Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106860
Amir Farshad Shadman
This study aimed to examine whether zebrafish exhibit different color preferences during the day and night under controlled laboratory conditions. Twenty adult zebrafish (3 months old, 1:1 male/female ratio) were housed under a 14:10 h light/dark cycle and tested using a glass plus maze. Four light colors—yellow (647 nm), blue (467 nm), green (532 nm), and red (660 nm)—were presented with equal irradiance (2.25 ± 0.04 µW/cm²). Fish were video-recorded at two time points: midday (12 PM) and midnight (12 AM). Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and mixed-model analysis, confirmed significant differences in color preference patterns between day and night (P < 0.001). Yellow was consistently the most preferred color, followed by blue > green > red during the day, whereas at night, yellow remained dominant, but the order altered to red > blue > green. These findings highlight that while zebrafish maintain a consistent preference for yellow regardless of time, their ranking of other colors shifts between day and night. According to this study, when evaluating aquatic species' preferences for light colors, experimental conditions should consider the circadian rhythm.
{"title":"Color preference of zebrafish (Danio rerio) differs in midday and midnight","authors":"Amir Farshad Shadman","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to examine whether zebrafish exhibit different color preferences during the day and night under controlled laboratory conditions. Twenty adult zebrafish (3 months old, 1:1 male/female ratio) were housed under a 14:10 h light/dark cycle and tested using a glass plus maze. Four light colors—yellow (647 nm), blue (467 nm), green (532 nm), and red (660 nm)—were presented with equal irradiance (2.25 ± 0.04 µW/cm²). Fish were video-recorded at two time points: midday (12 PM) and midnight (12 AM). Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and mixed-model analysis, confirmed significant differences in color preference patterns between day and night (P < 0.001). Yellow was consistently the most preferred color, followed by blue > green > red during the day, whereas at night, yellow remained dominant, but the order altered to red > blue > green. These findings highlight that while zebrafish maintain a consistent preference for yellow regardless of time, their ranking of other colors shifts between day and night. According to this study, when evaluating aquatic species' preferences for light colors, experimental conditions should consider the circadian rhythm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106860"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145425516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106861
Irene Camerlink, Péter Pongrácz
{"title":"What we can learn from Jane Goodall","authors":"Irene Camerlink, Péter Pongrácz","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106861","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106861","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106861"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145690722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106857
Mikkel Gunnes, Evelina A.L. Green, Inger Lise Andersen, Øyvind Øverli
Reliable, non-invasive behavioral indicators of stress are essential for improving real-time welfare monitoring in aquaculture, yet few validated markers are currently available for assessing the welfare of farmed fish. This study aimed to identify novel stress-related behaviors in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). To this end, dominant–subordinate relationships were induced through repeated dyadic interactions between size-matched pairs of territorial juvenile fish over four days, followed by an overnight interaction (n = 10 pairs), with 12 fish kept in isolation as controls. Behavioral observations were focused on traits with potential for automated detection and revealed a distinct multi-trait behavioral syndrome in socially subordinate individuals: reduced feed intake (p = 0.04), higher vertical positioning in the water column (p < 0.001), and more frequent release of gas bubbles from the swim bladder (p = 0.02). Among these traits, bubble release emerged as a novel, conspicuous and sensitive indicator of acute stress. Frequency of bubble release correlated positively with the number of aggressive acts received from dominant fish (p = 0.018), though not with plasma cortisol levels (p = 0.10). Nonetheless, cortisol was significantly elevated in subordinate fish compared to controls (p = 0.003) but not compared to dominant fish (p = 0.14). This observation suggests that bubble release may serve as a more sensitive marker of acute social stress than physiological stress responses such as cortisol. Given the conspicuous nature and clear visual signature of bubble release, follow-up studies should explore the potential for automated detection using computer vision or bioacoustic methods. Such monitoring could enable earlier identification of stressed individuals in fish farming, supporting more proactive and individualized welfare assessments. Vertical positioning was also influenced by social status and may represent an additional visually accessible trait linked to stress, although further research is needed to assess its general applicability. In summary, this study suggests potential extensions to the current repertoire of non-invasive welfare indicators for farmed fish and provides a foundation for continued research into behavioral welfare monitoring in Atlantic salmon.
