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Published on: January 18, 2013
Ravens reconcile after aggressive conflicts with valuable partners.
Orlaith N Fraser1, Thomas Bugnyar
1Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Plos One
|April 6, 2011
Summary
Ravens reconcile after conflicts, especially with valuable partners. This reconciliation repairs relationships and reduces future aggression, similar to primates.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Animal Behavior
- Avian Cognition
Background:
- Reconciliation, an affiliative interaction post-conflict, is key in mammals for relationship repair and distress reduction.
- The presence of reconciliation in birds is debated, with theories suggesting differing strategies or lack of valuable relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate reconciliation behaviors in subadult ravens (Corvus corax).
- To determine if reconciliation in ravens is influenced by the value of the relationship between former opponents.
- To assess if reconciliation reduces the likelihood of renewed aggression post-conflict.
Main Methods:
- Observation of captive subadult ravens (Corvus corax).
- Analysis of post-conflict interactions between individuals.
- Comparison of reconciliation rates based on the assessed value of the relationship between former opponents.
Main Results:
- Reconciliation was observed in subadult ravens.
- Reconciliation occurred more frequently between partners who shared a valuable relationship.
- Reconciled opponents were less likely to engage in renewed aggression.
Conclusions:
- Ravens exhibit reconciliation, a behavior previously thought to be rare outside of mammals.
- Valuable, non-pair bond relationships exist in birds, similar to primates.
- Reconciliation in ravens serves to repair relationships and maintain social bonds, suggesting convergent evolution of social strategies.
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