Paola Maria Valsecchi

Dr. Paola Maria Valsecchi

Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

38Years (1989-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2008 in General and Comparative Endocrinology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PAPier Attilio Accorsi
Pier Attilio Accorsi
ECElena Carloni
Elena Carloni
PVPaola Maria Valsecchi
Paola Maria Valsecchi
RVRoberta Viggiani
Roberta Viggiani
MGMatteo Gamberoni
Matteo Gamberoni
ESEraldo Seren
Eraldo Seren

1 July 2009 in Behavioural Processes
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SMSarah Marshall-Pescini
Sarah Marshall-Pescini
CPChiara Passalacqua
Chiara Passalacqua
SBShanis Barnard
Shanis Barnard
PVPaola Maria Valsecchi
Paola Maria Valsecchi
EPEmanuela Prato-Previde
Emanuela Prato-Previde

10 February 2010 in Behavioral Ecology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SCSimona Cafazzo
Simona Cafazzo
PVPaola Maria Valsecchi
Paola Maria Valsecchi
RBRoberto Bonanni
Roberto Bonanni
ENEugenia Natoli
Eugenia Natoli
Current knowledge about social behavior of free-ranging domestic dogs is scarce, and the possibility that they could form stable social groups has been highly debated. We investigated the existence of a social-dominance hierarchy in a free-ranging group of domestic dogs. We quantified the pattern of dyadic exchange of a number of behaviors to examine to what extent each behavior fits a linear rank-order model. We distinguished among agonistic dominance, formal dominance, and competitive ability. The agonistic-dominance hierarchy in the study group shows significant and substantial linearity. As in random assortments of captive wolves, there is a prominent but nonexclusive male agonistic dominance in each age class. The agonistic rank-order correlates positively and significantly with age. Submissive–affiliative behavior fulfills the criteria of formal submission signals; nevertheless, it was not observed among all dogs, and thus, it is not useful to order the dogs in a consistent linear rank. Agonistic-dominance relationships in the dog group remain stable across different competitive contexts and to the behaviors considered. Some individuals gain access to food prevailing over other dogs during competitions. Access to food resources is predicted reasonably well by agonistic rank order: High-ranking individuals have the priority of access. The findings of this research contradict the notion that free-ranging dogs are “asocial” animals and agree with other studies suggesting that long-term social bonds exist within free-ranging dog groups.

1 July 2008 in Behavioural Processes
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SMSarah Marshall-Pescini
Sarah Marshall-Pescini
PVPaola Maria Valsecchi
Paola Maria Valsecchi
IPIrena Petak
Irena Petak
PAPier Attilio Accorsi
Pier Attilio Accorsi
EPEmanuela Prato Previde
Emanuela Prato Previde

12 January 2006 in Ethology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
EPEmanuela Prato-Previde
Emanuela Prato-Previde
GFGaia Fallani
Gaia Fallani
PVPaola Maria Valsecchi
Paola Maria Valsecchi

1 November 2011 in Animal Behaviour
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CPChiara Passalacqua
Chiara Passalacqua
SMSarah Marshall-Pescini
Sarah Marshall-Pescini
SBShanis Barnard
Shanis Barnard
GLGabriella Lakatos
Gabriella Lakatos
PVPaola Maria Valsecchi
Paola Maria Valsecchi
EPEmanuela Prato Previde
Emanuela Prato Previde