{"title":"Gas bubble venting: A novel behavioral indicator of stress in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)","authors":"Mikkel Gunnes, Evelina A.L. Green, Inger Lise Andersen, Øyvind Øverli","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reliable, non-invasive behavioral indicators of stress are essential for improving real-time welfare monitoring in aquaculture, yet few validated markers are currently available for assessing the welfare of farmed fish. This study aimed to identify novel stress-related behaviors in Atlantic salmon (<em>Salmo salar</em>). To this end, dominant–subordinate relationships were induced through repeated dyadic interactions between size-matched pairs of territorial juvenile fish over four days, followed by an overnight interaction (n = 10 pairs), with 12 fish kept in isolation as controls. Behavioral observations were focused on traits with potential for automated detection and revealed a distinct multi-trait behavioral syndrome in socially subordinate individuals: reduced feed intake (p = 0.04), higher vertical positioning in the water column (p < 0.001), and more frequent release of gas bubbles from the swim bladder (p = 0.02). Among these traits, bubble release emerged as a novel, conspicuous and sensitive indicator of acute stress. Frequency of bubble release correlated positively with the number of aggressive acts received from dominant fish (p = 0.018), though not with plasma cortisol levels (p = 0.10). Nonetheless, cortisol was significantly elevated in subordinate fish compared to controls (p = 0.003) but not compared to dominant fish (p = 0.14). This observation suggests that bubble release may serve as a more sensitive marker of acute social stress than physiological stress responses such as cortisol. Given the conspicuous nature and clear visual signature of bubble release, follow-up studies should explore the potential for automated detection using computer vision or bioacoustic methods. Such monitoring could enable earlier identification of stressed individuals in fish farming, supporting more proactive and individualized welfare assessments. Vertical positioning was also influenced by social status and may represent an additional visually accessible trait linked to stress, although further research is needed to assess its general applicability. In summary, this study suggests potential extensions to the current repertoire of non-invasive welfare indicators for farmed fish and provides a foundation for continued research into behavioral welfare monitoring in Atlantic salmon.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106857"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145425512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106858
Fernanda Löffler Niemeyer Attademo , Fábia de Oliveira Luna , Karen Lucchini , Alexandra Fernandes Costa , Salvatore Siciliano , Paula Coutinho , Radan Elvis Matias de Oliveira , Lucas Inácio dos Santos Melo , Bruna Bezerra
The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), classified as Endangered in Brazil and Vulnerable globally, faces significant conservation challenges due to habitat degradation, anthropogenic pressures, and low reproductive rates. This study investigates parental and epimeletic behaviours in captive Antillean manatees, spanning 25 years of observations (1996–2021) in rehabilitation and acclimatization enclosures across Brazil. Behavioural data were collected from seven females, documenting prenatal behaviours, reproductive outcomes, and calf survival, offering critical insights into the reproductive ecology of the species. Key findings reveal marked variability in prenatal behaviours, with inconsistent indicators of pregnancy among females. Parental care behaviours, including nursing, teaching calves to swim and breathe, and providing protection, were exhibited by most females. However, instances of maternal rejection and inadequate care necessitated human intervention to ensure calf survival. Notably, epimeletic behaviours were observed, with both females and one male demonstrating caregiving behaviours towards deceased calves. Cooperative and altruistic behaviours, such as the adoption of orphaned calves by unrelated females, further underscore the complex social dynamics within captive populations. This study also highlights the impact of captivity conditions on reproductive success and behaviour, with factors such as limited enclosure space and prolonged multi-generational cohabitation influencing outcomes. As the first comprehensive report on Antillean manatee births in Brazilian acclimatization enclosures, these findings provide essential behavioural data to inform conservation strategies. Integrating these insights into ex-situ management and release programmes is crucial for optimising rehabilitation efforts, improving calf survival, and advancing the recovery of wild populations.
