Articles tagged with Animal Communication
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
Researchers developed a computational model that explores how the auditory system achieves accurate speech recognition by identifying distinct categories of sounds. The model found that the brain looks for informative features, such as those characteristic of a face, to distinguish between different vocalizations.
Brazilian scientists have found that the strong odor released by some amphibian species is produced by bacteria, assisting in the animal's mating process. The study suggests that the odor serves to permit mutual recognition between males and females of the same species for mating purposes.
A study found that white-tailed deer feeding habits shape acoustic properties of their forest habitat, influencing songbird vocalizations. Deer browsing reduces understory vegetation density, leading to improved sound fidelity and clearer information transmission.
Researchers found that female manakins can produce a male-specific 'chee-poo' vocalization when implanted with testosterone, while untreated females cannot. In contrast, juvenile males who received testosterone exhibited vocalizations closer to those of treated females than adult males in the wild.
Researchers from Osaka University develop a mathematical model based on frog choruses to design efficient wireless sensor networks. The study finds that frogs' acoustic teachings can be adapted for technological benefit by alternating data transmission and regulating energy consumption.
DeepSqueak uses deep artificial neural networks to analyze ultrasonic vocalizations, providing a new tool for studying social behavior in rodents. The researchers found that male mice have distinct songs for different stages of courtship, and that they are more complex when sensing a female mouse nearby.
Studies in mice and marmosets reveal mechanisms underlying social learning and behavior, including neural circuits controlling vocalizations and aggression. The findings provide a clearer picture of the brain's social processing, paving the way for potential treatments for disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.
A study found that male humpback whales reduce or cease singing in areas with high human shipping noise. The authors suggest that ceasing vocalization and moving away may be cost-effective adaptations to avoid the noise.
Researchers discovered that bonobos have shorter vocal folds compared to chimpanzees, resulting in lower-pitched voices. This unexpected finding suggests that bonobos use their voice pitch to signal tolerance and non-aggressive interactions with other bonobos.
A study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that California mice who communicate calmly after infidelity are more likely to produce a litter of mouse pups and have good fathers. The quality of their conversations helps predict pair bond success, with less aggressive vocalizations indicating a stronger bond.
Researchers found that humans can estimate physical formidability from nonverbal vocal cues, including aggressive roars and speech. Listeners accurately judged vocalizers' strength in 88% of trials, with men perceiving themselves as stronger than women in similar situations.
Researchers found that BPA exposure in grandparents of mice led to altered vocalization patterns in their offspring, potentially affecting parental care. The study suggests multigenerational effects of BPA on communication deficits in humans with autism or neurobehavioral disorders.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that mouse vocalizations are influenced by sex and social context, with males producing more vocalizations after social interaction. Females, on the other hand, produce similar numbers of vocalizations regardless of prior social experience.
An international team of academics reveals that turn-taking behaviour, a hallmark of human conversation, is remarkably widespread across the animal kingdom. The study proposes a new comparative framework for future research on turn-taking behaviour, which may shed light on the evolution of language.
Researchers found guppies rapidly turn their eyes black to warn rivals, making their eyes more conspicuous as an honest signal of aggression. This behavior is seen in larger guppies dominating smaller ones, but not the other way around.
A field study in Panama reveals how tropical fish use electric fields to communicate for coordinated behaviors like mating and reproduction. Researchers found distinct signals for attracting mates and signaling fertilization, highlighting the need for studying behavior and sensory scenes in natural environments.
Researchers have found that seismology equipment can be used to detect and classify elephant behaviors, such as panic running, through ground vibrations. This technology has the potential to develop a new kind of alarm system to catch and deter poachers.
A psychology professor's new paper suggests that facial expressions are used to achieve specific social outcomes, rather than revealing emotions. The study finds that certain expressions serve as 'social tools' in behavioral negotiation, and can be used to subdue or intimidate others.
Fruit flies are attracted to unique wing pulse patterns, and exposure to these sounds during development teaches them to prefer their species' own pulse. The study found that female pC1 neurons play a crucial role in the courtship learning process.
Researchers use optogenetic methods to control songbird neurons, prompting birds to change specific syllables in their songs. The study provides insight into how the brain guides the learning of vocal behaviors in humans.
