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  • 1.
    Abbey-Lee, Robin
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Max Planck Inst Ornithol, Germany.
    Araya-Ajoy, Yimen G.
    Norwegian Univ Sci and Technol, Norway.
    Mouchet, Alexia
    Max Planck Inst Ornithol, Germany.
    Moiron, Maria
    Max Planck Inst Ornithol, Germany.
    Stuber, Erica F.
    Univ Nebraska Lincoln, NE USA.
    Kempenaers, Bart
    Max Planck Inst Ornithol, Germany.
    Dingemanse, Niels J.
    Max Planck Inst Ornithol, Germany; Ludwig Maximilians Univ Munchen, Germany.
    Does perceived predation risk affect patterns of extra-pair paternity? A field experiment in a passerine bird2018In: Functional Ecology, ISSN 0269-8463, E-ISSN 1365-2435, Vol. 32, no 4, p. 1001-1010Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Non-consumptive predator effects have been shown to influence a wide range of behavioural, life history and morphological traits. Extra-pair reproduction is widespread among socially monogamous birds and may incur predation costs. Consequently, altered rates of extra-pair reproduction are expected in circumstances characterized by increased adult perceived predation risk. In addition, extra-pair reproduction is expected to be most affected for birds with phenotypes that generally increase predation risk (such as more active individuals). In two consecutive years, perceived predation risk was manipulated for great tits Parus major breeding in 12 nest-box plots by broadcasting sounds of their main predator (European sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus; six plots). As a control treatment, sounds of a sympatric, avian non-predator species were broadcast (Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula; six plots). Levels of extra-pair paternity did not differ between plots with different predation risk treatments. Males that moved more in a novel environment (more active or faster exploring) tended to have offspring with fewer partners, but this effect did not vary with predation risk treatment. From an adaptive viewpoint, predation costs associated with extra-pair reproduction may be small and may not outweigh the benefits of extra-pair behaviour. Research on a broader range of taxa with different mating strategies is now needed to confirm the generality of our findings.

  • 2.
    Agnvall, Beatrix
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Bélteky, Johan
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Brain size is reduced by selectionfor tameness in Red Junglefowl–correlated effects in vital organs2017In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 7, article id 3306Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    During domestication animals have undergone changes in size of brain and other vital organs. We hypothesize that this could be a correlated effect to increased tameness. Red Junglefowl (ancestors of domestic chickens) were selected for divergent levels of fear of humans for five generations. The parental (P0) and the fifth selected generation (S5) were culled when 48–54 weeks old and the brains were weighed before being divided into telencephalon, cerebellum, mid brain and optic lobes. Each single brain part as well as the liver, spleen, heart and testicles were also weighed. Brains of S5 birds with high fear scores (S5 high) were heavier both in absolute terms and when corrected for body weight. The relative weight of telencephalon (% of brain weight) was significantly higher in S5 high and relative weight of cerebellum was lower. Heart, liver, testes and spleen were all relatively heavier (% of body weight) in S5 high. Hence, selection for tameness has changed the size of the brain and other vital organs in this population and may have driven the domesticated phenotype as a correlated response.

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  • 3.
    Agnvall, Beatrix
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Katajamaa, Rebecca
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Altimiras, Jordi
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Is domestication driven by reduced fear of humans? Boldness, metabolism and serotonin levels in divergently selected red junglefowl (Gallus gallus)2015In: Biology Letters, ISSN 1744-9561, E-ISSN 1744-957X, Vol. 11, no 9, article id 20150509Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Domesticated animals tend to develop a coherent set of phenotypic traits. Tameness could be a central underlying factor driving this, and we therefore selected red junglefowl, ancestors of all domestic chickens, for high or low fear of humans during six generations. We measured basal metabolic rate (BMR), feed efficiency, boldness in a novel object (NO) test, corticosterone reactivity and basal serotonin levels (related to fearfulness) in birds from the fifth and sixth generation of the high- and low-fear lines, respectively (44-48 individuals). Corticosterone response to physical restraint did not differ between selection lines. However, BMR was higher in low-fear birds, as was feed efficiency. Low-fear males had higher plasma levels of serotonin and both low-fear males and females were bolder in an NO test. The results show that many aspects of the domesticated phenotype may have developed as correlated responses to reduced fear of humans, an essential trait for successful domestication.

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  • 4.
    Altimiras, Jordi
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Lindgren, Isa
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Giraldo-Deck, Lina Maria
    University of Mayor San Andres, Bolivia.
    Matthei, Alberto
    Tinamou Chile SL, Chile.
    Garitano-Zavala, Alvaro
    University of Mayor San Andres, Bolivia.
    Aerobic performance in tinamous is limited by their small heart. A novel hypothesis in the evolution of avian flight2017In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 7, article id 15964Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Some biomechanical studies from fossil specimens suggest that sustained flapping flight of birds could have appeared in their Mesozoic ancestors. We challenge this idea because a suitable musculoskeletal anatomy is not the only requirement for sustained flapping flight. We propose the "heart to fly" hypothesis that states that sustained flapping flight in modern birds required an enlargement of the heart for the aerobic performance of the flight muscles and test it experimentally by studying tinamous, the living birds with the smallest hearts. The small ventricular size of tinamous reduces cardiac output without limiting perfusion pressures, but when challenged to fly, the heart is unable to support aerobic metabolism (quick exhaustion, larger lactates and post-exercise oxygen consumption and compromised thermoregulation). At the same time, cardiac growth shows a crocodilian-like pattern and is correlated with differential gene expression in MAPK kinases. We integrate this physiological evidence in a new evolutionary scenario in which the ground-up, short and not sustained flapping flight displayed by tinamous represents an intermediate step in the evolution of the aerobic sustained flapping flight of modern birds.

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  • 5.
    Ananthakrishnan, Gopal
    et al.
    Centre for Speech Technology, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Eklund, Robert
    Linköping University, Department of Computer and Information Science, NLPLAB - Natural Language Processing Laboratory. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Peters, Gustav
    Forschungsinstitut Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
    Mabiza, Evans
    Antelope Park, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
    An acoustic analysis of lion roars. II: Vocal tract characteristics2011In: Proceedings from Fonetik 2011, Quarterly Progress and Status Report TMH-QPSR, Volume 51, 2011, 2011, p. 5-8Conference paper (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper makes the first attempt to perform an acoustic-to-articulatory inversion of a lion (Panthera leo) roar. The main problems that one encounters in attempting this, is the fact that little is known about the dimensions of the vocal tract, other than a general range of vocal tract lengths. Precious little is also known about the articulation strategies that are adopted by the lion while roaring. The approach used here is to iterate between possible values of vocal tract lengths and vocal tract configurations. Since there seems to be a distinct articulatory changes during the process of a roar, we find a smooth path that minimizes the error function between a recorded roar and the simulated roar using a variable length articulatory model.

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  • 6.
    Arshamian, Artin
    et al.
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Radboud University of Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud University of Nijmegen, Netherlands; Stockholm University, Sweden.
    Laska, Matthias
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Gordon, Amy R.
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Monell Chemistry Senses Centre, PA 19104 USA.
    Norberg, Matilda
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Lahger, Christian
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Porada, Danja K.
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
    Jelvez Serra, Nadia
    Lund University, Sweden.
    Johansson, Emilia
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
    Schaefer, Martin
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
    Amundin, Mats
    Kolmarden Wildlife Pk, Sweden.
    Melin, Harald
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
    Olsson, Andreas
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
    Olsson, Mats J.
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
    Stensmyr, Marcus
    Lund University, Sweden.
    Lundstrom, Johan N.
    Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Monell Chemistry Senses Centre, PA 19104 USA; University of Penn, PA 19104 USA.
    A mammalian blood odor component serves as an approach-avoidance cue across phylum border - from flies to humans2017In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 7, article id 13635Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Chemosignals are used by predators to localize prey and by prey to avoid predators. These cues vary between species, but the odor of blood seems to be an exception and suggests the presence of an evolutionarily conserved chemosensory cue within the blood odor mixture. A blood odor component, E2D, has been shown to trigger approach responses identical to those triggered by the full blood odor in mammalian carnivores and as such, is a key candidate as a food/alarm cue in blood. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrate that E2D holds the dual function of affecting both approach and avoidance behavior in a predator-prey predicted manner. E2D evokes approach responses in two taxonomically distant blood-seeking predators, Stable fly and Wolf, while evoking avoidance responses in the prey species Mouse. We extend this by demonstrating that this chemical cue is preserved in humans as well; E2D induces postural avoidance, increases physiological arousal, and enhances visual perception of affective stimuli. This is the first demonstration of a single chemical cue with the dual function of guiding both approach and avoidance in a predator-prey predicted manner across taxonomically distant species, as well as the first known chemosignal that affects both human and non-human animals alike.

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  • 7.
    Bergkvist, Liza
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Chemistry. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Richards, Daniel R.
    Univ Cambridge, England.
    Bernardo-Gancedo, Ana
    Univ Cambridge, England.
    Kumita, Janet R.
    Univ Cambridge, England.
    Nilsson, Peter
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Chemistry. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Brorsson, Ann-Christin
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Chemistry. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Serum amyloid P component promotes formation of distinct aggregated lysozyme morphologies and reduces toxicity in Drosophila flies expressing F57I lysozyme2020In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 15, no 1, article id e0227227Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Many conflicting reports about the involvement of serum amyloid P component (SAP) in amyloid diseases have been presented over the years; SAP is known to be a universal component of amyloid aggregates but it has been suggested that it can both induce and suppress amyloid formation. By using our Drosophila model of systemic lysozyme amyloidosis, SAP has previously been shown to reduce the toxicity induced by the expression of the disease-associated lysozyme variant, F57I, in the Drosophila central nervous system. This study further investigates the involvement of SAP in modulating lysozyme toxicity using histochemistry and spectral analyses on the double transgenic WT and F57I lysozyme flies to probe; i) formation of aggregates, ii) morphological differences of the aggregated lysozyme species formed in the presence or absence of SAP, iii) location of lysozyme and iv) co-localisation of lysozyme and SAP in the fly brain. We found that SAP can counteract the toxicity (measured by the reduction in the median survival time) induced by F57I lysozyme by converting toxic F57I species into less toxic amyloid-like structures, as reflected by the spectral changes that p-FTAA undergoes when bound to lysozyme deposits in F57I-F57I-SAP flies as compared to F57I-F57I flies. Indeed, when SAP was introduced to in vitro lysozyme fibril formation, the endpoint fibrils had enhanced ThT fluorescence intensity as compared to lysozyme fibrils alone. This suggests that a general mechanism for SAPs role in amyloid diseases may be to promote the formation of stable, amyloid-like fibrils, thus decreasing the impact of toxic species formed along the aggregation pathway.

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  • 8.
    Berglund, Hilda-Linn
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Milberg, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Sampling of flower-visiting insects: Poor correspondence between the catches of colour pan-trap and sweep netting2019In: European Journal of Entomology, ISSN 1210-5759, E-ISSN 1802-8829, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Vol. 116, p. 425-431Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Pollinating insects are important and therefore, it is important to be able to assess and monitor changes in their abundance. Consequently, it is essential that the methods used to collect data have some level of precision and are accurate. In the present study, two commonly used methods: colour pan-traps and sweep netting along transects, were compared. A total of 1775 specimens of 120 species of four insect families were caught in twelve clear-cuts in southern Sweden. Overall, Lepturinae (Cerambycidae; 5 species) and Cetoniidae (Scarabaeidae; 2) were trapped in larger numbers by pan-traps and Syrphidae (62) and Apoidea, both social (10) and solitary (41), by sweep netting. The catches of none of the above groups of insects by the two methods were correlated. These results show that the composition of catches of the two methods are very different, which has implications when choosing a method for sampling or monitoring and comparing and analysing published data.

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  • 9.
    Bergman, Karl-Olof
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Measurement Technology, Biology and Chemistry. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Ecology and conservation of the butterfly Lopinga achine2000Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    The ecology of the red-listed butterfly Lopinga achine was studied in partly open woodlands in the province of Östergotland, Sweden. Detailed autoecological research is essential for successful conservation of a species, and the present investigation focused on the initial aspects of such work, namely, choice of host plant, habitat selection, and dispersal ability. The effects of patch area, isolation, and successional stages of studied sites were also examined.