{"title":"Parental and epimeletic behaviour of Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in captivity in Brazil","authors":"Fernanda Löffler Niemeyer Attademo , Fábia de Oliveira Luna , Karen Lucchini , Alexandra Fernandes Costa , Salvatore Siciliano , Paula Coutinho , Radan Elvis Matias de Oliveira , Lucas Inácio dos Santos Melo , Bruna Bezerra","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Antillean manatee (<em>Trichechus manatus manatus</em>), classified as Endangered in Brazil and Vulnerable globally, faces significant conservation challenges due to habitat degradation, anthropogenic pressures, and low reproductive rates. This study investigates parental and epimeletic behaviours in captive Antillean manatees, spanning 25 years of observations (1996–2021) in rehabilitation and acclimatization enclosures across Brazil. Behavioural data were collected from seven females, documenting prenatal behaviours, reproductive outcomes, and calf survival, offering critical insights into the reproductive ecology of the species. Key findings reveal marked variability in prenatal behaviours, with inconsistent indicators of pregnancy among females. Parental care behaviours, including nursing, teaching calves to swim and breathe, and providing protection, were exhibited by most females. However, instances of maternal rejection and inadequate care necessitated human intervention to ensure calf survival. Notably, epimeletic behaviours were observed, with both females and one male demonstrating caregiving behaviours towards deceased calves. Cooperative and altruistic behaviours, such as the adoption of orphaned calves by unrelated females, further underscore the complex social dynamics within captive populations. This study also highlights the impact of captivity conditions on reproductive success and behaviour, with factors such as limited enclosure space and prolonged multi-generational cohabitation influencing outcomes. As the first comprehensive report on Antillean manatee births in Brazilian acclimatization enclosures, these findings provide essential behavioural data to inform conservation strategies. Integrating these insights into ex-situ management and release programmes is crucial for optimising rehabilitation efforts, improving calf survival, and advancing the recovery of wild populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106858"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145414970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-25DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106841
Arthur Fernandes Bettencourt , Francisco Freire Duarte , Isabelle Damé Veber Angelo , Daniel Mota-Rojas , Adriana Domínguez-Oliva , Vivian Fischer
Understanding the development of the natural behavioral repertoire of dairy calves is essential to evaluate and improve health and welfare under intensive milk production systems. This study characterized the development of ingestive and social behavior of buffalo calves in a grazing system with cow-calf contact, from the fifth day after birth to the seventh month of age. Ten pairs of dairy buffalo calves (six females and four males) with their dams were evaluated from the fifth day to the seventh month of life, totaling 22 days of observation. Animals were kept together full-time, under continuous grazing. The animals' activities were observed from 9:30 am–3:30 pm and grouped into ingestive behavior (min.); other behaviors (min.); distance between buffalo and calf (≤ 5 m, > 5 ≤ 10 m, and > 10 m; %); and social behavior (number of events). Analysis of variance was performed considering age and/or period of life of the calf. In addition to age in months (M1, M2, …, M7), from the first to the third month of life, data were presented in nine periods of 10 days (P1, P2, …, P9). The calves began to nibble, ruminate, and graze around days 10.7 ± 4.2, 35.4 ± 9.5, and 41.1 ± 11.4, respectively. Calves began to nibble in the first days of life, with an average of 6.2 min in P1, increasing up to 73.7 min in P5, and decreasing from 19.0 min in P8, and ceased activity in P9. Calves decreased time spent idling from P1 (284.5 min) to P9 (166.7 min). Time spent ruminating and grazing was lower during the first three periods, while they were the highest at P9. Overall, the calves remained 82.7 % of the time at a distance ≤ 10 m from their dams without significant differences between periods. The time spent idling decreased from M1 to M7 (250.4 vs. 142.6 min), while the time spent ruminating (0.0 vs. 97.6 min) and grazing (0.6 vs. 101.5 min) was less in M1 compared to M7. The time spent in other activities decreased with the age of the calf, being greater in M1 compared to M7 (59.0 vs. 10.7 min). Playing was most frequent in M1, and calves suckled more often in M1, M2, and M3. Additionally, calves tended to scratch and/or sniff their mothers and/or other herd mates more at M1 compared to M7. Regarding performance, the average daily gain (ADG; kg/day) of calves increased as grazing time increased, from approximately 0.55 kg/day for M1 and M2–0.88 kg/day for M4 to M7. Nibbling precedes ruminating and grazing behaviors and disappears as the calf develops into a functional ruminant. Idling, other activities, and time and number of suckling events decreased with calf age, while ruminating and grazing increased. Our findings provide reference values for the considered diurnal period and may serve as a guide to ensure that dairy calves can develop an adequate behavioral repertoire in dairy systems.
