Landmark learning by honeybees

AbstractThere is abundant research (both in rodents and in humans) showing that males and females often use different types of information in spatial navigation. Males prefer geometry as a source of information, whereas females tend to focus on landmarks (which are often near to a goal objects). However, when considering the role of the hippocampus, the research focuses primarily on males only. In the present study, based on Rodríguez, Torres, Mackintosh, and Chamizo’s (2010, Experiment 2) navigation protocol, we conducted two experiments, one with males and another with females, in order to tentatively evaluate the role of the dorsal hippocampus in the acquisition of two tasks: one based on landmark learning and the alternate one on local pool-geometry learning. Both when landmark learning and when geometry learning, Sham male rats learned significantly faster than Lesion male animals. This was not the case with female rats in geometry learning. These results suggest that the dorsal hippocampus could play an important role in males only.

Download Full-text

Gender differences in landmark learning for virtual navigation: The role of distance to a goal

Behavioural Processes ◽

10.1016/j.beproc.2011.06.007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 20-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

V.D. Chamizo ◽

A.A. Artigas ◽

J. Sansa ◽

F. Banterla

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Virtual Navigation ◽

Landmark Learning

Download Full-text

Climate change adaptation and local government: Institutional complexities surrounding Cape Town’s Day Zero

Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies ◽

10.4102/jamba.v11i3.717 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Godwell Nhamo ◽

Adelaide O. Agyepong

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Local Government ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Network Theory ◽

Local Governments ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Cape Town ◽

Water Security ◽

Landmark Learning

The challenges associated with climate change in local governments are growing daily. One such challenge is water security, an aspect that draws us to the subject matter of climate change adaptation. This article discusses findings about institutional complexities surrounding Day Zero, a concept associated with water taps running dry because of drought conditions as aggravated by climate change in the city of Cape Town, South Africa. The thrust on institutional complexities is deliberate, as this affects how crisis situations like Day Zero were handled. The data were generated mainly from the actor–actant–network theory, events study as well as document and discourse analysis methods. The actor–actant–network theory is used widely to trace how actors (humans) and actants (non-human phenomena) interact in space and time through their networks, following narratives like Day Zero, and act on climate-related matters. The analysis applied elements of grounded theory, resulting in categories and themes emerging for discussion. The article found that narratives surrounding Day Zero were embedded in both political and administrative dilemmas and red tape. Despite these challenges, the article concludes that Day Zero remains one of the landmark learning points for climate change adaptation and water security in Cape Town, South Africa, and in other cities across the world. The article recommends that Day Zero experiences continue to be embraced positively and documented further to enhance local government climate adaptation for water security currently and into the future as well.

Download Full-text