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

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dc.contributor.authorAplin, Lucy M.
dc.contributor.authorFarine, D.R.
dc.contributor.authorMorand-Ferron, Julie
dc.contributor.authorCockburn, Andrew
dc.contributor.authorThornton, Alex
dc.contributor.authorSheldon, Ben
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-24T22:42:12Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.date.updated2016-02-24T12:04:34Z
dc.description.abstractIn 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’).
dc.identifier.issn0003-3472
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/98988
dc.publisherAcademic Press
dc.sourceAnimal Behaviour
dc.titleCounting conformity: evaluating the units of information in frequency-dependent social learning
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpagee8
local.bibliographicCitation.startpagee5
local.contributor.affiliationAplin, Lucy M., University of Oxford
local.contributor.affiliationFarine, D.R., University of Oxford
local.contributor.affiliationMorand-Ferron, Julie, University of Ottawa
local.contributor.affiliationCockburn, Andrew, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationThornton, Alex, University of Exeter
local.contributor.affiliationSheldon, Ben, University of Oxford
local.contributor.authoremailu8302869@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidCockburn, Andrew, u8302869
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor060801 - Animal Behaviour
local.identifier.absseo970106 - Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences
local.identifier.ariespublicationu9511635xPUB1500
local.identifier.citationvolume110
local.identifier.doi10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.09.015
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-84949057635
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByu9511635
local.type.statusPublished Version

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