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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 431; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02643-6

The intensity of physiological and behavioral responses of horses to predator vocalizations.

Abstract: Predatory attacks on horses can become a problem in some parts of the world, particularly when considering the recovering gray wolf populations. The issue studied was whether horses transformed by humans and placed in stable-pasture environments had retained their natural abilities to respond to predation risk. The objective of the study was to determine the changes in cardiac activity, cortisol concentrations, and behavior of horses in response to the vocalizations of two predators: the gray wolf (Canis lupus), which the horses of the breed studied had coevolved with but not been exposed to recently, and Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), from which the horses had been mostly isolated. In addition, we hypothesized that a higher proportion of Thoroughbred (TB) horse ancestry in the pedigree would result in higher emotional excitability in response to predator vocalizations. Nineteen horses were divided into groups of 75%, 50% and 25% TB ancestry. The auditory test conducted in a paddock comprised a 10-min prestimulus period, a 5-min stimulus period when one of the predators was heard, and a 10-min poststimulus period without any experimental stimuli. Results: The increase in heart rate and saliva cortisol concentration in response to predator vocalizations indicated some level of stress in the horses. The lowered beat-to-beat intervals revealed a decrease in parasympathetic nervous system activity. The behavioral responses were less distinct than the physiological changes. The responses were more pronounced with leopard vocalizations than wolf vocalizations. Conclusions: The horses responded with weak signs of anxiety when exposed to predator vocalizations. A tendency towards a stronger internal reaction to predators in horses with a higher proportion of TB genes suggested that the response intensity was partly innate. The more pronounced response to leopard than wolf may indicate that horses are more frightened of a threatening sound from an unknown predator than one known by their ancestors. The differing response can be also due to differences in the characteristic of the predators' vocalizations. Our findings suggested that the present-day horses' abilities to coexist with predators are weak. Hence, humans should protect horses against predation, especially when introducing them into seminatural locations.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-10 PubMed ID: 33167961PubMed Central: PMC7653799DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02643-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The article studies horses’ physiological and behavioral response to predator vocalizations, and how ‘domestication’ and their genetic heritage might influence these responses. The research sought to find out if domesticated horses, specifically those with a larger proportion of Thoroughbred (TB) genes, still retain their natural instincts to react to the sounds of predators.

Study Objectives and Hypothesis

  • The main objective was to measure changes in horses’ cardiac activity, cortisol concentrations, and behavior in reaction to the vocalizations of two predators: the gray wolf, a species from which horses evolved but have had limited recent exposure to, and the Arabian leopard, a species with which horses have mostly no interaction.
  • The study hypothesized that the more TB ancestry a horse has, the greater its emotional excitability in response to predator vocalizations would be.

Methodology

  • Nineteen horses were categorized according to the concentration of TB ancestry, with three groups for 75%, 50% and 25% TB heritage respectively.
  • An auditory test was conducted in a paddock with a 10-minute prestimulus period, a five-minute period of predator sound exposure, and a 10-minute post-stimulus period without any experimental stimuli.

Results and Findings

  • The research findings suggested an increase in heart rate and cortisol levels in horses as a reaction to predator vocalizations, indicating stress. There was also a decrease in the interval between heartbeats, signaling a reduction in parasympathetic nervous system activity.
  • There was more responsiveness to the sounds of the Arabian leopard than the gray wolf, which could indicate a greater fear of unknown predators.
  • Behavioral responses were not as clear as the physiological measurements, but there was a tendency towards increased anxiety and internal reaction in horses with a higher proportion of TB genes.
  • The final interpretation of results suggests that modern horses have weak reactions to predators, and humans should actively protect horses from predation, especially when they are introduced into seminatural locations.

Conclusion

  • This study reveals a key aspect of behavior in domesticated horses – their decreased fear response towards predators’ vocalizations, likely due to their removal from a natural environment and regular predatory threats.
  • Also, it explores the role of genealogy, suggesting that ancestral heritage (in this case, the proportion of TB genes) plays a part in determining a horse’s fear response. It helps in understanding their reactions with regard to rewilding processes.
  • The research’s implications underline the need for human intervention to protect domestic and semi-wild horses from potential predatory attacks.

Cite This Article

APA
Janczarek I, Stachurska A, Kędzierski W, Wiśniewska A, Ryżak M, Kozioł A. (2020). The intensity of physiological and behavioral responses of horses to predator vocalizations. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 431. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02643-6

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 431
PII: 431

Researcher Affiliations

Janczarek, Iwona
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
Stachurska, Anna
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland. anna.stachurska@up.lublin.pl.
Kędzierski, Witold
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Wiśniewska, Anna
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
Ryżak, Magdalena
  • Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin, Poland.
Kozioł, Agata
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / physiology
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Male
  • Panthera
  • Pedigree
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Vocalization, Animal
  • Wolves

Conflict of Interest Statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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