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Effects of Invasive Plants on Arthropods
This literature review examines the effects of invasive plants on insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. 90% of arthropods are plant-eaters who depend on specific species. They decreased three times as often as they increased. Predatory arthropod populations dropped twice as often and ant populations dropped seven times more often than they increased. Arthropods have key ecosystem roles in pollination, predation, and decomposition, as well as in the diets of other animals. Impacts of invasive plants on their habitat should be considered in conservation decisions. READ MORE

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An Owner Survey of Toys, Activities, and Behavior Problems in Indoor Cats
This study surveyed veterinary clients on cat behavior problems, cat toy availability, and the frequency and duration of human-cat play sessions. No correlation was found between behavior problems and spay/neuter status, declaw status, frequency of play, or number of toys. Humans reported more behavior problems with cats who hunted or went outdoors, and fewer problems when they played at least 5 minutes per session with their cats. Inappropriate urination was twice as likely to be reported in male cats as in females. Specific behavior issues correlated with use of specific toys. READ MORE

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Social Housing Improves Dairy Calves’ Performance in Two Cognitive Tests
In this study, newborn Holstein calves were separated from their mothers shortly after birth and isolated in a pen for four days. Half of the calves continued in solitary housing, while the other half shared a pen with another calf. Calves were tested for ability to change tactics when a situation changed at four weeks, and to habituate to a new situation at seven weeks. Solitary-housed calves were slower to adjust to a change in the first test, and never got acclimated to a new object in the second test, suggesting that housing without social contact negatively impacted their cognitive development. READ MORE

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Yoruba Ethico-cultural Perspectives and Understanding of Animal Rights
This literature review argues that non-Western cultural perspectives of animals should be incorporated into global concepts of animal ethics. Using Nigerian Yoruban culture as a case study, the authors explore Yoruban idioms, taboos, customs, spiritual beliefs, and rituals that reference animals. While concluding that Yorubans cannot be classified as either welfarist or abolitionist, they conclude that "superstitious relational attitudes" may constitute a unique and significant contribution to animal ethics discourse. READ MORE

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Severity of Killer Whale Behavioral Responses to Ship Noise: A Dose–Response Study
This literature review analyzed data from previous orca studies to determine the impacts of noise from large shipping vessels upon respiration, speed, directness, deviation, and surface-active behavior. The whales showed moderate reactions to moderate noise. If reactions increase with noise levels, ability to hunt may be impaired in these animals who are already at risk from other anthropogenic causes. Further research is needed in this area. READ MORE

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Characteristics of 24 Cases of Animal Hoarding in Spain
This study presents the details of 24 cases of animal hoarding in Spain in which a single humane society had intervened. Most hoarders were over 40, financially poor or borderline, and lived alone. Men and women were equally represented. Three times as many dogs as cats were hoarded, some hoarders kept both dogs and cats, and more men than women hoarded only dogs. Most animals were acquired as strays or from uncontrolled breeding. In 10 cases, the hoarder did not live with the animals. READ MORE
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