This study was undertaken to gain some knowledge of Flying-fox (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae) learning ability, using 10 Spectacled Flying-foxes Pteropus conspicillatus in a free-operant conditioning paradigm. The subjects were trained to pull levers for a juice reward in the controlled environment of a modified Skinner box. All sessions were monitored and recorded on video. During the course of the experiment a difference was found in the learning behaviour between the three hand-raised and the seven wild-raised subjects. The three hand-raised Flying-foxes learned the task in the seventh, ninth or fourteenth 10-minute session whereas the wild-raised animals did not learn to pull the levers. When returned to the experimental chamber more than three years later two of the hand-reared subjects immediately pulled the levers to receive juice. It showed that these animals remembered the experimental chamber, the location and the reward for pulling the levers.

Christesen, and Nelson 2000. Vocal communication in the grey-headed flying fox. Australian Zoologist 31: 447-457.

Churchill, S. 1998 Australian Bats. New Holland Publishers, Sydney.

Dragoi, V., and Staddon, J.E.R. 1999. The dynamics of operant conditioning. Psychological Review 106: 20-61.

Eby, P. 1991. Seasonal movements of grey-headed flying foxes, Pteropus Poliocephalus(Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), from two maternity camps in northern New South Wales. Wildlife Research 18: 547-560.

Garnet, S., Whybird, O. and Spencer, H. 1999. The conservation status of the spectacled Flying fox Pteropus conspicillatus in Australia. Australian Zoologist 31: 198-207.

Jolly, A. 1964a. Prosimians' manipulation of simple object problems. Animal Behaviour 12: 560-570.

Jolly, A. 1964b. Choice of cue in prosimians learning. Animal Behaviour 12: 571-577.

Jolly, A. 1966. Lemur social behaviour and primate intelligence. Science 153: 501-506.

Markus, N. 2002. Behaviour of black flying fox, Pteropus alecto: 2. Territoriality and courtship. Acta Chiropterologica 4(2): 153-166.

Markus, N. and Blackshaw, J.K. 2002. Behaviour of the black flying fox, Pteropus alecto: 1. An ethnogram of behaviour, and preliminary characterisation of mother-infant interactions. Acta Chiropterologica 4(2): 137-152.

Martin, L. and McIlwee, A.P. 2002. The reproductive biology and intrinsic capacity for increase of the grey-headed flying fox Pteropus poliocephalus(megachiroptera), and the implications of culling. Pg. 91-108 in Managing the Grey-headed Flying-fox as a Threatenend Species in New South Wales, edited by P. Eby and D. Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.

Mazur, J.E. 1994 Learning and Behaviour(third edition). Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

McIlwee, A.P. and Martin, L. 2002. On the intrinsic capacity for increase of Australian flying-foxes ( Pteropus spp., Megachiropter a). Australian Zoologist 32: 76-100.

Nelson, J.E. 1965a. Movements of Australian flying foxes (Pteropodidae: Megachiroptera). Australian Journal of Zoology 13: 53-73.

Nelson, J.E. 1965b. Behaviour of Australian Pteropodidae (Megachiroptera). Animal Behaviour 13: 544-557.

Neuweiler, G. 1962. Bau und Leistung des Flughundauges. Zeitschrift der vergleichenden Physiologie 46:13-56.

Neuweiler, G. 2000 The Biology of Bats. Oxford University Press, New York.

Pettigrew, J. 2000. http://www.uq.edu.au/nuq/jack/consensus.htm

Ratcliffe, F. 1947 Flying Fox and drifting Sand. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

Richards, G.C. 1990a. The spectacled flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus(Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), in north Queensland 1. Roost sites and distribution patterns. Australian Mammalogy 13:17-24.

Richards, G.C. 1990b. The spectacled flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus(Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), in north Queensland 2. Diet, seed dispersal and feeding ecology. Australian Mammalogy 13: 25-42.

Richards, G.C. and Spencer, H.J. 1995 Pteropus conspicillatus. Pp. 435-437 in The Mammals of Australia, edited by R. Strahan. Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW.

Seligman, M. 1970. On the generality of the laws of learning. Psychological Review 77: 406-418.

Spencer, H.J., Palmer, C., and Parry-Jones, K. 1991. Movement of fruit-bats in eastern Australia, determined by using radio-tracking. Wildlife Research 18: 463-468.

Strahan, R. (ed.) 1995 The Mammals of Australia. Sydney. Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW.

Williams, N.S.G., McDonnell, M.J., Phelan, G.K., Keim, L.D., and Van der Ree, R. 2006. Range expansion due to urbanization: Increased food resources attract Grey-headed Flying-foxes ( Pteropus poliocephalus) to Melbourne Austral. Ecology 31: 190-198.

Van der Ree, R., McDonnell, M.J., Tempy, I., Nelson, J, and Whittingham, E. 2006. The establishment and dynamics of a recently established urban camp of flying foxes ( Pteropus poliocephalus) outside their geographic range. Journal of Zoology (London) 268: 177-185.

Wynne, C.D.L. 2001 Animal cognition. The mental lives of animals, Palgrave, New York.

This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access.

Contents

Data & Figures

References

Other RZS NSW Publications

The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats

Edited by

Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7882/9780980327243

ISBN electronic:

978-0-9803272-4-3

Publication date:

2011