Neophobia and innovation in Critically Endangered Bali myna, Leucopsar rothschildi

Abstract

Behavioural flexibility can impact on adaptability and survival, particularly in today's changing world, and encompasses associated components like neophobia, e.g. responses to novelty, and innovation, e.g. problem-solving. Bali myna ( Leucopsar rothschildi ) are a Critically Endangered endemic species, which are a focus of active conservation efforts, including reintroductions. Gathering behavioural data can aid in improving and developing conservation strategies, like pre-release training and individual selection for release. In 22 captive Bali myna, we tested neophobia (novel object, novel food, control conditions), innovation (bark, cup, lid conditions) and individual repeatability of latency responses in both experiments. We found effects of condition and presence of heterospecifics, including longer latencies to touch familiar food in presence than absence of novel items, and between problem-solving tasks, as well as in the presence of non-competing heterospecifics than competing heterospecifics. Age influenced neophobia, with adults showing longer latencies than juveniles. Individuals were repeatable in latency responses: (1) temporally in both experiments; (2) contextually within the innovation experiment and between experiments, as well as being consistent in approach order across experiments, suggesting stable behaviour traits. These findings are an important starting point for developing conservation behaviour related strategies in Bali myna and other similarly threatened species.

Local prior information and mainland overflow explain avian colonisation in a major land‐bridge island

“…having less neofobia) (e.g. Martínez‐Abraín et al, 2022; Miller et al, 2022). Birds with a stable trend but a previous wintering status showed a relatively high probability of colonising, which indicates that wintering status (prior information availability) may be the main driver of colonisation.…”

Octopus vulgaris Exhibits Interindividual Differences in Behavioural and Problem-Solving Performance

“…We can only speculate about the nature of the mechanisms involved. Several studies have shown that juveniles are often more explorative and neophilic than adults [134][135][136][137][138][139][140]. Hence, the seasonal difference in neophilia and social learning abilities may be related to the prevalence of younger octopuses during spring-summer.…”

Urbanization does not increase “object curiosity” in vervet monkeys, but semi-urban individuals selectively explore food-related anthropogenic items

“…But this pattern is far from universal (see reviews: Griffin 2022 ; Inzani et al 2023 ). For example, in corvids it has been reported that the neophilia of urban birds is higher only in certain circumstances, due to experience with specific items (like litter) or even specific humans ( Echeverría and Vassallo 2008 ; Greggor et al 2016 ; Tryjanowski et al 2016 ; Jarjour et al 2020 ; Miller et al 2022 ). These results suggest that urban areas in general can influence neophilia levels and animals can become accustomed to anthropogenic “novelty.” Therefore, we must be careful in interpreting what is perceived as novel for the populations and individual animals residing within an urban habitat and start to disentangle general neophilia (attraction to novelty) from “anthrophilia.” Here, we suggest the terminology “anthrophobia/ anthrophilia” to distinguish responses directed towards items/ foods that are associated with humans and/ or human habitats.…”