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Sympatric species of threespine stickleback differ in their performance in a spatial learning task

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Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that cognitive function is under selection in diverse taxa and that this results in different cognitive abilities in taxa experiencing different selective environments. For example, species inhabiting spatially complex environments might be expected to have good spatial learning ability. We investigated whether local habitat conditions influence learning by comparing the performance of two recently diverged species of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus complex) in a spatial learning task. The two species reside sympatrically in several lakes. Benthics occupy the spatially structured vegetated littoral zone, whereas limnetics occupy the spatially homogenous open-water pelagic zone. We trained fish to locate a hidden reward in a T-maze and asked whether they did so by learning a body-centred pattern of movement (turn left or right) or by using plant landmarks. Both benthics and limnetics used turn and landmark cues, but benthics learnt the task almost twice as quickly as limnetics. This difference is consistent with the hypothesis that benthic and limnetic sticklebacks are equipped with spatial learning abilities well suited to the spatial complexity of their littoral and pelagic habitats. Our findings add to the understanding of the evolution of learning.

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Acknowledgments

We thank D. Schluter for his assistance and generous provision of facilities. We thank S. Vamosi, D. Taylor and H. Rundle for technical assistance; T. Vines for statistical advice; and C. Brown and S. West for valuable comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. This research was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Fisheries Society of the British Isles and The University of Edinburgh Student Travel Fund and Development and Alumni Services. This research was conducted in accordance with animal care guidelines of the University of British Columbia and University of Edinburgh.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nature Editorial, Nature Publishing Group, 4 Crinan Street, London, UK

    Lucy C. Odling-Smee

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Janette W. Boughman

  3. Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Lucy C. Odling-Smee & Victoria A. Braithwaite

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  1. Lucy C. Odling-Smee
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  2. Janette W. Boughman
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Correspondence to Janette W. Boughman.

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Communicated by T. Bakker

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Odling-Smee, L.C., Boughman, J.W. & Braithwaite, V.A. Sympatric species of threespine stickleback differ in their performance in a spatial learning task. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 62, 1935–1945 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-008-0625-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-008-0625-1

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