1. Behavioral Transition Path and Pivotal Nodes Regulating Attack in Initial Encounters between Unfamiliar Pigs.
- Author
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Wang, Zhen, Xiao, Zhaowei, Li, Hao, Shi, Zhengxiang, and Pu, Shihua
- Subjects
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ANIMAL aggression , *CURIOSITY , *SOCIAL interaction , *SWINE , *SOCIAL history - Abstract
Simple Summary: The intricate interplay of behavioral paths within animal groups, governed by dominance hierarchies, poses a challenge in identifying the pivotal node within the complex causal network of exploratory behaviors leading to aggression formation. Here, based on the strong curiosity of pigs and their competitive biological characteristics among conspecifics, two consecutive experiments were designed, aimed at investigating the behavioral transition paths and pivotal nodes governing aggression between two unfamiliar individuals upon initial encounter under controlled conditions. In Experiment 1, pigs that were mixed together showed short behavioral paths, primarily involving direct aggression, with a sequence of looking followed by attacking. In contrast, Experiment 2 involved adding new pigs to resident groups, leading to a more detailed sequence of behaviors. Resident pigs first engaged in a series of behaviors—looking, sniffing, touching—before transitioning to aggression. The study identified eight types of behavioral transition paths ranging from short, direct interactions to longer, more exploratory sequences. In both experiments, aggression was a common outcome, but Experiment 1 mainly showed brief exploratory pathways ending in aggression, while Experiment 2 revealed a variety of longer exploratory pathways involving multiple behaviors before aggression. This research highlights the complex nature of interactions between unfamiliar pigs and how their behaviors evolve during encounters. This study leverages the inherent curiosity of pigs and their competitive nature among conspecifics to explore behavioral transition paths and critical nodes that govern aggression during initial encounters between unfamiliar individuals. Two consecutive experiments were designed to investigate these dynamics under controlled conditions. In Experiment 1, unfamiliar pigs engaged in one-on-one fights with quick retreats, displaying a simple behavioral sequence of looking followed by attacking. In Experiment 2, the addition of new pigs to resident groups resulted in a more complex and structured behavioral sequence. Resident pigs exhibited a 'four-step' exploratory behavior pattern: looking, sniffing, touching, and attacking. Further analysis revealed distinct exploratory pathways. In Experiment 1, only short behavioral paths were observed, while Experiment 2 revealed both long and short paths. Specifically, Experiment 2 uncovered seven types of behavioral transition paths, four of which were long and three short, highlighting different combinations of the basic behaviors. The transition paths involving aggression were more varied in Experiment 2 compared to Experiment 1. Overall, the 15 most frequent and obvious behavioral transition paths were identified across both experiments. Eight types of paths were categorized based on the transitions between the basic behaviors. These findings enhance our understanding of the behavioral dynamics in unfamiliar pig encounters, emphasizing the complexity of social interactions and the conditions under which aggression occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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