Digital Commons Network^™

Tribute To Jaak Panksepp, Jonathan Balcombe

Animal Sentience

No abstract provided.

Histology Of Rathke’S Glands In The Razor-Backed Musk Turtle, Sternotherus Carinatus (Chelonia: Kinosternidae), With Comments On Lamellar Bodies, S. E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

I examined the histology and ultrastructure of Rathke’s glands in two adult male razor-backed musk turtles (Sternotherus carinatus) collected in northeastern Arkansas. This species possesses two pairs of Rathke’s glands that are embedded beneath marginal bones and are named according to their anatomical location (i.e., axillary and inguinal). These integumentary glands are similar anatomically to one another. Each gland is comprised of a single, highly vascularized secretory lobule, which is surrounded by a thin tunic of asymmetrically arranged, striated muscle. Two types of large secretory vacuoles characterize most of the holocrine cells produced by a relatively thin secretory …

Getting To The Other Side, Debra Merskin

Animal Sentience

Marino’s comprehensive, detailed, and timely review provides clear evidence of the sentience of chickens and strong support for those wishing to challenge their exclusion from even the limited protections currently accorded to animals grown for food.

Sentience Does Not Require “Higher” Cognition, Giorgio Vallortigara

Animal Sentience

I agree with Marino (2017a,b) that the cognitive capacities of chickens are likely to be the same as those of many others vertebrates. Also, data collected in the young of this precocial species provide rich information about how much cognition can be pre-wired and predisposed in the brain. However, evidence of advanced cognition — in chickens or any other organism — says little about sentience (i.e., feeling). We do not deny sentience in human beings who, because of cognitive deficits, would be incapable of exhibiting some of the cognitive feats of chickens. Moreover, complex problem solving, such as transitive inference, …

Misperceiving And Underestimating The Ubiquitous Chicken, Carrie P. Freeman

Animal Sentience

Marino has provided an accurate and nuanced view about chickens’ complex capabilities as sentient individuals. I explore the implications of these findings for scholars as well as for activists in the protection of farmed animals.

Is Psychological Science Committing “Suicide” By Linguistic Muddling?, Roger K. Thomas

Animal Sentience

Beginning mainly with the “cognitive revolution” in psychology in the latter half of the 20^th century, psychological science has been committing “suicide” slowly via linguistic muddling. Peña-Guzmán’s target article is but one of thousands of cuts contributing to this death by “suicide.” Having said that, given the current state of affairs in animal cognition research, there is much to commend in Peña-Guzmán’s article. I leave that to others, however. This commentary explains how the suicide by muddling of psychological science is happening in general, with the understanding that it applies also to Peña-Guzmán’s target article.

On Assisted Suicide, Clark Glymour

Animal Sentience

What would be the moral implications of the capacity for suicide in nonhuman animals? Humans can be helped to end their lives if they no longer find them bearable. Should captive animals not be given the same possibility?

Geographic Distribution: Acrantophis Dumerili (Duméril’S Madagascan Ground Boa). Usa. Florida., Louis A. Somma, Kenneth L. Krysko, Laurence L. Conner

Papers in Herpetology

The geographic distribution of Acrantophis dumerili, a nonindigenous introduced species in Florida, with new records, is presented.

Acrantophis dumerili is indigenous to southern and southwestern Madagascar. We provide the first vouchers for Miami-Dade and Bay counties, which were likely escaped or released pets. Florida already has three established species of booid snakes (one boa, two pythons), all introduced through the pet trade pathway. Although there is no clear evidence for an established population of A. dumerili in Florida at this time, the Bay County individuals in a rural area in the Florida panhandle are a particular concern given that two …

The Status Of Two Species Of Nonindigenous Lizards In Florida, The Slender Chameleon, Chamaeleo Gracilis Hallowell 1842 And White-Lined Chameleon, Furcifer Lateralis (Gray 1831): A Corrigendum., Kenneth L. Krysko, Louis A. Somma

Papers in Herpetology

Krysko et al. (2016) recently published a summary of all known verified introductions of nonindigenous amphib­ians and reptiles in Florida, USA. Herein, we correct the iden­tity tity of one species and include an additional new record of a nonindigenous chameleon in Florida.

