The effects of cache loss on choice of cache sites in black-capped chickadees |
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Authors: | Hampton Robert R; Sherry David F |
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Institution: | Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1. Canada
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario London, Ontario N6A 5C2, Canada |
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Abstract: | Food-storing birds lose a great deal of their stored food toother animals. We examined whether blackcapped chickadees (Parusairicapillus) modify their choice of cache sites using informationthat predicts cache loss. In experiment 1, birds learned toavoid caching at spatial locations where cache loss had previouslyoccurred, but they did not avoid caching near local color cuesthat predicted cache loss. Birds did not modify their generaluse of space in the aviary. Birds also learned to reduce searchingfor caches where spatial location predicted cache loss. Experiment2 confirmed the birds ability to discriminate among thespatial locations and the local color cues used in experiment1. In experiment 3, learning a food-rewarded approach to potentialcache sites occurred without any change in the choice of sitesfor caching. We discuss how chickadees selectively associatethe choice of cache site with its consequences, even over delaysof several hours between caching and cache recovery. |
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Keywords: | Black-capped chickadees cache pilfering food caching food storing learning Parus atricapillus scatter hoarding |
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