Hormonal changes during weather fluctuations

Over the past year I have observed a phenomenon which concerns my female dog and changes in weather. The fluctuations in weather have been rather pronounced, especially, this winter when the weather often transformed along a gradient involving the following basic, predominant conditions: ca. minus 10°C (but mostly below minus 10°C); ca. minus 5°C; around …

Raising aggression levels through ‘performance art’ to increase testosterone in males

Often when I read about animals, I find it difficult to believe that the aggression that is observed (at least in some instances), is truly felt and stems from some deep motivation. For example, I have watched videos of red deer bachelor herds where the males hang out without much tension although some displays, of …

Overcoming genetics

It is curious to consider when certain traits in species become fixed in their genetics and inherited as more or less obligatory and when these traits are the result of local/temporal adaptations that have not been embedded in the genetics, that are often profitable precisely due to their plasticity and that are acquired experientially and/or …

Are there anatomical and neurological differences between territorial vs. non-territorial, scent-marking species?

Many territorial species use scent-marking in order to ensure avoidance behaviour in unwanted visitors. Not all but perhaps most of these strategies involve fecal matter or urine that are products of digestive and excretory systems. As a result, in territorial species urine and fecal matter is not deposited randomly. While urine is sometimes applied only …

Changes in diel activity patterns due to human disturbance and sunlight deficiency

As I have been reading about many species adapting their activity patterns in order to avoid humans (i.e., becoming more crepuscular or even wholly nocturnal), I began wonder if this could affect some functions in organisms that - without humans on the landscape - would exhibit a mixed activity rhythm (i.e., species that are not …

Wild babies playing and modifying their environment

I enjoy watching adorable wildlife baby videos (e.g., this video by George Bumann & Jenny Golding, of black bear cubs playing in Yellowstone). I began wondering whether these wild babies, through their activities, significantly participate in the modification of habitats. Normally, I should attempt to discriminate between play and exploration but often these two activities …

Detecting age in conspecifics

I have read many publications regarding the ability in a species to identify other conspecifics according to their relatedness (relative or non-relative), sex (male or female), reproductive status (in oestrus or not). I have also read publications where age has been demonstrated to bear important social significance indicating of reproductive quality (both in terms of …

Selectivity by stress endurance

Recently I read two publications regarding extraterritorial forays in nightingales (Naguib, M. et al., 2001) and red foxes (Iossa, G. et al., 2008). Selectivity was discussed from the perspective of the male's readiness to perform extraterritorial forays (also of different scope, e.g., breaching into one neighbour's territory vs. several neighbour's territories as well as the …

Adjusting bat roost box construction in order to facilitate new roost discovery

Recently I read the publication by Ruczyński, I. et al., 2007, that attempted to begin to discuss roost locating mechanisms (i.e., finding new cavities in forest trees that have not been formerly colonized) in a forest bat species, noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula). It was discovered that species such as noctule bats which do not demonstrate …

On politeness and aggression

As I have been watching some wildlife (especially, wolf-related) videos (including videos of captive wildlife) where it is possible to observe interactions between members of the same family/group, I have begun wondering whether we truly understand the context behind some of these interactions which we are inclined to classify into those of affiliation/bonding/cooperation vs. dominance/aggression. …