LSM1303 ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR : lecture08

That "sweaty shirts" video

N. Sivasothi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:39:53 GMT

"Subtle chemical signals, or pheromones, have long been known to draw pairs together within the same species. In mice, for example, experiments showed that pheromones acted as attractants between males and females who were genetically similar except for a difference in a certain type of immune system gene - the HC (major histocompatibility locus). This pairing gives their offspring an advantage in beating back disease organisms."

So the question is, can humans smell out complimenting partners?

Review - “Making sense of scents: reducing aggression and uncontrolled variation in laboratory mice.”

N. Sivasothi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:35:52 GMT

“Making sense of scents: reducing aggression and uncontrolled variation in laboratory mice.” By Professor Jane Hurst, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool. NC3Rs #2 Mouse scents and optimal husbandry Sept 2005. National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of of Animals in Research.

Abstract - "Scents are the primary means of communication in mice. They underlie most aspects of their social behaviour and are particularly important in mediating aggressive interactions and status differentiation among males. This competitive aggression can be a major welfare concern and source of uncontrolled variation among laboratory mice. Scents also play an invisible role in priming reproductive physiology and development, with additional consequences for immunocompetence, introducing another potential source of uncontrolled variation that could influence many types of experiment."
"Here, I provide a brief explanation of how wild mice use scents to recognise each other and to control competitive interactions. I then discuss the consequences of this for aggression among laboratory mice and recommend ways to minimize problems through management practices. Known reproductive priming effects are also summarised to show how exposure to scents and cage group size can influence sex hormone levels, reproductive cycling and development. Careful consideration of husbandry and experimental design can also reduce this source of variability."

Click for larger image

Reasons for monkey troop's mayhem

N. Sivasothi — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:53:00 GMT

"Monkey mayhem in Bukit Timah," by Arul John. The New Paper, 12 Mar 2008.

There had to be a good reason for the monkey's mayhem. The incident happened in a residential area south of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. A trap on loan from AVA had been set and captured an inexperienced baby monkey. A social troop like the long-tailed macaque would attempt to free the baby or agitate the captors.

Thus agitated troop vocalised and in this heightened mood, one individual entered the house.

Eventually AVA officers removed the cage and its solitary occupant, the baby monkey, which was put to sleep.

The article later lists some measures that can be adopted to make houses less attractive to these monkeys. These include reducing access by monkeys to food (including refuse), reduce motivation to enter by hiding obvious food items like fruit from open view and to provide negative feedback (spraying water) when they venture too close.

Since humans are intelligent enough to modify our behaviour quickly, the questions is, will the monkeys respond? Animals will respond to specific cues and have evolved to exploit specific environments. The long-tailed macaque is a highly adaptable and opprtunistic species able to venture out of forests edges into partially urbanised areas. As a result they will quickly adapt to the cues that we provide to deter their raids. Likewise, visitors to our Nature Reserves are told to "Stop Feeding the Monkeys" [By N. Sivasothi, Habitatnews, 07 Jun 2005]. An interesting point was made by residents of another house - "the monkeys usually just climb into the garden and eat the fruits from the trees. They have never terrorised people before."