Effects of domestication on neophobia: A comparison between the domesticated Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica) and its wild ancestor, the white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata). 2021

Kenta Suzuki, and Maki Ikebuchi, and Hiroko Kagawa, and Taku Koike, and Kazuo Okanoya
Faculty of Health Sciences, Nihon Institute of Medical Science, Moroyama-machi 350-0435, Japan; Laboratory for Biolinguistics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Okanoya Emotional Information Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Cognition and Behavior Joint Research Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan. Electronic address: kentszk@gmail.com.

Bengalese finches (Lonchura striata var. domestica) have more complex song traits than their wild ancestors, white-rumped munias (Lonchura striata). Domesticated finches are likely able to allocate more resources to reproduction (e.g. singing) rather than to mechanisms intended for coping with predation, which are no longer needed under domesticated conditions. Here, we aimed to examine the effects of changes in selection pressure due to domestication on the behaviour of Bengalese finches and to contemplate the possible evolutionary mechanisms underlying these changes. To do so, we compared neophobic responses to novel-object conditions as an assessment of reactions to potential predators. We studied groups of Bengalese finches and white-rumped munias and found that Bengalese finches were more likely to eat the food provided to them under novel-object conditions. Bengalese finches had a shorter latency time to eat, and this latency time was less affected by the novel object in the case of Bengalese finches compared to white-rumped munias. Therefore, Bengalese finches have reduced neophobic responses due to domestication. The behavioural strategies of white-rumped munias appear to be more suitable for natural environments, which include unpredictable risks, whereas Bengalese finches have likely adapted their behaviour to the conditions of artificial selection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005075 Biological Evolution The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics. Evolution, Biological
D000071278 Domestication A systematic process of adapting wild species of animals and plants into new environments often in close association or proximity to humans. Animal Taming,Taming, Animal
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045 Species Specificity The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species. Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D014828 Vocalization, Animal Sounds used in animal communication. Singing, Animal,Sound Communication, Animal,Vocal Communication, Animal,Animal Singing,Animal Singings,Animal Sound Communication,Animal Sound Communications,Animal Vocal Communication,Animal Vocal Communications,Animal Vocalization,Animal Vocalizations,Communication, Animal Sound,Communication, Animal Vocal,Communications, Animal Sound,Communications, Animal Vocal,Singings, Animal,Sound Communications, Animal,Vocal Communications, Animal,Vocalizations, Animal
D046369 Finches Common name for small PASSERIFORMES in the family Fringillidae. They have a short stout bill (BEAK) adapted for crushing SEEDS. Some species of Old World finches are called CANARIES. Finch

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