Comparison of Communication and Cognitive Abilities of the Bottle-Nosed Dolphin vs. the Chimpanzee - Research Paper Example

Comparison of Communication and Cognitive Abilities of the Bottle-Nosed Dolphin vs. the Chimpanzee : Introduction Investigating the extent of consciousness in animal species is a critical scientific issue (Reiss, 1996). He asserts that research into the communicative and cognitive abilities of different species have revealed startling adaptability and flexibility in communication and behavior among species from varying evolutionary pathways. In the evolution theory, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are the closest relatives to man and have distinctive behaviors that show that they have well developed communication skills. However, at a first glance on the bottle-nosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one may not notice anything common between the primates with dolphins. However, research has shown that the two could be sharing much of the cognitive abilities despite their physiological differences (Reiss, 1996). According to Reiss, both species demonstrate high ability to master symbolic language; demonstrate well coordinated social behaviors and awareness of the actions. Nevertheless, dolphins have been shown to outdo chimpanzees when subjected to follow similar commands from a televised trainer, which is used in measuring the ability of the two to understand abstraction (Herman, 1999). A comparative research into the cognitive and communication abilities of the two is supported by the fact that they have close evolutionary relationship occupying the scientific class; Mammalia. Moreover, they occupy a high level in the food chain in their respective ecosystem. However, they are found in different environments although their behaviors and social structure portray similarities. This project seeks to identify behaviors exhibited by both species; measures used by researchers to quantify the similarity in behaviors among two different species and evaluate how those behaviors show presence or absence of communication and cognitive abilities. Additionally, the research seeks to identify productive research tests used on each species and whether there are any special testing concerns arising because of environmental factors. Books, scientific journals and the internet will be consulted throughout the research period. Behaviors Are Exhibited by Nose-bottled Dolphin and Chimpanzees Both nose-bottled dolphins and chimpanzees demonstrate social living skills. The two species live in complex but well organized social units (Herman, 1999). According to Herman, for the social units to operate effectively, young dolphin and chimpanzees undergo thorough training about the rules of the society and this learning is passed down to future generations. During this training, the newborns learn about collaborative and cooperative activities to ensure there is peaceful co-existence with the social units. Moreover, they learn about identity and personalities of the members in the group (Herman, 1999). While still young, the offspring of bottle-nosed dolphins and chimpanzees spend protracted period with their mothers within the social unit and acts as a chance for wide social learning (Herman, 1999). The other behavior common in both chimpanzees and dolphins is that both have the ability to repeat activities conducted by humans. The two species can emulate gestures done by humans and this makes them highly trainable. According to Wyatt (2005), observing chimpanzees is usually interesting given that they are able to mimic the activities by performed by humans. Moreover, when the young ones are being trained, they repeat most of the behaviors done by the seniors. This indicates that dolphins and chimpanzees have a high level of self awareness. Like chimpanzees, bottle-nosed dolphins are engaged in complex play behavior. In their social units the two species engage in complex play activities which considered as a way of teaching the members of the group. Moreover, the two species demonstrates creative behaviors. In the case of chimpanzees, they portray creative behaviors as they seek to solve a certain problem. Wyatt (2005) notes that there are instances when chimpanzees realize that a child has an edible fruit and tease such a child so that s/he responds by throwing back the fruit thereby getting food. Chimpanzees and dolphins have distinctive natural languages where they produce unique sounds (York, 2006). According to York (2006), dolphins make various sounds such as clicks, whistles and burst-pulse emissions. Clicks are useful in echolocation which helps them examine their environment. On the other hand, burst-pulse sounds are represents the emotional state of dolphins whenever they are pleased or angered. Moreover, they may whistle although it is difficult to tell if the whistling is intentional and unintentional. Chimpanzees also make unique sounds during play, when aggrieved and when warning others members of their group of an imminent danger (Reynolds, Eide and Wells, 2000). Bottle-nosed dolphins and chimpanzees demonstrate an interest in watching television. Further researchers have shown that the two are able to interpret various instructions from a television screen. Generally, the two can easily be trained to perform different activities and to respond to varying instructions (York, 2006). Measures used by researchers to quantify the similarity in behaviors between two species One of the strategies used in measuring behavior involves use of a well defined behavioral model, for instance training a chimpanzee to look towards a certain target for instance food. The second approach revolves around investigating natural behaviors (Brockmann, n.d). This is followed by researcher attempts to correlate such behaviors with the functioning of the brain. To study animal behavior, a researcher must first sub-divide the behavior into action patterns. Actions patterns entails discrete and repeated acts identified from animals. Discrete acts comprise the compound muscular movements done by the animal (Brockmann, n.d). Actions patterns are described in terms of various characteristics such as the form of action, speed, duration, orientation, amplitude. An ethologist usually takes time to observe the form of actions performed by the species under study. Moreover, one needs to study the speed with which the animal responds to different stimuli and their actions (Brockmann, n.d). The similarity in behaviors is also described based on time taken when doing a particular action. In the case of chimpanzees and bottle-nosed dolphins, an ethologist may study the time that they stay in social units. Studying the similarity in behavior between two different species is also based on the orientation of their behaviors towards some specific items in the environment. In measuring behavior, researchers must