bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Home Range Size, Overlap and Exploitation in Domestic Farm Cats (Felis Catus)
Authors: Mertens Claudia , Turner Dennis C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractHome range size, overlap and exploitation in domestic farm cats is examined. Data were collected on the 11 adult cats (5 O'O'; 6 ♀♀) living on 3 Swiss farms throughout 1984; 8 of the cats were fitted with radio transmitters. Census-point and focal animal methods of data collection were employed. From area-observation curves we concluded that our home range maps (and sizes) were good approximations of the areas utilized by the animals in 1984. Correlations existed between range size and 1) the number of map-fields visited per day by the cat (+); 2) the percentage of observations at the primary home (-); 3) the proportion of the range visited each day (-); and 4) the percentage of map-fields used only by one cat (+, but only for males). The general pattern of social organization found elsewhere was confirmed: males were generally more tolerant of each other than females (based on range overlap), especially considering animals living on different farms. Animals from the same primary home showed considerable range overlap. Male ranges were much smaller than expected (not even twice as large as the female ranges, whereas they should have been about 10 times the size, based on all other studies). These results are discussed in connection with male reproductive strategies, cat density and patterns of range utilization. And lastly, we could demonstrate coordination of hunting activity in time and space by two adult individuals on one farm (sibs), adding to the list of behavior patterns illustrating facultative sociality of house cats.
Communication By Agonistic Displays: Ii. Perceived Information and the Definition of Agonistic Displays
Authors: Paton D. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract1) Great skua (Stercorarius skua) interactions were studied in the club areas of colonies on Hoy and Fair Isle. Attention was centred on reactor response to postures given by actors which did not attack or escape after displaying. 2) The regression of the reactor's escape probability on distance from the actor was analysed for Facing and Not Facing orientations of the actor. 3) Responses shown to the postures Oblique/Long Call/Wing-raising (Facing and Not Facing), Neck Straight/Bill Straight (Not Facing) and Neck Straight/Bill Straight/Long Call (Not Facing) were similar, and depended on distance, rather than the posture. This rules out the possibility that these postures constitute distinct threat signals. However, Neck Straight/Bill Straight (and Neck Straight/Bill Straight/Long Call) Facing showed a distinct pattern of response which indicated that they formed a (single) threat signal. 4) This pattern was consistent across the different colony-year samples. 5) It was concluded that the great skua behaviour patterns analysed here acted to define different situations rather than providing information about signaller intentions.
Communication By Agonistic Displays
Authors: Paton D. , Caryl P.G. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract1. Great skuas Stercorarius skua use a range of displays in agonistic interactions in the club areas of their breeding colonies. We examine whether these displays allow reliable prediction of the signaller's future behaviour. 2. Skuas were studied on Noss, Fair Isle and Hoy over 3 seasons. Data from 5 colony-year samples were analysed separately. For each interaction, the display used, the signaller's action after displaying, and the receiver's response, were recorded. 3. Attack could be predicted less well than escape. However, variations between samples were so great that neither the absolute nor the relative probabilities of attack or escape could be reliably estimated from the display. 4. The bird that initiated the interaction was more likely to attack or stay, and less likely to escape, than its rival, but the relative probability of attack or escape after different displays was consistent, for birds in the two roles, within a sample. 5. By correlating the responses of the receiver with information about the signaller's future behaviour encoded in its display, it is possible to find whether this information is transferred in the interaction. There was variation between samples in the pattern of correlations, and no consistent evidence of information transfer could be found. 6. The data are discussed in the light of CARYL'S (1979) earlier discussion of models from games theory. The results show that a test of consistency is crucial for any hypothesis about the message carried by a particular display. They indicate that skua displays do not communicate intention in these interactions.