    The results indicate that L. achine depends on a single host plant, Carex montana. The females preferred to oviposit near this sedge, and most of the larvae (> 80%) were found on C. montana in the field. Egg-laying females and larvae were restricted to C. montana growing in a narrow zone along the edges of glades. This restriction to forest edges is probably the cause for the dependence of L. achine on a restricted stage of canopy cover. More specifically, no L. achine occurred at sites with less than 60% canopy cover, and population densities decreased sharply with more than 90% cover. Eighty-six percent of the studied sites that were occupied are unmanaged, thus the most important aspect of long-term conservation of L. achine is probably the deterministic changes of its woodland habitat. If the sites remain unmanaged, the system of populations will most likely collapse within 20-40 years. Populations of both L. achine and C. montana increased in size at experimentally managed sites where new glades were created. However, an important prerequisite of successful restoration appears to be the presence of C. montana along the edges of new glades from the start, because the rate of C. montana colonisation was slow.

    Most of the populations (50 of 79) were small (< 500 adults; none larger than 4,500) and seemed to show synchronous interannual fluctuation. The probability that a patch would be occupied increased with increasing patch area and decreasing distance to the nearest occupied patch. This was presumably due to different probabilities of extinctions, colonisations, and survival of the inhabiting populations. All but two of the sites with ≥ 3 individuals were within 740 m of the nearest neighbour. Patch size is also a key factor for occurrence: compared to larger patches, small patches are more dependent on neighbour populations.

    The majority of the movements were small and within sites, although in many cases the distance to other sites was less than 100 m. Only 56 individuals (4.0% of those recaptured) moved between sites. It seems that habitat patches of L. achine should be less than 700 m from each other to ensure inter-population contact. Fifteen to 20 wellconnected populations have been stated as a lower limit for a viable metapopulation.Based on these criteria, there are two groups of viable populations in the studied area,and these two groups will be given priority in future conservation work.

    List of papers
    1. Oviposition, host plant choice and survival of a grass feeding butterfly, the Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine)
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Oviposition, host plant choice and survival of a grass feeding butterfly, the Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine)
    2000 (English)In: Journal of research on the Lepidoptera, ISSN 0022-4324, Vol. 35Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    National Category
    Natural Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-42457 (URN)64702 (Local ID)64702 (Archive number)64702 (OAI)
    Available from: 2009-10-10 Created: 2009-10-10 Last updated: 2022-06-17
    2. Habitat utilization by Lopinga achine (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) larvage and ovipositing females
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Habitat utilization by Lopinga achine (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) larvage and ovipositing females
    1999 (English)In: Biological Conservation, ISSN 0006-3207, E-ISSN 1873-2917, Vol. 88, p. 69-74Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    National Category
    Natural Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-42455 (URN)64699 (Local ID)64699 (Archive number)64699 (OAI)
    Available from: 2009-10-10 Created: 2009-10-10 Last updated: 2022-06-17
    3. Population structure and movements of a threatened butterfly (Lopinga achine) in a fragmented landscape in Sweden
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Population structure and movements of a threatened butterfly (Lopinga achine) in a fragmented landscape in Sweden
    2002 (English)In: Biological Conservation, ISSN 0006-3207, E-ISSN 1873-2917, Vol. 108, no 3, p. 361-369Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    The red-listed butterfly Lopinga achine was studied by mark-recapture methods in southern Sweden for three seasons. We examined movement within and between populations and egg production in relation to age. The majority of the movements were small with mean movements between recaptures of 45-54 m for males and 94-116 m for females. There were few movements between sites, 20 of 996 recaptured males moved and 36 of 391 recaptured females, even though the distance to other sites was in many cases < 100 m. The distance moved and the number of females moving between sites increased with increasing age. On average, a female that moves does so after laying two-thirds of its eggs in its natal site. It is therefore important to take account of the proportion of reproductive effort involved in dispersal when estimating colonisation ability. The males did not move more with increasing age. Female behaviour can be seen as a "spread-the-risk" strategy, an adaptation to the successional habitat of L. achine, whose natal site sooner or later will deteriorate. Butterflies like L. achine living in successional habitats may exhibit mobility that is intermediate between butterflies living in ephemeral habitats (very mobile) and in long-lived habitats (sedentary). ⌐ 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

    National Category
    Natural Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-42460 (URN)10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00104-0 (DOI)64706 (Local ID)64706 (Archive number)64706 (OAI)
    Available from: 2009-10-10 Created: 2009-10-10 Last updated: 2022-06-17
    4. Distribution of occupied and vacant sites and migration of Lopinga achine (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in a fragmented landscape
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Distribution of occupied and vacant sites and migration of Lopinga achine (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in a fragmented landscape
    2001 (English)In: Biological Conservation, ISSN 0006-3207, E-ISSN 1873-2917, Vol. 102, no 2, p. 183-190Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    The distribution of occupied and vacant sites and migration of the threatened butterfly Lopinga achine were studied in the province of ╓sterg÷tland, Sweden. The probability of occupation increased with increasing patch area and decreasing distance to the nearest occupied patch, presumably due to different probabilities of colonisation and survival of the populations inhabiting the patches. Probability of female emigration from and immigration to a patch increased with decreasing area. Middle-sized patches produced the largest number of female migrants, although the highest fraction was noted for the smallest patches, and the greatest number of females was marked in the largest patch. The fraction of resident females, but not males, increased with increasing area. The observed occupancy and migration pattern have important conservation implications: all but two populations comprising three or more individuals were within 740 m of the nearest neighbour, indicating the need for networks of suitable, closely situated patches. ⌐ 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

    National Category
    Natural Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-42459 (URN)10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00081-7 (DOI)64705 (Local ID)64705 (Archive number)64705 (OAI)
    Available from: 2009-10-10 Created: 2009-10-10 Last updated: 2022-06-17
    5. Population dynamics and the importance of habitat management for conservation of the butterfly Lopinga achine
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Population dynamics and the importance of habitat management for conservation of the butterfly Lopinga achine
    2001 (English)Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    1. Like many butterflies, the woodland brown Lopinga achine has disappeared from many locations in western Europe due to habitat loss. The population dynamics and the effects of tree and bush cover on population size were studied experimentally south of Link÷ping, Sweden. 2. Most populations in the study area were small (< 500 individuals) and fluctuated synchronously between years. Long-term population dynamics and occurrence were closely correlated with tree and bush cover. Populations occurred only at sites with = 60% canopy cover, but population density decreased sharply where cover exceeded 90%. Survival from egg to adult was highest at the edges of glades (2.3 adults per female) and lowest in the deepest shade (0.7 adults) or open sun (0.6 adults). The annual rate of canopy closure at unmanaged sites decreased linearly with tree and bush cover, approximately 1% closure at 60% cover and 0.3% at 85% cover, making it possible to predict the impact of habitat changes for L. achine. 3. In 1992-95, vegetation was cleared experimentally to create new glade edges at six unmanaged sites where the risk of extinction was high because few glades remained. On average, population size at five of the managed sites increased by > 90%. The population at the sixth site, managed in 1995, decreased by 30%. 4. Cover of the host-plant Carex montana increased significantly at edges of new glades and decreased in closed unaffected woods. Successful restoration probably requires the presence of C. montana along edges of new glades from the onset of management because this plant was slow to colonize plots where it was initially absent. 5. Currently, 86% of the sites in southern Sweden occupied by L. achine are unmanaged. If this situation continues, the metapopulation in this study will probably collapse within 20-40 years. Recovery programmes for L. achine should emphasize metapopulation dynamics, host-plant cover and vegetation dynamics over time. As with many butterflies, successful conservation requires a blend of detailed autoecology and active site management to produce the required successional conditions.

    National Category
    Natural Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-42458 (URN)10.1046/j.0021-8901.2001.00672.x (DOI)64703 (Local ID)64703 (Archive number)64703 (OAI)
    Available from: 2009-10-10 Created: 2009-10-10 Last updated: 2022-06-17
  • 10.
    Berrio Pozo, Alejandro
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
    The effect of environmental enrichment on the behaviour of meerkats, banded mongooses and dwarf mongooses in human care.2020Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 40 credits / 60 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Animals in captivity can be deprived of performing some of their natural behaviours. Using enrichments may allow them to express a larger part of species-specific behaviour repertoire and with a better frequency distribution. This study focuses on three species of the family Herpestidae which live in captivity at Bioparc Valencia (Spain). The project aims to study the effect of environmental enrichment on the behaviour of meerkats, banded mongooses and dwarf mongooses in human care. To achieve this goal two different types of enrichmentswere tested: (1) a food enrichment with several variations and (2) an olfactory enrichment with the presentation of two new odours. The food enrichment aimed to increase foraging behaviour and the olfactory enrichment aimed to test if captive animals behave differently in the presence of a predator’s odour compared to a non-predator’s odour. Results revealed that foraging can increase up to 16% implementing enrichments and that success depends on the presence and quantity of food. On the other hand, animals did not seem to behave differently in the presence of both odours. The frequencies of behaviours and time spent interacting did not differ between these olfactory enrichments. I conclude that implementing enrichment programmes may ensure better welfare for captive animals.

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  • 11.
    Bessa Ferreira, Vitor Hugo
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Guesdon, Vanessa
    JUNIA, France.
    Calandreau, Ludovic
    Univ Tours, France.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group.
    White Leghorn and Red Junglefowl female chicks use distal and local cues similarly, but differ in persistency behaviors, during a spatial orientation task2022In: Behavioural Processes, ISSN 0376-6357, E-ISSN 1872-8308, Vol. 200, article id 104669Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Although there is evidence to suggest that animal domestication acts as a modulator of spatial orientation, little is known on how domesticated animals, compared to their wild counterparts, orientate themselves when confronted to different environmental cues. Here, using domesticated White Leghorn chicks, and their ancestor, the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), our main objective was to investigate how bird domestication influences the use of distal and local cues, during an orientation task. We also investigated the memory retention of these cues over time, and how persistent/flexible individuals from both breeds were at pecking at unreachable mealworms. Our results showed that the breeds did not differ in their use of distal or local cues, with both showing a marked preference for the use of local cues over distal ones. Over time, individual performance declined, but this was not influenced by the type of cue present during the tests, nor by the breed. Domesticated chicks showed greater signs of persistency compared to their wild conspecifics. In conclusion, domestication did not seem to alter how birds orientate spatially, but may have caused more subtle changes, such as an increase in behavioral persistency, a feature that may be adaptative in human-controlled and homogenous environments.

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  • 12.
    Bianco, Giuseppe
    et al.
    Lund University, Sweden.
    Ilieva, Mihaela
    Lund University, Sweden; Bulgarian Academic Science, Bulgaria.
    Veibäck, Clas
    Linköping University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Automatic Control. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Öfjäll, Kristoffer
    Linköping University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Vision. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Gadomska, Alicja
    Lund University, Sweden.
    Hendeby, Gustaf
    Linköping University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Automatic Control. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Felsberg, Michael
    Linköping University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Vision. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Gustafsson, Fredrik
    Linköping University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Automatic Control. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Åkesson, Susanne
    Lund University, Sweden.
    Emlen funnel experiments revisited: methods update for studying compass orientation in songbirds2016In: Ecology and Evolution, E-ISSN 2045-7758, Vol. 6, no 19, p. 6930-6942Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    1 Migratory songbirds carry an inherited capacity to migrate several thousand kilometers each year crossing continental landmasses and barriers between distant breeding sites and wintering areas. How individual songbirds manage with extreme precision to find their way is still largely unknown. The functional characteristics of biological compasses used by songbird migrants has mainly been investigated by recording the birds directed migratory activity in circular cages, so-called Emlen funnels. This method is 50 years old and has not received major updates over the past decades. The aim of this work was to compare the results from newly developed digital methods with the established manual methods to evaluate songbird migratory activity and orientation in circular cages. 2 We performed orientation experiments using the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) using modified Emlen funnels equipped with thermal paper and simultaneously recorded the songbird movements from above. We evaluated and compared the results obtained with five different methods. Two methods have been commonly used in songbirds orientation experiments; the other three methods were developed for this study and were based either on evaluation of the thermal paper using automated image analysis, or on the analysis of videos recorded during the experiment. 3 The methods used to evaluate scratches produced by the claws of birds on the thermal papers presented some differences compared with the video analyses. These differences were caused mainly by differences in scatter, as any movement of the bird along the sloping walls of the funnel was recorded on the thermal paper, whereas video evaluations allowed us to detect single takeoff attempts by the birds and to consider only this behavior in the orientation analyses. Using computer vision, we were also able to identify and separately evaluate different behaviors that were impossible to record by the thermal paper. 4 The traditional Emlen funnel is still the most used method to investigate compass orientation in songbirds under controlled conditions. However, new numerical image analysis techniques provide a much higher level of detail of songbirds migratory behavior and will provide an increasing number of possibilities to evaluate and quantify specific behaviors as new algorithms will be developed.

