Bioacoustics is the discipline that studies the production, propagation and perception of sounds in animals.
The analysis of acoustic signals allows the investigation of key topics in biology, such as sexual selection, individual recognition and social structure. Furthermore, bioacoustics is more central than ever in biodiversity conservation studies, as it allows for non-invasive monitoring of populations.
At the University of Torino, since the 1970s and then with new impetus since the 1990s, bioacoustics has developed thanks to pioneering experiments on female choice, the morphology of sound-producing apparatus, and the propagation of signals in different environments: studies on amphibians have shown how variation in song affects reproductive success.
Mechanisms of microevolution have also been highlighted through the study of geographical variability in emissions.
The bioacoustic approach has also been extended to the study of primates, with particular attention to vocal interaction processes, linking the ethological perspective with quantitative behaviour analysis.
The study of communication has critical implications for the conservation of endangered species (amphibians, reptiles, cetaceans, primates).
Conference curated by Professor Cristina Giacoma