nature

animal behaviour

Animal Behaviour with Dr Melissa Sterling

Did you know that goats have emotions? How about social networks, puzzle solving skills and impressive long term memories? We’re not even kidding! Alan McElligott is based at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at the Queen Mary University of London, where he and his team research cattle, fallow deer, and goats. In this episode, we talk about their recent work, and how it contributes to improved understanding of animal behaviour and behavioural ecology, raising important considerations for animal husbandry and welfare of goats in companion animal, livestock and pest contexts. More at: http://www.humananimalscience.com.au/goats/

Emotions, memory and social networks – of Goats

Does your pet have a glass half full, or glass half empty take on life? We recently discovered that many animals can be optimistic or pessimistic based on their experiences. Dr Melissa Starling holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and recently gained her PhD from the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney with a topic that covered elements of dog behaviour, personality, emotions and cognition. She has long had a passion for animal behaviour and animal training that has intensified as she learns more. In this episode, we talk to Mel about her PhD research investigating optimism and pessimism – or cognitive bias – in dogs. More: http://www.humananimalscience.com.au/cognitive-bias/

Is your dog optimistic? Cognitive bias in animals

Did you know scientists are studying the ways in which you walk your dog? What motivates you, how long you exercise for, what features (like footpaths and dog parks) promote human activity - all these questions and more, are being studied by researchers, Hayley Christian and Carri Westgarth. Hayley's background in human health teamed with Carri's expertise in canine behaviour and welfare have created a research team exploring the human, dog and environmental factors that best promote active and healthy communities. More: http://www.humananimalscience.com.au/dog-walking-healthy-humans/

Just walking the dog: what promotes healthy humans?

Do fish really feel pain? You might assume yes, but you'd be wrong. Kind of. You see - it's complicated. Dr Ben Diggles has worked with government, aquaculture industry, recreational fisheries, and commercial fisheries throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Islands. His core work includes import risk analysis, fish and shellfish health, fish welfare, development of feeding attractants for aquaculture, and development of medicated feeds for aquacultured finfish. In his spare time Ben studies the effects of declining water quality on our estuaries, and is active in his local community developing solutions to these problems, like Oyster Reef Restoration. In this episode, we catch up on the latest scientific findings relating to fish pain and learn more about the Ikijime  method for killing fish captured for eating. More:  http://www.humananimalscience.com.au/fish-pain-welfare/ 

Fish don't feel pain? Diving in to the deep end of fish welfare

What evolutionary and developmental processes are involved in creating physical variation? Is selection responsible for moulding the diversity of life? Or does developmental bias via drive and constraint determine how animal shapes change? Abby Drake is interested in the processes that produce macroevolution and dictate which physical appearances, evolve and which do not. She is especially interested in learning how species evolve: What mechanisms produce enough physical or behavioural change to ensure reproductive isolation on the population level? To this end, she studies developmental processes that lead to large modifications of morphology, using variation in vertebrate skulls to answer these questions. Abby uses three-dimensional scan data to capture each specimen’s 3D geometry. This type of data allows her team to look at the shape of the skull holistically using a sophisticated shape analysis called geometric morphometrics. While she also works on cetaceans, owls and primates, this episode focuses on her extensive work examining canids: when did wolves become dogs, how have we shaped them, and where might they go in the future? See more: http://www.humananimalscience.com.au/canid-skulls-evolution/

An evolutionary experiment: when did wolves become dogs and what comes next?

Do slugs disgust you? How about dog poo, or road kill? Tyler (T.J.) Kasperbauer gained his PhD in Philosophy from Texas A&M University where he wrote a dissertation on moral psychology and animal ethics. He is currently completing post-doctoral research at the University of Copenhagen, working with the well-known Peter Sandøe. T.J.’s main areas of research are applied animal and environmental ethics, moral psychology, and philosophy of psychology. In this episode, we explore his interesting research into the area of animals that disgust us, why they should and what it means for people’s relationships with them. More: http://www.humananimalscience.com.au/animals-and-disgust/

Animals and Disgust: what underlies the ‘Eeeww’ factor?

Animal behaviour and animal care with Leigh Shenker

Wed Nov 02 2016

Chilled-out fish: antidepressants in waterways impacts animal behaviour

Human Animal Science is a regular podcast hosted by Tim Adams and Mia Cobb that takes a scientific view of the world of humans and animals. Human Animal Science, also known as anthrozoology, is a growing multidisciplinary field of enquiry, and one that produces fascinating topics. Only the most recent episodes will be hosted on Soundcloud. To listen to all episodes, find us on iTunes or visit our website: http://www.humananimalscience.com