Further studies of reliance on socially acquired information when foraging in potentially risky situations

Results of three previous experiments conducted in our laboratory (Galef & Whiskin 2006, Animal Behaviour, 72, 1169-1176) failed to provide support for the prediction from formal theory that increasing the potential cost of engaging in individual learning increases reliance on socially acquired information. However, weaknesses in the data of each of the three experiment reported in Galef & Whiskin (2006) complicated interpretation of results. Here, we repeated the three experiments using procedures that we modified to improve the quality of the data. Despite success in removing the problems with Galef & Whiskin's (2006) methods, we again found no evidence that exposure to either direct or indirect cues of predation risk increased Norway rats', Rattus norvegicus, reliance on socially acquired information. We discuss implications of our repeated failures to confirm a logically consistent prediction from formal theory. (C) 2009 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.