Research areas
I am interested in the evolution of complexity in communication systems and how this complexity can affect social interaction. This work takes two different approaches. On the one hand I investigate environmental constraints that influence the design of vocal communication systems, and on the other I study the underlying cognitive skills required to overcome or circumvent such constraints. Much of this work concentrates on vocal communication in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). This species combines the ability of vocal learning with complex cognitive skills that exceed those of most other animals. Furthermore, dolphins rely almost exclusively on acoustic communication which avoids the difficulties connected with studying multi-modal communication systems.
PhD supervision
- Thomas Jenks
- Wendi Fellner
- Sixue Li
- Tristan Kleyn
- Christina Day
Selected publications
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Signature whistle shape conveys identity information to bottlenose dolphins
Janik, V. M., Sayigh, LS. & Wells, RS., 23 May 2006, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103, 21, p. 8293-8297 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The animal cultures debate
Laland, K. N. & Janik, V. M., Oct 2006, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 21, 10, p. 542-547 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Facts about signature whistles of bottlenose dolpins, Tursiops truncatus
Sayigh, LS., Esch, HC., Wells, RS. & Janik, V. M., Dec 2007, In: Animal Behaviour. 74, 6, p. 1631-1642 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Whale song
Janik, V. M., 10 Feb 2009, In: Current Biology. 19, 3, p. R109-R111Research output: Contribution to journal › Short survey › peer-review
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Open access
Repeated elicitation of the acoustic startle reflex leads to sensitisation in subsequent avoidance behaviour and induces fear conditioning
Gotz, T. & Janik, V., 2011, In: BioMed Central Neuroscience. 12, 12 p., 30.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review