Deep Thinkers
Inside the Minds of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises
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9780226387505
Deep Thinkers
Inside the Minds of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises
Humans aside, dolphins, whales, and porpoises are often considered to be the smartest creatures on Earth. Science and nature buffs are drawn to stories of their use of tools, their self-recognition, their beautiful and complex songs, and their intricate societies. But how do we know what we know, and what does it mean? In Deep Thinkers, renowned cetacean biologist Janet Mann gathers a gam of the world’s leading whale and dolphin researchers—including Luke Rendell, Hal Whitehead, and many more—to illuminate these vital questions, exploring the astounding capacities of cetacean brains.
Diving into our current understanding of and dynamic research on dolphin and whale cognition, communication, and culture, Deep Thinkers reveals how incredibly sophisticated these mammals are—and how much we can learn about other animal minds by studying cetacean behavior. Through a combination of fascinating text and more than 150 beautiful and informative illustrations, chapters compare the intelligence markers of cetaceans with those of birds, bats, and primates, asking how we might properly define intelligence in nonhumans. As all-encompassing and profound as the seas in which these deep cetacean cultures have evolved, Deep Thinkers is an awesome and inspiring journey into the fathoms—a reminder of what we gain through their close study, and of what we lose when the great minds of the sea disappear.
Diving into our current understanding of and dynamic research on dolphin and whale cognition, communication, and culture, Deep Thinkers reveals how incredibly sophisticated these mammals are—and how much we can learn about other animal minds by studying cetacean behavior. Through a combination of fascinating text and more than 150 beautiful and informative illustrations, chapters compare the intelligence markers of cetaceans with those of birds, bats, and primates, asking how we might properly define intelligence in nonhumans. As all-encompassing and profound as the seas in which these deep cetacean cultures have evolved, Deep Thinkers is an awesome and inspiring journey into the fathoms—a reminder of what we gain through their close study, and of what we lose when the great minds of the sea disappear.
192 pages | 150 color plates | 8 x 10 | © 2017
Biological Sciences: Evolutionary Biology, Natural History, Physiology, Biomechanics, and Morphology
Reviews
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Janet Mann
CHAPTER 1
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Janet Mann & Andrew Read
How and why do we study cetaceans? This chapter looks at the history of human association with cetaceans from whaling to research and monitoring in the wild and in captivity and the challenges ahead.
CHAPTER 2
THE CETACEAN BRAIN
Camilla Butti & Patrick Hof
By studying mammals’ brains and comparing those of odontocetes and mysticetes scientists demonstrate that, in terms of intelligence, size isn’t everything. This chapter considers the relationship between brain and body mass and how scientists determine what it means to have a big brain.
CHAPTER 3
COGNITION
Heidi E. Harley
Humans make sense of their surroundings primarily by sight, a perspective that can skew understanding of cetacean cognition. This chapter adopts the cetacean perception of their aquatic world—using multiple senses, including sound and echolocation.
CHAPTER 4
CETACEAN COMMUNICATION
Laela Sayigh & Vincent Janik
How do cetaceans communicate through water? Studies of whale song and dolphin whistles demonstrate the types of communication and consider call function, social recognition, and communication networks.
CHAPTER 5
QUINTESSENTIALLY SOCIAL CETACEANS
Janet Mann
Social bonds bind cetaceans throughout their lifetimes. Long-term studies have been crucial in revealing remarkably complex communities in which relationships are based on affiliation, aggression, kinship, communal care, protection, mating strategies, and extended networks.
CHAPTER 6
DEEP CULTURE
Hal Whitehead & Luke Rendell
We may assume culture to be a uniquely human condition, but cetaceans display considerable cultural diversity. This chapter assesses behavior, communication, social dynamics, migration, cooperative hunting, and learned foraging techniques.
CHAPTER 7
CETACEAN TOOL USE
Eric Patterson & Janet Mann
Like primates and birds, cetaceans use tools for different tasks and different reasons: sticks, shells, and sponges become tools for attraction, display, and foraging purposes.
CHAPTER 8
US & THEM
Andrew Read
From our first encounters with whales as game to attempts to save species from extinction, this chapter looks at how humans and cetaceans coexist. Hunting, fishing, pollution, and sonic disturbance are among the threats whales and dolphins face from human activity.
GLOSSARY
RESOURCES & NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
INDEX & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Janet Mann
CHAPTER 1
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Janet Mann & Andrew Read
How and why do we study cetaceans? This chapter looks at the history of human association with cetaceans from whaling to research and monitoring in the wild and in captivity and the challenges ahead.
CHAPTER 2
THE CETACEAN BRAIN
Camilla Butti & Patrick Hof
By studying mammals’ brains and comparing those of odontocetes and mysticetes scientists demonstrate that, in terms of intelligence, size isn’t everything. This chapter considers the relationship between brain and body mass and how scientists determine what it means to have a big brain.
CHAPTER 3
COGNITION
Heidi E. Harley
Humans make sense of their surroundings primarily by sight, a perspective that can skew understanding of cetacean cognition. This chapter adopts the cetacean perception of their aquatic world—using multiple senses, including sound and echolocation.
CHAPTER 4
CETACEAN COMMUNICATION
Laela Sayigh & Vincent Janik
How do cetaceans communicate through water? Studies of whale song and dolphin whistles demonstrate the types of communication and consider call function, social recognition, and communication networks.
CHAPTER 5
QUINTESSENTIALLY SOCIAL CETACEANS
Janet Mann
Social bonds bind cetaceans throughout their lifetimes. Long-term studies have been crucial in revealing remarkably complex communities in which relationships are based on affiliation, aggression, kinship, communal care, protection, mating strategies, and extended networks.
CHAPTER 6
DEEP CULTURE
Hal Whitehead & Luke Rendell
We may assume culture to be a uniquely human condition, but cetaceans display considerable cultural diversity. This chapter assesses behavior, communication, social dynamics, migration, cooperative hunting, and learned foraging techniques.
CHAPTER 7
CETACEAN TOOL USE
Eric Patterson & Janet Mann
Like primates and birds, cetaceans use tools for different tasks and different reasons: sticks, shells, and sponges become tools for attraction, display, and foraging purposes.
CHAPTER 8
US & THEM
Andrew Read
From our first encounters with whales as game to attempts to save species from extinction, this chapter looks at how humans and cetaceans coexist. Hunting, fishing, pollution, and sonic disturbance are among the threats whales and dolphins face from human activity.
GLOSSARY
RESOURCES & NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
INDEX & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS