A four-questions perspective on public information use in sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)

Whether learning primarily reflects general processes or species-specific challenges is a longstanding matter of dispute. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of public information use (PI-use) in sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae). PI-use is a form of social learning by which animals are able to assess the relative quality of resources, here prey patches, by observing the behaviour of others. PI-use was highly species-specific with only two of the assayed species, Pungitius spp. and their closest relative Culaea inconstans showing evidence of PI-use. We saw no effects of ontogenetic experience upon PI-use in P. pungitius. Experiments with live demonstrators and animated fish revealed that heightened activity and feeding strikes by foraging conspecifics are important cues in the transmission of PI. Finally, PI-use was the only form of learning in which P. pungitius and another stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus differed. PI-use in sticklebacks is species-specific and may represent an ‘...

学习主要反映通用过程还是物种特异性挑战，是学界长期争论的议题。在此，我们针对棘鱼科（Gasterosteidae）动物的公共信息利用（public information use，PI-use）展开了全面分析。PI-use是一类社会学习行为，动物可通过观察同类行为，评估资源（此处为猎物斑块）的相对品质。实验结果表明，PI-use具有显著的物种特异性：仅受试的两个类群——刺鱼属（Pungitius spp.）及其近缘物种库拉棘鱼（Culaea inconstans）——展现出具备PI-use的证据。我们未观测到个体发育经验对尖刺刺鱼（P. pungitius）的PI-use产生影响。通过活体示范者（live demonstrators）与动画鱼（animated fish）开展的实验显示：觅食同种个体的高活跃度与取食攻击动作，是传递PI-use的关键线索。最后，PI-use是唯一一类令尖刺刺鱼（P. pungitius）与另一棘鱼物种——三刺棘鱼（Gasterosteus aculeatus）——产生差异的学习行为。棘鱼的PI-use具有物种特异性，或可代表一种‘……’