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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > Animal behaviour
What is language and what is the nature of the intelligence that can acquire it? This volume, originally published in 1976, describes 10 years of research devoted to these questions. The author describes his programmatic research of decomposing language into atomic constituents, designing and applying training programs for teaching these to chimpanzees, and for teaching chimps major human ontological categories, as well as for interrogative, declarative, and imperative sentence forms. The volume details the progress from teaching apes simple predicates such as same-different, to more complex predicates such as if-then, and the success of the program led to the following questions directly related to intelligence: What made the training program effective? What is the cognitive equipment of the species which enables it to learn language? What does this tell us about human intelligence? The answers were suggested in terms of conceptual structure, representational capacity, memory and the ability to handle second-order relations. The results of this experimentation, which resulted in synonymy in some animals, shed light not only on the nature of language, but the nature of intelligence as well. One of the earliest ape language and intelligence studies, today this classic can be read and enjoyed again in its historical context.
The first important distinction between operant and Pavlovian conditioning was made in 1928 by Polish scientists Konorski and Miller. Unaware of their work, Skinner proposed a similar analysis in 1935 of the manner in which operant and Pavlovian conditioning might differ and interact. Konorski and Miller responded to Skinner's statement, and by 1937 the now-classic debate over "two types of conditioned reflexes" was in high gear. In the years before publication, the attention of many learning theorists had returned to the fundamental question of whether there are identifiably different forms of learning. The present volume, originally published in 1977, contains chapters that reassess our basic learning paradigms of the time. They deal with the definitional problems of isolating operant and Pavlovian conditioning, as well as the attempt to analyze the inevitable interactions that follow. These issues are examined in a variety of settings: some authors deal with operant-Pavlovian interactions directly by devising procedures to generate them; others examine operant-Pavlovian interactions by examining their possible contribution to established conditioning paradigms.
Originally published in 1983, this volume is a collection of papers by research workers active at the time. It includes reviews of special areas within the field and discussions of interactions with other behavioral sciences such as psychology, ethology, and sociobiology. Applications to medicine, psychiatry, and education are also considered. Contributors were encouraged to integrate history, present knowledge, and projections for the future. Although the book is not divided into sections there is some grouping of related chapters.
Originally published in 1986, we were living in a world in which the number of publications in behaviour genetics had reached a point where it was difficult, even for those teaching the subject, to keep up with the literature. The editors of this title believe that there is a need for people who have planned and executed long-term research programs to summarize and comment on their results. This volume was intended to help meet that need. The authors were given free choice of subject and format. The result is a variety of topics that had been researched mainly over the previous decade. Chapter 1 is an exception and looked back at the work of others in behaviour genetics over a quarter-century and tried to detect trends in the types of research done in the field.
Originally published in 1976, this volume contains new and original contributions of the time addressed to a related set of ideas concerning processes of memory in animals. The theme is that animals remember and that theories of animal learning must take this into account as well as the coding processes that have been assumed to be specific to human beings. The focus of the book is on processes, and some progress is reported in differentiating types of memory. The emphasis in applying animal work to studies of human memory is made not in terms of paradigms but in terms of processes implicated via performance in a variety of tasks. Also, many of the chapters reflect the usefulness of applying a memory framework to a variety of "nonmemory" paradigms. This work will be essential reading for all those interested in animal as well as human memory, and provided the most up to date and broadest examination of animal memory processes at the time, from both a theoretical and conceptual framework.
Wilhelm Wundt is known today as one of the founding figures of modern psychology. The first person to ever call himself a Psychologist, he is also widely regarded as the "father of experimental psychology", having established the first laboratory in the world dedicated to psychological research. This paved the way for psychology as an independent field of study. A prolific writer, this title contains 30 lectures on human and animal psychology given in the latter half of the nineteenth century. This edition was originally published in 1912, a translation of the second German edition, the earlier edition being the first of the author's works to be translated into English.
Given their roles in the ecosystem, raptors are widely considered the flagship or umbrella species among birds. Most species undertake a seasonal journey that is impressive because of the length, and the imposing natural barriers such as deserts and seas that they fly over. The migration of birds of prey has unique characteristics in the animal world because of their morphology and flight style. The flying path of Afro-Palearctic migrants between breeding and wintering grounds is determined by several factors such as morphology of the birds, geography, behavioural adaptations. The book analyses the migration patterns of raptors along the Afro-Palearctic migratory system, and summarizes the recent research on these top predator species. Behavioural adaptations such as the importance of social interactions and the modulation of the different flight styles as well as ecological interactions with the encountered environment and weather conditions en route are described in the book. Moreover, the impact of climate change on the migratory behaviour and key conservation issues are discussed. The book provides an overview of the migratory characteristics and flyway patterns of all European raptors species and also some Asian ones. These chapters have been written by some of the most important raptor specialists, giving a complete picture of the different migration strategies on the basis of both traditional methods and new technologies.
