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Itahara A, Kano F. Gaze tracking of large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) in a motion capture system. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246514. [PMID: 38362616 PMCID: PMC11007591 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies often inferred the focus of a bird's attention from its head movements because it provides important clues about their perception and cognition. However, it remains challenging to do so accurately, as the details of how they orient their visual field toward the visual targets remain largely unclear. We thus examined visual field configurations and the visual field use of large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler 1827). We used an established ophthalmoscopic reflex technique to identify the visual field configuration, including the binocular width and optical axes, as well as the degree of eye movement. A newly established motion capture system was then used to track the head movements of freely moving crows to examine how they oriented their reconstructed visual fields toward attention-getting objects. When visual targets were moving, the crows frequently used their binocular visual fields, particularly around the projection of the beak-tip. When the visual targets stopped moving, crows frequently used non-binocular visual fields, particularly around the regions where their optical axes were found. On such occasions, the crows slightly preferred the right eye. Overall, the visual field use of crows is clearly predictable. Thus, while the untracked eye movements could introduce some level of uncertainty (typically within 15 deg), we demonstrated the feasibility of inferring a crow's attentional focus by 3D tracking of their heads. Our system represents a promising initial step towards establishing gaze tracking methods for studying corvid behavior and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Itahara
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068203, Japan
| | - Fumihiro Kano
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell 78315, Germany
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2
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Amorim PS, Dias RI. Social attributes shape antipredator behavior strategies in the ruddy ground-dove. Behav Processes 2023; 213:104964. [PMID: 37925060 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The cost-benefit of social behavior depends on group size and the social interaction. As group size increases, competition for resources increases, while individual vigilance may decrease due to the lower probability of individual predation or increased competition for resources. To test predictions of the "many eyes hypothesis" and the "competition hypothesis", we investigated the effects of social attributes on the vigilance, foraging, direct conflict and sex on social groups of ruddy ground-doves (Columbina talpacoti) in an urban area. We observed that the number of conspecifics did not influence individual foraging behavior, instead, the vigilance decreased as flock size increased. Moreover, the number of conflicts within the flock negatively affected individual vigilance. However, larger flocks exhibited more direct conflicts, and males were more frequently involved in social conflicts, regardless of the sex ratio of the flock. Finally, the investment in both vigilance and foraging was not influenced by the sex of the focal individual or the sex ratio of the flock. Our findings indicate that conspecific numbers and flock social organization significantly influence the cost-benefit dynamics of flocking behavior. Larger flocks enhance vigilance for predator detection but come at an individual cost due to increased resource competition and conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Sérgio Amorim
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação da Natureza, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil.
| | - Raphael Igor Dias
- Centro Universitário de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Educação e Saúde, Brasília, DF 70790-075, Brazil.
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3
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Takeda K, Takahashi N, Izawa EI. Social encounters produce different autonomic response between dominants and subordinates in crows. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220972. [PMID: 36300140 PMCID: PMC9579753 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies of behavioural physiology on animals have suggested the crucial role of peripherally physiological signals in eliciting arousal and emotion. Heart rate (HR) is one of the useful and critical signals to measure autonomic regulation as a physiological basis for arousal and emotion in response to biologically significant stimuli such as social encounter with conspecific individuals. However, our understanding of peripherally physiological response such as HRs and autonomic activities under social contexts of non-human animals is still limited, particularly in birds. Here, we examined the autonomic activity of behaving crows exposed to a dominant and a subordinate conspecific by using non-invasive electrocardiogram recording. We found different patterns of autonomic responses dependent on the relative dominance position: dominant crows encountering subordinates showed the elevation of sympathetic activity, whereas subordinates encountering dominants showed decreased HR with elevated parasympathetic activity. This is the first study in birds to report different autonomic responses dependent on relative dominance positions during dyadic social encounters. The present study advances our understanding of the role of the peripheral autonomic system, as an interactive system with the brain, in eliciting emotion/arousal associated with socially challenging environments from an evolutionary perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Takeda
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
| | - Nana Takahashi
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
- Japan Society of the Promotion for Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ei-Ichi Izawa
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo 108-8345, Japan
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Zhou W, Zhang Z. Intimacy across species boundaries: Interspecific allopreening between Spot‐necked (
Stachyris strialata
) and Nonggang Babblers (
S. nonggangensis
). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9195. [PMID: 36052300 PMCID: PMC9412244 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Allopreening occurs in many species of birds and is known for providing hygienic and social benefits. While this behavior has been extensively studied among conspecifics, its occurrence among different species remains little known. Outside of captive environments, only a few records of interspecific allopreening exist. In this study, we describe our observations of the interspecific allopreening behavior between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis) in a non‐captive environment in southern China. To our knowledge, these observations represent the first record of interspecific allopreening in the family Timaliidae. We suggest that this understudied behavior is most likely related to the dominant–subordinate relationship between these two species: either the dominant species preening the subordinate species to assert dominance or the subordinate species preening the dominant species to reduce tensions by appeasement. We also suggest interspecific allopreening may not be as rare as we thought if we study this behavior under circumstances where different species are close to each other. This study contributes to our understanding of not only the potential mechanism(s) behind interspecific allopreening but also the behavioral ecology of the vulnerable Nonggang Babbler.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Zhou
- Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Zhuyang Zhang
- AlpineBirding Sichuan AbsoluteWild Travel Co., Ltd Chengdu China
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6
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SEGUCHI A, MOGI K, IZAWA EI. Measurement of urinary mesotocin in large-billed crows by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. J Vet Med Sci 2022; 84:520-524. [PMID: 35153252 PMCID: PMC9096038 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesotocin (MT) is an avian homologue of oxytocin (OT). Behavioral pharmacological studies
in birds have suggested the involvement of MT in socially affiliative behavior. However,
investigations of peripheral MT levels associated with social behavior are lacking because
non-invasive methods to measure surrogate plasma MT have yet to be established. This study
aimed to measure urinary MT in crows using a commercially available OT enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay kit. Urine samples were collected after intravenous injection of MT
and centrifuged to separate urine and fecal components. We found that urinary MT was
significantly elevated 15–30 min after MT injection. These results validate our method for
the use of urine samples for the measurement of peripheral MT levels in crows.
