Practice does not make perfect: Juvenile object play does not improve the predation skills of adult mink in "simulated prey" tests.
Dev Psychobiol
; 64(4): e22268, 2022 05.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35452536
ABSTRACT
In carnivores, juvenile object play is hypothesized to improve the development of adult predation ability. We tested this hypothesis in a model carnivore, the American mink (Neovison vison). Play was induced via the provision of diverse "enrichment" objects to 32 litters from 4 to 15 weeks of age on a rotating schedule; control mink (32 litters) were instead provided with one static object. Behavioral observations confirmed that enriched juveniles engaged in more object play than control juveniles (p < .01). Tenacity, strength, and chasing motivations were assessed in 52 mink at 27-29 weeks of age using five "simulated prey" tests. These tests showed internal consistency, with measures from the same test being weakly to very strongly correlated (r or ρ |.33-.95|). Across tests assessing similar skills, some measures of tenacity and strength were also moderately correlated. Treatment had little effect, however, other than on maximum force during vertical pulling, in which control mink unexpectedly scored higher (1.01 ± 0.06 kg vs. 0.84 ± 0.06 kg, p = .0458). Although we did not find evidence to support the hypothesis that object play leads to improved predatory skills, the tests developed have the potential to be used in humane, prey-free future investigations of predation abilities.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Predatório
/
Vison
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article