Periodicity of death feigning by domestic fowl in response to simulated predation.
The presence and extent of periodicity in the manifestation of death feigning duration was assessed in 137 week-old White Leghorn chicks. Chicks were reared on an LD 12:12 regimen with light onset at 0800 hr. Each was tested only once at one of 13 clock hours spanning a 24 hr period. Death feigning duration varied significantly with clock hour of induction, being longest from 1300-1400 hr and briefest from 0600-1100 hr. Variability was also cyclic but was distributed bimodally, being greatest in the latter half of each L and D phase. There was no significant influence of management hour on death feigning duration. The adaptive significance of the periodicity for predator-prey interactions was discussed, as were methodological implications.
Rovee
C K
CK
Department of Psychology, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
Kaufman
L W
LW
Collier
G H
GH
Kent
G C
GC
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D018476:Hypokinesia; D007103:Immobilization / Q000502:physiology*; D017440:Photoperiod