Articles tagged with Ethology
A new study has found that changes in a senior dog's gait can be an early warning sign of dementia. The research tracked the stride length of 88 geriatric dogs over time, revealing a significant decrease in front leg stride length with worsening cognitive decline. This change was found to be more pronounced than age-related decline alone.
A new study from Stockholm University found that young guppies raised with visual contact to live fish developed larger brains and relatively larger olfactory bulbs compared to those with only screen-based exposure. This suggests that interactive social experiences during development may be important for normal brain growth.
Urban male bowerbirds collect more colorful and larger human-made items than rural rivals, suggesting a preference for these traits in females. Researchers found that red decorations are more vivid in urban areas, while green decorations are duller.
A new study found that participating in awe-inspiring natural phenomena, like a solar eclipse, increases people's identification with science and sense of belonging. The researchers also discovered that awe plays a powerful role in this process.
A recent study found that homing pigeons use simple route averaging to improve their navigation when flying together. This strategy allows the birds to generate social routes from solitary ones, providing evidence for a simpler mechanism of social learning than previously thought.
Researchers found that the gut responds to protein deficiency by activating a fast neural circuit and a slower hormonal signal, which selectively changes dietary priorities. The study reveals a previously unknown gut-brain signaling system that rapidly alters feeding behavior in animals.
Scientists analyzed GPS tracking data from 37 animal species paired with cellphone location data to reveal how humans impact wildlife. The study found that 57% of species were impacted by human presence and landscape modification, with varied responses between species.
Researchers have captured the behavior of scissor-tailed nightjars creating a unique sound by snapping their wrists together during courtship and copulation. The study sheds light on lesser-known bird communication methods and raises questions about the nuances of mechanical sounds.
A novel imaging pipeline called Neuroplex enables simultaneous measurements of up to nine distinct neuronal populations in living mice. This approach accelerates the pace of scientific exploration into how the brain controls behavior by overcoming fundamental limitations in miniscope recordings.
A study found that psilocybin, a key magic mushroom ingredient, significantly reduces aggressive attack behavior and energetically costly social behaviors in mangrove rivulus fish. The compound selectively dampens escalated social conflict without suppressing lower-energy social display behaviors.
A team of researchers created a touchscreen-based game task inspired by hide-and-seek to elicit curiosity in resident Japanese macaques. The monkeys preferred moderate uncertainty, spending nearly 100 trials without rewards. This study supports the goldilocks principle, where animals seek moderately complex or uncertain stimuli.
A 33-year study of wild capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica reveals how climate fluctuations impact social dynamics, changing the costs and benefits of living together. Larger groups can offset internal competition by expanding their range and claiming areas from smaller groups, but this strategy is sensitive to climate variability.
A study found that wild sulphur-crested cockatoos learn about novel food through social learning, with juveniles more likely to conform to the majority's preferences. The birds' dietary knowledge spread rapidly through their community, influenced by age groups and sex.
In a unique behavior, monkeys on Gibraltar have learned to eat dirt to help them digest the junk food consumed by tourists, which disrupts their gut microbiome. The researchers found that geophagy is socially learned and has become part of the macaques' culture, with different troops having preferences for certain types of soil.
A Linköping University study shows that playing with dogs for just a few minutes a day can significantly improve the emotional bond between owners and their pets. Dog training did not have the same effect, suggesting that playtime is crucial for building strong relationships.
Researchers found that crabs' iconic sideways walk originated from a single, forward-walking ancestor around 200 million years ago. This rare innovation likely contributed to the ecological success of true crabs by making their escape direction unpredictable.
A new study provides the first direct evidence of cuckoo egg-laying behaviour in cavity nests, rejecting a centuries-old myth about egg-carrying. Cuckoos use two distinct strategies to parasitize host nests, involving trade-offs between accuracy and risk.
A study shows how a kea parrot with a missing upper beak uses innovative fighting techniques to dominate his group and gain social status. He achieves this through 'beak jousting,' which proves more effective than other methods, leading to improved health benefits and social recognition.
Researchers at Salk Institute discovered that naked mole rats can transition to peaceful queen succession, demonstrating flexibility in their social order. This finding challenges previous understanding of colony dynamics and opens new avenues for studying eusocial mammals.
A new study reveals that sunbirds employ tongue suction to slurp nectar, a novel mechanism in vertebrates. This finding highlights the power of convergent evolution, where different species adapt to similar ecological challenges in distinct ways.
