Orientation behavior of butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae) on coral reefs: spatial learning of route specific landmarks and cognitive maps |
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Authors: | Ernst S Reese |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology and Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Synopsis Foraging butterflyfishes follow predictable paths as they swim from one food patch to another within their territories and
home ranges. The pattern is repeated throughout the day. The behavior is described in species belonging to the coral feeding
guild. Habit formation and spatial learning are implicated. Foraging paths are based on learned locations of route specific
landmarks. When a coral head is removed the fish look for it in its former location. If pairs of foraging fish are deflected
from the path, they resume their routine pattern at the first landmark they encounter. Periodically, fish make excursions
of 30 m or more to distant parts of the reef. Usually they follow different paths on the outbound and homeward legs of these
excursions. The critical question is: Are the paths novel? If they are, it is evidence for the use of cognitive maps. Certainly
fishes living in the highly structured coral reef environment are prime candidates to use cognitive maps in their orientation
behavior. |
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Keywords: | Reef fish Foraging Cognition Memory Habit formation Piloting |
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