Page 233 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Box B5 ognitive Abilities oo Marine Mammals 205

VetBooks.ir into an experimental apparatus to release a saline gradients, which could serve as an effec-
tive navigation tool. They demonstrate abili-
fish reward. The dolphins also exhibited
planning as demonstrated by the fact that
(MTS) and oddity paradigms and acquire
when the weights were moved a long dis- ties to categorise objects in match‐to‐sample
tance away from the apparatus, they col- learning sets (learning to learn) (Schusterman
lected up to four or five weights at a time in and Kastak 2002). They have been trained
contrast to picking up only one weight at a successfully in artificial ‘language’ sign
time and dropping it into the apparatus when sequences, similar to those demonstrated by
the weights were close. dolphins (Schusterman and Kastak 2002).
Overall, bottlenose dolphins display a They are also flexible vocal learners with at
complex array of cognitive abilities that least some capacity for vocal imitation
would be important to investigate in other (Reichmuth and Casey 2014). Schusterman
toothed‐whale species. Pinnipeds, primarily and colleagues have engaged in comprehen-
the California sea lion have been studied on sive studies that demonstrate that sea lions
many similar tasks with similar results, as can be trained to develop a concept of stim-
described below (see Figure B5.1). ulus equivalence (Schusterman et al. 2000),
Pinnipeds have good underwater and in‐air i.e. categorisation of dissimilar stimuli,
visual acuity (Schusterman 1972), hearing which is important in understanding cogni-
sensitivity extending into the ultrasonic range tive and social concepts. These concepts can
(Cunningham et al. 2014), and modest sound be developed in MTS procedures, which
localisation (Supin et al. 2001). Although they pinnipeds readily acquire and maintain. For
do not have echolocation, they have exquisite example, a sea lion has been shown to
active touch (discrimination of shapes) and remember an MTS task with no loss of accu-
passive touch (detection and following of racy after 10 years (Reichmuth Kastak and
hydrodynamic stimuli) abilities, using the sen- Schusterman 2002).
sory hairs (vibrissae) on their faces (Dehnhardt The primary focus of captive behavioural
and Mauck 2008), which probably helps them research of the Sirenia has been the sensory
navigate. Pinnipeds can also discriminate processes of manatees. Manatees have poor

Figure B5.1 Most of our knowledge about pinniped cognitive ability has come from our understanding of
Californian sealions, Zalophus calioornianus; as a consequence this species is frequently featured in shows
which demonstrate their various cognitive skills. Source: Jeroen Stevens.