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  • 13.
    Björklund Aksoy, Simon
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology.
    Do potentially seal-safe pingers deter harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the vicinity of gillnets and thereby reduce bycatch?2020Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 40 credits / 60 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Incidental bycatch in gillnets is a substantial threat to small cetaceans. Using Acoustic Deterrent Devices, “pingers”, have successfully reduced bycatch of harbour porpoises in gillnets. However, seals can use pingers as “dinner-bells” to easier find gillnets in order to raid and destroy them, further aggravating the existing conflicts between seals and coastal fisheries. Therefore, in the present study, the efficiency of two alleged “seal-safe” pingers, an experimental Banana pinger “SSB” and a Future Oceans F70 pinger “FO”, in deterring harbour porpoises from the vicinity of gillnets and thereby reducing bycatch in commercial gillnet fisheries, was tested. This was done by deploying click detectors, “C-PODs”, recording Detection Positive Minutes per hour, at each end of gillnets, provided with the two pinger types or no pingers at all. Bycatch instances were recorded into logbooks by participating fishermen and verified using video footage from on-board video cameras. Results showed that video monitoring was a reliable method for verifying the number of bycatches of porpoises and seals, but not seabirds, recorded in the fishermen’s logbooks. The experimental SSB pingers and the FO pingers significantly reduced porpoise presence, measured as Detection Positive Minutes per hour in the vicinity of the nets, compared to gillnets without pingers. However, the sample size was too small to yield a significant result regarding the bycatch reducing efficiency and dinner bell effect of the experimental pingers. Nevertheless, bycatch trends suggest that pingers did in fact reduce porpoise bycatch. Although both successful, FO pingers were slightly more efficient in deterring porpoises than SSB pingers. The SSB pinger sounds had bigger directionality variations than the FO pinger, which may have affected its deterrent effects. Therefore, additional trials are needed to further investigate this aspect.

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  • 14.
    Boddington, Robert
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Univ Manchester, England.
    Gomez Dunlop, Clara
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Univ Manchester, England.
    Garnham, Laura
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Ryding, Sara
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Univ Manchester, England.
    Abbey-Lee, Robin
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Kreshchenko, Anastasia
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Univ Manchester, England.
    Lovlie, Hanne
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    The relationship between monoaminergic gene expression, learning, and optimism in red junglefowl chicks2020In: Animal Cognition, ISSN 1435-9448, E-ISSN 1435-9456, Vol. 23, no 5, p. 901-911Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Intra-species cognitive variation is commonly observed, but explanations for why individuals within a species differ in cognition are still understudied and not yet clear. Cognitive processes are likely influenced by genetic differences, with genes in the monoaminergic systems predicted to be important. To explore the potential role of these genes in association with individual variation in cognition, we exposed red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) chicks to behavioural assays measuring variation in learning (discriminative learning, reversal learning, and cognitive flexibility) and optimism (measured in a cognitive judgement bias test). Following this, we analysed prefrontal cortex gene expression of several dopaminergic and serotonergic genes in these chicks. Of our explored genes, serotonin receptor genes 5HT2A and 5HT2B, and dopaminergic receptor gene DRD1 were associated with measured behaviour. Chicks that had higher 5HT2A were less flexible in the reversal learning task, and chicks with higher 5HT2B also tended to be less cognitively flexible. Additionally, chicks with higher DRD1 were more optimistic, whilst chicks with higher 5HT2A tended to be less optimistic. These results suggest that the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems are linked to observed cognitive variation, and, thus, individual differences in cognition can be partially explained by variation in brain gene expression.

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  • 15.
    Bosshard, Tiffany Claire
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
    Cognition in black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi): A battery of behavioral tests2020Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 40 credits / 60 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Cognition allows animals to acquire, process, and store sensory information from the environment and use it to adapt to their surroundings. A battery of behavioral tests was used to assess the cognitive abilities of black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Black and white cups were used to assess (1) object permanence by showing the animals under which cup the reward was placed, (2) associative learning by concealing where the reward was placed, and (3) long-term memory by repeating the second task after a 4-month break; petri dishes with varying amounts of food were used to assess (4) relative quantity discrimination; and boxes fitted with dotted cards were used to assess discrete number discrimination with (5) equallysized dots and (6) various-sized dots. For each task, one session comprised 10 trials (i.e. responses). All nine animals succeeded in all tests and, as a group, reached the learning criterion of 70% correct responses on session two in the object permanence and associative learning tasks; on session eleven in the quantity discrimination task; on session sixteen in the numerosity task with equally-sized dots; on session three in the numerosity task with various-sized dots; and averaged 84.4% correct responses in the long-term memory task. Their prompt high score in the numerosity task with various-sized dots suggests that the animals acknowledged the task for its numerical properties as opposed to the size or pattern of the dots. These cognitive abilities are thought to shape the necessary behaviors for the ecological and social needs of the species.

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    Tiffany Bosshard Master Thesis
  • 16.
    Bouwman, Henk
    et al.
    Nort-West University, South Africa.
    Krátká, M
    Masaryk University, Czech Republic.
    Choong Kwet Yive, Nee Sun
    University of Mauritius, Mauritius.
    Kylin, Henrik
    Linköping University, The Tema Institute, Department of Water and Environmental Studies. Linköping University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
    Klanova, Jana
    Masaryk University, Czech Republic.
    Do POPs Transfer from Plastic Marine Debris to Coral on Tropical Islands?2014In: Organohalogen Compounds, ISSN 1026-4892, Vol. 76, p. 1352-1355Article in journal (Refereed)
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  • 17.
    Edenborg, Fanny
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology.
    Artificial light at night causes advanced initiation of dawn song in songbirds in Linköping, Sweden2018Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10,5 credits / 16 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    It is known that artificial light at night has a role in disrupting many birds’ routines when it comes to timing of dawn song. However, studies show various results on which species that are affected, how much and on what latitude. Birds at northern latitudes is experiencing longer and brighter natural nights during the breeding season as the spring is progressing, compared to birds living in areas more south. The bright nights might affect how the birds respond to the artificial light at night. This study's aim was to investigate how different species of songbirds in Linköping (58°N), Sweden, time their dawn song during breeding season, depending on presence or absence of artificial light at night coming from street lamps. The results show that early singing species are more affected than late singing species. The common blackbird for example, advanced its song because of artificial light, up to over an hour on average. Late singing birds was also affected by the urban lights, though not as strongly as the early singing species. Also shown was that the temperature and the amount of cloudiness, did not affect the difference in timing of dawn song between the locations. Future studies should focus on collecting data from more northern latitudes. The effect the advanced timing of dawn song, both regarding the birds on an individual scale and also regarding the ecosystems in total,should also be investigated further.

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  • 18.
    Eklund, Robert
    et al.
    Voice Provider, Stockholm, Sweden .
    Peters, Gustav
    Forschungsinstitut Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
    Ananthakrishnan, Gopal
    Centre for Speech Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Mabiza, Evans
    Antelope Park, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
    An acoustic analysis of lion roars. I: Data collection and spectrogramand waveform analyses2011In: Quarterly Progress and Status Report TMH-QPSR, Volume 51, 2011. Proceedings from Fonetik 2011. Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, 8–10 June 2011, pp. 1–4., Stockholm: Universitetsservice , 2011, p. 1-4Conference paper (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper describes the collection of lion roar data at two different locations, anoutdoor setting at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe and an indoor setting at Parken Zooin Sweden. Preliminary analyses of spectrographic and waveform data are provided.

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  • 19.
    Eklund, Robert
    et al.
    Karolinska Institute / Stockholm Brain Institute, Stockholm, Sweden / Voice Provider Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden / Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
    Peters, Gustav
    Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
    Duthie, Elizabeth D.
    Dell Cheetah Centre, Parys, South Africa.
    An acoustic analysis of purring in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and in the domestic cat (Felis catus)2010In: Proceedings of Fonetik 2010, Lund, Sweden: Mediatryck , 2010, p. 17-22Conference paper (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper analyses purring in a cheetah and a domestic cat from an acoustic point of view.

    The results are discussed in the light of previously published studies.

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  • 20.
    Eklund, Robert
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Culture and Communication, Language and Culture. Linköping University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
    Peters, Gustav
    Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
    Weise, Florian
    N/a’an ku sê Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia.
    Munro, Stuart
    N/a’an ku sê Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia.
    A comparative acoustic analysis of purring in four cheetahs2012In: Proceedings from FONETIK 2012 / [ed] Åsa Abelin and Anders Eriksson, Gothenburg: University of Gothenburg , 2012, p. 41-44Conference paper (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper reports results from a comparativeanalysis of purring in four tame cheetahs. Theresults exhibited individual variation forrelative phase duration and number of cyclesper phase, while egressive phases were louderand had higher fundamental frequency in allfour cheetahs.

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  • 21.
    Elfwing, Magnus
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    The Physiology of Chicken Domestication: Involvement of the HPA-axis and the Autonomic Nervous System2015Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Domestication, the rapid man-driven evolution propelled by heavy selection for desirable traits, has changed a variety of species including the wolf, mouflon, auroch, wild boar and Red Junglefowl dramatically. Despite the polyphyletic origin of these species, they all demonstrate, after years of selection, features of surprising similarity that have been coined the domestic phenotype. The domesticated versions of these species are now commonly known as the dog, sheep, cattle, pig and broiler chicken.

    A common feature among domesticated animals is a reduced fearfulness towards humans, and plausibly higher stress tolerance and reduced stress response compared to their wild ancestors. The major physiological machinery controlling these behavioral modifications is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and the autonomic nervous system. The fight-and-flight response is mostly regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, both by increased adrenergic tone and by secretion of epinephrine from the adrenal medulla. These pathways are clear targets for domestication to reduce the stress response and fearfulness.

    In this thesis, the development and maturation of the autonomic nervous system, domestication effects in regard to stress, and developmental programming of early postnatal stress in chickens have been investigated. During development, chicken fetuses already had a functional cardiac cholinergic tone at 75% of development, and it progressively increased to hatch. Postnatally, heart rate was predominantly under adrenergic control, and at five weeks of age heart rate appears to reach maturity. Furthermore, we found a specific domestication effect in broiler chickens, demonstrated by a reduced cardiac frequency.

    Previous studies scanning for target genes explaining domestication in multiple chicken strains, in comparison to the Red Junglefowl, suggested an alteration in the gene coding for a receptor controlling epinephrine release from the adrenal medulla. This gene, the α-adrenergic receptor 2C (ADRA2C), was investigated with regard to gene expression, receptor density, behavioral effects, growth and fecundity, but no differences were found. We failed to find any domestication effects of ADRA2C and we conclude that despite the promising evidence from previous findings, this gene is not important in domestication.

    Stressful events during early life can cause long term effects and even affect the next generation. We wanted to investigate if HyLine chickens selected for egg production where susceptible to stressful events early in life, and monitor these individuals to adulthood. We also investigated the offspring of these birds to determine whether early-stressed parents could change the phenotype in their offspring by epigenetic effects. We found that the parental generation was indeed affected by early stress, and males in particular were susceptible to long term behavioral modification, delayed puberty-related increase in testosterone and alteration in hypothalamic gene expression profiles. These modifications might be a result of modern selection on production-related traits in females, but not males. The offspring males were also altered with respect to behavioral, endocrinological, and transcriptomic measurements, and this study was the first to demonstrate transgenerational effects in a precocial species.

    List of papers
    1. Fetal development of baroreflex sensitivity: The chicken embryo as a case model
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Fetal development of baroreflex sensitivity: The chicken embryo as a case model
    2011 (English)In: Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, ISSN 1569-9048, E-ISSN 1878-1519, Vol. 178, no 1, p. 75-83Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    The baroreflex is the main short term compensatory mechanism to buffer blood pressure changes and maintain circulatory homeostasis. Its ontogeny and importance during prenatal life is not fully understood so we used broiler chickens to investigate the maturation of the baroreflex in late incubation using a novel method that measured changes in heart rate during spontaneous fluctuations in blood pressure. Our results suggest that a baroreflex is already functional at d17 with no indication of further maturation in terms of sensitivity (gain at 17 d was 52.9 ± 8.3 and at 20 d 69.5 ± 16.2 ms kPa−1). The physiological relevance of these values is shown using data surrogation methods. Although the results contrast with the progressive baroreflex maturation indicated by the pharmacological method, we sustain that both methods provide information on baroreflex regulation. While the spontaneous method evaluates truly physiological (but small) pressure changes, the pharmacological method provides a more consistent and repetitive challenge for the reflex that requires a different recruitment of baroreflex effectors.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Elsevier B.V., 2011
    Keywords
    Baroreflex sensitivity, Spontaneous baroreflex, Cardiovascular development, Sodium nitroprusside
    National Category
    Natural Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-70254 (URN)10.1016/j.resp.2011.03.031 (DOI)000294098200010 ()
    Note
    Funding Agency|Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS)||Swedish Research Council for Natural Sciences (VR-NT)||University of Linkoping||Wallenberg Foundation||Available from: 2011-08-29 Created: 2011-08-29 Last updated: 2017-12-08
    2. The maturation of heart rate control in the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>The maturation of heart rate control in the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
    2015 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Fetal development of autonomic cardiac control has been thoroughly investigated in chickens, but the maturation of the autonomic nervous system after hatching has gained little attention. At hatch the heart is under a feeble nervous control and there are indications suggesting a rapid maturation process during the first two weeks of postnatal life. We aimed to characterize the maturation by measuring heart rate at baseline and stressful conditions during the first 5 weeks of life in the Red Junglefowl and using autonomic antagonists to quantify the contribution of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. We also compared the Red Junglefowl to the domestic broiler chickens at hatch to investigate the impact of domestication processes on heart rate regulation.

