Counting conformity: evaluating the units of information in frequency-dependent social learning

Date

2015

Authors

Aplin, Lucy M.
Farine, D.R.
Morand-Ferron, Julie
Cockburn, Andrew
Thornton, Alex
Sheldon, Ben

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Academic Press

Abstract

In a recent study (Aplin et al., 2015), we conducted a large-scale cultural diffusion experiment in which we used trained ‘demonstrator’ individuals to introduce one of two alternative foraging techniques into five replicate subpopulations of wild great tits, Parus major. Three further subpopulations served as controls. By tracking the spread of these two techniques, we showed that information was acquired through social learning, transmitted through social network ties, and novel behaviours became established in each subpopulation, forming stable arbitrary traditions (for technique A or B). These traditions persisted over generations and were stable despite immigrating and innovating individuals, resulting in a within-group behavioural homogeneity and between-group variation. Most pertinent for this discussion, our experimental design allowed an examination of the interaction between individual decision making and population level outcomes. We found that the population level bias for each introduced technique increased by an average of 14% per day towards the common variant. This was explained both by a tendency for naïve individuals to disproportionately adopt the most common behaviour (‘conformist transmission’) and by a tendency for individuals with experience of both techniques to change their behaviour to match the common variant (‘conformity’).

Description

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Citation

Source

Animal Behaviour

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

License Rights

Restricted until

2037-12-31
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The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.


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