了解奶牛的自然行为的发展是至关重要的，以评估和改善健康和福利的集约化牛奶生产系统。本研究描述了在母牛与小牛接触的放牧系统中，从出生后第5天到第七个月大的水牛犊牛的摄食和社会行为的发展。从出生第5天到第7个月，对10对乳水牛幼崽（6雌性和4雄性）及其水坝进行了评估，共计22天的观察。动物们被全天候关在一起，持续放牧。从9:30 am-3:30 pm观察动物的活动，并将其分为摄食行为（min.）；其他行为（最少）；水牛与小牛之间的距离（≤5 m, > 5≤10 m, > 10 m; %）；以及社会行为（事件的数量）。考虑犊牛的年龄和/或寿命进行方差分析。除了以月为单位的年龄（M1, M2，…，M7），从生命的第一个月到第三个月，数据以9个10天为单位（P1, P2，…，P9）。小牛分别在10.7 ± 4.2、35.4 ± 9.5和41.1 ± 11.4天左右开始啃食、反刍和放牧。犊牛在出生后第一天开始啃食，P1平均为6.2 min， P5增加到73.7 min， P8从19.0 min下降，P9停止啃食。小牛的空转时间从P1（284.5 min）减少到P9（166.7 min）。反刍和放牧时间在前3期较短，而在第9期最高。总体而言，幼崽在与水坝的距离≤ 10 m的时间内保持82.7 %，而不同时期之间没有显著差异。从M1到M7，空转时间减少了（250.4 vs. 142.6 min），反刍时间（0.0 vs. 97.6 min）和放牧时间（0.6 vs. 101.5 min）比M7更少。其他活动的时间随着犊牛年龄的增长而减少，M1比M7多（59.0 vs 10.7 min）。玩耍在M1区最为频繁，小牛在M1、M2和M3区更常吃奶。此外，与M7相比，在M1阶段，小牛更倾向于抓挠和/或嗅嗅它们的母亲和/或其他牧群伙伴。在生产性能方面，犊牛平均日增重（ADG; kg/d）随着放牧时间的增加而增加，M1和m2的平均日增重约为0.55 kg/d， M4至M7的平均日增重约为0.88 kg/d。啃食先于反刍和放牧行为，并随着小牛发展成为功能性反刍动物而消失。空转、其他活动、哺乳时间和次数随犊牛年龄的增加而减少，反刍和放牧则增加。我们的研究结果为考虑的日周期提供了参考价值，并可作为指导，以确保奶牛犊牛能够在乳制品系统中发展出适当的行为曲目。
{"title":"Development of ingestive and social behavior of buffalo calves in a cow-calf contact grazing system","authors":"Arthur Fernandes Bettencourt , Francisco Freire Duarte , Isabelle Damé Veber Angelo , Daniel Mota-Rojas , Adriana Domínguez-Oliva , Vivian Fischer","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106841","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106841","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the development of the natural behavioral repertoire of dairy calves is essential to evaluate and improve health and welfare under intensive milk production systems. This study characterized the development of ingestive and social behavior of buffalo calves in a grazing system with cow-calf contact, from the fifth day after birth to the seventh month of age. Ten pairs of dairy buffalo calves (six females and four males) with their dams were evaluated from the fifth day to the seventh month of life, totaling 22 days of observation. Animals were kept together full-time, under continuous grazing. The animals' activities were observed from 9:30 am–3:30 pm and grouped into ingestive behavior (min.); other behaviors (min.); distance between buffalo and calf (≤ 5 m, > 5 ≤ 10 m, and > 10 m; %); and social behavior (number of events). Analysis of variance was performed considering age and/or period of life of the calf. In addition to age in months (M1, M2, …, M7), from the first to the third month of life, data were presented in nine periods of 10 days (P1, P2, …, P9). The calves began to nibble, ruminate, and graze around days 10.7 ± 4.2, 35.4 ± 9.5, and 41.1 ± 11.4, respectively. Calves began to nibble in the first days of life, with an average of 6.2 min in P1, increasing up to 73.7 min in P5, and decreasing from 19.0 min in P8, and ceased activity in P9. Calves decreased time spent idling from P1 (284.5 min) to P9 (166.7 min). Time spent ruminating and grazing was lower during the first three periods, while they were the highest at P9. Overall, the calves remained 82.7 % of the time at a distance ≤ 10 m from their dams without significant differences between periods. The time spent idling decreased from M1 to M7 (250.4 vs. 142.6 min), while the time spent ruminating (0.0 vs. 97.6 min) and grazing (0.6 vs. 101.5 min) was less in M1 compared to M7. The time spent in other activities decreased with the age of the calf, being greater in M1 compared to M7 (59.0 vs. 10.7 min). Playing was most frequent in