Social learning of a novel foraging task by big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus

Acquiring information via observation of others can be an efficient way to respond to changing situations or to learn skills, particularly for inexperienced individuals. Many bat species are gregarious, yet few studies have investigated their capacity for learning from conspecifics. We tested whether big brown bats can learn a novel foraging task by interacting with knowledgeable conspecifics. In experimental trials, 11 naïve bats (7 juveniles, 4 adults) interacted freely with trained bats that were capturing tethered mealworms. In control trials, 11 naïve bats (7 juveniles, 4 adults) flew with untrained bats. Naïve bats were then assessed for their ability to capture tethered mealworms. While no bat in the control group learned the task, a significant number of experimental bats, including juveniles with little or no experience foraging, showed evidence of learning. Eighty-two per cent of experimental bats and 27% of control bats directed feeding buzzes (echolocation calls associated with prey capture) at the mealworm. Furthermore, seven experimental bats (64%) showed evidence of learning by attacking and/or capturing the mealworm, while no bat in the control group attacked or captured the prey. Analyses of high-speed stereo video recordings revealed increased interaction with demonstrators among bats attacking or capturing the mealworm. At the time they displayed evidence of learning, bats flew closer together during feeding buzzes than during other portions of trials. Our results demonstrate that social interaction with experienced bats, and listening to feeding buzzes in particular, may play an integral role in development of foraging skills in bats.

► We assessed social learning of a foraging task in juvenile and adult big brown bats. ► Naïve bats exposed to knowledgeable demonstrators displayed learning. ► Bats that learned the task flew closer to demonstrators than did nonlearning bats. ► Increased following/chasing behaviour was associated with social learning. ► Smaller inter-bat distances during feeding buzzes were associated with social learning.