It is known that in some species alarm calls play an important role in intra-specific communication and vigilance behaviour. They are encoded in two different ways (Zuberbühler et al., 1999). The referential alarm call contains information about external events while the affective alarm call provides information about the caller's motivation (Manser, 2001). Two well-researched non-human primates using predator specific alarm calls are ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and also the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) (Evans et al., 1993). Other species such as some ground squirrels, use alarm calls that contain information about the urgency of the situation rather than the predator type (Manser et al., 2001).
Studies show that meerkats (Suricata suricatta) encode information in alarm calls with both referential calls referring to the predator type and affective calls stating the level of risk (Manser, 2001). This essay will discuss why using different types of alarm calls is particularly advantageous for meerkats including different factors such as the wide range of predators and the habitat.
Meerkats are cooperatively breeding mongooses that live in groups of three to 33 individuals (Manser, 1999). These diurnal animals inhabit open-semi desert areas and forage five to eight hours per day while frequently scanning their surroundings for possible predators (Hollén and Manser, 2007). Group members also take turns guarding the area from a raised position while the others continue foraging (Manser, 2001). Meerkats live in a harsh environment with limited food resources and are also exposed to a high predation risk by many different types of predators (Manser, 1999). To lower the risk and to increase the efficiency of foraging, mee...
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...nal predator class and urgency. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 6/2: 55-57
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There I was, standing face to face with the bobtailed lynx. It was looking right at me and licking its chops with delight. It seemed as if the beast was thinking "Lunch" on this cold, gray December day, but I wasn't worried about being attacked. The reason for this was the fact that this was a domestic lynx that just happened to be on the other side of a stout metal cage, so there was no chance of the lynx getting a hold of me.
Predators in Afghanistan and Iraq, but they were merely an over watch during raid operations,
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Deborah L. Duffy, Yuying Hsu, James A. Serpell ,Applied Animal Behavior Science - 1 December 2008 (Vol. 114, Issue 3, Pages 441-460, DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.04.006)
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Elizabeth Cashdan addresses the question of territoriality among human forager groups, specifically comparing four Bushman groups. She argues that territoriality should occur only in places where the benefits will outweigh the costs. Introducing the scientific definition of territoriality in animals, she first claims that animals tend to be the most territorial when they have adequate food and other resources. It is when there is a severe lack of or abundance of resources that animals are not territorial. With a lack of food, territoriality tends to waste too much energy. In the case of an abundance of food, it is not worth defending that which is plentiful for animals. She points out predictability as another environmental factor: if a resource is unpredictable, then it is not economical to defend it. It is only worthwhile to defend a territory if there is high probability that the resources will still be available when they are wanted. However, the costs and benefits of being territorial not only depend on the environment, but also on the species and its characteristics.
All animals employ a vast array of behaviors that contribute to their ability to find resources, increase their chances of utilizing them efficiently, and therefore increase their overall fitness. One of the behaviors observed extensively throughout the animal kingdom to accomplish these tasks is aggression. Agonist conflict and aggressive behavior occurs both between species and within species. Curiously, within-species agonism is common in many animals because it can manipulate social hierarchies which can affect the distribution of resources within a population (Moore 2007 and Wofford 2013). Evaluating agonistic behavior is therefore a valuable means by which to examine expenditure of energy for resources (Moore 2007 and Wofford 2013).
Do non-human primates have culture? Discuss several studies of non-human primate behaviour and the evidence for the development of culture, or "proto-culture" among non-human primates. You may want to consider such aspects of their behaviour as reproductive strategies, aggression and conflict, or language capabilities and development, among others. How does the behavioural ecology of nonhuman primates inform us of the behaviour of our earliest ancestors?
This article, titled Common Ground, written by Barbara Smuts, points out the main differences between humans and apes, such as our upright stance, large brains, and capacity for spoken language and abstract reasoning. However, the main point of this article is to emphasize the many similarities that apes share with us. Smuts goes into great detail about how human social and emotional tendencies are very reflective in the family of apes.
Killer whales communicate by a series of clicks and whistles called vocalization. Each pod, or family, has their own unique language. This gives whales the ability to identify their own pods. Orcas have a brain that is about five ti...
Gintis, Herbert, Samuel Bowles, Robert Boyd, and Ermst Fehr. “Explaining Altruistic Behavior in Humans.” Evolution and Human Behavior 24 (2003): 153-172. Web. 5 Feb. 2012
Keegan (2010) says humans are not the only beings to respond to this kind of communication. An example: If you have a pet, especially a dog, it may follow directions and respond to hand and body movements more than your words. Dogs will even get confused if you say “sit” but give the hand ...
Abstract Throughout history, there has been substantial debate over whether or not animals experience consciousness and to what extent they are sentient. Exploring the merits of this discussion involves studying different animal species varying in anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics. Many observational and experimental studies on various different types of animals have reached similar conclusions about animal consciousness and sentience; they generally posit that animals live some type of a subjective experience. However, the understanding of an animal’s mind and thoughts is incomplete and past research has uncovered the difficulties in making any concrete hypotheses. Furthermore, consciousness in animals is also important
" Society & Animals 18.2 (2010): 183-203. Academic Search Premier -. EBSCO. Web. The Web. The Web.
While most cats are nocturnal predators, cheetahs hunt in the early morning and late afternoon. Cheet...