Exploration of environmental changes relates to lifestyle

Decision making in informed animals is often described by optimality models. However, how information about an environment is acquired is rarely investigated. Cost/benefit considerations suggest that species differ in this respect according to their lifestyle. We tested the hypothesis that resident species react to changes in their familiar environment earlier and explore it more intensively than do nomadic species by observing the response to environmental changes (presentation of novel objects) in 10 parrot species. Phylogenetic relationships were taken into account. Residents touched the novel objects significantly earlier and explored more objects than did nomads. In addition, species with a high proportion of fruits in their food spectrum explored more than did species with other food preferences. The results are in accordance with different costs and benefits of information gathering for species that differ in their lifestyle and ecological demands. Copyright 2005.environmental assessment; neophilia; nomads; parrots; Psittacidae; residents