|
| |
|
|
Individuality of a courtship in semi-feral horses (Equus caballus)
Boušková, Adéla ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
In most of the mammalian species the courtship is a very important event preceding the reproduction itself. In some species specific courtship strategies are well described, however, in horses they are not, although courtship may have a major impact on the reproductive success of the individual. In horses (Equus caballus), polygynous mammals with harem type of social organization, courtship naturally involved wide spectrum of behaviour, by contrast, under domestic conditions they almost do not occur. This diploma thesis addresses the courtship and reproduction in semi-feral and domestic horses, specifically Exmoor pony and Merens horse breed, and individual reactions of mares to the stallion in the breeding season. A total of 45 individuals were observed for 240 hours from February to June 2018. We assumed the similarity of courtship within particular couples, but the result of the statistical analysis was the opposite, a high variability in the behavioural pattern repeatability (ICC 0,235-0,832), which, however, did not correlate with individual mare characteristics, i.e. age (ρ=-0,194, p=0,472), parity (t=0,569, p=0,578) or postpartum estrus (t=-0,070, p=0,945). We also assumed that the mare, which would show aggressive behaviour to the stallion during the courtship, would end the courtship by leaving or...
|
|
|
Perception of the human disturbance by ungulates in the wild and in the captivity
Šťastná, Tereza ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Frýdlová, Petra (referee)
The relationship between ungulates and humans has been evolving ever since the first predator's interaction with the prey, leading to the current domestication. The behavior of ungulates differs based on the human disturbance. The goal of this thesis was to compare the reactivity to humans of selected species in nature vs. in captivity and determine its correlation, inter or intraspecific. The thesis indicates reactivity to humans of specific species of ungulates (donkeys, horses, reindeers and goats). Following reactions were chosen for comparison: vigilance, alert distance, flight and avoidance distance. There are several acting factors like previous experience with humans, habituation, group size or season. With group size, the vigilance decreased, which was proven with donkeys, reindeers and goats. The behavior differed based on the season by resources availability, offspring's presence in herd (higher vigilance) or rut (lower vigilance). In captivity, there were less human contact avoidance, while the experimenter was known. Based on researches, ungulates tend to avoid humans more in nature, than in captivity. Sources claim, that among chosen ungulates, the most vigilant in both nature and captivity are reindeers. Further researches could later consider the human perception according to the...
|
|
|
The acoustic detection of potential predator in domestic horse (Equus caballus)
Vidimská, Tereza ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
Equidae belong to a group of large herbivores, which survival in natural environment depends beside others on their capability of fast predator recognition and detection. They can sensually recognise a possible threat in advance and react by immediate escape, which increases their survival. Also domestic horses still show very sensitive reaction to sudden (unexpected) stimuli. So we assume, that the ability to detect predator immediately is conserved despite of the long domestication process. The supportive indirect evidence is given by the successful breeding of the feral herds all over the world. However, studies showing the direct reaction of domestic horse toward the canids (as the most common predators), are still absent. Aim of the work was to find, if the horses (Equus caballus) could recognize acoustic sign of dogs like predators and if they could recognize the level of potential threat according to the number of predators, similarly as their wild ancestors. The recordings of barking of big dog breeds were obtained and modified. The final recording contained the set of barking coming from one individual or three different. The recording was played to the experimental horses, under controlled conditions, together with white sound as a control. The reactions were recorded. Altogether 12...
|
|
|
Horse assisted social cognition
Pfannová, Adéla ; Baštecká, Bohumila (advisor) ; Komárková, Martina (referee) ; Čapková, Kateřina (referee)
of Diploma Thesis Social Cognition with horse's assistance Adela Pfannova 2017 Social Cognition is an area of psychology, which evaluates how people perceive others, relations and events in their social environment. Improving skills in this area is beneficial for different parts of life of a person and for the whole society. Consequences can be the development of prosocial behaviour, collaboration, and decrease in aggressive behaviour and in perceiving people through stereotypes. These skills can be improved with Equine Assisted Activities, which I further write about in this Thesis. With the inspiration of Natural horsemanship or Equitation Science, it is possible to try to understand horse's cognition, which differs a lot from human perspective. Horses are social animals, which are sensitive for signals from their environment and quick in responses to them. Because they are naturally living in herd hierarchy, they are trying to clear social positions with humans as well. That makes humans to realize their current place in hierarchy and to communicate it. Horse's influence on people is complex and it can affect all parts of their personality, which I describe as bio- psychosocial-spiritual. It is possible to use horse's positive effect for Treatment or Therapy.
