Zoology Commons^™

What Does Sentience Mean At The Neural Level?, Björn Brembs

Animal Sentience

Jonathan Birch's (2025) LSE criteria for sentience include motivational trade-offs, exemplified by C. elegansweighing hunger against desiccation risk. Yet once the neural circuit is known, this "trade-off" reduces to a single inhibitory synapse—an ‘elemental’ account discrediting the ‘molar’ one. My commentary illustrates the same discrepancy in Drosophila: dopaminergic ramping during courtship as it progressively suppresses threat-detecting neurons; so persistence past danger reflects recalibrated valuation rather than a weighed decision. As neurobiology increasingly discovers such discrepancies, all criteria resting on behavioral classifications risk being defined away without altering the behavior's validity.

Natural Behavior Vs. Subjective Experience In Fish Welfare Assessments, Ronald G. Oldfield

Animal Sentience

Several commentaries on the Oldfield & Bonano (2024) target article proposed that natural behavior should play a larger role in assessing the welfare of fishes in zoos and aquariums. However, the natural-behavior concept of animal welfare has been widely criticized because natural behaviors do not necessarily improve welfare, and unnatural behaviors do not necessarily reduce it. I review the three major concepts of animal welfare — physical health, natural behavior, and affect/feelings — and argue that behavior patterns, whether natural or otherwise, should be evaluated according to their effects on health and subjective experience. Using the affect/feelings concept and the …

The Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier

Poster Presentations

Music is a universal component of human culture that has been demonstrated influencing emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses, specifically heart rate and hormonal responses (Mehr et al., 2019; Trappe, 2012). Recently, this research has expended to explore how music may affect non-human animals, particularly dogs, due to their roles as therapy animals, service animals, and human companions (Lindig et al., 2020; Gee et al., 2021). Being able to understand how music influences canine stress and relaxation hold important applications in environments such as shelters, veterinary clinics, and at home. One important feature of music is tempo, or beats per minute …

2nd Place Research Paper: Shaping The Ape: Storytelling, Cultural Reflection, And Boundary Negotiation In Human-Ape Zoo Encounters, Abigail Bond Halling

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

The typical Western zoo functions as a unique environment in which animals are frequently positioned as subjects of education and entertainment through the medium of storytelling. In this sense, the zoological institution can also be read as an extension of popular Western constructions surrounding nonhuman animals, particularly those who are symbolically charged characters in our collective imaginary– the great apes. Given the morphological, behavioral, and psychological similarities between humans and other great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans), nonhuman great ape enclosures at the Western zoo become spaces where humans are most radically confronted with navigating the boundaries of the “human-animal …

Aggression And Fish Welfare: Challenges And Opportunities, Christine M. Soper, Peter D. Dijkstra

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano’s (2024) [O&B] target article discusses the wellbeing and sociality of bony fishes. Many fish species, such as cichlids, are not only social but territorial. Aggression is normal, but territorial aggression in a captive environment can have a negative impact on welfare. Aggression-related injuries and deaths are prevalent in pet stores as well as research settings. We discuss the need to develop effective methods to minimize the negative consequences of aggression.

Systematics Of Disk-Winged Bats (Thyroptera), Courtney L. Klumpp

Capstone Showcase

This thesis investigates the evolutionary relationships among disk-winged bats in the genus Thyroptera, a small group of Neotropical bats known for the adhesive suction disks on their wings and feet that allow them to roost inside tightly rolled leaves. The distinctive morphology and behavior of these bats have not been extensively documented, and their phylogenetic relationships remain only partially resolved. The goal of this research is to better understand how these species are related to one another and to determine whether the five recognized species of Thyroptera form a single monophyletic group. To address this question, morphological and genetic …

Hyena Den Distribution, Human-Hyena Interactions And Mitigation Strategies In The Greater Amboseli Ecosystem, Katherine Elizabeth Davis Matczak

