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Study links complex whale behaviour to brain size
Whales and dolphins look after youngsters that aren't their own.

Mammals ‘talk’ to each other and use ‘name’ recognition

A major new study has linked the complex culture and behaviour of whales and dolphins to the size of their brains.

The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolutions, found overwhelming evidence that whales and dolphins have sophisticated social and cooperative behaviour traits, similar to many found in human culture.

The study demonstrates that these social and cultural characteristics are linked with brain size and brain expansion - a process called encephalisation.

The research was conducted by scientists at The University of Manchester, The University of British Columbia, Canada, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Stanford University, United States

“As humans, our ability to socially interact and cultivate relationships has allowed us to colonise almost every ecosystem and environment on the planet,” said Dr Susanne Shultz, an evolutionary biologist at The University of Manchester. “We know whales and dolphins also have exceptionally large and anatomically sophisticated brains and, therefore, have created a similar marine-based culture.”

She continued: “That means the apparent co-evolution of brains, social structure, and behavioural richness of marine mammals provides a unique and striking parallel to the large brains and hyper-sociality of humans and other primates on land. Unfortunately, they won’t ever mimic our great metropolises and technologies because they didn’t evolve opposable thumbs.”

Researchers assessed 90 different species of dolphins, whales, and porpoises and produced a long list of behavioural similarities shared with humans and other primates. The list includes:

    •    complex alliance relationships – working together for mutual benefit
    •    social transfer of hunting techniques – teaching how to hunt and using tools
    •    cooperative hunting
    •    complex vocalisations, including regional group dialects – ‘talking’ to each other
    •    vocal mimicry and ‘signature whistles’ unique to individuals – using ‘name’ recognition
    •    interspecific cooperation with humans and other species – working with different species
    •    alloparenting – looking after youngsters that aren’t their own
    •    social play

The researchers argue that large brains are an evolutionary response to complex and information-rich social environments. However, this is the first study of its kind to apply these hypotheses to ‘intelligent’ marine mammals on such a large scale.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.