Feeding traditions: Diffusion of novel feeding behaviors in animal groups

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to selectively review the literature on socially-mediatedlearning of novel feeding behaviors. This evidence is discussed in relation to three dominanttTaditions in Psychology and Biology. First, field studies describing the astonishingdiversity of cases of behaviors that appear to have diffused in a local population by socialleaming. Second. laboratory studies aiming to identify mechanisms that allow socialleaming to occur; and also their possible similarities with individualleaming mechanisms.Third, quantitative models that wish to describe rates of diffusion of behaviora1 innovations,as well as ecological conditions that make more likely the evolution of socialleaming in different species. lt is argued that more interaction among these often independentresearch traditions is needed to see a m ore profound understanding of the spread of sociallearning of foraging strategies in particular, and cultural evolution in general.