Krysko et al. (2016) reported the presence of a White-lined Chameleon, Furcifer lateralis (Gray 1831). In fact, this was a misidentified Slender Chameleon, Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell 1842 (C. Anderson, pers. comm. 2016). Discussion and reference to F. lateralis in Krysko et al. (2016) and all associated data (UF voucher number, locality, collector, and collection date, including Table 1, …

Self, Death, And Suicide: Does An Animal Know Of These?, Carolyn A. Ristau

Animal Sentience

Peña-Guzmán makes a strong case, using examples from the media and scientific literature, that many captive animals suffer severely. In examining the possibility of animal suicide, he dismisses the need for “reflective self-subjectivity” and “intent” in suicidal behavior. He claims that at least some animals understand “death,” citing examples of behavior he deems to be death “rituals.” But these can be more simply interpreted. The possibility of animal suicide remains more dubious than Peña-Guzmán suggests.

Changes In Behavior And Emotion Under Chicken Domestication, Martin Johnsson

Animal Sentience

Marino’s target article provides an overview of chickens’ cognition, emotion, and personality, with the aim of changing how people view chickens. In this commentary, I will agree that chickens deserve better than their reputation, but contend with a statement about the lack of behavioral change under chicken domestication.

Research On Alleculinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) Intugai Forests Of The Almaty Region In Kazakhstan Using Window Traps, Oto Nakladal, Vladimir Novak, Yuliya Kolesnichenko

Turkish Journal of Zoology

We used 140 passive flight interception window traps for survey of alleculines in tugai forests of the Almaty region in Kazakhstan. Traps were set on Fraxinus sogdiana (Bunge, 1854), Populus diversifolia (Schrenk, 1842), P. pruinosa (Schrenk, 1845), and Elaeagnus angustifolia (Linnaeus, 1753), which are the main tree species of tugai forests. Two species of alleculines were captured: Mycetochara flavipes (Fabricius, 1792) and Steneryx dejeani (Faldermann, 1836). Mycetochara flavipes significantly prefers areas of the tugai forests with dominancy of Elaeagnus angustifolia. Faunistic data for both species are given. Mycetochara flavipes was recorded as a new species and genus for the territory …

Experiment Versus Analogy In The Search For Animal Sentience, Geoffrey Hall

Animal Sentience

Deciding between rival accounts of an instance of an animal’s behavior can frequently be achieved by experimental tests of different predictions made by the alternatives. When, however, one (or both) of the alternatives is expressed in terms of the mental state of the animal, an experimental test to distinguish them can be hard to find. Although it is unsatisfactory in many ways, it may be necessary to fall back on argument from analogy with human behavior and experience.

Cognitive Continuity In Cognitive Dissonance, David R. Brodbeck, Madeleine I. R. Brodbeck

Animal Sentience

Zentall’s (2016) model of cognitive dissonance is compatible with cognitive continuity between humans and nonhumans. It may help explain cognitive dissonance-like behavior in many species, including humans. It is also consistent with Tinbergen’s (1963) ‘four whys’ in ethological explanation.

Establishing That Contrast Is Cognitive Dissonance, Travis R. Smith

Animal Sentience

Zentall suggests that the same mechanism underlies cognitive dissonance in humans and the within-trial contrast effect in pigeons (and humans). The contrast effect has face validity in explaining cognitive dissonance, but more research is needed to establish construct validity. To determine whether both phenomena share the same mechanism, future research should test (1) whether both share physiological processes, (2) whether individuals who show sensitivity to one are also sensitive to the other, and (3) whether both phenomena are affected by the same changes in an independent variable.

Loon Project Database, Walter H. Piper

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Data Sets

Data collected since 1993 in Oneida County, Wisconsin, on the breeding and territorial behavior of the common loon, Gavia immer. This study population is marked with USGS metal bands and colored leg bands for individual identification. It includes many individuals banded as chicks, whose life histories are known thoroughly. Data are collected from April through August of most years on this migratory species.