    During the first two postnatal weeks, baseline and stress heart rate progressively increased. After two weeks baseline heart rate decreased while heart rate during acute stress remained high. Adrenergic tone in Red Junglefowl increased as well early suggesting that the increase in heart rate was driven predominantly by adrenergic contributions. The adrenergic tone decreased by age after postnatal week one explaining the concomitant reduction in basal heart rate during this period. Broiler chickens possessed a strong cholinergic tone at hatch indicating that parasympathetic control has been favored perhaps due to heavy selection for somatic growth.

    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-117421 (URN)
    Available from: 2015-04-27 Created: 2015-04-27 Last updated: 2023-12-28Bibliographically approved
    3. Domestication Affected Heart Rate Regulation in Juvenile Chickens
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Domestication Affected Heart Rate Regulation in Juvenile Chickens
    2015 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    The domestication process in chickens has involved strong selection for productive traits. There is a broad understanding of phenotypic differences between domestic breeds and their ancestor, the Red Junglefowl (RJF), on fear related behaviors, genetic architecture, physiology and productive traits. Some of these characters can potentially be explained by changes in the activity of the autonomic nervous system. To address these questions we measured heart rate as a proxy for autonomic activity in the Red Junglefowl and compared it with two domestic strains, a broiler (BRO) (meat production) and a White Leghorn strain (HY) (egg production) at two and six weeks of age. Autonomic tones were pharmacologically manipulated in broilers to assess heart rate regulation during maturation. To investigate the dynamics of  autonomic control animals were measured during baseline conditions and during acute stress.

    At two weeks of age baseline heart rate was high in all strains (RJF: 541.2±18.3, HY: 506.8±38.8, BRO: 456.0±22.3) and progressively decreased with age (RJF: 491.3±10.9, HY: 386.8±25.1, BRO:_296.8±26.9). BRO had a lower heart rate compared to RJF and HY, and the differences could not be explained by allometry alone. There was a domestication effect in BRO but not HY, which were in general more similar to RJF. These findings suggest that positive selection for somatic growth has changed heart rate regulation in broilers. During acute stress heart rate did not decrease with age in the same way than baseline values, which means that there is an increased scope for raising heart rate above baseline with age. At least in broilers the increased heart rate scope is due to a recruitment in adrenergic control in absence of a patent cholinergic tone.

    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-117422 (URN)
    Available from: 2015-04-27 Created: 2015-04-27 Last updated: 2023-12-28Bibliographically approved
    4. The Strong Selective Sweep Candidate Gene ADRA2C Does Not Explain Domestication Related Changes In The Stress Response Of Chickens
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>The Strong Selective Sweep Candidate Gene ADRA2C Does Not Explain Domestication Related Changes In The Stress Response Of Chickens
    Show others...
    2014 (English)In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 8, p. e103218-Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Analysis of selective sweeps to pinpoint causative genomic regions involved in chicken domestication has revealed a strongselective sweep on chromosome 4 in layer chickens. The autoregulatory a-adrenergic receptor 2C (ADRA2C) gene is theclosest to the selective sweep and was proposed as an important gene in the domestication of layer chickens. The ADRA2Cpromoter region was also hypermethylated in comparison to the non-selected ancestor of all domesticated chicken breeds,the Red Junglefowl, further supporting its relevance. In mice the receptor is involved in the fight-or-flight response as itmodulates epinephrine release from the adrenals. To investigate the involvement of ADRA2C in chicken domestication, wemeasured gene expression in the adrenals and radiolabeled receptor ligand in three brain regions comparing the domesticWhite Leghorn strain with the wild ancestor Red Junglefowl. In adrenals ADRA2C was twofold greater expressed than therelated receptor gene ADRA2A, indicating that ADRA2C is the predominant modulator of epinephrine release but no straindifferences were measured. In hypothalamus and amygdala, regions associated with the stress response, and in striatum,receptor binding pIC50 values ranged between 8.1–8.4, and the level was not influenced by the genotyped allele. Becausechicken strains differ in morphology, physiology and behavior, differences attributed to a single gene may be lost in thenoise caused by the heterogeneous genetic background. Therefore an F10 advanced intercross strain between WhiteLeghorn and Red Junglefowl was used to investigate effects of ADRA2C alleles on fear related behaviors and fecundity. Wedid not find compelling genotype effects in open field, tonic immobility, aerial predator, associative learning or fecundity.Therefore we conclude that ADRA2C is probably not involved in the domestication of the stress response in chicken, and thestrong selective sweep is probably caused by selection of some unknown genetic element in the vicinity of the gene.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Public Library of Science, 2014
    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-109431 (URN)10.1371/journal.pone.0103218 (DOI)000341105100015 ()25111139 (PubMedID)
    Available from: 2014-08-18 Created: 2014-08-18 Last updated: 2023-12-28
    5. Early stress causes sex-specific, life-long changes in behaviour, levels of gonadal hormones, and gene expression in chickens
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Early stress causes sex-specific, life-long changes in behaviour, levels of gonadal hormones, and gene expression in chickens
    Show others...
    2015 (English)In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 5, article id e0125808Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Early stress can have long-lasting phenotypic effects. Previous research shows that male and female chickens differ in many behavioural aspects, and respond differently to chronic stress. The present experiment aimed to broadly characterize long-term sex differences in responses to brief events of stress experienced during the first weeks of life. Chicks from a commercial egg-laying hybrid were exposed to stress by inducing periods of social isolation during their first three weeks of life, followed by a broad behavioural, physiological and genomic characterization throughout life. Early stressed males, but not females, where more anxious in an open field-test, stayed shorter in tonic immobility and tended to have delayed sexual maturity, as shown by a tendency for lower levels of testosterone compared to controls. While early stressed females did not differ from non-stressed in fear and sexual maturation, they were more socially dominant than controls. The differential gene expression profile in hypothalamus was significantly correlated from 28 to 213 days of age in males, but not in females. In conclusion, early stress had a more pronounced long-term effect on male than on female chickens, as evidenced by behavioral, endocrine and genomic responses. This may either be attributed to inherent sex differences due to evolutionary causes, or possibly to different stress related selection pressures on the two sexes during commercial chicken breeding.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Public Library of Science, 2015
    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-117423 (URN)10.1371/journal.pone.0125808 (DOI)000354916100036 ()
    Available from: 2015-04-27 Created: 2015-04-27 Last updated: 2023-12-28Bibliographically approved
    6. Transgenerational effects of early experience on acute stress reactions in behaviour, steroid hormones and gene expression in the precocial chicken
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Transgenerational effects of early experience on acute stress reactions in behaviour, steroid hormones and gene expression in the precocial chicken
    Show others...
    2012 (English)In: Hormones and Behavior, ISSN 0018-506X, E-ISSN 1095-6867, Vol. 61, no 5, p. 711-718Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Stress during early life can profoundly influence an individual’s phenotype. Effects can manifest in the short-term as well as later in life and even in subsequent generations. Transgenerational effects of stress are potentially mediated via modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) as well as epigenetic mechanisms causing heritable changes in gene expression. To investigate these pathways we subjected domestic chicks (Gallus gallus) to intermittent social isolation, food restriction, and temperature stress for the first three weeks of life. The early life stress resulted in a dampened corticosterone response to restraint stress in the parents and male offspring. Stress-specific genes, such as early growth response 1 (EGR1) and corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), were upregulated when chicks were tested in the context of restraint stress, but not under baseline conditions. Treatment differences in gene expression were also correlated across generations which indicate transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, possibly mediated by differences in maternal yolk estradiol and testosterone. In an associative learning test early stressed birds made more correct choices suggesting a higher coping ability in stressful situations. This study is the first to show transgenerational effects of early life stress in a precocial species by combining behavioural, endocrinological, and transcriptomic measurements.

    Keywords
    Early growth response, corticotropin releasing hormone receptor, postnatal stress, behaviour, epigenetics, transgenerational effects, steroid hormones, gene expression
    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-70157 (URN)10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.03.006 (DOI)000304339800007 ()
    Note
    funding agencies|Swedish Research Council||Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning||Available from: 2011-08-22 Created: 2011-08-22 Last updated: 2023-12-28
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  • 22.
    Eliasson, Moa
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Hernandez Salazar, Laura Teresa
    Instituto de Neuro-Etologia, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
    Laska, Matthias
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) are less sensitive to the odor of aliphatic ketones than to the odor of other classes of aliphatic compounds.2015In: Neuroscience research, ISSN 0168-0102, E-ISSN 1872-8111, Vol. 99, p. 46-54Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Aliphatic ketones are widely present in body-borne and food odors of primates. Therefore, we used an operant conditioning paradigm and determined olfactory detection thresholds in four spider monkeys for a homologous series of aliphatic 2-ketones (2-butanone to 2-nonanone) and two of their isomers (3- and 4-heptanone). We found that, with the exception of the two shortest-chained ketones, all animals detected concentrations <1ppm (parts per million), and with five odorants individual animals even reached threshold values <0.1ppm. Further, we found a significant correlation between olfactory sensitivity of the spider monkeys and carbon chain length of the 2-ketones which can best be described as a U-shaped function. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between olfactory sensitivity and position of the functional carbonyl group. Across-odorant and across-species comparisons revealed the following: spider monkeys are significantly less sensitive to the odors of aliphatic ketones than to the odor of other classes of aliphatic compounds (1-alcohols, n-aldehydes, n-acetic esters, and n-carboxylic acids) sharing the same carbon length. Spider monkeys do not differ significantly in their olfactory sensitivity for aliphatic ketones from squirrel monkeys and pigtail macaques, but are significantly less sensitive to these odorants compared to human subjects and mice. These findings support the notion that neuroanatomical and genetic properties do not allow for reliable predictions with regard to a species' olfactory sensitivity. Further, we conclude that the frequency of occurrence of a class of odorants in a species' chemical environment does not allow for reliable predictions of the species' olfactory sensitivity.

  • 23.
    Ericsson, Maria
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Domestication and ontogeny effects on the stress response inyoung chickens (Gallus gallus)2016In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 6, article id 6_35818Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Domestication is thought to increase stress tolerance. The connection between stressor exposure,glucocorticoids and behavioural responses has been studied in adults, where domestication effectsare evident. Early stress exposure may induce detrimental effects both in short-and long term.Previous research has reported a lack of glucocorticoid response in newly hatched chickens (Gallusgallus), whereas others have found opposite results. Hence it remains unclear whether the HPA-axis isfunctional from hatch, and if domestication has affected the early post-hatch ontogeny of the stressresponse. Our aims were to investigate the early ontogeny of the HPA-axis and characterize behaviouraland hormonal stress responses in ancestral Red Junglefowl and in two domestic layer strains. Plasmacorticosteone and behavioural responses before and after physical restraint was measured on dayone, nine, 16 and 23 post hatch. The results showed significant increases of corticosterone after stressin all three breeds at all the different ages. The HPA-response decreased with age and was lower inRed Junglefowl. Behavioural responses also decreased with age, and tended to be stronger in RedJunglefowl. In summary, the HPA-axis is reactive from day one, and domestication may have affectedits development and reactivity, alongside with related behaviour responses.

