1
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Rio R. First acoustic evidence of signature whistle production by spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1915-1927. [PMID: 37676587 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01824-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
A dolphin's signature whistle (SW) is a distinctive acoustic signal, issued in a bout pattern of unique frequency modulation contours; it allows individuals belonging to a given group to recognize each other and, consequently, to maintain contact and cohesion. The current study is the first scientific evidence that spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) produce SWs. Acoustic data were recorded at a shallow rest bay called "Biboca", in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil. In total, 1902 whistles were analyzed; 40% (753/1,902) of them were classified as stereotyped whistles (STW). Based on the SIGID method, 63% (472/753) of all STWs were identified as SWs; subsequently, they were categorized into one of 18 SW types. SWs accounted for 25% (472/1,902) of the acoustic repertoire. External observers have shown near perfect agreement to classify whistles into the adopted SW categorization. Most acoustic and temporal variables measured for SWs showed mean values similar to those recorded in other studies with spinner dolphins, whose authors did not differentiate SWs from non-SWs. Principal component analysis has explained 78% of total SW variance, and it emphasized the relevance of shape/contour and frequency variables to SW variance. This scientific discovery helps improving bioacoustics knowledge about the investigated species. Future studies to be conducted in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago should focus on continuous investigations about SW development and use by S. longirostris, expanding individuals' identifications (Photo ID and SW Noronha Catalog), assessing long-term whistle stability and emission rates, and making mother-offspring comparisons with sex-based differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Rio
- Laboratory of Observational and Bioacoustics Technologies Applied to Biodiversity (TecBio), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Ocean Sound, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
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2
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Panova E, Agafonov A. Possible occurrence of contact calls in all‐male groups of free‐ranging beluga whales. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Panova
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - A. Agafonov
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
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3
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Hamilton RA, Gazda SK, King SL, Stakhammar J, Connor IC. Bottlenose dolphin communication during a role-specialized group foraging task. Behav Processes 2022; 200:104691. [PMID: 35750114 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
A division of labor with role specialization is defined as individuals specializing in a subtask during repetitions of a group task. While this behavior is ubiquitous among humans, there are only four candidates found among non-eusocial mammals: lions, mice, chimpanzees, and bottlenose dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins in the Cedar Keys, Florida, engage in role specialized "driver-barrier feeding", where a "driver" dolphin herds mullet towards "barrier" dolphins. Thus trapped, the mullet leap out of the water where the dolphins catch them in air. To investigate whether dolphins use acoustic cues or signals to coordinate this behavior, vocalizations were recorded before and during driver-barrier feeding. Results of fine-scale audio and video analysis during 81 events by 7 different driver individuals suggest that barrier animals coordinate movements during these events by cueing on the driver's echolocation. Analyses of dolphin whistle occurrence before driving events versus another foraging technique, which does not involve role specialization, revealed significantly higher whistle production immediately prior to driver-barrier events. Possible whistle functions include signaling motivation, recruiting individuals to participate, and/or behavioral coordination. While the use of cues and signals is common in humans completing role-specialized tasks, this is the first study to investigate the use of vocalizations in the coordination of a role-specialized behavior in a non-human mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Hamilton
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA.
| | | | - Stephanie L King
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | | | - Ichard C Connor
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA
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4
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Jones B, Tufano S, Ridgway S. Signature whistles exhibit a 'fade-in' and then 'fade-out' pattern of relative amplitude declination. Behav Processes 2022; 200:104690. [PMID: 35709885 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Bottlenose dolphins have individually distinct signature whistles that are characterized by a stereotyped frequency-time contour. Signature whistles are commonly exchanged with short time delays between calls. Dolphin whistles are produced by pressurized nasal sacs that increase and then decrease in pressure over emission. This study found that the relative amplitude modulation pattern over time exhibited the same fade-in and then fade-out pattern in the signature whistles of eight bottlenose dolphins at the Navy in San Diego, CA. Both the initial and final five percent of the whistle's duration also had significantly lower mean relative amplitude than the center five percent. The current analyses of the amplitude-time relationship was then integrated to a previously reported model of the negative relationship between relative log amplitude and log peak frequency. This produced a more robust model for accounting for the predictable aspects of the more broadly non-stereotyped amplitude modulations of signature whistles. Whether dolphins can intentionally manipulate these amplitude features or they are simple by-products of the sound production system, and further whether they are perceived and utilized by receivers, is an exciting area for continued research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Jones
- National Marine Mammal Foundation: 3131, 2240 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.
