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Avian psychology and communication

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Candy Rowe, Dr John Skelhorn

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Abstract

The evolution of animal communication is a complex issue and one that attracts much research and debate. 'Receiver psychology' has been highlighted as a potential selective force, and we review how avian psychological processes and biases can influence the evolution and design of signals as well as the progress that has been made in testing these ideas in behavioural studies. Interestingly, although birds are a focal group for experimental psychologists and behavioural ecologists alike, the integration of theoretical ideas from psychology into studies of communication has been relatively slow. However, recent operant experiments are starting to address how birds perceive and respond to complex natural signals in an attempt to answer evolutionary problems in communication. This review outlines how a psychological approach to understanding communication is useful, and we hope that it stimulates further research addressing the role of psychological mechanisms in signal evolution.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Rowe C, Skelhorn J

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Year: 2004

Volume: 271

Issue: 1547

Pages: 1435-1442

ISSN (print): 0962-8436

ISSN (electronic): 1471-2970

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2004.2753

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2753

PubMed id: 15306314


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