INFLUENCE OF A CONSPECIFIC IMAGE OF OWN VS DIFFERENT BREED ON FEAR REACTIONS OF EWES

Citation
Mf. Bouissou et al., INFLUENCE OF A CONSPECIFIC IMAGE OF OWN VS DIFFERENT BREED ON FEAR REACTIONS OF EWES, Behavioural processes, 38(1), 1996, pp. 37-44
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Biological","Behavioral Sciences",Zoology
Journal title
ISSN journal
03766357
Volume
38
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
37 - 44
Database
ISI
SICI code
0376-6357(1996)38:1<37:IOACIO>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
We observed the influence of slide images of conspecifics on fear reac tions of 12 Romanov and 12 Ile-de-France ewes. Each ewe was individual ly tested twice in isolation: once in the presence of the projected im age of an unfamiliar ewe of its own breed, and once when exposed to an image of a ewe of a different breed. Ewes' responses to a slide of an individual of their own breed differed consistently from their respon ses to a slide of the other breed (i.e., they displayed lower fear rea ctions to their own breed). There was also a significant main effect f or breed of subject, which reflects breed differences in activity leve l and/or fearfulness. Differential responses to two-dimensional images of unfamiliar animals of own versus other breed suggest that the ewes recognized the characteristics of their breed. Moreover, the manner i n which ewes responded to the slide projections indicates that those i mages were perceived as social stimuli.