|
|
Social learning in birds: mechanisms and importance in different contexts
Ernestová, Kamila ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Stehlík, Patrik (referee)
Social learning, i.e. learning from other individuals of the same or different species can be found in a large number of taxa and the birds are no exception. Authors of a large number of studies focusing on this topic demonstrated the influence of social learning on various aspects of birds' life. Undoubtedly, the most important aspects of birds' life are recognition of predators, mate choice, and acquisition of food and food choice. Tool-related behaviour such as tool making and tool using in order to obtain food is also related to the foraging context. However, social learning often plays a different role in different contexts in different species. The differences in acquisition and use of social learning in some contexts exist even within a single species. These differences are mainly caused by individual personality, sex, age and partly also by social status and different ontogenetic factors influencing individual development. Social learning is a very broad topic with large number of variables and, despite the intensive research, it is still not fully understood. Keywords: social learning, birds, social learning mechanisms, imitation
|
guest ::
