Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris).
Asymmetry in motor patterns is present in a wide variety of animals. Many lateralized behaviors seem to depend on brain asymmetry, as it is the case of different tasks associated to food handling by several bird and mammal species. Here, we analyzed asymmetry in handling behavior of pine cones by re...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2015-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118233 |
| _version_ | 1819141282692333568 |
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| author | Nuria Polo-Cavia Zoraida Vázquez Francisco Javier de Miguel |
| author_facet | Nuria Polo-Cavia Zoraida Vázquez Francisco Javier de Miguel |
| author_sort | Nuria Polo-Cavia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Asymmetry in motor patterns is present in a wide variety of animals. Many lateralized behaviors seem to depend on brain asymmetry, as it is the case of different tasks associated to food handling by several bird and mammal species. Here, we analyzed asymmetry in handling behavior of pine cones by red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Red squirrels devote most of their daily activity to feeding, thus this species constitutes an appropriate model for studying asymmetry in food processing. We aimed to explore 1) the potential lateralization in handling of pine cones by squirrels, 2) the dominant pattern for this behavior (left- vs. right-handed), and 3) whether this pattern varies among populations and depending on the pine tree species available. Results revealed that red squirrels handle pine cones in an asymmetrical way, and that direction of asymmetry varies among populations and seems to be determined more by local influences rather than by the pine tree species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:51:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0295c17748de481a99f78975310ee8dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:51:59Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-0295c17748de481a99f78975310ee8dc2022-12-21T18:26:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01102e011823310.1371/journal.pone.0118233Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris).Nuria Polo-CaviaZoraida VázquezFrancisco Javier de MiguelAsymmetry in motor patterns is present in a wide variety of animals. Many lateralized behaviors seem to depend on brain asymmetry, as it is the case of different tasks associated to food handling by several bird and mammal species. Here, we analyzed asymmetry in handling behavior of pine cones by red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Red squirrels devote most of their daily activity to feeding, thus this species constitutes an appropriate model for studying asymmetry in food processing. We aimed to explore 1) the potential lateralization in handling of pine cones by squirrels, 2) the dominant pattern for this behavior (left- vs. right-handed), and 3) whether this pattern varies among populations and depending on the pine tree species available. Results revealed that red squirrels handle pine cones in an asymmetrical way, and that direction of asymmetry varies among populations and seems to be determined more by local influences rather than by the pine tree species.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118233 |
| spellingShingle | Nuria Polo-Cavia Zoraida Vázquez Francisco Javier de Miguel Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris). PLoS ONE |
| title | Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris). |
| title_full | Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris). |
| title_fullStr | Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris). |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris). |
| title_short | Asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree-dwelling rodent (Sciurus vulgaris). |
| title_sort | asymmetry in food handling behavior of a tree dwelling rodent sciurus vulgaris |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118233 |
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