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Research
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Publications
Journal articles and book chapters
Research Projects

COMMUNICATION IN CROCODILIANS
Advertisment of body size through vocal resonances in Chinese and American alligators

Dr. Stephan A. Reber

About me
I am a Swiss biologist. Currently, I am working as a researcher in Cognitive Zoology at Lund University in Sweden.
I have many research interests, but they all boil down to the question “How does Thinking itself evolve?”. I study the cognition (mental capacities) of diverse animal species and compare them to each other. Based on how these species are related I can deduce how their cognition evolved.
My speciality is to develop experimental setups that target very specific questions. For most of my studies I use playback experiments, which involve recording the vocalizations of animals and playing them back to them in specific contexts. I consider the ecology of the species I am working with and try to create experiments which are biologically meaningful to them. This results in natural responses and completely voluntary participation. I usually do not train the animals for these setups, because I am interested in what they are spontaneously capable of.
I am affiliated with the University of Zurich, the University of Vienna, the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the University of Lincoln, and Lund University. I also travelled extensively to work with animals in zoos, sanctuaries and in the wild. So far, I have lived for longer periods of time in Switzerland, South Africa, Austria, England, USA, and Sweden.
I have many research interests, but they all boil down to the question “How does Thinking itself evolve?”. I study the cognition (mental capacities) of diverse animal species and compare them to each other. Based on how these species are related I can deduce how their cognition evolved.
My speciality is to develop experimental setups that target very specific questions. For most of my studies I use playback experiments, which involve recording the vocalizations of animals and playing them back to them in specific contexts. I consider the ecology of the species I am working with and try to create experiments which are biologically meaningful to them. This results in natural responses and completely voluntary participation. I usually do not train the animals for these setups, because I am interested in what they are spontaneously capable of.
I am affiliated with the University of Zurich, the University of Vienna, the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the University of Lincoln, and Lund University. I also travelled extensively to work with animals in zoos, sanctuaries and in the wild. So far, I have lived for longer periods of time in Switzerland, South Africa, Austria, England, USA, and Sweden.
News - Newspaper article
Recent Posts
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
“Im Reich der Krokodile und Alligatoren” (“In the kingdom of crocodiles and alligators”) "Missverstandene Zeitgenossen - Der Biologe Stephan Reber...
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Hear them roar: How humans and chickadees understand each other
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our journal article: Congdon, J. V., Hahn, A. H., Filippi, P., Campbell, K. A., Hoang, J., Scully, E. N.,...
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Marmoset monkeys expect the melody’s closing tone
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our journal article: Reber, S. A., Šlipogor, V., Oh, J., Ravignani, A., Hoeschele, M., Bugnyar, T., & Fitch, W....
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Cockatoos Are As Crafty As Crows
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our journal article: Laumer, I. B., Bugnyar, T., Reber, S. A., & Auersperg, A. M. I. (2017). Can hook-bending...
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Study Uncovers the Universal Language of Arousal
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
Filippi, P., Congdon, J. V., Hoang, J., Bowling, D. L., Reber, S. A., Pašukonis, A., Hoeschele, M., Ocklenburg, S., de...
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Alligators signal size by bellowing
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our journal article: Reber, S. A., Janisch, J., Torregrosa, K., Darlington, J., Vliet, K. A., & Fitch, W. T....
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Ravens know when they’re being watched
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our journal article: Bugnyar, T., Reber, S. A., & Buckner, C. (2016). Ravens attribute visual access to unseen competitors....
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Contribution to the children’s book “The Secret of the Bird’s Smart Brain… and More!’
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
by Ana María Rodríguez "Students will enter the world of scientists as they uncover the secrets behind birds' brains, the...
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Why we got an alligator to inhale helium
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our journal article: Reber, S. A., Nishimura, T., Janisch, J., Robertson, M. and Fitch, W. T. (2015). A Chinese...
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Social monitoring via close calls in meerkats
By stephanreber
/ May 19, 2020
From our article: Reber, S. A., Townsend, S. W., & Manser, M. B. (2013). Social monitoring via close calls in...
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mail@stephanreber.com
Office
Dr. Stephan A. Reber, BSc, MSc
Department of Philosophy,
Cognitive Zoology Group,
Lund University
Box 192, 221 00 Lund, SE
Orcid ID
0000-0001-8015-2538