The influence of repeated motherhood on periparturitional behavior in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Contains fulltext : 28350.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)We studied the influence of parity on periparturitional behavior by quantitatively comparing the behavior of 10 primiparous and 11 multiparous cynomolgus macaques. We found a considerable number of significant differences, some of them affirming the outcome of previous descriptive studies. During the prepartus phase, primiparae showed more locomotion and "action postures" and fewer "resting postures" than multiparae. Further, primiparae spent more time straining than multiparae and were straining in a greater variety of postures than multiparae, which were straining predominantly in a squatting posture. In the postpartus phase, primiparae needed more time than multiparae to get their young in ventroventral position. Primiparae licked mainly the newborn;multiparae licked mainly their own bodies. Finally, fewer primiparae than multiparae ate the placenta. The discussion extensively treats theories concerning parity effects. We explain behavioral differences between primiparae and multiparae in terms of novelty of the female's internal state and novelty of the neonate and in terms of learning. We stress that the mechanism behind the so-called parity effect cannot be revealed without paying more attention, next to learning, to age, to experience with pregnancy, and to experience with parturition. Further, we argue that the immediate acceptance of the newborn at birth and the differences between primiparae and multiparae might play a crucial role in the search for the mechanism behind the onset of maternal behavior

Prey catching in the archer fish: Marksmanship, endurance of squirting at an aerial target

Item does not contain fulltextArcher fishes (Toxotidae) can bring down aerial arthropods with a yet of water from their mouth. Although most authors seem to assume that squirting down prey is the archer fish's source of food, it has been suggested that this typical foraging technique can not play an important role because, among other things, the height at which a prey can be hit is limited, the fishes soon tire of squirting, and other kinds of food are eaten. Owing to lack of information or differences concerning methods, small numbers of subjects, and may be, differences between species, there is little agreement about the performance of the fish. In order to provide reliable data on marksmanship, endurance of squirting, and diet, the performance of Toxotes chatareus was observed during 25 weeks while the fishes N = 16) got daily practice squirting at prey. The fishes readily took various kinds of food. Squirting was found to be effective in that the fishes, within 4,5 squirts and 41 seconds , reliably hit targets at a height up to eight times their body length. Contrary to earlier reports, the fishes were found to persist squirting at a fixed target eight times per minute during at least 10 min. The results concerning marksmanship, and endurance, indicate that, contrary to what has been suggested, squirting can be an important way of foraging in the natural habitat

De schuttervis

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Social behaviour in the rat

Contains fulltext : mmubn000001_025236105.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Promotor : J. Vossen2 dl

Het merkwaardige prooivanggedrag van de Schuttersvis

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Schuttersvis

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Waarom likken jonge gerbils de lippen van hun moeder?

Item does not contain fulltextJonge gerbils likken aan de lippen van hun moeder; een gedrag dat ook door jongen van enkele andere soorten zoogdieren wordt vertoond. De uitkomsten van ons onderzoek naar de oorzaak en de functie van dit gedrag wijzen erop, dat jonge gerbils na de zoogperiode ongeveer twee weken lang ten dele in hun waterbehoefte kunnen voorzien door aan de lippen van hun moeder te likken