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Muñiz Moreno J, Loy I. Taste aversion learning in the snail Cornu aspersum. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1097-1102. [PMID: 36856894 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01760-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to provide evidence of conditioned taste aversion learning (CTA) in the snail Cornu aspersum, using quinidine as the aversive stimulus in a procedure of Pavlovian Conditioning of Tentacle Lowering. Subjects were split into two groups: paired and unpaired. During the devaluation phase, subjects from the "paired group" received the US followed by the quinidine exposure, while subjects from the "unpaired group" received the quinidine and, 30 min later, the US. Subjects which had received the US paired with the quinidine showed a decrease of the conditioned response (CR), in contrast to subjects which had received the quinidine and the US unpaired. These results provide a useful CTA procedure in terrestrial snails. The implication of the results for learning and the physiological correlates is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Muñiz Moreno
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza de Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Ignacio Loy
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza de Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain
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Addy-Orduna L, Cazenave J, Mateo R. Avoidance of neonicotinoid-treated seeds and cotyledons by captive eared doves (Zenaida auriculata, Columbidae). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119237. [PMID: 35367505 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Farmland birds can be exposed to neonicotinoids through the ingestion of treated unburied seeds and cotyledons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the avoidance of sorghum with imidacloprid, clothianidin or thiamethoxam, soybean with imidacloprid, and soybean cotyledons with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam on eared doves (Zenaida auriculata). Doves were fed with test food (untreated and neonicotinoid-treated sorghum, soybean or soybean cotyledons) and maintenance food (seed mix) for 3-5 days to study the repellency (primary repellency and conditioned aversion) and anorexia caused by neonicotinoid-treated food, followed by a 7-day period on maintenance food to study the persistence of the anorexic effect after neonicotinoid exposure. Immediately afterward, the same doves were exposed to treated test food during a second period of 3-5 days to study the potential reinforcement of food avoidance. Finally, doves were fed with untreated test food to test the capacity of the pesticide to induce conditioned food aversion against untreated food in subsequent encounters. Intoxication signs and differences of body weight were determined. With sorghum, the three neonicotinoids produced a decrease in the consumption of treated seeds by >97% compared to control birds. However, this was not enough to prevent the death of 3/8 and 1/8 of the doves exposed to imidacloprid and clothianidin, respectively. Anorexia was clearly observed with neonicotinoid-treated sorghum. The birds did not avoid the untreated sorghum after exposure to the treated sorghum, indicating that avoidance is not generalized to the type of food without an associated sensory cue. The results obtained with soybean seeds and cotyledons were less conclusive because captive doves hardly consumed these foods, even without neonicotinoid treatment. The avoidance of sorghum seeds treated with neonicotinoids was insufficient to prevent poisoning and death of eared doves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Addy-Orduna
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná, Ruta 11 km 12.5, 3100, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
| | - Jimena Cazenave
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI) del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria, Colectora Ruta Nacional 168 Km 0, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Snijders L, Thierij NM, Appleby R, St. Clair CC, Tobajas J. Conditioned Taste Aversion as a Tool for Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflicts. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.744704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern wildlife management has dual mandates to reduce human-wildlife conflict (HWC) for burgeoning populations of people while supporting conservation of biodiversity and the ecosystem functions it affords. These opposing goals can sometimes be achieved with non-lethal intervention tools that promote coexistence between people and wildlife. One such tool is conditioned taste aversion (CTA), the application of an evolutionary relevant learning paradigm in which an animal associates a transitory illness to the taste, odor or other characteristic of a particular food item, resulting in a long-term change in its perception of palatability. Despite extensive support for the power of CTA in laboratory studies, field studies have exhibited mixed results, which erodes manager confidence in using this tool. Here we review the literature on CTA in the context of wildlife conservation and management and discuss how success could be increased with more use of learning theory related to CTA, particularly selective association, stimulus salience, stimulus generalization, and extinction of behavior. We apply learning theory to the chronological stages of CTA application in the field and illustrate them by synthesizing and reviewing past applications of CTA in HWC situations. Specifically, we discuss (1) when CTA is suitable, (2) how aversion can be most effectively (and safely) established, (3) how generalization of aversion from treated to untreated food can be stimulated and (4) how extinction of aversion can be avoided. For each question, we offer specific implementation suggestions and methods for achieving them, which we summarize in a decision-support table that might be used by managers to guide their use of CTA across a range of contexts. Additionally, we highlight promising ideas that may further improve the effectiveness of CTA field applications in the future. With this review, we aspire to demonstrate the diverse past applications of CTA as a non-lethal tool in wildlife management and conservation and facilitate greater application and efficacy in the future.