M1, and calves suckled more often in M1, M2, and M3. Additionally, calves tended to scratch and/or sniff their mothers and/or other herd mates more at M1 compared to M7. Regarding performance, the average daily gain (ADG; kg/day) of calves increased as grazing time increased, from approximately 0.55 kg/day for M1 and M2–0.88 kg/day for M4 to M7. Nibbling precedes ruminating and grazing behaviors and disappears as the calf develops into a functional ruminant. Idling, other activities, and time and number of suckling events decreased with calf age, while ruminating and grazing increased. Our findings provide reference values for the considered diurnal period and may serve as a guide to ensure that dairy calves can develop an adequate behavioral repertoire in dairy systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106841"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145414969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106855
Ayoe Hoff , Irena Czycholl , Thomas Bøker Lund , Daniel Mills , James Serpell , Peter Sandøe
Based on a quantitative questionnaire survey aimed at Danish cat owners representing the background population regarding a number of demographic parameters, we examined: 1) The use of different introduction techniques for new cats in multi-cat households; 2) the correlation between recommended practices for introducing new cats to resident cats in homes and the cats’ reactions to each other within the first month after introduction. Of 1507 cat-owning respondents, 308 had introduced new cat(s) to resident cat(s) among the cats living in their house at the time of the survey, and the study focused on these. Firstly, descriptive statistics served to map the prevalence of (i) 16 different introduction techniques and (ii) the new and resident cats’ reactions. Secondly, the study applied exploratory binary phi correlation tests (i) between new and resident cats’ reactions to each other and (ii) between applied introduction practices and reactions. Moreover, we also took the age of the cats into account, by disaggregating our analyses on age classes of the new and resident cats. We identified two main ways new cats are introduced: putting the cats together from the beginning (56 % of respondents); and following recommended introduction techniques, including separation, use of barriers and scent exchange, exploration of each other’s areas, and using calming scents / pheromones / supplements / food. In general, the statistically significant associations between introduction practices and cats' subsequent reactions were not strong. However, the findings suggest that when both the new and resident cats are juvenile and/or young adults (< 4 years) applying separation, allowing the cats to explore the others’ areas, use of barriers, swapping scent and using calming scent pheromones are associated with agonistic reactions in the first month after introduction. On the other hand, if both the new and resident cats are mature (5 + years), use of barriers, engaging the cats in play in the same room and introducing additional resources are associated with affiliative relations. The reason for these results, especially in young cats, requires further investigation. Possible explanations for recommended introduction practices appearing counterproductive include that owners anticipate problems or apply the techniques after the cats have already displayed agonistic reactions to each other.
