| Records |
Author  |
Viscido, S.V.; Miller, M.; Wethey, D.S. |
| Title |
The response of a selfish herd to an attack from outside the group perimeter |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2001 |
Publication |
Journal of theoretical biology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Theor. Biol. |
| Volume |
208 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
315-328 |
| Keywords |
Animals; *Behavior, Animal; *Computer Simulation; Models, Biological; *Movement; Predatory Behavior |
| Abstract |
According to the selfish herd hypothesis, animals can decrease predation risk by moving toward one another if the predator can appear anywhere and will attack the nearest target. Previous studies have shown that aggregations can form using simple movement rules designed to decrease each animal's Domain of Danger. However, if the predator attacks from outside the group's perimeter, these simple movement rules might not lead to aggregation. To test whether simple selfish movement rules would decrease predation risk for those situations when the predator attacks from outside the flock perimeter, we constructed a computer model that allowed flocks of 75 simulated fiddler crabs to react to one another, and to a predator attacking from 7 m away. We attacked simulated crab flocks with predators of different sizes and attack speeds, and computed relative predation risk after 120 time steps. Final trajectories showed flight toward the center of the flock, but curving away from the predator. Path curvature depended on the predator's size and approach speed. The average crab experienced a greater decrease in predation risk when the predator was small or slow moving. Regardless of the predator's size and speed, however, predation risk always decreased as long as crabs took their flock-mates into account. We conclude that, even when flight away from an external predator occurs, the selfish avoidance of danger can lead to aggregation. |
| Address |
Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, U.S.A. viscido@u.washington.edu |
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| Language |
English |
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| ISSN |
0022-5193 |
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| Notes |
PMID:11207093 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
555 |
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| Author |
Watanabe, S.; Troje, N.F. |
| Title |
Towards a “virtual pigeon”: a new technique for investigating avian social perception |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Animal Cognition |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Cogn. |
| Volume |
9 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
271-279 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Behavioral Research/instrumentation/methods; Columbidae/*physiology; Computer Graphics; *Computer Simulation; Discrimination Learning/*physiology; Generalization (Psychology)/*physiology; Pattern Recognition, Visual/*physiology; Perceptual Masking/physiology; Rats; Recognition (Psychology)/physiology; *Social Behavior; User-Computer Interface |
| Abstract |
The purpose of the present study is to examine the applicability of a computer-generated, virtual animal to study animal cognition. Pigeons were trained to discriminate between movies of a real pigeon and a rat. Then, they were tested with movies of the computer-generated (CG) pigeon. Subjects showed generalization to the CG pigeon, however, they also responded to modified versions in which the CG pigeon was showing impossible movement, namely hopping and walking without its head bobbing. Hence, the pigeons did not attend to these particular details of the display. When they were trained to discriminate between the normal and the modified version of the CG pigeon, they were able to learn the discrimination. The results of an additional partial occlusion test suggest that the subjects used head movement as a cue for the usual vs. unusual CG pigeon discrimination. |
| Address |
Department of Psychology, Keio University, Mita 2-15-45, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108, Japan. swat@flet.keio.ac.jp |
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English |
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| ISSN |
1435-9448 |
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| Notes |
PMID:17024508 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2437 |
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