Advances in the Study of Behavior (eBook)

H. Jane Brockmann, Marc Naguib, Timothy J. Roper, Peter J.B. Slater, Charles T. Snowdon, Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2006 | 1. Auflage
488 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
9780080468938 (ISBN)

Infos

The aim of Advances in the Study of Behavior is to serve scientists engaged in the study of animal behavior, including psychologists, neuroscientists, biologists, ethologists, pharmacologists, endocrinologists, ecologists, and geneticists. Articles in the series present critical reviews of significant research programs with theoretical syntheses, reformulation of persistent problems, and/or highlighting new and exciting research concepts.

Advances in the Study of Behavior is now available online at ScienceDirect - full-text online of volumes 30 onwards.

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*Published continuously since 1965
*Multidisciplinary across social and life science subject areas
*Volume 36 addresses current themes in animal behavior

Inhalt

Front Cover 1
Advances in The Study of Behavior 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 6
Contributors 10
Preface 12
Chapter 1: Suckling, Milk, and the Development of Preferences Toward Maternal Cues by Neonates: From Early Learning to Filial Attachment? 14
I. Introduction 14
II. The Udder, the Milk, and the Neonate 17
III. Milk: An Astonishingly Complex Fluid 30
IV. Suckling and Early Learning 36
V. Suckling and the Development of a Preference for the Mother in Sheep 41
VI. The First Hours After Birth 53
VII. Conclusions 56
VIII. Summary 58
Acknowledgments 59
References 60
Chapter 2: A Neuroethological Approach to Song Behavior and Perception in European Starlings: Interrelationships Among Testoste, Neuroanatomy, Immediate Early Gene Expression, and Immune Function 72
I. Introduction: Song, European Starlings, and the Neuroethological Approach 72
II. Description of European Starling Song and Its Function 74
III. Song Control Circuit and the Neuroendocrine Control of Song 77
IV. Perception of Song in Starlings 84
V. Physiological Responses to Song in Starlings 87
VI. Functional Basis of Song Preferences in European Starlings 103
VII. Putting It All Together: Song Production/Perception and Hormones 117
VIII. Summary 119
Acknowledgments 119
References 120
Chapter 3: Navigational Memories in Ants and Bees: Memory Retrieval When Selecting and Following Routes 136
I. Introduction 136
II. Foraging Routes 137
III. Navigational Memories 140
IV. The Retrieval of Memories Along a Route 161
V. Choice of Route and Destination 168
VI. Summary 178
References 180
Chapter 4: Functional Genomics Requires Ecology 186
I. The Problem: Many Genes Seem to Be Unnecessary 186
II. Genes Lacking Phenotypes: Explanations and Experimental Approaches for Their Elucidation 190
III. Gene Function Studies Demand Integrative Approaches 216
IV. Summary 220
Acknowledgments 221
References 222
Chapter 5: Signal Detection and Animal Communication 230
I. Introduction 230
II. Essential Features of Signal Detection 231
III. Application of Signal Detection Theory in Experimental Psychophysics 234
IV. General Assumptions of Signal Detection Theory 237
V. Specific Assumptions of Signal Detection Theory: Measuring Detectability 240
VI. Properties of Signals That Affect a Receiver's Performance 242
VII. Classification of Signals in Addition to Detection 247
VIII. Complex Patterns: Extension of the Concept of Channels 251
IX. Evolution of Signaling and Reception 252
X. Interpretation of Playback Experiments in Terms of Signal Detection Theory 253
XI. Practicalities of Experiments in Natural Situations 254
XII. Summary 256
Acknowledgments 257
References 257
Chapter 6: Preexisting Male Traits Are Important in the Evolution of Elaborated Male Sexual Display 262
I. Introduction 262
II. Alternative Models of Display Trait Evolution 263
III. Problems with Current Models of Elaborate Display Trait Evolution 266
IV. Evaluating Genetic Correlation Models 273
V. Evaluating the Preexisting Preference Model 277
VI. Evidence for the Co-option of Preexisting Traits 284
VII. Implications and Conclusions 297
VIII. Summary 300
Acknowledgments 301
References 301
Chapter 7: Adaptation, Genetic Drift, Pleiotropy, and History in the Evolution of Bee Foraging Behavior 318
I. Introduction 318
II. Comparison Between Species: Flower Constancy 320
III. Comparison Between Species: Floral Color Preference 324
IV. Comparison Between Populations: Floral Color Preferences 326
V. Variation Within Populations: Color Preference and Foraging Performance 330
VI. Variation Within Populations: Learning Behavior 333
VII. Reciprocal Population Transplant Experiments: A Test of Local Adaptation 336
VIII. Manipulation of the Foraging Environment: Scent Marking and Traplining 339
IX. Manipulating Foraging Phenotypes: The Honeybee Dance 343
X. Genetic Basis of Foraging Behavior 347
XI. Modeling 348
XII. Discussions 352
XIII. Summary 355
Acknowledgments 356
References 357
Chapter 8: Kin Selection, Constraints, and the Evolution of Cooperative Breeding in Long-Tailed Tits 368
I. Introduction 368
II. Study Species, Study Sites, and General Methods 371
III. Kin Discrimination by Helpers 373
IV. Kin Recognition Mechanism 376
V. Fitness Consequences of Cooperation 383
VI. Ecological Basis for Cooperative Breeding 394
VII. Conclusions 399
VIII. Summary 402
Acknowledgments 402
References 403
Chapter 9: How Do Little Blue Penguins "Validate" Information Contained in Their Agonistic Displays? 410
I. Introduction 410
II. Natural History 412
III. Validations for Information Contained in Agonistic Displays 415
IV. Investment Strategies Validating Signals and Signal Synergy 451
V. Summary 454
Acknowledgments 456
References 456
Index 462
Contents of Previous Volumes 476