{"title":"Introducing new cats to multi-cat households: Results of a representative survey of Danish cat owners","authors":"Ayoe Hoff , Irena Czycholl , Thomas Bøker Lund , Daniel Mills , James Serpell , Peter Sandøe","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106855","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106855","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Based on a quantitative questionnaire survey aimed at Danish cat owners representing the background population regarding a number of demographic parameters, we examined: 1) The use of different introduction techniques for new cats in multi-cat households; 2) the correlation between recommended practices for introducing new cats to resident cats in homes and the cats’ reactions to each other within the first month after introduction. Of 1507 cat-owning respondents, 308 had introduced new cat(s) to resident cat(s) among the cats living in their house at the time of the survey, and the study focused on these. Firstly, descriptive statistics served to map the prevalence of (i) 16 different introduction techniques and (ii) the new and resident cats’ reactions. Secondly, the study applied exploratory binary phi correlation tests (i) between new and resident cats’ reactions to each other and (ii) between applied introduction practices and reactions. Moreover, we also took the age of the cats into account, by disaggregating our analyses on age classes of the new and resident cats. We identified two main ways new cats are introduced: putting the cats together from the beginning (56 % of respondents); and following recommended introduction techniques, including separation, use of barriers and scent exchange, exploration of each other’s areas, and using calming scents / pheromones / supplements / food. In general, the statistically significant associations between introduction practices and cats' subsequent reactions were not strong. However, the findings suggest that when both the new and resident cats are juvenile and/or young adults (< 4 years) applying separation, allowing the cats to explore the others’ areas, use of barriers, swapping scent and using calming scent pheromones are associated with agonistic reactions in the first month after introduction. On the other hand, if both the new and resident cats are mature (5 + years), use of barriers, engaging the cats in play in the same room and introducing additional resources are associated with affiliative relations. The reason for these results, especially in young cats, requires further investigation. Possible explanations for recommended introduction practices appearing counterproductive include that owners anticipate problems or apply the techniques after the cats have already displayed agonistic reactions to each other.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106855"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145475475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106862
Morgane J.R. Van Belle , Noema Gajdoš Kmecová , Christel P.H. Moons , Frank A.M. Tuyttens , Daniel S. Mills
As tension between housecats can have considerable impact on feline and caregiver welfare, gaining insight into the social behaviour within multicat households is valuable. A standard scientific approach to study behaviour in animals involves video-based behavioural observations using an ethogram. We aimed to develop an ethogram of the intraspecific social behaviour of adult cats in multicat households. The development of the ethogram included (a) selection of behavioural elements relevant for the study of feline social behaviour in multicat households and assessment of consensus across experts (face and content validity), and (b) testing intra- and inter-observer reliability when the ethogram is used for video-based behavioural coding. The Ethogram of Feline Social Interactions (EFSI) consists of four behavioural groups, twenty-three behaviours, and three modifier groups which collectively provide descriptions of feline behaviour during social interactions. Results of the item-based reliability analysis between two observers were around or above the 0.8 acceptance threshold for Krippendorff’s alpha. Videos are provided online to support other researchers or behavioural professionals in using EFSI. The ethogram is intended to facilitate accurate recording of intraspecific social behaviour by professionals as well as lay people. It is therefore not only useful for studies on sociality in companion cats, but potentially also for monitoring social tension in multicat households by veterinary behaviourists and caregivers.
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Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106840
Maria Toscano Batista , Catarina Lavrador , Gonçalo da Graça-Pereira
Reactive/aggressive manifestations (R/AMs) are a problematic behavior that significantly affects the well-being of both dogs and their caregivers, reducing their quality of life and undermining the stability of the human–animal bond. This cross-sectional study (N = 730) focused primarily on caregiver-related characteristics associated with R/AMs in dogs, followed by an analysis of the contribution of fear/anxiety. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Starting from a broad set of variables related to the dog (e.g., age), caregiver sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender), intrapersonal variables (e.g., mental health), interpersonal variables (e.g., attitudes), and caregiving and management practices (e.g., professional training), Pearson correlations were calculated between all variables and this problematic behavior. All variables that were significantly correlated with R/AMs were included in multiple linear regression models to identify the most relevant predictors from this broad set of factors. The results highlight the role of caregiver-dog interpersonal dynamics and the relevance of fear/anxiety in the R/AMs. Younger dogs, those cared for by male caregivers, dogs whose caregivers reported higher perceived caregiving costs and higher caregivers stress levels, more positive attitudes toward aversive training methods, and a lower ability to recognize chronic pain, were described as showing higher levels of R/AMs Together, these variables explained 15.8 % of the variance in R/AMs. When fear/anxiety was added to the model, the amount of explained variance increased substantially, with the final model accounting for 41 % of the variability in this problematic behavior. These findings emphasize the importance of the caregiver-dog relationship in understanding R/AMs and suggest that fear/anxiety is a core underlying component of this problematic behavior. Behavioral interventions for R/AMs should address not only the dog's behavior and emotional state, but also caregiver-related factors. Consideration should be given to the use of strategies that improve caregiver’s knowledge of indicators of pain and discomfort in dogs, encourage the use of reward-based training, and support reduced caregiving costs.
