decision-making

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How does life in the canopy shape the evolution of the mind? The foraging decisions of kinkajous - an elusive species that forages in neo-tropical forest canopies at night - may offer some clues. The central aim of this project is to identify the processes of learning and memory that allow kinkajous to keep track of when and where to find their favorite food: fruit. By comparing our findings to what is known about primates, which also live in the canopy and eat fruit, we can gain a better understanding of the general ecological factors that lead to the evolution of greater intelligence. In turn, we may be able to identify how certain habitats facilitate the emergence of complex societies by selecting for brains that are better able to learn about relationships, be they social or spatial. mehr

To stay together, group-living animals must reach consensus about where to go and what to do. Because individuals differ in their needs and capabilities, group members’ preferences will not always align. Resolving such conflicts of interest is a key challenge to living in stable, socially complex societies. How is influence exerted? How is consensus achieved? mehr

Haben Sie sich jemals gefragt, wie Tiere miteinander kommunizieren? Oder wie Entscheidungen von gruppenlebenden Arten, z.B. wo sie fressen, getroffen werden? Diese Fragen haben vielen Biologen Kopfzerbrechen bereitet. Mit den jüngsten Entwicklungen der Technologie zum Tracking von Tieren können hierauf endlich Antworten gefunden werden. In meiner Forschung untersuche ich die Rolle der Kommunikation bei der kollektiven Entscheidungsfindung von sozialen Tieren indem ich untersuche, wie vokale Signale bei gruppenlebenden Weißrüssel-Nasenbären verwendet werden. mehr