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Tan X, Lin A, Sun K, Jin L, Feng J. Greater Horseshoe Bats Recognize the Sex and Individual Identity of Conspecifics from Their Echolocation Calls. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243490. [PMID: 36552410 PMCID: PMC9774574 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The echolocation calls of bats are mainly used for navigation and foraging; however, they may also contain social information about the emitter and facilitate social interactions. In this study, we recorded the echolocation calls of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and analyzed the acoustic parameter differences between the sexes and among individuals. Then, we performed habituation-discrimination playback experiments to test whether greater horseshoe bats could recognize the sex and individual identity of conspecifics from their echolocation calls. The results showed that there were significant differences in the echolocation call parameters between sexes and among individuals. When we switched playback files from a habituated stimuli to a dishabituated stimuli, the tested bats exhibited obvious behavioral responses, including nodding, ear or body movement, and echolocation emission. The results showed that R. ferrumequinum can recognize the sex and individual identity of conspecifics from their echolocation calls alone, which indicates that the echolocation calls of R. ferrumequinum may have potential communication functions. The results of this study improve our understanding of the communication function of the echolocation calls of bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tan
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Aiqing Lin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Longru Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Avian Ecology and Conservation Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (J.F.); Tel./Fax: +86-0431-85098097 (J.F.)
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130000, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (J.F.); Tel./Fax: +86-0431-85098097 (J.F.)
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2
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Perroux TA, McElligott AG, Briefer EF. Goat kid recognition of their mothers' calls is not impacted by changes in fundamental frequency or formants. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. A. Perroux
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
- Behavioral Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - A. G. McElligott
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Animal Health and Welfare Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - E. F. Briefer
- Behavioral Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
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3
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Montalva F, Pavés H, Pérez-Venegas D, Barrientos E KG, Valencia C, Miranda-Urbina D, Seguel M. Lower marine productivity increases agonistic interactions between sea lions and fur seals in Northern Pacific Patagonia. Curr Zool 2022; 68:657-666. [PMID: 36864890 PMCID: PMC9972520 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interspecific interactions are key drivers of individual and population-level fitness in a wide range of animals. However, in marine ecosystems, it is relatively unknown which biotic and abiotic factors impact behavioral interactions between competing species. We assessed the impact of weather, marine productivity, and population structure on the behavioral agonistic interactions between South American fur seals (SAFSs), Arctocephalus australis, and South American sea lions (SASLs), Otaria byronia, in a breeding colony of SAFS. We hypothesized that agonistic interactions between SAFSs and SASLs respond to biotic and abiotic factors such as SAFS population structure, marine productivity, and weather. We found that SASL and SAFS interactions almost always resulted in negative impacts on the social structure or reproductive success of the SAFS colony. SASL adult males initiated stampedes of SAFS and/or abducted and predated SAFS pups. Adult SAFS males abundance and severe weather events were negatively correlated with agonistic interactions between species. However, proxies for lower marine productivity such as higher sea surface temperature and lower catches of demerso-pelagic fish were the most important predictors of more frequent agonistic interactions between SAFS and SASL. Under the current scenario of decline in marine biomass due to global climate change and overfishing, agonistic interactions between competing marine predators could increase and exacerbate the negative impacts of environmental change in these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Montalva
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Hector Pavés
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Osorno, Chile
| | - Diego Pérez-Venegas
- Centro de Investigación y Gestión de Recursos Naturales (CIGREN), Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Karin G Barrientos E
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Agrarias, Escuela de Graduados de la, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Alimentarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carola Valencia
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Sede Patagonia, Universidad San Sebastian, Puerto Montt, Chile
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4
