Phocid Sensory Systems and Cognition

Hanke, Frederike D.; Reichmuth, Colleen

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-88923-4_2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 220 publications

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“…As mysticetes are large, it is impossible to maintain them in captivity to perform robust behavioral studies. In this context, it is not surprising that our knowledge about sensory behavior is limited to smaller marine mammals such as harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ), California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ), and bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ; for review see Hanke and Reichmuth, 2022 ; Hanke et al, 2021 ; Hanke and Erdsack, 2015 ). Our current limited knowledge of the sensory systems in mysticetes is mainly deduced from opportunistic anatomical sampling or behavioral observations of free-ranging animals.…”

Section: Size-related Physiological Adaptations Of the Sensory System...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Open questions in marine mammal sensory research

et al. 2023

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Although much research has focused on marine mammal sensory systems over the last several decades, we still lack basic knowledge for many of the species within this diverse group of animals. Our conference workshop allowed all participants to present recent developments in the field and culminated in discussions on current knowledge gaps. This report summarizes open questions regarding marine mammal sensory ecology and will hopefully serve as a platform for future research.

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Section: Size-related Physiological Adaptations Of the Sensory System...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Open questions in marine mammal sensory research

et al. 2023

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“…Cognition includes processes such as (sensory) perception, learning, and memory, as well as decision making, and problem solving (Shettleworth 2010 ). The cognitive and sensory abilities of pinnipeds have been subject of extensive investigation (Cook et al 2021 ; Hanke and Reichmuth 2022 ). The numerous studies conducted so far have documented that, for example, harbor seals can easily learn demanding tasks, such as to classify novel stimulus pairs as either “same” or “different” (Scholtyssek et al 2013 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serial visual reversal learning in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

2022

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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.

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Aerial single target acuity of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for stationary and moving targets of varying contrast

Sandow,

Hanke

2024

Vision Research

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Phocid Sensory Systems and Cognition

Cited by 3 publications

References 220 publications

Open questions in marine mammal sensory research

Open questions in marine mammal sensory research

Serial visual reversal learning in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

Aerial single target acuity of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for stationary and moving targets of varying contrast

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