RESUMO
Intensification of swine production can predispose pigs to chronic stress, with adverse effects on the neuroendocrine and immune systems that can lead to health problems, poor welfare, and reduced production performance. Consequently, there is an interest in developing tools to prevent or eliminate chronic stress. Music is widely used as a therapeutic strategy for stress management in humans and may have similar benefits in non-human animals. This study evaluated the effects of a music-based auditory enrichment program in pigs from a multidimensional perspective by assessing psychophysiological responses. Two experimental groups of 20 pigs each were selected for the study: one enriched, exposed to a program of functional veterinary music designed for pigs, and a control group without auditory stimulation. Qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) and skin lesions indicative of agonistic behavior were used to evaluate the psychological determinants underlying the observed behaviors. Physiological assessment included hemograms, with the determination of the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio and daily measurements of cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase levels. The results demonstrated a positive effect of a music-based auditory program on psychophysiological responses. Therefore, this strategy developed for environmental enrichment may be beneficial in reducing stress and contributing to the welfare and health of pigs under production conditions.
Assuntos
Comportamento Animal , Hidrocortisona , Animais , Suínos , Hidrocortisona/sangue , Hidrocortisona/metabolismo , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Bem-Estar do Animal , Estresse Psicológico/terapia , Música/psicologia , Criação de Animais Domésticos/métodos , Masculino , Estimulação Acústica , Feminino , Musicoterapia/métodos , Estresse FisiológicoRESUMO
Since the NIH 'Sex as biological variable' policy, the percentage of studies including female subjects have increased largely. Nonetheless, many researchers fail to adequate their protocols to include females. In this narrative review, we aim to discuss the methodological pitfalls of the inclusion of female rodents in behavioral neuroscience. We address three points to consider in studies: the manipulations conducted only in female animals (such as estrous cycle monitoring, ovariectomy, and hormone replacement), the consideration of males as the standard, and biases related to interpretation and publication of the results. In addition, we suggest guidelines and perspectives for the inclusion of females in preclinical research.
Assuntos
Neurociências , Animais , Feminino , Neurociências/métodos , Roedores , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Ciclo Estral/fisiologia , Caracteres Sexuais , MasculinoRESUMO
Robotic milking systems are successful innovations in the development of dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to analyse the milking characteristics and behavior of dairy cows of different calving orders in "milk first" robotic milking systems. The data were collected from a commercial herd located in the Midwest region of Minas Gerais (Brazil), which uses an automatic milking system (AMS TM, DeLaval). Were analysed 26,574 observations of 235 Holstein cows were available. Data were evaluated by multivariate analysis of variance and the Tukey test. - Tthe characteristics milk flow and milking efficiency were more favourable for multiparous cows (p <0.01), while the time in the stall was more favourable for primiparous females (p <0.01). The values of handling time were better in the primiparous cows (p <0.01). Primiparous cows had higher amounts of kick-off (p <0.001), and multiparous cows had higher incomplete milkings (p <0.001). The number of incomplete milkings showed a higher ratio in terms of reduction in milk production in 26.6% in primiparous cows and 26.7% in multiparous cows (p <0.01). Regarding the behavioral characteristics, primiparous cows had higher amounts of kickbacks, while multiparous cows had greater quantities of incomplete milkings.
Assuntos
Comportamento Animal , Indústria de Laticínios , Lactação , Paridade , Robótica , Animais , Bovinos/fisiologia , Feminino , Paridade/fisiologia , Lactação/fisiologia , Indústria de Laticínios/métodos , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Gravidez , Leite/química , BrasilRESUMO
Vanilla planifolia is native to the Mexican tropics. Despite its worldwide economic importance as a source of vanilla for flavoring and other uses, almost all vanilla is produced by expensive hand-pollination, and minimal documentation exists for its natural pollination and floral visitors. There is a claim that vanilla is pollinated by Melipona stingless bees, but vanilla is more likely pollinated by orchid bees. Natural pollination has not been tested in the Yucatán region of Mexico, where both vanilla and potential native bee pollinators are endemic. We document for the first time the flowering process, nectar production and natural pollination of V. planiflora, using bagged flower experiments in a commercial planting. We also assessed the frequency and visitation rates of stingless bees and orchid bees on flowers. Our results showed low natural pollination rates of V. planifolia (~ 5%). Only small stingless bees (Trigona fulviventris and Nannotrigona perilampoides) were seen on flowers, but no legitimate visits were witnessed. We verified that there were abundant Euglossa and fewer Eulaema male orchid bees around the vanilla plants, but neither visited the flowers. The introduction of a colony of the stingless bee Melipona beecheii and the application of chemical lures to attract orchid bees failed to induce floral visitations. Melipona beecheii, and male orchid bees of Euglossa viridissima and E. dilemma may not be natural pollinators of vanilla, due to lack of attraction to flowers. It seems that the lack of nectar in V. planifolia flowers reduces the spectrum of potential pollinators. In addition, there may be a mismatch between the attractiveness of vanilla floral fragrances to the species of orchid bees registered in the studied area. Chemical studies with controlled experiments in different regions would be important to further elucidate the potential pollinators of vanilla in southern Mexico.
