Animals don't just communicate with members of their own species. New research shows that communication also plays a crucial role in helping different species work together.
In a review published in Animal Behaviour, an international team of researchers examined how animals use calls, body movements, visual displays, and other signals to coordinate cooperative relationships across species. The findings reveal the many ways animals exchange information to synchronize their behavior and maintain partnerships that benefit both sides.
Different species can cooperate in surprisingly diverse situations. Some birds lead humans to bees' nests in exchange for access to beeswax. Cleaner fish remove parasites from larger reef fish and receive a meal in return. Drawing on examples from birds, fish, insects, and mammals, the researchers show how communication helps these relationships function and endure.
How Animals Coordinate Across Species
For cooperation to succeed, animals must often match the timing of their actions to achieve a shared goal. This can be especially challenging when the species involved perceive the world in different ways.
