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Lima AF, Lima SG, Nogueira-Filho SL, Held S, Paul E, Mendl M, Nogueira SS. Vocal expression of emotions in farmed spotted paca (Cuniculus paca). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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2
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Salmi R, Szczupider M, Carrigan J. A novel attention-getting vocalization in zoo-housed western gorillas. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271871. [PMID: 35947550 PMCID: PMC9365142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As a critical aspect of language, vocal learning is extremely rare in animals, having only been described in a few distantly related species. New evidence, however, extends vocal learning/innovation to the primate order, with zoo-housed chimpanzees and orangutans producing novel vocal signals to attract the attention of familiar human caregivers. If the ability to produce novel vocalizations as a means of navigating evolutionarily novel circumstances spans the Hominidae family, then we can expect to find evidence for it in the family’s third genus, Gorilla. To explore this possibility, we conduct an experiment with eight gorillas from Zoo Atlanta to examine whether they use species-atypical vocalizations to get the attention of humans across three different conditions: just a human, just food, or a human holding food. Additionally, we survey gorilla keepers from other AZA-member zoos to compile a list of common attention-getting signals used by the gorillas in their care. Our experiment results indicated that Zoo Atlanta gorillas vocalized most often during the human-food condition, with the most frequently used vocal signal being a species-atypical sound somewhere between a sneeze and a cough (n = 28). This previously undescribed sound is acoustically different from other calls commonly produced during feeding (i.e., single grunts and food-associated calls). Our survey and analyses of recordings from other zoos confirmed that this novel attention-getting sound is not unique to Zoo Atlanta, although further work should be done to better determine the extent and patterns of transmission and/or potential independent innovation of this sound across captive gorilla populations. These findings represent one of the few pieces of evidence of spontaneous novel vocal production in non-enculturated individuals of this species, supporting the inclusion of great apes as moderate vocal learners and perhaps demonstrating an evolutionary function to a flexible vocal repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Salmi
- Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Monica Szczupider
- Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
- Intergrative Conservation Graduate Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Jodi Carrigan
- Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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3
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Ferreira JD, Dozo MT, de Moura Bubadué J, Kerber L. Morphology and postnatal ontogeny of the cranial endocast and paranasal sinuses of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the largest living rodent. J Morphol 2021; 283:66-90. [PMID: 34775628 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have analyzed and described the endocranial cavities of caviomorph rodents. However, no study has documented the changes in the morphology and relative size of such cavities during ontogeny. Expecting to contribute to the discussion of the endocranial spaces of extinct caviomorphs, we aimed to characterize the cranial endocast morphology and paranasal sinuses of the largest living rodent, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, by focusing on its ontogenetic growth patterns. We analyzed 12 specimens of different ontogenetic stages and provided a comparison with other cavioids. Our study demonstrates that the adult cranial endocast of H. hydrochaeris is characterized by olfactory bulbs with an irregular shape, showing an elongated olfactory tract without a clear circular fissure, a marked temporal region that makes the endocast with rhombus outline, and gyrencephaly. Some of these traits change as the brain grows. The cranial pneumatization is present in the frontal and lacrimal bones. We identified two recesses (frontal and lacrimal) and one sinus (frontal). These pneumatic cavities increase their volume as the cranium grows, covering the cranial region of the cranial endocast. The encephalization quotient was calculated for each specimen, demonstrating that it decreases as the individual grows, being much higher in younger specimens than in adults. Our results show that the ontogenetic stage can be a confounding factor when it comes to the general patterns of encephalization of extinct rodents, reinforcing the need for paleobiologists to take the age of the specimens into account in future studies on this subject to avoid age-related biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- José D Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.,Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Maria Teresa Dozo
- Instituto Patagónico de Geología y Paleontología, CCT CONICET-CENPAT, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
| | - Jamile de Moura Bubadué
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Kerber
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.,Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.,Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Coordenação de Ciências da Terra e Ecologia, Belém, Brazil
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The acoustic behavior of the Brazilian caatinga big rodent is incongruent to its actual position in Hydrochoerinae. Behav Processes 2021; 193:104523. [PMID: 34592346 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104523] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Our knowledge about the acoustic behavior of Caviinae species drove us to investigate Kerodon rupestris's (Caviidae: Hydrochoerinae) repertoire. This species is endemic to Caatinga and states as vulnerable in the Brazilian list of endangered species. We recorded sounds uttered by individuals from Santa Luzia, State of Paraíba, Brazil. We promoted interactions among 13 animals during intra and intersexual pairing sessions, under undisturbed interactions in captivity, and in free-living conditions. We found a repertoire of 13 call types, most of them (all except three) shared with Cavia and only five possibly shared also with Hydrochoerus: (1) Close contact and cohesion: tonal and noisy contact calls, tweet, slow-whistle; (2) Social regulation (incitement, subordination or auto-defense): whine, peepy-squeak, yelp; (3) Offensive aggression and status display: roar, snort, and teeth-chattering (4) Warning or intimidation: alarm-whistle, drrr, and drumming; (5) Courtship: purr and slow-whistle. The similarity of Kerodon signals to Hydrochoerinae species, despite the ecological differences, needs to be understood in comparative phylogenetic studies tracing back the origin of the courtship display in Caviidae. Thus, future research should focus on playback studies to test signals' biological function hypothesis.