Menageries Multiple: An Introduction To Zoological Multiplicity In The Modern American Zoo, Emily D. Gratke

Scripps Senior Theses

American zoological parks have been sites of intense consumer and scholar interest since their origination in the 20th century. Today, zoos reside at a tenacious hub of ideologies, practices, and priorities contributed to by various stakeholder groups. I propose that the foundational cause of this tension is zoological multiplicity: the theory that through human practices and perceptions, animals can embody multiple identities. Via an exploration of zoological multiplicity in American zoos with specific focus on zoo management, zoogoer, and animal activist stakeholder groups, this project proposes the widespread acknowledgment and understanding of zoological multiplicity as a method to improve animal …

Protocol For Surveying Bat Use Of Lava Tube Caves During Winter In Craters Of The Moon National Monument And Preserve, Standard Operating Procedures, Thomas J. Rodhouse, Kathleen Slocum, Todd Stefanic, Shawn Thomas, Meghan Lonneker

United States National Park Service: Publications

Background

The Upper Columbia Basin Network I&M (Inventory and Monitoring) program and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve are collaborating to monitor winter bat use in Arco Tunnel, which is a safely accessed cave in the northern portion of the monument that consistently has been found with the largest number of bats (~30/year) among the set of caves recently inventoried. The standard operating procedures documented here and the methods described in the associated protocol narrative will also be used to periodically inventory other caves within the monument and surrounding preserve as park resources and safety (winter environmental and …

Geographic Distribution Records Of Macracanthorhynchus Ingens (Archiacanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) From The Raccoon, Procyon Lotor In North America, Dennis J. Richardson, A. Leveille, A. V. Belsare, H. S. Al-Warid, M. E. Gompper

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Description Of Variation In Fecundity Between Two Populations Of Wolf Spider Rabidosa Rabida In Searcy Arkansas Using Brood Size Measurements, Brandon Hogland, Ryan Stork, Amber Hug

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Fecundity, a very important population variable, can be estimated by measuring the number of juveniles hatching out of individual egg sacs. Rabidosa rabida is a large wolf spider that is common in Arkansas and much of the eastern portion of North America. This study attempts to expand previous estimates of variation in fecundity made for this species by Reed and Nicholas in Mississippi. We hypothesized that a significant variation would be found in fecundity estimates between two populations in Arkansas. We also hypothesized that this variation would be similar to the variation reported in Mississippi. Two populations of R. rabida …

Integrated Stress And Community Perceptions: Toward An Understanding Of Human-Cougar Tolerance, Lara Brenner

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Evidence suggests that cougars (Puma concolor) are beginning to recolonize their traditional range in the Midwestern and Eastern US, returning to a landscape and a social environment that have changed drastically in a century of absence. Any hope of the cougar’s persistence depends on both human tolerance of their presence and on cougar tolerance of disrupted habitat. In this thesis, we took advantage of diverse cougar policy in place in the Western US to explore variation in human attitudes and acceptability of cougars and in the cougar stress response. We validated a process to identify and extract cortisol …

Habitat Useage Of Tri-Colored Bats (Perimyotis Subflavus) In Western Kentucky And Tennessee Post-White Nose Syndrome, Katherine Schaefer

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) has declined severely across its range since 2006 due to white nose syndrome, a fungal disease causing massive bat mortality in North America. My objective was to determine distinguishing characteristics of roost trees and habitat used by tri-colored bats so that the species’ needs can be considered in management plans. I mist-netted for tri-colored bats in western Kentucky and Tennessee during the summers of 2015 and 2016, and attached a radio transmitter to each captured adult bat. I tracked 15 bats to their day roosts and collected habitat data at 38 roost areas …

Factors Influencing Mountain Lion Kill Rates Across Three Ecosystems In The Americas, Steven Cross

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Kill rate, defined as the number of prey killed per predator per unit time, is a key component to understanding predator-prey dynamics. A multitude of factors may affect kill rates, including, variation in age, sex, weight, or presence of offspring of either predator or prey species (intraspecific variation) and events such as the theft of a kill made by another animal (kleptoparasitism). These factors may influence the time a predator spends locating prey (search time) and the pursuing, killing, and consumption of prey (handling time). The sum of search time and handling time may be measured as the time between …

