Lecture 13

Question 1

What is a social bond and give examples

2 pt

Answer 1

Mutual, affectionate, emotional attachment between 2 individuals that is relatively long lasting and survives temporary seperations - talking about friendships
ex. allogrooming, resting in contact, play, synchronized activities, greeting following temporary seperation

Question 2

How do social bonds impact physiology?

5 pt

Answer 2

Physiological effects involved with social bonds moderating HPA Axis
* Reductions in heart rate
* Reduction in cortisol, noradrenaline
* Improved immune functioning
* Cardiac function
* Endorphin release

Question 3

What did the study in primates discover in friendships?

3 pt

Answer 3

• Fitness benefits including increased survival rates, including infants
• Reproductive success
• Friendship based on similarity in personalities

Question 4

Breaking social bonds in humans results in…

2 pt

Answer 4

Behavioural response first then physiological response

Question 5

In animals, seperation is a bond breakage but motivation to reunite which causes…

3 pt

Answer 5

• Locomotion
• Vocalization
• Depression

Benefit: noise and locomotion to bring them back
Risk: can attract predators, increase release of cortisol, effect on immune function and socialization

Question 6

What are the responses to short-term seperation?

2 pt

Answer 6

Response differs depending on species:
* Rabbits: not stressed (altricial)
* Lambs: very stressed (precocial)

Question 7

What are the responses to long-term separation?

2 pt

Note that says link cortisol to immunity on exam important

Answer 7

• May adapt
• May show grief: unresponsiveness, listlessness, headhanging, sunken eyes, cognitive impairment, depressed immunity
• Shown by humans, elephants, primates, geese, whales

Question 8

How do Rheas (a big bird) and geese/pigeons differ in parental offspring care?

2 pt

Answer 8

• Father is responsible for care (Rhea)
• Both genders care for young (geese and pigeons)

Question 9

What were the results for the strength of bond between calf and mother?

3 pt

Answer 9

Seperated by fence but allowed access (head and neck of calf remain in contact (barrier) but cow could touch and hear)
* bond with calf remained
Seperated by fence but strange calf suckles (cow hobbled, calf behind barrier and strange calf suckled, could still head and see her calf)
* bond with own calf remained
Separated by fence, but stranged calf suckles (own calf removed, new calf suckles)
* formed a new bond with ned calf, no bond with own calf

Question 10

How is litter size in piglets related to strength of attachment?

1 pt

Answer 10

Inversely related
* the more babies there are the weaker the bond is

Question 11

True or false: there is no difference in aggression between mothers and daughters compared to unrelated cattle

1 pt

Answer 11

False - there is less aggression

Question 12

Give two examples of how siblings show bonds.

2 pt

Answer 12

• Lambs housedwith twinsshowed less distress when separated from ewe
• Litter size likely affectsstrength ofbond between siblings (negative relationship - more siblings = weaker bonds)

Question 13

Give three examples of friendships in animals.

3 pt

Answer 13

• Primates - friends can reduce depression and improve health under bond breakage
• Communal nesting in pigs
• Allowing unrelated animals to suckle

Question 14

In nature why do bonds break?

3 pt

Answer 14

• death
• separated from pack
• getting kicked out of the herd
• weaning

Question 15

What are some natural weaning techniques?

4 pt

Answer 15

• Frequency of suckling reduced
• Aggression
• Mother walks away
• Milk volume reduces

Question 16

What does it mean when an animal leaves their natal group?

1 pt

Answer 16

Animals moving from their birth group to their new breeding or reproductive groups - if moving a far distance, bonds with original group break (in horses - between 1 and 4 years)

Question 17

What are other permanent separations that cause broken bonds?

4 pt

Answer 17

• Sale
• Division of growing group numbers
• Slaughter
• Removal of sick animals

Question 18

What are some other temporary separations that cause broken bonds?

5 pt

Answer 18

• Breeding
• Health checks
• Foot care
• Horseback riding
• Grooming

Question 19

How does separation distress cause permanent physiological effects?

3 pt

Answer 19

• Permanent changes to corticotrophin releasing hormone gene expression
• Higher levels of CRH and proliferation of the CRH receptors
• Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis becomes more sensitive

Question 20

Can dogs develop an understanding if separations happen repeatedly and are not traumatic?

1 pt

Answer 20

Maybe

Question 21

What is a stressor in terms of moving animals from one group to another?

6 pt

Answer 21

• Redevelopment of dominance - aggression (cost forimmune function, production)
• New and unfamiliar individuals or isolation
• CHanges in group size
• New location
• Changes in environment
• Breaking of bonds

Question 22

What changes happen after early weaning that cause more stress?

3 pt

Answer 22

• Breaking bond with mother-offspring
• Abrupt change in diet
• No allowance for suckling behaviour (comfort)

Question 23

Substitutions for reducing stress

Answer 23

• Teat for non-nutritive suckling
• Handling of goats
• No auditory stimuli of dam (makes it worse)
• Music for young chicks
• Mirror for chicks and cattle