Entomologist Mark Moffett observes harvester ants congregating with smaller cone ants in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains. The unusual behavior involves the cone ants licking and nibbling the harvester ants' body surfaces, possibly consuming calorie-rich dust-size morsels.
Wild grey squirrels show a preference for almonds over pumpkin seeds, even when they require a longer climb to reach. This suggests that animals may benefit from waiting or working harder for a better outcome in natural decision-making scenarios.
A study by University of California, Berkeley biologists found detectable alcohol in at least one flower of 26 of the 29 species of plants tested. Hummingbirds and other animals consume small doses throughout the day without apparent effects, but may metabolize ethanol like mammals do.
Researchers found that mosquitoes' rectal cells interact with their nervous system, influencing appetite and behavior. The study suggests the gut plays a key role in regulating behavior across species, with implications for understanding mosquito feeding habits and potential treatments.
A recent study published in Science found that humans and animals have overlapping preferences for certain qualities of an animal's call, with agreement strongest for lower-frequency sounds. The study used a gamified citizen science experiment involving over 4,000 human participants from around the world.
Researchers found that bull sharks have active social preferences and choose their social partners, similar to humans. The study revealed that adult sharks form the core of the social network, while younger sharks are less socially connected.
Ravens use spatial memory and navigation to find food scattered over the landscape, visiting areas with a history of frequent wolf kills. They can remember the long-term 'resource landscape' created by wolves, allowing them to locate kills across tens or hundreds of kilometers
Researchers found that bonobos and chimpanzees exhibit similar levels of aggression in zoos, contradicting their differing reputations. The study suggests that aggression levels vary within each species, with some groups displaying higher aggression, and that environmental factors may play a role in shaping their behavior.
Researchers engineered a 3D-printed robotic rattlesnake to test how 38 zoo animals responded to rattling behavior. The study found that the rattling display functions as an effective deterrent, with species sharing natural geographic range with rattlesnakes exhibiting stronger fear responses.
Researchers mapped GLP-1 expression in 25 brain regions in each sex, uncovering striking differences in key circuits. The atlas reveals sex-biased expression in certain medullary nuclei, with higher Glp1 densities and numbers of Glp1-expressing neurons in females compared to males.
Researchers observed finless porpoises in Ise Bay, Japan, interacting with adults beyond their mothers, challenging the long-held assumption of their solitary nature. Infants approach and swim alongside adults who are not their mothers, suggesting a potential weaker mother-calf bond compared to other species.
Researchers found that jackdaw chicks learned to associate predator sounds with danger when paired with adult alarm calls, becoming more vigilant. However, they did not learn from contact calls or a non-predatory birdcall, suggesting an evolutionary process to ensure only biologically meaningful links are learned.
Research found that dogs and 16-month-old toddlers exhibited similar prosocial behaviour when searching for a hidden object, with over 75% of them indicating or retrieving the object. In contrast, companion cats rarely showed such behaviour, suggesting domestication may not be enough to produce human-like cooperation.
Researchers found caterpillars mimic ant signals using precise rhythmic beats to gain acceptance, feeding, and protection. The most ant-dependent species produce regular, complex rhythms similar to those used by ants.
A solitary bottlenose dolphin in the Venetian Lagoon is monitored by researchers who assess its remarkable adaptation to urban surroundings. The team highlights the need for human behavior management to ensure the dolphin's welfare, rather than focusing on wildlife protection measures.
A recent study has confirmed that wild African chimpanzees consume significant quantities of alcohol, with 17 out of 20 urine samples containing ethyl glucuronide, a metabolic byproduct of ethanol. The chimps' diet likely consists of fermented fruits, which provide around 14 grams of ethanol per day.
Researchers observed cleaner wrasse recognizing themselves in mirrors and experimenting with it, suggesting advanced intelligence known as 'contingency testing'. The fish also demonstrated flexible, self-referential processing, indicating widespread self-awareness across taxonomic groups, including fish.
A University of California - Riverside study has identified bed bugs' fear of water and wet surfaces, which affects their behavior and movement patterns. Researchers found that all bed bug ages and genders avoid wet surfaces, with younger insects being more sensitive to moisture.
Researchers analyzed downward climbing behaviors in 21 small-to-medium-sized arboreal mammal species to understand early primate evolution. They found primates used tail-first and side postures more often than non-primates, suggesting upright postures evolved to adapt to tree environments.
