ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research

Comparative cognitive and behavior research aims to investigate cognitive evolution by comparing performance in different species to understand how these abilities have evolved. Ideally, this requires large and diverse samples; however, these can be difficult to obtain by single labs or institutions...

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Main Authors: Megan L. Lambert, Benjamin G. Farrar, Elias Garcia-Pelegrin, Stephan Reber, Rachael Miller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Animal Behavior and Cognition 2022-02-01
Series:Animal Behavior and Cognition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.animalbehaviorandcognition.org/article.php?id=1309
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author Megan L. Lambert
Benjamin G. Farrar
Elias Garcia-Pelegrin
Stephan Reber
Rachael Miller
author_facet Megan L. Lambert
Benjamin G. Farrar
Elias Garcia-Pelegrin
Stephan Reber
Rachael Miller
author_sort Megan L. Lambert
collection DOAJ
description Comparative cognitive and behavior research aims to investigate cognitive evolution by comparing performance in different species to understand how these abilities have evolved. Ideally, this requires large and diverse samples; however, these can be difficult to obtain by single labs or institutions, leading to potential reproducibility and generalization issues with small, less representative samples. To help mitigate these issues, we are establishing a multi-site collaborative Open Science approach called ManyBirds, with the aim of providing new insight into the evolution of avian cognition and behavior through large-scale comparative studies, following the lead of exemplary ManyPrimates, ManyBabies and ManyDogs projects. Here, we outline a) the replicability crisis and why we should study birds, including the origin of modern birds, avian brains and convergent evolution of cognition; b) the current state of the avian cognition field, including a ‘snapshot’ review; c) the ManyBirds project, with plans, infrastructure, limitations, implications and future directions. In sharing this process, we hope that this may be useful for other researchers in devising similar projects in other taxa, like non-avian reptiles or mammals, and to encourage further collaborations with ManyBirds and related ManyX projects. Ultimately, we hope to promote collaboration between ManyX projects to allow for wider investigation of the evolution of cognition across all animals, including potentially humans.
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spelling doaj.art-d256e57988b34c1383598d39b961e9e62022-12-22T01:35:18ZengAnimal Behavior and CognitionAnimal Behavior and Cognition2372-50522372-43232022-02-019113315210.26451/abc.09.01.11.2022ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior researchMegan L. LambertBenjamin G. FarrarElias Garcia-PelegrinStephan ReberRachael MillerComparative cognitive and behavior research aims to investigate cognitive evolution by comparing performance in different species to understand how these abilities have evolved. Ideally, this requires large and diverse samples; however, these can be difficult to obtain by single labs or institutions, leading to potential reproducibility and generalization issues with small, less representative samples. To help mitigate these issues, we are establishing a multi-site collaborative Open Science approach called ManyBirds, with the aim of providing new insight into the evolution of avian cognition and behavior through large-scale comparative studies, following the lead of exemplary ManyPrimates, ManyBabies and ManyDogs projects. Here, we outline a) the replicability crisis and why we should study birds, including the origin of modern birds, avian brains and convergent evolution of cognition; b) the current state of the avian cognition field, including a ‘snapshot’ review; c) the ManyBirds project, with plans, infrastructure, limitations, implications and future directions. In sharing this process, we hope that this may be useful for other researchers in devising similar projects in other taxa, like non-avian reptiles or mammals, and to encourage further collaborations with ManyBirds and related ManyX projects. Ultimately, we hope to promote collaboration between ManyX projects to allow for wider investigation of the evolution of cognition across all animals, including potentially humans.https://www.animalbehaviorandcognition.org/article.php?id=1309animal cognitionbirdscomparative psychologyreplicationmetascienceopen science
spellingShingle Megan L. Lambert
Benjamin G. Farrar
Elias Garcia-Pelegrin
Stephan Reber
Rachael Miller
ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
Animal Behavior and Cognition
animal cognition
birds
comparative psychology
replication
metascience
open science
title ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
title_full ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
title_fullStr ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
title_full_unstemmed ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
title_short ManyBirds: A multi-site collaborative Open Science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
title_sort manybirds a multi site collaborative open science approach to avian cognition and behavior research
topic animal cognition
birds
comparative psychology
replication
metascience
open science
url https://www.animalbehaviorandcognition.org/article.php?id=1309
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