Numerical ability of rabbits data

Thirteen rabbits at The College of West Anglia, Cambridge were tested on their numerical abilities by the use of the spontaneous choice test. The first experiment explores if there is a difference between the number of times rabbits choose the larger quantity of food between 0 vs 1 pieces of carrot, 1 vs 2 pieces of carrot, 1 vs 3 pieces of carrot, 3 vs 4 pieces of carrot, 4 vs 7 pieces of carrot, and 6 vs 7 pieces of carrot. The second experiment asks if there is a difference between the number of times the rabbits choose the large food item vs the number of times that they choose the small food item. The third experiment tests if there is a difference between the number of times the rabbits choose the four large food items vs the number of times that they choose the 16 smaller food items when both options equate to equal overall amounts.
The conditions were divided into two groups based on the ratio between the two quantities (the smaller number divided by the second number). The small ratio group with a ratio of ≤0.5 consisted of 0 vs 1 (0),
1 vs 3 (0.33), and 1 vs 2 (0.5). The large ratio group with a ratio of >0.5 consisted of 4 vs 7 (0.57), 3 vs 4 (0.75), and 6 vs 7 (0.86).

Experiment 1:
• Condition 1: 0 v 1 pieces of carrot (4cm3)
• Condition 2: 1 vs 2 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3)
• Condition 3: 1 vs 3 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3)
• Condition 4: 3 vs 4 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3)
• Condition 5: 4 vs 7 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3)
• Condition 6: 6 vs 7 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3)
The experimenter cut up carrots into the quantities and volumes listed above. For each condition, they approached the first plate and dropped one of the quantities onto it sequentially from 4cm above the plate whilst the rabbit was watching. They then approached the second plate and dropped the remaining quantity of carrots from that condition onto it sequentially, from 4cm above the plate. The rabbit approached a plate and ate the contents, with the remaining plate being taken away. Each rabbit participated in every condition once, with one trial per rabbit per session, unless the rabbit appeared unmotivated or uninterested, then the trial was not included and was repeated during the next session when possible. This was repeated for all six conditions.

Experiment 2:
The same procedure outlined above was used, but with the two food choices being a whole 6cm3 baton carrot, and a 1.5cm3 (quarter) baton carrot. Therefore, one plate had a whole 6cm3 baton, and one plate had ¼ of that. Each rabbit participated in this two times, on two separate occasions

Experiment 3:
The same procedure as experiment 1 was used, but with the two food choices being four pieces of 4cm3 carrot, and 16 pieces of 1cm3 carrot, spending 10 seconds at each plate. Each rabbit participated in this two times, on two separate occasions.

在剑桥西安利亚学院，对十三只兔子进行了数值能力的测试，测试方法为自发选择测试。第一项实验旨在探究兔子在选择较大食物量时的次数是否存在差异，比较的情形包括：0 vs 1 根胡萝卜，1 vs 2 根胡萝卜，1 vs 3 根胡萝卜，3 vs 4 根胡萝卜，4 vs 7 根胡萝卜，以及 6 vs 7 根胡萝卜。第二项实验旨在询问兔子选择大食物项的次数与选择小食物项的次数之间是否存在差异。第三项实验则检验兔子在选择四份大食物项的次数与选择十六份小食物项的次数之间是否存在差异，前提是两种选择的总量相等。实验条件根据两种数量之间的比率（较小数除以第二个数）分为两组。比率≤0.5的小比率组包括：0 vs 1（0），1 vs 3（0.33），以及 1 vs 2（0.5）。比率>0.5的大比率组包括：4 vs 7（0.57），3 vs 4（0.75），以及 6 vs 7（0.86）。

实验 1:
• 条件 1：0 v 1 根胡萝卜（4cm³）
• 条件 2：1 vs 2 根胡萝卜（均为 4cm³）
• 条件 3：1 vs 3 根胡萝卜（均为 4cm³）
• 条件 4：3 vs 4 根胡萝卜（均为 4cm³）
• 条件 5：4 vs 7 根胡萝卜（均为 4cm³）
• 条件 6：6 vs 7 根胡萝卜（均为 4cm³）
实验者将胡萝卜切割成上述数量和体积，对于每个条件，他们在兔子观察下，从距离盘子 4cm 处依次将一个数量投入盘子。然后，他们接近第二个盘子，从该条件剩余的胡萝卜中依次投入剩余的胡萝卜，距离盘子 4cm 处。兔子接近一个盘子并吃掉里面的食物，剩下的盘子被拿走。每只兔子在每个条件下参与一次，每次实验每只兔子只有一个试验，除非兔子看起来缺乏动力或不感兴趣，那么试验将不计入，并在下一个可能的会话中重复进行。这适用于所有六个条件。

实验 2:
上述相同的程序被使用，但两种食物选择为整个 6cm³ 茎状胡萝卜和 1.5cm³（四分之一）茎状胡萝卜。因此，一个盘子有一个完整的 6cm³ 茎状胡萝卜，另一个盘子有该量的四分之一。每只兔子在这两种选择中各参与两次，分别在两个不同的场合。

实验 3:
使用与实验 1 相同的程序，但两种食物选择为四块 4cm³ 胡萝卜和十六块 1cm³ 胡萝卜，在每个盘子上花费 10 秒钟。每只兔子在这两种选择中各参与两次，分别在两个不同的场合。