Animal cognitive abilities are frequently quantified in strictly controlled settings, with laboratory-reared subjects. Results from these studies have merit for clarifying proximate mechanisms of performance and the potential upper limits certain abilities. Researchers often assume that on laboratory-based assessments accurately represents wild conspecifics, but this is infrequently tested. In experiment, we captive corvid subjects an extractive foraging task. We found was not equivalent,...

Behavioral flexibility, the ability to adapt behavior new circumstances, is thought play an important role in a species’ successfully environments and expand its geographic range. However, flexibility rarely directly tested way that would allow us determine how works predict their environments. We use great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus; bird species) as model investigate this question because they have recently rapidly expanded range into North America. attempted manipulate grackle...

Behavioral flexibility should, theoretically, be positively related to behavioral inhibition because one should need inhibit a previously learned behavior change their when the task changes (flexibility). However, several investigations show no or mixed support of this hypothesis, which challenges assumption that is involved in making flexible decisions. We tested hypothesis (reversal learning and solution switching on multi-access box by Logan et al., 2022) associated with (go/no go...

It is generally thought that behavioral flexibility, the ability to change behavior when circumstances change, plays an important role in of species rapidly expand their geographic range. Great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are a social, polygamous expanding its range by settling new areas and habitats. They behaviorally flexible highly associated with human-modified environments, eating variety human foods addition foraging on insects ground for other natural food items. offer...

The ability of other species to adapt human modified environments is increasingly crucial because the rapid expansion this landscape type. Behavioral flexibility, change behavior in face a changing environment by packaging information and making it available cognitive processes, hypothesized be key factor species’ successfully new environments, including expand its geographic range. However, most tests hypothesis confound behavioral flexibility with specific proxy aspect foraging, social, or...

Operant chambers are small enclosures used to test animal behavior and cognition. While traditionally reliant on simple technologies for presenting stimuli (e.g., lights sounds) recording responses made basic manipulanda levers buttons), an increasing number of researchers beginning use Touchscreen-equipped Chambers (TOCs). These TOCs have obvious advantages, namely by allowing present a near infinite visual as well increased flexibility in the types that can be recorded. We trained...

Behavioral flexibility, adapting behavior to changing situations, is hypothesized be related new environments and geographic range expansions. However, flexibility rarely directly tested in a way that allows insight into how works. Research on great-tailed grackles, bird species has rapidly expanded their North America over the past 140 years, shows grackle manipulatable using colored tube reversal learning generalizable across contexts multi-access box). Here, we use these results conduct...

Behavioral flexibility, the ability to adapt behavior new circumstances, is thought play an important role in a species' successfully environments and expand its geographic range.However, flexibility rarely directly tested way that would allow us determine how works predict their environments.We use great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus; bird species) as model investigate this question because they have recently rapidly expanded range into North America.We attempted manipulate grackle...

Behavioral flexibility (hereafter, flexibility) should theoretically be positively related to behavioral inhibition inhibition) because one need inhibit a previously learned behavior change their when the task changes (the component). However, several investigations show no or mixed support of this hypothesis, which challenges assumption that is involved in making flexible decisions. We aimed test hypothesis (measured as reversal learning and solution switching on multi-access box by Logan...

Research into animal cognitive abilities is increasing quickly and often uses methods where behavioral performance on a task assumed to represent variation in the underlying trait. However, because these rely responses as proxy for ability, it important validate that structure does, fact, target trait of interest rather than non-target cognitive, personality, or motivational traits (construct validity). Although can be difficult, impossible, definitively assign one trait, way more likely...

Animal personality traits are defined as consistent individual differences in behavior over time and across contexts. Occasionally this inflexibility results maladaptive behavioral responses to external stimuli. However, social groups inflexible phenotypes might be favored could lead more predictable interactions. Two hypotheses seek describe the optimal distribution of types within groups. The niche specialization hypothesis states that individuals should partition roles, like types, avoid...

