ANS 42 Midterm 1

Oxford dictionary definition of “Pet“

Any animal that is domesticated or tame and kept as a favorite or treated with indulgence and fondness

Function of Keeping Pets

Anthropological Evidence/Theory:

Improve hunting prowess

Modern-day reason/theory:

Humans have social-needs and MUST interact(see, touch, etc.) with SOMETHING

Emotional benefit

Health Benefits provided by Pets

Lower BP & HR

Improved Cholesterol/Triglyceride levels

Reduced risk of HEART DISEASE

Improved immune function

Reduced stress hormone(Cortisol)

Increased Contentment hormones(Seratonin & Dopamine)

Increased Life Span

Pets tend to serve as what in human-to-human social interactions

“Social Lubricant“

how much the the US spend on Pets in 2021?

$123.6 Billion

What percentage of US households have pets?

70%(increased over time & with pandemic)

MOST HAVE MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF PET

Dogs?

75%

Cats?

50%

Fish?

14%

Birds?

7%

Pets tend to be…

Domesticated

however, some people do keep undoesticated species as pets.

Dictionary definition of “Domesticated“

To adopt a plant/animal to life in intimate association with and to the advantage of human

Archaeozoologist Definition of Domesticated

a species that has been bred in captivity for a purpose (economic profit/of value) in the human community. The human community maintains mastery over the species

What “mastery“ does the human community have over domesticated species?

Breeding

Territory Organization

Food Supply

Another definition for “domesticated“

a plant/animal that has been purposely bred to be adapted to living in a human environment

The PROCESS OF DOMESTICATION

through human involvement a species in selected for a purpose and adapted to live with humans

Occurs over time/generations within a POPULATION

HUMANS EXERT BIOLOGICAL & CULTURAL CONTROL

Human selection in domestication

selected for traits that align with a certain purpose

The selection done overtime means that THE ANIMALS GENETICALLY CHANGE OVERTIME

Domesticated Individual VS Wild Progenitor(Ancestor)

Domesticated individuals are genetically different from their ancestors

EX). Dogs have smaller brains than Wolves

“Domesticated“ refers to…

AN ENTIRE SPECIES

Why may domesticated species change overtime?

change over generations occurs as a result of humans selecting for specific features that tend to be preferred/serve a purpose

“Tame“ refers to…

AN INDIVIDUAL

A Definition for “Tame”

an animal’s tendency to flee from humans has diminished(absent in some cases)

Flight Distance

How close can a human get to an individual before the animal flees

TAME:

An individual that tolerates humans

Offspring of domesticated animals…

will be domesticated

Offspring of tame animals…

can be tame ONLY WITH HUMAN INTERVENTION

“Feral“ refers to…

an individual

Feral:

an individual from a domesticated species that is no longer controlled by human community.

Breeding, Territory, & Food Supply no longer controlled by humans

Is Domestication Evolutionary?

YES; takes time/generations with selective breeding

Can a feral animal go back to being wild?

NO; due to genetic differences, as the species is domesticated

Can a wild animal be tame?

YES; refers to individual tolerance to humans

Can a feral animal not be tame?

YES; Only applies to wild animals

Can a domesticated animal be wild?

NO; genetic differences that come with domestication process, IT JUST WON’T BE THE SAME

Can a feral animal ever return to being its wild ancestor?

NO; the species is domesticated & the genetic changes that occur with domestication prevent that from happening

Can a feral animal return to living successfully in a human community?

YES.

Are exotic species new to the pet trade domesticated?

NO; the entire species has yet to go through the domestication process, BUT maybe(????) in the future

Domestication is an evolutionary process…

…with human involvement

in which animals become genetically adapted to their environment (in this case, life with humans) for OPTIMIZED SURVIVABILITY (INCLUDING REPRODUCTION)

Ecological Niche

certain aspect/resource in an environment

SPECIES CAN “FILL“ THIS

First Step In Domestic Evolution

shift in human culture provides new ecological niche for species with “favorable“ characteristics (ex. human camps with rubbish piles)

Second Step in Domestic Evolution

Domestication of specialized animals(ex. milk-producers, wool-producers, scavengers, etc.)

