Individual Bias
Information is all around us! Some information we find for ourselves (asocial). Other information we get from others (social) - which might be sent intentionally (communication) or unintentionally (eavesdropping). Which information should animals use to help make important decisions?
Some individuals have strong preferences (bias) towards or away from certain information. I'm interested in: (1) how biased individuals make decisions across different scenarios, and (2) what factors (if any) will change their mind. Reading: Whittaker B.A., Balasubramanian G., Camacho-Alípzar A., Lambert C.T., Guillette L.M. (2024). The roles of social information, asocial information and initial bias in nest-building decisions. Journal of Comparative Psychology Whittaker B.A. and Boulding E.G. (2021). 'Dancing' fish could be key to ridding salmon farms of parasites. The Conversation |
Cunner wrasse performs "head-stand" dances before cleaning Atlantic salmon (Aqualab - Guelph, Canada).
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Individual Style
Like humans, animals build structures as places to rest and raise a family (e.g. bird nests). Creating a structure requires making lots of decisions: Where to build? What material to use? How to use material? We can investigate these decisions by studying animals artefacts - the nests.
I found birds build nests with their own architectural styles, consistent shapes and sizes that differ between individuals. I'm exploring the decisions that create these individual styles: (1) is style learned over time? (2) do partners work together to create style? Reading: Whittaker B.A., Nolet-Mulholland L., Nevoit A., Yun D., Lambert C.T., Blunk S.C. and Guillette L.M. (2023). Zebra finches have style: nest morphology is repeatable and associated with experience. iScience Whittaker B.A. and Guillette L.M. (2023). Birds' nests express their unique style and experiences. The Conversation |
Nests built by four different zebra finches (columns) at three different times (rows). Nests show repeatable style in size and shape. (Animal Cognition Research Group - Edmonton, Canada).
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Individual Differences
Individuals vary in behaviour. If this variation is different among-individuals and consistent within-individuals, we refer to it as a personality trait.
I'm interested in learning if/how animal personality traits are linked to individual differences in cognition (acquiring, processing, recalling, using information): (1) do individuals with different personality traits use information in different ways? (2) are individuals with the same personality likely to make the same decision? Reading: Whittaker B.A., Consuegra S., Garcia de Leaniz C. (2021). Personality profiling may help select better cleaner fish for sea-lice control in salmon farming. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Whittaker B.A. (2021). A test to diagnose psychopaths can help identify fish behaviours that could benefit aquaculture. The Conversation |
Lumpfish undergoing a Mirror Image Simulation test (Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research - Swansea, UK).
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