Bounded Semiotics: From Utopian to Evolutionary Models of Communication

Bonobos and chimpanzees are two closely relates species of the genus Pan, yet they exhibit marked differences in anatomy, behaviour and cognition. For this reason, comparative studies on social behaviour, cognition and brain organization between these two species provide important insights into evolutionary models of human origins. This chapter summarizes studies on socio-communicative competencies and social cognition in chimpanzees and bonobos from the authors’ laboratory in comparison to previous reports. Additionally, recent data on species differences and similarities in brain organization in grey matter volume and distribution is presented. Some preliminary findings on microstructural brain organization such as neuropil space and cellular distribution in key neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in social behaviour and cognition is presented. Though these studies are in their infancy, the findings point to potentially important differences in brain organization that may underlie bonobo and chimpanzees’ differences in social behaviour, communication and cognition. Les bonobos et les chimpanzés sont deux espèces du genus Pan prochement liées, néanmoins ils montrent des différences anatomiques, comportementales et cognitives marquées. Pour cette raison, les études comparatives sur le comportement social, la cognition et l’organisation corticale entre ces deux espèces fournissent des idées sur les modèles évolutionnaires des origines humaines. Dans ce chapitre, nous résumons des études sur les compétences socio-communicatives et la cognition sociale chez les chimpanzés et les bonobos de notre laboratoire en comparaison avec des rapports précédents. En plus, nous présentons des données récentes sur les différences et similarités d’organisation corticale du volume et distribution de la matière grise entre espèces. Nous présentons plus de résultats préliminaires sur l’organisation corticale microstructurale comme l’espace neuropile et la division cellulaire dans des neurotransmetteurs clés et les neuropeptides impliqués dans le comportement social et la cognition. Bien que ces études sont dans leur enfance, les résultats montrent des différences d’organisation corticale importantes qui sont à la base des différences de comportement social, la communication et la cognition entre les bonobos et les chimpanzés.

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Evolutionary Models for 43 Galactic Supernova Remnants with Distances and X-Ray Spectra

The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series ◽

10.3847/1538-4365/ab8bd9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 248 (1) ◽

pp. 16 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. A. Leahy ◽

S. Ranasinghe ◽

M. Gelowitz

Keyword(s):

Supernova Remnants ◽

Evolutionary Models ◽

X Ray

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The Remarkable Evolution of the Post-Agb Star FG SGE

Highlights of Astronomy ◽

10.1017/s1539299600021134 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 363-363

Author(s):

Johanna Jurcsik ◽

Benjamin Montesinos

Keyword(s):

Time Scales ◽

Effective Temperature ◽

Planetary Nebula ◽

Planetary Nebulae ◽

Central Star ◽

Evolutionary Models ◽

Single Star ◽

Line Intensities ◽

Evolutionary Changes ◽

Evolutionary Studies

FG Sagittae is one of the most important key objects of post-AGB stellar evolutionary studies. As a consequence of a final helium shell flash, this unique variable has shown real evolutionary changes on human time scales during this century. The observational history was reviewed in comparison with predictions from evolutionary models. The central star of the old planetary nebula (Hel-5) evolved from left to right in the HR diagram, going in just hundred years from the hot region of exciting sources of planetary nebulae to the cool red supergiant domain just before our eyes becoming a newly-born post-AGB star. The effective temperature of the star was around 50,000 K at the beginning of this century, and the last estimates in the late 1980s give 5,000-6,500 K. Recent spectroscopic observations obtained by Ingemar Lundström show definite changes in the nebular line intensities. This fact undoubtedly rules out the possibility that, instead of FG Sge, a hidden hot object would be the true central star of the nebula. Consequently, the observed evolutionary changes are connected with the evolution of a single star.

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Southeast Asian clearwing moths buzz like their model bees

Frontiers in Zoology ◽

10.1186/s12983-021-00419-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marta Skowron Volponi ◽

Luca Pietro Casacci ◽

Paolo Volponi ◽

Francesca Barbero

Keyword(s):

Slow Motion ◽

Southeast Asian ◽

Batesian Mimicry ◽

Evolutionary Models ◽

Acoustic Parameters ◽

Warning Signals ◽

Visual Model ◽

Flying Insects

Abstract Background The endless struggle to survive has driven harmless species to evolve elaborate strategies of deceiving predators. Batesian mimicry involves imitations of noxious species’ warning signals by palatable mimics. Clearwing moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), incapable of inflicting painful bites or stings, resemble bees or wasps in their morphology and sometimes imitate their behaviours. An entirely unexplored type of deception in sesiids is acoustic mimicry. We recorded the buzzing sounds of two species of Southeast Asian clearwing moths, Heterosphecia pahangensis and H. hyaloptera and compared them to their visual model bee, Tetragonilla collina, and two control species of bees occurring in the same habitat. Recordings were performed on untethered, flying insects in nature. Results Based on eight acoustic parameters and wingbeat frequencies calculated from slow-motion videos, we found that the buzzes produced by both clearwing moths highly resemble those of T. collina but differ from the two control species of bees. Conclusions Acoustic similarities to bees, alongside morphological and behavioural imitations, indicate that clearwing moths display multimodal mimicry of their evolutionary models.

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