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Olfactory communication to protect livestock: dingo response to urine marks of livestock guardian dogs
Citation
van Bommel, L and Johnson, CN, Olfactory communication to protect livestock: dingo response to urine marks of livestock guardian dogs, Australian Mammalogy, 39, (2) pp. 219-226. ISSN 0310-0049 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2017 Australian Mammal Society
DOI: doi:10.1071/AM15049
Abstract
The behavioural mechanisms by which livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) protect livestock from wild predators are not yet fully understood. LGD urine could play a part, as scent-marking the boundaries of a territory could signal occupation of the area to predators. Past selection for dogs that were most effective in deterring predators could have resulted in LGDs that produce urine with predator-deterrent properties. In this research, 28 captive dingoes (14 male and 14 female) were tested for their response to urine marks of LGDs (Maremma sheepdogs), herding dogs (Border Collies) and other dingoes, with distilled water used as a control. The response of the dingoes to the scents was measured using eight variables. For most variables, the response to the test scents was not statistically different from the response to the control. Test minus control was calculated for each test scent category, and used to compare responses between different test scents. The response to Maremma urine was similar to the response to Border Collie urine, and resembled a reaction to a conspecific. We found no evidence of predator-repellent properties of LGD urine. Our results suggest that dingoes readily engage in olfactory communication with Maremmas. It therefore seems likely that they would recognise territorial boundaries created by working Maremmas.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | dingo, predation, sheep, deterrent, LGD, LPD, scent marking, territoriality |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Environmental management |
Research Field: | Wildlife and habitat management |
Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Livestock raising |
Objective Field: | Livestock raising not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | van Bommel, L (Dr Linda van Bommel) |
UTAS Author: | Johnson, CN (Professor Christopher Johnson) |
ID Code: | 122145 |
Year Published: | 2017 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 5 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2017-11-02 |
Last Modified: | 2018-05-09 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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