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The Science of EEEEEK!

What a squeak can tell researchers about life, society, and all that

Scientists are focusing on animal alarm calls to test complex ideas about communication and evolution.

 

References:

Blumstein, D.T., and K.B. Armitage. 1997. Alarm calling in yellow-bellied marmots: I. The meaning of situationally variable alarm calls. Animal Behaviour 53(January):143.

Blumstein, D.T., et al. 1997. Alarm calling in yellow-bellied marmots: II. The importance of direct fitness. Animal Behaviour 53(January):173.

Evans, C.S., L. Evans, and P. Marler. 1993. On the meaning of alarm calls: Functional reference in an avian vocal system. Animal Behaviour 46:23.

Hauser, M.D. 1997. The Evolution of Communication. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press.

 

Further Readings:

1994. Call of the left brain. Science News 145(May 21):333.

Bower, B. 1998. Chimp brains show humanlike tilt to left. Science News 153(Jan. 10):22.

______. 1996. Whole-brain interpreter. Science News 149(Feb. 24):124.

______. 1994. Talking back in time. Science News 145(June 11):376.

Evans, C.S. 1997. Referential signals. Perspectives in Ethology 12:99.

Seyfarth, R.M., and D.L. Cheney. 1986. Vocal development in vervet monkeys. Animal Behaviour 34:1640.

Seyfarth, R.M., D.L. Cheney, and P. Marler. 1980a. Monkey responses to three different alarm calls:

Evidence if predator classification and semantic communication. Science 210:801.

______. 1980b. Vervet monkey alarms calls: Semantic communication in a free-ranging primate. Animal Behaviour 28:1070.

Sherman, P.W. 1977. Nepotism and the evolution of alarm calls. Science 197(Sept. 23):1246.

Struhsaker, T.T. 1967. Auditory communication among vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). In Social Communication among Primates, S.A. Altmann, ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

 

Sources:

Kenneth B. Armitage
University of Kansas
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Haworth Hall
Lawrence, KS 660045-2106
E-mail: marmota@falcon.cc.ukans.edu

Daniel T. Blumstein
Macquarie University
School of Behavioural Science
Sydney, NSW 2109
Australia

Chris Evans
Macquarie University
Psychology Department
Sydney, NSW 2109
Australia
Web site: http://rosella.bhs.mq.edu.au/~chris/.

Marc D. Hauser
Harvard University
Peabody Museum 54
11 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

Paul W. Sherman
Cornell University
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior
W307 Seeley G. Mudd Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-2702

From Science News, Vol. 154, No. 11, September 12, 1998, p. 174.
Copyright © 1998 by Science Service.

 

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