Well-developed spatial reversal learning abilities in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

Abstract

In this study, behavioral plasticity in harbor seals was investigated in spatial reversal learning tasks of varying complexities. We started with a classic spatial reversal learning experiment with no more than one reversal per day. The seals quickly learned the task and showed progressive improvement over reversals, one seal even reaching one-trial performance. In a second approach, one seal could complete multiple reversals occurring within a session. Again, a number of reversals were finished with only one error occurring at the beginning of a session as in experiment 1 which provides evidence that the seal adopted a strategy. In a final approach, reversals within a session were marked by an external cue. This way, an errorless performance of the experimental animal was achieved in up to three consecutive reversals. In conclusion, harbor seals master spatial, in contrast to visual, reversal learning experiments with ease. The underlying behavioral flexibility can help to optimize behaviors in fluctuating or changing environments.

Serial visual reversal learning in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

“…We would hypothesize that seals perform better in a spatial SRL experiment as (1) previous experiments have documented better spatial as compared to visual abilities (Mauck and Dehnhardt 2007;Renouf and Gaborko 1989), (2) a better spatial awareness can be deduced from the seals' lifestyle, and (3) a decreased visual performance seems to mirror the fact that vision may be reduced in the seals' environment when diving in dark or turbid water. (The data of our spatial RL experiment (Niesterok et al 2022) are reported in this volume, too).…”

“…A very promising approach could be to contrast the seals’ performance in the current visual SRL experiment with their performance in a spatial SRL experiment (Niesterok et al 2022 ); a comparison that has previously been done in other species (see for example Doty and Combs 1969 ). We would hypothesize that seals perform better in a spatial SRL experiment as (1) previous experiments have documented better spatial as compared to visual abilities (Mauck and Dehnhardt 2007 ; Renouf and Gaborko 1989 ), (2) a better spatial awareness can be deduced from the seals’ lifestyle, and (3) a decreased visual performance seems to mirror the fact that vision may be reduced in the seals’ environment when diving in dark or turbid water.…”