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SUMMARY:Experimental and comparative studies of innovation in birds - Prof
 essor Louis Lefebvre\, McGill University
DTSTART:20110815T150000Z
DTEND:20110815T160000Z
UID:TALK31388@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:24134
DESCRIPTION:Taxonomic differences in the rate at which birds and primates 
 produce new behaviours (innovations) offer a useful tool to test predictio
 ns in cognition\, ecology\, evolution and neuroscience. Comparative studie
 s of innovation suggest that it is part of general intelligence\, that it 
 might help introduced animals colonize new zones and that it is associated
  with evolutionary diversification and habitat generalism\, as well as the
  size of pallial areas in the brain. Experimental studies of innovation ar
 e much difficult than are comparative ones\, because\, by definition\, inn
 ovation is rare and each one happens once. We have used two proxies\, 'dun
 king'\, a food modification behaviour we can experimentally elicit in the 
 field in Carib grackles\, and solving of a novel hidden food problem. Dunk
 ing varies with social and environmental costs and benefits\, while novel 
 problem solving can tell us about the mechanisms of innovation and test fo
 r natural and sexual selection correlates of cognition.
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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