DOI: 10.5061/dryad.69p8cz999
title: Data from: Reversal learning and neophobia test results in Chimango Caracaras

description: In this study, we analyzed the variation in cognitive flexibility in the
 Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango), across areas with different levels
 of urbanization. To assess this, we utilized the reversal learning assay
 which measures the ability to adapt behavior in response to changes in
 environmental contingencies. We also investigated the impact of neophobia
 on this variation. All chimangos studied succeeded in acquiring a
 color-reward association and reverting this learned association when the
 contingencies changed. Urban chimangos were faster than their rural and
 suburban counterparts during the initial discrimination and reversal
 phases. The reversal phase proved to be the most challenging task. The
 analysis of the errors made during this phase revealed that acquiring a
 new association (i.e., regressive errors) was challenging for the
 individuals studied, in comparison to inhibiting a previously learned one
 (i.e., perseverative errors). Neophobia was found to be lower in urban
 individuals compared to suburban and rural raptors. Moreover, neophobia
 showed a correlation with regressive errors during the reversal phase
 among rural and suburban chimangos, while no such correlation was observed
 among city-dwelling chimangos. We suggest that neophobia acted as a
 regulating factor of cognitive flexibility, mainly for individuals
 expressing relatively high levels of this personality trait.
description: Data was collected from video recordings of the experiments and
 uploaded to Excel sheets to their posterior arrangements for statistical
 analyses.
description: This README file was generated on 2023-04-28 by Kara Leimberger. GENERAL
 INFORMATION 1. Title of Dataset: Data from reversal learning and neophobia
 test results in Chimango Caracaras. 2. Author Information: Principal
 Investigator Contact Information Laura Marina Biondi. Instituto de
 Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), UNMdP - CONICET, B7602GSD Mar
 del Plata, Argentina. E-mail
 [lmbiondi@mdp.edu.ar](mailto:lmbiondi@mdp.edu.ar) 1. Date of data
 collection (single date, range, approximate date): March and August
 (non-breeding period) 2019 2. Geographic location of data collection:
 Partido de General Pueyrredon, Buenos Aires, Argentina 3. Links to
 publications that cite or use the data: L M Biondi, A Medina, E A Bonetti,
 C A Paterlini, M S Bó. 2024. Cognitive flexibility in a generalist raptor:
 a comparative analysis along an urbanization gradient. Behavioral Ecology,
 [https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arae025](https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arae025) DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: REVLEAR.URB.xls 1. Number of variables: 11 2. Number of cases/rows: 26 3. Variable List: * Individual: tested individual ID * Habitat: Rural (rur), Urban (urb), Suburban (sub) * Neophobia: neophobia value extracted from object neophobia test * Trials dis1: Trials needed to reach the learning criterion during the initial discrimination phase * Trials rev: Trials needed to reach the learning criterion during the reversal phase * Trials dis2: Trials needed to reach the learning criterion during the second discrimination phase * Errors dis1: Errors made before reaching the learning criterion during the initial discrimination phase * Errors rev: Errors made before reaching the learning criterion during the reversal phase * Errors dis2: Errors made before reaching the learning criterion during the second discrimination phase * Perseverative Errors: number of perseverative errors committed during the reversal phase * Regressive Errors: number of regressive errors committed during the reversal phase 4\. Missing data codes: None 5\. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None