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  • 24.
    Evans, Stephen
    et al.
    North-West University, South Africa; University of Venda, South Africa.
    Cole, Nick
    Durrel Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, Channel Islands;Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Mauritius.
    Kylin, Henrik
    Linköping University, Department of Thematic Studies, Tema Environmental Change. Linköping University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. North-West University, South Africa.
    Choong Kwet Yive, Nee Sun
    University of Mauritius, Mauritius.
    Tatayah, Vikash
    Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Mauritius.
    Merven, Jacques
    Raphaël Fishin Corp., Mauritius.
    Bouwman, Hindrik
    North-West University, South Africa.
    Protection of marine birds and turtles at St Brandon’s Rock, Indian Ocean,requires conservation of the entire atoll2016In: African Journal of Marine Science, ISSN 1814-232X, Vol. 38, no 3, p. 317-327Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A survey of seabirds and turtles at St Brandon’s Rock, 400 km north of Mauritius, was undertaken in 2010. We estimated that 1.1 million seabirds comprising seven breeding species and excluding non-breeders were present at the archipelago and we counted 279 turtle tracks and nesting pits of green turtles Chelonia mydas. Hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata were also present. Analyses of 30 different islets that make up the atoll showed that the seabird species mostly partitioned their use of islets based on islet size, with four species preferring larger islets and two species preferring smaller islets. Alien species introduced historically are still present and other threats, such as shipwrecks, remain. We propose conservation and other measures that should adequately protect the birds, turtles and coral reef by treating the atoll as a system.

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  • 25.
    Fahlman, Andreas
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Global Diving Res SL, Spain; Fdn Oceanograf Comun Valenciana, Spain; Kolmarden Wildlife Pk, Sweden; Global Diving Res SL, Spain.
    Rhieu, Kaylee
    Clearwater Marine Aquarium, FL USA.
    Alessi, Brie
    Clearwater Marine Aquarium, FL USA.
    Marquardt, Shelly
    Clearwater Marine Aquarium, FL USA.
    Schisa, Michelle B.
    Gulf World, FL USA.
    Sanchez-Contreras, Guillermo J.
    Dolphin Co, Mexico.
    Larsson, Josefin
    Kolmarden Wildlife Pk, Sweden.
    Resting metabolic rate and lung function in fasted and fed rough-toothed dolphins, Steno bredanensis2023In: Marine mammal science, ISSN 0824-0469, E-ISSN 1748-7692Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    We measured resting metabolic rate (RMR), tidal volume (V-T), breathing frequency (f(R)), respiratory flow, and endexpired gases in rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) housed in managed care after an overnight fast and 1-2 hr following a meal. The measured average (+/- standard deviation) V-T (4.0 +/- 1.3 L) and f(R) (1.9 +/- 1.0 breaths/min) were higher and lower, respectively, as compared with estimated values from both terrestrial and aquatic mammals, and the average V-T was 43% of the estimated total lung capacity. The end-expired gas levels suggested that this species keep alveolar O-2 (10.6% or 80 mmHg) and CO2 (7.6% or 57 mmHg), and likely arterial gas tensions, low and high, respectively, to maximize efficiency of gas exchange. We show that following an overnight fast, the RMR (566 +/- 158 ml O-2/min) was 1.8 times the estimated value predicted by Kleiber for terrestrial mammals of the same size. We also show that between 1 and 2 hr after ingestion of a meal, the metabolic rate increases an average of 29% (709 +/- 126 ml O-2/min). Both body mass (M-b) and f(R) significantly altered the measured RMR and we propose that both these variables should be measured when estimating energy use in cetaceans.

  • 26.
    Fahlman, Andreas
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Fdn Oceanograf Comunitat Valenciana, Spain; Kolmarden Wildlife Pk, Sweden; Fdn Oceanograf Comunitat Valenciana, Spain.
    Tyson Moore, Reny B.
    Mote Marine Lab, FL USA.
    Stone, Rae
    Natl Museum Bermuda, Bermuda.
    Sweeney, Jay
    Natl Museum Bermuda, Bermuda.
    Trainor, Robyn Faulkner
    Natl Museum Bermuda, Bermuda.
    Barleycorn, Aaron A.
    Mote Marine Lab, FL USA.
    McHugh, Katherine
    Mote Marine Lab, FL USA.
    Allen, Jason B.
    Mote Marine Lab, FL USA.
    Wells, Randall S.
    Mote Marine Lab, FL USA.
    Deep diving by offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.)2023In: Marine mammal science, ISSN 0824-0469, E-ISSN 1748-7692, Vol. 39, no 4, p. 1251-1266Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    We used satellite-linked tags to evaluate dive behavior in offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) near the island of Bermuda. The data provide evidence that bottlenose dolphins commonly perform both long (&gt;272 s) and deep (&gt;199 m) dives, with the deepest and longest dives being to 1,000 m and 826 s (13.8 min), respectively. The data show a relationship between dive duration and dive depth for dives longer than about 272 s. There was a diurnal pattern to dive behavior, with most dives deeper than 50 m being performed at night; deep diving began at sunset and varied throughout the night. We used the cumulative frequency of dive duration to estimate a behavioral aerobic dive limit (bADL) of around 560-666 s (9.3-11.1 min) in adult dolphins in this population. Dives exceeding the bADL spent significantly longer time in the upper-most 50 m following a dive as compared with dives less than the bADL. We conclude that the offshore ecotype off Bermuda, unlike the shallow-diving near-shore bottlenose dolphin, is a deep-diving ecotype, and may provide a useful animal model to study extreme diving behavior and adaptations.

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  • 27. Order onlineBuy this publication >>
    Fallahshahroudi, Amir
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Domestication Effects on the Stress Response in Chickens: Genetics, Physiology, and Behaviour2017Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Animal domestication, the process where animals become adapted to living in proximity to humans, is associated with the alteration of multiple traits, including decreased fearfulness and stress response. With an estimated population of 50 billion, the domesticated chicken is the most populous avian species in the world. Hundreds of chicken breeds have been developed for meat and egg production, hobby or research purposes. Multidirectional selection and the relaxation of natural selection in captivity have created immense phenotypic diversity amongst domesticates in a relatively short evolutionary time. The extensive phenotypic diversity, existence of the wild ancestor, and feasibility of intercrossing various breeds makes the chicken a suitable model animal for deciphering genetic determinants of complex traits such as stress response. We used chicken domestication as a model to gain insights about the mechanisms that regulate stress response in an avian species. We studied behavioural and physiological stress response in the ancestral Red Junglefowl and one of its domesticated progenies, White Leghorn. An advanced intercross between the aforementioned breeds was later used to map genetic loci underlying modification of stress response. The general pattern of the stress response in chickens was comparable with that reported in mammals, however we identified distinctive differences in the stress modulatory pathways in chickens. We showed that changes in the expression levels of several stress modulatory genes in the brain, the pituitary and the adrenal glands underlie the observed modified stress response in domesticated chickens. Using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, several QTL underlying stress induced corticosterone, aldosterone and baseline dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels were detected. As a next step, we combined QTL mapping with gene expression (eQTL) mapping and narrowed two QTL down to the putative causal genes, SERPINA10 and PDE1C. Both of these genes were differentially expressed in the adrenal glands of White Leghorn and the Red Junglefowl, had overlapping eQTL with hormonal QTL, and their expression levels in the adrenal glands were correlated with plasma levels of corticosterone and al-dosterone. These two genes thus serve as strong candidates for further functional investigation concerning modification of the stress response during domestication. This dissertation increase the knowledge about genetics and physiology of the stress response in an avian species and its modification during domestication. Our findings expand the basic knowledge about the stress response in chicken, which can potentially be used to improve welfare through appropriate genetic selection.

    List of papers
    1. Domestication effects on behavioural and hormonal responses to acute stress in chickens
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Domestication effects on behavioural and hormonal responses to acute stress in chickens
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    2014 (English)In: Physiology and Behavior, ISSN 0031-9384, E-ISSN 1873-507X, Vol. 133, p. 161-169Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Comparative studies have shown that alterations in physiology, morphology and behaviour have arisen due tothe domestication. A driving factor behind many of the changes could be a shift in stress responses,withmodifiedendocrine and behavioural profiles. In the present study we compared two breeds of chicken (Gallus gallus), thedomesticWhite Leghorn (WL) egg laying breed and its ancestor, the Red Junglefowl (RJF). Birds were exposed toan acute stress event, invoked by 3 or 10 min of physical restraint. Theywere then continuouslymonitored for theeffects on a wide range of behaviours during a 60 min recovery phase. Blood samples were collected from thechicken at baseline, and after 10 and 60 min following a similar restraint stress, and the samples wereanalyzed for nine endogenous steroids of the HPA and HPG axes. Concentration of the steroids was determinedusing validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methods. In RJF, an immediate behaviouralresponse was observed after release from restraint in several behaviours, with a relatively fast return to baselinewithin 1 h. In WL, somebehaviourswere affected for a longer period of time, and others not at all. Concentrationsof corticosterone increasedmore in RJF, but returned faster to baseline compared toWL. A range of baseline levelsfor HPG-related steroids differed between the breeds, and they were generally more affected by the stress in WLthan in RJF. In conclusion, RJF reacted stronger both behaviourally and physiologically to the restraint stress, butalso recovered faster. This would appear to be adaptive under natural conditions, whereas the stress recovery ofdomesticated birds has been altered by domestication and breeding for increased reproductive output.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Elsevier, 2014
    Keywords
    Corticosterone Recovery Restraint White Leghorn Red Junglefowl
    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-107167 (URN)10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.024 (DOI)000340315100022 ()
    Note

    Funders: Swedish Research Council (VR) [621-2011-4731]; Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) [221-2011-1088]; ERC (project Genewell) [322206]; Swedish Centre of Excellence in Animal Welfare; ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology

    Available from: 2014-06-09 Created: 2014-06-09 Last updated: 2023-12-28
    2. Domestication Effects on Stress Induced Steroid Secretion and Adrenal Gene Expression in Chickens
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Domestication Effects on Stress Induced Steroid Secretion and Adrenal Gene Expression in Chickens
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    2015 (English)In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 5, p. 1-10, article id 15345Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity is a challenge in contemporary biology. Domestication provides a model for unravelling aspects of the genetic basis of stress sensitivity. The ancestral Red Junglefowl (RJF) exhibits greater fear-related behaviour and a more pronounced HPA-axis reactivity than its domesticated counterpart, the White Leghorn (WL). By comparing hormones (plasmatic) and adrenal global gene transcription profiles between WL and RJF in response to an acute stress event, we investigated the molecular basis for the altered physiological stress responsiveness in domesticated chickens. Basal levels of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone as well as corticosterone response were lower in WL. Microarray analysis of gene expression in adrenal glands showed a significant breed effect in a large number of transcripts with over-representation of genes in the channel activity pathway. The expression of the best-known steroidogenesis genes were similar across the breeds used. Transcription levels of acute stress response genes such as StAR, CH25 and POMC were upregulated in response to acute stress. Dampened HPA reactivity in domesticated chickens was associated with changes in the expression of several genes that presents potentially minor regulatory effects rather than by means of change in expression of critical steroidogenic genes in the adrenal.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    Nature Publishing Group, 2015
    National Category
    Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-122305 (URN)10.1038/srep15345 (DOI)000362885300001 ()26471470 (PubMedID)
    Note

    Funding agencies: Swedish Research Council (VR) [621-2011-4731]; Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) [221-2011-1088]; SRC [621-2011-5523]; ERC [322206]; Swedish Centre of Excellence in Animal Welfare

    Available from: 2015-10-28 Created: 2015-10-28 Last updated: 2023-12-28
    3. Genetic and Targeted eQTL Mapping Reveals Strong Candidate Genes Modulating the Stress Response During Chicken Domestication.
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>Genetic and Targeted eQTL Mapping Reveals Strong Candidate Genes Modulating the Stress Response During Chicken Domestication.
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    2017 (English)In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, E-ISSN 2160-1836, Vol. 7, no 2Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    The stress response has been largely modified in all domesticated animals, offering a strong tool for genetic mapping. In chickens, ancestral Red Junglefowl react stronger both in terms of physiology and behavior to a brief restraint stress than domesticated White Leghorn, demonstrating modified functions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying variations in stress-induced hormone levels using 232 birds from the 12th generation of an advanced intercross between White Leghorn and Red Junglefowl, genotyped for 739 genetic markers. Plasma levels of corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and pregnenolone (PREG) were measured using LC-MS/MS in all genotyped birds. Transcription levels of the candidate genes were measured in the adrenal glands or hypothalamus of 88 out of the 232 birds used for hormone assessment. Genes were targeted for expression analysis when they were located in a hormone QTL region and were differentially expressed in the pure breed birds. One genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 5 and two suggestive QTL together explained 20% of the variance in corticosterone response. Two significant QTL for aldosterone on chromosome 2 and 5 (explaining 19% of the variance), and one QTL for DHEA on chromosome 4 (explaining 5% of the variance), were detected. Orthologous DNA regions to the significant corticosterone QTL have been previously associated with the physiological stress response in other species but, to our knowledge, the underlying gene(s) have not been identified. SERPINA10 had an expression QTL (eQTL) colocalized with the corticosterone QTL on chromosome 5 and PDE1C had an eQTL colocalized with the aldosterone QTL on chromosome 2. Furthermore, in both cases, the expression levels of the genes were correlated with the plasma levels of the hormones. Hence, both these genes are strong putative candidates for the domestication-induced modifications of the stress response in chickens. Improved understanding of the genes associated with HPA-axis reactivity can provide insights into the pathways and mechanisms causing stress-related pathologies.

    Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
    The Genetics Society, 2017
    Keywords
    animal, domestication, quantitative trait, genes, corticosterone, aldosterone
    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-134649 (URN)10.1534/g3.116.037721 (DOI)000394357100015 ()27974436 (PubMedID)
    Note

    Funding agencies: Swedish Research Council (SRC) (Vetenskapsradet) [621-2011-4731]; Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Forskningsradet for Miljo, Areella Naringar och Samhallsbyggande) [221-2011-1088]; European Research Co

    Available from: 2017-02-21 Created: 2017-02-21 Last updated: 2024-01-17
    4. QTL mapping of stress related gene expression in a cross between domesticated chickens and ancestral red junglefowl.
    Open this publication in new window or tab >>QTL mapping of stress related gene expression in a cross between domesticated chickens and ancestral red junglefowl.
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    2017 (English)In: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, ISSN 0303-7207, E-ISSN 1872-8057, Vol. 446, p. 52-58, article id S0303-7207(17)30090-4Article in journal (Refereed) Published
    Abstract [en]

    Domestication of animals is associated with numerous alterations in physiology, morphology, and behavior. Lower reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduced fearfulness is seen in most studied domesticates, including chickens. Previously we have shown that the physiological stress response as well as expression levels of hundreds of genes in the hypothalamus and adrenal glands are different between domesticated White Leghorn and the progenitor of modern chickens, the Red Junglefowl. To map genetic loci associated with the transcription levels of genes involved in the physiological stress response, we conducted an eQTL analysis in the F12 generation of an inter-cross between White Leghorn and Red Junglefowl. We selected genes for further studies based on their known function in the regulation of the HPA axis or sympathoadrenal (SA) system, and measured their expression levels in the hypothalamus and the adrenal glands after a brief stress exposure (physical restraint). The expression values were treated as quantitative traits for the eQTL mapping. The plasma levels of corticosterone were also assessed. We analyzed the correlation between gene expression and corticosterone levels and mapped eQTL and their potential effects on corticosterone levels. The effects on gene transcription of a previously found QTL for corticosterone response were also investigated. The expression levels of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hypothalamus and several genes in the adrenal glands were correlated with the post-stress levels of corticosterone in plasma. We found several cis- and trans-acting eQTL for stress-related genes in both hypothalamus and adrenal. In the hypothalamus, one eQTL for c-FOS and one QTL for expression of GR were found. In the adrenal tissue, we identified eQTL for the genes NR0B1, RGS4, DBH, MAOA, GRIN1, GABRB2, GABRB3, and HSF1. None of the found eQTL were significant predictors of corticosterone levels. The previously found QTL for corticosterone was associated with GR expression in hypothalamus. Our data suggests that domestication related modification in the stress response is driven by changes in the transcription levels of several modulators of the HPA and SA systems in hypothalamus and adrenal glands and not by changes in the expression of the steroidogenic genes. The presence of eQTL for GR in hypothalamus combined with the negative correlation between GR expression and corticosterone response suggests GR as a candidate for further functional studies regarding modification of stress response during chicken domestication.

    Keywords
    Animal domestication, HPA axis, QTL, Stress response, eQTL
    National Category
    Biological Sciences
    Identifiers
    urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-136027 (URN)10.1016/j.mce.2017.02.010 (DOI)000399509600006 ()28189567 (PubMedID)
    Note

    Funding agencies: Swedish Research Council (VR) [621-2011-4731]; Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) [221-2011-1088]; ERC [Genewell 322206]; SRC grant [VR 621-2011-4423, 2015-4870]; Swedish Centre of Excellence in A

    Available from: 2017-03-27 Created: 2017-03-27 Last updated: 2023-12-28
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    Domestication Effects on the Stress Response in Chickens: Genetics, Physiology, and Behaviour
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  • 28.
    Franklin, Craig E.
    et al.
    University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
    Farrell, Anthony P.
    University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
    Altimiras, Jordi
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Zoology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Axelsson, Michael
    University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Thermal dependence of cardiac function in arctic fish: implications of a warming world2013In: Journal of Experimental Biology, ISSN 0022-0949, E-ISSN 1477-9145, Vol. 216, p. 4251-4255Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    With the Arctic experiencing one of the greatest and most rapid increases in sea temperatures in modern time, predicting how Arctic marine organisms will respond to elevated temperatures has become crucial for conservation biology. Here, we examined the thermal sensitivity of cardiorespiratory performance for three closely related species of sculpins that inhabit the Arctic waters, two of which, Gymnocanthus tricuspis and Myoxocephalus scorpioides, have adapted to a restricted range within the Arctic, whereas the third species, Myoxocephalus scorpius, has a wider distribution. We tested the hypothesis that the fish restricted to Arctic cold waters would show reduced cardiorespiratory scope in response to an increase in temperature, as compared with the more eurythermal M. scorpius. As expected from their biogeography, M. scorpioides and G. tricuspis maximised cardiorespiratory performance at temperatures between 1 and 4 degrees C, whereas M. scorpius maximised performance over a wider range of temperatures (1-10 degrees C). Furthermore, factorial scope for cardiac output collapsed at elevated temperature for the two high-latitude species, negatively impacting their ability to support aerobically driven metabolic processes. Consequently, these results concurred with our hypothesis, suggesting that the sculpin species restricted to the Arctic are likely to be negatively impacted by increases in ocean temperatures.

  • 29.
    Gabrielle, Lunden
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Rebecca, Oscarsson
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Hedlund, Louise
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Gjöen, Johanna
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Play ontogeny in young chickens is affected by domestication and early stress2022In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 12, no 1, article id 13576Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Play is common in young homeotherm animals and has an important role as a tentative indicator of positive states of welfare. Furthermore, during domestication play is believed to have increased in frequency in several species as part of the domestication syndrome. Here, we studied the ontogeny of play in chickens in two experiments. The first compared the behavioural development between domesticated White Leghorn (WL) laying hen chicks and ancestral Red Junglefowl (RJF) and the second compared the same between WL chicks that had experienced the stress of commercial hatchery routines and a control group, hatched under calm conditions. In both experiments, 10 groups of four chicks each from each of the groups were moved twice per week to an enriched and fully enclosed play arena, starting at day 8 and finishing day 39 or 53 after hatch. In the arena, the frequency of play behaviours was recorded during 30 min and divided into object, locomotory and social play. In experiment one, total play as well as object play was significantly more common in WL whereas locomotor and social play was more common in RJF. In experiment two, total play was significantly more frequent in commercially hatched chicks, despite that none of the sub-categories differed significantly between the groups. In conclusion, domestication as well as early stress does affect the occurrence of play in chickens, but the effects are complex and require further research.

  • 30.
    Gavrilets, Sergey
    et al.
    Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Mathematics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville,USA.
    Arnqvist, Göran
    Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Umeå, Sweden.
    Friberg, Urban
    Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Umeå, Sweden.
    The evolution of female mate choice by sexual conflict2001In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, ISSN 0080-4649, Vol. 268, no 1466, p. 531-539Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Although empirical evidence has shown that many male traits have evolved via sexual selection by female mate choice, our understanding of the adaptive value of female mating preferences is still very incomplete. It has recently been suggested that female mate choice may result from females evolving resistance rather than attraction to males, but this has been disputed. Here, we develop a quantitative genetic model showing that sexual conflict over mating indeed results in the joint evolution of costly female mate choice and exaggerated male traits under a wide range of circumstances. In contrast to traditional explanations of costly female mate choice, which rely on indirect genetic benefits, our model shows that mate choice can be generated as a side–effect of females evolving to reduce the direct costs of mating.

  • 31.
    Girndt, Antje
    et al.
    Max Planck Institute Ornithol, Germany; Imperial Coll London, England; University of Konstanz, Germany.
    Cockburn, Glenn
    Max Planck Institute Ornithol, Germany; University of Konstanz, Germany.
    Sanchez-Tojar, Alfredo
    Max Planck Institute Ornithol, Germany; Imperial Coll London, England; University of Konstanz, Germany.
    Lovlie, Hanne
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Schroeder, Julia
    Max Planck Institute Ornithol, Germany; Imperial Coll London, England.
    Method matters: Experimental evidence for shorter avian sperm in faecal compared to abdominal massage samples2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 8, article id e0182853Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Birds are model organisms in sperm biology. Previous work in zebra finches, suggested that sperm sampled from males faeces and ejaculates do not differ in size. Here, we tested this assumption in a captive population of house sparrows, Passer domesticus. We compared sperm length in samples from three collection techniques: female dummy, faecal and abdominal massage samples. We found that sperm were significantly shorter in faecal than abdominal massage samples, which was explained by shorter heads and midpieces, but not flagella. This result might indicate that faecal sampled sperm could be less mature than sperm collected by abdominal massage. The female dummy method resulted in an insufficient number of experimental ejaculates because most males ignored it. In light of these results, we recommend using abdominal massage as a preferred method for avian sperm sampling. Where avian sperm cannot be collected by abdominal massage alone, we advise controlling for sperm sampling protocol statistically.

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  • 32.
    Griesser, Michael
    et al.
    University of Zurich, Switzerland; University of Bern, Switzerland; Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Mourocq, Emeline
    University of Zurich, Switzerland; University of Bern, Switzerland.
    Barnaby, Jonathan
    Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Bowgen, Katharine M.
    Bournemouth University, England.
    Eggers, Sonke
    Uppsala University, Sweden; Swedish University of Agriculture Science, Sweden.
    Fletcher, Kevin
    Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Kozma, Radoslav
    Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Kurz, Franziska
    Freiburg, Germany.
    Laurila, Anssi
    Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Nystrand, Magdalena
    Uppsala University, Sweden; Monash University, Australia.
    Sorato, Enrico
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Ekman, Jan
    Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Experience buffers extrinsic mortality in a group-living bird species2017In: Oikos, ISSN 0030-1299, E-ISSN 1600-0706, Vol. 126, no 9, p. 1258-1268Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Extrinsic mortality has a strong impact on the evolution of life-histories, prey morphology and behavioural adaptations, but for many animals the causes of mortality are poorly understood. Predation is an important driver of extrinsic mortality and mobile animals form groups in response to increased predation risk. Furthermore, in many species juveniles suffer higher mortality than older individuals, which may reflect a lower phenotypic quality, lower competitiveness, or a lack of antipredator or foraging skills. Here we assessed the causes of mortality for 371 radio tagged Siberian jays. This sedentary bird species lives in family groups that contain a breeding pair as well as related and unrelated non-breeders. Ninety-five percent of death were due to predation (n = 59 out of 62 individuals) and most individuals were killed by Accipiter hawks. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models showed that non-breeders had a lower survival than breeders, but only in territories in managed forest with little visual cover. Examining breeders, only sex influenced survival with males having a lower survival than females. For non-breeders, juveniles had lower survival than older non-breeders, and those on managed territories had lower survival than those on unmanaged territories. Additionally, a low feather quality reduced the survival probability of non-breeders only. Thus, living on managed territories and having a low feature quality affected only non-breeders, particularly juveniles. These findings add to previous research demonstrating that juvenile Siberian jays acquire critical antipredator skills from experienced group members. Thus, experience can buffer extrinsic mortality, highlighting that group living not only provides safety in numbers, but also provide social opportunities to learn critical life-skills.

  • 33.
    Grozelier, Anna
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Labrador and German shepherd breed differences in dog-human communication2015Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    As our long-term companions, dogs’ communication with us is perhaps the most developed of all human- animal ones. This study was aimed to investigate breed differences of German Shepherds and Labradors in dog-human communication. This was obtained through two tests: a problem-solving task and a pointing test. These two tests target both directions of communication: how much dogs understand and respond to the pointing and how they communicate with humans when facing a problem. Additionally, hair cortisol was measured in the dogs and dog owners filled a behavioural questionnaire (C-BARQ). The main breed difference I found was that Labradors performed better in both tests. I also found that the latency of the dogs’ choices in the pointing test correlated with many factors, e.g. they chose quicker when: choosing correctly, when they had many physical contacts with the experimenter in the problem-solving task, when they were more intense, energetic dogs, when they had higher hair cortisol levels and when they had a confident body posture. This indicates that the latency of choice could depend on the confidence of the dog and on the trust in the experimenter as well as on energy level and focus ability. Overall, this study revealed a limited amount of breed differences, compared to a parallel study on Labrador types (hunting and show dogs), showing that intra-breed differences can be more important than inter-breed ones on a behavioural level. 

