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        <title>Frontiers in Ethology | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ethology</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Ethology | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-08-15T17:02:37.582+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1882616</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1882616</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The impacts of peracute underwater entrapment in fishing nets on marine mammal behaviour and welfare]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Sarah Dolman</author><author>James Barnett</author><author>Mark Wessels</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Fisheries interactions are widely recognised as being the leading anthropogenic cause of marine mammal mortality. One form of fisheries interaction is peracute underwater entrapment (PUE), the process of acute entanglement and forced submersion that occurs following interaction with fishing gear, where an individual is not able to break free or to reach the water’s surface to breathe. PUE results in a number of negative welfare impacts, including asphyxiation, injuries, physiological and psychological stress, social disruption and, ultimately, death impacting on the behaviour of affected individuals and conspecifics. Individually and collectively, the welfare implications of these events are severe and raise significant concerns. This review focuses on PUE and the known and hypothetical events associated with entrapment on the affected individual and on conspecifics including behaviour, the stress response and pathophysiology, the use of necropsy data to help provide a greater understanding of the events surrounding PUE and further research needed to improve our understanding of the welfare implications on individuals and populations. Case studies are provided for grey seal and common dolphin PUE cases in UK waters.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1771240</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1771240</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Integrating the behavioral ecology, social psychology, and neurobiology of aggression]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Hypothesis and Theory</category>
        <author>Michael Potegal</author><author>Robert W. Elwood</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Pervasive aggression among animals, including humans, determines social status, reproduction, and survival. Species-typical tactics of threat, attack, defense, and quitting (i.e., submission/escape) are distally shaped over evolutionary time. However, the behavioral processes are proximally controlled by nervous systems reacting to intraspecific challenges for resources balanced against energy and injury costs. Behavioral ecology (BE) examines this balance in assessing evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS) of aggression that apply across species. Human social psychology (HSP) analyzes different aggressive motivations and also defensive emotions, while behavioral neuroscience (BN) investigates the neural structures and systems that plan, execute, or inhibit aggression. All three disciplines distinguish between offensive/proactive and defensive/reactive types of aggression and, importantly, now recognize that each is motivated by central states that persist over time, generating and scaling behavior sequences (e.g., threat-to-attack escalation). Each discipline contributes to the overall understanding of aggression, but interdisciplinary sharing of viewpoints has been limited. HSP and BN recognize that offensive/proactive aggression is sometimes positively reinforcing, while BE has yet to reckon with the consequent implications. BE raises important questions about, e.g., resource valuation and quit decisions that could be answered by BN, while BN might provide brain-based constraints on function that could increase the physiological realism of BE model-building and reduce variance in the data. The BE concept of resource holding potential is similar to HSP “formidability,” while BE “retaliation cost” efficiently captures the constraint that formidability imposes on human aggression. Conversely, human personality and cultural variations challenge the inclusivity of BE modeling. Here, we propose typological equivalences between animal and human aggression, review evidence characterizing their respective central motivational states, and note the behavioral phenomena they may explain, including aggression contagion, redirection, and motivational override. We describe the neural instantiation of states as mathematical “attractor” functions that account for state persistence and scalability within a subcortical core modulated by cortical networks. We then apply these findings to BE modeling, drawing widely on observations of different taxa as befits a concern with pan-species ESS. Crosstalk among the three disciplines will hopefully enrich the understanding of aggression, leading to its amelioration among our species and animals held in captivity.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1894883</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1894883</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Opportunities for monitoring feeding behavior using RFID technology to support bird welfare in zoos]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Joseph Krahn</author><author>Julia Petrou</author><author>Morag Dick</author><author>Sarra Gourlie</author><author>Molly McGuire</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Birds are one of the most speciose taxa housed in zoos, but there is little research about their welfare and management in aviaries. Managing birds in large, complex, multi-species spaces potentially provides welfare benefits, but monitoring animals in these spaces can be challenging. