Performance correlates of social behavior and organization: Social rank and complex problem solving in crab-eating macaques (M. fascicularis)

Bunnell, B. N.; Perkins, Mary N.

doi:10.1007/bf02373840

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The previously outlined scenario would fit well also to the system found in domestic hens (Nicol & Pope, 1999). However, rank relationships are normally effective within a well defined group of individuals, like for example in different primate species (Bunnell & Perkins, 1980;Chalmeau & Gallo, 1993). In our case the human demonstrator was unfamiliar to the subjects, that is, not a member of the social group of the dog.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Nicol & Pope (1999) found that dominant domestic hens not only learn better than lower ranked hens from a conspecific, but dominant individuals are also more salient demonstrators as well. We should also mention that in other studies dominant individuals underperformed their low ranking group members in particular learning tasks (as in crab eating macaques, Bunnell & Perkins, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

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When rank counts — dominant dogs learn better from a human demonstrator in a two-action test

Pongrácz

Bánhegyi

Miklósi

2012

Behav

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Dogs can learn effectively from a human demonstrator in detour tests as well as in different kinds of manipulative tasks. In this experiment we used a novel two-action device from which the target object (a ball) was obtained by tilting a tube either by pulling a rope attached to the end of the tube, or by directly pushing the end of the tube. Tube tilting was relatively easy for naïve companion dogs; therefore, the effect of the human demonstration aimed to alter or increase the dogs’ initial preference for tube pushing (according to the behaviour shown by naïve dogs in the absence of a human demonstrator). Our results have shown that subjects preferred the demonstrated action in the two-action test. After having witnessed the tube pushing demonstration, dogs performed significantly more tube pushing than the dogs in the rope pulling demonstration group. In contrast, dogs that observed the rope pulling demonstration, performed significantly more similar actions than the subjects of the other demonstration group. The ratio of rope pulling was significantly higher in the rope pulling demonstration group, than in the No Demo (control) group. The overall success of solving the task was also influenced by the social rank of the dog among its conspecific companions at home. Independently of the type of demonstration, dominant dogs solved the task significantly more often than the subordinate dogs did. There was no such difference in the No Demo group. This experiment has shown that a simple two-action device that does not require excessive pre-training, can be suitable for testing social learning in dogs. However, effects of social rank should be taken into account when social learning in dogs is being studied and tested, because dominant and subordinate dogs perform differently after observing a demonstrator.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

When rank counts — dominant dogs learn better from a human demonstrator in a two-action test

Pongrácz

Bánhegyi

Miklósi

2012

Behav

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“…not consistent over time) and arises through phenotypic plasticity, it may equally represent more permanent, inherent differences between individuals. Irrespective of whether these differences are temporary or permanent, innovative foraging can be viewed as an alternative foraging strategy that helps some individuals avoid costs associated with intense competition [34,36], a hypothesis that is largely supported by empirical evidence from primates, fish and birds [32][33][34]37,38]. Individual consistency in innovativeness has rarely been assessed, however, and the extent to which inherent, long-term individual differences in innovativeness may contribute to variation in competitive ability remains unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality and problem-solving performance explain competitive ability in the wild

2011

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Competitive ability is a major determinant of fitness, but why individuals vary so much in their competitiveness remains only partially understood. One increasingly prevalent view is that realized competitive ability varies because it represents alternative strategies that arise because of the costs associated with competitiveness. Here we use a population of great tits (Parus major) to explore whether individual differences in competitive ability when foraging can be explained by two traits that have previously been linked to alternative behavioural strategies: the personality trait 'exploration behaviour' and a simple cognitive trait, 'innovative problem-solving performance'. We assayed these traits under standardized conditions in captivity and then measured competitive ability at feeders with restricted access in the wild. Competitive ability was repeatable within individual males across days and correlated positively with exploration behaviour, representing the first such demonstration of a link between a personality trait and both competitive ability and food intake in the wild. Competitive ability was also simultaneously negatively correlated with problemsolving performance; individuals who were poor competitors were good at problem-solving. Rather than being the result of variation in 'individual quality', our results support the hypothesis that individual variation in competitive ability can be explained by alternative behavioural strategies.

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“…On the one hand, dominants might outperform subordinates, for two reasons: because (i) they could have greater access to key resources (such as more nutritious foods in early life) that allow for better development and maintenance of cognitive abilities; and/or (ii) they are unlikely to be displaced and consequently can afford more time to solve a cognitive challenge [49,50]. On the other hand, subordinates might outperform dominants because low social status has promoted the development of cognitive abilities to circumvent traditional competition with dominants [51,52], for example, subordinate baboons are known to run ahead to access resources before the dominant arrives [53].…”

Section: Individual Variation In Associative Learning Ability: Hypothmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring individual variation in associative learning abilities through an operant conditioning task in wild baboons

2020

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Cognitive abilities underpin many of the behavioural decisions of animals. However, we still have very little understanding of how and why cognitive abilities vary between individuals of the same species in wild populations. In this study, we assessed the associative learning abilities of wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) across two troops in Namibia with a simple operant conditioning task. We evaluated the ability of individuals to correctly associate a particular colour of corn kernels with a distasteful flavour through repeated presentations of two small piles of corn dyed different colours, one of which had been treated with a non-toxic bitter substance. We also assessed whether individual variation in learning ability was associated with particular phenotypic traits (sex, social rank and neophilia) and states (age and prior vigilance). We found no evidence of learning the association either within each trial or across trials, nor any variation based on individuals' phenotypes. This appeared to be due to a high tolerance for bitter foods leading to similar acceptance of both palatable and unpalatable kernels. Earlier avoidance of the bitter kernels during pilot trials suggests this higher tolerance may have been largely driven by a drought during the experiments. Overall, our findings highlight the potential influence of current environmental challenges associated with conducting cognitive tests of animals in the wild. OPEN ACCESSCitation: Martina C, Cowlishaw G, Carter AJ (2020) Exploring individual variation in associative learning abilities through an operant conditioning task in wild baboons. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0230810. https://

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Performance correlates of social behavior and organization: Social rank and complex problem solving in crab-eating macaques (M. fascicularis)

Cited by 23 publications

References 4 publications

When rank counts — dominant dogs learn better from a human demonstrator in a two-action test

When rank counts — dominant dogs learn better from a human demonstrator in a two-action test

Personality and problem-solving performance explain competitive ability in the wild

Exploring individual variation in associative learning abilities through an operant conditioning task in wild baboons

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