VSCI

Hereditability of behavior

is measured in terms of the variance in phenotypic traits within a particular population

Heritability of a trait

is the fraction of the observed variance which is due to differences in heredity. It can be studied by looking at differences in closely related animals raised in different environments and at differences among animals raised in the same environment

Phenotype

this is a character that is seen or a particular behavior observed

Genotype

the unique combination of genes possessed by no other animal unless it has an identical tw

Mutation

also alters behavior by changing the gene construction of nucleus that would arise to differences from parent forms

Hybridization

also alters behavior by increasing growth rate sexual maturity

Environment

Development of any trait is an interactive process involving the genotype in a fertilized egg and the environment of the developing organism.

It is also the sensory and social experience of animals

Epigenesis

the interaction of genes and environment in which each phase of development sets the stage for the next

Imprinting

is a process of learning that occurs at a particular stage of development

Juvenile animal

often have characteristic behavior which enable them to respond in an appropriate way to environmental occurrences such as the appearance of a predator or the provision of food by a parent. This typical behavior is lost in adulthood

Domestication

Is an evolutionary phenomenon involving changes in the gene pool of population

It is the condition wherein the breeding, care and feeding of animal are more or less controlled by man

Wild animals

animals that have never been domesticated

Tamed animals

Animals that have lost their fear in man

Feral

refers to animals that were at one time domesticated but are no longer cared for by man

Traits favoring animal domestication

▪ Stable dominance relationship

▪ Sexual dimorphism

▪ Rapid bonding of mother to young

▪ Precocial development

▪ Adaptable to change

Behavioral changes under domestication

▪ Loss of pair bonding

▪ Loss of broodiness

▪ Reduced flightiness and aggressiveness

▪ Extension of breeding season

Freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort; pain, injury, or disease; fear and distress and to express normal species behavior

Five freedoms

Abnormal Behavior

These activities show dysfunction in action and behavior. Alternatively, the tenns behavior problem, behavior pathology, mental health disorder, or emotional disorders might be used.

Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors

a heterogenous group of behaviors that include both stereotypes and compulsive/ impulsive behaviors.

a descriptive term for any of the behaviors that are maladaptive, repetitive or fixed, and pathologically abnormal.

clinical signs have been desclibed as oral/ingestive ( eg, pica, polyphagia, licking, gulping), neurologic/ hallucinatmy ( eg, fly snapping, light chasing), locomotory (eg, spinning, pouncing), and self-directed ( eg, acral lick dermatitis, psychogenic alopecia).

Aggression

can be defined in a narrow sense (attack) or in a broader sense as agonistic behavior. In the latter case, it can be appropliate or inappropliate, in context or out of context, inter- or intraspecific, or a challenge or contest that results in deference or in combat and resolution.

Anxiety

the apprehensive anticipation of future danger or misfortune, which may be accompanied by both behavioral and somatic signs (vigilance and scanning, autonomic hyperactivity, increased motor activity and tension).

Compulsive behaviors

Abnormal and repetitive, may be variable in form, and are often fixated on a goal. They may be exaggerated, sustained, intense,and difficult to interrupt or have an element of dyscontrol in either the initiation or continuation of the behavior or the inhibition or switching between behaviors.

They are generally derived from normal behaviors such as grooming, predation, ingestion, or locomotion.

Compulsive behavior

wool sucking in Oriental breeds of cats, tail chasing in German Shepherds, flank sucking in Dobermans

Conflict

arises when a pet has competing motivations or is motivated to perfome more than one opposing behavior.

Displacement Behavior

This type of activity is generally a normal behavior that is perfomed out of context, or is "displaced," because the animal is unable-physically or behaviorally to execute another activity or otherwise occupy itself.

Dominance

refers to competitive control over a resource in a limited circumstance and to the ability of a higher ranking animal to displace a lower ranking one from that resource

Rank

usually defined by an ability to control the resource or by access and ability to restrict matings

Fear

a feeling of apprehension associated with the presence or proximity of an object, individual, or social situation. It is part of nonnal behavior and can be an adaptive response.

Phobia

A sudden, all-or-notlli.ng, profound, abnormal response that results in extremely fearful behaviors

Frustration

This state arises when an animal is motivated to engage in a sequence of behaviors that it is unable to complete because of physical or psychological obstacles in tile environment

Redirected Behavior

directed away from the principal target and toward another, less

appropriate target. When the animal is in a state of emotional arousal and is unable to reach the appropriate target, the behavior can be redirected to an alternative target if the animal is interrupted.

Stereotypic Behaviors

perseverant repetition of behaviors that are unvaried in sequence and have no obvious purpose or function. They usually derive from contextually normal maintenance behaviors ( eg, grooming, eating, walking).

They may arise when the environment is barren or

stress evoking, when the animal lacks the opportunity to display a full range of species-typical behaviors, with maternal deprivation, and as a result of neurologic disorders

Vacuum Activity

When an animal is highly motivated to perform an instinctive behavior but there is no available outlet, a vacuwn activity may be exhibited (flank sucking, licking, etc). These activities have no apparent useful purpose.

Endogenously

by an internal timing mechanism that is ultimately genetic in origin.

Biological rhythms

the daily changes in sleep and wakefulness, annual bird migration, and the tidal variations in behavior of coastal animals

Biological clock

• it allows the organism to anticipate the environmental change and respond before hand.

• an internal (endogenous) timing system that continues without any external cues and controls the activities of plants and animals.

