1
|
Nelson-Reinier T, Clarke JA. Dialects in North American elk bugle calls: comparisons between source and translocated elk populations. J Mammal 2023. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Identifying the factors shaping dialects can reveal selective pressures and cultural influences on acoustic signals. Translocations of species have been considered the “gold standard” for identifying population differences in vocalizations, including dialects. The North American elk (Cervus canadensis) is a species that has experienced numerous translocations, but no published studies exist on dialects in elk or any other ungulate species. Adult male North American elk utter an iconic vocalization during the breeding season, which is termed the bugle call due to the power, duration, and pitch of the sound. We investigated if dialect differences existed between three populations: a source population in Wyoming (N = 10 bulls, 132 calls) and translocated populations in Colorado (N = 13 bulls, 92 calls) and Pennsylvania (N = 20 bulls, 160 calls). Dialect differences existed between the populations in 9 of 10 measured variables, in both the frequency domain and time domain. Habitat factors (acoustic adaptation hypothesis) affecting sound transmission were inconsistently related to dialects in the populations. Genetic factors may be related to dialects, as the historically bottlenecked Pennsylvania population, with low heterozygosity and low allelic richness, exhibited the least variability in acoustic measures. Cultural transmission and vocal learning may also contribute to dialect development in this highly vocal, social ungulate species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracee Nelson-Reinier
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado , Greeley, Colorado 99164 , USA
| | - Jennifer A Clarke
- Biology Department, University of La Verne , La Verne, California 91750 , USA
- Center for Wildlife Studies , South Freeport, Maine 04078 , USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Feel the beat: cape fur seal males encode their arousal state in their bark rate. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 109:5. [PMID: 34894271 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01778-2] [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: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The cape fur seal is one of the most colonial mammal species in the world. Breeding colonies are composed of harems held by mature males (older than 10 years) with up to 30 females and their pups, while roaming subadult males (younger and socially immature) are kept away from bulls' territories. As in other pinnipeds, cape fur seals are highly vocal and use acoustic signals in all their social interactions. Males produce barks-short vocalizations always produced in sequences-for territorial defense, mating behaviors, and agonistic interactions. These calls convey information about the sex, age class, and individual identity. This study investigated whether motivational cues such as the arousal state can be encoded in territorial males' barks and whether these cues are decoded by listening sub-adult males. The rate (number of calls per unit of time) and fundamental frequency of barks were found to significantly increase during high arousal state interactions (i.e., male-male confrontation) compared to spontaneous barks. Playback experiments revealed that subadult males responded with a higher level of vigilance when territorial males' barks had a faster bark rate. This mechanism of decoding the bulls' arousal state from barks will likely constitute an advantage for both bulls and the subadult males, by avoiding or reducing physical conflicts, and thereby reducing energy expenditure and the risk of injury. This study is the first experimental evidence of cape fur seals' using vocal rhythmic patterns to modulate their social interactions.
Collapse
|
3
|
Martin M, Gridley T, Harvey Elwen S, Charrier I. Vocal repertoire, micro-geographical variation and within-species acoustic partitioning in a highly colonial pinniped, the Cape fur seal. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202241. [PMID: 34729204 PMCID: PMC8548791 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Communication is fundamental for the survival of animal species as signals are involved in many social interactions (mate selection, parental care, collective behaviours). The acoustic channel is an important modality used by birds and mammals to reliably exchange information among individuals. In group-living species, the propagation of vocal signals is limited due to the density of individuals and the background noise. Vocal exchanges are, therefore, challenging. This study is the first investigation into the acoustic communication system of the Cape fur seal (CFS), one of the most colonial mammals with breeding colonies of hundreds of thousands of individuals. We described the acoustic features and social function of five in-air call types from data collected at two colonies. Intra-species variations in these vocalizations highlight a potential ability to convey information about the age and/or sex of the emitter. Using two classification methods, we found that the five call types have distinguishable frequency features and occupy distinct acoustic niches indicating acoustic partitioning in the repertoire. The CFS vocalizations appear to contain characteristics advantageous for discrimination among individuals, which could enhance social interactions in their noisy and confusing acoustic environment. This study provides a basis for our understanding of the CFS acoustic communication system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Martin
- Equipe Communications Acoustiques, Neuro-PSI, CNRS UMR 9197, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
| | - Tess Gridley
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7605, South Africa
| | - Simon Harvey Elwen
