title: [Social learning of optimal responding and producer-scrounger strategies in flocks of pigeons].
abstract: Social learning of optimal responding and producer-scrounger strategies in flocks of pigeons. This experiment evaluated the effect of varying the effort required in order to access food upon the acquisition of a novel response, and upon utilizing producer-scrounger strategies, in flocks of pigeons exposed to an expert conspecific. Flocks of naïve observers were exposed to a pigeon trained to open the seals on food deposits. The colors of the seals were correlated with differing required efforts. Later, the trained pigeon was removed while the color-effort correlation was maintained. The results showed that the observers acquired the response of opening the seals and that they executed it discriminatingly, responding in a greater proportion to the color that signaled the least required effort. They also assumed the roles of both producers and scroungers, which varied as a function of the composition of the group. The data obtained are congruent with prior findings regarding social learning, and also with the concepts proposed by the optimal foraging theory.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla CP 56090, Estada de México.
authors.forename: Rosalva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003116:Color; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007858:Learning