Mare-foal behavioral ecology
Behavioral synchrony between mare and foal
Understanding the changes in the allocation of time for mother and offspring is essential to the study of the mother–infant relationship. Few studies have examined the variation in mammalian activity budgets with respect to the potential conflicts of young mammals, and the consequences to the mother–infant relationship. Increasing requirements for growth, coupled with the decreasing energy obtained from their mothers, necessitates that young animals learn to forage efficiently if they are to survive. The mothers have an even more difficult job, in that they must budget their time accordingly to ensure not only their own survival, but also that of their young. Accurate study of the variation among individual mother–infant pairs will help characterize the bond formed between different mothers and their young and will give insights into the experiences of different offspring. This information is essential if we are to truly understand the developmental period and its function.
Understanding the changes in the allocation of time for mother and offspring is essential to the study of the mother–infant relationship. Few studies have examined the variation in mammalian activity budgets with respect to the potential conflicts of young mammals, and the consequences to the mother–infant relationship. Increasing requirements for growth, coupled with the decreasing energy obtained from their mothers, necessitates that young animals learn to forage efficiently if they are to survive. The mothers have an even more difficult job, in that they must budget their time accordingly to ensure not only their own survival, but also that of their young. Accurate study of the variation among individual mother–infant pairs will help characterize the bond formed between different mothers and their young and will give insights into the experiences of different offspring. This information is essential if we are to truly understand the developmental period and its function.
Mare-foal communication
Despite extensive research, debate still exists over the function of the juvenile stage in mammals. Namely, do the behaviors exhibited by young mammals serve as “practice”, not conferring benefits until adulthood, or do they serve a more immediate purpose, enabling individuals to survive an inherently dangerous period? To address these questions, researchers have traditionally focused on the play behavior expressed by juveniles. In most species, however, the mother’s behavior is integral to the survival of the offspring. Therefore, a complete investigation of the juvenile stage’s function must take maternal behavior into account. Mother-infant communication reveals important measures of both cooperation and conflict; as such, it offers an excellent proxy with which to investigate this question. Preliminary results with mares and their foals indicate differences in the reasons why mothers and infants initiate communication and that the function of communication differs for mare and foal. In addition, the results reveal a flexibility in both maternal and offspring behavior consistent with a juvenile stage that offers more immediate benefits to young mammals.
Despite extensive research, debate still exists over the function of the juvenile stage in mammals. Namely, do the behaviors exhibited by young mammals serve as “practice”, not conferring benefits until adulthood, or do they serve a more immediate purpose, enabling individuals to survive an inherently dangerous period? To address these questions, researchers have traditionally focused on the play behavior expressed by juveniles. In most species, however, the mother’s behavior is integral to the survival of the offspring. Therefore, a complete investigation of the juvenile stage’s function must take maternal behavior into account. Mother-infant communication reveals important measures of both cooperation and conflict; as such, it offers an excellent proxy with which to investigate this question. Preliminary results with mares and their foals indicate differences in the reasons why mothers and infants initiate communication and that the function of communication differs for mare and foal. In addition, the results reveal a flexibility in both maternal and offspring behavior consistent with a juvenile stage that offers more immediate benefits to young mammals.
