Animal Communication: What do we know ?

January 25, 2014 5:38 AM

A recent workshop on Analyzing Animal Vocal Sequences provided some illuminating views of what we know and what we don't know about animal communication. In particular one notes the increased use of Machine Learning algorithms that are currently used to make sense of human interactions on the web. Talks at the workshop included:Unraveling dolphin communication complexity, Singing isn't just for the birds, Automated identification of bird individuals using machine learning, A receiver's perspective on analyzing animal vocal sequences, Animal communication sequence analysis using information theory, Machine learning for the classification of animal vocalizations and Information theoretic principles of human language and animal behavior
posted by IgorCarron (12 comments total)

Stridulation Sounds of Black Fire Ants (Solenopsis richteri) in Different Situations – sample recordings by Dr. Robert Hickling, co-author of Analysis of acoustic communication by ants (2000). Let THEM! be heard!
posted by cenoxo at 7:23 AM on January 25, 2014 [4 favorites]

...been playin' since they's babies, too. Ant Sounds Let Even Developing Insects Communicate With Each Other – ant pupae 'cry' to get adult attention.
posted by cenoxo at 7:59 AM on January 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

Love me some signal processing. Thanks.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:40 AM on January 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

Thanks for reposting this, IgorCarron.
posted by nangar at 8:40 AM on January 25, 2014 [2 favorites]

ant pupae 'cry' to get adult attention.

Finally, proof of the effectiveness of Ant Music.
posted by The Whelk at 8:44 AM on January 25, 2014

Well, that chorus is stuck my head for the rest of the weekend. Thanks, Whelk.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:00 AM on January 25, 2014

my cat barfs about once a week. i want to be able to tell her to barf on the linoleum instead of the rug. when this technology matures to that point, please let me know.
posted by bruce at 9:25 AM on January 25, 2014 [6 favorites]

OMG I LOVE THIS TOPIC!
posted by mondo dentro at 9:28 AM on January 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

As I read this, my little Quaker parrot is running up and down my arm, asking for a kiss, and then delivering a juicy raspberry against my cheek. So there's that data.
posted by Lou Stuells at 12:09 PM on January 25, 2014 [2 favorites]

I'm guessing that when we find out what the animals have been saying all along, some of us will feel quite distressed.

But, then, we can shrug that off too. Or, as science says, "adapt". And a new group of denialists will fester.
posted by Twang at 4:31 PM on January 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

I will be excited when I can get my dog a translation collar like in the movie Up.
posted by natasha_k at 5:45 PM on January 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

or the baby translator from the Simpsons.

"I have soiled myself. How embarrassing."
posted by ArgentCorvid at 5:58 PM on January 25, 2014 [2 favorites]