Cultural Transmission observed in Whales

[Jochen Fromm-5]

A recent study has found out that songs of Humpbacked
Whales are passed through the ocean by mechanisms of
cultural transmission, see http://bit.ly/dNPFAV

What do you think, are migration routes subject of cultural
transmission as well? National Geographic recently had a nice
report about "Great Migrations", which is certainly a fascinating
aspect of ecology, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQy6D5fbP1c
I think young whales probably learn from their parents when
and where to migrate. Do you agree?

-J.


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[Pamela McCorduck]

I don't know about migration routes as subjects of cultural transmission, but they're certainly means of cultural transmission. That's how agriculture spread. On my shelf is a book called "Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization," by Nayan Chanda.

Is this what you mean, Jochen?

On Apr 20, 2011, at 4:12 PM, Jochen Fromm wrote:

A recent study has found out that songs of Humpbacked Whales are passed through the ocean by mechanisms of cultural transmission, see http://bit.ly/dNPFAV

What do you think, are migration routes subject of cultural transmission as well? National Geographic recently had a nice
report about "Great Migrations", which is certainly a fascinating aspect of ecology, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQy6D5fbP1c
I think young whales probably learn from their parents when and where to migrate. Do you agree?

-J.


============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

"There's nothing serious about a plan that claims to reduce the deficit by spending a trillion dollars on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. There's nothing courageous about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it and don't have any clout in Capitol Hill."

				President Barack Obama

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FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

[Jochen Fromm-5]

Agriculture is without doubt a cultural achievement.
No, I really mean migration routes from whales. I think
their migration is partly a learned behavior. Whales have
extraordinary large brains, but how else would a whale
know what the best place to live is? The oceans are huge.

-J.

----- Original Message -----
From: Pamela McCorduck
To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 10:59 PM
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Cultural Transmission observed in Whales

I don't know about migration routes as subjects of cultural transmission,
but they're certainly means of cultural transmission. That's how agriculture
spread. On my shelf is a book called "Bound Together: How Traders,
Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization," by Nayan Chanda.

Is this what you mean, Jochen?


============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org