Researchers found that adult dogs were more likely to interact with speakers using 'dog-speak' containing dog-related words, suggesting improved social bonding. The study used naturalistic interactions between humans and dogs to test the effectiveness of this communication style.
Researchers have discovered that black jacobin hummingbirds produce vocalizations with an unusually high-frequency pitch, including components in the ultrasonic range. The findings suggest that these birds may rely on their unusual calls as a private channel of communication, given their diverse social environment.
A new study reveals that songbirds can 'see' reference to certain vocalizations, enabling them to perceive an inanimate object as a real snake. This cognitive ability allows birds to efficiently search out a predator regardless of its spatial position.
Wild-derived house mice produce complex ultrasonic vocalizations during social and sexual interactions, exhibiting features similar to bird song. Researchers found that calling rates and frequencies were higher in both males and females when paired with the opposite sex than with the same sex.
NOAA scientists found that vessel traffic noise is reducing the distance over which Atlantic cod and haddock can communicate with each other. This may alter their daily behavior, feeding, mating, and socializing during critical biological periods.
Neural recordings of wild bats reveal a layered structure in the superior colliculus facilitating rapid tracking and capturing of prey through echolocation. The study contributes to understanding of SC function during naturalistic behaviors, finding both sensory and motor neurons throughout the midbrain region.
A study published in Animal Cognition found that horses prefer to approach humans with submissive body postures over dominant ones. This preference is thought to be an instinctual understanding of larger vs. smaller postures, as seen in evolutionary communication.
Researchers found that songbirds break down the complex task of learning a new song into manageable parts, using a strategy similar to computer algorithms. This approach allows them to adapt their songs with minimal effort and expand their repertoire.
A new study shows that young bats adopt a specific 'dialect' spoken by their colonies, even when it differs from their mother tongue. Researchers used playback recordings to expose pups to different vocalizations and found they developed a dialect resembling the one they were exposed to.
Researchers found that young bats pick up specific vocalizations from their colony members, developing a unique dialect. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of language skills and raises questions about how bats adapt to new colonies.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed a new type of smart fabric that can store digital data without electronic components. The fabric uses off-the-shelf conductive thread with magnetic properties to encode and decode data, enabling secure passcode storage and smartphone-controlled interactions.
A recent study by Sjouke Kingma found that birds help other birds of the same species care for their offspring in exchange for future benefits, such as inheriting territory or creating an army of little helpers. This behavior challenges the traditional view that all creatures are selfish and maximizing their own reproductive success.
Researchers found that two species of pumpkin toadlets produce sounds outside their hearing range due to an undeveloped inner ear, indicating they are insensitive to the sound of their own calls. This finding suggests that these frogs may be evolving towards a loss of acoustic communication.
Two species of pumpkin toadlets have been found to be deaf to their own calls, a phenomenon that persists even after the target audience has lost the ability to detect it. This is due to the vestigial high-frequency hearing part in their ears, which may have been replaced by visual communication.
The University of Science and Technology (UNIST) has developed a self-powered tracking device capable of monitoring wild bird migration routes. The device will be used to predict bird flu outbreaks by compiling vast amounts of data into risk maps using data visualization techniques.
Researchers developed an automatic detection method called A-MUD to analyze ultrasonic vocalizations in mice. The tool was compared to manual methods and commercial solutions, showing equal quality and lower error rates.
Researchers from University of Helsinki explore pre-colonial geometric earthworks in southwestern Amazonia, finding them to be important ritual spaces where indigenous peoples communicated with environmental beings. The study highlights the interconnectedness of human life with nature and the significance of these sites as sacred places.
Research suggests uterine fluid informs the fetus of its mother's world, affecting embryonic development and long-term health. Studies have shown that maternal environmental exposures can leave epigenetic tags on fetal DNA.
A study found that meerkat scent marks are made by bacteria, not the animals themselves. The types of bacteria and chemicals in the scent marks vary between individuals and groups, suggesting a role for microbes in animal communication.
Researchers discovered that Cope's gray treefrogs use comodulation in background noise to pick out high-quality male calls. This finding has implications for human hearing and could lead to better hearing aids and speech recognition systems.
