Mammalian Social Learning: Comparative and Ecological Perspectives

by Edited by Hilary O. Box , Kathleen R. Gibson

• ISBN13: 9780521632638
• ISBN10: 0521632633
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-11-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Social learning commonly refers to the social transfer of information and skill among individuals. It encompasses a wide range of behaviours that include where and how to obtain food, how to interact with members of one's own social group, and to identify and respond appropriately to predators. The behaviour of experienced individuals provides natural sources of information, by which inexperienced individuals may learn about the opportunities and hazards of their environment, and develop and modify their own behaviour as a result. A wide diversity of species is discussed in this book, some of which have never been discussed in this context before, and particular reference is made to their natural life strategies. Social learning in humans is also considered by comparison with other mammals, especially in their technological and craft traditions. Moreover, a discussion is included of the social learning abilities of prehistoric hominids.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	viii
Preface	x
Part 1: New perspectives in studies of social learning	1	(72)
Editors' comments	1	(5)
Hilary O. Box
Kathleen R. Gibson
The myth of peculiar primates	6	(11)
Thelma Rowell
New directions in the study of primate learning	17	(16)
Barbara J. King
Temperament and socially mediated learning among primates	33	(24)
Hilary O. Box
Evolutionary biology of skill and information transfer	57	(16)
Richard M. Sibly
Part 2: Social learning among species of terrestrial herbivores	73	(96)
Editors' comments	73	(7)
Hilary O. Box
Kathleen R. Gibson
Social learning in marsupials	80	(22)
Karen Higginbottom
David B. Croft
The social context for learning and behavioural development among wild African elephants	102	(24)
Phyllis C. Lee
Cynthia J. Moss
Comparative social learning among arctic herbivores: the caribou, muskox and arctic hare	126	(15)
David R. Klein
Transmission of olfactory information from mother to young in the European rabbit	141	(17)
Robyn Hudson
Benoist Schaal
Agnes Bilko
Social transfer of information in domestic animals	158	(11)
Donald M. Broom
Part 3: Rats, bats and naked mole-rats: animals with information centres	169	(52)
Editors' comments	169	(5)
Kathleen R. Gibson
Hilary O. Box
Exploring the dynamics of social transmission with rats	174	(14)
Kevin N. Laland
Social influences on foraging in bats	188	(17)
Gerald S. Wilkinson
Janette Wenrick Boughman
Social transmission of information in a eusocial rodent, the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)	205	(16)
Chris G. Faulkes
Part 4: Social learning among species of terrestrial carnivores	221	(58)
Editors' comments	221	(4)
Hilary O. Box
Kathleen R. Gibson
Opportunities for social learning in bears	225	(11)
Barrie K. Gilbert
Watch with mother: a review of social learning in the Felidae	236	(23)
Andrew C. Kitchener
Social learning in canids: an ecological perspective	259	(20)
Jan A. J. Nel
Part 5: Dolphins and whales: communication and foraging in aquatic environments	279	(48)
Editors' comments	279	(3)
Kathleen R. Gibson
Hilary O. Box
Social learning in cetaceans: hunting, hearing and hierarchies	282	(26)
James R. Boran
Sara L. Heimlich
Origins and implications of vocal learning in bottlenose dolphins	308	(19)
Vincent M. Janik
Part 6: The great ape -- human adaptation: culture and the cognitive niche	327	(88)
Editors' comments	327	(6)
Kathleen R. Gibson
Hilary O. Box
Cognition in great ape ecology: skill-learning ability opens up foraging opportunities	333	(18)
Richard W. Byrne
Social transmission of facts and skills in the human species: neural mechanisms	351	(16)
Kathleen R. Gibson
Cultural learning in hominids: a behavioural ecological approach	367	(22)
Stephen J. Shennan
James Steele
Imitation and cultural change: a view from the Stone Age, with specific reference to the manufacture of handaxes	389	(26)
Steven Mithen
Concluding remarks	401	(14)
Social learning and behavioural strategies among mammals	401	(14)
Hilary O. Box
Kathleen R. Gibson
Index	415