We are interested in the understanding of animal societies. We investigate group coordination and in particular, communication and cognitive aspects in mammals. We focus on closely related species showing variation in their social structure, mainly within small carnivores. Based on observations of habituated animals in their natural habitat we test hypotheses on the function and mechanisms of specific behaviours with field experiments

Research themes

• Communication and cognition in small mammals
• Vocal communication: production and perception
• Spatial orientation in meerkats
• Group decision making in banded mongoose and meerkats
• Social and genetic structure of slender mongoose
• Effect of domestication on understanding perception and deception in dogs

Group members

Head of the group: Prof. Dr. Marta Manser

Former group members