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The Influence of Food Distribution and Relatedness on the Social Behaviours and Proximities of Free-Roaming Cats (Felis silvestris catus)

Shreve, Kristyn R
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1414773468

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, Environmental Sciences.
Social behaviours serve many functions including conflict resolution and stabilizing group dynamics. Relatives may engage in more affiliative behaviours and be in frequent close proximity with each other. The distribution of food can increase intragroup competition and agonistic behaviours. I examined the influence of relatedness and food distribution on the social behaviour and proximity between free-roaming cats in a colony. To determine relatedness, individuals were genotyped at ten polymorphic microsatellite loci. Food was manipulated in dispersed and clumped treatments. Data included affiliative, agonistic and investigatory behaviours and the frequency of times cats were within 1 meter proximity to conspecifics. I compared behaviour/proximity data to relatedness data for each food treatment. Relatedness did not influence behaviour or proximity between conspecifics. Although food distribution did not influence behaviour or proximity between individuals within the entire colony, agonistic behaviours were influenced by the distribution of food at the subgroup level.
Nancy Solomon (Advisor)
Thomas Crist (Committee Member)
Brian Keane (Committee Member)
Ann Rypstra (Committee Member)
82 p.
Animals; Biology; Ecology; Genetics; Zoology
Free-roaming cats; Felis silvestris catus; domestic cat; cat behavior; cat colony; social behavior; proximity; genetic relatedness; kinship; microsatellite loci; food distribution; subgroup

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shreve, K. R. (2014). The Influence of Food Distribution and Relatedness on the Social Behaviours and Proximities of Free-Roaming Cats (Felis silvestris catus) [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1414773468

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shreve, Kristyn. The Influence of Food Distribution and Relatedness on the Social Behaviours and Proximities of Free-Roaming Cats (Felis silvestris catus). 2014. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1414773468.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shreve, Kristyn. "The Influence of Food Distribution and Relatedness on the Social Behaviours and Proximities of Free-Roaming Cats (Felis silvestris catus)." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1414773468

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1414773468
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© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.