In humans, the innate sense of proportions, forms the basis for our higher-level mathematical skills. A long time, this was seen as a unique characteristic of human intelligence. But now it is clear: Many animal species can, at least, to distinguish roughly between different sets of objects, such as Andreas Nieder, University of Tübingen, in his publication illustrates. He has already helped himself to the Knowledge in this field – now he has dedicated to the theme of a so-called Review illustrates the current Knowledge. To do this, he has also gathered relevant information from studies that provide only way to draw conclusions on numerical abilities in animals.
widespread ability
“Interestingly, it appears that there are numerical abilities in animals for almost all lines of descent,” says Low. “Different groups have brought forth this characteristic is apparently independent of each other. This strongly suggests that it has great adaptive value: The ability to numerical differences to capture, it must have conveyed in many cases a strong Survival and reproductive advantage,“ says the scientist.
As he reported, are able to capture many of the numerically gifted animal species although no exact Figures, but you understand at least the principle of “more or less”. This ability can have different meanings for the respective species, as illustrated in his Review: The crowd mind can be, among other things, the hunting, the choice of a partner or the orientation helpful. The numerical competence can ultimately play an important role in how useful the animals make decisions, write it Down.
That as a particularly high existing animals, such as monkeys, dogs, or Raven birds developed have a numerical mind, seems to be comparatively little surprising. As far as the ability in the common animal Kingdom is, to illustrate, however, especially studies of insects. Low stresses in this context the research on bees. You can remember, for example, the number of orientation points at which you are in search of food flew past. This can help you to find the way back to the hive. Low stresses: “The last common ancestor of bees and us primates lived approximately 600 million years ago. But, nevertheless, these insects have developed a numerical competence that is, in many respects, with that of the Vertebrates comparable”.
Subtle hints on numeric skills
Sometimes you have to read the case studies seem to also, as it were, between the lines, in order to detect hints about the numerical abilities of animals, such as the Review shows. They reflect, for example, in the Croaking of some frog species. This is “advertising”Calls of the males, to attract females. Is as Low as reported, it is clear from studies that the females of some species pay attention to the complexity of the Call. Specifically: The male that can produce many repetitions of a certain Tonelements, has increased opportunities for women. This in turn suggests that these amphibians can discriminate quantities.
another interesting example, the Low stresses, can be found in wolves. You seem to have a sense of how many of the pack members are for hunting certain prey animals is necessary. To hunt moose, are only six to eight wolves, while hunting bison will require a pack of nine to thirteen wolves. The prey animals seem to have a feeling for numerical values – in this case, in order to protect themselves from the robbers: If moose are rarely confronted with wolves, they form only small groups. The greater the threat, the more animals you will appreciate in your communities. “So, you capture, apparently, roughly the number of individuals in their flocks, to adapt to the Situation,” says Low.
A research field with potential
in Spite of the many examples of numerical competence in animals have addressed, however, relatively few researchers specifically with this topic, says the biologist. “Many of these behavioral findings in nature are mostly as by-products or incidental results of other research questions have been collected,” says Low. According to him, targeted research is needed to better understand the role of numerical competence in the life of different animal species and how this skill development has shaped history.
will now dedicate themselves to the exploration of another interesting aspect of this topic: what are the neural bases of numerical understanding in animals based on? In this area he has done travelled a pioneer work: He and his colleagues were able to show where the “data center” in the brain of a crow is sitting, if the birds distinguish between point sets. In this Work, the tübingen-based scientists want to build now. You plan in more detail to uncover how the brain and nerve cells in animals process Numbers.
Through its Review of Low is now hoping to attract more attention for the exciting research theme: “Maybe I can animate behavior researchers to investigate numerical competence in nature purposefully and to open further fields of research,” said the scientist.
source: Cell Press, journal article: Trends in Ecology & Evolution, doi: 10.1016/j. tree.2020.02.009
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