The Cognitive Abilities of Wild Animals

Mehrkam, Lindsay R.

doi:10.1002/9781118968543.ch2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Thus, it is important to consider the manner with which new information is presented and how it may spread within a group. For example, socially gregarious species may be more prone to social learning than solitary species (although see [168,169]), and a species' natural ecology may also shape how they learn and what they can learn [170].…”

Section: Individual and Species Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging Social Learning to Enhance Captive Animal Care and Welfare

Hopper

2021

JZBG

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From ants to zebras, animals are influenced by the behavior of others. At the simplest level, social support can reduce neophobia, increasing animals’ exploration of novel spaces, foods, and other environmental stimuli. Animals can also learn new skills more quickly and more readily after observing others perform them. How then can we apply animals’ proclivity to socially learn to enhance their care and welfare in captive settings? Here, I review the ways in which animals (selectively) use social information, and propose tactics for leveraging that to refine the behavioral management of captive animals: to enhance socialization techniques, enrichment strategies, and training outcomes. It is also important to consider, however, that social learning does not always promote the uniform expression of new behaviors. There are differences in animals’ likelihood to seek out or use socially provided information, driven by characteristics such as species, rank, age, and personality. Additionally, social learning can result in inexact transmission or the transmission of undesirable behaviors. Thus, understanding when, how, and why animals use social information is key to developing effective strategies to improve how we care for animals across settings and, ultimately, enhance captive animal welfare.

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Section: Individual and Species Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging Social Learning to Enhance Captive Animal Care and Welfare

Hopper

2021

JZBG

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“…Conventional methods for diet studies, such as direct observation, videotaping, or fecal microscopy, have various drawbacks and limitations [7]. Observing wild animals consuming unexpected foods that defy conventional knowledge is a common occurrence, as highlighted by Mehrkam [8]. While large mammalian herbivores possess the ability to consume a variety of food plants, they tend to exhibit preferences for specific options while avoiding others [9; 10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Metabarcoding Techniques for Dietary Assessment in Herbivores and Omnivores

Hartini Sariyati,

Haris,

Farhana Ramli

et al. 2024

BIO Web Conf.

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Dietary assessment plays a crucial role in comprehending the ecological dynamics and nutritional needs of herbivores and omnivores. The metabarcoding technique has emerged as a potent tool for exploring the dietary composition of these animals. However, various metabarcoding techniques have been developed, each with its own advantages and limitations. This study aims to compare the performance of different metabarcoding techniques in herbivores and omnivores diet. We systematically reviewed 159 published manuscripts in Scopus and Google Scholar, and thematic analysis was conducted across several categories, including the marker, platform, and database utilized. Preliminary findings reveal significant variations among metabarcoding techniques across these two animal groups. The trnL gene exhibited higher taxonomic resolution for herbivorous species, whereas the combination of the 'trnL + 16s rRNA' gene exhibited superior performance for omnivorous species. The Illumina platform emerged as the most commonly used method for analyzing the diets of both herbivores and omnivores, with the primary reference database being the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). This study offers valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of different metabarcoding techniques for dietary assessment in herbivores and omnivores and optimizing metabarcoding protocols, facilitating more precise and reliable diet analyses within these ecological groups.

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How do animals navigate the urban jungle? A review of cognition in urban-adapted animals

Sarkar

Bhadra

2022

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences

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The Cognitive Abilities of Wild Animals

Cited by 3 publications

References 77 publications

Leveraging Social Learning to Enhance Captive Animal Care and Welfare

Leveraging Social Learning to Enhance Captive Animal Care and Welfare

Comparison of Metabarcoding Techniques for Dietary Assessment in Herbivores and Omnivores

How do animals navigate the urban jungle? A review of cognition in urban-adapted animals

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