The effect of sex ratio on the behavior and the duration of tonic immobility (TI) of broilers were investigated. Five variants of the sex ratio (male to female), namely, 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 were tested in broiler chicks between the ages of 7 to 35 days. It was found that the most common behavior in all sex ratios was resting, ranging from 75.3 to 85.3%. The ranges of other behavior traits were as follows: pecking, 7.4 to 20.2% and moving, 1.3 to 11.5%. The behavioral frequency of pecking and resting were significantly affected by the age (P<0.05), but not affected by sex ratio. The percentage of moving behavioral frequency was significantly different by age (P<0.01) and sex ratios (P<0.05) with moving in 25:75 male to female ratio being higher than other sex ratios (P<0.05). The behavioral frequency of pecking, resting and moving were significantly interaction between age and sex ratio of broiler chickens (pecking and resting, P<0.05; moving, P<0.01). The duration of TI reaction was significantly affected by the age (P<0.01), sex (P<0.01), and sex ratio (P<0.05). A significantly interaction among age, sex and sex ratio was found. The TI reaction was significantly lower in 25:75 male to female ratio than other sex ratios on the both 19 and 33 age (P<0.05). There was a highly inverse relationship between moving behavioral frequency and TI reaction; moving abilities at 3 weeks and TI reaction at 19 days of age (Y=13.12X-0.07, r=-0.83); and moving abilities at 5 weeks and TI reaction at 33 days of age (Y=7.72X-0.31, r=-0.76), respectively. The results seems that, when male and female broiler chickens are reared together, locomotor abilities are affected at a male to female ratio of 25:75.

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Dog training consists of the dog's response and correct action to verbal commands given by the trainer. This study investigated the effects of non-verbal signals and trainer position on the response of dogs during training to two verbal commands. Seven dogs (aged 17 to 96 months; five female, two male; three purebreeds) were trained individually by the same female trainer in six trials × three training series to two commands ("sit" and "come"), controlling for trainer posture and position. The trainer gradually distanced herself from the dog's standing position. Initial distance between trainer and dog was 70cm (trial 1); it was finally increased to 420cm (trial 6). The trainer changed her position in a straight line facing the dog. Each training series was organised into six trials. The first training series: hand signals and body language were used when the experimental trainer presented the command ("sit" or "come"). The second training series: hand signals and body language were restrained when the experimental trainer presented each command. The third training series was similar to that in the first training series. The percentage of correct responses to each command in a given session of a given training trial was recorded, together with the number of sessions required to reach the success criterion (85% correct response) before progression to the next trial. Training at a given trial was conducted in sessions of 40 exercises; the two commands were presented randomly 20 times each. Data collected in response to both commands were analysed on a percentage-correct basis, i.e. the percentage correct in a given session of a given training trial. There were statistically significant differences among the three training series in the number of training sessions required to learn the "sit" command (ANOVA: F[2,125]=11.02, P<0.001). In Training A, there was a significant increase in the number of errors between trial 1, in which the experimenter stood facing the dog at a distance of 70cm, and trial 2, in which the experimenter stood facing the dog at a distance of 140cm (w=27, P=0.02) for the "sit" command. The influences of both distance and non-verbal signals on dog performance varied with the type of command. The results suggested that the first training trial was more important for the "sit" than for the "come" command. This might have been related to the difference in distance between the trainer and the dog after the dog had responded to each of these commands.

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There have been a few studies on home ranges of masked palm civets (Paguma larvata), which are believed to be an introduced species in Japan. Since it has been reported that captive masked palm civets hibernate slightly during winter in China, their home-range size and activity would be expected to be lower in winter. In this study, because a significant decrease in the home-range size of a wild individual of this species during winter was observed, we report on the result. We radio-tracked one male masked palm civet from July 2007 to June 2008 in a high-altitude area of Japan. The home-range sizes were approximately 1,830ha in summer and autumn, 5ha in winter, and 479ha in spring. The daily and mean hourly movement distances in winter were lower compared to the other periods, respectively. These results indicate lower activity of the individual in winter. Because of the low activity and small home-range size, trapping in winter when the hunting season is open by applying the same degree of effort as that applied during the other periods could lead to decreased capture efficiency. Therefore, in winter, sufficient trapping results would not be obtained unless greater efforts for trapping were made.

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