| | - Samantha Tufano
- National Marine Mammal Foundation: 3131, 2240 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Sam Ridgway
- National Marine Mammal Foundation: 3131, 2240 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
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5
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Carouso-Peck S, Goldstein MH, Fitch WT. The many functions of vocal learning. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200235. [PMID: 34482721 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to learn novel vocalizations has evolved convergently in a wide range of species. Courtship songs of male birds or whales are often treated as prototypical examples, implying a sexually selected context for the evolution of this ability. However, functions of learned vocalizations in different species are far more diverse than courtship, spanning a range of socio-positive contexts from individual identification, social cohesion, or advertising pair bonds, as well as agonistic contexts such as territorial defence, deceptive alarm calling or luring prey. Here, we survey the diverse usages and proposed functions of learned novel signals, to build a framework for considering the evolution of vocal learning capacities that extends beyond sexual selection. For each function that can be identified for learned signals, we provide examples of species using unlearned signals to accomplish the same goals. We use such comparisons to generate hypotheses concerning when vocal learning is adaptive, given a particular suite of socio-ecological traits. Finally, we identify areas of uncertainty where improved understanding would allow us to better test these hypotheses. Considering the broad range of potential functions of vocal learning will yield a richer appreciation of its evolution than a narrow focus on a few prototypical species. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vocal learning in animals and humans'.
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6
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Ames AE, Blackwell SB, Tervo OM, Heide-Jørgensen MP. Evidence of stereotyped contact call use in narwhal (Monodon monoceros) mother-calf communication. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254393. [PMID: 34449769 PMCID: PMC8396719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are gregarious toothed whales that strictly reside in the high Arctic. They produce a broad range of signal types; however, studies of narwhal vocalizations have been mostly descriptive of the sounds available in the species’ overall repertoire. Little is known regarding the functions of highly stereotyped mixed calls (i.e., biphonations with both sound elements produced simultaneously), although preliminary evidence has suggested that such vocalizations are individually distinctive and function as contact calls. Here we provide evidence that supports this notion in narwhal mother-calf communication. A female narwhal was tagged as part of larger studies on the life history and acoustic behavior of narwhals. At the time of tagging, it became apparent that the female had a calf, which remained close by during the tagging event. We found that the narwhal mother produced a distinct, highly stereotyped mixed call when separated from her calf and immediately after release from capture, which we interpret as preliminary evidence for contact call use between the mother and her calf. The mother’s mixed call production occurred continually over the 4.2 day recording period in addition to a second prominent but different stereotyped mixed call which we believe belonged to the narwhal calf. Thus, narwhal mothers produce highly stereotyped contact calls when separated from their calves, and it appears that narwhal calves similarly produce distinct, stereotyped mixed calls which we hypothesize also contribute to maintaining mother-calf contact. We compared this behavior to the acoustic behavior of two other adult females without calves, but also each with a unique, stereotyped call type. While we provide additional support for individual distinctiveness across narwhal contact calls, more research is necessary to determine whether these calls are vocal signatures which broadcast identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audra E. Ames
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Outi M. Tervo
- Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen
- Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
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7
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Terranova F, Gnone G, Friard O, Bellingeri M, Giacoma C, Favaro L. Signature whistles of the demographic unit of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting the Eastern Ligurian Sea: characterisation and comparison with the literature. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2021.1936225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. Terranova