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is widely used for monitoring the behavior of wild birds but is underutilized for monitoring birds in zoos. RFID is a valuable technology allowing for data stream-style automated detections of presence, date, time, and location data. This review discusses the ways that RFID data can be used to interpret feeding and social behavior to inform data-driven management when placed at the feeding area, providing information on duration of feeding, number of bouts, preference and social association like feeding together and agonistic displacements. It then discusses how this information can be practically applied in a zoo scenario for collecting general information about animals for which little is known, monitoring welfare concerns, and assessing the potential effects of husbandry changes. This review then expands on how RFID can be paired with other tools such as visual observation, weighing scales, and selection feeders. This review highlights the importance of validating RFID detections against visual observations to ensure accuracy and understand biases. Lastly, this review discusses the value of this RFID data for conservation, and opportunities to implement RFID in other locations beyond the feeder.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1835536</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1835536</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fragmentation of sharp-tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) caused by high-impact ramming behavior in orcas (Orcinus orca)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Kathryn A. Ayres</author><author>Austin J. Gallagher</author><author>Christine V. Avena</author><author>Carlos M. Duarte</author><author>Jesús Erick Higuera Rivas</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Orcas exhibit highly specialized behavioral and cognitive adaptations that enable them to hunt large marine prey, including the largest teleosts, the sunfishes (family Molidae). While orca-molid interactions have been documented globally, the specific mechanics of these predatory events vary. Here, we describe two predation events in the Gulf of California in which adult orcas accelerated and struck a sharp-tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) with sufficient force to cause substantial tissue fragmentation. We propose that this ‘ram-to-fragment’ behavior may have multiple functions, including facilitating foraging for juvenile orcas or reflecting play behavior. The observed coordination between adults suggests a high degree of cooperative precision and could represent roles in prey processing, social interaction and learning.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1867861</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1867861</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Exploring personality assessments of animals in human care: a case study on polar bear ages, hierarchy, and behavior]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Anna M. Möhlmann</author><author>Maartje S. Penninga</author><author>Stephen D. Petersen</author><author>Courtney R. Shuert</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPersonality assessments provide a valuable tool to understand the needs of an animal and improve animal wellbeing. Using personality data gathered from a modified five-factor personality assessment, this study explored the relationship between personality and age, hierarchy, and behavior in polar bears (Ursus maritimus).ResultsBetween 2018 and 2024, 8 of 9 individuals showed significant changes for at least one personality trait as they aged. Across individuals, personality traits did not always change consistently with age, but individual differences accounted for the majority of variation within the models indicating consistent individual differences were captured. While hierarchical rank was not significantly predicted by any single personality trait, directional relationships and consistent individual differences may indicate biologically meaningful associations would be observed with a larger sample size. In 2024, behavioral activity budgets were compared to the results of the personality assessments scored in the same month. While no significant relationship was found between behavior categories and personality, trends were observed relating to behavioral diversity. Using these results, we provide recommendations to improve personality assessments in bears with an emphasis on tracking consistent individual differences.ConclusionThe findings of this study have enhanced our understanding of personality in polar bears, and how personality changes over time. While the present study represents an exploratory analysis, these data can serve as a foundation for further research on polar bear personality in natural and managed care settings.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1819189</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1819189</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Evaluating social housing strategies in zoo-housed aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis): behavioural considerations for welfare and management]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-07-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Gabriella Alisha Fraser</author><author>Paige Bwye</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionSociality in primates is associated with survival and welfare benefits, yet many nocturnal species remain understudied. The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is generally classified as solitary, although field and captive observations suggest variable social tolerance. This study investigated whether (1) captive aye-ayes exhibit social behaviour under social housing and whether social behaviour differs among social configurations, (2) housing condition alters non-social behavioural time budgets, and (3) extended social housing influences non-social behaviour over time.MethodsBehavioural data were collected from three captive-born aye-ayes (adult female, adult male, juvenile male) housed under solitary, dyadic, and group conditions over nine weeks. Instantaneous scan sampling was conducted during 60-minute sessions, five days per week. Behavioural proportions were analysed using binomial generalised linear mixed models with logit links and individual- and observation-level random intercepts.ResultsAll individuals expressed social behaviour during social housing (juvenile male 16.25%, adult female 14.02%, adult male 