A Tale of Two Fishes

2018 ◽  
pp. 77-98
Author(s):  
Kevin N. Laland
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Social Learning ◽  
Model System ◽  
Single Experiment ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Animals ◽  
Extensive Experimental Data ◽  
Scientific Questions ◽  
Flexible Model

This chapter describes a protracted program of experimental research conducted over 20 years that set out to comprehend a fascinating difference in the social learning of two closely related species of sticklebacks. Extensive experimental data show that social learning and tradition play important roles in the behavioral development of countless fishes, most of which are highly social animals. Fish behavior is far from rigidly controlled by a “genetic program,” but rather is constantly and flexibly adjusted to exploit information and resources in the environment, including information provided by other fish. As such, the research is presented in detail to illustrate how a dedicated line of research using a flexible model system can provide valuable insights into more general issues related to the evolution of culture. The investigation also demonstrates how the science in this field is done. Scientific questions in this domain are rarely answered with a single experiment, but often require an extensive series of studies, each chipping away at the problem. Beginning as a curious anomaly, prolonged experimentation on the question developed into a wonderful glimpse at the bigger picture of how social learning evolves.

scholarly journals Individual behavioural traits not social context affects learning about novel objects in archerfish

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick A. R. Jones ◽  
Helen C. Spence-Jones ◽  
Mike Webster ◽  
Luke Rendell
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Behavioural Phenotype ◽  
Social Species ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Animals ◽  
Novel Objects ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Learning can enable rapid behavioural responses to changing conditions but can depend on the social context and behavioural phenotype of the individual. Learning rates have been linked to consistent individual differences in behavioural traits, especially in situations which require engaging with novelty, but the social environment can also play an important role. The presence of others can modulate the effects of individual behavioural traits and afford access to social information that can reduce the need for ‘risky’ asocial learning. Most studies of social effects on learning are focused on more social species; however, such factors can be important even for less-social animals, including non-grouping or facultatively social species which may still derive benefit from social conditions. Using archerfish, Toxotes chatareus, which exhibit high levels of intra-specific competition and do not show a strong preference for grouping, we explored the effect of social contexts on learning. Individually housed fish were assayed in an ‘open-field’ test and then trained to criterion in a task where fish learnt to shoot a novel cue for a food reward—with a conspecific neighbour visible either during training, outside of training or never (full, partial or no visible presence). Time to learn to shoot the novel cue differed across individuals but not across social context. This suggests that social context does not have a strong effect on learning in this non-obligatory social species; instead, it further highlights the importance that inter-individual variation in behavioural traits can have on learning. Significance statement Some individuals learn faster than others. Many factors can affect an animal’s learning rate—for example, its behavioural phenotype may make it more or less likely to engage with novel objects. The social environment can play a big role too—affecting learning directly and modifying the effects of an individual’s traits. Effects of social context on learning mostly come from highly social species, but recent research has focused on less-social animals. Archerfish display high intra-specific competition, and our study suggests that social context has no strong effect on their learning to shoot novel objects for rewards. Our results may have some relevance for social enrichment and welfare of this increasingly studied species, suggesting there are no negative effects of short- to medium-term isolation of this species—at least with regards to behavioural performance and learning tasks.

scholarly journals Achieving Social and Ecological Outcomes in Collaborative Environmental Governance: Good Examples from Swedish Moose Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2329
Author(s):  
Sabrina Dressel ◽  
Annelie Sjölander-Lindqvist ◽  
Maria Johansson ◽  
Göran Ericsson ◽  
Camilla Sandström
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Collaborative Governance ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Ecological Context ◽  
Discretionary Power ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social

Collaborative governance approaches have been suggested as strategies to handle wicked environmental problems. Evaluations have found promising examples of effective natural resource governance, but also highlighted the importance of social-ecological context and institutional design. The aim of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the achievement of social and ecological sustainability within Swedish moose (Alces alces) management. In 2012, a multi-level collaborative governance regime was implemented to decrease conflicts among stakeholders. We carried out semi-structured interviews with six ‘good examples’ (i.e., Moose Management Groups that showed positive social and ecological outcomes). We found that ‘good examples’ collectively identified existing knowledge gaps and management challenges and used their discretionary power to develop procedural arrangements that are adapted to the social-ecological context, their theory of change, and attributes of local actors. This contributed to the creation of bridging social capital and principled engagement across governance levels. Thus, our results indicate the existence of higher-order social learning as well as a positive feedback from within-level collaboration dynamics to between-level collaboration. Furthermore, our study illustrates the importance of institutional flexibility to utilize the existing knowledge across stakeholder groups and to allow for adaptations based on the social learning process.

TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF PROTON CONDUCTIVITY IN HYDROGEN-BONDED MOLECULAR SYSTEMS

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 1239-1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAO-FENG PANG ◽  
BO DENG ◽  
HUAI-WU ZHANG ◽  
YUAN-PING FENG
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Temperature Dependence ◽  
Electric Conductivity ◽  
Proton Conductivity ◽  
Model System ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Molecular Systems ◽  
Damping Effect ◽  
Hydrogen Bonded

The temperature-dependence of proton electric conductivity in hydrogen-bonded molecular systems with damping effect was studied. The time-dependent velocity of proton and its mobility are determined from the Hamiltonian of a model system. The calculated mobility of (3.57–3.76) × 10-6 m 2/ Vs for uniform ice is in agreement with the experimental value of (1 - 10) × 10-2 m 2/ Vs . When the temperature and damping effects of the medium are considered, the mobility is found to depend on the temperature for various electric field values in the system, i.e. the mobility increases initially and reaches a maximum at about 191 K, but decreases subsequently to a minimum at approximately 241 K, and increases again in the range of 150–270 K. This behavior agrees with experimental data of ice.

scholarly journals The project “understAID” – a platform that helps informal caregivers to understand and aid their demented relatives

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-188
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Skorupska ◽  
Ewa Mojs ◽  
Włodzimierz Samborski ◽  
José C. Millán-Calenti ◽  
Ana Maseda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
System Integration ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Real Case ◽  
International Project ◽  
Formal Caregivers ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
The Social

“UnderstAID” is a platform that helps informal caregivers to understand and aid their demented relatives. It is an international project initiated by Denmark, Poland and Spain.The aim of the project is to design, and implement the multimedia platform “understAID” to support informal caregivers of dementia patients. The project was launched in April 2013 and is expected to end 36 months later. The project is divided into five tasks concerning the final aim. The aim of task 1 is the management of the project, as well as the exploitation and dissemination of gathered information. Task 2 is meant to define the contents and solutions of the CarePlatform based on the knowledge gained from real-case studies. Demented elderlies from each country (n = 40) suffering from different degrees of dementia were evaluated by formal caregivers and dementia professionals. The aim of task 3 is the development of the social learning interface. Task 4 focuses on the CarePlatform development and system integration. Finally, task 5 assumes testing and validation of the platform. The platform is devised to be available in two versions, namely the light one for mobile appliance and the premium version. Also different activities leading to the popularization of the platform are planned.

scholarly journals It Cuts Both Ways: An Annelid Model System for the Study of Regeneration in the Laboratory and in the Classroom

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica G. Martinez Acosta ◽  
Fausto Arellano-Carbajal ◽  
Kathy Gillen ◽  
Kay A. Tweeten ◽  
Eduardo E. Zattara
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Recovery Of Function ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Model System ◽  
Regenerative Capacity ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Complete Replacement ◽  
Successful Recovery ◽  
The Individual

The mechanisms supporting regeneration and successful recovery of function have fascinated scientists and the general public for quite some time, with the earliest description of regeneration occurring in the 8th century BC through the Greek mythological story of Prometheus. While most animals demonstrate the capacity for wound-healing, the ability to initiate a developmental process that leads to a partial or complete replacement of a lost structure varies widely among animal taxa. Variation also occurs within single species based on the nature and location of the wound and the developmental stage or age of the individual. Comparative studies of cellular and molecular changes that occur both during, and following, wound healing may point to conserved genomic pathways among animals of different regenerative capacity. Such insights could revolutionize studies within the field of regenerative medicine. In this review, we focus on several closely related species of Lumbriculus (Clitellata: Lumbriculidae), as we present a case for revisiting the use of an annelid model system for the study of regeneration. We hope that this review will provide a primer to Lumbriculus biology not only for regeneration researchers but also for STEM teachers and their students.

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