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| Author |
Pain, S. |
| Title |
Inner Representations and Signs in Animals |
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| Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Introduction to Biosemiotics |
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409-455 |
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At the beginning of the twentieth century, behaviourists like John B. Watson (1878-1958) changed the focus of attention from the inside of the brain (mentalism and introspection then being the main trend in psychology at the time) to the outside (Watson, 1913). They believed that we could learn nearly everything about animals and humans by studying their performance in learning experiments, and this was both measurable and verifiable. Today in the first decade of the twenty-first century, there has been a return to the inside. The neurosciences seek physiological explanations and connections between external behaviour and the neural mechanisms within the nervous system. With the revolution in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology researchers are now able to visually represent neural activity. Other researchers have developed mathematical models and programs to visualise the patterns created in the periphery prior to central integration The author in this paper would like to distinguish these descriptive forms of representation from actual representations, i.e., those of which the animal is actually aware or conscious. Why does an animal sometimes make perceptual mistakes? (Case Study I “The Turtle and the Plastic Bag”). Is there more to dispositions? (Case Study II: “Taking Representation for a Walk. Argos and the Fake Daniel Dennett”). How is prey represented to an animal? (Case Study III “Representation of Prey in the Jellyfish/Herring Predator-Prey Dyad”). Does a simple animal feel pain or suffer? (Case Study IV: A Can of Worms. The Earthworm as Bait) It will be argued on the basis of contemporary biosemiotic research that animals (including both vertebrates and invertebrates) represent environmental information internally, and these representations can be subdivided into i.) primary or peripheral representation and ii.) central representation which are quantitative and qualitative respectively. Sensory information is conveyed via signals, these are received as stimuli then transduced into internal signals (see Theoretical Framework). At this stage the animal is not aware of the quality of the information as it has not yet been integrated or processed in a ganglionic complex. One can describe the properties of this pre-integrated information as quantitative and syntactical i.e., spatial and temporal ordering of incoming signals and their relations. The sign which is the smallest unit of qualitative representation arises only after integration of information from two or more discrete sensory modalities. These findings have repercussions for current models of animal learning and behaviour, especially in lower invertebrates (the principal subject of this paper); they also challenge the development of robots based on so-called simple systems |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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3102 |
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| Author |
Scheumann, M.; Rabesandratana, A.; Zimmermann, E. |
| Title |
Predation, Communication, and Cognition in Lemurs |
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2007 |
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Primate Anti-Predator Strategies |
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100-126 |
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Predation represents an important selective force shaping the evolution of primate behavior. Primates confronted with predators have evolved various strategies to minimize the probability of being eaten. Predation risk and hunting styles of predators should have selected for communicative and cognitive abilities linked to socioecology and life history. As studies on several socially cohesive mammals indicate, the study of anti-predator behavior represents an important tool for gaining insight into cognition, e.g., to understand how animals classify objects and events in the world around them (e.g., marmots: Blumstein, 1999; vervet monkeys: Seyfarth et al., 1980; Diana monkeys: Zuberbhler, 2000; suricates: Manser et al., 2002). |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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3103 |
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Janson, C.H. |
| Title |
Experimental evidence for route integration and strategic planning in wild capuchin monkeys |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
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Animal Cognition |
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Anim. Cogn. |
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10 |
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3 |
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341-356 |
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Abstract Both in captivity and the wild, primates are found to travel mostly to the nearest available resource, but they may skip over the closest resource and travel to more distant resources, which are often found to be more productive. This study examines the tradeoff between distance and reward in the foraging choices of one group of wild capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus) using feeding platforms in large-scale foraging experiments conducted over four years. Three feeding sites were arrayed in an oblique triangle, such that once the monkey group had chosen one site to feed, they had a choice between two remaining sites, a close one with less food and the other up to 2.3 times as far away but with more food. Sites were provisioned once per day. The capuchins generally chose the closer feeding site, even when the more distant site offered up to 12 times as much food. The distances to, rewards of, or various profitability measures applied to each alternative site individually did not explain the groups choices in ways consistent with foraging theory or principles of operant psychology. The groups site choices were predicted only by comparing efficiency measures of entire foraging pathways: (1) direct travel to the more rewarding distant site, versus (2) the longer “detour” through the closer site on the way to the more distant one. The group chose the detour more often when the reward was larger and the added detour distance shorter. They appeared to be more sensitive to the absolute increase in detour distance than to the relative increase compared to the straight route. The qualitative and quantitative results agree with a simple rule: do not use the detour unless the energy gain from extra food outweighs the energy cost of extra travel. These results suggest that members of this group integrate information on spatial location, reward, and perhaps potential food competition in their choice of multi-site foraging routes, with important implications for social foraging. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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3248 |
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J. Keay-Bright, J.B. |
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The influence of land management on soil erosion in the Sneeuberg Mountains, Central Karoo, South Africa |
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2007 |
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Land Degradation & Development |
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18 |
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4 |
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423-439 |
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Farm practices in the Sneeuberg Mountains, Karoo, South Africa are examined to assess their contribution to the development of the observed gullies and badlands. Data from the literature is augmented by interviews with local farmers and measurements in the field. Changes in stocking rates, grazing systems and technological advances are assessed for their impact on soil erosion, vegetation cover and species composition. The possibility of natural and managed rehabilitation of badland areas is discussed, as are future prospects for farm management in the Sneeuberg. The findings suggest that high stock numbers and less benign management practices in the 19th century and the early 20th century underlie much of the degradation seen today. Copyright – 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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1099-145x |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ J.Keay-Bright2007 |
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3548 |
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Ajie, B.C.; Pintor, L.M.; Watters, J.; Kerby, J.L.; Hammond, J.I.; Sih, A. |