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Cornec C, Hingrat Y, Planas-Bielsa V, Abi Hussein H, Rybak F. Individuality in houbara chick calls and its dynamics throughout ontogeny. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2022. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In many taxa, breeding success depends heavily on reliable vocal recognition between parents and offspring. Although the acoustic basis of this recognition has been explored in several species, few studies have examined the evolution of acoustic cues to identity across development. Here, in a captive breeding program, we investigated for the first time the acoustic signals produced by North African houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata undulata chicks. Two call types (contact and distress) were recorded from 15 chicks in 4 age classes. Acoustic analyses showed that the acoustic parameters of the calls varied systematically with age in both contact and distress calls. However, both call types remained highly stereotyped and individualized between chicks at every tested age, indicating that calls encode reliable information about individual identity throughout development, thus potentially enabling the mother to distinguish her own chicks through their development up to fledging. Playback experiments are now needed to verify such parent-chick recognition in houbara bustards and its efficiency across chick ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cornec
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS (UMR 9197), 91400 Saclay, France
- Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation, PO Box 47, 33250 Missour, Morocco
| | - Y Hingrat
- Reneco International Wildlife Consultants LLC, PO Box 61741, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - V Planas-Bielsa
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Département de Biologie Polaire, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - H Abi Hussein
- Reneco International Wildlife Consultants LLC, PO Box 61741, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - F Rybak
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS (UMR 9197), 91400 Saclay, France
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5
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Hudson R, Szenczi P, Bánszegi O. Parental Behavior in Carnivores. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 27:55-78. [PMID: 36169812 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97762-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian order Carnivora is generally defined as species that feed exclusively or to some degree by eating other animals. The Carnivora comprise around 280 species, divided into 16 families, 13 of which are terrestrial and 3 aquatic. Carnivores are spread across the entire planet, including the two polar regions and on land and sea. Consistent with such diverse ecologies, there is no typical pattern of parental care distinguishing carnivores from other mammals. Using examples from different taxonomic families, our aim is to illustrate the diversity of parental care in Carnivora. Major topics include parental care before and after birth of the young, paternal, and alloparental care and the process of weaning. Given the position of many carnivores at the apex of food chains, a greater understanding of their patterns of parental care as a vital part of reproductive biology is essential to conservation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Péter Szenczi
- CONACyT - Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Oxána Bánszegi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
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6
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Linossier J, Casey C, Charrier I, Mathevon N, Reichmuth C. Maternal responses to pup calls in a high-cost lactation species. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210469. [PMID: 34932922 PMCID: PMC8692032 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bonding between mothers and their young is fundamental to mammalian reproductive behaviour and individual fitness. In social systems where the risk of confusing filial and non-filial offspring is high, mothers should demonstrate early, strong and consistent responses to their kin throughout the period of offspring dependence, irrespective of maternal traits. We tested this hypothesis through playback experiments in the northern elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris, a phocid species that breeds in high-density colonies. We found that mothers recognized their offspring throughout lactation and as early as 1-2 days after parturition. Measures of experience (age) and temperament (aggressivity) did not predict their response strength to filial playback treatments, nor did pup age or sex. Some mothers showed great consistency in behavioural responses throughout the lactation period, while others were less predictable. The strength of a female's response did not influence her pup's weaning weight; however, more consistent females weaned pups of higher mass. This is a rare demonstration of individual recognition among phocid mothers and their offspring, and suggests that consistency in maternal responsiveness may be an important social factor influencing the pup's growth and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Linossier
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Biophonia, Sualello 20232, Oletta, France
| | - Caroline Casey
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, UMR 9197, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay 91405, France
| | - Nicolas Mathevon
- Equipe Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle ENES / CRNL, University of Lyon / Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, 42100 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Colleen Reichmuth
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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7
