An evolutionary simulation model of social learning about food by norway rats

Abstract

We investigate simple mechanisms for social learning in an evolutionary simulation of food-preference copying in Norway rats. These animals learn preferences by interacting with conspecifics, but, unexpectedly, they fail to learn aversions after interacting with a poisoned demonstrator. They also follow each other to food sites. Simulation results show that failure to discriminate between sick and healthy demonstrators may be due to details of food toxicity in foraging environments. A seemingly complex instance of social information transmission is explained through the action of simple behaviours in an appropriately structured environment.