Signature whistles are individually distinctive signals given by bottlenose dolphins in isolation contexts. Unlike isolation calls of other animals they are learned and can be copied by conspecifics. This kind of copying can be used to address a specific individual. Our studies investigate whether dolphins are capable of using voice cues and how background noise and water pressure affect dolphin signals and consequently voice recognition. We also study the individual recognition skills of dolphins to explore their natural ability to use learned labels, a crucial step in the evolution of referential communication. This is done by using playback techniques in the wild and discrimination experiments with captive individuals. Comparative work on other species tries to identify conditions that lead to the evolution of these skills.
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