Behavioral Biology

Carrying small sensors, they could be the most sensitive and informative weather instruments of all
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An experiment, conducted on wild orangutans, uncovers the conditions that spark curiosity more

The tracking system has begun testing its new satellite receiver that will continue uninterrupted tracking of animals from space more

Artificial intelligence and computer vision provide most accurate estimate yet more

Hyenas inherit power from mothers, but it’s a privilege they pay dearly for more

Birds show remarkably similar sleep patterns to humans and may experience flight in their dreams more

Children choose a “mystery box” more often than apes, but after a glimpse of a larger reward from the uncertain option, great apes show more curiosity more

If other visual cues are missing, ants build higher nest hills to facilitate homing of foraging nest mates more

The insects release phenylacetonitrile to fend off their own conspecifics
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Daurian redstarts move closer to humans to protect their nests from brood parasitism more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2022 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 12 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Fish are his passion. Alex Jordan wants to know why they do what they do. An interview with the behavioural biologist more

The primatologist Roman Wittig explains in this interview, why he prefers to speak in terms of "spatial” rather than “social” distancing, and how virtual (online) meetings can replace real meetings to a certain extent. more

Even chimpanzees and six-year-old infants want to punish antisocial behaviour more

Blackbirds that spend the winter in the south are more likely to survive the cold season than their conspecifics in central Europe more

Researchers show that vocalizing in chimpanzees is influenced by social cognitive processes more

Bystanders monitor and intervene into grooming interactions of their group members if these threaten their own status or social relationships more

When female flies smell their favorite food, they become more receptive to courting males more

The tiny mammals reduce the size of their organs in the winter and can even decrease and rebuild bones more

The Icarus on-board computer, the first component of the global animal observatory system, has gone into space more

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology based at the research station outpost for parrot comparative cognition in the Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, have shown that parrots exhibit a high level of social intelligence and cooperativeness. They readily help others, even when there is no immediate opportunity for reciprocation. Moreover, they reciprocate received favours and do not appear jealous, if conspecifics obtain a better reward than themselves. more

Dogs and humans have been living together for 15,000 years – a long time to get used to each other.  Behavioural biologists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig are investigating how well the animals have adapted to humans. They discovered that dogs are frequently better at understanding human gestures than other animal species. For example, dogs understand referential gestures, such as pointing, and realise they can get away with doing something forbidden when their owners just happen to be looking elsewhere. more

Bonobos - chimpanzees' gentle cousins more