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PubMed2001

Social and environmental factors influence the suppression of pup-directed aggression and development of paternal behavior in captive meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

During summer, female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) maintain territories and males do not engage in paternal care. As day length shortens, territories dissolve and males nest with females and young. Because paternal behavior has never been studied in free-living meadow voles during colder months or in the laboratory under short photoperiods, the authors examined whether males housed in short day (SD) lengths exhibited more frequent or better quality paternal behavior than males housed in long day (LD) lengths. Sexually and parentally inexperienced (naive) SD males exhibited proportionally more and qualitatively better paternal care than naive LD males. SD males were more responsive than LD males to classic social cues associated with prepartum aggression inhibition and paternal onset. SD sires also displayed qualitatively better paternal behavior than LD sires. These data suggest that meadow vole paternal state is regulated by specific social and environmental cues that may contain reliable information about ecological conditions that favor paternal care.

Aggression↗

PubMed1986

The effects of early rearing environments on maternal behavior in adult female rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of presence of siblings and exposure to colony cues during early life on the onset of maternal behavior at 20 and 75 days of life, and on subsequent emotional behavior in juvenile and adult female rats. Different groups of animals were reared either with a large number or a small number of siblings (sibling factor), or in the colony room or in a room apart from other mothers with pups (colony factor). Animals were tested for latency (in days) to show maternal behavior at either 20 or 75 days of age, and for emotional behavior (using the open field apparatus) at either 20-40 or 80-100 days of age. Exposure to colony sensory cues significantly reduced latencies for pup retrieval and nest-building in adults, but not in juveniles. Exposure to a large number of siblings reduced the latencies, in both adults and juveniles, to nest build; in juveniles, to lie over 75% of the litter; and in adults, to adopt a nursing posture. Consistent with prior research, juveniles had longer latencies than adults for a number of pup-directed behaviors including: latency to become maternal, latency to retrieve pups, latency to adopt a lactating posture, latency to lick/genital lick, and latency to nest-build. In the emotionality tests, the young animals scored as less emotional than the adults, an effect which was further exaggerated by early colony exposure. Overall results indicated that manipulation of early rearing environments does have a significant positive effect on later responses to young pups by both juvenile and adult female rats.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1985

Effects of intracranial prolactin administration on maintenance of incubation readiness, ingestive behavior, and gonadal condition in ring doves.

Systemic administration of prolactin (PRL) reportedly maintains readiness to sit on eggs, increases body weights and liver weights, and reduces gonadal and reproductive tract tissue weights in male and female ring doves. To determine if these effects are mediated by PRL-induced changes in the central nervous system, ring doves were isolated from their mates, nests, and eggs on Day 4 of incubation and given twice-daily intracerebroventricular injections of PRL (1 microgram, 0.031 IU) or saline vehicle (2 microliter) during the next 10 days. Food and water consumption were monitored daily during treatment and tests for incubation behavior and observation of organ weight changes were conducted at the end of the period. The incidence of incubation behavior in the PRL-treated group was not significantly different from that in the control group and was significantly lower than that reported in a previous study following subcutaneous PRL injections. However, gonadal and reproductive tract tissue weights were markedly reduced and food and water consumption were significantly elevated in PRL-treated birds. Body weights and liver weights were also increased following PRL administration. In contrast, crop sac weight did not increase in the PRL treated birds, thereby indicating that the effects of icv prolactin treatment were not mediated by increased plasma PRL levels and peripheral target organ stimulation. These results suggest that PRL can act directly on the brain to inhibit gonadotropin release and to stimulate ingestive behavior but central effects of PRL alone are not sufficient to maintain incubation readiness.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

MPOA cytotoxic lesions and maternal behavior in the rat: effects of midpubertal lesions on maternal behavior and the role of ovarian hormones in maturation of MPOA control of maternal behavior.

Small neurotoxin lesions in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) block maternal behavior (MB) in adults but large lesions are required to produce the same effect in juvenile rats (23-27 days of age). To study the maturation of MPOA control of MB, in Experiment I, we compared the effects of small versus large neurotoxin MPOA lesions at midpuberty (38 days of age) on MB. Midpubertal females with large MPOA lesions showed severe impairment in MB affecting retrieving, crouching, and nest building, but 85% of females with small MPOA lesions exhibited all components of MB and performed like control females without MPOA lesions. To study the role of ovarian hormones during puberty on the maturation of MPOA mediation of MB (Experiment IIA), females were ovariectomized either before or after puberty and small MPOA cytotoxic lesions were made at 53 days of age. At 60 days of age both groups showed similar deficits in MB which indicated that the maturation of the MPOA mediation of MB is not dependent on pubertal ovarian hormones. In Experiment IIB, we administered estradiol benzoate (sc) and this overcame the deficit in MB after small MPOA lesions in females that had been deprived of estrogen for shorter periods (30 days) but had not been deprived for longer periods (60 days). In addition, ovary-intact females with circulating estrogen and small lesions in the MPOA at 53 days of age did not show deficits in MB.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Nesting, dust bathing and perching by laying hens in cages: effects of design on behaviour and welfare.