Third Step in Domestic Evolution

Darwinian Selection

“Selection of the fittest“

Fourth Step in Domestic Evolution

Specializing Individuals within species (ex. specialized functions within dog species). Increased improvement of behavioral & physiological functions (ex. better milk production amongst milk-producing cattle)

Fifth Step in Domestic Evolution

Development of breeds/varieties through the establishment of artificial reproductive barriers (ex. once animal has improved behavioral/physiological traits, breeding has been restricted to mates with complementary/similar traits)

Sixth Step in Domestic Evolution

ceasing the recognizability of evolutionary change in an unchanging environment

First Step in Natural Evolution

Emergence of a new trait/feature that enables the occupation of an unoccupied niche

Second Step in Natural Evolution

Explosive radiation/divergence to fill all niches (ex. carnivores evolve, herbivores evolve)

Third Step of Natural Evolution

Darwinian Selection

Fourth Step of Natural Evolution

Adaptive radiation/divergence: increased specialization within niche (ex. herbivores specializing in low foliage & herbivores specializing in high foliage)

Fifth Step of Natural Evolution

Specialization by non-adaptive/neutral specialization (ex. herbivore only eating red leaves)

Sixth Step of Natural Evolution

ceasing the recognizable change in an unchanging environement

Archeological Evidence of Domestication Process/Domestication Evolution

Proportion of differing age groups

Proportion of Sexes differ (higher female to male ratio)

Morphological changes

Artistic Representation of animals

Objects associated with animal husbandry (ex. harness)

Animals present in novel geographical locations

Ritualized animal burials

Domesticated 9500 years ago in the Middle East

Sheep, Goats, Cats

Appeared in the Near East 9500 years ago

Grain

Domesticated 7000 years ago in the Middle East

Cattle

Domesticated 1000 years ago in Central Asia

Horse

Domesticated 100 years ago

Hamsters

Domesticated 14,000+ years ago

Dogs

Which ancient civilization attempted to domesticate many different species?

Ancient Egypt

How did the ancestral domestication process begin?

TWO THEORIES:

Human Initiated; “I want“; brought into captivity and bred\

Animal Initiated

Humans and Animals…

Had a SYMBIOTIC relationship

CO-EVOLVE

First species domesticated?

DAWGS

Social Structure traits that favor domestication

live in groups

Social hierarchy; allows humans to exert control

Males integrated with females; more amicable interactions, allows for easier control

Sexual Behavior traits that Favor Domestication

Promiscuous Matings; allows for easier control over breeding

Males Dominant over Females; better to have more F than M in terms of reproduction

Behavioral & Postural Signals; a form of communication involved with mate selection

Parent-Young Social Interaction Traits that favor Domestication

Wide acceptance of individual when young/infants or different species; allows for coexistence

Response to Human Environment Traits that Favor Domestication

Short Flight Distance & barely disturbed by novel environments;

think proximity to humans

Other Traits that favor domestication

flexible diets

confinement

Consequence of Domestication

Neoteny(A GENETIC CHANGE)

Neoteny

retention of juvenile traits of ancestral species (physical & behavioral) in the DOMESTICATED ADULT

Theories Surrounding Neoteny

1). With domestication, animals are genetically selected for juvenile behaviors; easier handling, more appealing, Juvenile animals tend to be more curious

2). Neotonic traits seem to be “learned“ behaviors and a result of environmental conditioning - not logical

Belyaev Fox Experiment

Dmitri Belayaev kept foxes(used in fur trade) in captivity. Selected for breeding based on behavior. preferred, calmer foxes. Did this for several generations.

Adult Foxes Pre-Experiment: Aggressive

Adult Foxes Post/During-Experiment: had more neotenic traits, made more sound, liked Belyaev’s face, etc.