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy
| | - G. Gnone
- Acquario di Genova, Area Porto Antico, Ponte Spinola, Italy
| | - O. Friard
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy
| | - M. Bellingeri
- Fondazione Acquario di Genova, Area Porto Antico, Ponte Spinola, Italy
| | - C. Giacoma
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy
| | - L. Favaro
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy
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8
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Morrison EL, DeLong CM, Wilcox KT. How humans discriminate acoustically among bottlenose dolphin signature whistles with and without masking by boat noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:4162. [PMID: 32611182 DOI: 10.1121/10.0001450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise in the world's oceans is known to impede many species' ability to perceive acoustic signals, but little research has addressed how this noise affects the perception of bioacoustic signals used for communication in marine mammals. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use signature whistles containing identification information. Past studies have used human participants to gain insight into dolphin perception, but most previous research investigated echolocation. In Experiment 1, human participants were tested on their ability to discriminate among signature whistles from three dolphins. Participants' performance was nearly errorless. In Experiment 2, participants identified signature whistles masked by five different samples of boat noise utilizing different signal-to-noise ratios. Lower signal-to-noise ratio and proximity in frequency between the whistle and noise both significantly decreased performance. Like dolphins, human participants primarily identified whistles using frequency contour. Participants reported greater use of amplitude in noise-present vs noise-absent trials, but otherwise did not vary cue usage. These findings can be used to generate hypotheses about dolphins' performance and auditory cue use for future research. This study may provide insight into how specific characteristics of boat noise affect dolphin whistle perception and may have implications for conservation and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan L Morrison
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology, 18 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - Caroline M DeLong
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology, 18 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - Kenneth Tyler Wilcox
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame, 390 Corbett Family Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
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9
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Five members of a mixed-sex group of bottlenose dolphins share a stereotyped whistle contour in addition to maintaining their individually distinctive signature whistles. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233658. [PMID: 32442214 PMCID: PMC7244121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Most commonly, animal communication systems are driven by shared call repertoires, with some individual distinctiveness encoded as a byproduct of voice cues. We provide evidence that bottlenose dolphins produce both individually distinctive whistles, and a shared whistle type. A stereotyped whistle contour (termed the group whistle) is shared by five bottlenose dolphins that have lived, worked, and traveled together for at least 21 years. These five dolphins are members of a group of eight dolphins that work as a specialized team for the Navy Marine Mammal Program. Each dolphin is routinely recorded during periods when an individual is isolated from the others in above ground pools as part of their routine training. Each of the eight dolphins has an individually distinctive signature whistle. In addition, at least five of these dolphins share a distinct non-signature whistle type. This shared whistle contour was produced an average of 22.4% +/- 9.0% of the time during periods in which individuals were isolated. During these isolations the signature whistle was produced an average of 42.9% +/- 11.9% of the time. This is consistent with decades of signature whistle research. A group of 10 naïve observers rated the similarity of the different whistle contours. The observers rated the group whistle contour produced by all five dolphins as highly similar (P < 0.01). Their ratings further showed that the signature whistles of the five dolphins were very different (P < 0.01). These findings were further supported by discriminant function analyses. That said, the shared whistle contours still exhibited individual differences which may allow conspecifics to identify the producer even when a whistle contour is shared among multiple dolphins. This is the first in-depth analysis of a non-signature whistle type shared among multiple conspecifics.
