Behavioral Biology

How social networks shape the vocal diversity of monk parakeets more

Scientists use virtual reality for fish to teach robots how to swarm more

Wild and zoo-housed orangutans explore the world differently more

Females team up to maintain power in their societies more

Male mice fall into two camps when it comes to love: some fiercely guard the females within their territory, while others roam in search of quick flings more

Bonobos refuse to participate when faced with unequal rewards, reinforcing the highly contentious debate about inequity aversion in animals more

In a study, it wasn't the bravest mice, but rather the shy ones, that proved to be the most persistent tinkerers more

Sleep-deprived European jackdaws trade vigilance for deep sleep more

When emerging at night by the thousands, bats avoid colliding by changing how they move and echolocate more

Classical models of collective behavior fail to explain the mechanisms driving desert locust swarms 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