Nature might have a universal rhythm for communication signals across species

Amazing stuff!

"... In a new study, ... scientists found that communication signals across a wide range of species tend to repeat at about 2 hertz, or roughly two beats per second.

The researchers propose this tempo might reflect a shared biological constraint. Animal brains, including humans, may be naturally tuned to process signals arriving at that pace. In other words, two beats per second may be a rhythmic "sweet spot" that enables brains to detect signals more easily and process communication more efficiently. ..."

"Why it matters: Understanding this potentially universal tempo could help scientists better interpret animal signaling and social behavior across species. ..."

From the abstract:

"During fieldwork in Thailand, we observed nearly identical tempos of co-located flashing fireflies and chirping crickets.

Motivated by this, we survey published data showing that an abundance of evolutionarily distinct species communicate isochronously at ~0.5–4 Hz, suggesting that this might be a tempo “hotspot.”

We hypothesize that this timescale may have a universal basis in the biophysics of the receiver’s neurons.

We test this by demonstrating that small receiver circuits constructed from elements representing typical neurons will be most responsive in the observed tempo range."

Nature might have a universal rhythm

Nature might have a universal rhythm (original news release) "From insects to birds to mammals, communication signals follow a common tempo"

A widespread animal communication tempo may resonate with the receiver’s brain (open access)

Fig 1. Tempo comparison across scales, taxa, modalities, and media.

Fig 3. Schematic of the modeling methodology.

Deer uses photoluminescence to mark trees like signposts

Amazing stuff!

"... So, to get noticed, deer mark areas with rubs and scrapes, known as signposts. Now, a new study in Ecology and Evolution reports that these signposts hold a hidden glow, and other deer can see it.

In the study the researchers describe this hidden glow as photoluminescence, the process by which an organic object absorbs light of a short wavelength and re-emits it at a longer wavelength. ...

The team observed the signposts glowing brighter during the breeding season. The scientists hypothesize more intensive rubbing generates this brighter glow. ..."

From the abstract:

"Ultraviolet (UV) induced photoluminescence is widespread in Mammalia; however, its function(s) remain unclear. Most of the research to date has focused on the surface expression of photoluminescence (e.g., pelage), described qualitatively.

Here, we report a quantitative assessment of photoluminescence of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, herein deer) used for marking signposts. We analyzed 146 signposts, including 109 antler rubs on trees and 37 scent-marking scrapes. We compared the spectra of signposts to the spectra of surrounding environmental features elicited by exposure to excitation lights peaking at 365 and 395 nm. Signposts showed significant contrast when compared to environmental backgrounds (p < 0.001), and the resulting photoluminescence would be visible to deer based on previously described deer visual capabilities.

This research is the first quantitative description of the functional use of environmental photoluminescence by a mammal and gives new perspective about how white-tailed deer perceive their environment and communicate."

Deer communicate with hidden glow on signposts "The study is the first to unequivocally show how deer use a kind of photoluminescent marking system to communicate with one another."

White-tailed Deer Signpost Photoluminescence (open access)

The study is the first to unequivocally show how deer use a kind of photoluminescent marking system on trees to communicate with one another

Deer urine glows like holiday lights in the breeding season thanks to UV-induced photoluminescence

Headline of the day! Amazing stuff! Don't be a deer in the dark!

So not only the smell of urine is important!

What is kind of odd is the article about the research mentions urine explicitly, while the abstract of the study does not mention urine at all. Were the scientists embarrassed? 😊

"When a male white-tailed deer walks through a forest in rutting season, it makes itself known. It tears off tree bark with its antlers and rubs its forehead glands on the tree. Then, it scrapes a hole in the ground and pees in it. The display asserts the buck’s dominance and advertises that he’s looking for a mate. Now, new research suggests that in the twilight hours when the deer are most active, these rubs and scrapes, known as signposts, glow in a bluish tinge other deer may see, scientists report this month in Ecology and Evolution. ...

The glow is an example of photoluminescence, a property widely found in nature in which organic material absorbs light and re-emits it at longer wavelengths—shifting ultraviolet (UV) light into our visible range, for example. Most research has focused on the photoluminescent properties of the animals themselves, but DeRose-Broeckert and his team wanted to see whether it also appeared in the environment.

In the Whitehall Forest in Georgia, he and his colleagues searched for wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) signposts during two periods leading up to the breeding season. They scanned signposted trees, the ground, and urine with UV light in two wavelengths thought to be relatively more abundant at dawn and dusk. Then they measured the light that came back, focusing in on wavelengths that would be picked up by receptors in deer eyes. In total, the team analyzed 146 signposts, including 20 urine patches.