Honors Theses and Capstones

The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is a prevalent predator across Africa, recognized for their noticeable gait and powerful jaws which enable them to maul and scavenge on prey. Due to human population growth and encroachment onto wildlife territory, the overlap between human settlements and hyena den sites has become a growing concern, particularly regarding livestock predation. Livestock is intrinsic to livelihoods across Africa, with most individuals deriving their livelihoods from pastoralism. This paper provides an evaluation of den proximities to communities, hyena diet preference, human-hyena conflict/attitudes, and mitigation strategies used to protect hyenas, livestock, and the people. Results …

Adapting To Uncertainty: Effects Of Environmental Instability On Zebrafish Behaviour, Britney Sekulovski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis addresses how animals cope with unpredictability by testing how environmental stability changes the behaviour of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in two complementary experiments. In Experiment 1, fish lived for three months in either a Dynamic environment (water temperature, feeding times, habitat complexity, group size, and membership fluctuated) or a Stable environment (all factors constant). Across seven behavioural assays, measuring individual behavioural differences, collective movement, social memory, and information use, Dynamic condition fish were found to be more sensitive to social cues and more likely to conform to recent social information, independent of the quality of the information …

The Disruption Of Gastrointestinal Hormonal Control Of Digestion In Nile Tilapia By Omeprazole, Rema Abutaha

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Stomach acidity is a critical feature of the digestive system, facilitating the breakdown of protein through the activation of the protease pepsin. Gastric acid is secreted by H⁺/K⁺ ATPase, the gastric proton pump. A previous study on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) showed that inhibiting the production of stomach acid using the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (omz), reduced growth that correlated with an acceleration of the rate of gastric emptying. This contrasts with omz exposure studies in mammals in which there is a delay in gastric emptying and no impact on growth. To understand the mechanism …

The Consciousness Inherent In Chasing Your Tail, Sergio M. Pellis Dr.

Animal Sentience

Who is conscious and how do we know? Complexity in behavior and cognition is certainly a clue that cannot be ignored in identifying this trait, and as Mather’s target article shows, it is hard not to imagine consciousness arising in cephalopods. But how complex is complex? An alternative may be gleaned from the fact that all living things rely on negative feedback to navigate their worlds, and this requires all sentient beings knowing what is to be stabilized in reflection to themselves. If so, consciousness is a universal trait.

Snake Spirits, Fishermen And Water Birds On Lake Victoria: A Case Study Of Cultural Conservation In The Musambwa Islands, Uganda, And Prospects For Tourism To Improve Local Livelihoods, Joel T. Heinen, Henry Batenda

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

Abstract.

Using a combination of site visits, document reviews, focus group and key informant surveys of fishermen, we explore the cultural beliefs, taboos and norms that protect Musambwa Islands, Uganda. The islands form part of a large protected wetland with nesting habitat for thousands of water birds and a large population of highly-venomous forest cobras that coexist in and around fishermen dwellings. There are strong taboos against cutting trees, allowing women on the island, and harming cobras. We present some of our ideas on how to improve the economic situation of fishermen through the promotion of nature-based and cultural tourism …

First Report Of Fibropapillomatosis And Critical Habitat Use In Green Sea Turtles In Curaçao, M. Tripepi, I. J. R. Van Veghel, A. D. Vreugdenhil, E. Brunelli

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Fibropapillomatosis, a disease affecting green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), has been documented in many regions of the world, including the Caribbean, but has not been scientifically reported in Curaçao until now. The present study utilized VHF telemetry in Caracas Bay, Curaçao, to track green sea turtles, both healthy and affected by fibropapillomatosis, with the objective of ascertaining their foraging locations. VHF telemetry proved to be a pivotal method for assessing habitat use in areas characterized by limited visibility and high boat traffic, conditions that present significant challenges for divers and snorkellers attempting to access the area. The results …

Бадхызские Архивы. Том 2, Р. И. Горелова, В. Я. Фет

Open Access Books

Gorelova, RI, Fet V, editors. The Badkhyz Archives, Vol. 2. Huntington, WV: Marshall University Libraries; 2025. 387 p.

