Social specificity: Interaction with own species is necessary to foster species‐specific maternal preference in ducklings Article

Lickliter, R, Gottlieb, G. (1988). Social specificity: Interaction with own species is necessary to foster species‐specific maternal preference in ducklings . DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, 21(4), 311-321. 10.1002/dev.420210403

cited authors

  • Lickliter, R; Gottlieb, G

authors

abstract

  • Previous studies have shown that if domestic mallard ducklings are allowed social interaction with broodmates after their initial exposure to a stuffed mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hen, they later show a visual preference for the familiar mallard over an unfamiliar redhead (Aythya americana) hen. Birds kept in social isolation do not make htis difficult discrimination. In the present study, we examined whether this social enhancement of imprintability to a natural maternal model is merely the result of social stimulation in its most general sense of if its effects are specific to social interaction with conspecifics. 24‐hr‐old domestic mallard ducklings were allowed to follow a stuffed mallard hen for 30 min (training). This experience resulted in visual preference for the familiar mallard hen over the unfamiliar redhead hen in simultaneous choices tests at 48 hr and 72 after hatching only if the birds were allowed social experience with a group of same‐age undomesticarted mallard hatchlings. No visual preference for the familiar mallard hen was found if the ducklins were permitted social experience with a group of same‐age (Gallus domesticus) hatchlings or muscovy (Cairina moschata) duclings. Thus, it appears that for duclins to show a visually imprinted preference for a natural maternal model, they must be allowed social interaction with broodmates of their own species. Social rearing with other precocial bird hatchlings, even other duclings, is without apparent effect. These results provide further evidence of the importance of nonobvious experiental factors in the development of species‐typical behavior. They also suggest that in the evolution of the species‐specific learning underlying early species identification, natural selection has operated on the entire (organism‐environment) developmental manifold and not merely on genetic, or organisimic aspects of that system. Copyright © 1988 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

publication date

  • January 1, 1988

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 311

end page

  • 321

volume

  • 21

issue

  • 4