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Bacteria may allow animals to send quick, voluminous messages

By Guest PostNovember 23, 2013Nature, Sciencebacteria, danielle whittaker, encyclopedia of information, human thoughts, hyenas, kay holekamp, Kenya, kevin theis, michigan state university, msu beacon center, reproductive state, scent glands, scent posts, sex, spotted hyena, striped hyenas, twitter clips

Twitter clips human thoughts to a mere 140 characters. Animals’ scent posts may be equally as short, relatively speaking, yet they convey an encyclopedia of information about the animals that left them.

In the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a Michigan State University researcher shows that the detailed scent posts of hyenas are, in part, products of symbiotic bacteria, microbes that have a mutually beneficial relationship with their hosts. (more…)

Microbes Help Hyenas Communicate via Scent

By Guest PostSeptember 2, 2012Natureage, animal, animal behavior, bacteria, beneficial relationship, chemical signature, communication, communication system, diversity, DNA, hyena, hyena clan, kay holekamp, kenyan plains, kevin theis, key controller, mammal, michigan state university, microbial community, reproductive status, scent gland, sex, symbiotic bacteria, trait

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Bacteria in hyenas’ scent glands may be the key controllers of communication.

The results, featured in the current issue of Scientific Reports, show a clear relationship between the diversity of hyena clans and the distinct microbial communities that reside in their scent glands, said Kevin Theis, the paper’s lead author and Michigan State University postdoctoral researcher.

“A critical component of every animal’s behavioral repertoire is an effective communication system,” said Theis, who co-authored the study with Kay Holekamp, MSU zoologist. “It is possible that without their bacteria, many animals couldn’t ‘say’ much at all.” (more…)

Hyenas that Think Outside the Box Solve Problems Faster

By Guest PostAugust 9, 2012Nature, Sciencebeacon center, benefit, hyenas, innovative problem, kay holekamp, Kenya, large brain, michigan state university, risk taking, sarah benson amram, solution, spotted hyenas, steel puzzle boxes

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Innovative problem solving requires trying many different solutions. That’s true for humans, and now Michigan State University researchers show that it’s true for hyenas, too.

The study, published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, presented steel puzzle boxes with raw meat inside to wild spotted hyenas in Kenya. To get the meat, the hyenas had to slide open a bolt latch. Even though most of the animals had many opportunities to open the box, only nine out of 62 hyenas succeeded. The successful hyenas tried more solutions, including biting, flipping or pushing the box, than the ones that failed, said MSU zoology graduate student Sarah Benson-Amram. (more…)

Hyenas’ Ability to Count Helps Them Decide to Fight or Flee

By Guest PostAugust 23, 2011Nature, Scienceafrica, animal behaviour, beacon researcher, chimpanzees, evolution of big brains, kay holekamp, Kenya, lions, michigan state university, sarah benson amram, sean dryer, spotted hyenas, study of evolution in action, virginia heinen, zoology

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Being able to count helps spotted hyenas decide to fight or flee, according to research at Michigan State University.

When animals fight, the larger group tends to win. In the current issue of Animal Behaviour, Sarah Benson-Amram, an MSU graduate student studying zoology, showed that hyenas listen to the sound of intruders’ voices to determine who has the advantage. (more…)

Tag Archives: kay holekamp

Bacteria may allow animals to send quick, voluminous messages

Microbes Help Hyenas Communicate via Scent

Hyenas that Think Outside the Box Solve Problems Faster

Hyenas’ Ability to Count Helps Them Decide to Fight or Flee