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The Influence Of Predation Risk On Coyote Behavior: An Application Of The Matching Law, Jeremy Haynes, Sarah Thompson, Andalyn Hall
The Influence Of Predation Risk On Coyote Behavior: An Application Of The Matching Law, Jeremy Haynes, Sarah Thompson, Andalyn Hall
Student Research Symposium
Over the past several decades, coyotes (Canis latrans) have expanded substantially across a range of habitats. Consequently, coyote expansion into urban and rural areas has led to increased conflicts with humans. The success of coyote expansion across habitats is often attributed to their ability to flexibly adapt to changes in their environment. Our study is designed to examine how coyotes adapt their foraging strategy under predation risk as an aspect of their behavior that could contribute to their successful expansion across habitats. To quantify foraging strategy, we are using the matching law to characterize choices between two food sources. The …
Pharmacological Characterization Of The Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist L-368,899 For Coyote Receptors, Mckenna Rich, Hillary Ihrig
Pharmacological Characterization Of The Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist L-368,899 For Coyote Receptors, Mckenna Rich, Hillary Ihrig
Student Research Symposium
The neurohormone oxytocin influences many physiological pathways in animals, aiding in social behaviors, pair bonding, social recognition, and maternal behavior. A common strategy used to observe the influence of oxytocin on these behaviors is to disrupt oxytocin signaling, by blocking the oxytocin receptor (OXTR). This blockade can be achieved using antagonists which bind to the receptor and inhibit the subsequent activation of intracellular signaling pathways. We aimed to determine whether the commercially-available OXTR antagonist L-368,899 selectively binds to OXTR in coyote brains. L-368,899 selectively binds to OXTR in primates and has been used in animal behavior studies to block oxytocin-dependent …
Establishment Of A Coyote Brain Atlas: Counterstaining Techniques In A Canid Brain, Auria Staheli, Nate Johnson
Establishment Of A Coyote Brain Atlas: Counterstaining Techniques In A Canid Brain, Auria Staheli, Nate Johnson
Student Research Symposium
Oxytocin is commonly known as “the love hormone,” as it is the neurotransmitter responsible for pair bonding in many mammalian species, including humans. However, it and its related hormone vasopressin also have other very important and wide ranging functions for physical, emotional, and social well-being. The Freeman neurobiology lab is working to map the location of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors within brains of the common coyote (Canis latrans). This work will permit comparisons with the brains of other pair-bond-forming mammals and will further our understanding of how these transmitters and their receptors affect behavior. However, inferring the locations of these …