Textauszug

A Neuroethological Approach to Song Behavior and Perception in European Starlings: Interrelationships Among Testosterone, Neuroanatomy, Immediate Early Gene Expression, and Immune Function

Gregory F. Ball*; Keith W. Sockman†; Deborah L. Duffy‡; Timothy Q. Gentner§    * Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
† Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
‡ Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
§ Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA

Publisher Summary

The purpose of this chapter is to review studies on the interrelationships among endocrine state, brain mechanisms for song perception and production, and immunocompetence and relate these to the question of female choice based on male song in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). The chapter illustrates how by studying a single species from multiple viewpoints one can start to make connections among the major physiological communications systems—namely, the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. This approach is needed to address how behavior is controlled and concomitantly how these physiological systems that regulate behavioral output have themselves been shaped by natural and sexual selection. Song in European starlings is long and complex and can include imitations of sounds from other species. Several lines of evidence support the contention that male starling song is important for female mate choice. European starlings and other members of the songbirds (suborder Passeres or Oscines) have evolved a suite of neural specializations in association with their sophisticated vocal abilities, which facilitate the learning, production, and perception of song. One can consider starling song as a sequence of phrases or motifs, where each motif is an acoustically complex event. The primary adaptive function of male starling song is in attracting and obtaining mates. Male European star lings produce a long complex song that is used by females to choose mates in a breeding context. Females tend to prefer males that produce songs organized into long bouts. These studies illustrate how behavioral investigations of functional significance can provide tools to implement a neuroethological investigation of behavioral mechanisms.

I Introduction: Song, European Starlings, and the Neuroethological Approach

It is not unusual to hear commentators on research trends in animal behavior lament current intellectual divisions in the field. During the past 25 years it can be argued that investigators in this field can be divided into those who focus on the adaptive significance and evolution of behavior (sometimes called ultimate causation) and those who focus on the study of sensory and physiological mechanisms controlling the production and ontogeny of behavior (sometimes called proximate causation; Dewsbury, 1992, 1999; Sherman, 1988). The concern of course is that the field is splitting into operationally specialized camps with little interaction between them. However, a more encouraging development that is also emerging is the cross-fertilization between these complementary approaches and the resultant new integrative views of the causes of behavior (Drickamer, 1998). The goal of this chapter is to review studies on the interrelationships among endocrine state, brain mechanisms for song perception and production, and immunocompetence and relate these to the question of female choice based on male song in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Our desire is to illustrate how by studying a single species from multiple viewpoints one can start to make connections among the major physiological communications systems, namely the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. This approach is needed in order to address how behavior is controlled and concomitantly how these physiological systems that regulate behavioral output have themselves been shaped by natural and sexual selection.