The signposts—both rubbed trees and urine—lit up in a way that would pop out to deer in the dark, the team found. “The urine definitely glows, it looks like spilled white paint,” ... “It’s pretty striking.” To the deer, the trees and urine may appear as glowing patches of turquoise-blue, he says. ..."

From the abstract:

"Ultraviolet (UV) induced photoluminescence is widespread in Mammalia; however, its function(s) remain unclear. Most of the research to date has focused on the surface expression of photoluminescence (e.g., pelage), described qualitatively.

Here, we report a quantitative assessment of photoluminescence of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, herein deer) used for marking signposts.

We analyzed 146 signposts, including 109 antler rubs on trees and 37 scent-marking scrapes. We compared the spectra of signposts to the spectra of surrounding environmental features elicited by exposure to excitation lights peaking at 365 and 395 nm.

Signposts showed significant contrast when compared to environmental backgrounds (p < 0.001), and the resulting photoluminescence would be visible to deer based on previously described deer visual capabilities.

This research is the first quantitative description of the functional use of environmental photoluminescence by a mammal and gives new perspective about how white-tailed deer perceive their environment and communicate."

Deer urine glows like holiday lights in the breeding season | Science | AAAS

White-tailed Deer Signpost Photoluminescence (open access)

Fig. 6 The average irradiance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) urine found at scrapes (N = 20) and surrounding forest floor when exposed to 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) light

If you give an elephant an apple, it will gesture in many different ways for more

Amazing stuff! How intelligent are elephants?

"For elephants, communication is a complicated affair. These massive mammals bellow, trumpet, and rumble at frequencies we humans can’t hear. They detect one another’s seismic waves, touch each other with their trunks, and secrete chemicals from specialized glands. They even address each other with specific, name-like calls and combine visual signals—such as ear-flapping, trunk-swinging, and tail-waggling—with vocalizations when greeting in the wild.

Researchers haven’t confirmed, however, whether these prodigious pachyderms use their gestures to deliberately communicate what they want—a type of behavior known as goal-directed intentionality, which has previously only been observed in primates.

To find out, the authors of a new study presented semi-captive African savannah elephants with two trays: one empty, the other full of apples. The animals ended up using a wide range of gestures , which they only performed when an experimenter was present and looking at them; the animals repeated and elaborated their movements when they failed to receive the desired treats. ..."

From the abstract:

"A crucial feature of language is the ability to communicate cognitive goals to a specific audience, i.e. goal-directed intentionality. Core criteria for this ability include

(i) audience directedness: signalling in the presence of an attentive audience,

(ii) persistence: continuing signalling until goals are met, and

(iii) elaboration: using new signals following communicative failure.

While intentional use has been demonstrated in individual gestures in some non-primates, primates—in particular apes—show this ability across many gestures. But is goal-directed intentionality across many gestures restricted to primates?

We explored whether savannah elephants use many gestures with goal-directed intentionality. We presented semi-captive elephants with desired and non-desired items, recording their communicative attempts when an experimenter met, partially met or failed to meet their goal of getting the desired item.

Elephants used 38 gesture types almost exclusively when a visually attentive experimenter was present, demonstrating audience directedness.

They persisted in gesturing more when their goal was partially as compared with fully met but showed no difference in persistence when the goal was met or not met.

Elephants elaborated their gesturing when their goal was not met. We find goal-directed intentionality across many elephant gestures and reveal that elephants, like apes, assess the communicative effectiveness of their gesturing."

ScienceAdviser

Elephants gesture to signal what they want—just like us "New experiments show elephants use a wide range of movements to express their desires"

Investigating intentionality in elephant gestural communication (open access)

Decoding sperm whale language - they use vowels like humans?

Amazing stuff! Whalers of the 19th century noticed that sperm whales were able evade being hunted by communicating to swim up wind so the sailors could not follow.

The video also points out that this latest study did not even yet use machine learning & AI to interpret the whale language.

Bird embryos inside egg listen to parent conversation

The positive or negative influence of parents on their offspring starts very early. 

This may apply to humans too. Be careful what you say when you are expecting a baby, the embryo is listening.

"... In fact, the more parent gulls talk when handing over egg-incubation duties, the better care their offspring receive. Now, scientists have found that the chicks benefit another way: Young gulls that overhear more chatter before they hatch are more communicative themselves, and end up healthier because of it. ..."