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10
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Mishima Y, Morisaka T, Ishikawa M, Karasawa Y, Yoshida Y. Pulsed call sequences as contact calls in Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:409. [PMID: 31370601 DOI: 10.1121/1.5116692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pacific white-sided dolphins are a group-living species and appear to exchange "contact calls" to maintain group cohesion. The aim of this study was to find and characterize their contact calls. Calls were recorded from two females at Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN (OAK) and three females at Izu-Mito Sea Paradise (IMSP). Because they often produced pulsed calls consecutively, a "pulsed call sequence" was defined as three or more successive pulsed calls occurring within 325 ms, which was calculated using a bout analysis. The pulsed call sequences increased during separation periods and decreased during reunions and were used for vocal exchange, suggesting that the sequences are contact calls in Pacific white-sided dolphins. Most of the pulsed call sequences were classified into unique types; several stereotyped, repeated patterns were found. One sequence type was found at OAK and the two dolphins shared the type; they exchanged sequences with type matching. On the other hand, three sequence types were found in IMSP and the three dolphins shared all of the types; however, each dolphin preferentially used different types and frequently exchanged with their own favorite types but not with type matching. These results suggest that the sequence type may function as an individual and/or group identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Mishima
- Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Tadamichi Morisaka
- Cetacean Research Center, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577, Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu-shi, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Megumi Ishikawa
- Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN, 1-1-10, Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan
| | - Yuu Karasawa
- Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, 3-1, Nagahama, Uchiura, Numazu-shi, Shizuoka, 410-0295, Japan
| | - Yayoi Yoshida
- Department of Environmental and Societal Affairs, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, 3-20-1, Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 424-8610, Japan
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11
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Fearey J, Elwen SH, James BS, Gridley T. Identification of potential signature whistles from free-ranging common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in South Africa. Anim Cogn 2019; 22:777-789. [PMID: 31177344 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01274-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Conveying identity is important for social animals to maintain individually based relationships. Communication of identity information relies on both signal encoding and perception. Several delphinid species use individually distinctive signature whistles to transmit identity information, best described for the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). In this study, we investigate signature whistle use in wild common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Acoustic recordings were analysed from 11 encounters from three locations in South Africa (Hout Bay, False Bay, and Plettenberg Bay) during 2009, 2016 and 2017. The frequency contours of whistles were visually categorised, with 29 signature whistle types (SWTs) identified through contour categorisation and a bout analysis approach developed specifically to identify signature whistles in bottlenose dolphins (SIGID). Categorisation verification was conducted using an unsupervised neural network (ARTwarp) at both a 91% and 96% vigilance parameter. For this, individual SWTs were analysed type by type and then in a 'global' analysis whereby all 497 whistle contours were categorised simultaneously. Overall the analysis demonstrated high stereotypy in the structure and temporal production of whistles, consistent with signature whistle use. We suggest that individual identity information may be encoded in these whistle contours. However, the large group sizes and high degree of vocal activity characteristic of this dolphin species generate a cluttered acoustic environment with high potential for masking from conspecific vocalisations. Therefore, further investigation into the mechanisms of identity perception in such acoustically cluttered environments is required to demonstrate the function of these stereotyped whistle types in common dolphins.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Fearey
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - S H Elwen
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria , 0002, South Africa
| | - B S James
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa
| | - T Gridley
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa.
