Cidersomerset
7th August 2013, 16:40
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7 August 2013 Last updated at 01:04
Dolphins have 'longest social memory' among non-humansMatt McGrath
By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69140000/jpg/_69140592_tsa_pictures_3009.jpg
Dolphin Kai was one of the dolphins in the study, he was 16 years old when this picture was taken
Forget about elephants - scientists say that dolphins have the longest memories yet
found in a non-human species. Researchers in the US say that even after 20 years of
separation, dolphins could recall the whistles of former companions.The authors believe
that these long-term memories are a product of the complex social connections that
dolphins have evolved.The research is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society
In the study, the scientists used information on the relationships between 56 captive
bottlenose dolphins that have been moved for breeding purposes between six different
zoos and aquariums in the US and Bermuda.
University of Chicago
The records, dating back decades, showed which of the dolphins had been housed together.
Total recall
The researchers then played recordings to the dolphins on underwater speakers of the
signature whistles of animals they had once lived with, and measured their responses.
"When they are familiar with the call, the dolphins are more likely to approach the
speakers for longer periods of time," said Dr Jason Bruck from the University of Chicago
who carried out the study.
"They will maintain contact with the speaker - if they are unfamiliar with the call they
are more likely to ignore what I am playing. It's unprecedented in the study of animal
behaviour to find memories this long."
Dr Bruck highlighted the case of two female dolphins called Allie and Bailey. They had
once lived together in the Florida keys when they were very young.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69140000/jpg/_69140844_c0059998-atlantic_bottlenose_dolphins_leaping-spl.jpg
dolphins The scientists say that the complicated nature of their social groupings impact
their ability to recall whistles Bailey now lives in Bermuda but when a recording of Allie
was played, she instantly responded in even though it was was 20 years and six months
since they had been in contact. Dr Bruck says this type of response was typical.
Compared to unfamiliar calls, there was a clear pattern in the data where dolphins
responded significantly more to whistles from animals they had once known, even if
they hadn't seen or heard them in decades.
To check that the dolphin's response was due to recognition of a former companion, Dr
Bruck would also play a test recording of an unfamiliar bottlenose that was the same
age and gender as the familiar animal.
Nuclear family
The researchers believe that the complex nature of dolphin social systems is behind the
long term memory effect. In the ocean, dolphins have a fluid social arrangement that
scientists term a "fission-fusion" model. They may leave one group and join others
many times in their lifetimes.
Continue reading the main story
Intelligent cetacean behaviour
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/58627000/jpg/_58627770_dolphinbottle.jpg
A baby bottle-nose dolphin with her mother, in a Tokyo aquarium
Dolphins taking part in an experiment had to press one of two levers to distinguish
between sounds, some of which were very similar. By pressing a third lever, they were
able to tell the researchers they wanted to "pass" on a particular test because it was too
hard. "When you place dolphins in a situation like that they respond in exactly the same
way humans do," said Dr Lori Marino. "They are accessing their own minds and thinking
their own thoughts."
A number of captive dolphins were rewarded with fish in return for tidying up their tank.
One of them ripped up a large paper bag, hid away the pieces, and presented them one
at a time to get multiple rewards.
"It is important for them to recall the calls of dolphins they have had previous
encounters with, to decide whether or not that's someone they want to approach when
they hear that whistle about a mile out, or whether they want to avoid that individual,"
said Dr Bruck.
"Having a long term social recognition for that ecological reason can be the difference
between an animal having a very negative social interaction and a positive one."
According to the researchers, a dolphin's abilities to recall events indicate that the
cetaceans have a level of cognitive sophistication comparable to humans, chimpanzees
and elephants. While elephants are also reputed to have extremely long memories of up
to 20 years, there is little scientific evidence of their abilities outside of family
relationships. In this research paper, the dolphins were able to remember family
members as well as strangers.
In recent weeks, another study has shown that dolphins have their own signature
whistles that appear to have the same function as names do for humans.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23589041
Dolphin Memories Last for Decades
VdU5szZLn7o
Published on 6 Aug 2013
Recent PhD graduate Jason Bruck of the University of Chicago has performed the first
systematic study to show multi-decade long-term memory in a non-human species.
Dolphins have social memory for each other's unique signature whistles for at least 20
years. Interestingly, kin and non-kin remembered equally well. Humans can remember
photographs of faces for upwards of 47 years, but faces change. Dolphin whistles
remain stable, meaning that this could be the longest recognition system in the world.
This research sheds new light on the potential for long-term memory in non-human
species and allows a better understanding of how complex social patterns may affect
social memory.