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Roemer C, Julien J, Bas Y. An automatic classifier of bat sonotypes around the world. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Roemer
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université) Paris France
- CEFEUniversité de MontpellierCNRSEPHEIRDUniversité Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Jean‐François Julien
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université) Paris France
| | - Yves Bas
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université) Paris France
- CEFEUniversité de MontpellierCNRSEPHEIRDUniversité Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
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8
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Varola M, Verga L, Sroka MGU, Villanueva S, Charrier I, Ravignani A. Can harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina) discriminate familiar conspecific calls after long periods of separation? PeerJ 2021; 9:e12431. [PMID: 34820184 PMCID: PMC8601051 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar calls may play a key role in pinnipeds' communication and survival, as in the case of mother-pup interactions. Vocal discrimination abilities have been suggested to be more developed in pinniped species with the highest selective pressure such as the otariids; yet, in some group-living phocids, such as harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), mothers are also able to recognize their pup's voice. Conspecifics' vocal recognition in pups has never been investigated; however, the repeated interaction occurring between pups within the breeding season suggests that long-term vocal discrimination may occur. Here we explored this hypothesis by presenting three rehabilitated seal pups with playbacks of vocalizations from unfamiliar or familiar pups. It is uncommon for seals to come into rehabilitation for a second time in their lifespan, and this study took advantage of these rare cases. A simple visual inspection of the data plots seemed to show more reactions, and of longer duration, in response to familiar as compared to unfamiliar playbacks in two out of three pups. However, statistical analyses revealed no significant difference between the experimental conditions. We also found no significant asymmetry in orientation (left vs. right) towards familiar and unfamiliar sounds. While statistics do not support the hypothesis of an established ability to discriminate familiar vocalizations from unfamiliar ones in harbor seal pups, further investigations with a larger sample size are needed to confirm or refute this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mila Varola
- Comparative Bioacoustics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
| | - Laura Verga
- Comparative Bioacoustics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marlene Gunda Ursel Sroka
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stella Villanueva
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Paris Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Andrea Ravignani
- Comparative Bioacoustics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
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9
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Allo-suckling occurrence and its effect on lactation and nursing duration in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Orkney, Scotland. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03051-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractFostering and allo-suckling are widespread among pinnipeds, and several hypotheses have been formulated to explain their occurrence. Here, we describe the occurrence of allo-suckling in harbour seals from photo-identification data of females and pups in Orkney (Scotland) during the pupping seasons between 2016 and 2019. We used a generalised linear model framework to investigate the effect of allo-suckling on the duration of lactation (females) and of nursing period (pups). A generalised additive model framework was used to explore how the probability of allo-suckling varied throughout the pupping season, and with changes in mother-pup separation time. Allo-suckling was observed in 31 females, at higher rates (18–37% of lactating females and 18–47% of the pups every year) than those observed in other phocid populations, with 13 females allo-suckling in multiple years. The duration of the pups’ nursing period was not affected by allo-suckling occurrence. However, females in mother-pup pairs where both mother and pup allo-suckled had longer lactation duration than when only the pup allo-suckled, or than in pairs where no allo-suckling was observed. The probability of allo-suckling increased during the pupping season and with increased mother-pup separation time. However, the proximate causes and the consequences on future reproductive output and pup survival remain unknown.Significance statementAllo-suckling, where females nurse others’ young, is widespread in pinnipeds, particularly among true seals. Given the high costs of lactation in pinnipeds, allo-suckling is a puzzling behaviour. Using photo-identification and field observations, we examined the occurrence of allo-suckling in harbour seals at a colony in Orkney, Scotland. We found that allo-suckling is common among seals at the study site, and at rates higher than reported elsewhere. Our results show that allo-suckling does not appear to affect the duration of the pups’ nursing period but does increase the lactation duration of females who suckle other pups and whose own pups also allo-suckle. This study highlights an area which requires further investigation as the energetic costs and benefits of allo-suckling remain poorly understood.