Circadian, Circatidal, Circalunar, and Circannual

commonly observed periods for biological rhythms

Circadian rhythms

physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle.

Diurnal, Nocturnal, and Crepuscular

Three types of circadian rhythm

Diurnal

active by day – 2,180 spp, include mammals, birds, reptiles, primates

Nocturnal

active by night – owls, moths, foxes, hedgehogs, badgers, bats – 70% of all animals, nighttime allows them to evade predators & hunt with less competition

Crepuscular

active by dusk/dawn (twilight period)– snakes, lizards, frogs

matutinal and vespertine

Two types of crepuscular animals

matutinal

Crepescular active in the morning

vespertine

Crepescular active at dusk

Circatidal

rhythms are cycles synchronized by tides. Roughly twice per day

• because the tides aren't exactly 12 hours apart, high and low tide are approximately 50 mins. later each day

Circalunar

relating to, or showing rhythmic behaviour with a period of a lunar month.

• some cycles are approximately monthly, resulting from the movement of the moon around the earth.

Circannual

• the earth axis is on a slight tilt, causing a yearly cycle of seasonal changes

• countries experience summer when their hemisphere is tilted towards the sun

• often associated with migratory behaviours, hibernation, dormancy, etc.

• endogenously generated oscillations in biological processes with period length of approximately 1 year (12 months) and time changes in the physiology and behavior within each year in long- lived animals.

CHRONOBIOLOGY

is a field of science that examines periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms and their adaptation to solar and lunar related rhythms.

High frequency

less than 30 min

• Heart and respiration rates occur in periods less than 30 minutes

Ultradian

Cycles occur more frequent than 24 hr

Infradian

• Cycle duration longer than 24hours

• Frequency of occurrence in these cycles is lower than that of circadian rhythym

Zeitgebers

“time giver”; factors that sets the rhythm. Usually maintained under conditions of constant light or dark

Circatrigentian

Cycle of approximately 30 days

sow and cow

Sexual cycles of these animals come into heat every 21 days

Mares

Animal that come in heat 17-24 days in spring

Ewe

Come in heat 16-17 days

Annual rhythm

• Reproductive cycles of seasonal breeders

• Cats corticosteroid, thyroxine and epinephrine release(peaks at winter)

Appetitive

Consummatory

Refractory

Phases of Behavior

INGESTIVE

• Includes eating behavior

• Purpose:

–Energy attainment

–Allelomimetic

–Attention seeking

Consummatory

Behavior pattern that occurs in response to a stimulus and that achieves the satisfaction of a specific drive.

Refractory

Period of time an organ or cell is incapable of repeating a particular action.

INGESTIVE

• Includes eating behavior

• Purpose:

–Energy attainment

–Allelomimetic

–Attention seeking

Allelomimetic

is a range of activities in which the performance of a behaviour increases the probability of that behaviour being performed by

Attention seeking

engaging in behadour designed to attract notice and to make oneself the focus of other's attention and admiration.

Carnivores , Herbivores, and Omnivore

Classification of animals based on food preferences

Taste, Temperature, Social facilitation, GIT factors, and Estrogen level

Factors affecting eating behavior

24

Chicken number of taste buds

200

Duck number of taste buds

200

Cats number of taste buds

1706

Dog number of taste buds

9000

Humans number of taste buds

15000

Pigs and goats number of taste buds

17000

Rabbit's number of taste buds

25000

calf's number of taste buds

Sexual Behaviour

• Includes proceptive and receptive behavior by female

• Courting and mate guarding by male

• Actual copulation

Proceptive

female initates the mating, animal's (female) willingness and motivation to mate.

Receptive

readiness of a female animal to engage in sexual behavior.

Freemartin Cow

infertile cow with masculinized behavior and non-functioning ovaries.

Cyclical ovulation

–Spontaneous ovulator (bitch, ewe, mare and sow), ovulation occur in LH surge

–Induced ovulator (cats) external stimuli for vagina are necessary to trigger LH surge

Epimeletic

relating to altruistic behavior in which a healthy animal cares for an injured, ill, or dead animal

Et-epimeletic

• aimed at receiving care from others.

1) instinct; 2) imprinting; 3) conditioning; 4) imitation

4 main and most frequently studied behavior in animals

Animal behaviour

The choices that an animal makes as a result of analysis of environmental stimuli

Bifocal Vision

gives excellent depth of perception and accurate estimates of distance to objects

Shades of violet and blue

what shades does dogs

gray

Cat can discriminate blue from

Horse

can discriminate red and blue not green and gray.

Horse

can discriminate red and blue not green and gray.

Infrared light

hings that are hot give of - Which can be detected by rattlesnake, like the body of live rat.

Social recognition

Mammals use sense of smell for

Communication

Exchange of information among individuals

Behavioral signals

it indicate level of arousal, mood and intention of animals

Greeting call

Et-epimeletic/epemiletic cal

Alarm call

Defensive greeting

Neigh

Nicker

Sharp snort

Squeal

Territorial call

Et-pimeletic/epm call

Aggressive call

Bark

Whine

Howling

Growl

Greeting call

Submissive sound

Angry sound

Raspy cry

Painful cry

MURMUR

PURR

GROWL

SQUEAK

SHRIEK

excited

aggressive

pleasure

In pain

GRUNT

(STACCATO;

CRESCENDO)

BARK

LONG GRUNT

SQUEAL

Ontogeny

History of development of an individual from fertilized egg to maturity

Precocial and Altrecial

Types of development

Precocial

accelerated development