Cockroach Shelter Preference Data in Social Contexts

A collection of experimental data on the shelter choices of Periplaneta americana cockroaches when presented with vanillin-scented and unscented shelters. The study compares individual versus group preferences, finding isolated individuals prefer the scented shelter while groups more frequently choose the unscented one. The data supports analysis of how social context modifies responses to environmental cues.

Use Cases

• Analyze the relationship between group size and shelter choice frequency for vanillin-scented versus unscented shelters.
• Model the proportion of sheltered insects as a function of the group's collective shelter selection.
• Investigate the duration of stay in shelters based on individual versus group contexts and scent presence.
• Study the interaction between individual preference for vanillin and social attraction dynamics within groups.

Strengths

• Data originates from a published experimental study on collective decision-making.
• Explicitly compares individual and group behavior for a controlled environmental cue (vanillin).
• Includes theoretical modeling to explain the observed collective inversion of preference.

Limitations

• The specific data structure, column names, and row count are unknown, limiting immediate analytical use.
• Sample data and file formats are unavailable, requiring user investigation post-download.
• The dataset scope is limited to one species (Periplaneta americana) and one chemical cue (vanillin).

Provenance

Source

Dryad digital repository.

Collection Method

Experimental study comparing isolated and grouped cockroach shelter choices.

Freshness

Last updated in June 2020.