away from the approacher than the nearest birds increased. Birds further away were more likely to fly when more birds flew from nearer to the approacher. The nearest birds tended to fly in behind the approacher while those further away from the approacher flew further ahead. The findings suggested that the birds were acting so as to maximise their foraging time by minimising both the number of flights they made and the distance of each flight, subject to not tolerating close approaches.