Effects of social learning on foraging behavior in herbivorous birds and mammals
社群学习对植食性鸟类和哺乳动物觅食行为的作用

Social learning is a phenotype of plastic behavior, which enables individuals to acquire adaptive behavior in local habitats. This paper reviews the effects of social learning on foraging behavior in herbivorous birds and mammals and the underlying mechanisms. Foraging sites, time, and patterns of individuals are influenced by their partner foragers. Furthermore, food selection by dams may be transferred to their offspring through the placenta and milk. By observation and olfaction, individuals can learn searching for food resources more quickly, increase foraging efficiency, avoid toxicants and decrease predation risk, thus improving their fitness.