TY - JOUR
T1 - Reward type influences performance and search structure of an omnivorous bird in an open-field maze
AU - Sulikowski, Danielle
AU - Burke, Darren
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Open-field mazes are routinely used to study the spatial cognitive abilities of birds and are often implicitly assumed to be suitable tests of generic spatial memory ability. In recent years there has been extensive research motivated by considerations of an animals' ecology, demonstrating potential examples of specialisations of spatial cognition, as a result of foraging niche. The study reported here demonstrates differences in maze performance as a function of reward type (nectar and invertebrates) that can be predicted from the natural distributions of these rewards. As well as specific implications for the nature of spatial memory specialisation in this species, the results hold more general implications for the use of open-field mazes as tools for measuring and comparing spatial memory ability between species.
AB - Open-field mazes are routinely used to study the spatial cognitive abilities of birds and are often implicitly assumed to be suitable tests of generic spatial memory ability. In recent years there has been extensive research motivated by considerations of an animals' ecology, demonstrating potential examples of specialisations of spatial cognition, as a result of foraging niche. The study reported here demonstrates differences in maze performance as a function of reward type (nectar and invertebrates) that can be predicted from the natural distributions of these rewards. As well as specific implications for the nature of spatial memory specialisation in this species, the results hold more general implications for the use of open-field mazes as tools for measuring and comparing spatial memory ability between species.
KW - Foraging ecology
KW - Meliphagidae
KW - Open-field maze
KW - Spatial learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=72449177330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.beproc.2009.09.002
DO - 10.1016/j.beproc.2009.09.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 19748555
AN - SCOPUS:72449177330
SN - 0376-6357
VL - 83
SP - 31
EP - 35
JO - Behavioural Processes
JF - Behavioural Processes
IS - 1
ER -