Assuntos
Flores , Polinização , Vanilla , Animais , Abelhas/fisiologia , México , Flores/fisiologia , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Néctar de PlantasRESUMO
Insects, despite possessing relatively small brains, exhibit noteworthy adaptive behaviors, making them intriguing subjects for understanding learning mechanisms. This study explores the learning capabilities of dragonfly larvae (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) in conditioning experiments, shedding light on the cognitive processes that underpin their remarkable abilities. As apex predators, dragonflies play a crucial role in ecosystems, necessitating a diverse range of learning behaviors for survival and reproductive success. We addressed whether dragonfly larvae can differentiate between different colored stimuli and associate color with prey. Our experimental design demonstrated that dragonfly larvae are able to recognize conditioning stimuli. The findings contribute valuable insights into the cognitive abilities of dragonflies, suggesting that these insects can learn and discriminate colors of stimuli. Overall, this research broadens our understanding of insect learning and cognition, contributing to the broader field of animal behavior and memory.
Assuntos
Larva , Aprendizagem , Odonatos , Animais , Odonatos/fisiologia , Larva/fisiologia , Aprendizagem/fisiologia , Cor , Comportamento Animal/fisiologiaRESUMO
Some parasitic fungi can increase fitness by modifying the behavior of their hosts. These behaviors are known as extended phenotypes because they favor parasitic gene propagation. Here, we studied three lineages of Ophiocordyceps, a fungus that infects ants, altering their conduct before death. According to fungal strategy, ants may die in leaf litter, with entwined legs in branches, under the moss mat, or biting plant tissue. It is critical for parasites that the corpses stay at these places because Ophiocordyceps exhibit iteroparity, possibly releasing spores in multiple life cycles. Thus, we assumed substrate cadaver permanence as a fungi reproductive proxy and corpse height as a proxy of cadaver removal. We hypothesize that biting vegetation and dying in higher places may increase the permanence of ant corpses while avoiding possible corpse predation on the forest floor. We monitored over a year more than 4000 zombie ants in approximately 15 km2 of undisturbed tropical forest in central Amazonia. Our results show a longer permanence of corpses with increasing ground height, suggesting that the parasites may have better chances of releasing spores and infecting new hosts at these places. We found that the zombie ants that last longer on the substrate die under the moss mat in tree trunks, not necessarily biting vegetation. The biting behavior appears to be the most derived and complex mechanism among Ophiocordyceps syndromes. Our results put these findings under a new perspective, proposing that seemingly less complex behavioral changes are ecologically equivalent and adaptative for other parasite lineages.
Assuntos
Formigas , Fenótipo , Formigas/fisiologia , Formigas/microbiologia , Formigas/parasitologia , Animais , Hypocreales/fisiologia , Brasil , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita/fisiologiaRESUMO
Instrumental appetitive extinction involves the reduction of a previously reinforced response when its occurrence is no longer rewarded. Two experiments with terrestrial toads (Rhinella arenarum) tested whether the occurrence of a nonreinforced response is necessary for response extinction by varying the time of exposure to nonrewarded goal-box stimuli across groups. In Experiment 1, toads that received the same acquisition training (15 sessions, 1 session/day, 300â¯s of access to water in the goal box) were randomly assigned to two groups. In Group 600 (n=12), animals spent 600â¯s in the goal box in 8 daily extinction sessions (water present but inaccessible). In Group 0 (n=11), toads performed the runway response (i.e., walking from the start to the goal box) but were removed as soon as they entered the goal box, thus having minimal exposure to nonrewarded goal-box stimuli. The runway response was weakened in Group 600 across extinction trials, but exhibited little change in Group 0. In Experiment 2, toads were randomly assigned to two groups after the same acquisition training. Group 0 (n=7) was treated the same as Group 0 in the previous experiment. In Group RI (retention interval, n=7), toads remained in their home cage for 13 days. Finally, all animals received 4 extinction sessions with 300â¯s in the empty goal box. There was little behavioral change in Group 0 during the 13 sessions with minimal exposure to the goal box. In extinction, both groups reduced their runway response at similar rates. Although the procedures were instrumental, extinction of the runway response in toads can be accounted for in terms of a Pavlovian approach response to stimuli paired with reward and nonreward in the goal box.