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7605, South Africa
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Equipe Communications Acoustiques, Neuro-PSI, CNRS UMR 9197, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tamura N, Boonkhaw P, Prayoon U, Phan QT, Yu P, Liu X, Hayashi F. Geographical variation in squirrel mating calls and their recognition limits in the widely distributed species complex. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03022-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
5
|
Holzmann I, Areta JI. Reduced geographic variation in roars in different habitats rejects the acoustic adaptation hypothesis in the black‐and‐gold howler monkey (
Alouatta caraya
). Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Holzmann
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (IBIGEO) Laboratorio de Ecología Comportamiento y Sonidos Naturales (ECOSON) Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSA) Rosario de Lerma Argentina
| | - Juan Ignacio Areta
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (IBIGEO) Laboratorio de Ecología Comportamiento y Sonidos Naturales (ECOSON) Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSA) Rosario de Lerma Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ahonen H, Harcourt RG, Stow AJ, Charrier I. Geographic vocal variation and perceptual discrimination abilities in male Australian sea lions. Anim Cogn 2018; 21:235-243. [PMID: 29352457 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-017-1158-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Vocal characteristics can vary among and within populations. In species with geographic variation in the structure of vocalizations, individuals may have the ability to discriminate between calls from local and non-local individuals. The ability to distinguish differences in acoustic signals is likely to have a significant influence on the outcome of social interactions between individuals, including potentially mate selection and breeding success. Pinnipeds (seals, fur seals, sea lions and walruses) are highly vocal yet the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is the only eared seal known to show geographic vocal variation in male barks. Barks are produced in many social interactions and encode sufficient information for both individual and colony identity to be discriminable. Yet until now, whether males could themselves discriminate these bark differences was unclear. We performed playback experiments in four breeding colonies to investigate whether males can discriminate local from non-local barks. Overall, males responded more strongly to barks from their own colony compared to barks from other colonies regardless of whether those other colonies were close or distant. Competition for females is high in Australian sea lions, but mating periods are asynchronous across colonies. The ability to correctly assess whether a male is from the same colony, thus representing a potential competitor for mates, or merely a visitor from elsewhere, may influence how males interact with others. Given the high cost of fighting, the ability to discern competitors may influence the nature of male-male interactions and ultimately influence how they allocate reproductive effort.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Ahonen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- CNRS, UMR 9197, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, 91405, Orsay, France.
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Robert G Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam J Stow
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- CNRS, UMR 9197, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, 91405, Orsay, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mumm CAS, Knörnschild M. Territorial choruses of giant otter groups (Pteronura brasiliensis) encode information on group identity. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185733. [PMID: 29023545 PMCID: PMC5638252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Group living animals often engage in corporate territorial defence. Territorial group vocalizations can provide information about group identity, size and composition. Neighbouring groups may use this information to avoid unfavourable direct conflicts. Giant otters are highly social and territorial animals with an elaborate vocal repertoire. They produce long-range screams when they are alert or excited, i.e. in an alarm, isolation or begging context. Long-range screams are not only produced by one individual at a time ('single screams') but also by multiple group members simultaneously, resulting in a highly conspicuous 'group chorus'. Wild giant otters regularly produce group choruses during interactions with predators, when they detect intruders in their territory or before group reunions after separation. Since single screams and especially group choruses probably contribute to the groups' corporate territorial defence, we hypothesized that group identity is encoded in single screams and group choruses. We analysed vocalizations from five wild and three captive giant otter groups and found statistical evidence for a group signature in group choruses. Results for single screams were less conclusive, which might have been caused by the comparatively lower sample size. We suggest that giant otters may gain information on group identity by listening to group choruses. Group identity likely constitutes important social information for giant otters since territory boundaries of neighbouring groups can overlap and direct inter-group conflicts are severe. Therefore, group chorusing may contribute to the mutual avoidance of members from different groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina A. S. Mumm
- Animal Behavior Lab, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirjam Knörnschild
- Animal Behavior Lab, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, Panamáa
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|