Title |
Social Learning of Migratory Performance
|
---|---|
Published in |
Science, August 2013
|
DOI | 10.1126/science.1237139 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Thomas Mueller, Robert B. O’Hara, Sarah J. Converse, Richard P. Urbanek, William F. Fagan |
Abstract |
Successful bird migration can depend on individual learning, social learning, and innate navigation programs. Using 8 years of data on migrating whooping cranes, we were able to partition genetic and socially learned aspects of migration. Specifically, we analyzed data from a reintroduced population wherein all birds were captive bred and artificially trained by ultralight aircraft on their first lifetime migration. For subsequent migrations, in which birds fly individually or in groups but without ultralight escort, we found evidence of long-term social learning, but no effect of genetic relatedness on migratory performance. Social learning from older birds reduced deviations from a straight-line path, with 7 years of experience yielding a 38% improvement in migratory accuracy. |
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United Kingdom | 10 | 15% |
Canada | 7 | 10% |
Germany | 3 | 4% |
Netherlands | 2 | 3% |
Australia | 2 | 3% |
Colombia | 1 | 1% |
Switzerland | 1 | 1% |
New Zealand | 1 | 1% |
Other | 4 | 6% |
Unknown | 23 | 34% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
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Scientists | 16 | 24% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 3% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 3% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 5 | 1% |
Germany | 2 | <1% |
Chile | 1 | <1% |
France | 1 | <1% |
Hungary | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Sweden | 1 | <1% |
Finland | 1 | <1% |
Korea, Republic of | 1 | <1% |
Other | 4 | <1% |
Unknown | 388 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 87 | 21% |
Researcher | 75 | 18% |
Student > Master | 53 | 13% |
Student > Bachelor | 45 | 11% |
Other | 18 | 4% |
Other | 61 | 15% |
Unknown | 67 | 17% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
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Environmental Science | 51 | 13% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 13 | 3% |
Psychology | 10 | 2% |
Computer Science | 6 | 1% |
Other | 29 | 7% |
Unknown | 80 | 20% |