This book represents the second volume of the series started in 2021. It compiles memoirs and research information about the unique Badkhyz Natural Reserve, now in Turkmenistan, formerly at the southernmost point of the USSR. Established in 1941, the Reserve—nicknamed a Serengeti of Central Asia— housed many unique and endangered species, with an iconic wild ass, or kulan, preserved only there. The second volume includes unique and otherwise unavailable information about the workers of the Reserve in 1940s-1980s. We continuento publish …

The Manipulation Of Odor Availability Of Training Aids Used In Detection Canine Training, Katylynn B. Sloan, Michele N. Maughan, Caitlin E. Sharpes, Robin R. Greubel, Shawna F. Gallegos, Aleksandr E. Miklos, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Detection canines can identify numerous substances for which they have been trained. Historically, and a point of ongoing contention, detection canine threshold (i.e., sensitivity or limit of detection) training has primarily focused on changing the weight of the training aid substance used. There has been minimal focus on other principles, such as surface area, confinement, and temperature, which can be manipulated to affect odor availability. That said, trainers have been manipulating odor availability for years without necessarily understanding the governing scientific principles. The aim of this review is to highlight the principles that control odor availability of a substance and …

Comparative Semiotic Analysis Of Non-Verbal Communication: Apis Mellifera Waggle Dance And Human Kinesic Signaling Systems, Nishtha Tikalal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There are many parallels between two seemingly disparate forms of non-verbal communication: the waggle dance of Apis mellifera (honeybees) and human kinesic signaling systems. Through a comparative semiotic analysis, this research aims to conduct a comparative semiotic analysis, investigating structural and functional similarities between these communication methods, challenging anthropocentric assumptions about meaning making in the natural world. This research employs a meta-synthesis approach, drawn from a methodological literature review to examine historical representations of bee-human relationships, semiotics of non-verbal communication, and the specific mechanisms of the waggle dance and human kinesics. This methodology involves systematic categorization and analysis of extracted …

Précis Of The Edge Of Sentience: Risk And Precaution In Humans, Other Animals, And Ai, Jonathan Birch

Animal Sentience

We often face grave practical decisions that seem to hinge on whether a system is sentient. This family of cases includes invertebrate animals, people who are unresponsive after brain injury, fetuses, neural organoids, and now AI technologies. We must decide what to do despite ongoing disagreement about the nature of sentience. In our state of uncertainty, we should pragmatically transform the question from “Is it sentient?” to “Is it a sentience candidate, an investigation priority, or neither?”. When a system is a sentience candidate, it is negligent to fail to consider precautions. We should instead evaluate precautions for their proportionality …

Severe Aggression Among Zoo-Housed Coconut (Trichoglossus Haematodus) And Rainbow (Trichoglossus Moluccanus) Lorikeets: Wellbeing Considerations For Free-Flight Aviaries, Emily Simkins

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As conservation and education institutions, modern zoos balance the needs of animals with the interests of visitors through several strategies which can increase animal wellbeing and improve visitor experience. Environmental enrichment is frequently employed to increase the suitability of anthropogenic environments for zoo-housed animals, such as through walkthrough habitats and free-flight aviaries. While habitats such as these are important for visitor experience and can be enriching to animals, there are also wellbeing considerations for these spaces. Walkthrough habitats can be a potential source of fear and stress for animals, as shown by increased frequencies of vigilance, undesirable behavior, and aggression. …

Die Fledermäuse Der Mongolei: Ein Aktueller Überblick, Dietrich Dolch, Michael Stubbe, K. Thiele, B. Gärtner, Nyamsuren Batsaikhan, J. Ariunbold, Beatrix Wuntke, I. Bolorchimeg, Davaa Lkhagvasuren, I. Scheffler, D. Munkhnast, N. Nandin-Erdene, D. Steinhauser, Annegret Stubbe

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

This paper presents the 20 bat species currently known in Mongolia. The majority of the data were collected during eight Mongolian/German field excursions of the working group "Chiroptera Mongolia” over a period of 25 years and by the results of the Mongolian-German Biological Expeditions between 1964 and 2024. Also further records made by the authors during other tours through Mongolia were considered. This publication expands and updates a previous publication on this topic published 18 years ago (DOLCH et al. 2007).

