hi,
I am interested in studying animal behavior in the wild. I'm more
interested in ecology, evolution,
social and systems, communication, etc., and less interested in
neuroscience, microbiology or anatomy...
(although I realize that one must still be versed in such areas). I'd
rather study the natural behavior of animals, in their natural
environment,
than create artificial lab experiments (mazes, etc.).
Can somebody help me in choosing the right program from the right
university?
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Hi, I'm a writer working on a project, and I'm looking for interesting
parenting behaviors observed in various animal species. For example,
the cuckoo laying its eggs in other birds' nests or the male lion
eating the cubs that a female bore to another male. Or the fact that
stressed-out male prairie voles are more cuddly with their young. I'd
appreciate any suggestions. Thanks! Emily
For all who are interested in the role of epigenetic factors in
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The article by Su et al. in PLoS One 3(6), 2008, claims that, in a
mixed colony, with workers of 2 different honeybee species, using
different "dialects", recruits of the one species were able to
correctly interpret the information relayed in the dances of foragers
of the other species, that use a different"dialect". My initial
intuitive response was a violent rejection!
Only later, upon a careful examination, did I realize that there was a
very good reason for my intuitive reaction:
Staunch "dance language" (DL) supporters are convinced that honeybee
dances, (that are not learned behavior), are "instinctive", (i.e.
genetically predetermined); that honeybees have a DL which utilizes
the spatial information contained in foragers'-dances; that different
species and strains of the genus Apis, use different "dialects' of
this DL; and that honeybees have an "instinctive" ability to correctly
interpret Dl information that is relayed in the "dialect" of their own
species. I accept none of this, but I will not explain why, because
this is not the point I wish to expose here.
The claim for this "discovery" has been published by Sue et al.
(2008), in the free access journal PLoS One, 3(6), and quickly touted
in the popular scientific news-media.
Every one knows of the "discovery" of the amazing honeybee "dance
language" (DL), which earned Karl von Frisch the Nobel Prize in 1973.
The existence of such a DL has never yet been experimentally
confirmed, in spite of an almost endless series of futile attempts, by
very many different scientist all over the world, during more than 60
years. Moreover, no one ever could experimentally confirm the
existence of such a DL, because v. Frisch's DL hypothesis was
stillborn, based on his own research, more than 20 years before its
inception. Staunch DL supporters, however, refuse to accept the demise
of their enchanting "dream", no matter what.
Sue et al. managed to establish, with considerable efforts, a viable
mixed honeybee colony, with workers of two different species, a strain
of the European Apis mellifera, and a strain of Apis cerana from...
Those interested in these controversies are urged to check the report:
"Chemical Compass Created", (reported on May 6, 2008), in the Archive
for Nature News Alerts of the journal Nature, and the accompanying
comments.