From the abstract:

"... Here, we show how embryonic experience with vocalizations carried out by parents during nest-relief displays at incubation adaptively shapes avian offspring development, providing lasting benefits to offspring. Genetic siblings prenatally exposed to different levels of parent-parent communication showed differences in epigenetic patterns, adrenocortical responsiveness, development, and food solicitation behavior. The correspondence between prenatal acoustic experience and parental context positively influenced the nutritional status and growth rate of offspring reared by communicative parents. Offspring can thus retain strong control over their own development by gathering prenatal acoustic information about parental generosity."

ScienceAdvisor

Lasting benefits of embryonic eavesdropping on parent-parent communication (open access)

Fig. 1. Diagram of the experimental setup.

Marmoset monkeys may use names to call other members of their group or family members

Amazing stuff!

"It seems so, after new research appears to have discovered that small monkeys called marmosets “vocally label” their monkey friends with specific sounds.

... The team used audio recorders and pattern-recognition software to analyze the animals’ high-pitched chirps and twitters. To prove they’d cracked the monkey code—and learned the secret names—the team played recordings at the marmosets through a speaker and found they responded more often when their label, or name, was in the recording.

... Until now, only humans, dolphins, elephants, and probably parrots had been known to use specific sounds to call out to other individuals. ..."

"... The finding adds to recent revelations about marmoset communication, including that they learn to “talk” as infants by mimicking their parents, take turns while communicating, and even eavesdrop on their neighbors’ conversations. The monkeys may have evolved this sophisticated communication style to stay in touch in their dense rainforest habitat, where group members are easier heard than seen.  ..."

From the editor's summary and abstract:

"Editor’s summary

The ability to vocally label other individuals from your species and to learn these labels from others is a high-level cognitive function. Previously, this behavior has only been known to exist in humans, dolphins, and some parrot species. Oren et al. applied machine learning tools and real-time playback experiments to analyze naturally occurring “phee-call” dialogues between pairs of marmoset monkeys. Marmosets used these vocalizations to label their conspecifics. They also perceived and responded correctly to calls that were specifically directed at them. Monkeys from the same family group used similar calls to vocally label others, and they learned from other family members to vocally label other individuals. ...

Abstract

Humans, dolphins, and elephants are the only known species that vocally label their conspecifics. It remains unclear whether nonhuman primates share this ability. We recorded spontaneous “phee-call” dialogues between pairs of marmoset monkeys. We discovered that marmosets use these calls to vocally label their conspecifics. Moreover, they respond more consistently and correctly to calls that are specifically directed at them. Analysis of calls from multiple monkeys revealed that family members use similar calls and acoustic features to label others and perform vocal learning. These findings shed light on the complexities of social vocalizations among nonhuman primates and suggest that marmoset vocalizations may provide a model for understanding aspects of human language, thereby offering new insights into the evolution of social communication."

How machine learning is helping us probe the secret names of animals

Marmosets call one another by name

Vocal labeling of others by nonhuman primates (no public access)

Elephants use gestures and vocal cues when greeting each other, study reports

Amazing stuff!

"A team of animal behaviorists ... has found that elephants use gestures and vocal cues when they greet one another. ..."

From the abstract:

"Many species communicate by combining signals into multimodal combinations. Elephants live in multi-level societies where individuals regularly separate and reunite. Upon reunion, elephants often engage in elaborate greeting rituals, where they use vocalisations and body acts produced with different body parts and of various sensory modalities (e.g., audible, tactile). However, whether these body acts represent communicative gestures and whether elephants combine vocalisations and gestures during greeting is still unknown. Here we use separation-reunion events to explore the greeting behaviour of semi-captive elephants (Loxodonta africana). We investigate whether elephants use silent-visual, audible, and tactile gestures directing them at their audience based on their state of visual attention and how they combine these gestures with vocalisations during greeting. We show that elephants select gesture modality appropriately according to their audience’s visual attention, suggesting evidence of first-order intentional communicative use. We further show that elephants integrate vocalisations and gestures into different combinations and orders. The most frequent combination consists of rumble vocalisations with ear-flapping gestures, used most often between females. By showing that a species evolutionarily distant to our own primate lineage shows sensitivity to their audience’s visual attention in their gesturing and combines gestures with vocalisations, our study advances our understanding of the emergence of first-order intentionality and multimodal communication across taxa."

