PMID- 30448385
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20190221
LR  - 20190221
IS  - 1872-8308 (Electronic)
IS  - 0376-6357 (Linking)
VI  - 158
DP  - 2019 Jan
TI  - Can scalar timing explain variability in scanning patterns?
PG  - 85-88
LID - S0376-6357(18)30285-7 [pii]
LID - 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.11.006 [doi]
AB  - Why are scanning patterns so variable? Theory predicts that for prey species 
      facing non-stalking predators scans to monitor predators should occur at fixed 
      rather than unpredictable times. Yet, empirical distributions of inter-scan 
      intervals (ISIs) are very variable. One hypothesis to explain variability is that 
      animals initiate several of their scans in response to external disturbances that 
      occur at random times. I propose, instead, that animals actually aim to initiate 
      scans at fixed times, which are adjusted to perceived predation risk, but 
      well-established cognitive processes on interval timing induce variability in 
      ISIs. Signatures associated with scalar timing, a leading theory of interval 
      timing in animals, include a linear increase in the standard deviation of ISIs as 
      a function of mean ISI duration. The increase is expected to be proportional to 
      mean ISI duration, which implies that the CV (SD*100/Mean) of ISIs is unrelated 
      to mean ISI duration. Finally, the distribution of ISIs should be gamma-like with 
      right skew. I tested these predictions in groups of domestic fowls (Gallus gallus 
      domesticus) under controlled conditions and in groups of American flamingos 
      (Phoenicopterus ruber) in the field. I found support for most but not all 
      predictions in these two species. In particular, CV of ISIs increased with the 
      mean, a deviation that I attribute to non-independent vigilance amongst group 
      members. Cognitive processes associated with scanning patterns warrant further 
      empirical testing.
CI  - Copyright (c) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
FAU - Beauchamp, Guy
AU  - Beauchamp G
AD  - Independent Researcher, Canada. Electronic address: guygillesbeauchamp@gmail.com.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20181115
PL  - Netherlands
TA  - Behav Processes
JT  - Behavioural processes
JID - 7703854
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Birds/*physiology
MH  - Cognition/*physiology
MH  - Predatory Behavior/*physiology
MH  - Wakefulness/physiology
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - American flamingo
OT  - Domestic fowl
OT  - Group size
OT  - Scalar timing
OT  - Scanning
OT  - Vigilance
EDAT- 2018/11/19 06:00
MHDA- 2019/02/23 06:00
CRDT- 2018/11/19 06:00
PHST- 2018/07/06 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2018/11/12 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2018/11/13 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2018/11/19 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2019/02/23 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2018/11/19 06:00 [entrez]
AID - S0376-6357(18)30285-7 [pii]
AID - 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.11.006 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Behav Processes. 2019 Jan;158:85-88. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.11.006. Epub 2018 
      Nov 15.