Originally published in 1974, this volume examines the behavioural similarities of obese humans and animals whose so-called feeding centre (the ventro-medial hypothalamic nuclei) has been lesioned. Both the obese human and the VMH-lesioned animal seem to share a hyposensitivity to the internal (physiological) cues to eating and hypersensitivity to external cues associated with food. Beginning with a review, these obese animals and the human obese are compared point by point on experimental results reported in the literature. Then, new findings are presented that specifically tested humans for relationships that are well-established for lesioned animals. Next, a theoretical framework integrates the human and animal data to postulate that the relationship of cue prominence and probability of response is stronger for the obese than for normal. The causes for this, and the extension of the basis for the obese's eating behaviour to other areas, are discussed in light of further experiments that will make this invaluable reading for all concerned with the history of obesity and the issues of regulatory behaviour.
N.N. Ladygina-Kohts earned her degree in comparative psychology at Moscow University in 1917, then became the first curator of the Darwin Museum in Moscow. Her pioneering work with the chimpanzee, Joni, was reported throughout the continent during her lifetime, earning her a series of honors in the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, Infant Chimpanzee and Human Child, her diary comparing Joni's development with that of her son, Rudy, had never been translated completely. This volume presents the first, complete English translation with 120 photographs, an introduction by Allen and Beatrix Gardner of the Center for Advanced Study at the University of Nevada and an Afterword by Lisa A. Parr, Signe Preuschoft, and Frans B. M. de Waal of the Living Links Center.
Discover this remarkable account of twenty-one years in remote Kenya with a troop of Savannah baboons from the New York Times bestselling author of Behave. 'One of the best scientist-writers of our time' Oliver Sacks Brooklyn-born Robert Sapolsky grew up wishing he could live in the primate diorama in the Museum of Natural History. At school he wrote fan letters to primatologists and even taught himself Swahili, all with the hope of one day joining his primate brethren in Africa. But when, at the age of twenty-one, Sapolky's dream finally comes true he discovers that the African bush bears little resemblance to the tranquillity of a museum. This is the story of the next twenty-one years as Sapolsky slowly infiltrates and befriends a troop of Savannah baboons. Alone in the middle of the Serengeti with no electricity, running water or telephone, and surviving countless scams, culinary atrocities and a surreal kidnapping, Sapolsky becomes ever more enamoured with his adopted baboon troop - unique and compelling characters in their own right - and he returns to them summer after summer, until tragedy finally prevails. 'A Primate's Memoir is the closest the baboon is likely to come - and it's plenty close enough - to having its own Iliad' New York Times Review of Books Exhilarating, hilarious and poignant, A Primate's Memoir is a uniquely honest window into the coming-of-age of one of our greatest scientific minds.
1. Fills an important niche in the market - there are currently no books designed to help educate students about social science professional opportunities that incorporate animals. 2. Provides insights into careers of leaders in the HAI field, including: their background history, 'A Day in the Life of...' vignettes, honest accounts of the challenges and rewards of the job, and advice for those seeking a similar role. 3. Clearly outlines the sometimes unclear career paths available to social science students, from careers connected to human services (therapy, social work, journalism) to research or other scholarship.
Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms is an exploration of laboratory and field research on the many ways that evolution has influenced learning and memory processes, such as associative learning, social learning, and spatial, working, and episodic memory systems. This volume features research by both outstanding early-career scientists as well as familiar luminaries in the field. Learning and memory in a broad range of animals are explored, including numerous species of invertebrates (insects, worms, sea hares), as well as fish, amphibians, birds, rodents, bears, and human and nonhuman primates. Contributors discuss how the behavioral, cognitive, and neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory have been influenced by evolutionary pressures. They also draw connections between learning and memory and the specific selective factors that shaped their evolution. Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms should be a valuable resource for those working in the areas of experimental and comparative psychology, comparative cognition, brain-behavior evolution, and animal behavior.
Drawing on their extensive teaching experience, the authors bring the content to life using humorous and engaging language and show students how the principles of behavior relate to their everyday lives. The text's tried-and-true pedagogy make the content as clear as possible without oversimplifying the concepts. Each chapter includes study objectives, key terms, and review questions that encourage students to check their understanding before moving on, and incorporated throughout the text are real-world examples and case studies to illustrate key concepts and principles.This edition also features a new full-color design and nearly 400 color figures, tables, and graphs. The text is carefully tailored to the length of a standard academic semester and how behavior analysis courses are taught, with each section corresponding to a week's worth of coursework, and each chapter is integrated with the task list for Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) certifications.