Abstract The factors favoring the evolution of certain cognitive abilities in animals remain unclear. Social learning is a ability that reduces cost acquiring personal information and forms foundation for cultural behavior. Theory predicts evolutionary pressures to evolve social should be greater more species. However, research testing this theory has primarily occurred captivity, where artificial environments can affect performance yield conflicting results. We compared use information,...

In most bird species, females disperse prior to their first breeding attempt, while males remain closer the place they hatched for entire lives. Explanations such female bias in natal dispersal have focused on resource-defense based monogamous mating system that is prevalent birds. this system, are argued benefit from philopatry because knowing local environment can help them establish territories attract females, dispersing find suitable unrelated mates. However, theoretical, field, and...

Great-tailed Grackles ( Quiscalus mexicanus ) are a social, polygamous bird species whose populations have rapidly expanded their geographic range across North America over the past century. Before 1865, were only documented in Central America, Mexico, and southern Texas USA. Given rapid northern expansion of this species, it is relevant to study its role dynamics avian blood parasites. Here, 87 grackles Arizona (a population new center range) screened for haemosporidian parasites using...

Research into animal cognitive abilities is increasing quickly and often uses methods where behavioral performance on a task assumed to represent variation in the underlying trait. However, because these rely responses as proxy for ability, it important validate that structure does, fact, target trait of interest rather than non-target cognitive, personality, or motivational traits (construct validity). One way elicits based assess temporal contextual repeatability performance. In other...

It is generally thought that behavioral flexibility, the ability to change behavior when circumstances change, plays an important role in of species rapidly expand their geographic range. Great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are a social, polygamous expanding its range by settling new areas and habitats. They behaviorally flexible highly associated with human-modified environments, eating variety human foods addition foraging on insects ground for other natural food items. offer...

Long-term memory affects animal fitness, especially in social species. In these species, the of group members facilitates acquisition novel foraging skills through learning when naïve individuals observe and imitate successful behavior. also provide framework for cultural behavior, a trait found humans but very few other birds, little is known about duration long-term memories complex skills, or impact on members. We tested whether wild jays remembered task more than 3 years after their...

Abstract Invasive species can have disastrous ecological consequences, and management is often required to control these invasions mitigate the damage. Yet in many systems, biological invaders serve critical roles, particularly where they been long‐established or effectively replaced functionally similar native species. In such cases, eradicating unintended consequences on other components of ecosystem, potential measures must be viewed within an ecosystem‐wide context ensure do not cause...

Human modified environments are rapidly increasing, which puts other species in the precarious position of either adapting to a new area or, if they not able adapt, shifting their range more suitable environment. It is generally thought that behavioral flexibility, ability change behavior when circumstances change, plays an important role expand geographic range. To determine whether differences expansion propensity linked we compared two closely related species, great-tailed grackles...

Many biological features are expressed as “time-to-event” traits, such time to first reproduction or response some stimulus. The analysis of these traits frequently produces right-censored data in cases where no event has occurred within a certain timeframe. Cox proportional hazards (CPH) model, type survival analysis, accounts for censored by estimating the hazard an occurring at each point. While random effect variances can be estimated CPH models, it is currently not possible estimate...

Behavioral flexibility, the ability to change behavior when circumstances based on learning from previous experience, is thought play an important role in a species' successfully adapt new environments and expand its geographic range. However, behavioral flexibility rarely directly tested at individual level. This limits our determine how it relates other traits, such as exploration or persistence, that might also influence responses novel circumstances. Without this information, we lack...

It is generally thought that behavioral flexibility, the ability to change behavior when circumstances change, plays an important role in of a species rapidly expand their geographic range. However, it alternative non-exclusive possibility increase amount available habitat can also facilitate range expansion. Great-tailed grackles (*Quiscalus mexicanus*) are social, polygamous expanding its and eats variety human foods addition foraging on insects ground for other natural food items. They...