The Evolution of Sex-Biased Dispersal in Lions
Authors: Pusey Anne E. , Packer Craig 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMost female lions remain in their natal pride for their entire lives, but about a third emigrate before they reach four yrs of age. Most emigrating females leave either when they are evicted by an incoming male coalition or when the adult females of their pride give birth to new cubs. One cohort of females left because they avoided mating with males of their father's coalition. Cohorts of dispersing females leave together and form a new pride whose range almost always includes at least part of their natal range. Females that leave their natal pride suffer reduced fitness: dispersing females in the Serengeti first breed at a later age than non-dispersing females and dispersing Ngorongoro females suffer higher mortality. Dispersal patterns of large and small cohorts are such that pride size rarely exceeds or goes below the range of sizes that confers the maximum reproductive success per female. Pride fissions have no consistent effect on the average levels of genetic relatedness within prides. All males leave their natal pride. Most leave at a male takeover, but one male cohort was evicted by their fathers whereas several others left voluntarily during their fathers' tenure. A greater number of large male cohorts leave their natal pride than expected from their competitive ability and males rarely show an interest in mating until they enter a new pride. Larger male coalitions are more likely than small ones to gain residence in a pride adjacent to their natal pride, and also gain their first pride at a younger age. However, not all large cohorts are so successful because most cohorts of 6-8 males permanently split up soon after emigrating from their natal pride. About half of the secondary dispersal shown by resident adult coalitions is voluntary. Such voluntary secondary movements occur in three contexts: the coalition (1) annexes an additional pride thereby gaining access to more females (2) abandons one of several simultaneously held prides to spend more time with prides in which their cubs are younger and hence more vulnerable to infanticide (3) abandons one pride for another pride. In the third case males only abandon small cubs when going to much larger numbers of females, but they may abandon more females for fewer when their daughters are reaching maturity in the former pride. Males rarely reside in prides once their daughters have matured, and rarely return to breed in their natal pride. Compared to the large Serengeti population, the small isolated Ngorongoro population has lower levels of dispersal, higher levels of homozygosity and some deleterious effects of inbreeding.
Can Cannibalistic Hatchlings of the Land Snail Arianta Arbustorum Distinguish Between Sib and Non-Sib Eggs?
Authors: Baur Bruno 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn the field hatchlings of the land snail Arianta arbustorum have been observed devouring eggs from sib as well as non-sib clutches. In the laboratory newly hatched A. arbustorum were tested for their ability to distinguish between eggs of different degrees of relatedness. In these experiments hatchlings did not discriminate between sib, other kin and non-kin eggs. Snails from three populations showed the same egg preferences, but they differed in their propensity for cannibalism. Despite the apparent lack of sib and kin recognition, egg cannibalism in A. arbustorum may be adaptive, even among siblings, because of the nutritional and energetic benefits.
Effects of Nestboxes On LH, Testosterone, Testicular Size, and the Reproductive Behavior of Male European Starlings in Spring
Authors: Dittami John , Gwinner Helga , Gwinner Eberhard 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effect of nestboxes on the vernal increase and decrease in reproductive activity was investigated in male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), held in outdoor aviaries. Male-only groups with (group 1) and without (group 2) availability of nestboxes were compared for the amount of song, for testicular size and plasma titers of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone. Testicular size and LH differed significantly between the 2 groups, being higher in males with nestboxes. Similar differences, as well as differences in nestbox-related behaviors (sitting in front of a nestbox, inspecting it, and nestbuilding) were also found when individuals of group 1, in possession of a nestbox, were compared to those without. In another group (2), the seasonal dependence of nestboxes as a modifying factor was investigated. These males were given access to nestboxes later in the season, than the males of group 1, after April 7. The effects on physiological parameters at this time of year were negligible in that only a transient increase in LH was seen compared to group 3. Nestbox-oriented behaviors did not reach the same intensities as in group 1. These results demonstrate the importance of nest-site availability in modifying behavioral and physiological functions during the vernal reproductive cycle. At the same time they indicate a seasonal dependence in these modifying effects.
Leaf Size Recognition and Evaluation of Some Attelabid Weevils (2) Apoderus Balteatus
Authors: Sakurai Kazuhiko 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA leaf choice experiment was conducted and the behaviour of the female weevil was observed before she commenced cutting. The female always performed a sequence of stereotype behaviours preceding cutting. The results of this study indicate that the female firstly decides the number of eggs to be laid in the cradle and then starts looking for a leaf suitable for that number of eggs. While the female is making a cradle, she measures and perceives for different purposes three different distances on the leaf (or something that represents each of them: 1) the length of the whole leaf, i.e. the criterion of adequacy of a leaf for a cradle, 2) the leaf width, i.e. the criterion of adequacy of a leaf for a two-egg cradle, and 3) about 1 cm along the main vein from the leaf base, i. e. the determinant of the cutting site. These three are probably measured while the female is performing the stereotype walking. Measuring both leaf length and leaf width amounts to predicting the shape and the size of the cradle.
