496 research outputs found
Copyright for Scholars: Osmosis Doesn't Do the Trick Anymore
No full textA review of four books: Smith, Kevin L. Owning and Using Scholarship: An IP Handbook for Teachers and Researchers; Crews, Kenneth. Copyright Law for Librarians and Educator: Creative Strategies and Practical Solutions; Butler, Rebecca P. Copyright for Academic Librarians and Professionals; Russell, Carrie. Complete Copyright for K-12 Librarians and Educators
Shark personalities? Repeatability of social network traits in a widely distributed predatory fish
No full textInterest in animal personalities has generated a burgeoning literature on repeatability in individual traits such as boldness or exploration through time or across different contexts. Yet, repeatability can be influenced by the interactive social strategies of individuals, for example, consistent inter-individual variation in aggression is well documented. Previous work has largely focused on the social aspects of repeatability in animal behaviour by testing individuals in dyadic pairings. Under natural conditions, individuals interact in a heterogeneous polyadic network. However, the extent to which there is repeatability of social traits at this higher order network level remains unknown. Here, we provide the first empirical evidence of consistent and repeatable animal social networks. Using a model species of shark, a taxonomic group in which repeatability in behaviour has yet to be described, we repeatedly quantified the social networks of ten independent shark groups across different habitats, testing repeatability in individual network position under changing environments. To understand better the mechanisms behind repeatable social behaviour, we also explored the coupling between individual preferences for specific group sizes and social network position. We quantify repeatability in sharks by demonstrating that despite changes in aggregation measured at the group level, the social network position of individuals is consistent across treatments. Group size preferences were found to influence the social network position of individuals in small groups but less so for larger groups suggesting network structure, and thus, repeatability was driven by social preference over aggregation tendency
The effect of formation swimming on tailbeat and breathing frequencies in killer whales
No full textIn many aquatic taxa, formation traveling can reduce the energetic expenditure of locomotion by exploiting the vorticity trails shed by neighbors or through drafting. Cetaceans, especially odontocetes, often swim in groups; nevertheless, the possibility that whales gain energetic benefits from swimming in formation remains poorly studied, apart from mother-calf pairs. Between June and September in 2019 and 2021, we recorded aerial videos of Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Salish Sea (USA) travelling in groups. We estimated whale tailbeat and breathing frequencies as proxies of the relative energetic costs of swimming, and tested the effect of swimming speed, relative positioning (e.g., leaders, whales in the middle of groups, or followers), sex and estimated size on these observed proxies. Our results reveal a complex relationship between physical characteristics, relative positioning, and energetic proxies. Intervals between respiration lasted longer in large-sized trailing individuals, but the overall breathing frequency was similar for all whales regardless of their position. The tailbeat frequency was mainly associated to whale sex, size, and swimming speed; in addition, tailbeat frequency showed a decreasing trend as the number of individuals in the formation increased. We found moderate evidence that position-based energetic effects may be present in the formation swimming of killer whales, and it is likely that additional factors such as social ties and hierarchies, play a key role in determining individual positioning in travelling groups
The effect of familiarity on aggregation and social behaviour in juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula
No full textThis study was designed to address whether juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula aggregate and to determine whether potential aggregation is underpinned by social preferences for conspecifics. Using controlled and replicated experiments, the role of familiarity as a potential mechanism driving aggregation and social behaviour in this species was considered. Observed S. canicula association data compared to null model simulations of random distributions revealed differences in aggregation under different social contexts. Only familiar juvenile S. canicula aggregated more than would be expected from random distribution across their habitat. Familiarity increased the mean number of groups but did not significantly affect mean group size. Significant preference and avoidance behaviour across all groups were also observed. Furthermore, the strength of social attraction, quantified by the mean association index, was significantly higher in groups containing familiar individuals. Mixed familiar and unfamiliar treatments were also conducted to test for within- and between-group effects, finding high variation across replicates with some groups assorting by familiarity and others not. It is believed that this study is the first to examine experimentally the influence of conspecific familiarity on aggregation behaviour in sharks. These results not only imply a functional benefit to aggregation, but also suggest that persistent social affiliation is likely to influence dispersal following hatching in this small benthic elasmobranch
Investigating the behaviour and welfare of captive flamingos (Phoenicopterformes)
