ARTICLES
Stimulus Material for depth studies, courtesy of Macquarie University (continued)
Understanding how the virulence of viruses evolves
Lizards learn to use different colours and shapes to find food and actually refine their approach based on the
information they are given, according to research published by the Lizard Lab.
The study, published in Animal Behaviour, shows that tree skinks are able to use the new colours as well as
shapes to find a food reward by using behavioural flexibility.
Researchers first trained individuals of the family-living Australian tree skink to find food associated with a
specific colour and then tested how they react when this colour suddenly does not lead to food anymore.
Lizards were either shown a different colour or completely new shapes—the skinks had to learn to adapt to
these changing conditions and use the new cues to find the food.
“The impact of humanity on the lives of many species is no secret, and the ongoing change in the species
composition within a given habitat has animals facing new challenges such as changes in food availability,”
says lead author Birgit Szabo from Macquarie University’s Department of Biological Sciences.
“The physical world is an ever-changing place and although animals have adapted to the environment they live
in, they are not prepared for everything that comes their way, and a simple way for these animals to survive is to
be able to quickly adjust behaviour to these changes.
“We already knew that behavioural flexibility is a common ability in primates and many bird species, but so
far evidence in reptiles is scarce. Our study will help to disentangle how evolution has shaped intelligence in
different species.”
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Syllabus link: Stage 4 Science
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AND ENGINEERING
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 1