Female degus (<i>Octodon degus</i>) monitor their environment while foraging socially

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dc.contributor.authorQuirici, Veronica
dc.contributor.authorCastro, Rodrigo A.
dc.contributor.authorOyarzun, Javiera
dc.contributor.authorEbensperger, Luis A.
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-21T01:05:03Z
dc.date.available2025-01-21T01:05:03Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractVigilance or scanning involves interruptions in foraging behavior when individuals lift their heads and conduct visual monitoring of the environment. Theoretical considerations assume that foraging with the "head down", and scanning ("head up") are mutually exclusive activities, such that foraging precludes vigilance. We tested this generalization in a socially foraging, small mammal model, the diurnal Chilean degu (Octodon degus). We studied spontaneous bouts of scanning of captive degus when foraging in pairs of female sibs and non-sibs. We examined the extent to which foraging (head down postures) and scanning (head up postures) were mutually exclusive in subjects exposed to none, partial, and complete lateral visual obstruction of their partners. In addition, we monitored the orientation of their bodies to examine the target of attention while foraging and scanning. Lastly, we examined the temporal occurrence of scanning events to assess the extent of scanning coordination, and whether this coordination is kin-biased. Visual obstruction had a significant influence on degu vigilance. Focal degus increased their quadrupedal and semi-erect scanning when foraging under a partially obstructed view of their partners. Degus oriented their bodies toward partners when foraging and scanning. Despite this, degus did not coordinate scanning bouts; instead, they scanned independently from one another. Relatedness among cage mates did not influence any aspect of degu behavior. Contrary to theoretical expectations, these results indicate that foraging and vigilance are not mutually exclusive, and that kinship per se does not influence scanning behavior and coordination.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10071-007-0134-z
dc.identifier.issn1435-9448
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-007-0134-z
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/95797
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000256622000007
dc.issue.numero3
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final448
dc.pagina.inicio441
dc.revistaAnimal cognition
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectsocial foraging
dc.subjectscanning
dc.subjectvisual obstruction
dc.subjectvigilance coordination
dc.subjectdegus
dc.subject.ods14 Life Below Water
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.odspa14 Vida submarina
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.titleFemale degus (<i>Octodon degus</i>) monitor their environment while foraging socially
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen11
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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