1. Laying hens (192 ISA Brown medium hybrids) were housed from 18 to 72 weeks as groups of 4 in conventional or experimental cages. The main area of all cages provided 675 cm2/hen. All experimental cages had perches, dust baths and nest boxes, which were of three types: litter (L), artificial turf (A) or plastic rollaway (P). These facilities provided an additional 375 to 480 cm2/hen. The nest boxes and dust baths occupied either high or low positions. Behaviour, physical condition and production of the birds were regularly recorded. 2. Mortality was low (1.6% overall) and egg production very good in all treatments. The proportion of cracked and dirty eggs was slightly (but not significantly) higher in the experimental cages. In the experimental cages 90% of eggs were laid overall in the nest boxes and 3% in the dust baths. The proportion laid in the nest boxes was lower early in the laying cycle and increased with time, reaching 99% in A. 3. The facilities were heavily used. Birds spent about 25% of day time on the perches and 10-15% in or near the nest box and dust bath. At night, the majority of birds (90 to 94%) roosted on perches, but most of the remainder were on the lips of the nest box or dust bath, fouling the interiors. 4. Pre-laying behaviour was much more settled in the experimental cages (45 min spent in the eventual laying position) than in the conventional ones (20 min) and total duration varied from 68 min in A to 87 min in P. The number of nest entries varied from 3.0 (A and P) to 4.3 (L); disturbance to sitting birds was correspondingly greater in L. 5. Dust bathing in the experimental cages generally took place during the afternoon in a single bout of about 5 min duration, whereas in the conventional cages it was brief and fragmented (3 bouts of 10 s each). The dust bath was also used for foraging behaviour (pecking and scratching). The treatments with small dust baths (A and P) caused problems for the birds. 6. Feather, foot and claw damage all tended to be less in the experimental than in the conventional cages, though only in the last case was the difference significant. Keel bone depressions appeared to be associated with perches; they were present in 43% of hens in the experimental cages but only 4% in conventional cages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animal Welfare↗

PubMed1985

Effect of feed and water deprivation or force-feeding on plasma prolactin concentration in turkey hens.

Plasma concentrations of prolactin (Prl), glucose, corticosterone, and D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate (DBHB) were compared in nonlaying, nonincubating turkey hens subjected to feed and/or water deprivation. Neither Prl nor corticosterone concentrations were significantly (P greater than 0.05) altered by any of the treatments, whereas fasting significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced the concentration of glucose and increased the concentration of DBHB. Plasma levels of Prl in incubating hens were significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced by nest deprivation either in the absence of feed and water or when the hens were force-fed the normal intake for a laying hen. After 48 h of nest deprivation, the hens resumed nesting within 5 min of being returned to the pen although the plasma levels of Prl were low. Neither nest attentiveness nor the concentration of Prl were affected by force-feeding the hens while they were incubating eggs. The concentration of glucose increased in response to force-feeding or nest deprivation, whereas the concentration of corticosterone was increased only by force-feeding. These results suggest that Prl may not be involved in the striking changes in both intermediary and water metabolism which occur during incubation in the turkey hen. Furthermore, since incubation behavior can occur in the presence of low concentrations of Prl, elevated levels of Prl during broodiness appear to be maintained by a stimulus associated with the nest itself or some other aspect(s) of the environment.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed2003

A framework for modelling and analysing conspecific brood parasitism.

Recently several papers that model parasitic egg-laying by birds in the nests of others of their own species have been published. Whilst these papers are concerned with answering different questions, they approach the problem in a similar way and have a lot of common features. In this paper a framework is developed which unifies these models, in the sense that they all become special cases of a more general model. This is useful for two main reasons; firstly in order to aid clarity, in that the assumptions and conclusions of each of the models are easier to compare. Secondly it provides a base for further similar models to start from. The basic assumptions for this framework are outlined and a method for finding the ESSs of such models is introduced. Some mathematical results for the general, and more specific, models are considered and their implications discussed. In addition we explore the biological consequences of the results that we have obtained and suggest possible questions which could be investigated using models within or very closely related to our framework.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1993

Territorial aggressiveness and its relation to the endocrine system in the pied flycatcher.

