Exploring the nexus between environment, emotion and spatial cognition: a test using Melomys cervinipes (Old ID 22683)
Role
Supervisor
Description
The loss of environmental complexity in tropical rainforests due to anthropogenic deforestation is a major threat to mammals. How an animal copes with these changes may be dependent on integrated physiological, behavioural and cognitive responses to environmental stimuli. The aim of this study is to investigate whether environmental complexity influences these responses of Malomys cervinipes. I predict that animals from complex habitats will demonstrate lowered anxiety and stress and will show enhanced learning and performance in a cognitive behavioural task. This study is the first to investigate the links between environmental complexity, physiology, behaviour and cognition in an Australian mammal.
Date
01 May 2016 - 30 Nov 2016
Project Type
N/A
Keywords
Cognition;Behaviour;Physiology;environmental complexity;Environmental Change;Melomys cervinipes (Muridae)
Funding Body
Skyrail Rainforest Foundation
Amount
2000
Project Team
Tasmin Rymer