LSM1303 ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR : communication

What is the dawn chorus?

N. Sivasothi — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:34:34 GMT

Two easily readable references:

"Bird Squawk: What is the dawn chorus?" BBC Science & Nature homepage. [link]
"Bird Songs," by Gareth Huw Davies. PBS: The Life of Birds by [BBC/]David Attenborough. [link]

BBC/Attenborough - Pikas

N. Sivasothi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:21:49 GMT

Yes, you will see cuteness personified in this highly vocal relative of the rabbit, the pika (Ochotona sp.). And David is pretty charming too...

Domestic cat vocalisations

N. Sivasothi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:05:19 GMT

A very amusing collection of cat vocalisations which sound like words! Domestic cats may vocalise more to owners than to each other due the reinforcement they receive from the former.

As for cat chirping and chattering:

www.youtube.com/v/phWw8sZEeQk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355">

That "sweaty shirts" video

N. Sivasothi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:39:53 GMT

"Subtle chemical signals, or pheromones, have long been known to draw pairs together within the same species. In mice, for example, experiments showed that pheromones acted as attractants between males and females who were genetically similar except for a difference in a certain type of immune system gene - the HC (major histocompatibility locus). This pairing gives their offspring an advantage in beating back disease organisms."

So the question is, can humans smell out complimenting partners?

Review - “Making sense of scents: reducing aggression and uncontrolled variation in laboratory mice.”

N. Sivasothi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:35:52 GMT

“Making sense of scents: reducing aggression and uncontrolled variation in laboratory mice.” By Professor Jane Hurst, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool. NC3Rs #2 Mouse scents and optimal husbandry Sept 2005. National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of of Animals in Research.

Abstract - "Scents are the primary means of communication in mice. They underlie most aspects of their social behaviour and are particularly important in mediating aggressive interactions and status differentiation among males. This competitive aggression can be a major welfare concern and source of uncontrolled variation among laboratory mice. Scents also play an invisible role in priming reproductive physiology and development, with additional consequences for immunocompetence, introducing another potential source of uncontrolled variation that could influence many types of experiment."
"Here, I provide a brief explanation of how wild mice use scents to recognise each other and to control competitive interactions. I then discuss the consequences of this for aggression among laboratory mice and recommend ways to minimize problems through management practices. Known reproductive priming effects are also summarised to show how exposure to scents and cage group size can influence sex hormone levels, reproductive cycling and development. Careful consideration of husbandry and experimental design can also reduce this source of variability."

Click for larger image