The influence of artificial paths and landmarks on the foraging behavior of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

In two experiments, we explored how the foraging behavior of Norway rats was influenced by different arrangements of artificial paths and vertical landmarks, The rats used the paths successively less for orienting to food in treatments in which paths led to food but were crooked, in which paths led only halfway to food, and in which paths were misaligned with respect to food. The arrangement of paths influenced the rats' rate of energy intake in the beginning of the experiment, whereas the arrangement of beacons did not. With experience, the rats employed different orientation strategies in the presence of different arrangements of paths or beacons, and, by the final 4 days, all groups achieved statistically indistinguishable net rates of return. The rates of energy intake were similar because the rats in different treatments traveled similar distances per session, despite differing arrangements of paths and landmarks.

How is radial arm maze behavior in rats related to locomotor search tactics?

“…On the basis of our data and those of Roche and Timberlake (1998), the tactic that appeared most important was trail following represented in the form of traveling along arms and the arena wall. The tactics of distance minimizing, centralplace search, and random search were not influential or, at best, were subservient to the tactic of trail following.…”

“…This preference may be due to a dependence of locomotion on visual and tactual contact with vertical edges (see Munn, 1950;Roche & Timberlake, 1998;Timberlake, Leffel, & Hoffman, 1999).…”

“…In other words, distance minimizing appears to be a secondary tactic to trail following. It occurs in purest form only when maze arms trace a distanceminimizing route (see also Roche & Timberlake, 1998). However, it remains possible that distance minimizing is a primary locomotor tactic that we have not engaged because the relative or absolute difference between trail following and distance minimizing was too small.…”

Integrating niche-related and general process approaches in the study of learning

“…For example in the case of efficient maze searching, Timberlake (1983a) reviewed and extended previous data showing that rats acquire straight-alley running in the absence of any food reward. Timberlake and White (1990) showed that rats acquired efficient search of a radial-arm maze in the absence of food, while Hoffman et al (1999) and Timberlake et al (1999) and Roche and Timberlake (1998) showed that rats still acquired arm-following even when the arms of a radial maze were placed flat on the floor so other search patterns were possible and more efficient.…”

Beacon training in a water maze can facilitate and compete with subsequent room cue learning in rats.

“…For example, food-storing birds and rats use flexible hierarchies of spatial learning, the expression of which changes with circumstances and previous experience (e.g., Brodbeck, 1994;Kamil & Jones, 2000;Roche & Timberlake, 1998;Shettleworth & Sutton, 2005). Observations of free-ranging rats also support the operation of multiple spatial mechanisms in establishing and using trails connecting burrows and feeding areas (Calhoun, 1962;Leonard & McNaughton, 1990).…”