Intra-Specific Food Competition and Primate Social Structure: a Synthesis
Authors: Janson Charles H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe results of the various studies in this volume lead to a series of predictions about the relationships of group size to various components of food intake. Individuals in larger groups should generally encounter fewer new food sources per unit foraging effort than they would alone (prediction 1); an exception may occur when large groups defend areas of high food density against small groups. In addition, individuals in larger groups generally will suffer reduced intake per food source encountered because of increased sharing with other group members, at least for food sources that supply little total nutrient relative to an individual's satiation level for the nutrient (prediction 3) or are scarce relative to the spacing between individuals in the group (prediction 5). Individuals in larger groups may compensate for such reductions in foraging efficiency by increasing rates of food encounter (prediction 2), using food sources with greater amounts of nutrient (prediction 4), or increasing total foraging effort per day (prediction 6). Reduced foraging efficiency for a particular nutrient may not affect total intake of that nutrient if other nutrients require greater daily foraging effort (prediction 7). Food competition is expected to be highest in species using small and scarce food sources, subject to a high risk of predation, and with large satiation levels. An appendix on statistical problems describes some of the pitfalls inherent in studies of the kind presented in this volume.
Effects of Patch Quality and Feeding Subgroup Size On Feeding Success in Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus Aethiops)
Authors: Whitten P.L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAcacia tortilis flowers are an important food resource of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) in East Africa. This paper examines the effects of tortilis patch quality and feeding subgroup size on individual and group foraging success in vervet monkeys. Feeding variables examined included net caloric gain, foraging efficiency, pick rates, and foraging bout length. The data provide some evidence in support of the hypothesis -that patch quality significantly influences foraging success. Patches where flower pick rates were higher provided foraging for a greater proportion of the troop and provided more energy intake and higher foraging efficiency for individual troop members. Phenological data indicate that flower pick rates were a direct reflection of patch size and flower cover. On the other hand, data examined here provide no support for the hypothesis that feeding subgroup size adversely affects food intake or foraging efficiency within food patches. The lack of foraging costs appears to be due to adjustment of feeding parties to the size of food patches. Troop size, however, exceeded the average number of feeding sites per A. tortilis patch. As a consequence, low-ranking troop members suffered foraging costs due to exclusion from food patches. These analyses suggest that individual differences in benefits and costs of group foraging may play an important role in the history and evolution of groups.
Dominance Relationships Between Adult Plains Zebra Stallions in Semi-Captivity
Authors: Schilder Matthijs B.H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe relationships between 4-5 adult zebra stallions, living in a safari park, were investigated over a period of 5 years. Asymmetries in the distributions of a number of behaviours could be explained by adopting dominance as an intervening variable. Dominance in stallions was of a bipolar nature with on the one hand behaviours representing subordinance and defence, and on the other hand behaviours reinforcing and confirming dominance. Expression of formal dominance seems to play a minor role. The dyadic relationships of stallions differed as to the number of behaviours reflecting dominance relationships. Although often linear rank-orders could be constructed, these rank-orders were not necessarily identical. This means that the concept of dominance is of only limited value for describing relationships between zebra stallions.
Exploring Primate Social Cognition: Some Critical Remarks1)
Authors: Kummer Hans , Dasser Verena , Hoyningen-Huene Paul 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The paper expresses the authors' views on the growing interest in primate social cognition, particularly among descriptive primate ethologists. Its characteristics are the hope to extract cognitive interpretations from field anecdotes, the free use of intentional language, and the untested and so far untestable idea that primate intelligence was selected in social contexts. We believe that 1) To understand how the animal itself represents the structure of its group or its habitat is perhaps the most ethological ethology there is and well worth pursuing. The study of social cognition, in particular, has long been neglected. 2) However, it requires of ethologists that they learn from established cognitive science and integrate its categories with their own. This is an interdisciplinary enterprise. 3) A traditional inductive study begins with anecdotes, which then are translated into hypotheses, which in turn are subjected to empirical tests including experiments. Sociobiology began to publish hypotheses without tests; the social cognition move now goes on to publish anecdotes without hypotheses, with a strong penchant for anthropomorphic interpretations in terms of social manipulation. This is little more than applying human prejudice. Phylogenetic and cognitive insights will come from testing alternative levels of organization in an animal's social knowledge about the same behavioral interaction. The experiment is the largely unavoidable method. Examples are given. 4) The speculation of the social origin of primate intelligence is tentatively interpreted in two possible directions. A version based on ROZIN's (1976) view that generalized mammal intelligence evolved from context-specific "Adaptive Specializations" seems the more accessible to ethological thinking and method.
