Professors, Assistant Professors and PhD students from the ENES lab are strongly involved in teaching at the Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Etienne. Our teachings include:
- Animal cognition
- Behavioural ecology
- Animal communication
- Ethology
- Physiology
- Ecology
- Information theory
- Statistics
International Master of Bioacoustics (MoBi)
Comparative bioacoustics I: Birds & Reptiles
(3 ECTS)
In this module we will review the production, nature, function and evolution of acoustic signals in birds and reptiles. Within the framework of the Mathematical Theory of Communication, we will see how birds code information in their vocalizations. We will see how songbirds learn their songs, and the anatomical basis of their production. We will review acoustic communication in Reptiles. We will see how birds and reptiles localize a sound source. We will emphasize the evolutionary drivers of acoustic communication in birds.
© Nicolas Mathevon
Research talks on bird acoustic communication networks and evolution of communication will expose you directly to current research.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, a successful student should be able to:
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Demonstrate an understanding of how bird and reptile acoustic signals are produced, structured and perceived;
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Demonstrate an understanding of song learning in songbirds;
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Demonstrate an understanding of the evolutionary drivers of acoustic communication in birds.
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Demonstrate a good understanding of tools for analysing and synthesizing bird songs.
2025 Provisional Schedule
Monday 22nd September
9-11 am: Information coding in bird sound signals (N.Mathevon)
11-12 am: Assignment of scientific papers
2-4 pm: Strategies for encoding public and private information in sound signals (O.Larsen)
Tuesday 23rd September
9-10: Comparative hearing in Archosaurs (J.Christensen-Dalsgaard)
10.30-12.30: Hearing in Reptiles (J.Christensen-Dalsgaard)
2-4 pm: Sound production in birds (L.Favaro)
4.30-5.30 pm: The African penguin: a model for bioacoustics studies (L.Favaro)
Wednesday 24th September
9-11 am: Song evolution in birds without vocal learning (A.Kirschel)
1.30-2.30pm: Acoustic communication in crocodiles (N.Mathevon)
2.45-3 pm: Multimodal perception in crocodiles (N.Caron)
3.30-5pm: Vocal learning in Savannah sparrow (D.Mennill, online)
Thursday 25th September
9-10am: Interspecific acoustic communication: Honey-guide-human mutualism (C.Spottiswoode, online)
10.15-12.15am: Intra- and inter-sexual relationships in a Neotropical terrestrial insectivore, Formicarius moniliger (A.Kirschel)
2-5 pm: Sound localization and spatial release from masking (practicals) (L.Papet)
6-8 pm: The neuroethology of vocal communication in songbirds with zebra finch as an example (J.Elie, F.Theunissen - online)
Friday 26th September
8.30-10.30am: Acoustic developmental programming: how prenatal sounds affect development (M.Mariette)
1.30-3.30pm: Statistics (Médoc)
Organiser: Nicolas Mathevon
Guest speakers: Nais Caron, Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard, Julie Elie, Livio Favaro, Alex Kirschel, Ole Larsen, Mylène Mariette, Dan Mennill, Leo Papet, Claire Spottiswoode, Frédéric Theunissen.
Assessment
The final mark will be based on a poster (powerpoint slide) presenting a scientific paper.
© Nicolas Mathevon
© Nicolas Mathevon
© Nicolas Mathevon
© Nicolas Mathevon