Fish do/don't anticipate things? (was: "ARAs" against Game chickens)

A GOOGLE search may direct you to the latest research where scientists
have actually taught flies to follow a particular flight pattern in
controlled experiments! And did you know that bees remove the legs on a
fellow worker bee that habitually returns "drunk" on fermented nector.

If you watch Animal Planet and Discovery, you have learned about the
complexity of elephants, dolphins, wolves, and many other animals and
insects. Recently, I saw a clip where an unhappy, aquarium-housed
octopus was given a Duplo (jumbo toy blocks) structure with
window-shaped holes, and the animal immediately perked up and
investigated the structure and its openings.

Wild birds have demonstrated uncanny abilities to figure out puzzles in
order to obtain a tasty morsel. Parrots can watch you unlock a cage,
and repeat your action. No training, no conditioning -- just brain power.

Many bored, lonely, anxious pets (birds, rats, cats, dogs, horses) and
zoo animals, i.e., pandas, marsupials, monkeys, develop behavior
problems when confined in inappropriate conditions. Experts constantly
seek to improve zoos and rescue facilities for this very reason. Rescue
groups anxiously rehabilitate and rehome orphaned animals according to
the needs of the species. (Did you catch the otters on "GROWING UP OTTER"?)

We assume a whole lot more than we should about the animals with whom we
share this planet. Perhaps our fish ARE capable of learning,
recognition, and feelings.

Who among us knows for sure?


n

NanK wrote:
A GOOGLE search may direct you to the latest research where scientists
have actually taught flies to follow a particular flight pattern in
controlled experiments! And did you know that bees remove the legs on a
fellow worker bee that habitually returns "drunk" on fermented nector.

Perhaps we should follow a similar approach with drunk drivers. On the
first offense, take away their cars. On the second offense, remove their
legs so they can't operate the pedals.


If you watch Animal Planet and Discovery, you have learned about the
complexity of elephants, dolphins, wolves, and many other animals and
insects. Recently, I saw a clip where an unhappy, aquarium-housed
octopus was given a Duplo (jumbo toy blocks) structure with
window-shaped holes, and the animal immediately perked up and
investigated the structure and its openings.

Most animals are naturally curious. It benefits their survival to
explore their environment as thoroughly as possible.


Wild birds have demonstrated uncanny abilities to figure out puzzles in
order to obtain a tasty morsel. Parrots can watch you unlock a cage,
and repeat your action. No training, no conditioning -- just brain power.

That's called 'learning through imitating', something parrots are
particularly good at. I've seen pretty clever horses do it too. But if
they could figure out on their own how to unlock a cage, that would be
an entirely different story.


Many bored, lonely, anxious pets (birds, rats, cats, dogs, horses) and
zoo animals, i.e., pandas, marsupials, monkeys, develop behavior
problems when confined in inappropriate conditions.

Yes. It's been proven that higher animals can actually experience
boredom and stress when their brains are not sufficiently stimulated.


We assume a whole lot more than we should about the animals with whom we
share this planet.

Wait a minute there hippie, this isn't just a "planet". It's an entire
WORLD, and one of a kind at that. And we don't share it. Humans OWN it.
We didn't rise to the top of the food chain by putting the interests of
competing species on the same level as ours. A black bear isn't going to
respect *your* rights if it's hungry or if you happen to be in it's
territory near its cubs.


Perhaps our fish ARE capable of learning,
recognition, and feelings.

Fish are capable of learning, certainly. Recognition, maybe or maybe
not. I'd need to see some experiments done on that. I know that
amphibians and reptiles can often differentiate the appearance of their
owner from other people, but fish in the store seem to do that "fishy
dance" no matter who shows up in front of their tank.

- Logic316



"A liberal is a conservative who's been arrested. A conservative is a
liberal who's been mugged."
-- Wendy Kaminer

"Logic316" wrote in message
...
NanK wrote:
A GOOGLE search may direct you to the latest research where
scientists have actually taught flies to follow a particular
flight pattern in controlled experiments! And did you know
that bees remove the legs on a fellow worker bee that
habitually returns "drunk" on fermented nector.

Perhaps we should follow a similar approach with drunk drivers.
On the first offense, take away their cars. On the second
offense, remove their legs so they can't operate the pedals.
============
Nah, then you'd have to "accomodate" them under the ADA, and they
wouldn't have lost any privledges.





If you watch Animal Planet and Discovery, you have learned
about the complexity of elephants, dolphins, wolves, and many
other animals and insects. Recently, I saw a clip where an
unhappy, aquarium-housed octopus was given a Duplo (jumbo toy
blocks) structure with window-shaped holes, and the animal
immediately perked up and investigated the structure and its
openings.

Most animals are naturally curious. It benefits their survival
to explore their environment as thoroughly as possible.


Wild birds have demonstrated uncanny abilities to figure out
puzzles in order to obtain a tasty morsel. Parrots can watch
you unlock a cage, and repeat your action. No training, no
conditioning -- just brain power.

That's called 'learning through imitating', something parrots
are particularly good at. I've seen pretty clever horses do it
too. But if they could figure out on their own how to unlock a
cage, that would be an entirely different story.


Many bored, lonely, anxious pets (birds, rats, cats, dogs,
horses) and zoo animals, i.e., pandas, marsupials, monkeys,
develop behavior problems when confined in inappropriate
conditions.

Yes. It's been proven that higher animals can actually
experience boredom and stress when their brains are not
sufficiently stimulated.


We assume a whole lot more than we should about the animals
with whom we share this planet.

Wait a minute there hippie, this isn't just a "planet". It's an
entire WORLD, and one of a kind at that. And we don't share it.
Humans OWN it. We didn't rise to the top of the food chain by
putting the interests of competing species on the same level as
ours. A black bear isn't going to respect *your* rights if it's
hungry or if you happen to be in it's territory near its cubs.


Perhaps our fish ARE capable of learning, recognition, and
feelings.

Fish are capable of learning, certainly. Recognition, maybe or
maybe not. I'd need to see some experiments done on that. I
know that amphibians and reptiles can often differentiate the
appearance of their owner from other people, but fish in the
store seem to do that "fishy dance" no matter who shows up in
front of their tank.

- Logic316



"A liberal is a conservative who's been arrested. A
conservative is a liberal who's been mugged."
-- Wendy Kaminer