In Mosambik, the Yao people have a unique way of satisfying their sweet tooth – they enlist the help of a bird called the honeyguide. This bird, about twenty centimeters in size and brown-white in color, leads them to wild beehives where they can harvest sweet honey. The honeyguide benefits from this partnership as well, as the humans provide access to the beehive, which is often well-protected in a tree hollow. The honeyguide, despite not liking honey itself, feeds on beeswax and bee larvae.
A recent study published in the scientific journal Science has shed light on the evolution of this unusual collaboration between birds and humans. This relationship is believed to have emerged through a unique form of evolution where both species have influenced and learned from each other, termed „cultural coevolution“ by biologists.
To investigate further, researchers observed that not only the Yao in Mosambik but also other African communities have developed similar partnerships with honeyguides. However, the methods of attracting the birds vary significantly. The Yao emit a trill-grunt sound resembling „Brrr…hmm“ to attract honeyguides, while the Hadza in Tanzania use whistling to signal them.
In a fascinating experiment conducted by ornithologist Claire Spottiswoode from the University of Cambridge and anthropologist Brian Wood from the University of California, researchers played different sounds to honeyguides in Tanzania and Mosambik to observe their reactions. The birds responded more favorably to familiar sounds from their respective regions, indicating that they have learned to recognize and respond to local signals.
This ability to communicate with and understand different species is not unique to the honeyguides. In Brazil, dolphins in Laguna help fishermen catch mullets by herding the fish and signaling where to cast their nets. While the exact benefits to the dolphins remain unclear, studies have shown that cooperating dolphins have a higher survival rate compared to those that do not engage in such partnerships.
Overall, these examples of interspecies cooperation highlight the fascinating ways in which animals and humans can learn to communicate and work together for mutual benefit. Just like humans speaking different languages, animals in different regions have developed unique ways to interact and collaborate with each other, showcasing the complexity and diversity of the natural world.