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  • 34.
    Haemig, Paul
    et al.
    Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden.
    Hernandez, Jorge
    Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden.
    Waldenström, Jonas
    Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden; Ottenby Bird Observatory, Degerhamn, Sweden.
    Bonnedahl, Jonas
    Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden.
    Olsen, Björn
    Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden; Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Ottenby Bird Observatory, Degerhamn, Sweden.
    Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) Test Negative for Salmonella2008In: Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, ISSN 1530-3667, E-ISSN 1557-7759, Vol. 8, no 4, p. 451-454Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Farmers around the world have been urged to eliminate barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) from their buildings, based on the unproven assumption that these birds amplify and spread Salmonella to livestock, humans, and stored food. However, we tested over 500 barn swallows in Sweden and found no evidence that they carry Salmonella. Our results cast doubt on the hypothesis that barn swallows are competent reservoirs of Salmonella and suggest that their role, if any, is limited to being accidental hosts of the bacterium. 

  • 35.
    Hedlund, Louise
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Incubation and hatching conditions of laying hen chicks explain a large part of the stress effects from commercial large-scale hatcheries2021In: Poultry Science, ISSN 0032-5791, E-ISSN 1525-3171, Vol. 100, no 1Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    In commercial egg production, laying hen chicks are exposed to several stressful events during incubation, hatching, and their first hours in life. We have previously shown that hatching and processing are associated with increased corticosterone concentration and further affect behavior and stress sensitivity in a short- as well as long-term perspective. However, it is not known whether these long-term stress effects are caused by the hatchery processing (sex sorting, vaccination, conveying, and loading for transport) or if they are mainly caused by potentially stressful events before processing, during incubation and hatching. In the present study, the aim was to assess the effects of incubation and hatching only, compared to stress effects from the entire hatchery processing. We compared Lohmann LSL chicks incubated, hatched, and processed in a commercial hatchery with chicks incubated and hatched at the same time but not further processed. We studied behavior in a novel arena and during tonic immobility, as well as weight development and corticosterone reaction during a stress challenge. Processed chicks had poorer weight development and were more active in the novel arena test. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in corticosterone reactivity or tonic immobility. When comparing with previous data, both groups had elevated corticosterone concentrations compared to what we had previously reported from chicks hatched under calm and nonstressful conditions. In conclusion, incubation and hatching alone caused long-term stress effects in chickens, but further processing exacerbated these effects to some extent.

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  • 36.
    Henriksen, Rie
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Höglund, Andrey
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Fogelholm, Jesper
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Abbey-Lee, Robin
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Johnsson, Martin
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Univ Edinburgh, Scotland; Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Sweden.
    Dingemanse, Niels J.
    Ludwig Maximilians Univ Munich LMU, Germany.
    Wright, Dominic
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Intra-Individual Behavioural Variability: A Trait under Genetic Control2020In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, ISSN 1661-6596, E-ISSN 1422-0067, Vol. 21, no 21, article id 8069Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    When individuals are measured more than once in the same context they do not behave in exactly the same way each time. The degree of predictability differs between individuals, with some individuals showing low levels of variation around their behavioural mean while others show high levels of variation. This intra-individual variability in behaviour has received much less attention than between-individual variability in behaviour, and very little is known about the underlying mechanisms that affect this potentially large but understudied component of behavioural variation. In this study, we combine standardized behavioural tests in a chicken intercross to estimate intra-individual behavioural variability with a large-scale genomics analysis to identify genes affecting intra-individual behavioural variability in an avian population. We used a variety of different anxiety-related behavioural phenotypes for this purpose. Our study shows that intra-individual variability in behaviour has a direct genetic basis that is largely unique compared to the genetic architecture for the standard behavioural measures they are based on (at least in the detected quantitative trait locus). We identify six suggestive candidate genes that may underpin differences in intra-individual behavioural variability, with several of these candidates having previously been linked to behaviour and mental health. These findings demonstrate that intra-individual variability in behaviour appears to be a heritable trait in and of itself on which evolution can act.

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  • 37.
    Henriksen, Rie
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Johnsson, Martin
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Andersson, L
    Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Wright, Dominic
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    The domesticated brain: genetics of brain mass and brain structure in an avian species.2016In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 6Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    As brain size usually increases with body size it has been assumed that the two are tightly constrained and evolutionary studies have therefore often been based on relative brain size (i.e. brain size proportional to body size) rather than absolute brain size. The process of domestication offers an excellent opportunity to disentangle the linkage between body and brain mass due to the extreme selection for increased body mass that has occurred. By breeding an intercross between domestic chicken and their wild progenitor, we address this relationship by simultaneously mapping the genes that control inter-population variation in brain mass and body mass. Loci controlling variation in brain mass and body mass have separate genetic architectures and are therefore not directly constrained. Genetic mapping of brain regions indicates that domestication has led to a larger body mass and to a lesser extent a larger absolute brain mass in chickens, mainly due to enlargement of the cerebellum. Domestication has traditionally been linked to brain mass regression, based on measurements of relative brain mass, which confounds the large body mass augmentation due to domestication. Our results refute this concept in the chicken.

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  • 38.
    Jardat, Plotine
    et al.
    Univ Tours, France.
    Calandreau, Ludovic
    Univ Tours, France.
    Bessa Ferreira, Vitor Hugo
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering. Univ Tours, France.
    Gouyet, Chloe
    Univ Tours, France.
    Parias, Celine
    Univ Tours, France.
    Reigner, Fabrice
    INRAE, France.
    Lansade, Lea
    Univ Tours, France.
    Pet-directed speech improves horses attention toward humans2022In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 12, no 1, article id 4297Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    In a recent experiment, we showed that horses are sensitive to pet-directed speech (PDS), a kind of speech used to talk to companion animals that is characterized by high pitch and wide pitch variations. When talked to in PDS rather than adult-directed speech (ADS), horses reacted more favorably during grooming and in a pointing task. However, the mechanism behind their response remains unclear: does PDS draw horses attention and arouse them, or does it make their emotional state more positive? In this study, we used an innovative paradigm in which female horses watched videos of humans speaking in PDS or ADS to better understand this phenomenon. Horses reacted differently to the videos of PDS and ADS: they were significantly more attentive and their heart rates increased significantly more during PDS than during ADS. We found no difference in the expressions of negative or positive emotional states during PDS and ADS videos. Thus, we confirm that horses perception of humans can be studied by means of video projections, and we conclude that PDS attracts attention and has an arousing effect in horses, with consequences on the use of PDS in daily interactions with them.

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  • 39.
    Javal, Marion
    et al.
    Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa.
    Le Moëne, Olivia
    Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Neurobiology. Linköping University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
    Smit, Chantelle
    Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa.
    Conlong, Desmond E.
    Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa; African Sugarcane Res Inst, South Africa.
    Terblanche, John S.
    Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa.
    A preliminary assessment of the physiological and morphological correlates of beetle aggression in an emerging sugarcane pest, Cacosceles newmannii ( Thomson, 1877) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)2022In: African Entomology, ISSN 1021-3589, E-ISSN 2224-8854, Vol. 30, article id e10928Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Understanding the morphological and physiological correlates of competitive behaviours can provide important insights into the ecology of competition, home range size and resource consumption. Here we first estimated and defined sexual dimorphism in a poorly studied African cerambycid species, Cacosceles newmannii (Thomson, 1877). We then assessed morphological and physiological attributes of male beetles in relation to their fighting behaviour. Suites of morphological and energetic measurements were carried out on adult males, the latter before and after male-male interactions. Aggressive behaviour and the outcomes of male fighting trials were assessed under controlled conditions. The species is highly sexually dimorphic in relation to mandible size. During male-male interactions, a continuum of behaviours with an increasing risk of injury and metabolic cost was observed. Grasping was prolonged in males with larger fighting apparatus, who also tended to use more energy during the encounter than males displaying other behaviours. Our results indicate that the mandible size in C. newmannii serves as an honest signal of fighting ability in this species. Additionally, energetic assessments in preparation for fighting, costs during a fight, and persistence of metabolic costs postfighting may be useful for understanding the relative fitness costs of competition.

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  • 40.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Zoology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Hundens språk och tankar2011 (ed. 1)Book (Other academic)
    Abstract [sv]

    Det är svårt att tänka sig ett mänskligt liv utan hundar! Sedan vi levde som jägare och samlare har hunden följt oss människor. Per Jensen, professor i etologi, har skrivit en bok om hundens beteende, språk och tankeförmåga och beskriver pedagogiskt hur kunskapsläget är idag. Ny fakta blir här tillgänglig för en intresserad allmänhet. Boken ger en unik inblick i vad den moderna vetenskapen har att säga om hundens inre liv.

  • 41.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Zoology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Mechanisms and function in dog behaviour2007In: The behavioural biology of dogs / [ed] Per Jensen, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK: CABI Publishing, 2007, p. 61-75Chapter in book (Other academic)
    Abstract [sv]

    The long-established connection between dogs and humans has given rise to behavioural adaptations typical of mutualism, which ties our own evolutionary and historical paths closely to those of the dog. Written by experts in different areas, this book presents an up-to-date account of the behavioural biology of dogs. Split in 3 parts, the book addresses the specific aspects of behavioural biology. The first part deals with the evolution and development of the dog, whereas the next part deals with basic aspects of dog behaviour. The final part emphasises on the behavioural problems, their prevention and cure.

  • 42.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Zoology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    The behavioural biology of dogs2007Collection (editor) (Other academic)
    Abstract [sv]

    The long-established connection between dogs and humans has given rise to behavioural adaptations typical of mutualism, which ties our own evolutionary and historical paths closely to those of the dog. Written by experts in different areas, this book presents an up-to-date account of the behavioural biology of dogs. Split in 3 parts, the book addresses the specific aspects of behavioural biology. The first part deals with the evolution and development of the dog, whereas the next part deals with basic aspects of dog behaviour. The final part emphasises on the behavioural problems, their prevention and cure.

  • 43.
    Karczmarz, Veronika
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Thermal comfort in young broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) inferred from metabolic expenses.2014Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10,5 credits / 16 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The thermoneutral zone (TNZ) curve lies between the ambient temperatures (Ta) where an endothermic animal uses the least amount of energy to maintain a balance between the heat production from the animal’s own metabolism and the heat lost to the environment. If the animal is exposed to Ta’s over the upper critical temperature (UCT), which is the highest temperature that is still in the TNZ, the animals have to use energy to cool down. If they are exposed to temperatures lower than the lower critical temperature (LCT), which is the lowest temperature that is still in the TNZ, the animal have to use energy to warm up. In the present study oxygen consumption was measured at different Ta’s to determine the TNZ in two and three week old broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Two different protocols were used and compared, a pseudorandom protocol in which chickens were exposed to seven temperatures in two hour periods for each run and a more typical progressive protocol in which Ta decreased gradually, one or two degrees per hour. The TNZ in two weeks old chickens was between 30.7 ˚C- 36.4 ˚C and between 28.8 ˚C- 32.7 ˚C in the three weeks old chickens. In chickens the TNZ shifts remarkably during the first few weeks of life towards lower temperatures as the animals acquire thermoregulatory competence. The method with a pseudorandom protocol takes more factors, like activity, into consideration than a typical progressive protocol.