Development And Characterization Of Novel Anti-Bat Monoclonal Antibodies For Studying Bat Immunity, Cailyn Cowan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Description Of Immature Stages Of Culicoides Peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae),A Potent Vector Of Bluetongue Virus, Rupa Harsha, Nilotpol Paul, Abhijit Mazumdar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Detailed descriptions of the immature stages, i.e. eggs, larvae, and pupae, of Culicoides peregrinus Kieffer were made based on scanning electron microscopy and bright field microscopy. Measurements of different larval instars were also studied. Wild engorged females were collected by UV light trap and made to oviposit under laboratory conditions onto wet filter paper within glass vials. Among the laid eggs, embryonated eggs were reared in artificial rearing medium in the laboratory for obtaining life stages. The immature stages were also collected from their natural habitat (cattle manure) and subsequently processed and described.

Efect Of Dual Growth Factor Administration On Oxidative Markers During Acute Stage Wound Healing In Rats, Bahar Di̇ndar, Kaan Kaltalioğlu, Şule Coşkun Cevher

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Wound healing is a complex process affected by various conditions, including oxidative stress. The present study explored the time-dependent effects of platelet-derived growth factor (PGDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) administration on oxidative markers during acute stage wound healing. Thirty-six Wistar rats were distributed into three major groups; skin wounds were inflicted in all groups. The wounds were either left untreated (control group), treated topically with blank chitosan gel (blank chitosan gel group), or treated topically with a combination of PDGF and VEGF in chitosan gel (PDGF + VEGF chitosan gel group). Wounds were sampled on postsurgery days 3 …

Seasonal Pattern Of Population Dynamics, Spawning Activities, And Diet Composition Of Sardine (Sardina Pilchardus Walbaum) In The Eastern Adriatic Sea, Barbara Zorica, Vanja Cikes Kec, Olja Vi̇djak, Viktor Kraljevic, Goran Brzulja

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Monthly samples from commercial catches obtained with purse seiners operating in the Croatian fishing grounds (eastern Adriatic Sea) were collected throughout 2013, excluding January and December due to a fishing ban. Overall, 1010 sardine individuals were analyzed. Total body length ranged from 10.4 to 17.6 cm (mean ± SD: 13.9 ± 1.28 cm). Slightly larger individuals were caught during autumn at the beginning of the spawning season. Analysis of length-mass relationship showed that sardine specimens grow isometrically (b = 3.063). Seasonal oscillations of condition factor indicated that the examined specimens were in the best condition at the beginning of the …

Species Diversity And Community Structure Of Zooplankton In Threedifferent Types Of Water Body Within The Sakarya River Basin, Turkey, Pinar Gürbüzer, Özge Buyurgan, Çağri Tekatli, Ahmet Altindağ

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this study was to identify differences between different types of water body within the same river basin by comparing the composition of the zooplankton community. The study was conducted in three types of water body in the Sakarya Basin in northwestern Turkey: an alluvial barrier lake (Lake Poyrazlar), a pond (Sorgun Pond), and a reservoir (Çubuk II Reservoir). The spatiotemporal changes of these three types of aquatic habitats were investigated in terms of the zooplankton organisms by examining their diversity, evenness, and differences in the abundance of species. A total of 81 species were identified. Thirty-eight species …

Diet Selection Of Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) In Chitral, Pakistan, Rukhsana Khatoon, Iftikhar Hussain, Maqsood Anwar, Muhammad Ali Nawaz

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an elusive endangered carnivore found in remote mountain regions of Central Asia, with sparse distribution in northern Pakistan, including Chitral and Baltistan. The present study determined the food habits of snow leopard, including preferred prey species and seasonal variation in diet. Fifty-six scat samples were collected and analyzed to determine the diet composition in two different seasons, i.e. summer and winter. Hair characteristics such as cuticular scale patterns and medullary structure were used to identify the prey. This evidence was further substantiated from the remains of bones, claws, feathers, and other undigested remains found in …

Hirstiosoma Amfilohijei Sp. Nov. (Trombidiformes: Smarididae) From Montenegro, Ryszard Haitlinger, Miloje Sundic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Hirstiosoma amfilohijei sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Smarididae) is described and illustrated from larvae collected from herbaceous plants in Montenegro.