Temperature impacts the quality and speed of male frogs' mating calls, which are more attractive to females in warmer conditions. This study suggests that female frogs use these calls to gauge environmental suitability for reproduction.
Researchers found that while the eclipse influenced sound activity and diversity, it didn't alter acoustic complexity. The study used novel acoustic capture devices to record animal vocalizations before, during, and after the April 2024 eclipse at three Ohio sites.
Couzin's research focuses on quantitative behavioural biology, using advanced technology to study collective motion and decision-making. He has challenged conventional views of collective motion and influenced fields like robotics and the social sciences with his widely cited publications.
Research found that horses exhibit fearful behavior when exposed to human fear odors, adopting the emotional state of fear. This suggests a mechanism of emotional contagion through chemical cues between humans and horses.
Researchers used game theory and individual-based models to show how attack and defense strategies emerge as stable patterns, providing a theoretical framework for understanding predator–prey interactions. The study highlights the importance of sensory abilities for survival and challenges traditional views of predator-prey relationships.
A research team used drones to study feral horse units in Portugal, finding that they dynamically adjust their shape and distance to avoid conflict with neighboring groups. Exceptionally, a 'friendly pair' showed high social tolerance, consistently approaching and mixing members.
Researchers discovered that pūkeko combine individual sound elements to create complex call sequences, expanding their range of expression. The team found that certain sound elements have specific roles in calls and sequence combinations, allowing for nuanced communication about context, state of arousal, and more.
Researchers have discovered the first case of flexible, multi-purpose tool use in cattle, with Veronika using a deck brush to scratch different body regions. The study highlights the cognitive abilities of cattle and expands our understanding of animal intelligence.
Researchers found that male nightingales precisely match pitch, but also adjust note length to achieve a trade-off strategy. They exhibit flexibility in how closely they match pitch versus duration depending on the combination heard. This ability requires rapid processing and neural flexibility.
Researchers build a robot to demonstrate how tropical bats spot insects perched on leaves using echolocation, revealing a plausible mechanism for the acoustic mirroring effect. The study suggests that bats can efficiently determine leaf occupancy by scanning sounds from an angle and listening for echoes.
Researchers found that Gifted Word Learner dogs can quickly learn hundreds of toy names through natural play sessions with their owners. These dogs excel in learning both directly and from overheard speech, similar to human infants.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new stem cell medium using only canine-derived genes, enabling the stable cultivation of canine induced pluripotent stem cells. This breakthrough reduces cross-species contamination risks and paves the way for clinical applications in dogs.
A new study reveals that elephants, giraffes, and rhinos are unable to get enough salt from their habitats, leading to sodium deficiency. The researchers found that larger-bodied species are more affected by sodium scarcity, which influences their habitat selection and behavior.
When their nest is disturbed, bumblebees respond by preparing to defend the nest, searching for the threat, warning potential intruders to stay away, and finally recovering from stress. They maintain heightened vigilance for around 4 minutes after the disturbance.
A new study reveals that wild orangutans' dietary knowledge forms a culturally-dependent repertoire, which can only be acquired through years of social learning. The team's simulation model showed that young orangutans need to learn from others to develop their full diet repertoire by adulthood.
Madagascar hissing cockroaches gather in groups to conserve water when the air is dry, a behavior that helps them retain moisture. This strategy, previously observed in small insects and larvae, may become more common as climate change alters humidity patterns.
Researchers have developed a culture medium, 'AR medium,' that transforms canine iPS cells into functional heart muscle cells with contractions. This breakthrough could accelerate the development of regenerative medicine and genetic disease treatments for humans.
Researchers found that dogs with stronger ADHD-like traits were slower to learn new information, but improved with repetition and sufficient sleep. The studies also revealed a link between ADHD-like traits and self-control in dogs, suggesting that cognitive training and sleep can mitigate these impairments.
Researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of kissing using a cross-species approach and found it evolved in large apes 21.5 - 16.9 million years ago. The study also suggests that Neanderthals likely engaged in kissing, given their shared oral microbes and genetic material with humans.
Simple items like hay feeders and giant rubber activity balls can improve horse behavior and reduce health issues such as ulcers and fragile leg bones. Researchers found that stabled horses displayed increased movement and reduced frustration behaviors when provided with enrichment tools.