No full textWhen a species is housed in captivity there are facets of the managed environment that can impact on individual and population welfare. A key component of an individual’s environment is its social environment, which can have important implications for animal health and welfare. Highly social species may experience impoverished welfare if kept in captive groups that differ in size, structure and demographic to that experienced by free-living animals. Amongst the most common of social animals to be housed in captivity are the flamingos (Phoenicopteridae). The unique evolutionary biology of these birds means that key aspects of their behaviour depends upon group living. A positive relationship between breeding success and increasing flock size has previously been noted, but how flamingo flocks are structured socially remains mysterious. All six species of flamingo are currently found in captive collections. The three more generalist species, greater (Phoenicopterus roseus), Caribbean (P. ruber) and Chilean (P. chilensis) flamingos are found commonly in zoos and can, under the right conditions, breed well. The other flamingo species are much more specialised in their habitat and dietary requirements and have proved more challenging with regards to their captive management. These three species are the Andean (Phoenicoparrus andinus), James’ (P. jamesi) and lesser (Phoeniconaias minor) flamingos. All six species are included in the experimental work presented in this thesis. This research aimed to evaluate specific elements of flamingo group living using social network analysis (SNA). It also aimed to assess influences of the captive environment (i.e. enclosure style and visitor number) and climate on enclosure usage, time-activity budgets and behavioural diversity to provide, as far as possible, a complete insight into how to measure, assess and evaluate captive flamingo welfare. A synthesis of the relevance of SNA to zoo animal management, and a review of current literature to identify research needs that could evidence good flamingo husbandry form the basis of the first two chapters. These two overview chapters support the questions asked in the following data-based sections of the thesis. Flamingos were observed at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre from March 2012 to July 2016 with data on patterns of social associations being collected four times daily (depending upon weather and bird husbandry). Associations were defined as birds within one neck length of each other and, using photos, the affiliations of each bird in the group were recorded. For assessment of bond strength, network position and identification of preferred/avoided partners a Half-Weight Index was applied to these data. Permutation testing was applied to association matrices to determine the difference between the number of observed preferential bonds (and avoided bonds) and Mantel tests were used to compare matrix correlations to assess differences between seasons, species, years and enclosures (where appropriate). The SNA programmes Socprog, UCInet and Netdraw were used to analyse network data. These network data form the basis of three chapters and show that flamingos associate preferentially with non-random bonds occurring in all flocks observed. Influences of social bonds on courtship display were also examined, and temporal changes in association were considered across time, season and year. Finally, to see any influence of animal health on bond preferences, scores of foot condition (used to identify and evaluate the presence and severity of pododermatitis on an individual bird) were analysed alongside of network measures for three flocks of flamingos. To measure enclosure usage, each species’ exhibit was measured and zones accessible to the birds were defined. As exhibit use can be based on resource use (and these resources can form differently-sized areas within an exhibit) a modified Spread of Participation Index (SPI) was used to provide an outcome between 1 (one area or resource used more than others) and 0 (equal use of all resource zones). Time-activity budgets were calculated for all flocks over daytime, and for one flock (measured using remote camera traps) over night. These data are presented in two chapters and demonstrate that captive flamingos can change their activity patterns in a similar manner to that noted in wild birds. Interestingly, flamingos are very active during the night and this provides useful data for zoo personnel to consider when re-assessing husbandry and management plans for these most ubiquitous of zoo birds
The importance of fission-fusion social group dynamics in birds
No full textThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Silk, M. J., Croft, D. P., Tregenza, T., Bearhop, S. (2014), The importance of fission–fusion social group dynamics in birds. Ibis, 156: 701–715. which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1111/ibi.12191. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archivingAlmost all animal social groups show some form of fission–fusion dynamics, whereby group membership is not spatio-temporally stable. These dynamics have major implications at both population and individual levels, exerting an important influence on patterns of social behaviour, information transfer and epidemiology. However, fission–fusion dynamics in birds have received relatively little attention. We review the existing evidence for fission–fusion sociality in birds alongside a more general explanation of the social and ecological processes that may drive fission–fusion dynamics. Through a combination of recent methodological developments and novel technologies with well-established areas of ornithological research, avian systems offer great potential to further our understanding of fission–fusion social systems and the consequences they have at an individual and population level. In particular, investigating the interaction between social structure and environmental covariates can promote a deeper understanding of the evolution of social behaviour and the adaptive value of group living, as well as having important consequences for applied research.FERA, University of Exete
Ontogenetic Environments and Female Mate Choice in Guppies, Poecilia Reticulata
No full textTheoretical models of sexual selection assume that female mating preferences are fixed and variation found between individuals resulting solely from allelic variation at specific loci coding for sexual preferences. For the last decade, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that individual phenotypic variation in preferences was common across a wide range of taxa and induced by the environmental context and the females’ condition. Further, developmental stages of life are crucial in the formation of behaviours in general and have proven to be determinant to learn sexual preferences in some species that dispense care for their young. However, very little studies have analysed how the early social and physical environments shape female mate choice in species that lack parental care. In this thesis, I used guppies (Poecilia reticulata), firstly, to investigate the influence of various aspects of the social environment provided by males during two ontogenetic phases. Secondly, I explored whether learned preferences in a foraging context during development could be transferred into a mating context.
