Habitat Selection/Exploration

VSCI 1100 – Ethology

1st sem 2024-2025
CLSU CVSM
Recited importance from the class
(DVM 1-1)
comfort zone
source of food and water
reproduction
refuge from predators
establish socialization w/ other species
avoidance of competition (food, space, etc)
maintain ecological niche (balance)
develops individual animal’s exploratory behaviors
establish groups/individual space requirements
maintains survivality/evolution and avoid extinctions
forecasting of future events
 all domestic animals are strongly motivated to explore and
investigate when they encounter a new environment.
only when the environment has become very familiar to them does
the exploratory behavior subside
but it reappears in an animal’s behavior after any change in its
environment
exploratory behavior equips the animal with a system of behavioral
adjustability that can be brought readily into operation
 Exploratory System

The exploratory system in behavior is evident through many animal

activities. This system can be outlined most simply as causal factors and
consequent activities as follows:
1. need within the animal for perception of
environmental characteristics.
2. activation of the exploratory behavior
3. receipt of sensory feedback from the environment and
hence information that can be used.
4. reduction in the causal factor level as a result
of sensory input
5. return of the cycle to a basal level of readiness
with the lodgement of the information in
the memory.
 Functions of exploratory behavior

each of the functional systems of animals requires that some

exploration and investigation occur before it can operate effectively
efficient exploitation of food sources must be preceded by location
of these and estimation of efficient routes to use when acquiring
food
water sources and places where water loss is minimal must be
found
 physical hazards must be located if they are to be avoided
successfully
exploration of other individuals and of own ability must occur if
adequate sexual and social behavior is to occur
most of all, exploration is necessary if effective anti-predator
behavior is to be shown
Factors affecting exploratory behavior

most animals put into a new open area are likely to follow the
boundary before exploring the interior of their enclosure.
in these initial activities groups they may be bunched in a closer
intra-group spatial organization than usual.
a factor often associated with close confinement, is the absence of
possibilities to explore, investigate and interact with social
companions
livestock held in social isolation show a variety of abnormalities of
behavioral development.
 isolation-reared lambs tend to avoid the situation of a novel environment by
withdrawing and avoiding interaction with it
this demonstrates that socially deprived lambs have deficits in exploratory capacity
a deficit of this nature would not provide the animal with good survival prospects
in a natural environment
incomplete exploration is a poor basis for adaptation, and an animal with such a
behavioral deficit must be at a biological disadvantage in many situations.
exploratory deficits will result in cognitive deficits, and associated fearfulness will
probably create stress predisposition in various demanding husbandry situations
 Exploration and awareness

the key function of exploration is preparation for what might happen in

the future:
- will a predator attack and what shall I do?
- will there be a shortage of food or competition for
food and how they shall act so as to maximize the
chance of obtaining sufficient food?
- if it becomes cold, windy or wet, where they shall hide
when such questions are put in the first person, it becomes clearer that
the actions of the individual that explores are preparations for possible,
perhaps predicted, future events
a substantial degree of awareness is needed to be able to evaluate and
prepare for what might happen in the future
 Spacing behavior

is of considerable importance for social species that live in closely

associated social groups.
- e.g., pack of wolves or dogs, which can be considered as one species,
are clustered in an extended family group in relatively small areas
for much of their lives
- in social species, cross-specific relationships of a mutually beneficial kind
are frequent
- dogs identify humans as important social partners and many humans
identify dogs as important social partners
- occasionally, the individual regarded as a partner views the member
of the other species as largely a provider rather than a partner
Spacing of animals falls into two general types:

i. individual space that is ii. home range and territory,

defined in terms of the which refer to a static area used by
individual and hence moves the animal.
with it
 dogs, horses, rabbits, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and domestic fowl allow
fairly close physical proximity between one another, except in special
circumstances related to sexual, maternal and aggressive behavior
the distance they maintain between themselves and other animals,
especially potential predators, is much greater
- this latter if light distance is the radius of space within
which the animal will not voluntarily permit the intrusion
of man or other animals that might be dangerous
without escaping.
Reactions to intrusions include:

startle
alarm
fight or flight display
vocalization
when animals limit their movements to a home range this will
include resources such as food
when an area is defended, it is called a territory
the term agonistic behavior is often used for behavior involving
threat, attack or defense.
- groups of farm animals – especially those kept for long periods
in extensive areas such as common grazings, ranges
and ranches – devote little energy to fighting or threat.
 through systems of social organization, group harmony is a prominent
feature of collective behavior
conspicuous features of group behavior are social facilitation and
synchrony of action, so that the members of a group are often involved
in the same activities.
through systems of social organization, group harmony is a prominent
feature of collective behavior
conspicuous features of group behavior are social facilitation and
synchrony of action, so that the members of a group are often involved
in the same activities.
 Types of Space

1. Home Range - area that the animal learns

thoroughly and that it habitually uses.
- in some cases the home range may be the
animal’s total range.
- within a home range, such as an extensive area
of pasture, there may be a core area.
- this core is the area of heaviest regular use within
the home range.
- the core area generally includes resting areas.
2. Territory - is an area that is defended by fighting or by demarcation, which other
individuals detect so that the mark or other signal is a deterrent to entry.
- it need not be permanent, but would often provide for requirements of nutrition,
shelter, resting, watering, exercise, evacuation, periodic movement and defensive
shifting.
- in many species, territories are used to attract a mate.
3. Individual space
- most animals actively preserve a minimum
distance from themselves and attempt to
prevent others from entering this space.
- the minimum distance within which approach
elicits attack or avoidance was called the
individual distance
Spatial features - may be defined by local geography
in significant ways for animals:
edge of a river, lake, or wood
series of caves
open space where no predator could approach
marshy area
refuge tree
- could be selected by an animal as a place to
spend time.
Association vs. Avoidance

although domestic animals maintain individual space and

sometimes defend territories, they also actively remain close to
certain other individuals
some of such association is between mother and offspring
other association is between animals reared together or between
animals that form an attachment later in life.
animals that are associated may move closer together when there is
danger
 Spatial needs

A. Quantitative B. Qualitative
- relate to space occupation, social - relate to space-dependent activities
distance, flight distance, and actual such as eating, body care, exploration,
territory. kinetics, and social behavior.
 Crowding

groups of individuals whose movements are restricted by the physical

presence of others are said to be crowded
a high density means more likelihood that one animal will come closer to
another than its individual distance
the intrusion into individual space may result in an aggressive response or an
avoidance reaction which, in turn, results in a further such intrusion
crowding does not necessarily result in increased agonistic behavior but it
often does so.
if a high social density causes adverse effects on the fitness of individuals
then the term overcrowding is used.
crowding has an effect on the extent to which animals move about.
For your assignment…
Spacing Behaviour of Domestic Animals ( pp.
115 – 118)
dogs
cats
horses
cattle
sheep
pigs
poultry
Any questions???