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    Bachelor thesis- Veronika Karczmarz
  • 44.
    Karlsson, Anna-Carin
    et al.
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Fallahsharoudi, Amir
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Johnsen, Hanna
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Hagenblad, Jenny
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Wright, Dominic
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Andersson, Leif
    Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Jensen, Per
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    A domestication related mutation in the thyroid stimulating hormonereceptor gene (TSHR) modulates photoperiodic response andreproduction in chickens2016In: General and Comparative Endocrinology, ISSN 0016-6480, E-ISSN 1095-6840, Vol. 228, p. 69-78Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene (TSHR) has been suggested to be a ‘‘domestication locus”in the chicken. A strong selective sweep over TSHR in domestic breeds together with significant effects ofa mutation in the gene on several domestication related traits, indicate that the gene has been importantfor chicken domestication. TSHR plays a key role in the signal transduction of seasonal reproduction,which is characteristically less strict in domestic animals. We used birds from an advanced intercross linebetween ancestral Red Junglefowl (RJF) and domesticated White Leghorn (WL) to investigate effects ofthe mutation on reproductive traits as well as on TSHB, TSHR, DIO2 and DIO3 gene expression duringaltered day length (photoperiod). We bred chickens homozygous for either the mutation (d/d) or wildtype allele (w/w), allowing assessment of the effect of genotype at this locus while also controlling forbackground variation in the rest of the genome. TSHR gene expression in brain was significantly lowerin both d/d females and males and d/d females showed a faster onset of egg laying at sexual maturity thanw/w. Furthermore, d/d males showed a reduced testicular size response to decreased day length, andlower levels of TSHB and DIO3 expression. Additionally, purebred White Leghorn females kept under naturalshort day length in Sweden during December had active ovaries and lower levels of TSHR and DIO3expression compared to Red Junglefowl females kept under similar conditions. Our study indicates thatthe TSHR mutation affects photoperiodic response in chicken by reducing dependence of seasonal reproduction,a typical domestication feature, and may therefore have been important for chickendomestication.

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  • 45.
    Kim, Sunghee
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
    Olfactory discrimination ability of South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) for enantiomers2012Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 80 credits / 120 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The sense of smell in marine mammals is traditionally thought to be poor. However, increasing evidence suggests that pinnipeds may use their sense of smell in a variety of behavioral contexts including communication, foraging, food selection, and reproduction. Using a food-rewarded two-choice instrumental conditioning paradigm, I assessed the ability of South African fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus, to discriminate between 12 enantiomeric odor pairs, that is, between odorants that are identical in structure except for chirality. The fur seals significantly discriminated between eight out of the twelve odor pairs (according to p < 0.05, with carvone, dihydrocarvone, dihydrocarveol, limonene oxide, menthol, beta-citronellol, fenchone, and alpha-pinene), and failed with only four odor pairs (isopulegol, rose oxide, limonene, and camphor). No significant differences in performance were found between the animals (p > 0.05). Cross-species comparisons between the olfactory performance of the fur seals and that of other species previously tested on the same set of odor pairs lend further support to the notion that the relative size of the olfactory bulbs is not a reliable predictor of olfactory discrimination abilities. The results of the present study suggest that sense of smell may play an important and hitherto underestimated role in regulating the behavior of fur seals.

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  • 46.
    Kjellander, Petter
    et al.
    Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Sweden.
    Bergvall, Ulrika A.
    Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Sweden.
    Chirico, Jan
    Natl Vet Inst SVA, Sweden.
    Ullman, Karin
    Natl Vet Inst SVA, Sweden.
    Christensson, Madeleine
    Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Sweden.
    Lindgren, Per-Eric
    Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection. Linköping University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Cty Hosp Ryhov, Sweden.
    Winter activity of Ixodes ricinus in Sweden2023In: Parasites & Vectors, E-ISSN 1756-3305, Vol. 16, no 1, article id 229Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BackgroundIn Europe, Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) is the most widespread and abundant tick species, acting as a vector for several microorganisms of medical and veterinary importance. In Northern and Central Europe, the tick has a bimodal activity pattern consisting of a peak in spring to the beginning of summer and a second peak at the end of summer. However, several findings of ticks on animals during winter have been reported, which raises the question of whether this is an overwintering strategy or whether ticks are active during winter in Scandinavia. The objectives of our study were to determine (i) whether ticks were active and finding hosts during winter, (ii) whether they parasitize their hosts, and (iii) what climatic factors-i.e., temperature, snow depth and precipitation-govern tick winter activity.MethodsThroughout three winter seasons, we examined wild-living and free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) for ticks on 332 occasions. In total, 140 individual roe deer were captured in two climatically contrasting sites in south-central Sweden, Grimso and the Bogesund research area, respectively. We re-examined individual roe deer up to 10 times within the same winter or approximately once a week (mean 10 days, median 7 days between re-examinations) and recorded the absence or presence of ticks on the animals, and tested to what extent meteorological factors affected tick activity. To determine the attachment day, we used the coxal/scutal index of 18 nymphs and 47 female ticks.ResultsIn total, 243 I. ricinus were collected from 301 roe deer captures between 14 December and 28 February at the Bogesund study site during three subsequent years (2013/2014-2015/2016). We found attached ticks every third to every second examination (32%, 48% and 32% of the examinations, respectively). However, we collected only three I. ricinus females from 31 roe deer captures at the Grimso study site between 17 December 2015 and 26 February 2016. At the Bogesund study site, based on 192 captures of previously examined deer, we collected 121 ticks, and ticks were found at 33%, 48% and 26% of the examinations during the respective winters. The probability of finding an attached tick on a roe deer at a temperature of -5 & DEG;C was &gt; 8% & PLUSMN; 5 (SE), and that probability increased to almost 20% & PLUSMN; 7 (SE) if the air temperature increased to 5 & DEG;C.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that winter-active nymphs and female ticks have been documented to attach and feed on roe deer during winter (December to February) in Scandinavia. The main weather conditions regulating winter activity for females were temperature and precipitation, and the lowest estimated air temperature for finding an active tick was well below 5 & DEG;C. The behaviour of winter-active and blood-feeding ticks was documented over several winters and in two contrasting areas, implying that it is a common phenomenon that should be investigated more thoroughly, since it may have important consequences for the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens.

  • 47.
    Kleiber, Aude
    et al.
    JUNIA, France; INRAE, France.
    Le-Calvez, Jean-Michel
    INRAE, France.
    Kerneis, Thierry
    INRAE, France.
    Batard, Axel
    INRAE, France.
    Goardon, Lionel
    INRAE, France.
    Labbe, Laurent
    INRAE, France.
    Brunet, Valentin
    INRAE, France.
    Bessa Ferreira, Vitor Hugo
    Linköping University, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biology. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
    Guesdon, Vanessa
    JUNIA, France.
    Calandreau, Ludovic
    Univ Tours, France.
    Colson, Violaine
    INRAE, France.
    Positive effects of bubbles as a feeding predictor on behaviour of farmed rainbow trout2022In: Scientific Reports, E-ISSN 2045-2322, Vol. 12, no 1, article id 11368Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Occupational enrichment emerges as a promising strategy for improving the welfare of farmed animals. This form of enrichment aims to stimulate cognitive abilities of animals by providing them with more opportunities to interact with and control their environment. Predictability of salient daily events, and in particular predictability of feeding, is currently one of the most studied occupational enrichment strategies and can take several forms. In fish, while temporal predictability of feeding has been widely investigated, signalled predictability (based on a signal, such as light or sound) has received little attention. Depending on the type of predictability used and the ecology of the species, the effects on fish welfare often differ. The present study aimed to determine which feeding predictability would be most appropriate for rainbow trout, the main continental farmed fish in Europe, and what the consequences might be for their welfare. We tested four feeding predictability conditions: temporal (based on time of day), signalled (based on bubble diffusion), temporal + signalled (based on time and bubble diffusion), and unpredictable (random feeding times). Behavioural and zootechnical outcomes recorded were swimming activity, aggressive behaviours, burst of accelerations, and jumps, emotional reactivity, and growth. Our results showed that rainbow trout can predict daily feedings relying on time and/or bubbles as predictors as early as two weeks of conditioning, as evidenced by their increased swimming activity before feeding or during feed omission tests, which allowed to reinforce their conditioned response. Temporal predictability alone resulted in an increase in pre-feeding aggressive behaviours, burst of accelerations, and jumps, suggesting that the use of time as the sole predictor of feedings in husbandry practices may be detrimental to fish welfare. Signalled predictability with bubbles alone resulted in fewer pre-feeding agonistic behaviours, burst of accelerations, and jumps than in the temporal predictability condition. The combination of temporal and signalled predictability elicited the highest conditioned response and the level of pre-feeding aggression behaviours, burst of accelerations and jumps tended to be lower than for temporal predictability alone. Interestingly, fish swimming activity during bubble diffusion also revealed that bubbles were highly attractive regardless of the condition. Rainbow trout growth and emotional reactivity were not affected by the predictability condition. We conclude, therefore, that the use of bubbles as a feeding predictor could represent an interesting approach to improve rainbow trout welfare in farms, by acting as both an occupational and physical enrichment.

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  • 48.
    Konigson, Sara
    et al.
    Inst Coastal Res, Sweden.
    Naddafi, Rahmat
    Inst Coastal Res, Sweden.
    Hedgarde, Maria
    Cty Adm Board, Sweden.
    Pettersson, Alice
    Linköping University.
    Ostman, Orjan
    Inst Coastal Res, Sweden.
    Norrman, Emilia Benavente
    Inst Coastal Res, Sweden.
    Amundin, Mats
    Kolmarden Wildlife Pk, Sweden.
    Will harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) be deterred by a pinger that cannot be used as a "dinner bell" by seals?2022In: Marine mammal science, ISSN 0824-0469, E-ISSN 1748-7692, Vol. 38, no 2, p. 469-485Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A measure proven successful in mitigating harbor porpoise bycatch, is the use of acoustic deterrents, i.e., pingers. However, most pingers are audible to seals. This may lead to seals associating pinger sounds with easily accessible food, leading to increased depredation, damage, and bycatch. In this study we tested if an experimental pinger, emitting sounds over 30 hr ON/OFF cycles, with low frequency components potentially audible to seals only at close distances, would effectively deter harbor porpoises. The porpoise response was measured by logging echolocation clicks, using C-POD click detectors, moored at different distances from the pinger. In addition, we calculated the theoretical pinger detection range for seals. Results showed that the pinger had a significant negative effect on the porpoise click activity logged at 0 m and 100 m distance but not at 400 m from the pinger. During pinger ON periods, we found no significant increase in echolocation over consecutive days of the study, suggesting no habituation to pinger sounds. Our theoretical detection distances indicate that seals can only detect the pinger at close distances, preventing seals from using this pinger as a "dinner bell."

  • 49.
    Kylin, Henrik
    Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
    At-sea observation of the spring migration and pair bonding of ivory gulls (Pagophila eburnea) around Svalbard and East Greenland.2011In: Polar Research, ISSN 0800-0395, E-ISSN 1751-8369, Vol. 30, no 6421, p. 1-7Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Because of logistical constraints little previous information exists on ivory gulls (Pagophila eburnea) in the waters around Svalbard and the east coast of Greenland in late winter/early spring. The Swedish Arctic Ocean 2002 expedition investigated these areas at that time of year and in this paper I report on the observations of ivory gulls made during the expedition. The ivory gull was essentially absent from open waters but was the most common seabird in areas with pack ice, showing behavioural differences depending on local conditions. Generally, the number of ivory gulls was low when there was little plankton in the water. Ivory gulls followed the ship depending on the availability of food items in the wake and also depending on competition from other species, particularly glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus). Although ivory gulls were present in most of Fram Strait and the northern part of the East Greenland Current during 6 and 19 May, sightings were few and correlated to the amount of plankton in the water. Aggregations of several hundred were seen on the ice where copulation and other social interaction took place. A previously undescribed pair bonding behaviour during which females seemed to select between two competing males was observed north of Svalbard on 30 April - 1 May. Off Scoresby Sound on 25 May, more than 700 birds were seen migrating north, while farther south along the Greenland coast on 30 May there was little indication of migration although many ivory gulls were seen.

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  • 50.
    Kylin, Henrik
    Linköping University, Department of Thematic Studies, Department of Water and Environmental Studies. Linköping University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
    Birds and mammals off the northern coast of Argentina: first report of an association between birds and a feeding Pygmy Right Whale Caperea marginata2013In: Ornis Svecica, ISSN 1102-6812, E-ISSN 2003-2633, Vol. 23, no 3-4, p. 117-122Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    When the icebreaker Oden passed between 39°36’S, 57°46’W and 39°59’S, 58°11’W on 20 November 2007, an extraordinary observation was made. A feeding Pygmy Right Whale Caperea marginata, a species rarely seen, was attended by eight Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius, two Slender-billed Prions Pachyptila belcheri, and four Wilson’s Storm Petrels Oceanites oceanicus. The birds returned to feed around the head of the whale every time it surfaced, presumably copepod plankton straining out between the baleen. The site is off Rio de la Plata estuary where nutrient rich freshwater meets cold water of the Malvinas (Falkland) Current, creating a hotspot with high levels of plankton food. The conditions were extraordinarily favourable for observation with a calm sea, no wind and only a very weak swell. Six multispecies feeding groups were seen with a total of 42 species of birds, eleven species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, and three species of seals. Dusky Dolphins Lagenorhynchus obscurus and Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis were predominant in the groups.

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