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10
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Jung DH, Kim NY, Moon SH, Jhin C, Kim HJ, Yang JS, Kim HS, Lee TS, Lee JY, Park SH. Deep Learning-Based Cattle Vocal Classification Model and Real-Time Livestock Monitoring System with Noise Filtering. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020357. [PMID: 33535390 PMCID: PMC7911430 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The priority placed on animal welfare in the meat industry is increasing the importance of understanding livestock behavior. In this study, we developed a web-based monitoring and recording system based on artificial intelligence analysis for the classification of cattle sounds. The deep learning classification model of the system is a convolutional neural network (CNN) model that takes voice information converted to Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) as input. The CNN model first achieved an accuracy of 91.38% in recognizing cattle sounds. Further, short-time Fourier transform-based noise filtering was applied to remove background noise, improving the classification model accuracy to 94.18%. Categorized cattle voices were then classified into four classes, and a total of 897 classification records were acquired for the classification model development. A final accuracy of 81.96% was obtained for the model. Our proposed web-based platform that provides information obtained from a total of 12 sound sensors provides cattle vocalization monitoring in real time, enabling farm owners to determine the status of their cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae-Hyun Jung
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
| | - Na Yeon Kim
- Department of Bio-Convergence Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (N.Y.K.); (S.H.M.)
- Asia Pacific Ruminant Institute, Icheon 17385, Korea
| | - Sang Ho Moon
- Department of Bio-Convergence Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (N.Y.K.); (S.H.M.)
| | - Changho Jhin
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
- Department of Smartfarm Research, 1778 Living Tech, Sejong 30033, Korea
| | - Hak-Jin Kim
- Department of Biosystems and Biomaterial Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
| | - Jung-Seok Yang
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
| | - Hyoung Seok Kim
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
| | - Taek Sung Lee
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
| | - Ju Young Lee
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
| | - Soo Hyun Park
- Smart Farm Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung 25451, Korea; (D.-H.J.); (C.J.); (J.-S.Y.); (H.S.K.); (T.S.L.); (J.Y.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-33-650-3661
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11
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Charrier I. Mother–Offspring Vocal Recognition and Social System in Pinnipeds. CODING STRATEGIES IN VERTEBRATE ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-39200-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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12
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Ravignani A, de Reus K. Modelling Animal Interactive Rhythms in Communication. Evol Bioinform Online 2019; 15:1176934318823558. [PMID: 30733626 PMCID: PMC6343447 DOI: 10.1177/1176934318823558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Time is one crucial dimension conveying information in animal communication. Evolution has shaped animals' nervous systems to produce signals with temporal properties fitting their socio-ecological niches. Many quantitative models of mechanisms underlying rhythmic behaviour exist, spanning insects, crustaceans, birds, amphibians, and mammals. However, these computational and mathematical models are often presented in isolation. Here, we provide an overview of the main mathematical models employed in the study of animal rhythmic communication among conspecifics. After presenting basic definitions and mathematical formalisms, we discuss each individual model. These computational models are then compared using simulated data to uncover similarities and key differences in the underlying mechanisms found across species. Our review of the empirical literature is admittedly limited. We stress the need of using comparative computer simulations - both before and after animal experiments - to better understand animal timing in interaction. We hope this article will serve as a potential first step towards a common computational framework to describe temporal interactions in animals, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ravignani
- Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Koen de Reus
- Department Life Sciences, Erasmus University College, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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13
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Ravignani A, Kello CT, de Reus K, Kotz SA, Dalla Bella S, Méndez-Aróstegui M, Rapado-Tamarit B, Rubio-Garcia A, de Boer B. Ontogeny of vocal rhythms in harbor seal pups: an exploratory study. Curr Zool 2018; 65:107-120. [PMID: 30697246 PMCID: PMC6347067 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Puppyhood is a very active social and vocal period in a harbor seal’s life Phoca vitulina. An important feature of vocalizations is their temporal and rhythmic structure, and understanding vocal timing and rhythms in harbor seals is critical to a cross-species hypothesis in evolutionary neuroscience that links vocal learning, rhythm perception, and synchronization. This study utilized analytical techniques that may best capture rhythmic structure in pup vocalizations with the goal of examining whether (1) harbor seal pups show rhythmic structure in their calls and (2) rhythms evolve over time. Calls of 3 wild-born seal pups were recorded daily over the course of 1–3 weeks; 3 temporal features were analyzed using 3 complementary techniques. We identified temporal and rhythmic structure in pup calls across different time windows. The calls of harbor seal pups exhibit some degree of temporal and rhythmic organization, which evolves over puppyhood and resembles that of other species’ interactive communication. We suggest next steps for investigating call structure in harbor seal pups and propose comparative hypotheses to test in other pinniped species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ravignani
