tagged w/ Animal Behavior
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The black rhino has only been known to show itself at mating time. But now through the use of a starlight camera, the video of rhinos meeting at their watering hole under the moonlight shows a side to the rhino not seen before. I think it's beautiful.
Video can be seen at the link.The black rhino has only been known to show itself at mating time. But now through the... more
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How do you get a rat to laugh? Telling a joke won't work, but scientists say a rat will laugh when tickled--and they're not joking.How do you get a rat to laugh? Telling a joke won't work, but scientists say a... more
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A recently published study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and others reveals that humpback whales on both sides of the southern Indian Ocean are singing different tunes, unusual since humpbacks in the same ocean basin usually all sing very similar songs. The authors say that the differences most likely indicate a limited exchange between whale populations in the waters off Madagascar and western Australia and may shed new light on how whale culture spreads. Credit: S. Cerchio/Wildlife Conservation Society
A recently published study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and others reveals that humpback whales on both sides of the southern Indian Ocean are singing different tunes, unusual since humpbacks in the same ocean basin usually all sing very similar songs.
The results of the study—conducted by researchers from WCS, Columbia University, and Australia —contradict previous humpback whale song comparisons. Generally, when song from populations in the same ocean basins are compared, researchers find that the songs contain similar parts or "themes." The differences in song between the Indian Ocean humpback populations most likely indicate a limited exchange between the two regions and may shed new light on how whale culture spreads.
The paper appears in the January edition of Marine Mammal Science and is available on the journal's website. The authors of the study include: Anita Murray, formerly of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Columbia University; Salvatore Cerchio, Yvette Razafindrakoto, and Howard Rosenbaum of the Wildlife Conservation Society; Robert McCauley of Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Curt S. Jenner of the Centre for Whale Research, Fremantle, Australia; Douglas Coughran of the Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia; and Shannon McKay of the School of Life and Environmental Science, Warrnambool, Australia.
A recently published study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and others reveals that humpback whales on both sides of the southern Indian Ocean are singing different tunes, unusual since humpbacks in the same ocean basin usually all sing very similar songs. The authors say that the differences most likely indicate limited exchange between whale populations in the waters off Madagascar (presented here in this sound file) and western Australia and may shed new light on how whale culture spreads. Credit: Anita Murray
"In the Northern Hemisphere, within an ocean basin whales sing songs that are composed of the same themes. However, whales in the southern Indian Ocean are singing almost completely different songs. Songs from Madagascar and Western Australia only shared one similar theme, the rest of the themes were completely different," said lead author Anita Murray, who conducted the research while a graduate student at Columbia University and the Wildlife Conservation Society and is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Queensland in Australia. "The reason for this anomaly remains a mystery. It could be the influence of singing whales from other ocean basins, such as the South Pacific or Atlantic, indicating an exchange of individuals between oceans which is unique to the Southern Hemisphere."
The songs of humpback whales are generally sung by male individuals on a population's winter breeding grounds, migratory routes, and summer feeding grounds. The songs themselves are complex arrangements of parts or "themes," consisting of ascending and descending wails, moans, and shrieks that are repeated in cycles lasting up to 30 minutes. The transmission of songs between individuals from different populations is likely to occur on feeding grounds or during migration when whales from different populations mix. Or, transmission of song may occur when individual male "troubadours" travel to different breeding grounds between breeding seasons or possibly during the same breeding season.
The research team made recordings of humpback whale songs in two locations in coastal Madagascar and three locations along Western Australia during the 2006 breeding season. Research teams in both regions used hydrophones to record the songs of 19 individual whales. Overall, the authors captured more than 20 hours of whole and partial songs for visual and audio analysis. The comparison revealed few similarities between songs; of the eleven themes recorded in both regions, only one theme was shared by both populations.
Due to the limited duration of the study (only one breeding season), researchers point out that continued analysis of songs in Madagascar and Australia are needed to examine the reasons for the limited similarity in repertoire.
Dr. Howard Rosenbaum, Director of WCS's Ocean Giants Program said: "These song comparisons complement our findings based on other methods, such as those from genetic analysis, to understand how whale populations interact with one another."
WCS conservationist Salvatore Cerchio added: "We have glimpsed here a snapshot of differences in repertoire between humpback whale populations of the Indian Ocean during a single season. Continued monitoring of these songs can provide us with valuable information on how whale songs are exchanged and how those channels of cultural transmission can be protected in the future."
