Research Gilles De Meester

Abstract

Cognition is often described as the ability of an animal to acquire, process and retain information, which will influence its decision-making. One important aspect of cognition is behavioural flexibility, the capacity of an individual to change its behaviour in response to novel problems or situations. Problem-solving and learning are key factors in behavioural flexibility. Complex environments are thought to select for behavioural flexibility, because they more frequently present animals with novel situations. In this project, my main research question is how behavioural flexibility influences survival and reproductive success in both simple and complex environments. The study will mainly take place on the island Naxos on the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). In the first part of the study, I will look at individual variation in behavioural flexibility in a large number of lizards, and how this relates to social behaviour (dominance) and exploratory behaviour. Behavioural flexibility will be tested using a neophobia/neophilia test, a problemsolving task and a reversal learning task. These lizards will then be released into enclosures built around either simple or complex habitats to follow their survival and reproductive success for two consecutive years. I will also test whether populations of Aegean wall lizards from different habitats, including urban environments, differ in behavioural flexibility.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Fellow: De Meester Gilles

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Cognition is often described as the ability of an animal to acquire, process and retain information, which will influence its decision-making. One important aspect of cognition is behavioural flexibility, the capacity of an individual to change its behaviour in response to novel problems or situations. Problem-solving and learning are key factors in behavioural flexibility. Complex environments are thought to select for behavioural flexibility, because they more frequently present animals with novel situations. In this project, my main research question is how behavioural flexibility influences survival and reproductive success in both simple and complex environments. The study will mainly take place on the island Naxos on the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). In the first part of the study, I will look at individual variation in behavioural flexibility in a large number of lizards, and how this relates to social behaviour (dominance) and exploratory behaviour. Behavioural flexibility will be tested using a neophobia/neophilia test, a problemsolving task and a reversal learning task. These lizards will then be released into enclosures built around either simple or complex habitats to follow their survival and reproductive success for two consecutive years. I will also test whether populations of Aegean wall lizards from different habitats, including urban environments, differ in behavioural flexibility.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Fellow: De Meester Gilles

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project