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
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12
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Castellucci GA, Calbick D, McCormick D. The temporal organization of mouse ultrasonic vocalizations. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199929. [PMID: 30376572 PMCID: PMC6207298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
House mice, like many tetrapods, produce multielement calls consisting of individual vocalizations repeated in rhythmic series. In this study, we examine the multielement ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) of adult male C57Bl/6J mice and specifically assess their temporal properties and organization. We found that male mice produce two classes of USVs which display unique temporal features and arise from discrete respiratory patterns. We also observed that nearly all USVs were produced in repetitive series exhibiting a hierarchical organization and a stereotyped rhythmic structure. Furthermore, series rhythmicity alone was determined to be sufficient for the mathematical discrimination of USVs produced by adult males, adult females, and pups, underscoring the known importance of call timing in USV perception. Finally, the gross spectrotemporal features of male USVs were found to develop continuously from birth and stabilize by P50, suggesting that USV production in infants and adults relies on common biological mechanisms. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the temporal organization of multielement mouse USVs is both stable and informative, and we propose that call timing be explicitly assessed when examining mouse USV production. Furthermore, this is the first report of putative USV classes arising from distinct articulatory patterns in mice, and is the first to empirically define multielement USV series and provide a detailed description of their temporal structure and development. This study therefore represents an important point of reference for the analysis of mouse USVs, a commonly used metric of social behavior in mouse models of human disease, and furthers the understanding of vocalization production in an accessible mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg A. Castellucci
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Yale University of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Daniel Calbick
- Department of Genetics, Yale University of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - David McCormick
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
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13
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Elie JE, Theunissen FE. Zebra finches identify individuals using vocal signatures unique to each call type. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4026. [PMID: 30279497 PMCID: PMC6168511 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06394-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual recognition is critical in social animal communication, but it has not been demonstrated for a complete vocal repertoire. Deciphering the nature of individual signatures across call types is necessary to understand how animals solve the problem of combining, in the same signal, information about identity and behavioral state. We show that distinct signatures differentiate zebra finch individuals for each call type. The distinctiveness of these signatures varies: contact calls bear strong individual signatures while calls used during aggressive encounters are less individualized. We propose that the costly solution of using multiple signatures evolved because of the limitations of the passive filtering properties of the birds' vocal organ for generating sufficiently individualized features. Thus, individual recognition requires the memorization of multiple signatures for the entire repertoire of conspecifics of interests. We show that zebra finches excel at these tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie E Elie
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Frédéric E Theunissen
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Psychology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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14
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Roberts SA, Prescott MC, Davidson AJ, McLean L, Beynon RJ, Hurst JL. Individual odour signatures that mice learn are shaped by involatile major urinary proteins (MUPs). BMC Biol 2018; 16:48. [PMID: 29703213 PMCID: PMC5921788 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0512-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reliable recognition of individuals requires phenotypic identity signatures that are both individually distinctive and appropriately stable over time. Individual-specific vocalisations or visual patterning are well documented among birds and some mammals, whilst odours play a key role in social recognition across many vertebrates and invertebrates. Less well understood, though, is whether individuals are recognised through variation in cues that arise incidentally from a wide variety of genetic and non-genetic differences between individuals, or whether animals evolve distinctive polymorphic signals to advertise identity reliably. As a bioassay to understand the derivation of individual-specific odour signatures, we use female attraction to the individual odours of male house mice (Mus musculus domesticus), learned on contact with a male’s scent marks. Results Learned volatile odour signatures are determined predominantly by individual differences in involatile major urinary protein (MUP) signatures, a specialised set of communication proteins that mice secrete in their urine. Recognition of odour signatures in genetically distinct mice depended on differences in individual MUP genotype. Direct manipulation using recombinant MUPs confirmed predictable changes in volatile signature recognition according to the degree of matching between MUP profiles and the learned urine template. Both the relative amount of the male-specific MUP pheromone darcin, which induces odour learning, and other MUP isoforms influenced learned odour signatures. By contrast, odour recognition was not significantly influenced by individual major histocompatibility complex genotype. MUP profiles shape volatile odour signatures through isoform-specific differences in binding and release of urinary volatiles from scent deposits, such that volatile signatures were recognised from the urinary protein fraction alone. Manipulation using recombinant MUPs led to quantitative changes in the release of known MUP ligands from scent deposits, with MUP-specific and volatile-specific effects. Conclusions Despite assumptions that many genes contribute to odours that can be used to recognise individuals, mice have evolved a polymorphic combinatorial MUP signature that shapes distinctive volatile signatures in their scent. Such specific signals may be more prevalent within complex body odours than previously realised, contributing to the evolution of phenotypic diversity within species. However, differences in selection may also result in species-specific constraints on the ability to recognise individuals through complex body scents. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0512-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Roberts
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Mark C Prescott
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Amanda J Davidson
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Lynn McLean
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Robert J Beynon
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Jane L Hurst
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
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