12.37%), with affiliative interactions predominating and agonistic behaviour remaining rare (<0.35%). Social behaviour was higher in all social housing conditions than in solitary housing but did not differ among social configurations. Locomotion increased in group housing (p = 0.048) and the sire–juvenile dyad (p = 0.034) relative to solitary housing, while exploration increased in the sire–juvenile condition (p = 0.002) but decreased in group housing (p = 0.041). Maintenance and abnormal behaviour decreased in group housing (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Feeding and foraging were unaffected. Over three weeks of group housing, exploration, feeding and foraging, and abnormal behaviour increased over time, with individual variation in trajectories.DiscussionHypotheses were partially supported; social housing promoted affiliative social behaviour without reducing feeding and foraging or increasing abnormal behaviour relative to solitary housing, suggesting behavioural tolerance. However, increased abnormal behaviour during extended group housing warrants further investigation to determine if responses plateau or reflect sustained stress. Although constrained by a small sample size warranting cautious interpretation, these findings provide preliminary evidence that managed short-term social housing, particularly group housing, may be behaviourally beneficial in captive aye-ayes and highlight the need for larger, multi-institutional studies integrating behavioural and physiological welfare measures.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1886897</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1886897</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Lettuce get along: effects of feeding enrichment on green sea turtle behavior and interactions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Isabella Barba</author><author>Jennifer Vonk</author><author>Lily Zook</author><author>Samantha Averitt</author><author>Sandra M. Troxell-Smith</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IintroductionGreen sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are primarily solitary in the wild, although they may exhibit tolerance toward conspecifics within shared habitats. Adult males are particularly prone to agonistic interactions, especially when resources such as food, space, or mates are limited. In captive environments, factors including high population density, limited enclosure size, skewed sex ratios, and insufficient environmental enrichment may exacerbate aggressive behaviors, resulting in increased stress and risk of injury. Appropriate husbandry practices such as the provision of large, structurally complex habitats with numerous resting zones, multiple feeding stations, and environmental enrichment have been shown to mitigate aggression and improve welfare outcomes.MethodsThis case study implemented scan and all-occurrence sampling methods to document the behavior and space use of two adult male green sea turtles preceding, during, and following three feeding conditions: baseline, depth pole, or floating ice block.ResultsBehavioral variation was driven primarily by feeding phase and time of day rather than by enrichment condition, with turtles exhibiting anticipatory activity pre-feeding, active engagement during feeding, and increased resting post-feeding. Agonistic interactions were relatively infrequent but occurred most often after feeding compared to preceding and during feeding only for the depth pole enrichment condition.ConclusionThese results contribute to the limited body of research on the effects of feeding enrichment on captive male green sea turtle interactions, and can inform aquarium management aimed at minimizing aggression and improving animal welfare.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1796584</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1796584</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From concept to measurement: a scoping review and development of a Culture of Care questionnaire for laboratory animal institutions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>O.M. Weber</author><author>S.A.C. van de Kolk</author><author>P.L.P. Van Loo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe concept of a Culture of Care has become increasingly prominent in laboratory animal science and is embedded in European legislation. The concept is widely used in policy and practice, but it remains inconsistently defined and is rarely assessed using structured, literature-based measurement tools in the context of laboratory animals. To address this gap, we developed and tested a Culture of Care Barometer for laboratory animal institutions.MethodsThis study consisted of two phases. First, a scoping review was done following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to identify recurring themes, assessment approaches and extractable survey content on the Culture of Care in the scientific literature on laboratory animal research. Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Data were extracted and analyzed descriptively and recurring themes were identified. Second, a questionnaire was developed based on the results of the scoping review and existing validated instruments from human healthcare. After expert review to assess item relevance, clarity and translational accuracy across the Dutch and English version, a 30-item questionnaire was tested in a test-retest study. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients.ResultsTwenty-one publications were included in the scoping review. Most articles described the Culture of Care at a conceptual level and none used a validated assessment instrument. Nine key themes were identified across the literature, covering legal compliance, a proactive attitude, leadership, resources, empathy, shared responsibility, communication, team support and continuous learning. The 30-item questionnaire showed high internal consistency at test and retest, and test-retest reliability for the total scale was moderately good. Item-level intraclass correlation coefficients varied, partly due to limited variance and ceiling effects.DiscussionThis study provides a structured overview of how the Culture of Care is described, including recurring thematic domains and methods used to assess it in laboratory animal research, and presents a newly developed questionnaire with preliminary evidence of reliability. Further research is needed to evaluate construct validity, subgroup differences and applicability across settings.