|
|
|
Social preferences and interactions of common eland during parturition period
Staňková, Helena ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
Common elands (Taurotragus oryx) belong between the world's biggest antelopes. The basic social unit is created by several females with offspring, males are joining them only in the breeding period. There is a dominance hierarchy in a herd, which eliminates strong negative conflicts mainly between adult females. Except agonistic interactions, affiliative ones are taken place as well, which have positive impact on relationships in a herd. The aim of this work is t o summarize previous studies dealing with social structure and behaviour of common eland focusing on affiliative, maternal and agonistic interaction in a herd. Experimental part is focused on preferences of females for a choice of the closest companion, if the choice is influenced with age, kinship or maternal state of a female. Data were collected through direct observations of a herd of common elands on a farm Lány using 15 min scans of chosen females. Distances were measured between females and all the other herd members. Selected social behaviour of any two members of a herd was recorded using an all occurrence sampling method. The statistical analysis showed that the most (98,77 %) of interactions were negative, females preferred contactless agonistic interactions, threat and withdrawal. Allogrooming was more often found between a...
|
|
|
The acoustic detection of potential predator in domestic horse (Equus caballus)
Vidimská, Tereza ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
Equidae belong to a group of large herbivores, which survival in natural environment depends beside others on their capability of fast predator recognition and detection. They can sensually recognise a possible threat in advance and react by immediate escape, which increases their survival. Also domestic horses still show very sensitive reaction to sudden (unexpected) stimuli. So we assume, that the ability to detect predator immediately is conserved despite of the long domestication process. The supportive indirect evidence is given by the successful breeding of the feral herds all over the world. However, studies showing the direct reaction of domestic horse toward the canids (as the most common predators), are still absent. Aim of the work was to find, if the horses (Equus caballus) could recognize acoustic sign of dogs like predators and if they could recognize the level of potential threat according to the number of predators, similarly as their wild ancestors. The recordings of barking of big dog breeds were obtained and modified. The final recording contained the set of barking coming from one individual or three different. The recording was played to the experimental horses, under controled conditions, together with white sound as a control. The reactions were recorded. Altogether 12 horses out of...
|
|
|
Social relationships in feral populations of ungulates (with accent on environmental conditions)
Boušková, Adéla ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Horáček, Ivan (referee)
The adaptation of feral ungulates to the environmental conditions is important topic nowadays, not only because they often feralise out of their original home-range, but also from the behavioural point of view. The aim of my work is to answer several hypotheses, covering the differences in social relationship of ungulates in the wild and domestic conditions and their connnections to the environment.The thesis describes the frequency and intensity of interindividual interactions (hierarchy, aggression and friendly behaviour) and compares this behaviour between feral and domestic animals. As a main result may be mentioned the fact that social structure of feral individuals is modified as a consequence of restrictions of social behaviour in the domestic conditions (creches in feral goats). The enhanced fertility, which resulted from the long lasting artifical selection process in the breeds, brought also increased fertility in the feral conditions. The sex ratio at birth was found not related to the feral state or captivity. I suggest that aggressive and friendly interactions are more common in the domestic, not in feral environment. Future research should be focused more throughly on the behavioural adaptations of feral animals.
|
|
|
Numerical competence in primates
Rejlová, Markéta ; Nekovářová, Tereza (advisor) ; Komárková, Martina (referee)
Numerical competences include the number of abilities as representation of the quantity and transformations or operations with quantity. Many species of animals can use these abilities for example during searching for food, sexual partners and also for detection of number of competitors or predators. Numerical abilities such as counting or estimating quantity can increase the chance of survival and reproduction. In this work, I summarize some previous studies of numerical competences in primates and humans and I also mention experiments in other species. I divide the competences into chapters: estimating of the numbers (relative and absolute), counting, summation, conservation of quantity, proportion, ordinality and transitivity. The aim of this study was to study the ability of macaques (Macaca mulatta) to distinguish between the quantities of two sets. In the following part of experiment I observed the preference of monkeys for size or the number of stimuli. This preference was studied also in children. The results confirm the ability of relative numerousness judgment of monkeys. The results demonstrate that with increasing difference of quantity between the two sets the ability of distinguish between the two quantities also increase. Other experiment studied preference of larger number of...
|
|
|
Early ontogeny of mother offspring bonding in Bovinae
Staňková, Helena ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Jůnková, Pavla (referee)
The aim of this thesis is, based on the literature, to study the origin, characters and duration of social bonds between the mother and her offspring in Bovinae. The emphasis was given on the specifics of the behaviour related to birth and ecological differences between species. The explored group covers medium and large Artiodactyla living in groups. Many of them were domesticated, and they live in specific conditions so their behaviour may differ. The strongest bond is between the mother and her offspring. This bond is essential for the young, which is completely dependent on the maternal care. Maternal behaviour may be observed few days before parturition, but the most visible sign is maternal separation from the herd to secure exclusive interaction with own offspring. Mother learns to recognize her offspring after parturition, primarily by smell, also for this reason the young is licked. Suckling provides the nutrition to the calf, but also it reinforces mutual relationship. The strength of the bond is mainly dependant on the social environment, strategy of the young, it's age and other factors. The bond between the mother and her offspring differs according to the species, in the duration and in a way of termination. This topic is nowadays only poorly understood and needs further research.
|
guest ::
RSS feed.