Literature critique.
The authors investigated the behavioral differences between individuals and between sexes during social and non-social settings and the impact of having companions from the opposite sex for social settings of zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata. Previous studies showed that behavior is consistent for nonsocial context and for the social context, personality was expressed through survival and competition dimensions. The authors expressed the lack of empirical study on the social context of behavioral consistency. The authors hypothesized that male and female zebra finches vary in their levels and consistency of exploration, exploration and initiative for action are correlated, and exploration tendencies affect time spent with companions.
Two experiments were held, which aimed to measure exploration tendencies and social interactions for opposite sex zebra finches, through specifically designing the cages for each experiment. The first experiment involved studying the exploration tendencies of the zebra finches and facilities included in the cage helped facilitate social interaction for maximum observation. The second experiment investigated the social interactions that the zebra finches exhibited and the cage was designed to also view the interactions that were displayed by the zebra finches. The controls used were the following the focal birds did not have contact with the first cage before they were place there and familiar flock mates were used to avoid displays. In addition, though the zebra finches came from different commercial suppliers, they were sexually experienced, adult, and wild-type birds and they were held for more than six months in the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus. These features are assumed to make the zebra finches more social than if they were young and lacking sexual experiences. They were also put outdoors in two mixed-flock cages wherein they can freely fly and interact with each other. To improve visual access, the mesh at the back is also covered with white cloth. The test cage is also visually, but not acoustically separated from other cages. Finally, several tests were done to ensure that they can express behavior across social and asocial settings. First, they are placed randomly in the following treatment groups half were tested twice in the social context of mixed pairs and half were tested twice in the asocial context, where they were left on their own. The individuals were tested four times, with subsequent tests distanced a week apart and these tests served to expose the birds to further experimental conditions. Second, for every trial, they were placed initially in cardboard boxes, before they were released to the test cages. This could have helped lessen the anxiety of new environments.
Results affirmed the hypotheses of the authors. The sex of the zebra finches and the context of the social environment affected their differences in exploration, feeding performance and leadership in risky and non-risky situations. Authors also observed that body condition, recapture rank and experience affected the mean exploration levels observed, and they surmised that this can be because of differences in metabolic costs, predation risk, and learning approaches of the zebra finches. They added that differences in within-explorations of males can explain different exploration strategies for opposite-sex interactions.
Results were presented with the use of charts and figures and helped understand the graphical description of the differences that the study discovered. The results presentation is easy to understand and the methods are sufficiently described for evaluation and repeatability. The author slightly modified their hypotheses because of the inability to determine whether differences in consistency depended on lesser individual variations of males compared to females and greater between-variation for males than females. The authors also sufficiently discussed all findings, which support previous hypotheses and past literature on different selection and exploration practices of animals. They also considered alternative explanations for the findings, which showed their openness for different perspectives that can account for the outcomes and nuances of their study.
The data analysis was done using repeatabilities and their SEs for unbalanced design. Authors also conducted multiple tests to evaluate repeatability of individuals of dissimilar sexes separately, with the control of the rising probability of type I error rates using the sequentially rejective Bonferroni procedure of Holm. The methods of statistical analyses showed that the authors exerted judicious exertion to protect the integrity of their data and to improve the reliability and validity of the results. They also used tests that were already empirically used also and historically tested for validity.
The authors suggested further research on the impact of the interplay of sex, personality, and the environment on animal behavior. The authors accepted the significance of their studies on the future of studying further interrelations on this topic. It is argued that this significance is not overstated, because animals also display personality that can help understand their mating needs and practices. This article suggests a novel finding about the importance of male personality, when females are looking for their mates, which can be both a matter of evolution, as well as learning from actual opposite-sex interactions.
Two experiments were held, which aimed to measure exploration tendencies and social interactions for opposite sex zebra finches, through specifically designing the cages for each experiment. The first experiment involved studying the exploration tendencies of the zebra finches and facilities included in the cage helped facilitate social interaction for maximum observation. The second experiment investigated the social interactions that the zebra finches exhibited and the cage was designed to also view the interactions that were displayed by the zebra finches. The controls used were the following the focal birds did not have contact with the first cage before they were place there and familiar flock mates were used to avoid displays. In addition, though the zebra finches came from different commercial suppliers, they were sexually experienced, adult, and wild-type birds and they were held for more than six months in the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus. These features are assumed to make the zebra finches more social than if they were young and lacking sexual experiences. They were also put outdoors in two mixed-flock cages wherein they can freely fly and interact with each other. To improve visual access, the mesh at the back is also covered with white cloth. The test cage is also visually, but not acoustically separated from other cages. Finally, several tests were done to ensure that they can express behavior across social and asocial settings. First, they are placed randomly in the following treatment groups half were tested twice in the social context of mixed pairs and half were tested twice in the asocial context, where they were left on their own. The individuals were tested four times, with subsequent tests distanced a week apart and these tests served to expose the birds to further experimental conditions. Second, for every trial, they were placed initially in cardboard boxes, before they were released to the test cages. This could have helped lessen the anxiety of new environments.
Results affirmed the hypotheses of the authors. The sex of the zebra finches and the context of the social environment affected their differences in exploration, feeding performance and leadership in risky and non-risky situations. Authors also observed that body condition, recapture rank and experience affected the mean exploration levels observed, and they surmised that this can be because of differences in metabolic costs, predation risk, and learning approaches of the zebra finches. They added that differences in within-explorations of males can explain different exploration strategies for opposite-sex interactions.
Results were presented with the use of charts and figures and helped understand the graphical description of the differences that the study discovered. The results presentation is easy to understand and the methods are sufficiently described for evaluation and repeatability. The author slightly modified their hypotheses because of the inability to determine whether differences in consistency depended on lesser individual variations of males compared to females and greater between-variation for males than females. The authors also sufficiently discussed all findings, which support previous hypotheses and past literature on different selection and exploration practices of animals. They also considered alternative explanations for the findings, which showed their openness for different perspectives that can account for the outcomes and nuances of their study.
The data analysis was done using repeatabilities and their SEs for unbalanced design. Authors also conducted multiple tests to evaluate repeatability of individuals of dissimilar sexes separately, with the control of the rising probability of type I error rates using the sequentially rejective Bonferroni procedure of Holm. The methods of statistical analyses showed that the authors exerted judicious exertion to protect the integrity of their data and to improve the reliability and validity of the results. They also used tests that were already empirically used also and historically tested for validity.
The authors suggested further research on the impact of the interplay of sex, personality, and the environment on animal behavior. The authors accepted the significance of their studies on the future of studying further interrelations on this topic. It is argued that this significance is not overstated, because animals also display personality that can help understand their mating needs and practices. This article suggests a novel finding about the importance of male personality, when females are looking for their mates, which can be both a matter of evolution, as well as learning from actual opposite-sex interactions.
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