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, The Netherlands.,Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christopher T Kello
- Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Koen de Reus
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, The Netherlands
| | - Sonja A Kotz
- Basic and Applied NeuroDynamics Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Neuropsychology, Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Simone Dalla Bella
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Cognitive Psychology, WSFiZ in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Ana Rubio-Garcia
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart de Boer
- Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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14
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Ravignani A. Spontaneous rhythms in a harbor seal pup calls. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:3. [PMID: 29298731 PMCID: PMC5751680 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-3107-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Timing and rhythm (i.e. temporal structure) are crucial, though historically neglected, dimensions of animal communication. When investigating these in non-human animals, it is often difficult to balance experimental control and ecological validity. Here I present the first step of an attempt to balance the two, focusing on the timing of vocal rhythms in a harbor seal pup (Phoca vitulina). Collection of this data had a clear aim: To find spontaneous vocal rhythms in this individual in order to design individually-adapted and ecologically-relevant stimuli for a later playback experiment. Data description The calls of one seal pup were recorded. The audio recordings were annotated using Praat, a free software to analyze vocalizations in humans and other animals. The annotated onsets and offsets of vocalizations were then imported in a Python script. The script extracted three types of timing information: the duration of calls, the intervals between calls’ onsets, and the intervals between calls’ maximum-intensity peaks. Based on the annotated data, available to download, I provide simple descriptive statistics for these temporal measures, and compare their distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ravignani
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG, Pieterburen, The Netherlands. .,Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Language and Cognition Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, 6525 XD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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15
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Ravignani A. Comment on "Temporal and spatial variation in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina L.) roar calls from southern Scandinavia" [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 141, 1824-1834 (2017)]. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 143:504. [PMID: 29390742 DOI: 10.1121/1.5021770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In their recent article, Sabinsky and colleagues investigated heterogeneity in harbor seals' vocalizations. The authors found seasonal and geographical variation in acoustic parameters, warning readers that recording conditions might account for some of their results. This paper expands on the temporal aspect of the encountered heterogeneity in harbor seals' vocalizations. Temporal information is the least susceptible to variable recording conditions. Hence geographical and seasonal variability in roar timing constitutes the most robust finding in the target article. In pinnipeds, evidence of timing and rhythm in the millisecond range-as opposed to circadian and seasonal rhythms-has theoretical and interdisciplinary relevance. In fact, the study of rhythm and timing in harbor seals is particularly decisive to support or confute a cross-species hypothesis, causally linking the evolution of vocal production learning and rhythm. The results by Sabinsky and colleagues can shed light on current scientific questions beyond pinniped bioacoustics, and help formulate empirically testable predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ravignani
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG Pieterburen, The Netherlands
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16
