 Reference Base  Discrimination learning and extinction in the black rhino... |
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MacCain, G.; Stepter, G., 1968. Discrimination learning and extinction in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). Psychonomic Science 13 (3): 189-190, figs. 1-3
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Captive |
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Management |
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Black Rhino |
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Use of captive rhino for behaviour experiments
One result of these studies has been to indicate the possibility of working with large non-laboratory animals in a zoo setting. The working conditions present problems, but they are not insurmountable.
The change in performance together with the extremely low variability may be as useful as data from brighter and more variable animals. The variability of these animals around their general trend is amazingly low whether plotted together or singly. The conditions under which the acquisition and extinction data were collected makes the low level of variability even more notable.
The response measured in the three experiments during both acquisition and extinction could easily be assumed to have straight-line functions. This is very obviously different from the usual response probability curves found in rat data. It is not clear at this point why the performance curves differ from the usual mammalian curves. The results front Experiment 3 suggest that emotional or experiential factors may be related to the shape of the curve. In any case, the results support the view that expansion of our experimental populations beyond the usual rat and sophomore groups is well worthwhile. Other authors (Breland & Breland, 1961; Hirwh, 1963; Kavanau, 1963) have also questioned assumptions which disregard species differences. Caution in making generalizations across species, in the absence of data, deserves serious consideration.
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