Optimal foraging and timing processes in the starling, Sturnus Vulgaris: effect of inter-capture interval

Article Abstract:

Foraging behavior of starlings is affected by information processing techniques and psychological factors related to time and memory. In an experimental study starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, were provided with a controlled environment where food was distributed in patches. Time spent by starlings on waiting after food had been depleted, time after which stalings gave up looking for food in a depleted patch and time after which starlings moved on to a new patch were measured. Results indicated the birds identified the general dynamics of the task and used reasonable rules to forage for food.

Psychological aspects, Ornithological research, Starlings, Forage plants, Forage

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Memory for inter-reinforcement interval variability and patch departure decisions in the starling, Sturnus vulgaris

Article Abstract:

An increase in the variability of inter-reinforcement intervals during foraging decisions among starlings causes flattening of response rate functions and giving-in time distributions. An increase in variability also leads to greater asymmetry of response functions. The starlings obtain food during the experiment from patches and a new patch can be reached only after traveling between two perches 20 times. A model of decision making assumes that all reinforcement intervals are remembered while another assumes that only intervals with extreme values are remembered.

Reinforcement (Psychology), Animal memory, Sturnus vulgaris, Common starling

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Value of food aggregates: parallel versus serial discounting

Article Abstract:

A titration paradigm was used to study rats' choices for food sequences. Rats were given a choice between a sequence of five pellets delivered closely in time and a sequence of five pellets with an inter-pellet delay. The results suggested that rats did not view the sequence of five pellets as a whole and that they did not treat the time before and within the sequence differently. Each reward was treated independently of the others in the same sequence.

Rats

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