Dear colleagues,
my co-authors and I are pleased to announce two new publications on
reversal learning in harbor seals:
*Erdsack N, Dehnhardt G, Hanke FD (2022) Serial visual reversal learning
in harbor seals (**/Phoca vitulina/**). Animal Cognition
doi:10.1007/s10071-022-01653-1*
Progressively improving performance in a serial reversal learning (SRL)
test has been associated with higher cognitive abilities and has served
as a measure for cognitive/behavioral flexibility. Although the
cognitive and sensory abilities of marine mammals have been subject of
extensive investigation, and numerous vertebrate and invertebrate
species were tested, SRL studies in aquatic mammals are sparse.
Particularly in pinnipeds, a high degree of behavioral flexibility seems
probable as they face a highly variable environment in air and
underwater. Thus, we tested four harbor seals in a visual
two-alternative forced-choice discrimination task and its subsequent
reversals. We found significant individual differences in performance.
One individual was able to solve 37 reversals showing progressive
improvement of performance with a minimum of 6 errors in reversal 33.
Two seals mastered two reversals, while one animal had difficulties in
learning the discrimination task and failed to complete a single
reversal. In conclusion, harbor seals can master an SRL experiment;
however, the performance is inferior to results obtained in other
vertebrates in comparable tasks. Future experiments will need to assess
whether factors such as the modality addressed in the experiment have an
influence on reversal learning performance or whether indeed, during
evolution, behavioral flexibility has not specifically been favored in
harbor seals.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-022-01653-1
*Niesterok B, Martin S, Hildebrand L, Dehnhardt G, Hanke FD (2022)
Well-developed spatial reversal learning abilities in harbor seals
(**/Phoca vitulina/**). Animal Cognition. doi:10.1007/s10071-022-01651-3*
In this study, behavioral plasticity in harbor seals was investigated in
spatial reversal learning tasks of varying complexities. We started with
a classic spatial reversal learning experiment with no more than one
reversal per day. The seals quickly learned the task and showed
progressive improvement over reversals, one seal even reaching one-trial
performance. In a second approach, one seal could complete multiple
reversals occurring within a session. Again, a number of reversals were
finished with only one error occurring at the beginning of a session as
in experiment 1 which provides evidence that the seal adopted a
strategy. In a final approach, reversals within a session were marked by
an external cue. This way, an errorless performance of the experimental
animal was achieved in up to three consecutive reversals. In conclusion,
harbor seals master spatial, in contrast to visual, reversal learning
experiments with ease. The underlying behavioral flexibility can help to
optimize behaviors in fluctuating or changing environments.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-022-01651-3
Both studies are open access and published as part of a Special Issue on
Marine Mammal Cognition.
Best regards,
Nicola Erdsack
--
**********************************
Nicola Erdsack, Ph.D.
Postdoc Manatee Research
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
Sarasota, FL 34236
phone +1-941-388-4441, ext. 248
cell +1-941-284-0708
erds...@mote.org
https://mote.org/staff/member/nicola-erdsack
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