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Ruiz-Tagle NM, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Knowles TG, Siqueira da Cunha Nogueira S. Using predator feces as a repellent for free-ranging urban capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Acta Ethol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-021-00377-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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6
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Temperament, Plasticity, and Emotions in Defensive Behaviour of Paca (Mammalia, Hystricognatha). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020293. [PMID: 33498936 PMCID: PMC7911602 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The paca (Cuniculus paca), a Neotropical caviomorph rodent, provides the most sought-after game meat in all its range, and it therefore faces high hunting pressure and consequent poor welfare. The species is categorised as having a conservation status of “least concern” and appears resilient to over-hunting by humans, which may be related to individuals’ behavioural characteristics. To investigate this, we submitted captive pacas to temperament (personality) tests designed to assess individual responses to short challenges and to evaluate individuals’ emotional states. Our results showed that paca with a “restless” temperament performed more abnormal behaviour and less exploratory behaviour in a test of defensive behaviour, which elevations in faecal glucocorticoid metabolites indicated to be stressful. Plasticity in defensive behaviour was inferred from changes in behavioural responses and apparently rapid adaptation to different levels of risk. Our results suggest that individual differences and consistency of behavioural responses displayed by paca toward challenges may reflect a generally flexible and successful defensive behavioural response that underpins the paca’s survival, despite the threat of overhunting throughout its range. Abstract Within a species, some individuals are better able to cope with threatening environments than others. Paca (Cuniculus paca) appear resilient to over-hunting by humans, which may be related to the behavioural plasticity shown by this species. To investigate this, we submitted captive pacas to temperament tests designed to assess individual responses to short challenges and judgement bias tests (JBT) to evaluate individuals’ affective states. Results indicated across-time and context stability in closely correlated “agitated”, “fearful” and “tense” responses; this temperament dimension was labelled “restless”. Individual “restless” scores predicted responses to novelty, although not to simulated chasing and capture by humans in a separate modified defence test battery (MDTB). Restless animals were more likely to show a greater proportion of positive responses to an ambiguous cue during JBT after the MDTB. Plasticity in defensive behaviour was inferred from changes in behavioural responses and apparently rapid adaptation to challenge in the different phases of the MDTB. The results indicate that both temperament and behavioural plasticity may play a role in influencing paca responses to risky situations. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of understanding the role of individual temperament traits and behavioural plasticity in order to better interpret the animals’ conservation status and vulnerabilities.