Scientists discovered a signaling system by which organs in C. elegans communicate their need for heme, an essential biological process. The study found that HRG-7 and BMP-5 proteins facilitate two-way communication between tissues, promoting systemic heme homeostasis.
Researchers are using an underwater touchscreen to investigate dolphin communication, cognitive abilities and social behavior. The system provides dolphins with choice and control over activities, enabling scientists to decode their vocal communication and gain insights into their way of thinking.
A team of scientists from Rockefeller University and Hunter College has developed an interactive underwater touchscreen to investigate dolphin intelligence and communication. The system allows dolphins to choose activities and make decisions, providing insights into their cognitive abilities and potential for symbolic communication.
Researchers found that American alligators use vocalizations to signal their body size, which is a common pattern also seen in birds and mammals. This acoustic cue allows individuals to avoid physical confrontations and ensures mating success.
Researchers have developed a novel signal-processing tool called Mouse Ultrasonic Profile ExTraction (MUPET) that enables unbiased analysis of mouse vocalizations. The tool provides time/date stamped analysis of ultrasonic vocalizations, allowing for correlation with video recorded behavioral interactions.
A new study by Oxford University reveals that homing pigeons can accumulate knowledge and improve their flight paths over time, mirroring human cumulative culture. The birds' collective intelligence enables them to streamline their routes, outperforming solo or group flights with no membership changes.
Veterinarians often use a directive style, which can limit client emotional connection and motivation. Research suggests that an evidence-based, mutually-driven approach can improve uptake of veterinary recommendations.
A research team led by Professor Bernard Degnan and Associate Professor Sandie Degnan has discovered that crown-of-thorns starfish gather in large groups due to pheromone release. The team plans to use this knowledge to develop environmentally safe baits to capture the pests, making it easier to protect coral reefs.
Researchers found that kea parrots can transmit playfulness through their vocalizations, inducing play in other birds. The findings suggest an emotionally contagious effect, similar to human laughter.
Research by University of Bristol scientists found that traffic noise hinders animals' response to warning signals, making them more vulnerable to predators. The study suggests that man-made noise can have a broader impact on information transfer between and within species.
Research shows chickens possess complex cognitive abilities, including numerical understanding, self-awareness, and referential communication. They also experience emotions like fear, anticipation, and empathy, and demonstrate problem-solving skills in social situations.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University analyzed 15,000 bat vocalizations to identify concrete evidence of socially sophisticated species that learns communication. They found that bat calls contain information about the identity of the caller and addressee, as well as specific aggressive context and possible outcome of conversation.
Researchers have developed a new passive acoustic monitoring method using autonomous underwater vehicles, gliders, and floats to capture sounds of marine life. The method, which was tested in the US Pacific, has the potential to provide more accurate data on marine mammal density and abundance.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience has found that mice with a genetic mutation similar to the one affecting human speech also have difficulty producing complex vocal patterns. The study suggests that the FOXP2 gene regulates not only human speech but also mouse vocal communication.
A Michigan State University study found that hyenas gain an advantage by cooperating during fights with lions, emerging victorious more often. The research team analyzed 27 years of data to fully describe this cooperative behavior, revealing that the number of participating hyenas increases their chances of success.
Researchers found that statistics on endangered species, such as population decline and territory size, can elicit varying levels of fear among the public. Those with rational thinking styles perceived all five criteria as similar in terms of risk, while those with low rationality scores viewed differences between them.
Researchers discovered that mice create ultrasound by directing a small air jet against the inner wall of their larynx, producing an ultrasonic whistle. This innovative mechanism has implications for understanding social sounds in rodents and potentially even human speech disorders.
Researchers discovered that bats' adorable head movements synchronize with sonar vocalizations to track prey. The findings reveal how movement enhances signals used by sight and hearing in various species.
A study by Hokkaido University researchers found that juvenile songbirds exhibit familial differences in their earliest vocal babblings, suggesting a possible genetic basis for these variations. The findings reveal that the variations are more pronounced among different families and persist even when deafened.
Researchers discovered that closed-mouth vocalization evolved at least 16 times in archosaurs, including birds and crocodiles. This behavior is often used for mating displays or territorial defense, producing sounds that are typically quieter and lower in pitch than those made through an open beak.