Perceived predation risk has a large impact on how prey species utilise landscapes. In an effort to reduce predation risk, individuals tend to utilise safer areas more than unsafe areas. How perceived predation risk affects the utilisation of landscapes by animals is termed a “landscape of fear”. Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) have a landscape of fear that operates in both horizontal and vertical planes. Within this landscape, vervets perceive the safest area to be up in a tree, under the canopy. To reduce predation risk, vervets use various predator-specific alarm calls and have been found to eavesdrop on the alarm calls of other species (e.g. birds). In this study, I explored whether vervet monkeys were able to associate eavesdropped alarm calls with specific predator types (i.e. aerial and terrestrial) as they do with their own predator specific alarm calls. To do this, I first quantified the three-dimensional landscape of fear for vervet monkeys by measuring giving up densities in artificial patches. I then used playbacks of the vervets’ aerial and terrestrial predator alarm calls, the alarm call of a red-backed shrike, and a mixed-species flock mobbing call to manipulate perceived predation risk. By comparing changes in foraging intensity within the patches, I quantified the specific reactions of the vervet monkeys to aerial and terrestrial predators. In addition, I found that the monkeys did not eavesdrop on the red-backed shrike call. However, the vervets did eavesdrop on bird mobbing calls, and associated the calls with the location of the potential treat and reacted as if it was a particular predator type. Specifically, the vervets reacted to mobbing calls played from up in a tree the same way as they did if an aerial predator was present, and calls from the ground as if a terrestrial predator was present. Thus, this suggests that they were able to associate a non-functional referential call (i.e. the mobbing call) with specific information, gathered from the location of the calls, and interpreted it in a referential manner. Moreover, intensity of these reactions (as measured by total feeding effort) indicated that vervets saw aerial predators as a greater threat compared to terrestrial predators. Ultimately, my results suggest that vervets can associate eavesdropped calls with specific predators, and this likely provides a fitness benefit in a dangerous and unpredictable world. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This thesis examined the odiferous nature of rodent saliva for the male Mongolian gerbil, male and diestrous female golden hamsters, and male and female degus. Within each species,like-sexed pairs were dichotomized as to dominance or submissiveness and individual animals were presented with salivary samples from dominant pairings, an opposing gender, and a saline control; in an open field arena. Both degus and gerbils did not show any discriminative responding, via sniffs, time spent in proximity of and approaches to allstimuli. Degus discriminated salivary stimuli over the control when allowed to contact the stimuli. Degus preferred, via approaches, female samples. Male hamsters discriminated amongst all stimuli for the three behavioral measures. Dominant males preferred other male cues over diestrous female and saline samples via sniff. For approaches, dominant males preferred other dominant cues over submissive or female cues. Submissives preferred all salivary cues over the control via sniffs, but showed no individual preferences amongst the salivary cues. Female hamsters discriminated amongst all stimuli via sniffs. Dominant females preferred other submissive samples over those of a male and preferred dominant and submissive samples over the control, submissive females preferred all three salivary cues over the control; no other preferences were found. The importance of salivary cues and the odiferous nature of chemical cues of all secretory by-products of rodents are discussed.

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1986. / Bibliography: leaves 296-314. / Photocopy. / Microfilm. / xii, 314 leaves, bound 29 cm

Thesis (M.Sc. (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, 2003. / "A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Honours), College of Science, Technology and the Environment, University of Western Sydney ... January, 2003" Bibliography : leaves 142-150.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2005. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Science and Engineering. Bibliography: leaves 203-217.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-106).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2004. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves [127-135]). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-85).

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-85). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-49-53). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.