An evolutionary game model for behavioral gambit of loyalists: Global awareness and risk-aversion

We study the phase diagram of a minority game where three classes of agents are present. Two types of agents play a risk-loving game that we model by the standard Snowdrift Game. The behaviour of the third type of agents is coded by {\em indifference} w.r.t. the game at all: their dynamics is designed to account for risk-aversion as an innovative behavioral gambit. From this point of view, the choice of this solitary strategy is enhanced when innovation starts, while is depressed when it becomes the majority option. This implies that the payoff matrix of the game becomes dependent on the global awareness of the agents measured by the relevance of the population of the indifferent players. The resulting dynamics is non-trivial with different kinds of phase transition depending on a few model parameters. The phase diagram is studied on regular as well as complex networks

Autism, the Integrations of 'Difference' and the Origins of Modern Human Behaviour

It is proposed here that the archaeological evidence for the emergence of 'modern behaviour' (160,000-40,000 bp) can best be explained as the rise of cognitive variation within populations through social mechanisms for integrating 'different minds', rather than by the development of a single 'modern human mind'. Autism and the autistic spectrum within human populations are used as an example of 'different minds' which when integrated within society can confer various selective benefits. It is proposed that social mechanisms for incorporating autistic difference are visible in the archaeological record and that these develop sporadically from 160,000 years bp in association with evidence for their consequences in terms of technological innovations, improved efficiency in technological and natural spheres and innovative thinking. Whilst other explanations for the emergence Of modern human behaviour may also contribute to observed changes, it is argued that the incorporation of cognitive differences played a significant role in the technological, social and symbolic expression of 'modern' behaviour

The impact of agent density on scalability in collective systems : noise-induced versus majority-based bistability

In this paper, we show that non-uniform distributions in swarms of agents have an impact on the scalability of collective decision-making. In particular, we highlight the relevance of noise-induced bistability in very sparse swarm systems and the failure of these systems to scale. Our work is based on three decision models. In the first model, each agent can change its decision after being recruited by a nearby agent. The second model captures the dynamics of dense swarms controlled by the majority rule (i.e., agents switch their opinion to comply with that of the majority of their neighbors). The third model combines the first two, with the aim of studying the role of non-uniform swarm density in the performance of collective decision-making. Based on the three models, we formulate a set of requirements for convergence and scalability in collective decision-making

The Effects of Social Status and Learning on Captive Coyote (\u3ci\u3eCanis latrans\u3c/i\u3e) Behavior

Many canids live within hierarchical social systems that could promote differences in learning or in behavior between ranked individuals. Differences in foraging and territorial behavior have been observed between ranked coyotes (Canis latrans), yet effects of learning and social status on coyote behavior are not thoroughly understood. I explored a) coyote response to an artificial scent boundary and whether response differed by status, b) how foraging coyotes tracked temporal resource change, and c) how coyotes find spatially distributed food, and the effect of dominance on foraging behavior. I used male/female pairs of captive coyotes at the National Wildlife Research Center Predator Research Facility in Utah. Prior to testing, I identified social rank within pairs by testing for food dominance. In study 1, I laid a scent boundary and monitored space use with GPS and observed behavioral responses directly. All coyotes investigated and crossed the boundary, but were repelled more by human presence. Subordinates investigated and marked the boundary more than dominants. Further investigation is needed to mimic natural boundaries for management purposes. In study 2, I gave eight individual coyotes an operant test with concurrent variable interval (VI) schedules. I varied the ratio of resources and measured the time spent on two choices, then fitted the generalized matching equation to the data. I found that all coyotes efficiently tracked changes in resource ratios and matched their relative rate of foraging time to relative rate of resources. Matching theory provides an effective methodology to explore foraging strategies and behavioral flexibility in coyotes. In study 3, I tested 16 coyotes in a spatial foraging task. Coyotes searched for food in eight potential locations, and were tested individually and in respective pairs. I recorded the area and number of locations searched, approach time, and frequency of marking by dominant and subordinate coyotes. Results showed individual subordinates increased efficiency by relocating, but their efficiency decreased when foraging in pairs. Dominant coyotes did not increase efficiency in company by following subordinates. Coyotes marked the correct feeder more than incorrect feeders. Results suggest coyotes use memory and odor (scent marks) to find food, but that social status overrules information use