The first book on zoo/captive animal behavior and how this applies to welfare. Despite growing evidence of the need to implement more suitable, naturalistic practices into zoo animal welfare, it still seems to be somewhat overlooked - this book will address this oversight. Includes specific detail and examples focusing on taxa, a huge factor in managing animals in zoos that has not previously been addressed in this way. Covers invertebrates as well as vertebrate species. Would be a recommended or core text on Zoo Biology courses, BScs in Animal Science, and Animal Welfare MScs, as well as an invaluable practitioner reference. A lot of students interested in animal behaviour are interested in zoos. Each chapter covers species-specific content include the following information: Ecology and natural history as relevant to the zoo, behaviour and welfare measures based on ecological knowledge, feeding ecology and nutritional management, mating systems and reproductive characteristics, enrichment and behavioural diversity. The chapters are consistently formatted for ease of information, with end of chapter summaries, boxes with selected enrichment devices or welfare assessment methods for assessing welfare state, and directed reading of peer reviewed and other reputable sources that help advance care. A final Part explores welfare assessment tools, quality of life, veterinary interventions and evidence-based approaches. It looks at ways to increase the value of zoo and aquarium animals by enhancing visitor interest and visitor behaviour change. Also, research needs for keepers and how to build evidence into a daily routine, as well as management of native species programmes and the future of zoo research.
The Good Boy's Guide to Being Good is an entertaining account of a dog trying to understand his human and live his best life. Written from the point of view of Sprout, an "Insta-famous" dog who pushes a tiny shopping cart amongst other tricks, it uses humorous real-life anecdotes to provide a light-hearted take on how to raise a well-behaved dog, brought to life with adorable and entertaining photos of Sprout in all walks of life. Sprout's 'wisdom' covers understanding and successfully living alongside humans, progresses to navigating the outside world and learning manners, and culminates with a few simple yet unique tricks. Each tip is accompanied by a human translation to break down the actual principle Sprout is describing so that dog owners can apply the wisdom to their own pets. A funny and fresh take on how to look after your dog, The Good Boy's Guide to Being Good is the perfect gift for any dog lover or owner, new or old, who wants a little insight into how to care for their canine companions.
How to Raise a Puppy moves away from the traditional approach to raising puppies, focused on obedience and control, and instead takes an holistic, dog-centred approach. Drawing on research into how dogs naturally rear their young, and how dogs have evolved to behave and spend their time, it supports a new way of sharing our lives with our dogs. It also offers advice on dealing with some of the common challenges people experience with puppies, and tips for managing adolescence. A much-needed resource for dog trainers, veterinarians and behaviourists to recommend to clients, this conveys a powerful message to help overcome all too common issues so many people have with their puppies. Packed with practical advice, it offers an overdue "puppy perspective", with respect for a dog as a sentient being at its core.
Serial murderers generate an abundance of public interest, media coverage, and law enforcement attention, yet after decades of studies, serial murder researchers have been unable to answer the most important question: Why? Providing a unique and comprehensive exploration, Creating Cultural Monsters: Serial Murder in America explains connections between American culture and the incidence of serial murder, including reasons why most identified serial murderers are white, male Americans. It describes the omnipresence of serial murder in American media and investigates what it would take to decrease its occurrence. Presenting empirically supported arguments that have the potential to revolutionize how serial murder is understood, studied, and investigated, this volume: Places the serial murder phenomenon in a cultural context, promoting qualitative understanding and the potential for reducing its frequency Includes an illustrated model that explains how people utilize cultural values to construct lines of action according to their cultural competencies Demonstrates how the American cultural milieu fosters serial murder and the creation of white male serial murderers Provides a critique of the American mass media's role in the development and notoriety of serial murder Describes the framework on which the majority of definitions of serial murder are based Drawn from years of dedicated research of Dr. Julie B. Wiest, this volume presents a new approach to the study of U.S. serial murder, offers important implications for law enforcement and mass media, and forms a basis for future research on serial murder, murder, and violence in the U.S. and in other nations.
Offers knowledge on how to resolve human-wildlife conflicts through wildlife damage management. Provides examples of how human-wildlife conflicts can be alleviated by using an integrated approach Discusses management options including employing lethal methods; distributing supplemental food; changing the behavior of either humans or wildlife; and excluding or repelling wildlife. Backed by numerous case studies, informative side bars and full color illustrations. Uses brand new case studies to illustrate the benefits of an integrated approach to wildlife management for resolving wildlife problems.
