Contemporary, thought-provoking yet utterly practical, this book provides an introductory text covering the use and misuse of behavior tests applied to animals. By including illustrative examples from a variety of species, the book inspires the animal scientist to think about what a given behavioral test can be used for and how the results can be interpreted. This text includes: the dos and don'ts of running behavior tests and interpreting the results; many clear, simple illustrations which make the information readily accessible; down-to-earth, practical advice combined with a thorough, evidence-based approach; information on behavior tests for a whole range of species from companion, farm, zoo, laboratory and wild animals--all in in a succinct yet comprehensive text. This book is an essential item in the researcher's toolkit when embarking on and devising any animal behavior test and is valuable to students, established researchers, teachers and practitioners of applied ethology, animal welfare science, and veterinary science.
Key Points:
- It introduces the use of animal behavior testing in a scientific (fact-based), but easy-to-understand manner, explaining the importance of a number of issues, such as ethical and practical considerations, when carrying out animal behavior tests
- In contrast to existing books on the subject, it includes examples from a variety of species, focusing on animals managed by humans, and it takes the approach of observed behavior of the animals tested, and not their neurological changes
- The format of the book motivates the reader to pick it up and to finish reading it because of its scientific, yet relaxed, fact-based writing style and numerous diagrams. It will not be an exhaustive list of all existing behavior tests, but will give illustrative examples to inspire further reading.
Muu info
This book is an essential item in the researcher's tool kit when embarking on and devising any behaviour test and is valuable to students, established researchers, teachers and practitioners of applied ethology, animal welfare science, and veterinary science.
| Preface |
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vii | |
| Acknowledgements |
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ix | |
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1 Five Things This Book is Not |
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1 | (6) |
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7 | (12) |
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19 | (10) |
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4 Tests to Characterize the Animal |
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29 | (21) |
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5 Choice, Preference and Motivation |
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50 | (15) |
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6 Ability to Detect and Distinguish |
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65 | (13) |
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7 Effects of Age and Treatment |
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78 | (15) |
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8 Reinforcement and Punishment |
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93 | (14) |
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9 Learning Capacity, Memory and Cognitive Ability |
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107 | (17) |
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10 Genetic Components of Behaviour |
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124 | (13) |
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Part III Additional Aspects |
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11 Other Test Considerations |
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137 | (17) |
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12 Legislation, Guidelines and Ethical Considerations |
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154 | (12) |
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13 Future Methodologies and Technological Advances |
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166 | (7) |
| Index |
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173 | |
Birte Nielsen is an applied ethologist currently working as Assistant Scientific Director at UFAW (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare) and their sister-charity HSA (Humane Slaughter Association). She has previously worked at the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) in France and Aarhus University, Denmark. Her research has spanned the science of olfaction, studying the behavioural responses of rats to different smells, and feeding behaviour in ruminants. Birte has in-depth experience in experimental behaviour science on rats, growing pigs, dairy cows, broiler chickens and broiler breeders, and has been actively involved in work on horses, sows, laying hens and even ostriches.