We adopt an explicitly neuroethological perspective in this research program. What do we mean exactly by this label? Neuroethology is of course a variant of ethology. An ethological research program starts with a view that animals are best understood when studied in their natural context and it encompasses the four questions about animal behavior that Tinbergen observed from the core of ethology (Hinde, 1982; Tinbergen, 1963). These questions consist of two related to proximate causes, that is, immediate causation and development and two questions related to ultimate causes, that is, adaptive significance and evolution (Hinde, 1982; Tinbergen, 1963; but see also Dewsbury, 1999). A neuroethological approach stresses an investigation of neural and physiological mechanisms that might control naturally occurring behavior. This approach can be distinguished from more general neuroscience approaches because it sets as its goal the understanding of the causes of behavior when produced under natural conditions and embraces the study of a wide range of species (Camhi, 1984; Gentner and Ball, 2005). Instead of starting with the goal to identify a model system of a human disease process, one starts with the premise that understanding the causes of complex naturally occurring behavior is interesting by itself. Adopting a neuroethological approach while being aware of questions of evolutionary function is not without potential pitfalls. Bolhuis and MacPhail (Bolhuis, 2005; Bolhuis and MacPhail, 2001) in particular have argued that confounding ultimate and proximate causes can lead one to erroneous notions about behavioral mechanisms. In this chapter we will try to illustrate that knowledge about the adaptive significance of behavior can be an important aide in guiding neuroethological investigations. When considering a complex learned behavior, such as birdsong, it is challenging to decide what aspects of the stimulus are most salient to the birds and are therefore the ones that investigators should concentrate on in sensory and neural studies. As will be illustrated in this chapter, work on aspects of song important in mate choice in starlings has been very helpful in guiding our studies of sensory responses to song and even for an analysis of the neural correlates of song production.

Another goal of this chapter is to highlight the range of methods that can be applied to the study of behavior. Although many neuroethological studies rely primarily on electrophysiological methods to investigate the structure and function of the nervous system, we argue that the entire range of neuroscience methods can and should be marshaled with this approach. The study of song in a species, such as the European starling, is particularly amenable to such a multimethod analysis. European (or Common) starlings have a huge native distribution in Eurasia but they have also been introduced in many areas of the world including North America, South Africa, and New Zealand (Feare, 1984). Thus, many scientists worldwide have access to this species and over time a substantial number of questions have been investigated about the control of song in these birds based on the use of a wide range of methods. We will begin by considering our some basic facts about song behavior.

II Description of European Starling Song and Its Function

A Fundamentals of Starling Song

Song in European starlings is long and complex and can include imitations of sounds from other species (Eens, 1997 for a review). It is often produced at a low amplitude, and field naturalists in the past have typically had the impression that it is rather unorganized with little overt structure (Feare, 1984). Detailed acoustic analyses in the 1980s and 1990s, however, revealed a clear underlying structure to starling song (Adret-Hausberger and Jenkins, 1988; Chaiken et al., 1993; Eens et al., 1989, 1991a; Mountjoy and Lemon, 1995) albeit one that is harder to discern than that of other well-studied songbirds. The nomenclature used to describe starling song in this paper follows the guidelines advocated by Eens (1997). Starling song is usually organized into long bouts that may be a minute or longer in duration. These bouts contain shorter phrases or motifs that can be repeated and are generally 0.5–1.0 sec in length. A complete song bout has four acoustically distinct sections (Fig. 1). The first section consists of relatively pure-toned whistles. The second section includes complex “warble” motifs of low amplitude and heterospecific motifs if the individual has copied any. Motifs in the third section are characterized by the presence of rapid, biphonated, click trains or “rattles.” Finally, motifs in the last section are characterized by high-frequency and high-amplitude components, typically the loudest part of the song (Eens, 1997; Fig. 1). Song production is often accompanied by wing movements, the rattle motifs with wing flicks, and the high-frequency motifs at the end of the song by wing waving (Bohner and Veit, 1993).

Fig. 1 Sonogram of a single song from one male starling showing the patterning of frequency spectrum power as a function of time. For...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 14.12.2006
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeine Psychologie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Biopsychologie / Neurowissenschaften
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Klinische Psychologie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Verhaltenstherapie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Humanbiologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
• ISBN-13: 9780080468938 / 9780080468938