Sina Zarini
Learning Outcomes of Subordinate Fish
As a behavioural ecologist at the Hamilton Research Institute, you are delving into the interesting social dynamics of Neolamprologus pulcher, the group-living cichlid fish native to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. Your primary objective is to explore the impact of social rank on learning abilities within N. pulcher groups. In this captivating study, each social unit of N. pulcher comprises two dominant breeders and a varying number of subordinate helpers, often reaching up to 20 individuals. Your research unfolds through a series of three experiments, all documented in a comprehensive dataset. The dataset encompasses key variables, including fish ID, sex, size, and three critical aspects of learning:
Initial Learning (Experiment 1): Fish were individually trained to move a coloured disc (blue) to uncover a hidden food source. Data are in clomun “LearnedInitial”.
Associate Learning (Experiment 2): A second disc, coloured yellow and immovable, was introduced to evaluate the fish’s ability to associate it with food. Data are in column “LearnedAssos”.
Reverse Learning (Experiment 3): In this experiment, the colour of the disc that could be moved was switched, challenging the fish to adapt and reverse their learned behaviour. Data are in column “LearnedReverse”.
1. Dominant Fish Length:
- What is the median length of dominant fish?
- What is the range of lengths for dominant fish?
- What is the mean length of dominant fish?
- Please create a histogram to visually explore the length distribution of dominant fish.
2. Subordinate Fish Length:
- What is the median length of subordinate fish?
- What is the range of subordinate fish lengths?
- What is the mean length of subordinate fish?
- Generate a histogram illustrating the length distribution of subordinate fish.
3. Learning Outcomes for Dominant Fish:
- What percentage of dominant fish successfully learned the initial task?
- What percentage of dominant fish successfully associated the yellow disc with food?
- What percentage of dominant fish successfully reversed their learning?
- Create bar plots to visually represent the percentages of dominant fish that successfully learned the initial task, associated the yellow disc with food, and reversed their learning. Use shades of red for clarity.
4. Learning Outcomes for Subordinate Fish:
- What percentage of subordinate fish successfully learned the initial task?
- What percentage of subordinate fish successfully associated the yellow disc with food?
- What percentage of subordinate fish successfully reversed their learning?
- Generate bar plots indicating the percentages of subordinate fish achieving successful outcomes in learning tasks. Visualize the data using shades of blue.
5. Size Differences:
- Is the length distribution of fish normal? (Conduct a normality test)
- Based on normality results, what statistical test would be appropriate to examine significant differences in fish lengths between dominants and subordinates? Run the test and report the result.
- Please provide a boxplot to compare the length distributions of dominant and subordinate fish.
