Personality and behavioural syndromes in two species of fruit bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) – Miguel et al., 2024 Introduction Evolution of behaviour works best when there is a wide variation in strategies used by individuals because this flexibility allows for populations to adapt better to environmental fluctuations Animal personality – defined as consistency of an individualsContinue reading “Bats have personalities”
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Early Social Isolation Detrimentally Affects Zebrafish
Developmental Social Isolation affects adult behavior, social interaction, and dopamine metabolite levels in zebrafish – Shams et al. 2017 Introduction Social isolation early in life can have numerous negative impacts in adulthood like altered behavioural, physiological and neural development It is hard to find a subject to use that will not confound the effects ofContinue reading “Early Social Isolation Detrimentally Affects Zebrafish”
Social Living/Isolation Affects Mite Personality
Early social isolation disrupts adult personality expression in group-living mites – Schausberger and Nguyen, 2024 Introduction A critical social condition is whether or not newborns experience conspecifics during their early development If social isolation occurs very early in life, this can have dramatic adverse impacts on behavioural, physiological and other serious implications For example, socialContinue reading “Social Living/Isolation Affects Mite Personality”
Animal personality and social niches
Animal personality due to social niche specialization – Bergmueller & Taborsky, 2010 Definitions Animal Personality – Consistent differences between individuals in the behaviour across time and context Behavioural Consistency – this means that the behaviour of individuals remains stable over time while each individual specifically does not express the full range of behavioural trait valuesContinue reading “Animal personality and social niches”
Social stress on body and behaviour (mainly mammals)
Animal models of social stress: effects on behavior and brain neurochemical systems – Blanchard et al. 2001 This paper mainly focused on the effects of social stress, specifically victory and defeat amongst dominant and subordinate conspecifics. This paper didn’t really relate to reptiles so this post was shorter than most and only includes what IContinue reading “Social stress on body and behaviour (mainly mammals)”
Hognoses Play Dead-Burghardt, Greene 1988
Predator simulation and duration of death feigning in neonate hognose snakes – Burghardt and Greene, 1988 Hognose snakes have a tendency to display a wide range of defensive behaviours that include puffing, hissing, coiling, striking, flattening, and playing dead. Playing dead includes flipping over and sticking their tongue out while releasing a noxious odour toContinue reading “Hognoses Play Dead-Burghardt, Greene 1988”
Komodo Dragons- Bite/Venom > Bacteria
ANAEROBIC AND AEROBIC BACTERIOLOGY OF THE SALIVA AND GINGIVA FROM 16 CAPTIVE KOMODO DRAGONS ( VARANUS KOMODOENSIS): NEW IMPLICATIONS FOR THE “BACTERIA AS VENOM” MODEL – Goldstein et al. 2013 Introduction: Komodo dragons have mandibular venom glands that are attached to their teeth which aid in killing prey. The analysis of the venom had shownContinue reading “Komodo Dragons- Bite/Venom > Bacteria”
sheds, shit and blood – observing snake stress markers
Stress in wild and captive snakes: quantification, effects and the importance of management – Waeyenberge et al. 2018 Introduction: Stress responses can be seen in all vertebrates and snakes are not the exception. Stressors are known to cause the subject to have a lack of control over the situation by adding a component of uncertainty.Continue reading “sheds, shit and blood – observing snake stress markers”
Enrichment and Population Recovery
The value of enrichment to reintroduction success- Reading et al. 2013 Introduction: Environmental enrichment is defined as an animal husbandry principle that enhances the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli needed for optimal psychological and physiological well being. Animals that are raised for release need to a wide rangeContinue reading “Enrichment and Population Recovery”
Neurology to Physiology
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Placebo Effects: Concepts, Predictions, and Physiology – Geuter et al. 2107 Introduction: This paper looks at the effectiveness of sham treatments/placebos and the manner in which they affect the physiological mechanisms related to the benefits they cause. A cool way they phrase this is by saying “How does the central nervousContinue reading “Neurology to Physiology”