complete ethograms which are contains all the animal action patterns. In the ethogram, the research does not have to explain the cause of a particular behavior and the name given to those actions should be descriptive. A researcher may use a generalized or a special purpose ethogram. Ethograms are used to produce a kinematic diagram which shows the sequence in the animal’s behavior. Data from ethogram is also used to come up with time budget, which show percentages of the time spent engaged in various activities (Brockmann, n.d). Evaluating behaviors in bottle-nosed dolphin and chimpanzee which show presence or absence of communication and cognitive abilities One of the behaviors demonstrating presence of communication abilities among dolphins and monkeys is their co-existence in social units. According to Bell-Russel (2001), the two species show collaboration when coexisting in social groups which indicates that they communicate among each other. In these groups, there is always a head or a group leader who determines which activity the other members get involved in. Additionally, the young ones are trained on how to live within these social units demonstrating a high level of both cognitive and communicative abilities. The mimicking of gestures by dolphins and chimpanzees indicates that the two have high cognitive ability. Mimicking is also indicative of the level of self awareness among these two species. The two species make unique sounds either to warn others of imminent dangers or as the want to get intimate (Science Wired, 2011). This indicates that dolphins and chimpanzees are able to communicate with each using natural language. Nothing else can explain the ability of dolphins and chimpanzees to remain glued on television screens apart from the fact that they understand whatever they are viewing. Consequently, previous researchers have concluded that the two have high cognitive abilities and this have been utilized to train them to perform various activities. The other indicator of the higher cognitive ability is shown by the ability of the two to make unique sounds either when they are happy or aggrieved. Identifying productive research tests used on each species In chimpanzees testing behavior among chimpanzees include practical laboratory tests which are used to observe their behaviors where for instance the intellectual capability of the chimpanzee is assessed by giving it a problem which it is supposed to solve (Science Wired, 2011). Science Wired proposes that a chimpanzee may be left to reach a banana which is placed out of reach of the chimpanzee and it requires to use its creativity and to get the banana. The cognitive and communicative of chimpanzee may also be based on controlled experiments where some chimpanzees are taken in and trained on different aspects of cognitive and communication. After, sometime the behaviors of these chimpanzees are compared with those that do not receive any training. To test self-awareness in bottle-nosed dolphin; mirror self-recognition mark tests are used. In this test, a dolphin is taught an abstract gesture which is later called upon to repeat. In case the gesture was replayed again, this acts as an indicator for the dolphin to repeat the gesture. Researchers may also use transfer tests which is performed on a dolphins after they have been taught various actions and successful completion of such activities indicates that there is positive transfer of different abilities to dolphins (Bell-Russel, 2001). In productive tests, researchers may also use controlled experiments where the behaviors of trained nose-bottled dolphins are compared with those that have not undergone any training. Assessing any special testing concerns arising because of environmental factors Testing the behaviors of different species, there are various environmental concerns which should be controlled to ensure that the results are not biased. All the laboratory and field studies most be repeatable and demonstrate the role of natural of selection. However, the laboratory studies may influence the behavior of the animal under study given that change from natural habitat may be opposed and the animal may concentrate on getting back to safety and influence their behavior. Moreover, when studying animals in the field, they may change their behavior as they may view the research as an intruder. Moreover, chimpanzees like to carry out most of their intimate activities at night and this may prove hard when they are subjected to a controlled environment. In addition, it may prove difficult for a researcher to distinguish between some sounds made by the two species where dolphins and chimpanzees make unique sounds for different reasons. A dolphin may whistle but this may not be clear if it is doing so out of danger or not, or whether such sounds are intentional or not. Conclusion Chimpanzees and bottle-nosed have a similar evolutionary status given that they are both mammals and occupy a high level in the food chain. Moreover, the show similar behavioral and social characteristics which make them perfect candidates in studying their cognitive and communicative abilities. The two species are organized in social units, use natural language and have a high level of self awareness. In addition, the two species respond to various gestures and get engaged in complex play. In studying behavior, the duration, orientation and form of action is studied. These are then structured in ethograms which are used to describe behavior. Different tests may be used in investigating the productive behaviors of the species although care must be exercised to ensure influence of the external environment does not influence those results. References Brockmann. J (n.d). Measuring Behavior: Ethograms, Kinematic Diagrams, and Time Budgets retrieved 24th April, 2012 < http://college.holycross.edu/faculty/kprestwi/behavior/e&be_notes/E&BE_ethograms.pdf> Bell-Russel, D. (2001). My life with the chimpanzees. Library Journal, 126(12), 146-146. Herman, L (1999). Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) comprehend the referential character of the human pointing gesture. Journal of Comparative Psychology Vol. 113, No. 4 (1999): 347-364. 24 January 2012. Reiss, D. (1996). Communication and cognition in dolphins. Toward a Science of Consciousness. Reynolds, J., Eide, S., and Wells, R. (2000). The Bottlenose Dolphin: Biology and Conservation. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. Science, Wired (5 July 2011). Chimps and Dolphins Share Cultural Similarities. retrieved 24th April, 2012 < http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/chimpanzees-dolphins-similar.> Wyatt, W. (2005). Can Dolphins Think Abstractly? Behavior Analysis Digest; Spring2005, Vol. 17 Issue1, p2-2, 1/2p York, R. (2006). GOODALLS LIGHT: Twenty years with the chimpanzees of gombe. Organization & Environment, 19(3), 371-374. Read More