Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species
A large part of the literature on sensory perception and behavior in dolphins is devoted to its well-developed vocal and echolocation abilities. In this review, we aim to augment current knowledge by examining the literature on dolphins’ entire Merkwelt (which refers to everything a subject perceive...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2016.00049/full |
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| author | Dorothee eKremers Aurélie eCélérier Benoist eSchaal Sylvie eCampagna Sylvie eCampagna Marie eTrabalon Marie eTrabalon Martin eBöye Martine eHausberger Alban eLemasson |
| author_facet | Dorothee eKremers Aurélie eCélérier Benoist eSchaal Sylvie eCampagna Sylvie eCampagna Marie eTrabalon Marie eTrabalon Martin eBöye Martine eHausberger Alban eLemasson |
| author_sort | Dorothee eKremers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A large part of the literature on sensory perception and behavior in dolphins is devoted to its well-developed vocal and echolocation abilities. In this review, we aim to augment current knowledge by examining the literature on dolphins’ entire Merkwelt (which refers to everything a subject perceives, creating a crucial part of the subject’s Umwelt). We will show that despite extensive knowledge on audition, aspects such as context relatedness, the social function of vocalizations or socio-sexual recognition, remain poorly understood. Therefore, we propose areas for further lines of investigation. Recent studies have shown that the sensory world of dolphins might well be much more diverse than initially thought. Indeed, although underwater and aerial visual systems differ in dolphins, they have both been shown to be important. Much debated electro- and magnetoreception appear to be functional senses according to recent studies. Finally, another neglected area is chemoreception. We will summarize neuroanatomical and physiological data on olfaction and taste, as well as corresponding behavioral evidence. Taken together, we will identify a number of technical and conceptual reasons for why chemosensory data appear contradictory, which is much debated in the literature. In summary, this article aims to provide both an overview of the current knowledge on dolphin perception, but also offer a basis for further discussion and potential new lines of research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:53:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5a08457140f405dafd97e509a46d275 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:53:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5a08457140f405dafd97e509a46d2752022-12-22T02:49:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2016-05-01410.3389/fevo.2016.00049183437Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative speciesDorothee eKremers0Aurélie eCélérier1Benoist eSchaal2Sylvie eCampagna3Sylvie eCampagna4Marie eTrabalon5Marie eTrabalon6Martin eBöye7Martine eHausberger8Alban eLemasson9Université de Rennes 1 - CNRSCNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHECNRS - Université de Bourgogne-Franche-ComtéCNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHEUniversité de NîmesUniversité de Rennes 1 - CNRSCNRS – Université de Rennes 1Planète SauvageCNRS – Université de Rennes 1Université de Rennes 1 - CNRSA large part of the literature on sensory perception and behavior in dolphins is devoted to its well-developed vocal and echolocation abilities. In this review, we aim to augment current knowledge by examining the literature on dolphins’ entire Merkwelt (which refers to everything a subject perceives, creating a crucial part of the subject’s Umwelt). We will show that despite extensive knowledge on audition, aspects such as context relatedness, the social function of vocalizations or socio-sexual recognition, remain poorly understood. Therefore, we propose areas for further lines of investigation. Recent studies have shown that the sensory world of dolphins might well be much more diverse than initially thought. Indeed, although underwater and aerial visual systems differ in dolphins, they have both been shown to be important. Much debated electro- and magnetoreception appear to be functional senses according to recent studies. Finally, another neglected area is chemoreception. We will summarize neuroanatomical and physiological data on olfaction and taste, as well as corresponding behavioral evidence. Taken together, we will identify a number of technical and conceptual reasons for why chemosensory data appear contradictory, which is much debated in the literature. In summary, this article aims to provide both an overview of the current knowledge on dolphin perception, but also offer a basis for further discussion and potential new lines of research.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2016.00049/fullVisionauditionCetaceansChemoreceptionMagnetoreceptionelectroreception |
| spellingShingle | Dorothee eKremers Aurélie eCélérier Benoist eSchaal Sylvie eCampagna Sylvie eCampagna Marie eTrabalon Marie eTrabalon Martin eBöye Martine eHausberger Alban eLemasson Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vision audition Cetaceans Chemoreception Magnetoreception electroreception |
| title | Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species |
| title_full | Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species |
| title_fullStr | Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species |
| title_short | Sensory perception in cetaceans: Part I – Current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species |
| title_sort | sensory perception in cetaceans part i current knowledge about dolphin senses as a representative species |
| topic | Vision audition Cetaceans Chemoreception Magnetoreception electroreception |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2016.00049/full |
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