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Audible calls and their ontogenetic relationship with ultrasonic vocalization in a rodent with a wide vocal range, the fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi). Behav Processes 2020; 180:104241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Bedoya-Pérez MA, Herrera EA, Congdon ER. Potential female mate choice in a male dominated system: the female capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Capybaras, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Rodentia: Caviidae: Hydrochoerinae), show a strict social hierarchy among males, wherein the top-ranking male gains preferential access to females. Despite minimal sexual size dimorphism, males have a prominent scent gland on their snouts that is greatly reduced in the females. Top-ranking males have a larger gland and mark more frequently than subordinate males. This species also shows a moderately complex courtship that seems to be modulated by female behavior. In this study, we evaluated several components of courtship, as well as the females’ interactions with males during and outside courtship, in relation to the hierarchy rank of males. We found that subordinate males engaged in longer courtships than top-ranking males. However, there was no difference in the number of mount attempts or the success rate of these mounts as a function of the social status of the male, despite the longer courtship performed by subordinate males in comparison to top-ranking males. Outside courtship, females directed the same number of social interactions to males regardless of status. However, during courtship, females avoided copulation by subordinate males both directly and indirectly by encouraging courtship disruption by higher-ranking males. Females’ avoidance of subordinates may force these males to invest a higher amount of effort in courtships, thus engaging in longer courtships, yet achieving similar mount success as top-ranking males. We show that the original assumption of male hierarchy as the main mechanism of reproductive distribution is incomplete, and female mate choice plays an important role in determining which males reproduce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Bedoya-Pérez
- Departamento de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apartado, Caracas, Venezuela
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emilio A Herrera
- Departamento de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Apartado, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Elizabeth R Congdon
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
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Charlton BD, Owen MA, Zhou X, Zhang H, Swaisgood RR. Influence of season and social context on male giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) vocal behaviour. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225772. [PMID: 31770420 PMCID: PMC6879133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Documenting the different social and behavioural contexts that vocalisations are produced in remains an important step towards understanding the functional relevance of specific call types in a given species’ vocal repertoire. In this study we investigated whether seasonal differences and the presence or absence of male and female conspecifics influence the production of male giant panda vocal signals. To this end, captive male giant pandas were observed during and outside of the breeding season in three social contexts: only male conspecific neighbours, only female conspecific neighbours, and a context with no neighbours. We found that males were more likely to bleat, chirp, honk and moan during the breeding season, and showed a tendency to growl more outside of the reproductive period. The contextual analysis revealed that bleats were more likely to be produced by males when opposite-sexed conspecifics are in close attendance during the breeding season. Conversely, males were more likely to chirp when neighboured by males than females or no neighbours. In addition, males were more likely to honk in the absence of neighbouring conspecifics during the breeding season, raising the possibility that these calls function to signal location and gain the attention of potential mates. Moans were produced more often when male giant pandas had male than female neighbours during the breeding season, which may reflect mild aggression towards these same-sexed rivals, whereas the production of barks and growls did not vary according to season or the sex of conspecific neighbours. Our findings underscore the importance of male giant panda bleats for coordinating reproduction and promoting contact with potential mating partners in this non-gregarious species, and yield fresh insights into the function of male honks that warrant further investigation. They also provide a basis for comparison with free-ranging giant panda vocal behaviour that could potentially inform conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D. Charlton
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Megan A. Owen
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Xiaoping Zhou
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, China
| | - Hemin Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, China
| | - Ronald R. Swaisgood
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, United States of America
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Gasco A, Ferro HF, Monticelli PF. The communicative life of a social carnivore: acoustic repertoire of the ring-tailed coati ( Nasua nasua). BIOACOUSTICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2018.1477618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aline Gasco
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letter of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Humberto F. Ferro
