Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle
Abstract Little is known about the behavioral and cognitive traits that best predict invasion success. Evidence is mounting that cognitive performance correlates with survival and fecundity, two pivotal factors for the successful establishment of invasive populations. We assessed the quantity discri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Animal Cognition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01850-0 |
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| author | Feng-Chun Lin Pei-Jen Lee Shaner Ming-Ying Hsieh Martin J. Whiting Si-Min Lin |
| author_facet | Feng-Chun Lin Pei-Jen Lee Shaner Ming-Ying Hsieh Martin J. Whiting Si-Min Lin |
| author_sort | Feng-Chun Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Little is known about the behavioral and cognitive traits that best predict invasion success. Evidence is mounting that cognitive performance correlates with survival and fecundity, two pivotal factors for the successful establishment of invasive populations. We assessed the quantity discrimination ability of the globally invasive red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). We further compared it to that of the native stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis), which has been previously evaluated for its superior quantity discrimination ability. Specifically, our experimental designs aimed to quantify the learning ability as numerosity pairs increased in difficulty (termed fixed numerosity tests), and the immediate response when turtles were presented with varied challenges concurrently in the same tests (termed mixed numerosity tests). Our findings reaffirm the remarkable ability of freshwater turtles to discern numerical differences as close as 9 vs 10 (ratio = 0.9), which was comparable to the stripe-necked turtle’s performance. However, the red-eared slider exhibited a moderate decrease in performance in high ratio tests, indicating a potentially enhanced cognitive capacity to adapt to novel challenges. Our experimental design is repeatable and is adaptable to a range of freshwater turtles. These findings emphasize the potential importance of cognitive research to the underlying mechanisms of successful species invasions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f0e67c00aa5f4e579000eae2c422a480 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1435-9456 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-f0e67c00aa5f4e579000eae2c422a4802025-01-26T12:44:08ZengSpringerAnimal Cognition1435-94562024-03-0127111010.1007/s10071-024-01850-0Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtleFeng-Chun Lin0Pei-Jen Lee Shaner1Ming-Ying Hsieh2Martin J. Whiting3Si-Min Lin4Department of Zoology, University of OtagoSchool of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal UniversityThe Thinking Dog Vet Behaviour TeamSchool of Natural Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySchool of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal UniversityAbstract Little is known about the behavioral and cognitive traits that best predict invasion success. Evidence is mounting that cognitive performance correlates with survival and fecundity, two pivotal factors for the successful establishment of invasive populations. We assessed the quantity discrimination ability of the globally invasive red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). We further compared it to that of the native stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis), which has been previously evaluated for its superior quantity discrimination ability. Specifically, our experimental designs aimed to quantify the learning ability as numerosity pairs increased in difficulty (termed fixed numerosity tests), and the immediate response when turtles were presented with varied challenges concurrently in the same tests (termed mixed numerosity tests). Our findings reaffirm the remarkable ability of freshwater turtles to discern numerical differences as close as 9 vs 10 (ratio = 0.9), which was comparable to the stripe-necked turtle’s performance. However, the red-eared slider exhibited a moderate decrease in performance in high ratio tests, indicating a potentially enhanced cognitive capacity to adapt to novel challenges. Our experimental design is repeatable and is adaptable to a range of freshwater turtles. These findings emphasize the potential importance of cognitive research to the underlying mechanisms of successful species invasions.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01850-0Behavioral flexibilityInvasive speciesQuantitative abilityReptileWeber’s law |
| spellingShingle | Feng-Chun Lin Pei-Jen Lee Shaner Ming-Ying Hsieh Martin J. Whiting Si-Min Lin Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle Animal Cognition Behavioral flexibility Invasive species Quantitative ability Reptile Weber’s law |
| title | Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle |
| title_full | Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle |
| title_fullStr | Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle |
| title_short | Trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle |
| title_sort | trained quantity discrimination in the invasive red eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe necked turtle |
| topic | Behavioral flexibility Invasive species Quantitative ability Reptile Weber’s law |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01850-0 |
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