How to measure emotions in pigs
A commonly used assay for assessment of fear in animals is the novel environment test.In this test, an animal is placed in an arena for a particular time period and behaviors are scored.
Insect damage on leaves changes the reproductive strategy of plants
We all know that the majority of plant species depends on pollinators, like bees and syrphid flies, for reproduction. What most of us do not know is that this process is far more complex than it looks at first sight.
Why guinea pigs are just like us
If zebrafish are the new mice, guinea pigs might be the new rats. Guinea pigs differ from mice and rats, and that just might make them more suitable due to the fact that these results are more easily translated to humans.
Measuring behavioral effects of laboratory rearing on starlings
Rearing animals specifically for behavioral research is a very common practice. However, the results from behavioral studies with laboratory animals should be interpreted with care.
Top 5 novel object recognition articles
Novel object recognition is one of the most commonly used behavioral tests on laboratory rodents. It is also easily automated with video tracking software. Want to know how?
Primate behavior - cracking the nut, fur rubbing & mating behavior
Interested in primatology? Today we present to you three blog posts and a couple of interesting websites!
Making the impossible possible – Tracking under water in the dark
European eels (Anguilla anguilla) have a life cycle in which both larvae and adults travel incredible distances. The eggs hatch in the Sargasso Sea near North America and the larvae swim all the way to Europe.
Smelly feet and heat – how malaria mosquitoes find their hosts
It seems that mosquitoes use human body odor to locate suitable hosts, and different people smell differently to mosquitoes.
Standing cows
Does it matter how much time a cow spends standing up or lying down? Bert Tolkamp thought that it did matter, and he proved his point by winning an IgNobel prize for his work on this.
Tracking a wide variety of animals
Video tracking is used to track a widevariety of animal species in even more different test arenas. From insects of 1 mm on leaf discs, to monkeys in a cage, or zebra fish in an aquarium.