Assuntos
Condicionamento Clássico , Condicionamento Operante , Extinção Psicológica , Animais , Extinção Psicológica/fisiologia , Condicionamento Clássico/fisiologia , Condicionamento Operante/fisiologia , Recompensa , Masculino , Reforço Psicológico , Feminino , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Bufonidae/fisiologia , Bufo arenarum/fisiologiaRESUMO
Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is a common step for treating infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive technologies and in female fertility preservation cycles. In some cases, undergoing multiple COHs is required for couples to conceive. Behavioral changes such as anxiety and depression can be caused by ovulation-inducing drugs. Sex steroids play a role in locomotor activity, behavioral changes, and nociception, specifically during fluctuations and sudden drops in estrogen levels. This study evaluated the effect of repeated ovarian hyperstimulation (ROH) on weight, locomotor activity, anxiety-like and depression-like behavior, and nociception in female mice. The animals were divided into two groups: control (placebo; Control) and treated (ROH; Treatment). Ovulation was induced once weekly for 10 consecutive weeks. Locomotor activity (open field test), anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze, hole board, and marble burying tests), depression-like behavior (splash and forced swim tests), and nociception (hot plate and Von Frey tests) were evaluated before and after ROH. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way analysis of variance to evaluate the effects of ROH, age of mice, and their interaction. The results suggested that ROH contributed to weight gain, increased locomotor activity, and induced depression-like behavior in female mice. Furthermore, the age of the mouse contributed to weight gain, increased locomotor activity, and induced anxiety-like and depression-like behavior in female mice. ROH could change the behavior of female mice, particularly inducing depression-like behavior. Further studies are required to evaluate various COH protocols, specifically with drugs that prevent fluctuations and drastic drops in estrogen levels, such as aromatase inhibitors.
Assuntos
Ansiedade , Depressão , Animais , Feminino , Camundongos , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Indução da Ovulação/métodos , Nociceptividade/fisiologia , Locomoção/fisiologia , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Peso Corporal/fisiologiaRESUMO
The presence of humans frequently modifies the behavior of animals, particularly their foraging patterns, compromising energetic demands. The fiddler crab Leptuca leptodactyla inhabits mangroves with high degrees of anthropogenic influence. Thus, we tested if populations living in highly anthropized mangroves respond differently from those living in more protected areas. We predict that individuals from touristy areas will be more tolerant to humans and will resume their activities sooner after disturbance. To do so, we conducted an experiment that consisted in the approach of an observer to the burrows, recording the response of individuals to the stimuli. The experiment took place in July 2022, in Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. We analysed the duration and latency of various behaviors of a total of 80 adult males from two populations (high and low anthropogenic influence). Contrary to our predictions, individuals from the anthropized population were less tolerant, spending more time inside their burrows and taking longer to resume their activities. Therefore, fiddler crabs were not habituated to human presence. These results help us understand the learning process in invertebrates and their ability to select stimuli, contributing to understanding the impacts of human-wildlife interactions.
Assuntos
Comportamento Animal , Braquiúros , Animais , Braquiúros/fisiologia , Braquiúros/classificação , Masculino , Humanos , Brasil , Comportamento Animal/fisiologiaRESUMO
Identifying the factors that favor group living is central to studies of animal social behavior. One demographic parameter that is expected to substantially shape spatial and social relationships is population density. Specifically, high population densities may favor group living by constraining opportunities to live alone. In contrast, low densities may allow individuals to spread out within the habitat, leading to a reduction in the prevalence or size of social groups. Abrupt changes in density following natural catastrophic events provide important opportunities to evaluate the effects of population density on patterns of spatial and social organization. As part of long-term studies of the behavioral ecology of a population of highland tuco-tucos (Ctenomys opimus) at Monumento Natural Laguna de los Pozuelos, Jujuy Province, Argentina, we monitored the demographic and behavioral consequences of a flood that inundated our study site during December 2012. Unlike most species of Ctenomys studied to date, highland tuco-tucos are group living, meaning that multiple adults share burrow systems and nest sites. Despite a post-flood reduction in population density of ~75%, animals present on the study site during the 2013 breeding season continued to live in multi-adult social units (groups). No differences between pre- and post-flood home range sizes were detected and although between-unit spatial overlap was reduced in 2013, overlap within social units did not differ from that in pre-flood years. Animals assigned to the same social unit in 2013 had not lived together during 2012, indicating that post-flood groups were not simply the remnants of those present prior to the flood. Collectively, these findings indicate that group living in highland tuco-tucos is not driven by the density of conspecifics in the habitat. In addition to enhancing understanding of the adaptive bases for group living in Ctenomys, our analyses underscore the power of catastrophic events to generate insights into fundamental aspects of social behavior.