7 August 2013 Last updated at 01:04
Dolphins have 'longest social memory' among non-humansMatt McGrath
By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69140000/jpg/_69140592_tsa_pictures_3009.jpg
Dolphin Kai was one of the dolphins in the study, he was 16 years old when this picture was taken
Forget about elephants - scientists say that dolphins have the longest memories yet
found in a non-human species. Researchers in the US say that even after 20 years of
separation, dolphins could recall the whistles of former companions.The authors believe
that these long-term memories are a product of the complex social connections that
dolphins have evolved.The research is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society
In the study, the scientists used information on the relationships between 56 captive
bottlenose dolphins that have been moved for breeding purposes between six different
zoos and aquariums in the US and Bermuda.
University of Chicago
The records, dating back decades, showed which of the dolphins had been housed together.
Total recall
The researchers then played recordings to the dolphins on underwater speakers of the
signature whistles of animals they had once lived with, and measured their responses.
"When they are familiar with the call, the dolphins are more likely to approach the
speakers for longer periods of time," said Dr Jason Bruck from the University of Chicago
who carried out the study.
"They will maintain contact with the speaker - if they are unfamiliar with the call they
are more likely to ignore what I am playing. It's unprecedented in the study of animal
behaviour to find memories this long."
Dr Bruck highlighted the case of two female dolphins called Allie and Bailey. They had
once lived together in the Florida keys when they were very young.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69140000/jpg/_69140844_c0059998-atlantic_bottlenose_dolphins_leaping-spl.jpg
dolphins The scientists say that the complicated nature of their social groupings impact
their ability to recall whistles Bailey now lives in Bermuda but when a recording of Allie
was played, she instantly responded in even though it was was 20 years and six months
since they had been in contact. Dr Bruck says this type of response was typical.
Compared to unfamiliar calls, there was a clear pattern in the data where dolphins
responded significantly more to whistles from animals they had once known, even if
they hadn't seen or heard them in decades.
To check that the dolphin's response was due to recognition of a former companion, Dr
Bruck would also play a test recording of an unfamiliar bottlenose that was the same
age and gender as the familiar animal.
Nuclear family
The researchers believe that the complex nature of dolphin social systems is behind the
long term memory effect. In the ocean, dolphins have a fluid social arrangement that
scientists term a "fission-fusion" model. They may leave one group and join others
many times in their lifetimes.
Continue reading the main story
Intelligent cetacean behaviour
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/58627000/jpg/_58627770_dolphinbottle.jpg
A baby bottle-nose dolphin with her mother, in a Tokyo aquarium
Dolphins taking part in an experiment had to press one of two levers to distinguish
between sounds, some of which were very similar. By pressing a third lever, they were
able to tell the researchers they wanted to "pass" on a particular test because it was too
hard. "When you place dolphins in a situation like that they respond in exactly the same
way humans do," said Dr Lori Marino. "They are accessing their own minds and thinking
their own thoughts."
A number of captive dolphins were rewarded with fish in return for tidying up their tank.
One of them ripped up a large paper bag, hid away the pieces, and presented them one
at a time to get multiple rewards.
"It is important for them to recall the calls of dolphins they have had previous
encounters with, to decide whether or not that's someone they want to approach when
they hear that whistle about a mile out, or whether they want to avoid that individual,"
said Dr Bruck.
"Having a long term social recognition for that ecological reason can be the difference
between an animal having a very negative social interaction and a positive one."
According to the researchers, a dolphin's abilities to recall events indicate that the
cetaceans have a level of cognitive sophistication comparable to humans, chimpanzees
and elephants. While elephants are also reputed to have extremely long memories of up
to 20 years, there is little scientific evidence of their abilities outside of family
relationships. In this research paper, the dolphins were able to remember family
members as well as strangers.
In recent weeks, another study has shown that dolphins have their own signature
whistles that appear to have the same function as names do for humans.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23589041
Dolphin Memories Last for Decades
VdU5szZLn7o
Published on 6 Aug 2013
Recent PhD graduate Jason Bruck of the University of Chicago has performed the first
systematic study to show multi-decade long-term memory in a non-human species.
Dolphins have social memory for each other's unique signature whistles for at least 20
years. Interestingly, kin and non-kin remembered equally well. Humans can remember
photographs of faces for upwards of 47 years, but faces change. Dolphin whistles
remain stable, meaning that this could be the longest recognition system in the world.
This research sheds new light on the potential for long-term memory in non-human
species and allows a better understanding of how complex social patterns may affect
social memory.