Do the more flexible individuals rely more on causal cognition? Observation versus intervention in causal inference in great-tailed grackles (version 5 of this preprint has been peer reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Ecology [https://doi.org/10.24072/pci.ecology.100076])

Blaisdell, Aaron P.; Seitz, Benjamin M; Rowney, Carolyn; Folsom, Melissa; MacPherson, Maggie; Deffner, Dominik; Logan, Corina J.

doi:10.31234/osf.io/z4p6s

Cited by 10 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…We used the version of the Bayesian model that was developed by A. Blaisdell et al (2021) and modified by Logan CJ et al (2020) [see Analysis Plan > mance. We used the version of the Bayesian model that was developed by A.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral flexibility is manipulatable and it improves flexibility and problem solving in a new context

Logan¹,

Blaisdell²,

Johnson-Ulrich³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Behavioral flexibility, the ability to adapt behavior to new circumstances, is thought to play an important role in a species' ability to successfully adapt to new environments and expand its geographic range. However, flexibility is rarely directly tested in species in a way that would allow us to determine how flexibility works and predictions a species' ability to adapt their behavior to new environments. We use great-tailed grackles (a bird species) as a model to investigate this question because they have rapidly expanded their range into North America over the past 140 years. We attempted to manipulate grackle flexibility using colored tube reversal learning to determine whether flexibility is generalizable across contexts (touchscreen reversal learning and multi-access box), whether it is repeatable within individuals and across contexts, and what learning strategies grackles employ. We found that we were able to manipulate flexibility: birds in the manipulated group took fewer trials to pass criterion with increasing reversal number, and they reversed a color preference in fewer trials by the end of their serial reversals compared to control birds who had only one reversal. Flexibility was repeatable within individuals (reversal), but not across contexts (from reversal to multi-access box). The touchscreen reversal experiment did not appear to measure what was measured in the reversal learning experiment with the tubes, and we speculate as to why. One third of the grackles in the manipulated reversal learning group switched from one learning strategy (epsilon-decreasing where they have a long exploration period) to a different strategy (epsilon-first where they quickly shift their preference). A separate analysis showed that the grackles did not use a particular strategy earlier or later in their serial reversals. Posthoc analyses using a model that breaks down performance on the reversal learning task into different components showed that learning to be attracted to an option (phi) more consistently correlated with reversal performance than the rate of deviating from learned attractions that were rewarded (lambda). This result held in simulations and in the data from the grackles: learning rates in the manipulated grackles doubled by the end of the manipulation compared to control grackles, while the rate of deviation slightly decreased. Grackles with intermediate rates of deviation in their last reversal, independently of whether they had gone through the serial reversal manipulation, solved fewer loci on the plastic and wooden multi-access boxes, and those with intermediate learning rates in their last reversal were faster to attempt a new locus on both multi-access boxes. This investigation allowed us to make causal conclusions rather than relying only on correlations: we manipulated reversal learning, which caused changes in a different flexibility measure (multi-access box switch times) and in an innovativeness measure (multi-access box loci solved), as well as validating that the manipulation had an effect on the cognitive ability we think of as flexibility. Understanding how behavioral flexibility causally relates to other traits will allow researchers to develop robust theory about what behavioral flexibility is and when to invoke it as a primary driver in a given context, such as a rapid geographic range expansion. Given our results, flexibility manipulations could be useful in training threatened and endangered species in how to be more flexible. If such a flexibility manipulation was successful, it could then change their behavior in this and other domains, giving them a better chance of succeeding in human modified environments.

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Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral flexibility is manipulatable and it improves flexibility and problem solving in a new context

