Anecdotal Observations of Socially Learned Vocalizations in Harbor Seals
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| Title: | Anecdotal Observations of Socially Learned Vocalizations in Harbor Seals |
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| Authors: | Duengen, Diandra, Polotzek, Martin, O'Sullivan, Eoin Patrick, Ravignani, Andrea |
| Contributors: | University of St Andrews.School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews.Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution |
| Source: | Animal Behavior and Cognition, Vol 11, Iss 4, Pp 393-403 (2024) |
| Publisher Information: | Animal Behavior and Cognition, 2024. |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Subject Terms: | Social learning, phoca vitulina, NDAS, vocal learning, Marine mammal, DOAE, marine mammal, Vocal learning, social learning, QL1-991, semi-solitary, Semi-solitary, Phoca vitulina, Zoology |
| Description: | Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are more solitary than many other pinnipeds. Yet, they are capable of vocal learning, a form of social learning. Most extant literature examines social animals when investigating social learning, despite sociality not being a prerequisite. Here, we report two formerly silent harbor seals who initiated vocalizations, after having repeatedly observed a conspecific receiving food rewards for vocalizing. Our observations suggest both social and vocal learning in a group of captive harbor seals, a species that lives semi-solitarily in the wild. We propose that, in this case, social learning acted as a shortcut to acquiring food rewards compared to the comparatively costly asocial learning. |
| Document Type: | Article |
| File Description: | application/pdf |
| ISSN: | 2372-4323 |
| DOI: | 10.26451/abc.11.04.04.2024 |
| DOI: | 10.26451/abc.11.03.04.2024 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/a207bf3ea7294c1ea5e173efd210b33b https://hdl.handle.net/10023/31558 |
| Rights: | CC BY |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....44a1ef7b1847545a4bc087a946d5f47c |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are more solitary than many other pinnipeds. Yet, they are capable of vocal learning, a form of social learning. Most extant literature examines social animals when investigating social learning, despite sociality not being a prerequisite. Here, we report two formerly silent harbor seals who initiated vocalizations, after having repeatedly observed a conspecific receiving food rewards for vocalizing. Our observations suggest both social and vocal learning in a group of captive harbor seals, a species that lives semi-solitarily in the wild. We propose that, in this case, social learning acted as a shortcut to acquiring food rewards compared to the comparatively costly asocial learning. |
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| ISSN: | 23724323 |
| DOI: | 10.26451/abc.11.04.04.2024 |