Behavioral and endocrine responses were studied following simulated territorial intrusions performed at two different stages in the breeding cycle (pre-nest-building and nestling period) of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Only 45% of the unpaired territorial males from the pre-nest-building period defended their territories by attacking the decoy. After the experimental intrusion unpaired males attacking the decoy had significantly higher plasma testosterone levels than nonattacking unpaired males. Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly higher in both attacking and nonattacking unpaired males than in control males. There were no differences in body size between attacking and nonattacking males. The attacking paired males and paired control males, however, had significantly lower fat depots than other males. The endocrine system of the male pied flycatcher responded within 1 day to the settlement of a female in the territory in that plasma testosterone levels of paired control males were significantly higher than those in unpaired territorial control males. The proportions of attacking males increased significantly (up to 80%) once a female had settled. Unlike in unpaired territorial males, testosterone levels in paired males that attacked the decoy were similar to those in non-attacking males and to those in paired control males after a simulated territorial intrusion. Data suggest that the high testosterone levels are related to territorial aggressiveness and not to sexually related events such as mate-guarding or singing. Forty-five percent of the males from the nestling period did attack the decoy. Despite the strong behavioral response these attacks had no effects on plasma testosterone or corticosterone levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aggression↗

PubMed1991

A longitudinal investigation of the effects of experience on the behavior of aging mice.

The effects of differential experience over most of the adult lifespan of mice were examined utilizing longitudinal designs. Repeated experience with nest building was contrasted with one-time only experience at various age levels from 4 to 24 months of age. The results suggest that the presence or absence of repeated exposure to nest building opportunities affects stability of nest building, while open field activity remains stable regardless of experience and vitality declines regardless of experience. Because nest building at maturation is not influenced by prior experience, the effect of differential experience during the course of aging is not interpreted as a reflection of differential initial acquisition of the behavior. Rather, performance differences are interpreted as providing evidence for the differential maintenance of neural integrity of the underlying mediator for the behavior. The discrepancy among the patterns of change for nest building, open field activity, and performance on the tightrope test is interpreted as reflecting differences in the relative importance of deterioration of the underlying neural mediators in comparison with decreases in muscular strength and flexibility. Implications for design issues in animal research in aging are discussed.

Aging↗

PubMed1992

Temperature-dependent effects of maternal separation on growth, activity, and amphetamine sensitivity in the rat.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of an early stressor, maternal separation, on development, arousal, and sensitivity to amphetamine in the rat. Rat pups were maternally separated at nest temperature (WARM), room temperature (COLD), or nest temperature with agitation (AGIT) for 6 hr each day from 2 to 15 days of age. A control group (CONT) remained with the mother in the nest during this time. COLD subjects were developmentally delayed and had lower body and brain weights than the other three groups into adulthood. WARM and AGIT subjects (both maternally separated at nest temperature) had significant growth delays compared to CONT, but grew more quickly than COLD subjects. COLD subjects were less active than the other maternally separated groups, and WARM and AGIT groups were more active. Activity did not differ at 28 or 75 days of age. However, adult WARM subjects were less sensitive and COLD subjects were more sensitive to amphetamine as measured by locomotor activity than CONT and AGIT subjects, who did not differ from each other. The relationship between early stress, changes in dopaminergic systems, and altered drug responsiveness are discussed in terms of the implications for the etiology of drug abuse.

Amphetamine↗

PubMed1992

Concurrent changes in regional cholinergic parameters and nest odor preference in the early postnatal rat after lead exposure.

The effect of pre- and postnatal lead ingestion on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mACHR) and on nest odor preference, was investigated in the early postnatal male rat. Long Evans dams were given either 0.15% [LL = low lead] or 0.25% [ML = moderate lead] lead acetate (controls, 0.125% or 0.075% sodium acetate) in their drinking solution from the first day of pregnancy and during lactation. Mean blood lead levels were 55 micrograms/100ml at postnatal day [PN] 6 in ML-treated offspring and 35 micrograms/100ml at PN 9 in LL-treated pups. General health of pups and dams was not affected. Lead-treated offspring showed a reduced preference for or ability to identify the smell of home bedding, when tested at PN 9. A decrease in binding (Bmax) of [3H]N-methyl- scopolamine (NMS) was detected in olfactory bulb and in visual cortex of LL-treated rats at PN 9; the affinity (KD) was unchanged. On the other hand, ChAT-activity of ML-treated offspring was significantly increased in olfactory bulb at PN 6. These results suggest that stage-specific behaviors depending on sensory functions and cholinergic projection systems in related brain areas are sensitive to pre- and postnatal lead exposure.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Plasma levels of prolactin and gonadal steroids in relation to multiple-brooding and renesting in free-living populations of the song sparrow, Melospiza melodia.

