Dr. Carin Bondar - Biologist with a Twist

Animal Nutrition

Primate Food Signalling Changes Depending on the Situation

For humans who live in a household where one family member is responsible for meal preparation, the universal “Come and get it!” and “Dinner!” commands are used, loudly, as a signal that food is ready [...]
Animal Nutrition

Altruistic Food Signalling Among Chickadees

Food signalling calls are commonplace in the animal kingdom. A diverse range of organisms use some form of communication with respect to food. The general idea in several species is that if you make food [...]
Animal Parenting

Giraffe Moms Mourn Their Deceased Calves

Giraffe moms form strong bonds with their calves. They remain in close contact for the first 12-16 months of their lives. Moms only leave their calves briefly, while they are well hidden, to procure food [...]

When His Courtship Display Attracts Predators

March 4, 2020 0

Predation is a common aspect of life for most members of the animal kingdom. It’s difficult to concentrate on wooing a partner with a courtship display when one’s life is at stake. Unfortunately, the showy […]

Do Animals Eat Junk Food, Too?

February 26, 2020 0

Food choices in the animal kingdom are assumed to adhere to the tenets of optimal foraging theory. An animal is expected to weigh the costs and benefits of including certain foods in its diet so as […]

Does A Mother’s Death Affect Her Offspring?

February 19, 2020 0

In nature, most animals that are newborns or infants at the time of their mother’s death are almost always destined to meet the same fate. An exception is if they live in a cooperatively or […]