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Lab Alumni

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Sarah R. Benson-Amram, PhD 2011
My research interests lie in the domains of animal social behavior, cognition and acoustic communication. I am broadly interested in how vocal communication can provide clues about the cognitive abilities of gregarious mammals. I am recording the vocal repertoire of the spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ) to determine the complexity of the spotted hyena acoustic communication system. By analyzing the structure of vocalizations emitted in various social contexts I will attempt to decipher their meaning. I am also using recorded vocalizations from known individuals to conduct a series of playback experiments. The playback experiments will allow me to inquire about the extent of social knowledge in adult spotted hyenas. I will also use playbacks to investigate social knowledge acquisition throughout ontogeny in spotted hyena cubs. Lastly, I will use playbacks to inquire whether there are sex differences in what hyenas know about their social worlds. In addition to the above experiments, I plan to use both playbacks and other experimental techniques to investigate non-social intelligence in both spotted and striped hyenas.

Sarah is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Zoology & Physiology at the University of Wyoming.
Her lab website is here:
http://www.uwyo.edu/animalcognition/




Current Graduate Students
  • Kenna Lehmann
  • Kevin McCormick
  • Connie Rojas
  • Maggie A. Sawdy
  • Olivia Spagnuolo
  • Julie Jarvey
Lab Alumni
Lab Staff
A note to prospective graduate students
Integrative Biology Department
MSU EEBB
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Hyena conservation
© 2016 Kay E. Holekamp
  • Home
  • Research
    • Spotted Hyena >
      • Hyena Publications
      • Carnivore Conservation
      • Communication
      • Cognition
      • Demography
      • Interspecific Competition and Anti-Predator Behavior
      • Socioendocrinology
      • Project Database
    • Arvicanthis niloticus
    • Belding's Ground Squirrel
    • Benefits of our Research
  • People
    • Kay Holekamp >
      • CV
    • Graduate Students
    • Lab Alumni
    • Lab Staff
  • Prospective Students
  • Courses
    • Study abroad: BEAM
  • About Hyenas
    • Images
  • Contact