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Horn L, Bugnyar T, Griesser M, Hengl M, Izawa EI, Oortwijn T, Rössler C, Scheer C, Schiestl M, Suyama M, Taylor AH, Vanhooland LC, von Bayern AMP, Zürcher Y, Massen JJM. Sex-specific effects of cooperative breeding and colonial nesting on prosociality in corvids. eLife 2020; 9:e58139. [PMID: 33079060 PMCID: PMC7609055 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The investigation of prosocial behavior is of particular interest from an evolutionary perspective. Comparisons of prosociality across non-human animal species have, however, so far largely focused on primates, and their interpretation is hampered by the diversity of paradigms and procedures used. Here, we present the first systematic comparison of prosocial behavior across multiple species in a taxonomic group outside the primate order, namely the bird family Corvidae. We measured prosociality in eight corvid species, which vary in the expression of cooperative breeding and colonial nesting. We show that cooperative breeding is positively associated with prosocial behavior across species. Also, colonial nesting is associated with a stronger propensity for prosocial behavior, but only in males. The combined results of our study strongly suggest that both cooperative breeding and colonial nesting, which may both rely on heightened social tolerance at the nest, are likely evolutionary pathways to prosocial behavior in corvids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Horn
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Michael Griesser
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Department of Biology, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Marietta Hengl
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Eulen- und Greifvogelstation HaringseeHaringseeAustria
| | | | - Tim Oortwijn
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Christiane Rössler
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Clara Scheer
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports, University of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Martina Schiestl
- Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human HistoryJenaGermany
| | - Masaki Suyama
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Hokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Alex H Taylor
- School of Psychology, University of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| | | | | | - Yvonne Zürcher
- Department of Anthropology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Jorg JM Massen
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Animal Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
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8
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Azure-winged magpies' decisions to share food are contingent on the presence or absence of food for the recipient. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16147. [PMID: 32999416 PMCID: PMC7528063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73256-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Helping others is a key feature of human behavior. However, recent studies render this feature not uniquely human, and describe discoveries of prosocial behavior in non-human primates, other social mammals, and most recently in some bird species. Nevertheless, the cognitive underpinnings of this prosociality; i.e., whether animals take others’ need for help into account, often remain obscured. In this study, we take a first step in investigating prosociality in azure-winged magpies by presenting them with the opportunity to share highly desired food with their conspecifics i) in a situation in which these conspecifics had no such food, ii) in a situation in which they too had access to that highly desired food, and iii) in an open, base-line, situation where all had equal access to the same food and could move around freely. We find that azure-winged magpies regularly share high-value food items, preferably with, but not restricted to, members of the opposite sex. Most notably, we find that these birds, and specifically the females, seem to differentiate between whether others have food or do not have food, and subsequently cater to that lack. Begging calls by those without food seem to function as cues that elicit the food-sharing, but the response to that begging is condition-dependent. Moreover, analyses on a restricted dataset that excluded those events in which there was begging showed exactly the same patterns, raising the possibility that the azure-winged magpies might truly notice when others have access to fewer resources (even in the absence of vocal cues). This sharing behavior could indicate a high level of social awareness and prosociality that should be further investigated. Further studies are needed to establish the order of intentionality at play in this system, and whether azure-winged magpies might be able to attribute desire states to their conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorg J. M. Massen
- Animal Ecology Group Department of Biology Institute of Environmental Biology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
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10
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Morales Picard A, Mundry R, Auersperg AM, Boeving ER, Boucherie PH, Bugnyar T, Dufour V, Emery NJ, Federspiel IG, Gajdon GK, Guéry J, Hegedič M, Horn L, Kavanagh E, Lambert ML, Massen JJM, Rodrigues MA, Schiestl M, Schwing R, Szabo B, Taylor AH, Horik JO, Bayern AMP, Seed A, Slocombe KE. Why preen others? Predictors of allopreening in parrots and corvids and comparisons to grooming in great apes. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger Mundry
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Platform Bioinformatics and Biostatistics University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Alice M. Auersperg
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Emily R. Boeving
- Department of Psychology Florida International University Miami FL USA
| | - Palmyre H. Boucherie
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien University of Strasbourg Strasbourg France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7178 Strasbourg France
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Valérie Dufour
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements INRA‐CNRS Université de Tours‐IFCE Nouzilly France
| | - Nathan J. Emery
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Ira G. Federspiel
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Gyula K. Gajdon
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Matjaž Hegedič
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Lisa Horn
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Megan L. Lambert
- Department of Psychology University of York York UK
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Animal Ecology Group Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Michelle A. Rodrigues
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois Urbana IL USA
| | - Martina Schiestl
- School of Psychology University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Raoul Schwing
- Messerli Research Institute University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University Vienna University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Birgit Szabo
- Department of Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney Australia
| | - Alex H. Taylor
- School of Psychology University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Jayden O. Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | | | - Amanda Seed
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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