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1869694</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1869694</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Strategies for improving the quality and accessibility of captive animal ethograms]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Kate Lewis</author><author>Katie Stupples</author><author>Claire Witham</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Accurate behaviour identification and monitoring is essential in captive populations for monitoring welfare and assessing the effectiveness of biomedical or environmental interventions. To quantify behaviour accurately, reliably, and systematically, a well-defined ethogram is crucial, yet for many species these are not readily available. The initial aim of this project was to construct a comprehensive ethogram for captive Rhesus macaques, however in doing so significant issues with the ethogram landscape were identified. These are summarised in this paper, alongside a discussion of approaches for improving the landscape. Seven key issues were identified, across two categories: 1) problems with definitions and utilisation, 2) lack of accessibility and sharing. To alleviate such problems moving forward, we suggest generating ‘primary’ ethograms for study species, conducting substantial preliminary observations prior to data collection, ensuring all decisions and discussions during data collection are published alongside ethograms, including accompanying videos, and making ethograms accessible to all. We have successfully implemented these recommendations with Rhesus macaques, and encourage researchers to apply similar techniques for their study species. Our Rhesus macaque ethogram is published open-access on the online platform OSF (Open Science Framework). Open-access material is freely accessible to all, allowing others to utilise the ethogram without paying a fee. Feedback from users is invited in order that the ethogram be continually refined.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1799441</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1799441</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Training and enrichment of ectotherms]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Britt E. Sorensen</author><author>Kortney Jaworski</author><author>Lyn Heller</author><author>David H. Niebuhr</author><author>Allison B. Kaufman</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Guests visiting zoos and aquariums show a definite bias toward what has been termed “charismatic megafauna”. To some extent, zookeepers and animal care staff do as well. As a result, most of the time and resources allotted for training and environmental enrichment are spent on birds and mammals. The Virginia Living Museum, a small museum accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Newport News, Virginia, maintains a training and enrichment program which extends to all living residents – reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates included. We detail the successful results here in hopes of inspiring other facilities to develop similar programs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1802957</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1802957</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Constant traffic noise affects the behavior and physiology of naïve horses at pasture]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Johanna Henke-von der Malsburg</author><author>Uta König von Borstel</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionHorses are frequently kept on pastures near major roads, exposing them to high levels of traffic noise. In humans, prolonged traffic noise exposure is associated with physiological stress, sleep disruption, and adverse health effects. Despite horses’ high auditory sensitivity, comparable data on the behavioral and welfare implications of continuous traffic noise are scarce. This study investigated short-term behavioral and physiological responses of horses naïve to constant motorway noise in their home environment.MethodsTwenty horses housed in four stable groups across three facilities were exposed to recorded motorway noise for 1–2 weeks. Emitted noise levels ranged from 54 to 71 dB, corresponding to distances of approximately 500 to 10 m from a four-lane motorway, and were played during daytime for up to 11 h/day using portable outdoor loudspeakers. Control periods without motorway noise (average ambient noise level: 38 dB) before and between exposure days served as baseline, intermediate washout, and final control phases. Behavioral parameters were recorded throughout the day using focal and scan samplings. Heart rate was continuously monitored as a physiological indicator of stress.ResultsDuring noise exposure, horses reduced foraging behavior from a median of 81% at baseline to 41% during the first exposure phase (p<0.001), while vigilance increased from nine to 54 instances per day (p<0.001). Horses also avoided the vicinity of the noise source (p<0.001). Behavioral effects were pronounced at higher noise levels, with clear avoidance responses suggesting aversion as an active coping strategy. Heart rate increased within the first exposure phase, rising from an average of 57.60 bpm to 66.76 bpm (p<0.001), suggesting an acute stress response.DiscussionAlthough some behavioral habituation was observed over time, spatial avoidance of the noise source persisted, and elevated heart rates indicated continued physiological arousal. Even noise levels of a 500 m distant motorway (≥54 dB) altered behavior and physiology. These findings demonstrate that traffic noise represents a relevant environmental stressor for horses and may compromise welfare when exposure is frequent or prolonged. The study highlights the need to consider noise in equine management and supports mitigation strategies such as providing large pastures with quiet retreat zones or installing noise barriers.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1817313</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1817313</link>