Skill and Collaboration in the Evolution of Human Cognition

I start with a brief assessment of the implications of Sterelny’s anti-individualist, anti-internalist apprentice learning model for a more historical and interdisciplinary cognitive science. In a selective response I then focus on two core features of his constructive account: collaboration and skill. While affirming the centrality of joint action and decision making, I raise some concerns about the fragility of the conditions under which collaborative cognition brings benefits. I then assess Sterelny’s view of skill acquisition and performance, which runs counter to dominant theories that stress the automaticity of skill. I suggest that it may still overestimate the need for and ability of experts to decompose and represent the elements of their own practical knowledge.9 page(s

INVESTIGATING SUCCESS BIASED TRANSMISSION, AND LONG-TERM MEMORY CAPABILITIES, IN CHIMPANZEES AND CHILDREN: IMPLICATIONS FOR CUMULATIVE CULTURE.

Cumulative culture denotes the arguably human capacity to build on the developments of our predecessors. Factors such as imitation, teaching and cultural transmission biases have been identified as important for cumulative culture. In this thesis factors with implications for cumulative culture were investigated in chimpanzees and 4-to 5-year old children. Two experiments were designed to assess success biased copying in chimpanzees (and children) and a third study investigated chimpanzees’ retention and transfer of complex tool use skills. Information pertaining to success derived from others’ performances influenced both chimpanzees and children’s subsequent actions during a video based foraging task and token exchange task. Specifically, some of the first evidence for public information use and payoff biased transmission was documented in both species and thus suggests that a lack of such assessment abilities does not underlie the lack of cumulative culture in chimpanzees. In the final empirical study, some of the first evidence for appreciable long-term memory and improvements in the utility of complex tool manufacture was documented in chimpanzees. High fidelity retention of (socially) learned information is important for cumulative culture, where behaviour must be retained with sufficient fidelity for it to be reproduced. This is especially so where, for example, tool use is required to access temporally rare resources (e.g. nuts falling certain months of the year/seasonal resources)

Behavioural ethograms & social hierarchy of carcharhinus limbatus (blacktip) during a simulated-feeding scenario within South African MPA

