Biology subjects

Allaert, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Allaert, R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Evaluating wildlife rehabilitation: Successful return of rehabilitated gulls in the wild

The expansion of human activities has increased the need for animal rehabilitation, especially for urban-breeding species such as herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus), which now commonly nest on buildings and industrial sites. This study evaluates rehabilitation effectiveness by comparing survival and post-release reintegration, measured through habitat use and the degree of association with human-dominated environments, between rehabilitated and wild juvenile gulls along the Belgian coast. From 2012 to 2023, 3443 juveniles were ringed and monitored. Estimated survival rates varied significantly with age, but there was no difference between rehabilitated and wild birds. Differences in habitat use and association with local human population density were largely confined to juveniles: rehabilitated juveniles were resighted more often in rural green areas with lower human population densities, with patterns converging in older age classes. Our results suggest rehabilitation can support urban gull populations by yielding wild-like survival and space use.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

To Peck or Not To Peck: The influence of early-life social environment on response inhibition and impulsive aggression in Japanese quails

Deficits in response inhibition (i.e., the ability to suppress inappropriate responses) may contribute to increased impulsive aggression (i.e., unplanned behaviors that harm others). Since early-life environment might influence the development of response inhibition, it could also indirectly affect impulsive aggression. However, this relationship has rarely been directly examined. Here, we investigated whether response inhibition is associated with impulsive aggression and whether this relationship explains the effects of early-life social environments on impulsive aggression in juvenile Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). Quails (n = 120) were raised in two social conditions: Small groups of five birds or Large groups of 15 birds. Response inhibition was assessed using the Barrier and Cylinder tasks, while impulsive aggression was measured in two contexts - within a group of five familiar individuals and in a dyad with an unfamiliar individual. We found that some aspects of response inhibition were related to impulsive aggression. Furthermore, quails reared in small groups showed significantly poorer response inhibition than those reared in large groups. Yet, impulsive aggression did not significantly differ between the two conditions. These findings suggest that, while impulsive aggression is partly related to response inhibition, other factors mitigate the effects of early social environments on its expression.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2024

Beyond a unitary construct: Dissecting stopping behaviour in two bird species

The ability to stop behaviour is essential for adapting to changes in the environment, a principle that holds true across various species. While traditionally considered a unitary psychological construct, recent studies indicate that this ability is multifaceted. Our research evaluates this multifaceted nature using three tasks that measure stopping in different contexts in two related gull species: herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). These species were selected for their distinct migration and foraging strategies, offering a unique lens through which to examine behavioural adaptations. Across tasks and species, we conceptualised stopping as a race between a go and a stop runner, and predicted correlations based on the type of stop stimulus, the relative timing of the go and the stop stimuli, and the type of action that needed to be stopped. We found correlations between measures of going across tasks, but there was less consistency in measures of stopping. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in going and stopping behaviours that were specific to each species, which may be linked to their migration and foraging strategies. These findings highlight the importance of considering the multifaceted nature of stopping in evolutionary and behavioural studies.

animal behavior and cognition↗