Generalization of fear in farm mink, Mustela vison, genetically selected for behaviour towards humans

Malmkvist, Jens; Hansen, Steffen W.

doi:10.1006/anbe.2002.3058

Cited by 96 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Hence, although the foxes should not be regarded as domesticated already after the first few generations, they showed correlated responses that might indicate shared genetic mechanisms. Other selective breeding projects focusing on fear in other species have shown similar results, for example, in rats (Rattus norvegicus) (Albert et al, 2008), mink (Neovison vison) (Malmkvist and Hansen, 2002) and quail (Coturnix japonica) (Jones et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) selected for low fear of humans are larger, more dominant and produce larger offspring

Agnvall

Ali

Olby

et al. 2014

Animal

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Many traits associated with domestication are suggested to have developed as correlated responses to reduced fear of humans. Tameness may have reduced the stress of living in human proximity and improved welfare in captivity. We selected Red Junglefowl (ancestors of all domestic chickens) for four generations on high or low fear towards humans, mimicking an important aspect of the earliest period of domestication, and tested birds from the third and fourth generation in three different social tests. Growth and plumage condition, as well as size of eggs and offspring were also recorded, as indicators of some aspects of welfare. Birds selected for low fear had higher weight, laid larger eggs and generated larger offspring, and had a better plumage condition. In a social dominance test they also performed more aggressive behaviour and received less of the same, regardless of whether the restricted resource was feed or not. Hence, dominance appeared to increase as a consequence of reduced fear of humans. Furthermore, egg size and the weight of the offspring were larger in the less fearful birds, and plumage condition better, which could be interpreted as the less fearful animals being better adapted to the environment in which they were selected.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) selected for low fear of humans are larger, more dominant and produce larger offspring

Agnvall

Ali

Olby

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…The reason for naïve minks to vocalize more (higher chance of calling and a higher duty cycle of calls) could be related to fear being expressed in the older mink kits. Other studies have reported increased vocalization in fearful mink during exposure to humans, but this was only studied in adults (Malmkvist and Hansen, 2002). Even though mink kits with different experience differ in vocalization rates, they do not differ in mean pulse duration or spectral frequency during calls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Development of vocalization and hearing in American mink (Neovison vison).

Brandt

Malmkvist

Nielsen

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYAmerican mink (Neovison vison) kits are born altricial and fully dependent on maternal care, for which the kits' vocalizations appear essential. We used auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to determine: (1) hearing sensitivity of adult females from two breeding lines known to differ in maternal behaviour and (2) development of hearing in kits 8-52days of age. We also studied sound production in 20 kits throughout postnatal days 1 to 44. Adult female mink had a broad hearing range from 1kHz to above 70kHz, with peak sensitivity (threshold of 20dB SPL) at 8-10kHz, and no difference in sensitivity between the two breeding lines (P>0.22) to explain the difference in maternal care. Mink kits showed no signs of hearing up to postnatal day 24. From day 30, all kits had ABRs indicative of hearing. Hearing sensitivity increased with age, but was still below the adult level at postnatal day 52. When separated from their mothers, kits vocalized loudly. Until the age of 22days, 90% of all kits vocalized with no significant decline with age (P=0.27). From day 25, concurrent with the start of hearing, the number of vocalizing kits decreased with age (P<0.001), in particular in kits that were re-tested (P=0.004). Large numbers of mink are kept in fur industry farms, and our results are important to the understanding of sound communication, which is part of their natural behaviour. Our results also suggest mink as an interesting model for studying the development of mammalian hearing and its correlation to sound production.

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“…Pedigree analyses and artificial selection experiments have confirmed the genetic basis of temperament traits in both wild and domestic species (Gerken & Petersen, 1992;Trut, 1999;Hansen & Mller, 2001;Dingemanse et al, 2002;Malmkvist & Hansen, 2002;Drent et al, 2003). A second condition for contemporary evolution to affect changes in temperament is a link to individual fitness.…”

Section: Causes Of 'Contemporary' Evolutionary Change In Temperamentmentioning

confidence: 92%

Wildlife conservation and animal temperament: causes and consequences of evolutionary change for captive, reintroduced, and wild populations

McDougall¹,

Réale²,

Sol³

et al. 2005

Animal Conservation

258

190

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We argue that animal temperament is an important concept for wildlife conservation science and review causes and consequences of evolutionary changes in temperament traits that may occur in captive-breeding programmes. An evolutionary perspective is valid because temperament traits are heritable, linked to fitness and potentially subject to intense selection in captivity. Natural, sexual and artificial selection can cause permanent shifts in temperament, reducing the diversity of temperament traits, diversity that may be critical to reintroduction success. Breeding programmes that ignore temperament risk leading the captive population towards domestication. Furthermore, shifts in temperament may involve alterations in linked morphological and physiological traits, and selection may even change functional relationships between traits. Captive-breeding programmes can reduce changes in temperaments by closely monitoring temperament traits, equalizing reproductive success between temperament morphs and using environmental enrichment to reduce captive stress. Under certain circumstances, knowledge about temperament may also provide a useful tool to optimize captive reproduction and to increase reintroduction success. Outside reintroduction programmes, temperament can mediate responses to human contact, hunting, exploitation, habitat fragmentation and disease transmission. Consideration of temperaments could strengthen both captive and wild conservation efforts.

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Generalization of fear in farm mink, Mustela vison, genetically selected for behaviour towards humans

Cited by 96 publications

References 26 publications

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) selected for low fear of humans are larger, more dominant and produce larger offspring

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) selected for low fear of humans are larger, more dominant and produce larger offspring

Development of vocalization and hearing in American mink (Neovison vison).

Wildlife conservation and animal temperament: causes and consequences of evolutionary change for captive, reintroduced, and wild populations

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