        <title><![CDATA[To bathe or not to bathe: a pilot study to assess how chickens use open water in an outdoor run]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Margret L. Vonholdt-Wenker</author><author>Marc B. M. Bracke</author><author>E. Tobias Krause</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Birds are known for feather maintenance through dust and water bathing. Some use both water and substrate to clean their plumage, whereas other species are known to exclusively use one environmental substrate. In domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), dust bathing has been well-described, and water bathing has not yet been reported. This pilot study examined whether laying hens use water for bathing, and if so, how it differs from dust bathing. In a flock of 283 laying hens kept in a mobile barn with access to an outdoor run, three round plastic trays (41 cm diameter, 4 cm deep) were presented in the free-range area. Each tray contained either water, sand, or nothing (empty control), of which the location was systematically alternated daily. Both direct observations (twice daily for 15 min each with 30 s intervals) and video recordings (motion-detected video, totaling 3110 clips) were used to assess resource use over a period of 18 days. The number of hens in each tray type was analyzed using linear mixed-effect models. In the morning, more chickens were found at the water tray (mean 18.2 hens) followed by sand (9.1) and empty controls (0.4) (p<0.0001). In the afternoon, usage was generally lower, and almost only apparent at the sand tray (mean 4.3 hens; water 0.4; empty 0.2) (p<0.0001). This suggests that water was preferred over sand, but surprisingly no chickens were observed to bathe in the water, while sand bathing was observed. Instead, hens used the water tray to drink, generally depleting the water within less than 30 min. We found no evidence of water bathing in chickens but observed a high drinking motivation from open water surfaces, despite ad libitum water availability from nipple drinkers. So, drinking from open water may be a behavioral need that merits further investigation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1789917</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1789917</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Concept-based imitation training in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) using the do-as-I-do paradigm]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Deane Jones</author><author>Jayk Robertson</author><author>Rebecca Roskilley</author><author>Timothy Bennett</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Imitation is a complex form of social learning that plays a critical role in cultural transmission and cognitive development across taxa; however, its expression in elephants remains poorly understood. This study investigated whether an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) could acquire and generalise the concept of imitation using the Do-As-I-Do paradigm. Two male Asian elephants were trained concurrently, with one individual serving as a demonstrator and the other as the imitator. Over the course of 56 training sessions the imitator elephant demonstrated significant accuracy in reproducing three familiar behaviours in Phase 1. In Phase 2, the elephant successfully generalized the “imitate” cue to seven behaviours. Phase 3 tested the imitative flexibility of the elephant by introducing behaviour combinations, with the subject correctly reproducing complex, combined actions in several trials. Statistical analyses confirmed that all behaviours, including novel combinations, were performed significantly above chance. These results provide evidence for the capacity for this elephant to engage in intransitive imitation and suggest that these elephants possess a flexible cognitive process that supports social learning and cultural transmission.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1815859</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1815859</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Breeding status affects territorial behaviour to simulated intruders in captive wolves]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Giada Studer</author><author>Klaus Zuberbühler</author><author>Gwendolyn Wirobski</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Grey wolves (Canis lupus) rely on olfaction to communicate and acquire information about their environment. Olfactory signals delivered via urine, faeces, and glandular secretions, serve critical functions in reproduction, social interactions, and territorial defence. We studied the role of olfactory signals in mediating inter-pack conflict, a leading cause of mortality in free-ranging wolves, by exposing zoo-housed wolves to the scent of an unfamiliar individual, mimicking an intruder. We predicted breeding adults to exhibit higher investigatory and territorial behaviours, accompanied by an increased patrol effort in response to this simulated intruder than other individuals due to their dependence on territorial integrity and reproductive investment. Consistent with this prediction, breeders displayed significantly higher rates of investigatory, territorial and locomotor behaviours to conspecific than heterospecific urine than non-breeders. These findings highlight the specialised role that breeders play in wolf packs, particularly in relation to territorial defence, and demonstrate the deeply conserved patterns of territorial behaviours in wolves, even in populations that have been living under human care for a long time. Our findings have implications for theories of mammalian olfactory signalling and potential applications for conservation, including scent-based bio-fencing, to reduce human–wildlife conflicts.