Broad‐scale applications of the Raspberry Pi: A review and guide for biologists

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(9), P. 1562 - 1579

Published: June 23, 2021

Abstract The field of biology has seen tremendous technological progress in recent years, fuelled by the exponential growth processing power and high‐level computing, rise global information sharing. Low‐cost single‐board computers are predicted to be one key advancements further revolutionise this field. So far, an overview current uptake these devices a general guide help researchers integrate them their work been missing. In paper I focus on most widely used computer, Raspberry Pi, review its broad applications uses across biological domain. Since release 2012, Pi increasingly taken up biologists, laboratory, classroom, wide range disciplines. A hugely diverse exists that ranges from simple solutions dedicated custom‐build devices, including nest‐box monitoring, wildlife camera trapping, high‐throughput behavioural recording, large‐scale plant phenotyping, underwater video surveillance, closed‐loop operant learning experiments autonomous ecosystem monitoring. Despite breadth implementations, depth scientific community is still limited. capabilities combined with low cost, ease use large user make it great research tool for almost any project. To accelerate community, provide detailed guidelines, recommendations considerations, 30+ step‐by‐step guides accompanying website ( http://raspberrypi‐guide.github.io ). hope will generate more awareness about among scientists thereby both fuel democratisation science ultimately advance our understanding biology, micro‐ macro‐scale.

Language: Английский

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Blind alleys and fruitful pathways in the comparative study of cultural cognition

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 43, P. 211 - 238

Published: Oct. 21, 2022

A mere few decades ago, culture was thought a unique human attribute. Evidence to the contrary accumulated through latter part of twentieth century and has exploded in present one, demonstrating transmission traditions social learning across all principal vertebrate taxa even invertebrates, notably insects. The scope is nevertheless highly distinctive. What makes our cultural capacities their cognitive underpinnings so different? In this article I argue that behavioural scientists' endeavours answer question, fruitful research pathways ensuing discoveries have come exist alongside popular, yet light current empirical evidence, questionable scenarios scientific blind alleys. particularly re-evaluate theories rely on centrality supposed uniquely capacity for imitative copying explaining distinctive massive cumulative evolution (CCE) species. most extreme versions perspective suffer logical incoherence severe limits testability. By contrast field generated range rigorous observational experimental methodologies revealed both long-term fidelity limited forms CCE non-human Attention now turns directly investigating scope, underlying cognition versus CCE, with broader approach factors additional transmission, role invention, innovation evolved motivational biases species studied.

Language: Английский

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New frontiers in bird migration research

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(20), P. R1187 - R1199

Published: Oct. 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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Viewing animal migration through a social lens

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(11), P. 985 - 996

Published: Aug. 2, 2022

Evidence of social learning is growing across the animal kingdom. Researchers have long hypothesized that interactions play a key role in many migrations, but strong empirical support scarce except few unique systems and species. In this review, we aim to catalyze advances study migrations by synthesizing research disciplines providing framework for understanding when, how, why influences shape decisions animals make during migration. Integrating fields migration ecology will advance our complex behavioral phenomena help inform conservation changing world.

Language: Английский

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A Cognitive Computational Approach to Social and Collective Decision-Making

Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(2), P. 538 - 551

Published: Sept. 6, 2023

Collective dynamics play a key role in everyday decision-making. Whether social influence promotes the spread of accurate information and ultimately results adaptive behavior or leads to false cascades maladaptive contagion strongly depends on cognitive mechanisms underlying interactions. Here we argue that modeling, tandem with experiments allow collective emerge, can mechanistically link processes at individual levels. We illustrate strength this computational approach two highly successful models have been applied interactive group experiments: evidence-accumulation reinforcement-learning models. show how these approaches make it possible simultaneously study (a) cognition drives systems, (b) systems drive cognition, (c) dynamic feedback between layers.

Language: Английский

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Efficiency fosters cumulative culture across species

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 377(1843)

Published: Dec. 13, 2021

Recent studies in several taxa have demonstrated that animal culture can evolve to become more efficient various contexts ranging from tool use route learning and migration. Under recent definitions, such increases efficiency might satisfy the core criteria of cumulative cultural evolution (CCE). However, there is not yet a satisfying consensus on precise definition efficiency, CCE or link between complex, extended forms considered uniquely human. To bring clarity this wider discussion CCE, we develop concept by (i) reviewing potential evidence for animals, (ii) clarifying useful synthesizing perspectives found within literature, including iterated literature. Finally, (iii) discuss what factors impinge informational bottleneck social transmission, argue provides pressure learnable behaviours across species. We conclude framing terms casts complexity new light, as are requirement complexity. Understanding how greases ratchet better appreciation similar be taxonomically diverse species—a case continuity kingdom. This article part meeting issue ‘The emergence collective knowledge humans machines’.