Elephants use gestures and vocal cues when greeting each other, study reports

Multimodal communication and audience directedness in the greeting behaviour of semi-captive African savannah elephants (open access)

Fig. 1: Illustrations of frequent body act types used by semi-captive African savannah elephants during greeting.

Sperm whale 'phonetic alphabet' of song discovered by scientists

Amazing stuff! What are they saying to each other?

Dolphins also use baby talk to bond with young

Amazing stuff! That is cute!

"... Also known as motherese, child-directed communication (CDC) features a higher pitch and wider pitch range, believed to boost bonding and language learning in children.
Researchers found that wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) near Sarasota Bay, Florida, changed their signature whistles – their individual "voice" – to a higher frequency with a greater range, essentially demonstrating CDC, when they were in the presence of their calves. ...
Scientists don’t know a lot about CDC in other species. Adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) adjust their songs when juveniles are nearby, while squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sp.) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), alter their vocalization when communicating with younger members of their species. ..."

From the significance and abstract:

"Significance

“Motherese” is a speech pattern that is nearly universal across cultures and languages in human caregivers interacting with children, but evidence among nonhuman species is sparse. Here, we report evidence for motherese in the bottlenose dolphin, a species that shows parallels to humans in their long-term mother–offspring bonds and lifelong vocal learning. Female bottlenose dolphins increase the maximum frequency and frequency range of the same vocalizations (signature whistles) when in the presence or absence of offspring, paralleling similar changes in human motherese. Our data provide an example of convergent evolution of motherese in a nonhuman mammal and support the hypothesis that motherese can facilitate vocal learning and bonding in nonhumans as well as humans.

Abstract

Human caregivers interacting with children typically modify their speech in ways that promote attention, bonding, and language acquisition. Although this “motherese,” or child-directed communication (CDC), occurs in a variety of human cultures, evidence among nonhuman species is very rare. We looked for its occurrence in a nonhuman mammalian species with long-term mother–offspring bonds that is capable of vocal production learning, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Dolphin signature whistles provide a unique opportunity to test for CDC in nonhuman animals, because we are able to quantify changes in the same vocalizations produced in the presence or absence of calves. We analyzed recordings made during brief catch-and-release events of wild bottlenose dolphins in waters near Sarasota Bay, Florida, United States, and found that females produced signature whistles with significantly higher maximum frequencies and wider frequency ranges when they were recorded with their own dependent calves vs. not with them. These differences align with the higher fundamental frequencies and wider pitch ranges seen in human CDC. Our results provide evidence in a nonhuman mammal for changes in the same vocalizations when produced in the presence vs. absence of offspring, and thus strongly support convergent evolution of motherese, or CDC, in bottlenose dolphins. CDC may function to enhance attention, bonding, and vocal learning in dolphin calves, as it does in human children. Our data add to the growing body of evidence that dolphins provide a powerful animal model for studying the evolution of vocal learning and language."

Dolphins also use baby talk to bond with young

Bottlenose Dolphins Communicate in “Motherese” with Their Offspring (primary news source)

Bottlenose dolphin mothers modify signature whistles in the presence of their own calves (no public access)

Pioneering study aims to enable humans to talk to Sperm whales

Amazing stuff!

Update as of 4/30/2021: Talking with whales Project aims to translate sperm whale calls

"... The new interdisciplinary Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) kicks off this week at a press conference in Dominica in the Caribbean, where the project will take place. University of Haifa scientists will be joined by colleagues in marine biology, marine acoustics, artificial intelligence, and linguistics from Harvard University, The City University of New York (CUNY), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Imperial College London, U.C. Berkeley and others. ...
The Sperm whale, which is considered a vulnerable species, has the largest brain on Earth, more than five times heavier than a human’s. Like humans, it also has a complex communication system and lives in tightly knit family groups. ..."

"Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) is a transdisciplinary research initiative bringing together leading technologists, roboticists, cryptographers, linguists, and marine scientists to study the communication of the world’s largest toothed predator: the sperm whale.
In the late 1960s [not very long ago], scientists, including Dr. Roger Payne, a guiding member and principal advisor of Project CETI discovered that whales sing to one another. His recordings, Songs of the Humpback Whale, sparked the “Save the Whales” movement, one of the most successful conservation initiatives. ..."

Pioneering study aims to enable humans to talk to whales - ISRAEL21c In an ambitious five year project, top Israel, US and UK research institutes plan to learn how to communicate with Sperm whales. What WILL they talk about?

The project website: https://www.projectceti.org/