It has become apparent that elasmobranchs form more complex social organisations than previously thought, and recent improvement of new technologies and analysis has provided valuable information into their social behaviour. Here, a simulated-feeding scenario was utilized to investigate the behaviour of Carcharhinus limbatus within Aliwal Shoal MPA, by defining and testing species-specifics ethograms. Ten behavioural units were identified and grouped in the following categories: i) dominant category: ‘fast turn’, ‘upward swim’, ‘downward swim’; ii) semi-dominant category: ‘parallel swim’; iii) submissive: ‘body tilt’, ‘avoid’, ‘giveway’, follow’; and iv) neutral category: ‘pass’, ‘patrol’. A total of 1014 individual behaviours were recorded, with ‘fast turn’ representing 39% and ‘avoid’ representing 19%. There were 475 dominant displays, 32 semi-dominant, 331 submissive and 176 neutral displays. Ten individuals were successfully identified using photographic-identification of their dorsal fin. The observed sharks were mostly females, with average sizes of 146.3 cm ± 3.088 (e.g. sub-adults). The data indicated that size played a significant role in the position of the individual within the hierarchy, with larger individuals showing more displays of dominance and smaller individuals showing more submissive displays. One particularly large female shark, named ‘Broken Tail’, appeared to be consistently more dominant than the other individuals, with also the highest level of re-sightings over the sample period, and the most displays of dominance (33% of the total). Finally, in the few instances where larger species (e.g. Galeocerdo cuvier or Carcharhinus leucas) were present, the number of blacktip sharks observed appeared to be less. Although the observations in the presence of other sharks were too few for drawing statistically significant conclusions, these preliminary observations suggest interspecific interactions during a simulated-feeding scenario. Given the influence of size and possibly individual behaviour, the observed structure and hierarchy displayed by the blacktip sharks in this study is likely to have further fitness and survival implications that will require further studies.A conservação de tubarões tornou-se um tema de crescente interesse público, uma vez que o aumento global da pressão da pesca levou ao declínio de quase 90% das populações de peixes nos Oceanos, sendo as populações de elasmobrânquios um dos grupos mais afetados. Nos últimos anos, tornou-se evidente que a grande maioria das populações de Condrichthyes está a caminho de um declínio global, como resultado da sua vulnerabilidade à pressão da pesca e às mudanças ambientais. Isto pode ser encontrado na sua estratégia de reprodução: a maioria dos Chondrichthyes são espécies selecionadas K, o que significa que as suas características biológicas compreendem baixas taxas de crescimento e de reprodução, longos períodos de gestação produzindo poucas crias, e longos tempos de geração (Cahmi et al 1998, Bornatowski et al 2014). Os tubarões atuam como predadores marinhos fundamentais pelo seu papel de manter o equilíbrio do ecossistema e prevenir a cascata trófica. Ao fornecer serviços como saúde e equilíbrio dos ecossistemas, os elasmobrânquios podem ser usados como bio-indicadores para avaliar o estado de saúde dos oceanos. Alguns são considerados predadores marinhos chave que medeiam, ou previnem, as cascatas tróficas através do seu papel como espécies de topo ou meso-predadoras. Além disso, existe uma tendência para as espécies Chondrichthyes, como os tubarões Blacktips, se agregarem a outros indivíduos de idade, sexo e fase reprodutiva semelhantes, o que os coloca em perigo de extinção da pesca, como espécies alvo ou captura acessória acidental, levando a possíveis cascatas tróficas e extinção de grupos populacionais específicos (Cahmi et al 1998). A remoção simultânea de grupos com fases de vida compartilhadas pode levar a colapsos populacionais e extinções locais. A remoção de grupos de tubarões com idades ou tamanhos específicos pode levar a mudanças na proporção de sexos reprodutores, padrões de acasalamento, abundância populacional, tamanho e estruturas e resultar em perda de biodiversidade, especialmente em áreas com alto endemismo. Tornou-se evidente que os elasmobrânquios, tubarões e raias, formam organizações sociais mais complexas do que se pensava anteriormente. O crescimento de novas tecnologias e análises tem fornecido dados valiosos para a vida dos comportamentos sociais de Condrichthyan. Embora a maioria da investigação se tenha centrado principalmente nos níveis de repartição de recursos entre as diferentes espécies de tubarões, poucos estudos investigaram as hierarquias sociais encontradas tanto intra como inter especificamente entre os tubarões formando agregações, e que fatores podem influenciar uma posição individual dentro destas organizações sociais. Historicamente, os tubarões têm sido considerados solitários, contudo, evidências recentes têm demonstrado que uma variedade de espécies de tubarões formam agregações com base em semelhanças em tamanho, sexo ou idade. Isto deve-se a uma maior capacidade de alimentação e os tubarões sofrem mudanças na sua dieta ontogenética durante as suas fases de vida à medida que o seu porte e velocidade aumentam com a idade. As agregações permitem uma maior aptidão física através da proteção dos predadores durante as fases de desenvolvimento dos juvenis, estratégias de alimentação bem sucedidas através de frenesi de alimentação e melhor acasalamento e sucesso reprodutivo. Com o futuro desenvolvimento das tecnologias e análises estatísticas, a amostragem dos organismos pelágicos e a compreensão dos comportamentos tornou-se amplamente disponível. Métodos não invasivos como UVs, fotogrametria e fotogrametria a laser permitiram um aumento no número de estudos de pelágicos, mantendo a distância social e sem causar danos aos indivíduos da amostra. O ecoturismo através de mergulhos com isco tornou-se uma ferramenta útil ao permitir um método não-invasivo de amostragem de comportamentos sociais, ao mesmo tempo que gera uma renda que permite a conservação da espécie. Na África do Sul, um hotspot de diversidade de tubarões, lar de espécies de tubarão, mergulhando como atividade cada vez mais popular entre os mergulhadores ávidos, permitindo oportunidades de pesquisa envolvendo estes organismos pelágicos. Uma visão comum em mergulhos com tubarões são as agregações de Carharhinus limbatus (blacktip), com números por vezes superiores a 15 indivíduos, mas em média 5-8 indivíduos. Este estudo permitiu a integração de várias partes interessadas no MPA do Aliwal Shoal incluindo operadores de mergulho, cientistas cidadãos e pescadores; e forneceu os dados necessários para compreender melhor as organizações sociais da espécie. Os dados foram recolhidos entre Março e Junho, após o que se iniciou a conhecida corrida da sardinha que ocorre na costa africana de Souhern e os tubarões deixaram a área. Após análise UV, dez unidades comportamentais para identificação e avaliação com base na literatura anterior e avistamentos originais. As unidades comportamentais foram categorizadas como as seguintes: i) dominantes: 'volta rápida', 'nadar para cima', 'nadar para baixo'; ii) semi-dominantes: 'nadar em paralelo'; iii) submissas: 'inclinação do corpo', 'evitar', 'desistir', seguir'; e iv) neutras: 'passar', 'patrulhar'. Foi registado um total de 1014 comportamentos individuais, sendo que 'virar rápido' representa 39% e 'evitar' representa 19%. Havia 475 exibições dominantes, 32 semi-dominantes, 331 submisso e 176 neutras. Dez indivíduos foram identificados com sucesso usando a identificação fotográfica da barbatana dorsal do flanco esquerdo. A identificação fotográfica das barbatanas permitiu o reconhecimento dos indivíduos que retornaram ao local do estudo e sugeriu que o grupo agregado estava bem estabelecido nesta área em particular. O grupo era dominado principalmente por femeas e os tamanhos médios representam os dos sub-adultos (146,3 cm ± 3,088). O tamanho desempenhou um papel significativo na posição do indivíduo dentro da hierarquia, com indivíduos maiores mostrando mais exibições de dominância e indivíduos menores mostrando exibições mais submissas. A 'Cauda Quebrada' foi nomeada como o domínio feminino da organização, com o maior nível de re-visibilidade durante o período amostral, e a maior parte das exibições de dominância (33% do total). Embora grupos se agreguem com semelhanças de tamanho, ainda existem discrepâncias entre os indivíduos, o que permite a estruturação da hierarquia. Os números de pontas negras foram diminuindo durante os mergulhos em que Galeocerdo cuvier ou Carcharhinus leucas foram encontrados sugerindo uma outra organização social interespecífica durante um cenário de alimentação simulada. Este estudo mostra que o tamanho desempenha um papel crítico na organização das agregações de Blacktip, o que em última análise leva ao sucesso da aptidão e sobrevivência dos indivíduos. Durante as interações interespecíficas, o número de Carcharhinus limbatus diminuiu na presença de Carcharhinus leucas (tubarão-touro) e Galeocerdo cuvier (tubarão tigre). Isto sugere um nível de organização social não só dentro de uma espécie, mas através de diferentes taxas. Este estudo fornece informações valiosas sobre organizações sociais e pode funcionar como uma ferramenta útil na reavaliação das medidas de conservação necessárias para a proteção da espécie. O impacto visto das atividades de pesca não regulamentadas dentro da MPA, incluindo maxilares partidos, anzóis de pesca e feridas causadas por barcos, requer uma avaliação mais aprofundada e objetivos de gestão para reduzir o conflito visto entre espécies sociais como o Carcharhinus limbatus e os pescadores. A conservação das espécies de tubarões é vital para a saúde tanto dos ecossistemas locais como dos oceanos. Outros estudos devem avaliar o papel da personalidade individual, em conjunto com o tamanho, para a posição do indivíduo dentro da hierarquia