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Ravignani A, Gross S, Garcia M, Rubio-Garcia A, de Boer B. How small could a pup sound? The physical bases of signaling body size in harbor seals. Curr Zool 2017; 63:457-465. [PMID: 29492005 PMCID: PMC5804196 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocal communication is a crucial aspect of animal behavior. The mechanism which most mammals use to vocalize relies on three anatomical components. First, air overpressure is generated inside the lower vocal tract. Second, as the airstream goes through the glottis, sound is produced via vocal fold vibration. Third, this sound is further filtered by the geometry and length of the upper vocal tract. Evidence from mammalian anatomy and bioacoustics suggests that some of these three components may covary with an animal's body size. The framework provided by acoustic allometry suggests that, because vocal tract length (VTL) is more strongly constrained by the growth of the body than vocal fold length (VFL), VTL generates more reliable acoustic cues to an animal's size. This hypothesis is often tested acoustically but rarely anatomically, especially in pinnipeds. Here, we test the anatomical bases of the acoustic allometry hypothesis in harbor seal pups Phoca vitulina. We dissected and measured vocal tract, vocal folds, and other anatomical features of 15 harbor seals post-mortem. We found that, while VTL correlates with body size, VFL does not. This suggests that, while body growth puts anatomical constraints on how vocalizations are filtered by harbor seals' vocal tract, no such constraints appear to exist on vocal folds, at least during puppyhood. It is particularly interesting to find anatomical constraints on harbor seals' vocal tracts, the same anatomical region partially enabling pups to produce individually distinctive vocalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ravignani
- Veterinary & Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, Pieterburen, AG 9968, The Netherlands
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Language and Cognition Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan 1, Nijmegen, XD 6525, The Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Gross
- Veterinary & Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, Pieterburen, AG 9968, The Netherlands
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, Buesum 25761, Germany
| | - Maxime Garcia
- ENES Lab/Neuro-PSI, CNRS UMR9197, University of Lyon/Saint Etienne, 23 rue Paul Michelon, 42023 Saint-Etienne cedex 2, France
| | - Ana Rubio-Garcia
- Veterinary & Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, Pieterburen, AG 9968, The Netherlands
| | - Bart de Boer
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
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17
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Ravignani A, Fitch WT, Hanke FD, Heinrich T, Hurgitsch B, Kotz SA, Scharff C, Stoeger AS, de Boer B. What Pinnipeds Have to Say about Human Speech, Music, and the Evolution of Rhythm. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:274. [PMID: 27378843 PMCID: PMC4913109 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on the evolution of human speech and music benefits from hypotheses and data generated in a number of disciplines. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the high relevance of pinniped research for the study of speech, musical rhythm, and their origins, bridging and complementing current research on primates and birds. We briefly discuss speech, vocal learning, and rhythm from an evolutionary and comparative perspective. We review the current state of the art on pinniped communication and behavior relevant to the evolution of human speech and music, showing interesting parallels to hypotheses on rhythmic behavior in early hominids. We suggest future research directions in terms of species to test and empirical data needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ravignani
- Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrussels, Belgium; Sensory and Cognitive Ecology, Institute for Biosciences, University of RostockRostock, Germany
| | - W Tecumseh Fitch
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| | - Frederike D Hanke
- Sensory and Cognitive Ecology, Institute for Biosciences, University of Rostock Rostock, Germany
| | - Tamara Heinrich
- Sensory and Cognitive Ecology, Institute for Biosciences, University of Rostock Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Sonja A Kotz
- Basic and Applied NeuroDynamics Lab, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht UniversityMaastricht, Netherlands; Department of Neuropsychology, Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany
| | - Constance Scharff
- Department of Animal Behavior, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Angela S Stoeger
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| | - Bart de Boer
- Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels, Belgium
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18
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Szenczi P, Bánszegi O, Urrutia A, Faragó T, Hudson R. Mother-offspring recognition in the domestic cat: Kittens recognize their own mother's call. Dev Psychobiol 2016; 58:568-77. [PMID: 26935009 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Acoustic communication can play an important part in mother-young recognition in many mammals. This, however, has still only been investigated in a small range mainly of herd- or colony-living species. Here we report on the behavioral response of kittens of the domestic cat, a typically solitary carnivore, to playbacks of "greeting chirps" and "meows" from their own versus alien mothers. We found significantly stronger responses to the chirps from kittens' own mother than to her meows or to the chirps or meows of alien mothers. Acoustic analysis revealed greater variation between vocalizations from different mothers than for vocalizations from the same mother. We conclude that chirps emitted by mother cats at the nest represent a specific form of vocal communication with their young, and that kittens learn and respond positively to these and distinguish them from chirps of other mothers and from other cat vocalizations while still in the nest. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 568-577, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Szenczi
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
| | - Oxána Bánszegi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Andrea Urrutia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Tamás Faragó
- MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico
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