Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database

Abstract Socially transmitted behaviors are widespread across the animal kingdom, yet there is a lack of comprehensive datasets documenting their distribution and ecological significance. Knowledge of animal behavioral traditions could be essential for understanding many species’ responses to anthro...

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Main Authors: Kiran Basava, Md Nafis Ul Alam, Liam Roberts, Kristen Martinet, Paige Cherry, Héctor García-Verdugo, Cristian Román-Palacios
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Data
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05315-y
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author Kiran Basava
Md Nafis Ul Alam
Liam Roberts
Kristen Martinet
Paige Cherry
Héctor García-Verdugo
Cristian Román-Palacios
author_facet Kiran Basava
Md Nafis Ul Alam
Liam Roberts
Kristen Martinet
Paige Cherry
Héctor García-Verdugo
Cristian Román-Palacios
author_sort Kiran Basava
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Socially transmitted behaviors are widespread across the animal kingdom, yet there is a lack of comprehensive datasets documenting their distribution and ecological significance. Knowledge of animal behavioral traditions could be essential for understanding many species’ responses to anthropogenic disturbances and further enhancing conservation efforts. Here, we introduce the first open-access database that synthesizes data on animal cultural behaviors and traditions. The Animal Culture Database (ACDB) contains descriptions of 128 behaviors including forms of vocal communication, migration, predator defense, foraging practices, habitat alteration, play, mating displays, and other social behaviors for an initial sample of 61 species. In addition to offering an open-access resource for researchers, educators, and conservationists, the ACDB represents a step toward recognizing the role of social learning in animal populations.
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spelling doaj-art-bdd28ef69c1249539bca37811b9395492025-08-20T02:36:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Data2052-44632025-06-0112111110.1038/s41597-025-05315-yMapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture DatabaseKiran Basava0Md Nafis Ul Alam1Liam Roberts2Kristen Martinet3Paige Cherry4Héctor García-Verdugo5Cristian Román-Palacios6College of Information Science, University of ArizonaArizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of ArizonaEntomology & Insect Science, University of ArizonaCollege of Information Science, University of ArizonaCollege of Information Science, University of ArizonaCollege of Information Science, University of ArizonaCollege of Information Science, University of ArizonaAbstract Socially transmitted behaviors are widespread across the animal kingdom, yet there is a lack of comprehensive datasets documenting their distribution and ecological significance. Knowledge of animal behavioral traditions could be essential for understanding many species’ responses to anthropogenic disturbances and further enhancing conservation efforts. Here, we introduce the first open-access database that synthesizes data on animal cultural behaviors and traditions. The Animal Culture Database (ACDB) contains descriptions of 128 behaviors including forms of vocal communication, migration, predator defense, foraging practices, habitat alteration, play, mating displays, and other social behaviors for an initial sample of 61 species. In addition to offering an open-access resource for researchers, educators, and conservationists, the ACDB represents a step toward recognizing the role of social learning in animal populations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05315-y
spellingShingle Kiran Basava
Md Nafis Ul Alam
Liam Roberts
Kristen Martinet
Paige Cherry
Héctor García-Verdugo
Cristian Román-Palacios
Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
Scientific Data
title Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
title_full Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
title_fullStr Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
title_full_unstemmed Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
title_short Mapping nonhuman cultures with the Animal Culture Database
title_sort mapping nonhuman cultures with the animal culture database
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05315-y
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