Information is vital currency in the daily lives of animals, allowing them to efficiently navigate, gather resources, and avoid danger. Other animals are valuable sources of information, and social learning, learning facilitated by observation of, or interaction with, another individual, is widespread in the animal kingdom. Because social learning allows animals to gather relevant information rapidly, often without paying the costs associated with trial-and-error-learning, judicious use of social learning provides an efficient way for animals to exploit their environments. For these reasons, and because of the potential applications of social learning rules to diverse systems, it is an established area of research attracting interest from biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists, as well as economists and artificial intelligence and robotics researchers.
Several social learning processes are recognised, with some considered to be more sophisticated. Imitation is an example of a process thought to be cognitively sophisticated. Technically defined, true imitation specifies the learning of novel motor patterns from observed behaviour. For a long time, true imitation was considered confined to humans and other great apes. Recently however, a compelling case for imitation in archerfish (Toxotes sp.), has been made.
Archerfish have an unusual hunting style, spitting jets of water to shoot down terrestrial prey. In nature, archerfish primarily shoot stationary prey, but they can learn to shoot more challenging moving targets. While they can learn through trial-and-error, a landmark study showed that archerfish who were prevented from shooting were still able to learn to hit moving targets if they were allowed to watch another fish shooting them. This suggests that archerfish can acquire a challenging-to-learn skill, requiring refinement in positioning and the deployment of novel motor patterns through observing the behaviour of others, apparently meeting the criteria of true imitation.
This PhD project will critically investigate imitation in archerfish. You will design behavioural experiments and appropriate control treatments to determine how social stimuli shape learning in archerfish as they learn to shoot moving targets. You will have the opportunity to make use of new technologies, including automated shot-logging and reward apparatus and machine learning, to explore in fine detail what aspects of a conspecific’s behaviour are observed and imitated when these animals learn from each other. This project will develop a tractable new vertebrate model for studying imitation and will provide an illuminating comparative perspective on the ecology and evolution of sophisticated social learning.
HOW TO APPLY
Application instructions can be found on the EASTBIO website- http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
1) Download and complete the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey.
2) Download and complete the EASTBIO Application Form.
3) Submit an application to St Andrews University through the Online Application Portal
Your online application must include the following documents:
- Completed EASTBIO application form
- 2 References (to be completed on the EASTBIO Reference Form, also found on the EASTBIO website)
- Academic Qualifications
- English Language Qualification (if applicable)
Unfortunately due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications. Please make sure your application is complete by Monday 5th December 2022.
CONTACT
Queries on the project can be directed to the project supervisor.
Queries on the application process can be directed to Jess Fitzgerald at [Email Address Removed]
UKRI eligibility guidance: Terms and Conditions: View Website International/EU: View Website
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