Considering the early social environment, I explored three distinctive features potentially displayed by males and that females might experience while growing. Females were reared with different values of a sexual trait not genetically preferred in the population (orange colour) and different values of a trait for which they had innate predisposition (total colour area). In both cases, females were exposed to the different treatments for the whole developmental period or for its later phase. My results indicated that females changed their sexual behaviours in response to both type of traits experienced, reversing sometimes their genetic preferences. Moreover, the timing of exposure seemed to be a key factor in the acquisition of preferences as females exposed only to the later part of development with different values of total colour didn’t rely anymore on colour patterns to discriminate among males. In a third body of experiment, I examined whether the overall phenotypic variance exhibited by males during whole development, independently of the values of a specific sexual cue, mediated female’s behaviours. In a context of high variance, female became choosier relatively to those experiencing less variance. As a response, males switched mating tactics and attempted more forced copulations.
In its final part, my thesis searched for a link that might have arisen, owing to developmental conditions, between preferences using the same sensory modality in two behavioural contexts. Maturing females were given food that was associated to a certain colour and subsequently tested for both their coloured preference in a foraging and a sexual context. Although no foraging preference for the corresponding colour was detected, females that experienced a yellow stimulus preferred yellower males compared to females with other experiences.
Taken together these results suggest that developmental conditions and especially the social environment play a pivotal role in the process of mate choice. Under some circumstances, learned mate preferences override genetically-based preferences highlighting the importance of non-genetic mechanisms. Accordingly, it is urgent to integrate in the study of sexual selection and reproductive isolation this dimension. In guppies, for instance, the effect of early social life might contribute to the maintenance of colour pattern polymorphism found in males
Methods to Improve Our Understanding of the Health and Welfare Status of Sheep (Ovis Aries) and the Influences of their Immediate Environment
No full textStudies into the effective use of accelerometers in the automated assessment of sheep behaviour to improve welfare has increased exponentially with promising preliminary results. Previous research has focused primarily on explicit behaviour classification, for example, parturition and urination events, with a view to create a commercial tool that will provide health warnings for farmers. Yet the majority of trials have not been conducted in a farm environment. This study aims to provide essential primary research investigating environmental variables that may influence the behavioural patterns of a commercial flock. This vital information has been largely overlooked and crucial when considering tools that provide health warnings, due to the many factors that influence sheep behaviour such as weather, vegetation, soil type, land typography and breed (Hinch, 2017).
The primary aim of this study was to assess the most appropriate model to predict the behaviours of commercial ewes. This was achieved by deploying accelerometers on a commercial flock and simultaneously collecting manual observations and video recordings of flock’s individual activity. The raw acceleration data was processed to create 6 variables. Behaviour classification was also evaluated using three ethograms, each with two mutually exclusive behavioural/postural states: 1. Head Position (head up/down), 2. Posture (standing/lying), 3. Activity (resting/grazing). Three Window setting (3, 5 and 7 seconds) and five machine learning algorithms
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(Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA), Classification and Regression Trees (CART), K Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forest (RF)) were evaluated. Results indicated a RF with a 7 second window the optimal model across all ethograms. (Accuracy by ethogram; 1) 91.5%, 2) 91.0% and 3) 99.3%).
The secondary aim of this study was to use a Linear Mixed Model (LMM) to investigate the influence of temperature and rainfall on grazing and resting behaviours. This was accomplished by using the initially developed model (RF) on data collected from an unsupervised commercial flock, recorded in a second trial. Results indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between grazing durations and rainfall (p.001), this finding conflicts with previous research observations and is yet unpublished. In addition, prior sheep behaviour research has suggested ‘foraging’ as the dominant activity, results from this trial indicate the dominant daily activity was resting (67% of daily activity).
In conclusion this study highlights the difficultly of defining what ‘normal’ sheep behaviour is and that it is not viable to implement a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. Further research is required in the behavioural assessment for this particularly malleable species
Social bonds in a flock bird. Species differences and seasonality in social structure in captive flamingo flocks over a 12-month period
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Social network analysis (SNA) is a popular tool for investigating key components of sociality in free-living populations, and is growing in its application to captive animal systems. For social species held in captivity, welfare may be improved if protocols for care take key aspects of sociality into account. Individuals may benefit from investment in social affiliations and these relationships may exist over many years. Here we examine patterns of association that exist within captive flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) flocks across a 12-month period. We test the hypotheses that birds will show stable bonds with specific individuals within a flock, and that these bonds will be stable over time. Flamingos are well known for being highly-gregarious birds yet the importance of specific relationships between birds in a flock is still poorly defined. Four flocks of captive flamingos, of five species were included in the study at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre to assess the strength and consistency of bonds between individuals. Social associations were scored for all flocks from March 2012 to March 2013, with an average of 98 days/sample time/flock. Each flock showed evidence of specific preferential associations between birds, which, in some cases, remained constant over the period of observations. Networks highlight the existence of inter- and intrasexual bonds present in all flamingo flocks. Mantel tests determine that strong dyadic bonds are maintained in (spring/summer) and out (autumn/winter) of the breeding season. Measuring social behaviour may provide an insight into flamingo welfare as changes in the number of associates and mean time spent associating appears to be impacted upon by environmental variables, such as enclosure type. As consistent partnerships are maintained between birds (of all flocks of all species) across season, there are potential implications for breeding and mate selection if new partnerships are not being formed at breeding times
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