Скачать или смотреть Social and ecological correlates of behavioral flexibility in spotted hyenas

Social and ecological correlates of behavioral flexibility in spotted hyenas [L Johnson-Ulrich]

The question of how intelligence evolves remains unresolved despite more than a century of intensive research. The Social Intelligence Hypothesis (SIH) predicts a primarily social function of intellect whereas the Cognitive Buffer Hypothesis (CBH) suggests that intelligence is most adaptive for dealing with environmental novelty and change. To test the SIH and CBH, I examined the correlates of behavioural flexibility (BF) in spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta). BF is the ability to adaptively modify behaviour. Like fluid intelligence in humans, BF in non-human animals is thought to involve cognitive processes. My results revealed that hyaenas of low social rank that live in larger groups exhibit greater BF, and that hyaenas of any rank that grow up in larger cohorts have greater BF, a result that supports predictions of the SIH. My results also revealed that the degree of environmental change was not correlated with BF, which challenges the CBH. Overall, my results suggest that social demands, but not demands created by environmental change favor the expression of BF in spotted hyaenas.