Logan¹,

Blaisdell²,

Johnson-Ulrich³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…The 12 adult grackles (Fajita, Mole, Tomatillo, Habanero, Chalupa, Tapa, Adobo, Diablo, Burrito, Marisco, Queso, and Yuca) and 2 juvenile grackles (Taco and Chilaquile; see Table 1 ) that underwent touchscreen training were caught in the wild in Tempe, Arizona, USA, from September 2018 through November 2019 and temporarily brought into outdoor aviaries for behavioral testing before being released back to the wild. Each bird was measured, then color-marked with leg bands in unique combinations for identification, and blood samples were drawn prior to being placed in the aviary as part of other research (see [ 22 – 24 ]). Grackles were individually housed in an aviary (each 2.44 m long by 1.22 m wide by 2.13 m tall) at Arizona State University for a maximum of six months.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Before beginning TOC training to prepare the birds for the TOC experiments (go/no go: see [ 24 ] for details; causal cognition: see [ 22 ]; reversal learning: see [ 23 ] these individuals experienced non-TOC experiments). Non-TOC experiments included a color tube reversal learning experiment and a puzzle box experiment (see [ 23 ] for details), a detour experiment (see [ 24 ]), exploration and boldness assays (see [ 33 ]), and demonstrator training for a social learning experiment ([see 34 ]) and see Table 1 for a complete summary.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From 2018 to 2020, we conducted an investigation of the behavior of wild-caught grackles [ 22 – 24 ] using a number of different experimental procedures, many of which involved using a TOC. Several unexpected hurdles in training grackles to use the TOC were encountered, which could be due to species differences and/or because they were wild-caught rather than captive-bred.…”

Section: Lessons From Teaching Wild-caught Animals To Use Touchscreenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using touchscreen equipped operant chambers to study animal cognition. Benefits, limitations, and advice

et al. 2021

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Operant chambers are small enclosures used to test animal behavior and cognition. While traditionally reliant on simple technologies for presenting stimuli (e.g., lights and sounds) and recording responses made to basic manipulanda (e.g., levers and buttons), an increasing number of researchers are beginning to use Touchscreen-equipped Operant Chambers (TOCs). These TOCs have obvious advantages, namely by allowing researchers to present a near infinite number of visual stimuli as well as increased flexibility in the types of responses that can be made and recorded. We trained wild-caught adult and juvenile great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) to complete experiments using a TOC. We learned much from these efforts, and outline the advantages and disadvantages of our protocols. Our training data are summarized to quantify the variables that might influence participation and success, and we discuss important modifications to facilitate animal engagement and participation in various tasks. Finally, we provide a “training guide” for creating experiments using PsychoPy, a free and open-source software that was incredibly useful during these endeavors. This article, therefore, should serve as a resource to those interested in switching to or maintaining a TOC, or who similarly wish to use a TOC to test the cognitive abilities of non-model species or wild-caught individuals.

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“…Dispersal limitation can contribute to inadequacies in recruitment to new or population sink sites, limiting population recovery or range shifts despite available habitat (Palma et al, 2020). The ability to update behaviors when circumstances change (behavioral flexibility) may be key for driving range shifts or expansions under global change (Blaisdell et al, 2020). Further, bird species capable of behavioral innovation (a.k.a.…”

Section: Biotic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An introduction to predictive distribution modelling for conservation to encourage novel perspectives

MacPherson

Burgio

DeSaix

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Global change creates an urgent need to predict spatial responses of biota to support the conservation of sufficient habitat to maintain biodiversity. We present species distribution model theory and a synthesis of avian literature on approaches to collecting occurrence data, selecting explanatory variables and analytical processes currently in use to predict future distributions. We find that interpreting the validity of current predictive distributions is hindered by variation in spatio-temporal resolution of data sets that force hypothesis testing under the Grinnellian niche concept. Broadly, the capacity of species to shift their geographic ranges under land use and climate change is expected to be limited by both large scale (i.e., the physiological or fundamental niche) and small scale (i.e., the realized or tolerance niche) factors. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of widely used explanatory variables and analytical approaches tailored to macrohabitat characteristics and the Grinnellian niche concept. This synthesis addresses if and how current approaches align with theory and makes recommendations for future directions to improve the accuracy of predictive distribution modelling.

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Do the more flexible individuals rely more on causal cognition? Observation versus intervention in causal inference in great-tailed grackles (version 5 of this preprint has been peer reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Ecology [https://doi.org/10.24072/pci.ecology.100076])

Cited by 10 publications

References 29 publications

Behavioral flexibility is manipulatable and it improves flexibility and problem solving in a new context

Behavioral flexibility is manipulatable and it improves flexibility and problem solving in a new context

Using touchscreen equipped operant chambers to study animal cognition. Benefits, limitations, and advice

An introduction to predictive distribution modelling for conservation to encourage novel perspectives

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