Category Archives: What’s New in Sensory Ecology?

Dishonest signals give misleading information about an animal’s size, intention, and quality. In animal communication, dishonest signals are maintained if they are rarely made or used in aggressive contests. However, when dishonest signals are commonly used in a population, they … Continue reading →

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While many organisms have impeccable sight, hearing, or smell, some species are able to sense aspects of their environment through mediums that humans cannot naturally perceive. For example, night-migratory songbirds have the ability to use the Earth’s magnetic field to … Continue reading →

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Until recently, research on songbird calls has been biased towards the study of male calling, with female calls receiving relatively little attention. In many species this is because male songbirds are more vocal than females, but many females produce their … Continue reading →

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All organisms cannot survive without food. Food is the substance that provides nutritional support to our body and is the form of energy that is essential for everyday function. But, how do we find food? The answer is simple: we … Continue reading →

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  Have you ever wondered if you deserve your food? For bird species that provide parental care, foraging and bringing back food is a tricky balance between nurturing progeny and conserving energy. The situation becomes bleak for offspring when resources … Continue reading →

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Host species’ (species that host parasites) main defensive strategy against brood parasitism is the hosts’ ability to recognize and reject parasitic offspring (i.e. pushing the parasitic egg out of the nest). Brood parasitism is when one organism (brood parasite) tries … Continue reading →

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Many proud dog owners wouldn’t doubt for a second the intelligence of their canine companions. Not only does it seem like your dog simply “gets you,” some even argue that their dog comprehends human languages. However, this sort of talk … Continue reading →