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 III: Mammals (Week 6, 3 ECTS)
In this module we will review the production, nature, function and evolution of mammal vocal signals. We will see how mammalian vocalisations are produced and how this ensures the encoding of both static (indexical) and dynamic (emotional, motivational) information. We will see how this information is encoded in three key contexts: sexual communication, parent-offspring interactions, and social interactions.
In parallel during lab- and computer-based practical sessions we will review cutting edge methods and tools for analysing and synthesising mammal vocalisations. Research talks, on e.g. the evolution of size communication (D. Reby), dog-human vocal interactions (Mathilde Massenet), Phonation in mammals (Tecumseh Fitch), or Howler Monkeys loud calls (Jake Dunn) will expose you directly to current research in these fast-expanding areas of comparative vocal communication.
© David Reby
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, a successful student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of how mammal vocal signals are produced, structured and perceived.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with main issues and current topics relating to the function and evolution of mammalian vocal communication.
3. Demonstrate a good understanding of tools for analysing and synthesising mammal vocal signals.
Assessment
The final mark will be based on a portfolio, in which you will collate the exercises completed during the practical sessions.
2025 provisional schedule
Monday 20th October
Morning Lecture (10:00-12:00): Presentation of the module. The anatomy of the mammalian vocal apparatus. Production and acoustics of the mammalian vocalisations. The source filter theory (D. Reby). Nonlinear phenomena (D. Reby).
Afternoon Practical (14:00-16:00): Visualising mammal vocal signals with PRAAT. Measuring F0, Formants and estimating vocal tract length. Psola resynthesis (D. Reby, R. Philippe, M. Massenet).
Afternoon Research Talk (16:00-17:00): Vocal Communication in Howler Monkeys (J. Dunn).
Tuesday 21st October
Morning Lectures (10:00-12:00): Indexical cues in mammal vocal signals. The evolution of size communication: Honesty and exaggeration (D. Reby).
Afternoon workshop: (14:00-16:00): How to study a vocal behaviour from production to evolution: from sound analyses to designing playback experiments (M. Massenet, D. Reby, R. Philippe).
Afternoon Research talk: (16:00-17:00): MEAD theory of voice production (T. Fitch).
Wednesday 22nd October
Morning workshop (9-12): Analysing animal vocal signals with Soundgen (A. Anikin, D. Reby, M. Massenet).
Afternoon (13:30-17:30): Synthesising animal vocal signals with Soundgen (A. Anikin, D. Reby, M. Massenet).
Thursday 23rd October
Morning practical (9-13): Field trip to St Martin Zoo: recording chimpanzee calls (Florence Levréro, Catherine Crockford & Cédric Girard-Buttoz).
Afternoon Practical (13:30-17:30): Editing and analysing morning recordings (Florence Levréro, Antoine Vallet & Cédric Girard-Buttoz).
Friday 24th October
Morning (10-12): Stats (Vincent Médoc)
Afternoon (13-16): Study time (D. Reby)
Organiser and tutor: David Reby
Tutors:Andrey Anikin, Cédric Girard-Buttoz, Florence Levrero, Mathilde Massenet, Vincent Médoc, Romane Philippe.
Guests Speakers: Catherine Crockford, Jake Dunn, Tecumseh Fitch,