Plasma levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and prolactin were measured in samples collected from free-living song sparrows, Melospiza melodia. In males, plasma levels of T were elevated early in the season when territories were established and when females laid the first clutch of eggs. Thereafter, T levels declined and remained low throughout the remainder of the breeding cycle. However, if the first brood was lost to a predator, or by experimental removal of the nest, plasma levels of T increased as renesting, to replace the clutch, occurred. Circulating levels of prolactin in males began to rise during the egg-laying stage of the first brood, reached a maximum toward the end of the incubation stage, remained elevated until breeding was terminated, and then declined throughout the moulting stage to basal values in October. Prolactin levels remained high throughout the breeding season irrespective of whether a brood was raised successfully or whether the nest was lost and renesting occurred. In females, plasma levels of E2 were elevated prior to the egg-laying stage for each brood as is typical of multiple-brooded species. However, prolactin titers rose dramatically during egg-laying for the first clutch (slightly higher than in males) and were maximal by onset of incubation. Only females of this species incubate, although males do feed young. As in males, plasma prolactin in females remained high between broods and during experimentally induced renesting, and then declined to basal by the end of the moult stage in October. These data suggest that there are no differences in the temporal patterns of prolactin concentrations in blood between multiple-brooding and renesting. In a separate experiment, captive male song sparrows were transferred from a short day to artificial long days (18L 6D) and a control group was maintained on 9L 15D. In the long-day group, prolactin levels rose abruptly over the first 20 days, as the testes developed, and remained high well into postnuptial moult after the gonads had regressed. Prolactin remained basal in the control group. These data suggest that the temporal pattern of circulating prolactin levels throughout the breeding season is regulated at least partly by changing photoperiod. However, nonphotoperiodic factors are also important since photoperiodically induced increases in prolactin are significantly less than those seen in free-living individuals. These differences may be related to parental behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Steroid hormones and aggression in female Galápagos marine iguanas.

We studied steroid hormone patterns and aggression during breeding in female Galápagos marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). Females display vigorously towards courting males after copulating (female-male aggression), as well as fight for and defend nest sites against other females (female-female aggression). To understand the neuroendocrine basis of this aggressive behavior, we examined changes in testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), corticosterone (CORT), and progesterone (P4) during the mating and nesting periods, and then measured levels in nesting females captured during aggressive interactions. Testosterone reached maximal levels during the mating stage when female-male aggression was most common, and increased slightly, but significantly, during the nesting stage when female-female aggression was most common. However, fighting females had significantly lower T, but higher E2 and P4, than non-fighting females. It remains unclear whether these changes in hormone levels during aggressive interactions are a cause or a consequence of a change in behavior. Our results support the "challenge hypothesis", but suggest that E2 and/or P4 may increase in response to aggressive challenges in females just as T does in males. Females may be rapidly aromatizing T to elevate circulating levels of E2 during aggressive interactions. This hypothesis could explain why non-fighting females had slightly elevated baseline T, but extremely low E2, during stages when aggressive interactions were most common. Although P4 increased rapidly during aggressive encounters, it is unclear whether it acts directly to affect behavior, or indirectly via conversion to E2. The rapid production and conversion of E2 and P4 may be an important mechanism underlying female aggression in vertebrates.

Aggression↗

PubMed2004

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris): avian model and monitor of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination at a Superfund site in southern Illinois, USA.

