Researchers at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (IC&G) in Russia have explored how selective breeding influences fox behaviour, particularly decision-making and learning. By studying foxes selectively bred for tameness or aggression and comparing them with a control group, the team aimed to understand how these traits might affect the ways foxes interact with humans and novel environments.
Observing Tame, Aggressive, and Control Foxes
For this study, researchers divided the foxes into three groups:
Domesticated foxes: These foxes were selectively bred for friendly, human-oriented behaviour.
Aggressive foxes: This group was bred for defensive, aggressive reactions, providing a behavioural contrast to the tame group.
Control foxes: These foxes were not selectively bred for behavioural traits, offering a baseline group with minimal human-focused conditioning.
Each group of foxes was introduced to new objects in their enclosures to gauge their responses to unfamiliar stimuli. This allowed researchers to examine each group’s curiosity, fear of novelty (neophobia), and adaptability in a standardised setting.
Behavioural Differences in Decision-Making
The study revealed notable differences between the groups:
Neophobia and Exploratory Behaviour
Tame foxes showed lower levels of neophobia compared to aggressive and control foxes. They were more likely to approach and examine new objects instead of avoiding them.
Along with a willingness to explore, domesticated foxes demonstrated a broader range of motor responses, suggesting they were more flexible and innovative in their approach to interacting with unfamiliar objects. This could imply a more complex decision-making process, where tame foxes evaluated different options before deciding on a course of action.
Focused Attention and Response to Food Rewards
In response to food reinforcement (a common measure in behavioural studies), tame foxes displayed a greater variety of strategies to obtain the food. In tests designed to reduce the initial appeal of food rewards, tame foxes continued to search for alternative approaches, demonstrating persistence and creativity.
This contrasted with the aggressive and control foxes, who showed less adaptability in the food-reward challenges. These findings suggest that tame foxes may exhibit a more nuanced approach to problem-solving.
Fox Cubs in Novel Environments
Domesticated fox cubs placed in new environments showed ingenuity in overcoming obstacles while following a human. They actively explored multiple routes, indicating both social curiosity and problem-solving abilities linked to domestication.
Summary
These findings suggest that selective breeding not only alters behaviour and emotional responses but also affects cognitive flexibility and problem-solving abilities. Tame foxes, bred to be friendly, are more open to experimenting with different approaches, especially in situations involving social interaction or problem-solving. This increased adaptability hints at cognitive flexibility—a trait beneficial for animals in close contact with humans.
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