More than 2150 animals from over 150 capture and discovery sites were included. The captured animals were examined based …

Die Fledermausfauna In Den Nördlichen Regionen Der Mongolei (Taiga, Waldsteppe Und Galeriewälder): Eine Auswertung Von Untersuchungen Zwischen 2002 Und 2024, Beatrix Wuntke, Klaus Thiele, Dietrich Dolch

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

The bat fauna in northern Mongolia was studied on several expeditions between 2002 and 2024 using mist netting and bat recording devices. This paper presents the results of these expeditions for three habitat types (taiga, forest steppe and gallery forest). The species range was highest in the gallery forests and lowest in the forest steppe. It included several species of the genus Myotis as well as representatives of the genera Eptesicus, Vespertilio and Plecotus. The most frequently captured species were Myotis davidii, Eptesicus nilssonii and Plecotus ognevi. The genus Myotis also dominated the recordings, although species …

Verdienter Lehrer Des Volkes Professor Khorloogijn Munkhbayar (1940-2025), Khayankhyarvaa Terbisch, Ravčigijn Samjaa, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

In memoriam for Khorloogijn Munkhbayar (1940-2025).

Seasonal Variations In Vocal Frequency And Volume Of Mongolian Marmots (Marmota Sibirica Radde, 1862): Insights From Cooperative Breeding In Songinokhairkhan Mountain, Sainzorigt Munkh-Orgil, Nyamsuren Batsaikhan, Gerelt Gan-Ochir, Amarsanaa Zolzaya, Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan Dursahinhan

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

In the Songinokhairkhan Mountain region of Mongolia, we examined the vocal patterns of Mongolian marmots, Marmota sibirica (RADDE, 1862), across two seasons. The study aimed to understand how cooperative breeding, a system where certain individual marmots assist others in reproduction, influences their vocalization. Our acoustic data revealed differences in vocal frequency and volume between the post-mating period in April and May, and pup emergence time in July. Specifically, marmots vocalized more frequently during early mornings, with variations observed in call patterns and volume between the two study periods. These findings provide crucial insights into how marmots adjust their communication strategies …

New Data On The Lagomorphs From The Zaysan Basin (Eastern Kazakhstan), Margarita A. Erbajeva, Robert Emry, Alisa J. Winkler, Spencer G. Lucas, L. A. Tyutkova

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Middle Eocene through Late Miocene lagomorphs are reported from more than 40 localities of the Zaysan Basin, Kazakhstan. The lagomorph fauna includes 21 taxa of 12 genera. Eight genera are central Asian endemics, two genera are European forms, and one genus (Alloptox) has a Eurasian distribution. These data allow correlation of the lagomorph faunas of the Zaysan Basin with contemporaneous faunas of Mongolia, Northern China and some European regions.

The Current Status Of The Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus Sibiricus) Population In Mongolia, R. Samiya, Davaa Lkhagvasuren, S. Shar, D. Usukhjargal, N. Battogtokh, N. Tseveenmyadag, E. Magsarjav

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

One of the most commonly portrayed animals in the petroglyphs, rock carvings, and cave paintings found throughout Mongolia's vast steppes is the red deer. It’s population in Mongolia declined precipitously in the early years of the 20th century. For the first time, a nationwide comprehensive census of the red deer population was conducted, covering all known habitats across Mongolia. A combination of methods was employed to estimate population size, including line transect surveys, point counts, rutting call responses, and the recording of indirect signs such as tracks and scat pellets. Using habitat suitability modeling on a province-by-province basis, the distribution …

Dichotomous Key For The Identification Of Bat Species In Mongolia, Dietrich Dolch

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Research into the Mongolian bat fauna is not complete yet. The discovery of further species is to be expected. Probably these species have already been identified in neighboring areas. The more detailed study of the species described until now will lead to the identification of further cryptic species. The dichotomous identification key presented here is intended to simplify the recognition of the currently in Mongolia known twenty bat species from seven genera.