The Behavior and Ecology of Cursorial Predators and Dangerous Prey: Integrating Behavioral Mechanisms with Population-level Patterns in Large Mammal Systems

Driving into Yellowstone National Park for the first time is a moving experience. Gazing over the sweeping landscapes, seeing a geyser erupt 80 feet into the air, and having your first ‘wildlife encounter’, whether that be a 2 ton bull bison aggressively wallowing on his dirt mound, snorting and kicking up dust, or watching a pack of 6 wolves move through a valley off in the distance, pausing to howl in search of their companions. Yellowstone staff wishes to manage our park in a way that preserves these remarkable experiences. In order to effectively manage this dynamic ecosystem, it is critical to thoroughly understand how different animal and plant species interact with each other and their environment. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995-1997 and park researchers and managers are still trying to understand how their presence impacts the ecosystem. In Yellowstone, wolves primarily prey on elk; however, predation on bison has started to increase in recent years. We still know little about how wolves hunt bison and what impacts wolves have had on how bison use their environment. The objective of this study was to better understand the behavioral and ecological interactions of wolves and bison, the most dangerous prey for wolves in North America. Since reintroduction, researchers have collected data on how wolves hunt both elk and bison. I used these data to understand 1) the conditions that allow wolves to capture their most dangerous prey, bison, 2) whether wolves have started preying on bison more often as the bison population increased, and 3) whether wolf reintroduction has limited bison use of Yellowstone’s most extreme high-elevation winter range. Finally, I collaborated with ecologists in Scandinavia to determine how wolf predation was affected by a competitor, the brown bear. My study adds to the current body of work addressing the effects of wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone. This research is unique because it focuses on wolf bison interactions, about which little is known in this system. This research also sheds light on the behavioral relationships at play in a special type of predator-prey interaction: predators that hunt dangerous prey