Why might juvenile traits be more desirable?

Malleable; easier to train/handle

Evoke nurturing response out of humans(WE LOVE CUTE THINGS, IT’S REAL PALLETABLE)

Consequences of Domestication

Neoteny

Increased Fertility & Reproductive activity

Lowered Stress levels(hormones); confinement results in a lack of competition/threats to safety

reduced self-survival skills; think “use it or lose it“

Increased genetic traits considered “unfavorable“ for independent survival; we might have selected something, but doesn’t mean it’s practical for survival

Evidence that Dogs evolved from wolves(Similarities)

Same DNA makeup/ chromosome #(78)

Similar Mitochondrial DNA

Behavior

Wide range of wolf subspecies

Dogs…

smaller brains than wolves

decreased perception of environment

increased/superior human interpretation skills

lowered stress

color/bone morphology

Cats evolved from…

African Wildcat

Similarities between cats and african wildcats

Behavior

DNA and mitochondrial DNA

Cats vs ancestors

increased memory

reduced fear conditioning

improved desiring rewards/learning (teach us what they want)

lowered stress

size, color, and bone morphology

Why is it important to have knowledge of ancestor of domesticated species?

to better understand…

behavior

nutrition

growth

etc.

Raymond Coppinger Wolf Pup Development stages

proposed that different dog breeds were “locked“ into one of the juvenile wolf stages (NEOTENY).

Reactive

Play

Heading/Stalking

Heeling

Reactive Stage

Scurrying back to den

Barking

Livestock Dogs are thought to be in this stage

Play Stage

playing with those around them

Retrievers are though to be in this stage

Heading/Stalking Stage

paying attention to/ “stalk“ any questionable aspects of their environment

Sheep herding dogs are thought to be in this stage

Heeling Stage

bite heel of prey/target so they cannot run

Australian Blue Heelers are thought to be in this stage

what can NEVER be neotenic?

mature wild behavior

Order of Raymond Coppinger Stages in Wolves

Reactive, Play, Stalking/heading, healing,

followed by Mature wolf

What happens to traits that help survival in a given environment?

those traits increase within that environment, resulting in changes in the underlying genetics in the population

What happens to traits that hinder survival in a given environment

those traits decrease within that environment, resulting in changes in the underlying genetics in the population

Behavior in domesticated species and progenitor species…

…WILL be different, reflective of the genetic changes that come with domestication

Nature + Nurture argument in terms of behavior

Better to say Nature AND Nurture, as both influence behavior in animals

“Nature“

refers to genetic influences

genes influence physical systems(hormones, body chemicals, neurotransmitters)

Different breeds of a species may be more likely to exhibit certain behaviors

“Nurture“

refers to environmental influence, conditioning and animal’s experience

Behavioral Potential

the range of possible actions and responses that an individual can exhibit that is GOVERNED BY THE GENETICS of the individual

does not define precisely how individual will behave

Genetics and Behavior Potential

genetic makeup sets the boundaries of all possible reactions

Environment and Behavior Potential

environment acts within that boundary to influence behavior exhibited

Stress exposure in infancy

exposure to slight/reasonable amounts of stress whilst young are important to behavioral response, as the animal will be better at finding the distinction between “DIFFERENT“ and “DANGEROUS“. creates superior learners

Imprinting

when a young animal accepts another animal/person/thing as a parent/one of their own/trusted individual

one of the first social attachments formed

Ethology

study of animal behavior

Konrad Lorenz and his discoveries in social attachments

pioneer of ethology

raised crows and jackdaws that imprinted on him and saw him as their own, to the point that they would try to court him (exhibit sexual behavior), feed him maggots whenever they had hatchlings, etc.

Early life & Social attachments

social attachments created around this time

who is apart of their pack/family/group?

different people of different physical features(ex. children, men, women, POC, etc.)

other pets

places