Neophobia affects choice of food-item size in group-foraging common ravens (Corvus corax) |
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Authors: | Maartje Kijne Kurt Kotrschal |
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Institution: | (1) Konrad Lorenz Research Station, 4645 Grünau 11, Austria,;(2) Institute for Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria,;(3) Institute for Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, |
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Abstract: | Individuals foraging in groups should develop behavioural tactics to optimise their gain. In novel feeding situations, predation
risk and pressure of kleptoparasites may be particularly high and hence may constrain optimal foraging. To create a novel
feeding situation, we offered common ravens (Corvus corax) equal numbers of either small (40 g) or large (160 g) pieces of meat on successive days, always in combination with the
same novel object. During the first weeks, when ravens were still neophobic, small pieces were taken in larger numbers than
large pieces. Intraspecific kleptoparasitism was more likely to occur when ravens carried large food items. It seems that
initiating foragers were mainly innovative subdominants. Preference for small items might have decreased with increasing habituation
because more dominants were then feeding directly at the source and hence were less likely to resort to kleptoparasitism as
an alternative foraging tactic.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Competition Corvidae Fear Optimal foraging Predator– prey |
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