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1807686</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1807686</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Decoding function in primate facial expressions: re-evaluating broader contexts and terminology]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Fabio Crepaldi</author><author>Marina Davila-Ross</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In this paper, we reflected on the role of pioneering studies in shaping research on nonhuman primate facial communication, as well as on how their terminology for describing certain expression types may have imposed limitations over time and, in some cases, misdirected research in the field. We then examined the extent to which more recent nonhuman primate studies have applied novel methods to reveal the complexity inherent in their facial morphology, while studies of their functions have not kept pace. Drawing on the current state of research on nonhuman primate facial communication, we concluded that important opportunities exist to investigate the likely complexity of these functions, representing a fundamental step toward reconstructing the evolution of nonverbal communication in humans and their closest relatives.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1816912</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1816912</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Compassion for animals: a narrative review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Bassam Khoury</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Compassion for animals has emerged as an important yet insufficiently examined construct within psychological and contemplative science. Human–animal relationships have been shaped by anthropocentric and hierarchical norms that normalize harm, unevenly distribute moral concern, and limit recognition of animal suffering. Recent theoretical and empirical advances, however, indicate that compassion for animals constitutes a distinct and meaningful dimension of compassion, with significant implications for individual well-being, ethical orientation, and ecological sustainability. This review synthesizes current research on compassion for animals, integrating perspectives from ethics, contemplative science, and human–animal studies. It examines how compassion for animals is conceptualized and measured, distinguishing it from empathy and compassion directed toward humans, and reviews empirical evidence linking animal-directed compassion to personality traits, nature relatedness, and psychological health. The review also considers animals as relational partners and sentient beings capable of eliciting and expressing empathic responses. In addition, it discusses contemplative, experiential, and animal-assisted practices as potential pathways for cultivating compassion toward animals, while addressing ethical considerations related to animal welfare and agency. The review concludes by outlining directions for future research and highlighting the role of compassion for animals in expanding ethical concern, reducing animal suffering, and fostering more compassionate human–animal relationships.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1716575</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1716575</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Random timing of aversive events extends stress responses in fish]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Patricia Tatemoto</author><author>Graziela Valença-Silva</author><author>Donald Maurice Broom</author><author>Mônica Serra</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Responses to potential stressors are shaped by their predictability. While predictable events may reduce negative effects, the impact of temporal uncertainty remains unclear. This study examined how different degrees of predictability influence stress responses. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were exposed to a confinement stressor under four conditions: predictable (fixed timing), random (variable timing), unpredictable (single unexpected event), and unhandled control. Ventilatory frequency (VF) was used as a non-invasive indicator of physiological activation and measured before and after exposure. All confinement treatments increased VF immediately after exposure. However, response patterns differed. In the predictable condition, VF increased but was not sustained. In contrast, both random and unpredictable conditions produced elevated and prolonged responses, with the strongest effect under complete unpredictability. Partial predictability (random condition), where the stressor was anticipated but not temporally defined, was sufficient to maintain activation. These findings show that temporal uncertainty plays a key role in sustaining stress responses. The results support the concept of emotional plasticity, in which physiological responses are dynamically modulated by environmental predictability, with implications for animal welfare and stress regulation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1770290</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1770290</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Cross-species gestural coding framework for social carnivores]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Andrew J. Laurita</author><author>Stephanie A. Poindexter</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Acoustic and olfactory signals, including their function and form, have been extensively studied in social carnivores. However, visual signals have been comparatively understudied. To this end, we sought to evaluate whether a unified, cross-species coding system that integrates manual and facial gestures is feasible and useful for comparative research on social carnivores. To address this gap in knowledge, we developed and applied a uniform coding framework to three species of captive social carnivores: Crocuta crocuta (spotted hyena) (n=4), Lycaon pictus (African wild dog) (n=3), and Canis lupus baileyi (Mexican gray wolf) (n=2). Our goal was to document gesture types using shared form-based labels, quantify overlap and divergence in gesture forms across species, and assess whether the resulting dataset supports interpretable comparisons of gesture frequency, recipient targeting, and context-linked function. We conducted behavioral observations of gestural communications in captive populations housed at three zoos in the United States (Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado) from June 2024 to June 2025. We used continuous focal sampling for three random hours per day during zoo operational hours (five days per week, 9:00–16:00 EST), supplemented with instantaneous scan sampling of gestural behaviors at five-minute intervals. We employed Bayesian generalized linear mixed models, including sender as a random effect, to assess the relationship between species and propensity to exhibit various gestural types (‘rank reinforcement’, ‘affiliative’, and ‘other’). Furthermore, we quantified overlap in gesture-category distributions and assessed variation in gestural function across all subjects using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index. We found that a unified coding framework has utility for comparing gestural communication across social carnivores that otherwise vary in their species-specific ethograms. Across three species, we documented gestures that were unique to a single species and a small core of overlapping gestures, based on context. By establishing a practical, harmonized approach to coding visible gestures, we provided a methodological infrastructure for future cross-species research on social communication and facilitated direct comparisons currently limited by inconsistent gesture annotation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1784527</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1784527</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Risk profiling of zoo and aquaria accidents: a historical and contextual analysis of severity by species and human factors]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Alessio Arbuatti</author><author>Caterina Spiezio</author><author>Giorgia Di Martino</author><author>Pia Lucidi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Accidents involving humans and captive wildlife in zoos and aquariums represent critical intersections of animal behavior, human roles, and environmental context. Despite the global scale of zoological institutions, systematic quantitative analyses of such incidents remain limited. In this study we conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis of 1,047 documented human-animal accidents occurring in zoos, parks, and aquaria worldwide from 1815 to the present. Each accident was classified by species involved, habitat type, human role, behavioral context, and injuries severity using a five-level ordinal scale. Using ordinal regression models, we examined associations between these variables and injury severity. Most recorded incidents resulted in low-severity outcomes; however, clear patterns emerged at higher severity levels. Accident severity differed significantly by species, habitat, human role, and contextual classification. Terrestrial settings accounted for the majority of incidents, while marine environments were associated with lower overall frequency but distinct severity profiles among staff-related encounters. Large-bodied terrestrial mammals, including elephants and large carnivores, showed higher predicted probabilities of severe outcomes. Staff members were involved in most incidents, reflecting occupational exposure, while visitor accidents—particularly involving intruders or children—were disproportionately represented among high-severity cases. By examining accidents as outcomes of specific behavior and interaction context, these findings highlight how species- and environment-specific severity patterns may reflect the behavioral demands placed on animals within the management systems of zoos, parks, and aquaria. Thus, the resulting database offers value not only for risk mitigation, but also for ethology-based welfare assessment and informed institutional reflection on the life conditions of exotic animals under human care.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1770678</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1770678</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Case Report: The ‘dolphin of Venice’: management of a solitary bottlenose dolphin in the Venetian Lagoon]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Case Report</category>
        <author>Giovanni Bearzi</author><author>Sandro Mazzariol</author><author>Luca Mizzan</author><author>Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara</author><author>Marco Bonato</author><author>Luca Ceolotto</author><author>Guido Pietroluongo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A solitary common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus entered the Venetian Lagoon and was monitored between June–December 2025. After roaming the lagoon for three months, it settled in Venice, with a preference for waters adjacent to San Marco Square – one of the world’s busiest tourist destinations – where it was consistently observed feeding on mullet (Mugilidae). The Venetian Lagoon was historically part of the range of Adriatic dolphins, but such records have been rare since the 1970s. The ‘dolphin of Venice’ soon became a celebrity, resulting in people attempting to feed, touch and interact with the animal, as well as guided tours and erratic approaches by boats. Such inappropriate behaviour by humans increased disturbance, and the risk of propeller/boat strikes and habituation to human proximity. Following evidence of disturbance and lesions, in November 2025 an attempt was made to drive the dolphin away from the high-risk waters of the San Marco Basin using boats and acoustic deterrents. However, the dolphin immediately returned. Here, we report on the monitoring efforts and actions undertaken, review the relevant regulations, and discuss the options of 1) acoustic deterrence, 2) capture/removal, and 3) tolerance combined with best management practice. We argue that the occurrence of such a charismatic animal could serve as a model for human-wildlife coexistence in urban environments, demanding compliance with existing laws, area-specific measures, appropriate implementation and patrolling, resolute deterrence of inappropriate human behaviour, continued monitoring, and efforts to promote the type of social change that leads to widespread appreciation of, and respect for, wildlife.]]></description>
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