A new scientific review details how different species use calls, movements and other signals to cooperate for mutual benefit. The work draws on examples from birds, fish and mammals to show the flexibility of these interactions.
Researchers from multiple institutions compiled the review, which was published in the journal Animal Behaviour. It examines how animals coordinate actions such as finding food or receiving protection through interspecies communication.
Examples include the greater honeyguide bird using specialized calls to lead humans to bees' nests and cleaner fish displaying bright colors to signal safe interactions with predators. Warthogs and lycaenid butterfly larvae also rely on postures and chemical signals to manage partnerships.
Dr. Katie Dunkley of the University of Oxford noted that sharing information enables close coordination between species. Senior author Dr. van der Wal from the University of Cape Town added that signals can vary by ecological context and may be inherited or learned.
The paper stems from a 2023 workshop in Cambridge and includes 58 authors across fields including biology and anthropology. The authors call for more studies on how these communication systems evolve.