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Manning AD, Andrewartha TA, Blencowe A, Brewer K, Gordon IJ, Evans MJ. Bettering the devil you know: Can we drive predator adaptation to restore native fauna? CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian D. Manning
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Tim A. Andrewartha
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Anton Blencowe
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences University of South Australia Adelaide South Australia Australia
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes South Australia Australia
| | - Kyle Brewer
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences University of South Australia Adelaide South Australia Australia
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes South Australia Australia
| | - Iain J. Gordon
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- James Hutton Institute Dundee UK
| | - Maldwyn J. Evans
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Life and Agricultural Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
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Tobajas J, Ruiz-Aguilera MJ, López-Bao JV, Ferreras P, Mateo R. The effectiveness of conditioned aversion in wolves: Insights from experimental tests. Behav Processes 2020; 181:104259. [PMID: 33011270 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that conditioned food aversion (CFA) could be a potential non-lethal intervention by which to deter attacks on livestock by large carnivores. CFA occurs when an animal associates the characteristics of a food with an illness, thus rejecting that food in subsequent encounters. CFA can be associated with an artificial odour during conditioning. Despite the debate surrounding the use of this intervention, more studies evaluating the effectiveness of CFA are necessary. We experimentally evaluated the potential of microgranulated levamisole + a vanilla odour cue to induce CFA in captive Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus). Four out of the five wolves treated showed an aversion to the meat for a minimum of one month after conditioning. The microgranulated presentation masked the flavour and smell of the levamisole but increased its volume, which may have facilitated its detection by the wolves. We also observed that the strength of the odour played an important role in the aversion extinction. The use of microgranulated levamisole + an odour cue has the potential to be used as an intervention by which to induce aversive conditioning in wolves in the wild, although rigorous field tests are required. We discuss the potential of CFA to deter attacks on livestock by large carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Tobajas
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | | | | | - Pablo Ferreras
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Tobajas J, Descalzo E, Villafuerte R, Jimenez J, Mateo R, Ferreras P. Conditioned odor aversion as a tool for reducing post‐release predation during animal translocations. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Tobajas
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC)CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM Ronda de Toledo 12 Ciudad Real13071Spain
| | - E. Descalzo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC)CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM Ronda de Toledo 12 Ciudad Real13071Spain
| | - R. Villafuerte
- Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Campo Santo de los Mártires 7 Córdoba14004Spain
| | - J. Jimenez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC)CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM Ronda de Toledo 12 Ciudad Real13071Spain
| | - R. Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC)CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM Ronda de Toledo 12 Ciudad Real13071Spain
| | - P. Ferreras
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC)CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM Ronda de Toledo 12 Ciudad Real13071Spain
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Tobajas J, Gómez-Ramírez P, Ferreras P, García-Fernández AJ, Mateo R. Conditioned food aversion in domestic dogs induced by thiram. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:568-574. [PMID: 31287232 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The conflict between predators and humans for resources such as game species or livestock is an ancient issue, and it is especially sharp in the case of medium-large wild canids. In order to manage this conflict, lethal control methods are often used, which can sometimes be illegal, such as poisoning. As an alternative, conditioned food aversion (CFA) is a non-lethal method to reduce predation in which animals learn to avoid a given food due to the adverse effects caused by the ingestion of an undetectable chemical compound added to this food. The present study aimed to test thiram as a CFA agent in penned dogs as a first approach to use this substance for reducing the predation conflict associated with wild canids. RESULTS Thiram, with or without an additional odor cue, produced CFA in penned dogs for more than 2 months. Moreover, thiram seemed to be undetectable and safe after the third ingestion of a 40-60 mg kg-1 dose. Desirable adverse effects, such as vomits, appeared around 1 h after exposure. These characteristics make thiram optimal for its use in predation reduction through CFA. However, individual variability could prevent CFA acquisition by some animals. CONCLUSIONS Thiram has the potential to be used as a CFA agent in wildlife management and conservation to reduce predation by wild canids. Since thiram produced CFA without the problems of detectability and toxicity caused by other substances, it may be an alternative to lethal control methods used to reduce predation on game, livestock and endangered species. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Tobajas
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Toxicology Area, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pablo Ferreras
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Antonio Juan García-Fernández
- Toxicology Area, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Tobajas J, Gómez-Ramírez P, María-Mojica P, Navas I, García-Fernández AJ, Ferreras P, Mateo R. Selection of new chemicals to be used in conditioned aversion for non-lethal predation control. Behav Processes 2019; 166:103905. [PMID: 31310793 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Globally, native predators and scavengers are threatened through the incidence of illegal poisoning due to increasing human-wildlife conflicts. The use of conditioned taste aversion (CTA) may mitigate such conflicts. CTA is a robust learning paradigm that occurs when animals associate a food with a discomfort induced by a chemical, thereby avoiding that food in subsequent encounters. We reviewed the potential of 167 chemical compounds to be used in CTA, considering effects, margin of safety, accessibility, and detectability. After the review, 15 compounds fulfilled the required characteristics, but only five (thiabendazole, thiram, levamisole, fluconazole and fluralaner) were finally selected to be tested in CTA assays with dogs. Of the tested compounds, thiabendazole, thiram and levamisole caused target food rejection by dogs and reduced the time spent eating during post-conditioning. However, despite being microencapsulated, levamisole appeared to be detectable by dogs, whereas thiram and thiabendazole were not. Fluconazole and fluralaner did not produce any CTA effect. Thiabendazole, thiram and levamisole can therefore induce CTA, and thus are potential candidates as aversive compounds for wildlife management. Thiram is an undetectable, relatively safe and accessible compound that can induce CTA in canids, and opens new possibilities to develop methods of non-lethal predation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Tobajas
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo nº 12, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo nº 12, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain; Toxicology Area, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro María-Mojica
- Toxicology Area, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel Navas
- Toxicology Area, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio Juan García-Fernández
- Toxicology Area, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pablo Ferreras
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo nº 12, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo nº 12, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
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