Data from: Reversal learning and neophobia test results in Chimango Caracaras
Data files
Apr 01, 2024 version files 14 KB
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README.md
2.15 KB
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REVLEAR.URB.xlsx
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Abstract
In this study, we analyzed the variation in cognitive flexibility in the Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango), across areas with different levels of urbanization. To assess this, we utilized the reversal learning assay which measures the ability to adapt behavior in response to changes in environmental contingencies. We also investigated the impact of neophobia on this variation. All chimangos studied succeeded in acquiring a color-reward association and reverting this learned association when the contingencies changed. Urban chimangos were faster than their rural and suburban counterparts during the initial discrimination and reversal phases. The reversal phase proved to be the most challenging task. The analysis of the errors made during this phase revealed that acquiring a new association (i.e., regressive errors) was challenging for the individuals studied, in comparison to inhibiting a previously learned one (i.e., perseverative errors). Neophobia was found to be lower in urban individuals compared to suburban and rural raptors. Moreover, neophobia showed a correlation with regressive errors during the reversal phase among rural and suburban chimangos, while no such correlation was observed among city-dwelling chimangos. We suggest that neophobia acted as a regulating factor of cognitive flexibility, mainly for individuals expressing relatively high levels of this personality trait.
This README file was generated on 2023-04-28 by Kara Leimberger.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Title of Dataset: Data from reversal learning and neophobia test results in Chimango Caracaras.
Author Information:
Principal Investigator Contact Information
Laura Marina Biondi.
Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), UNMdP - CONICET,
B7602GSD Mar del Plata, Argentina.
E-mail lmbiondi@mdp.edu.ar
Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): March and August (non-breeding period) 2019
Geographic location of data collection: Partido de General Pueyrredon, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Links to publications that cite or use the data:
L M Biondi, A Medina, E A Bonetti, C A Paterlini, M S Bó. 2024. Cognitive flexibility in a generalist raptor: a comparative analysis along an urbanization gradient. Behavioral Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arae025
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: REVLEAR.URB.xls
Number of variables: 11
Number of cases/rows: 26
Variable List:
Individual: tested individual ID
Habitat: Rural (rur), Urban (urb), Suburban (sub)
Neophobia: neophobia value extracted from object neophobia test
Trials dis1: Trials needed to reach the learning criterion during the initial discrimination phase
Trials rev: Trials needed to reach the learning criterion during the reversal phase
Trials dis2: Trials needed to reach the learning criterion during the second discrimination phase
Errors dis1: Errors made before reaching the learning criterion during the initial discrimination phase
Errors rev: Errors made before reaching the learning criterion during the reversal phase
Errors dis2: Errors made before reaching the learning criterion during the second discrimination phase
Perseverative Errors: number of perseverative errors committed during the reversal phase
Regressive Errors: number of regressive errors committed during the reversal phase
4. Missing data codes: None
5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None
Data was collected from video recordings of the experiments and uploaded to Excel sheets to their posterior arrangements for statistical analyses.