You can hear their song at the linkA recently published study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and others reveals... more
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Dogs need almost no introduction whatsoever, cliché as that sounds. One of the most beloved mammalian companions for millennia, canines provide just as much charm as they do economic, health and safety value.
link:
http://www.vettech.org/50-truly-amazing-facts-about-your-dogDogs need almost no introduction whatsoever, cliché as that sounds. One of the... more
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eva2
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added this
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2 years ago
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Yesterday morning while I was in the gym, I saw this footage over and over and over again on the national news. Even with my language barrier, it’s not difficult to figure out what was happening nor what the eventual outcome would be.Yesterday morning while I was in the gym, I saw this footage over and over and over... more
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This video is a peek at Isabella Rossellini's bizarre and hilarious look at sex in the natural world as she explores the mating habits of those naughty earthworms.This video is a peek at Isabella Rossellini's bizarre and hilarious look at sex... more
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This fascinating video shows that Calvin Klein's "Obsession" is NOT just for men! This is a great example of how careful observation of captive animals' behavior is directly impacting research with wild animals. When biologists and the Bronx Zoo started spritzing "Obsession for Men" cologne near heat-and-motion-sensitive cameras, the tigers, snow leopards, jaguars and cheetahs became curious ... very curious. And snuggly.This fascinating video shows that Calvin Klein's "Obsession" is NOT... more
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This video shows a "pocket piglet" .. a miniature pig as a baby. Watching this, I can certainly understand the attraction that people have for keeping them in their homes -- as this pig demonstrates, they're a helluva lot cuter and smarter than either puppies or kittens!This video shows a "pocket piglet" .. a miniature pig as a baby. Watching... more
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How to train your mouse to run an obstacle course! Training animals (and people) to do what you wish them to do is a vanishing art. However, there is a training method that is gaining popularity for teaching animals, ranging from rodents to whales, to perform certain behaviors on command. This training method is clicker training.How to train your mouse to run an obstacle course! Training animals (and people) to do... more
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Underwater filmmaker Mike deGruy has spent decades looking intimately at the ocean. A consummate storyteller, he takes the stage at Mission Blue to share his awe and excitement -- and his fears -- about the blue heart of our planet.Underwater filmmaker Mike deGruy has spent decades looking intimately at the ocean. A... more
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This short video is really amazing: it captures a cat standing on its hind legs to get a better view of what's happening outdoors.This short video is really amazing: it captures a cat standing on its hind legs to get... more
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According to this curious video, the theme music from Law & Order is enough to cause dogs everywhere to howl (with delight?). Do any of you have any suggestions as to why dogs do this?According to this curious video, the theme music from Law & Order is enough to... more
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A group of San Jose police officers are on the other side of the law, after using what some experts call "excessive force" on an unarmed San Jose student after responding to a roommate dispute.A group of San Jose police officers are on the other side of the law, after using what... more
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All animals, whether companion, commercial, or captive, under the care of humans, deserve a decent life and a painless death.
The latest scientific research as well as her own personal observations are used by Temple Grandin, an animal science professor, in a journey into the animal world. She believes that animals and humans have much more in common that previously believed, including emotions.All animals, whether companion, commercial, or captive, under the care of humans,... more
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J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has conducted extensive studies in animal cognition, says there is growing evidence that animals share functional parallels with human conscious metacognition -- that is, they may share human's ability to reflect upon, monitor or regulate their states of mind.J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has... more
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elle35
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added this
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3 years ago
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This amazing video of parrots playing basketball is fascinating watching because it shows the results of excellent animal training techniques. This video shows "1 on 1" and "2 on 2" basketball games, starring parrots, Bo and Yoda (Congo African Grey parrots, Psittacus erithacus erithacus) and Hannah and Gustav (Eclectus parrots, Eclectus roratus solomonensis).This amazing video of parrots playing basketball is fascinating watching because it... more
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Meerkats have been brought to the forefront of the public's mind in recent months thanks to Alexandr Orlov, founder of comparethemeerkat.com. But this film isn't a biopic, sadly.
Film maker James Honeyborne sees a resemblance between the family life of the meerkat and our own human experience, and centres around pup Kolo, who "develops from being a little pup who, like all youngsters, is rather self-centered and very focused on getting to grips with the world and being quite an individual, through to realising he needs his family and needs to be part of that group and that his family need him."
It was released in cinemas last Friday. I'm waiting on Alexandr's review.Meerkats have been brought to the forefront of the public's mind in recent months... more
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by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson, this book explores what the most commonly kept pets and other domestic animals need to live a good live -- to be happy.by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson, this book explores what the most commonly... more
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This streaming video records the dance of a male Wire-tailed manakin, Pipra filicauda, a lovely passerine species endemic to the lower areas in the forest near rivers in the rainforests of northeastern Peru, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and western Brazil.This streaming video records the dance of a male Wire-tailed manakin, Pipra filicauda,... more
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Dolphins have a clever trick for overcoming sleep deprivation. Sam Ridgway from the US Navy Marine Mammal Program explains that they are able to send half of their brains to sleep while the other half remains conscious. What is more, the mammals seem to be able to remain continually vigilant for sounds for days on end. All of this made Ridgway and his colleagues from San Diego and Tel Aviv wonder whether the dolphins' unrelenting auditory vigilance tired them and took a toll on the animals' other senses?
I think dolphins are so much more awesome than we give them credit for. We should probably send ambassadors to them and send little children out to learn their dolphin language.Dolphins have a clever trick for overcoming sleep deprivation. Sam Ridgway from the US... more
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