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Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-23DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106845
Sophia Voigtländer-Schnabel , Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda , Uta König von Borstel
Due to the reappearance of wolves in human-dominated landscapes, interactions between predators and livestock, including horses, have become a common occurrence, posing challenges for the protection of livestock. Little research exists on horse-wolf interactions and anti-predator responses by horses, and field studies under natural conditions on the reactions of horses towards wolves are lacking. Natural group dynamics and collective behaviour in horses are crucial, as these factors can influence the ability to avoid or alleviate attacks by wolves and thus help minimise horse-wolf conflict. This paper reviews the existing literature on interaction and collective behaviour in horse groups, focusing on social bond formation, group cohesion and synchronisation in explaining group dynamics. The paper also presents a literature overview on defensive behaviour and anti-predator responses by domesticated and feral horses. We discuss the findings on interaction and collective behaviour and its influence on anti-predator responses. The literature suggests grouping and gathering of foals, kicks and chasing as well as cohesion and synchronised fleeing and collision avoidance as effective defence behaviour in feral and domesticated horses. Risk factors for horses being attacked by wolves include body size, age, month of birth of the foals, group size, and stability of bands. Knowledge of the social organisation of horses with regard to defensive behaviour might help horse owners to adapt their management system of horses in the domesticated environment to reduce predation risk. In addition, by considering behaviours such as cohesion, synchronisation, and social bonding as collective interactive processes, we propose monitoring these behaviours and employing social network analysis to investigate how they influence anti-predator responses in horse groups, thereby providing insights into the role of group dynamics in enhancing defence strategies.
{"title":"Help horses help themselves – A literature review on social relationships in the context of anti-predator behaviour","authors":"Sophia Voigtländer-Schnabel , Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda , Uta König von Borstel","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the reappearance of wolves in human-dominated landscapes, interactions between predators and livestock, including horses, have become a common occurrence, posing challenges for the protection of livestock. Little research exists on horse-wolf interactions and anti-predator responses by horses, and field studies under natural conditions on the reactions of horses towards wolves are lacking. Natural group dynamics and collective behaviour in horses are crucial, as these factors can influence the ability to avoid or alleviate attacks by wolves and thus help minimise horse-wolf conflict. This paper reviews the existing literature on interaction and collective behaviour in horse groups, focusing on social bond formation, group cohesion and synchronisation in explaining group dynamics. The paper also presents a literature overview on defensive behaviour and anti-predator responses by domesticated and feral horses. We discuss the findings on interaction and collective behaviour and its influence on anti-predator responses. The literature suggests grouping and gathering of foals, kicks and chasing as well as cohesion and synchronised fleeing and collision avoidance as effective defence behaviour in feral and domesticated horses. Risk factors for horses being attacked by wolves include body size, age, month of birth of the foals, group size, and stability of bands. Knowledge of the social organisation of horses with regard to defensive behaviour might help horse owners to adapt their management system of horses in the domesticated environment to reduce predation risk. In addition, by considering behaviours such as cohesion, synchronisation, and social bonding as collective interactive processes, we propose monitoring these behaviours and employing social network analysis to investigate how they influence anti-predator responses in horse groups, thereby providing insights into the role of group dynamics in enhancing defence strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106845"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145425513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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