An understanding of animal behaviour and welfare is an important requirement of a wide range of programmes of study including biology, zoology, animal welfare, animal behaviour, psychology and zoo biology. This book is intended as a study and revision guide for students following programmes of study in which animal behaviour and welfare are an important component. It contains 600 multiple-choice questions (and answers) set at three levels - foundation, intermediate and advanced - and grouped into 10 major topic areas: 1. Foundations and history of animal behaviour and welfare 2. Basic concepts and mechanisms in behaviour 3. Biological basis of behaviour 4. Learning, memory and training 5. Territoriality, navigation and migration 6 Animal cognition and communication 7. Behavioural ecology and social behaviour 8. Measuring, recording and analysing animal behaviour and welfare 9. Animal exploitation and welfare 10 Animal rights, ethics and law The book has been produced in a convenient format so that it can be used at any time in any place. It allows the reader to learn and revise the meaning of terms used in the study of animal behaviour and welfare, methods of recording behaviour and assessing welfare, the physiology of behaviour, learning, memory, cognition, behavioural ecology, animal rights and much more. Many of the questions require students to use their knowledge to interpret information provided in the form of graphs, data or photographs.
Here's a quick and quirky identification guide to animal dung or droppings. Each animal group (carnivores, primates, antelope, rats and mice, reptiles, birds) is briefly introduced; but the main focus of this book is the photographs, mostly life-size. These images enable immediate identification of the animals responsible for the droppings. To confirm identity, summary tables give details of average width, length and typical contents of droppings (feathers, twigs, leaves, sand, etc.). This should become a recommended reference for rangers and field guides in the region; and it will be of use to anyone with an interest in wildlife, and even to those who simply enjoy walking in the wild and observing the tracks and signs they encounter.
It is usual to consider the effects parents have on children; this title, originally published in 1977, reverses the focus and reveals a subject every bit as important and interesting. The authors, both professional psychologists, present their findings under three major headings - "History", "Theories and Research Approaches" and "Concepts and Findings" - that discuss the social, psychological, and biological influences children exert on parents. Bell and Harper oppose the "intellectual apartheid" that prevents behavioural scientists from investigating "the continuity of interaction processes from other animals to man" and include substantial research findings in mammalian biology to show more precisely the reciprocal relations between parents and their offspring. Their "bidirectional approach" to the study of child-rearing is meant to offset empirical prejudices that had so far dominated child-care sciences at the time.
Dramatic changes in the environment, including habitat degradation and climate change, have focused attention on how individuals and populations respond to a shifting biotic and abiotic landscape. A critical step toward meeting this goal is a clear understanding of the capacity of individuals to defend themselves against threats. Changes in water quality and temperature have direct and indirect effects on fishes. Defensive responses can occur at many levels, from cellular to behavioral actions. The authors in this volume have attempted to provide a general view of the current state of knowledge of fish defenses with respect to pathogens, parasites, and predators, and to point out gaps where further study is needed.
The greatest complexity of the immune response is shown by vertebrates which are endowed with innate and acquired immunity. Immunological studies performed mostly in mammals have been the reference for studies in other vertebrates. The study of immunological fish defenses has advanced considerably in recent decades. This has been due to the key status of fish in terms of the evolution of acquired immunity and due to the rapid expansion of aquaculture over this period, wherein disease control is of prime concern. Most of the chapters not only review the current advances on fish immune defenses, but also show perspective for future research. The book will be of interest to scientists involved in fish immunology, fisheries and aquaculture as well as for students of fish biology.
Human language, cognition, and culture are unique; they are unparalleled in the animal kingdom. The claim that we can learn what makes us human by studying other animal species provokes vigorous reactions and many deny that comparative research can shed any light on the origins and character of human distinctive capacities. However, Learning from Animals? presents empirical research and an analysis of comparative approaches for an understanding of human uniqueness, arguing that we cannot know what capacities are uniquely human until we learn what other species can do. This interdisciplinary volume explores the prospects and problems of comparative approaches for understanding modern humans abilities by presenting: (1) the latest findings and theoretical approaches in primatology, comparative psychology, linguistics, and philosophy; (2) methodological reflections on the prospects and challenges of understanding human capacities through comparative research strategies; and (3) discussions of conceptual and ethical issues. This is the first book to address the issues raised by comparative research from such a diverse perspective. It will therefore be of great interest to students, researchers, and professionals in comparative psychology, linguistics, primatology, biology, and philosophy.
Fishes are by far the most species-rich vertebrate taxon, and it is also the vertebrate group with the most strikingly diverse repertoire of behaviours and behavioural adaptations. As such, they provide us with many opportunities to explore the fascinating complexities of animal behaviour. Central questions addressed in this book include: How do sensory input, hormones, genetics and experience interact to shape individual behaviour? What should a fish do to be in the right place at the right time and how should it behave to be an efficient predator yet not become the subject of predation itself? How to find a mate or to find the best mate? Should all fish do the same, or is the optimal behaviour dependent on individual characteristics? How does reproductive behaviour affect what fish look like, in terms of colour, body form or body size? And how do fish cope with their complex social and biological environment, including parasites, competitors and collaborators? This new book provides an exciting overview of the many new insights offered by recent research on fish behaviour. The chapters are written by prominent international scientists and are aimed not only at fish biology students and researchers but anyone interested in the interplay between behaviour, ecology and evolution. |
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