Geographic differences in individual recognition linked with social but not non-social cognition

Behavioral Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 36(4)

Опубликована: Май 3, 2025

Abstract Cognition is a complex trait with multiple components that may vary independently or in concert. Thus far, we know little about how geographic differences behavior are linked different aspects of cognition. Behavioral could be cognition three ways: cognition, some but not other no cognitive differences. Here, compare performance two populations Polistes fuscatus wasps differ their capacity for individual face recognition. Individual recognition involves keeping track relationships and responding appropriately, so it thought to increase social complexity. As result, predicted Michigan use have better than Pennsylvania able individually recognize conspecifics. We find more adept at learning wasps. However, the perform similarly on tasks, including color memory, reversal learning, odor memory. Therefore, population affect generalized These findings suggest socially societies influence evolution specifically.

Язык: Английский

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Identifying signals of memory from observations of animal movements

Movement Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Ноя. 18, 2024

Abstract Incorporating memory (i.e., some notion of familiarity or experience with the landscape) into models animal movement is a rising challenge in field ecology. The recent proliferation new methods offers opportunities to understand how influences movement. However, there are no clear guidelines for practitioners wishing parameterize effects on moving animals. We review approaches incorporating step-selection analyses (SSAs), frequently used modeling framework. Memory-informed SSAs can be constructed by including spatial-temporal covariates (or maps) that define aspect (e.g., whether, often, long ago visited different spatial locations) derived from long-term telemetry data. demonstrate various included using series coded examples which we fit wildlife tracking data wide range taxa. discuss these address questions related whether and animals use information past experiences inform their future movements. also highlight challenges decisions user must make when applying By reviewing providing code templates implementation, hope inspire investigate further importance movements

Язык: Английский

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Foraging location preferences reflect memory interference associated with spatial learning tasks in a food-caching bird

Animal Behaviour, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 221, С. 123052 - 123052

Опубликована: Фев. 4, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Food hoarding

Elsevier eBooks, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

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Variation in plumage reflectance but not song reflects spatial cognitive performance in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)

Animal Cognition, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 28(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 19, 2025

In seasonally variable environments, enhanced cognitive abilities may allow animals to adjust their behavior changing conditions. Nonmigratory food-caching birds, like chickadees, rely on specialized spatial cognition successfully cache and retrieve food items survive the winter. Previous studies have linked performance in chickadees fitness, including survival reproduction; however, it remains unknown whether females assess male ability via direct observation or secondary sexual traits. this study, we investigated variation common traits of songbirds, song plumage, serve as indicators black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) when accounting for dominance rank. To explore this, brought wild into captivity, tested three (spatial learning, flexibility, long-term retention), determined relative social ranks among all individuals, measured plumage reflectance six body regions, recorded fee-bee songs relationship between these variables. Our findings show that birds with brighter white greater contrast black patches showed better learning memory performance. contrast, found no significant associations variation. results suggest use some signals performance, although, also be important mate choice involving chickadees. This work provides insights female mating decisions, highlighting complex nature selection preferences.

Язык: Английский

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Sex Recognition and Mate Choice Are Positively Correlated With Relative Brain Size in Male Bufo andrewsi

Integrative Zoology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 23, 2025

Our results showed that focal males choosing females had relatively larger brain sizes than with similar body sizes. Likewise, making no choice both and smaller males. Finally, we found clasping Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by authors. Any queries (other missing content) should be directed to corresponding author article.

Язык: Английский

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Small scale, elevation- and environmental-related differences in life history strategies in a temperate resident songbird

Royal Society Open Science, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 12(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

Environmental drivers of within-population reproductive patterns are often hypothesized to lead strategies tuned local conditions. Organisms adjust energy allocation between survival and reproduction based on experience, age, lifespan resource availability. Variation in these energetic investments can be described as different demographic tactics which expected optimize the fitness populations. These ideas largely supported by both empirical model-based studies but research identifying specific their corresponding environmental within wild populations remains rare. Using 12 years data, we investigated investment a relatively short-lived resident songbird, mountain chickadee ( Poecile gambeli ), at two elevations that differ harshness North American Sierra Nevada mountains. Challenging winter environments high impose strong selection pressure survival-related traits (e.g. specialized spatial cognition associated with food caching) significantly shorten length window. Here, show chickadees higher elevation lay smaller clutches ca 0.41 fewer eggs) produce 0.25 nestlings) larger offspring 0.4 g heavier) compared lower residents. Due harsher less predictable conditions elevations, this strategy species likely leads production greater chances survival. Overall, our results within-species differences life history may evolve over small scale along gradients.

Язык: Английский

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The heritability of spatial memory and caching behaviour in a food-storing bird

Animal Cognition, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 28(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 10, 2025

Abstract Research examining how cognitive traits evolve in the wild has focussed on finding evidence of ‘Darwinian holy trinity’– consistent individual variation performance that is linked to fitness and a heritable component. In food-storing birds, there growing selection for more accurate spatial memory performance. However, act performance, it must also have genetic this study, we used Bayesian animal models evaluate heritability reference task population toutouwai (North Island robin, Petroica longipes ). We estimated measures caching behaviour theoretically underpins. found little either or measures, as credible intervals were large with lower bounds close zero. This result could suggest may be primarily due non-genetic factors. For example, shaped largely by demands altering decisions response cache theft risk. scenario, underlying mechanisms determining linking would need reconsidered. Alternatively, our estimates an artefact small sample size. Therefore, progress understanding cognition evolves, crucial establish long-term studies collect data from many individuals possible over successive generations, goal increasing reliability estimates.

Язык: Английский

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To Bees or Not to Bees: Greater Honeyguides Sometimes Guide Humans to Animals Other Than Bees, but Likely Not as Punishment

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Greater honeyguides ( Indicator indicator ) are well known to guide human honey hunters wild bees' nests in exchange for beeswax as food. Centuries of African Indigenous accounts have intriguingly reported that occasionally humans animals other than bees, typically large dangerous humans. This is interpreted by some cultures punishment prior failure reward the bird, and others an altruistic warning behavior. Here, we present quantitative evidence from hundreds honeyguide‐human interactions Mozambique greater guiding snakes n = 3) a dead mammal 1). We show behavior these vertebrates was (i) spatially acoustically analogous honeyguide when (ii) did not occur more frequently after being rewarded with humans, (iii) rare (3.7% human‐honeyguide 1 year; 0% others). review historical cultural explanations this use inform five hypotheses why people nonbee animals. Our field data were most consistent hypothesis results cognitive recall error spatial information. suggest unlikely function punishment, yet may coincidentally benefit over longer timescales initiating interpretation reinforces traditions rewarding beeswax.

Язык: Английский

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Cognitive control of memory in a food-storing and a non-storing bird species

Animal Cognition, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 28(1)

Опубликована: Май 5, 2025

Язык: Английский

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