Accumulation and effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in avian species were evaluated at a Superfund site located at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (IL, USA). European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were monitored at nest boxes constructed at each of two study and two reference sites. During the breeding season, starling productivity and adult provisioning behavior were monitored. At 15 d after hatch, chicks and adults were collected for contaminant and biomarker analyses. Chicks and adults were necropsied. ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was measured in liver tissue, and polychlorinatedbiphenyl (PCB; Aroclor 1254) and 34 chlorinated biphenyl (CB) congener concentrations were measured in carcasses. Polychlorinated biphenyl and CB concentrations also were measured in eggs that failed to hatch. Mean Aroclor 1254 and quantified CB concentrations were greater (p < 0.001) in eggs that failed to hatch, 15-d-old chicks, and adults collected from PCB-contaminated sites (hereafter PCB sites) compared to those collected from reference sites. The EROD activity was greater (p = 0.005) in 15-d-old chicks, but not adults (p = 0.972), collected from PCB sites compared to those collected from reference sites. No differences were found among study and reference sites in number of eggs laid or percent of eggs hatched; however, reduced nest provisioning behavior and decreased chick survival were observed at PCB sites. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations measured in samples collected from the PCB sites are similar to concentrations previously associated with adverse effects in avian species. Other avian species utilizing these sites also may be exposed to PCBs with associated adverse effects. This study demonstrates that starling nestlings are good biological monitors of local contamination and continued monitoring may provide useful data for evaluating the effectiveness of proposed remediation.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

The effect of clomiphene-citrate on broody turkey hens.

The effect of clomiphene-citrate (CC) on broody turkey hens was examined in three experiments. Turkey hens were categorized as broody if found in the laying nest during 6 successive checks per day, if they were reluctant to leave the nest for a period of 24 hr or more, if they had ruffled feathers, and if their cloacal orifices were contracted so as to prevent vaginal exposure by abdominal massage during artificial insemination. In each experiment, 20 hens, selected as broody from commercial breeding flocks, were treated; half were treated with CC at a dosage of 6 mg/kg body weight/day (per os) for 5 consecutive days, and the rest (control) received parallel treatment with a placebo (CaCO3). In all experiments, the CC administration alleviated brooding behavior and increased egg production.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Effect of human presence and handling on circulating corticosterone levels in breeding blue tits (Parus caeruleus).

Birds may react to the presence of humans with an immediate primary behavioural reaction and with physiological responses, such as the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. This study investigates the suite of behavioural and adrenocortical responses to the presence of humans and to handling in two subspecies of blue tits Parus caeruleus, a small hole-nesting passerine, during the period of feeding their nestlings. The first aim was to investigate whether the presence of humans near their nests elicits an adrenocortical response and whether the increase in circulating corticosterone is correlated with the behavioural reaction of the birds. The second aim was to determine the time-lag between the onset of capture and handling stress and the increase in circulating corticosterone levels. The third aim was to try to explain individual variation in the adrenocortical response to handling with 9 intrinsic and extrinsic factors (sex, age, body size, measures of body condition, time of day, and date). One half of the parents showed a behavioural reaction to our presence near the nest, such as alarming, and hesitating to enter the nestbox. However, the degree of behavioural reaction before handling was not related to circulating corticosterone levels which remained low. The results confirm that primary behavioural and adrenocortical reactions to the presence of predators are independent of each other. A comparison with published findings supports the hypothesis that birds react to predators with an adrenocortical response only in a situation that is imminently life-threatening. Hence, the primary behavioural response of the bird to a predator may determine whether or not an adrenocortical response is elicited. An adrenocortical response to handling started 3 min after capture in the nest box. Individual variation in baseline corticosterone levels could be explained by subspecies and body condition (fat stores), variation in handling-induced corticosterone levels by subspecies, body condition, body size, and time of day.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2004

Predatory behavior in a necrophagous bee Trigona hypogea (Hymenoptera; Apidae, Meliponini).

Although most bees feed on nectar and pollen, several exceptions have been reported. The strangest of all is the habit found in some neotropical stingless bees, which have completely replaced pollen-eating by eating animal protein from corpses. For more than 20 years, it was believed that carrion was the only protein source for these bees. We report that these bees feed not only off dead animals, but on the living brood of social wasps and possibly other similar sources. Using well developed prey location and foraging behaviors, necrophagous bees discover recently abandoned wasps' nests and, within a few hours, prey upon all immatures found there.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Dominance interactions in young adult paper wasp (Polistes dominulus) foundresses: a playlike behavior?

The idea that insects play has often aroused skepticism. Nevertheless, the authors investigated the occurrence of a playlike behavior in young individuals of a paper wasp. Polistes dominulus foundresses hibernate in aggregations and found associative nests in the spring. In aggregations, wasps exhibit most of the rank-dependent behaviors that they will use in the nest 6 months later. In aggregations, precocious dominance interactions are performed with exaggerated frequencies, whereas aggression and trophallaxis are rare. Dominance behavior in aggregations is apparently useless, but it probably allows wasps to assess their dominance potential without any apparent reproductive competition. Surprisingly, these interactions may be best interpreted as play because dominance behavior in aggregations shares several features with mammalian play fighting.

Animals↗