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Ecological factors shape quantitative decision-making in coyotes
Kerry E Jordan1, Salif Mahamane2,3, Jeremy Haynes2
1Department of Psychology, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA. kerry.jordan@usu.edu.
Animal Cognition
|November 26, 2022
Summary
Ecological factors like season and risk influence coyote decision-making regarding food rewards. Seasonal variations significantly impact animal behavior and cognition, suggesting potential effects on human cognition too.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- Cognition research often overlooks ecological influences on decision-making.
- Understanding environmental effects on numerical cognition and timing is incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- Bridge basic cognitive research and ecological decision-making.
- Investigate how ecological factors affect quantitative decision-making in coyotes.
Main Methods:
- Used coyotes (Canis latrans) as a model system.
- Tested decision-making regarding food rewards of varying size and distance.
- Examined performance across four reproductive cycle phases, considering risk and social factors.
Main Results:
- Coyotes spatially discount food rewards, consistent with other species.
- Sensitivity to reward risk varied with season, human presence, and conspecifics.
- Seasonal variations appear to drive differences in nonhuman animal behavior and cognition.
Conclusions:
- Ecological factors, particularly seasonality, significantly influence animal cognition and decision-making.
- Future research should explore seasonal impacts on human cognition in areas like enumeration and spatial thinking.
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