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A framework for determining the fitness consequences of antipredator behavior |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
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Behavioral Ecology |
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Behav. Ecol. |
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18 |
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1 |
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267-270 |
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Behavioral ecologists have long been interested in understanding the adaptive value of antipredator behavior (Sih 1987Go; Lima and Dill 1990Go; Lima 1998Go). A recent review by Lind and Cresswell (2005)Go, however, noted some important difficulties with quantifying the fitness consequences of antipredator behaviors. In essence, Lind and Cresswell suggest that most studies do not provide strong evidence on the adaptive value of antipredator behavior because they do not consider 1) trade-offs between antipredator and reproductive performance, 2) the abilities of organisms to avoid fitness losses associated with constraints on focal traits by employing behavioral alternatives (behavioral compensation), and 3) the effects of behavioral defenses at different stages of the predation sequence. The authors rightfully assert that an understanding of these issues can only be accomplished by measuring multiple traits and fitness components (i.e., survival and reproduction). Nevertheless, the question of how to integrate such data into |
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10.1093/beheco/arl064 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4087 |
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Rankin, D.J.; Lopez-Sepulcre, A.; Foster, K.R.; Kokko, H. |
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Species-level selection reduces selfishness through competitive exclusion |
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2007 |
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Journal of Evolutionary Biology |
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20 |
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4 |
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1459-1468 |
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Abstract Adaptation does not necessarily lead to traits which are optimal for the population. This is because selection is often the strongest at the individual or gene level. The evolution of selfishness can lead to a .tragedy of the commons., where traits such as aggression or social cheating reduce population size and may lead to extinction. This suggests that species-level selection will result whenever species differ in the incentive to be selfish. We explore this idea in a simple model that combines individual-level selection with ecology in two interacting species. Our model is not influenced by kin or trait-group selection. We find that individual selection in combination with competitive exclusion greatly increases the likelihood that selfish species go extinct. A simple example of this would be a vertebrate species that invests heavily into squabbles over breeding sites, which is then excluded by a species that invests more into direct reproduction. A multispecies simulation shows that these extinctions result in communities containing species that are much less selfish. Our results suggest that species-level selection and community dynamics play an important role in regulating the intensity of conflicts in natural populations. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4225 |
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Kokko, H.; Lopez-Sepulcre, A. |
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The ecogenetic link between demography and evolution: can we bridge the gap between theory and data? |
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2007 |
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Ecology Letters |
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10 |
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9 |
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773-782 |
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Abstract Calls to understand the links between ecology and evolution have been common for decades. Population dynamics, i.e. the demographic changes in populations, arise from life history decisions of individuals and thus are a product of selection, and selection, on the contrary, can be modified by such dynamical properties of the population as density and stability. It follows that generating predictions and testing them correctly requires considering this ecogenetic feedback loop whenever traits have demographic consequences, mediated via density dependence (or frequency dependence). This is not an easy challenge, and arguably theory has advanced at a greater pace than empirical research. However, theory would benefit from more interaction between related fields, as is evident in the many near-synonymous names that the ecogenetic loop has attracted. We also list encouraging examples where empiricists have shown feasible ways of addressing the question, ranging from advanced data analysis to experiments and comparative analyses of phylogenetic data. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4226 |
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Silk, J.B. |
| Title |
Social Components of Fitness in Primate Groups |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
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Science |
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Science |
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317 |
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5843 |
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1347-1351 |
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There is much interest in the evolutionary forces that favored the evolution of large brains in the primate order. The social brain hypothesis posits that selection has favored larger brains and more complex cognitive capacities as a means to cope with the challenges of social life. The hypothesis is supported by evidence that shows that group size is linked to various measures of brain size. But it has not been clear how cognitive complexity confers fitness advantages on individuals. Research in the field and laboratory shows that sophisticated social cognition underlies social behavior in primate groups. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that the quality of social relationships has measurable fitness consequences for individuals. |
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10.1126/science.1140734 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4239 |
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Pennisi, E. |
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PSYCHOLOGY: Nonhuman Primates Demonstrate Humanlike Reasoning |
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2007 |
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Science |
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Science |
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317 |
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5843 |
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1308- |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4240 |
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Wood, J.N.; Glynn, D.D.; Phillips, B.C.; Hauser, M.D. |
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The Perception of Rational, Goal-Directed Action in Nonhuman Primates |
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2007 |
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Science |
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Science |
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317 |
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5843 |
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1402-1405 |
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Humans are capable of making inferences about other individuals' intentions and goals by evaluating their actions in relation to the constraints imposed by the environment. This capacity enables humans to go beyond the surface appearance of behavior to draw inferences about an individual's mental states. Presently unclear is whether this capacity is uniquely human or is shared with other animals. We show that cotton-top tamarins, rhesus macaques, and chimpanzees all make spontaneous inferences about a human experimenter's goal by attending to the environmental constraints that guide rational action. These findings rule out simple associative accounts of action perception and show that our capacity to infer rational, goal-directed action likely arose at least as far back as the New World monkeys, some 40 million years ago. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4241 |
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