Zusammenfassung

Die Erforschung der mongolischen Fledermausfauna ist nicht abgeschlossen. Mit der Entdeckung weiterer Arten, die in angrenzenden Gebieten schon nachgewiesen werden konnten, ist zu rechnen. Die genauere Untersuchung …

Bat Ectoparasites Of Mongolia, Part 4, Ingo Scheffler, Dietrich Dolch, Klaus Thiele, Dalannast Munkhnast, Jargalsaikhan Ariunbold, I. Bolorchimeg, B. Gärtner

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

The field excursions of 2019 and 2023 provided new data on ectoparasites of 14 bat species from different habitats of the taiga, steppes and deserts. A total of 27 species of ectoparasites were found on these bats, whose abundances and host preferences are described. This results in genus- and species-specific combinations of the ectoparasites present on the respective host species. The infestation with ectoparasites (P-load) differs considerably between bat species. Within a species, the infestation is much more dependent on the parasite load of the respective maternity roost than on factors such as sex, age or body constitution.

Chiroptera Mongolia: Zwanzig Jahre Freizeitforschung In Der Mongolei, Dietrich Dolch, Klaus Thiele, D. Steinhauser, B. Gärtner

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

In 1999, four participants from Brandenburg also took part in a mammal field excursion through Mongolia organized by Professor Michael Stubbe from the Martin Luther University and Professor R. Samjaa from the National University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. They discovered the bats of Mongolia as a fascinating field of work and established contacts with Mongolian colleagues, with whom they organized bat-oriented research expeditions under the motto "Chiroptera Mongolia." These eight expeditions, organized on a voluntary basis and privately funded over a period of twenty years, were eventful and scientifically productive.

History Of Research Into The Bat Fauna Of Mongolia (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe, Davaa Lkhagvasuren

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

The first stage of the exploration of the bat fauna of Mongolia is characterized by the collection of specimens by explorers of large Russian expeditions in the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Names such as G. RADDE, N.M. PRZEWALSKI, P.K. KOZLOV, M.V. PEVCOV, G.N. POTANIN, V.I. ROBOROVSKIJ and others are closely associated with this collection, which came primarily to the Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg and analysed by BOBRINSKOJ (1926, 1929).

At the beginning of the 40s of the 20th century, A.G. BANNIKOV came to Ulaanbaatar to support the …

Important Bat Caves In Mongolia: Key Sites For Conservation, Jargalsaikhan Ariunbold, Joseph R. Hoyt, Nyamsuren Batsaikhan, Byambajav Delgermurun, Krizler C. Tanalgo, A. Bilguun, Dalannast Munkhnast

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Caves are important habitats for a variety of different species, such as bats. Many species of bats are cave obligates, specifically in temperate zones, spending almost half the year hibernating in them. There are hundreds of caves identified in Mongolia, where past studies have mostly focused on cave morphology, geology, and archeology. However, a comprehensive assessment of cave-dwelling bats has not yet been conducted. In this study, abundance, species richness, population size, and identification of key sites of cave-dwelling bats in Mongolia was conducted using observations gathered over the past 15 years (2009–2024). It was found that bat population size …

Understanding The Welfare Of Aquarium Fish, Paul Rose

Animal Sentience

Bony fishes (Osteichthyes) are prevalent in public and domestic aquaria, yet evidence-based welfare practices exist for only a limited number of species. Oldfield & Bonano’s (O&B’s) target article highlights critical questions about the wellbeing and sociality of Osteichthyes. Advancing research on their biology, physiology, psychology, and behavior is essential to develop and validate welfare measures, ensuring guidelines for welfare-focused housing and husbandry.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Warner Basin Tui Chub (Siphateles Bicolor Ssp. 15), Eleanor P. Gaines, Jesse Laney

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Warner Basin tui chub (Siphateles bicolor ssp. 15) using NatureServe methodology, 2024.