Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20336
Title: Assessment of demand for food under concurrent PR and FR schedules in the Brushtail Possum ('Trichosurus vulpecula')
Contributor(s): Cameron, Kristie E (author); Bizo, Lewis  (author); Starkey, Nicola J (author)
Publication Date: 2015
Open Access: Yes
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20336
Open Access Link: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2ng716nqOpen Access Link
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the demand by possums for foods under different arrangements of concurrent progressive-ratio and fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement. In Experiment 1, every possible food pair made up of berries, chicken, egg, foliage, insects, and mushroom was presented (30 pairs in total). The requirement on the progressive-ratio schedule increased within a session and the fixed-ratio was kept constant at 30. In Experiment 2, a subset of the foods from Experiment 1 were used (chicken, mushroom, egg, and berries) and in separate conditions the fixed-ratio was either 30 or 10 responses. In Experiment 3, the foods were the same as used in Experiment 2 and the progressive-ratio schedule increased every five sessions and the fixed-ratio was kept constant at 30. Exponential models of demand were applied to consumption rates to compare the parameters of initial demand, essential value and Pmax, and break point and cross point across foods. The models described the data well and consumption rates were similar when the incrementing schedules increased within- and across sessions. Demand was highest for berries, egg, and locust in Experiment 1 and egg and chicken in Experiments 2 and 3. This finding has practical implications for understanding possum food preferences in the wild as a function of other available food sources and for informing pest control strategies of potential lures.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: International Journal of Comparative Psychology, v.28, p. 1-19
Publisher: University of California, eScholarship
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 2168-3344
0889-3667
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 170101 Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology)
170112 Sensory Processes, Perception and Performance
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 520202 Behavioural neuroscience
520401 Cognition
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970117 Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
960499 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species not elsewhere classified
970107 Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology
280101 Expanding knowledge in the agricultural, food and veterinary sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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