Language: Английский

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Cultural diffusion dynamics depend on behavioural production rules

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1980)

Published: Aug. 10, 2022

Culture is an outcome of both the acquisition knowledge about behaviour through social transmission, and its subsequent production by individuals. Acquisition are often discussed or modelled interchangeably, yet to date no study has explored consequences their interaction for cultural diffusions. We present a generative model that integrates two, ask how variation in rules might influence diffusion dynamics. Agents make behavioural choices change as they learn from productions. Their repertoires may also change, conditioned on frequency. analyse novel networks, yielding generalizable predictions individual-level population-level then investigate linking affect performance two commonly used inferential models learning; network-based analysis, experience-weighted attraction models. find have dynamics methods applied empirical data. Our illuminates differences between learning influence, demonstrates overlooked role reinforcement diffusions, allows clearer discussions strategies.

Language: Английский

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ReptiLearn: An automated home cage system for behavioral experiments in reptiles without human intervention

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 22(2), P. e3002411 - e3002411

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

Understanding behavior and its evolutionary underpinnings is crucial for unraveling the complexities of brain function. Traditional approaches strive to reduce behavioral complexity by designing short-term, highly constrained tasks with dichotomous choices in which animals respond defined external perturbation. In contrast, natural behaviors evolve over multiple time scales during actions are selected through bidirectional interactions environment without human intervention. Recent technological advancements have opened up new possibilities experimental designs that more closely mirror replacing stringent control accurate multidimensional analysis. However, these been tailored fit only a small number species. This specificity limits opportunities offered species diversity. Further, it hampers comparative analyses essential extracting overarching principles examining from an perspective. To address this limitation, we developed ReptiLearn—a versatile, low-cost, Python-based solution, optimized conducting automated long-term experiments home cage reptiles, addition, system offers unique features such as precise temperature measurement control, live prey reward dispensers, engagement touch screens, remote user-friendly web interface. Finally, ReptiLearn incorporates low-latency closed-loop feedback allowing between their environments. Thus, provides comprehensive solution researchers studying ectotherms beyond, bridging gap laboratory settings nonconventional model systems. We demonstrate capabilities automatically training lizard Pogona vitticeps on complex spatial learning task requiring association learning, displaced reversal learning.

Language: Английский

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Language-like efficiency and structure in house finch song

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2020)

Published: April 2, 2024

Communication needs to be complex enough functional while minimizing learning and production costs. Recent work suggests that the vocalizations gestures of some songbirds, cetaceans great apes may conform linguistic laws reflect this trade-off between efficiency complexity. In studies non-human communication, though, clustering signals into types cannot done a priori , decisions about appropriate grain analysis affect statistical in data. The aim study was assess evidence for language-like structure house finch ( Haemorhous mexicanus ) song across three levels granularity syllable clustering. results show strong Zipf's rank–frequency law, law abbreviation Menzerath's law. Additional analyses songs have small-world structure, thought systematic syntax, mutual information decay sequences is consistent with combination Markovian hierarchical processes. These patterns are robust clustering, pointing limited form scale invariance. sum, it appears has been shaped by pressure efficiency, possibly offset costs female preferences

Language: Английский

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Challenges of mismatching timescales in longitudinal studies of collective behaviour

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1874)

Published: Feb. 20, 2023

How individuals’ prior experience and population evolutionary history shape emergent patterns in animal collectives remains a major gap the study of collective behaviour. One reason for this is that processes can individual contributions to actions happen over very different timescales from each other themselves, resulting mismatched timescales. For example, preference move towards specific patch might arise phenotype, memory or physiological state. Although providing critical context actions, bridging conceptually methodologically challenging. Here, we briefly outline some these challenges, discuss existing approaches have already generated insights into factors shaping collectives. We then explore case mismatching timescales—defining relevant group membership—by combining fine-scaled GPS tracking data daily field census wild vulturine guineafowl ( Acryllium vulturinum ). show applying temporal definitions produce assignments individuals groups. These consequences when determining individuals' social history, thus conclusions draw on impacts environment actions. This article part discussion meeting issue ‘Collective behaviour through time’.

Language: Английский

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