Preference of Prey Size and Profitability in Barn Owls Tyto Alba Guttata
Authors: Ille Rottraut 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBarn owls of the subspecies Tyto alba guttata which had been bred in captivity, and which had experience with prey, were examined for preferences in prey size (weight) under experimental conditions. They were offered a choice of larger and smaller prey of three weight classes (3/10 g; 10/40 g; 40/160 g) either active or inactive (laboratory mice, Mus musculus; laboratory rats, Rattus norvegicus). The frequency of choices of smaller prey increased significantly from the lowest to the highest weight class, and from inactive to active prey. Most frequently, the owls selected prey of 10 g and 40 g. It was shown that both prey size and activity had an equal influence on the decisions. Predictions were made as to which particular prey size a barn owl was going to choose. With increasing prey weight, the frequency of interrupted prey catching acts and conflict behaviour (mantling, feather ruffling) towards the prey, increased. The upper weight for acceptable active rats was about 80 g. One male, which had to supply his female and nestlings with food, subdued somewhat larger prey. Although relative profitability (net nutritive value/unit of time), calculated from the duration of handling prey, decreased with increasing prey weight, the barn owls chose the larger prey under certain conditions. I discuss a strategy which compromises time and energy costs with the search and subduction of the item.
Consequences of Joint-Territoriality in a Mixed-Species Group of Tamarin Monkeys
Authors: Peres Carlos A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGroups of saddle-back (Saguinus fuscicollis) as moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) in a western Amazonian forest jointly defended home ranges larger than 100 ha, which were held in common throughout the year. Resources were defended by direct exploitation in extensive areas shared with other groups, or through intensive and frequent intergroup interactions along territorial boundaries. These interactions were expressed primarily during intergroup encounters, and affected the use of space, movements, time budget, and foraging success of tamarins. During encounters, animals of both species spent more time in energetically costly activities, such as rapid travel and intergroup chases, and less time in energetically positive activities, such as feeding and foraging. In addition, foraging success per unit of foraging effort within overlapping areas of the range periphery was lower than in exclusive areas of the range centre, particularly for saddle-back tamarins. The time and energy allocated by moustached tamarins to boundary contests was considerably greater than that of saddle-backs, despite the fact that only the latter species increased its foraging efficiency by shifting from exclusive areas in the group's range to those shared by other groups. This is probably because of saddle-back's greater use of depletable food supplies, such as small fruit patches and small microhabitats containing embedded prey items. These benefits are likely to justify the substantial amount of time and energy invested in territorial defence for both saddle-backs and moustached tamarins, but appeared to be highly asymmetric between species.
The Use of Pelage Pigmentation in the Recognition of Mothers By Domestic Goat Kids (Capra Hircus)
Authors: Ruiz-Miranda Carlos R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAlthough it is known that the young play an active role in the formation of mother-young attachment in ruminants, there is scant knowledge of how neonates identify their mothers. This research investigated the use of visual cues, particularly pelage pigmentation, in maternal recognition by domestic goat kids. Observations on the use of auditory cues were carried out secondarily. The findings of this study were: (1) The analysis of error patterns revealed that goat kids performed phenotype matching on the basis of pelage pigmentation when seeking their mothers in two- and six-choice tests, at a distance of 10 m. Presenting the kids with a choice between two females of the same colour resulted in more vacillation, and fewer kids were able to go to their mother directly than when the adults were of different colours. The phenomenon was not evident when the kids were 3 days old. Because it occurred at all other ages, regardless of whether the mother was absent, covered, or fully visible, colour-matching seems to be an important aspect of maternal recognition. (2) Visual cues were important for recognition, as evidenced by the performance of kids when maternal cues were limited (i.e. the mother was covered). (3) The efficiency measures did not correlate strongly with maternal vocalizations when visual cues from the mother were not completely present or when pelage pigmentation was not a good cue for discrimination. On the contrary, kids unexpectedly vocalized more in the conditions in which they could discriminate on the basis of visual cues, that is, when the mother was bare rather than covered, and when she was paired with a doe of a different colour category rather than one of the same colour category. (4) Five-day-old domestic goat kids recognized their mothers efficiently, even within a group, and at a distance of at least 10 m. Most 3-day-kids were not able to find their mothers efficiently in the six-choice test. Errors were made at all ages. The observed performance is consistent with the abilities required of kids under natural conditions.