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia F. Monticelli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letter of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Linn SN, Boeer M, Scheumann M. First insights into the vocal repertoire of infant and juvenile Southern white rhinoceros. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192166. [PMID: 29513670 PMCID: PMC5841651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Describing vocal repertoires represents an essential step towards gaining an overview about the complexity of acoustic communication in a given species. The analysis of infant vocalisations is essential for understanding the development and usage of species-specific vocalisations, but is often underrepresented, especially in species with long inter-birth intervals such as the white rhinoceros. Thus, this study aimed for the first time to characterise the infant and juvenile vocal repertoire of the Southern white rhinoceros and to relate these findings to the adult vocal repertoire. The behaviour of seven mother-reared white rhinoceros calves (two males, five females) and one hand-reared calf (male), ranging from one month to four years, was simultaneously audio and video-taped at three zoos. Normally reared infants and juveniles uttered four discriminable call types (Whine, Snort, Threat, and Pant) that were produced in different behavioural contexts. All call types were also uttered by the hand-reared calf. Call rates of Whines, but not of the other call types, decreased with age. These findings provide the first evidence that infant and juvenile rhinoceros utter specific call types in distinct contexts, even if they grow up with limited social interaction with conspecifics. By comparing our findings with the current literature on vocalisations of adult white rhinoceros and other solitary rhinoceros species, we discuss to which extent differences in the social lifestyle across species affect acoustic communication in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina N. Linn
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, Hannover, Germany
- Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen GmbH, Am Safaripark 1, Hodenhagen, Germany
| | - Michael Boeer
- Osnabrück Zoo, Klaus-Strick-Weg 12, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Marina Scheumann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, Hannover, Germany
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Lima SGC, Sousa-Lima RS, Tokumaru RS, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Nogueira SSC. Vocal complexity and sociality in spotted paca (Cuniculus paca). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190961. [PMID: 29364898 PMCID: PMC5783385 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of sociality is related to many ecological factors that act on animals as selective forces, thus driving the formation of groups. Group size will depend on the payoffs of group living. The Social Complexity Hypothesis for Communication (SCHC) predicts that increases in group size will be related to increases in the complexity of the communication among individuals. This hypothesis, which was confirmed in some mammal societies, may be useful to trace sociality in the spotted paca (Cuniculus paca), a Neotropical caviomorph rodent reported as solitary. There are, however, sightings of groups in the wild, and farmers easily form groups of spotted paca in captivity. Thus, we aimed to describe the acoustic repertoire of captive spotted paca to test the SCHC and to obtain insights about the sociability of this species. Moreover, we aimed to verify the relationship between group size and acoustic repertoire size of caviomorph rodents, to better understand the evolution of sociality in this taxon. We predicted that spotted paca should display a complex acoustic repertoire, given their social behavior in captivity and group sightings in the wild. We also predicted that in caviomorph species the group size would increase with acoustic repertoire, supporting the SCHC. We performed a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) based on acoustic parameters of the vocalizations recorded. In addition, we applied an independent contrasts approach to investigate sociality in spotted paca following the social complexity hypothesis, independent of phylogeny. Our analysis showed that the spotted paca's acoustic repertoire contains seven vocal types and one mechanical signal. The broad acoustic repertoire of the spotted paca might have evolved given the species' ability to live in groups. The relationship between group size and the size of the acoustic repertoires of caviomorph species was confirmed, providing additional support for the SCHC in yet another group of diverse mammals-caviomorph rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella G. C. Lima
- Laboratório de Bioacústica, Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento / Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Renata S. Sousa-Lima
- Laboratório de Bioacústica, Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento / Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Rosana S. Tokumaru
- Departamento de Psicologia Social e do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Sérgio L. G. Nogueira-Filho
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Selene S. C. Nogueira
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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Verzola-Olivio P, Monticelli PF. The acoustic repertoire of Cavia intermedia as a contribution to the understanding of the Caviidae communication system. BIOACOUSTICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2016.1278401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Verzola-Olivio
- Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Ethology and Bioacoustics Lab (EBAC), Department of Psychology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Ferreira Monticelli
- Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Ethology and Bioacoustics Lab (EBAC), Department of Psychology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Instituto de Psicologia, Experimental Psychology Department of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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14
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Sewall KB, Young AM, Wright TF. Social calls provide novel insights into the evolution of vocal learning. Anim Behav 2016; 120:163-172. [PMID: 28163325 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Learned song is among the best-studied models of animal communication. In oscine songbirds, where learned song is most prevalent, it is used primarily for intrasexual selection and mate attraction. Learning of a different class of vocal signals, known as contact calls, is found in a diverse array of species, where they are used to mediate social interactions among individuals. We argue that call learning provides a taxonomically rich system for studying testable hypotheses for the evolutionary origins of vocal learning. We describe and critically evaluate four nonmutually exclusive hypotheses for the origin and current function of vocal learning of calls, which propose that call learning (1) improves auditory detection and recognition, (2) signals local knowledge, (3) signals group membership, or (4) allows for the encoding of more complex social information. We propose approaches to testing these four hypotheses but emphasize that all of them share the idea that social living, not sexual selection, is a central driver of vocal learning. Finally, we identify future areas for research on call learning that could provide new perspectives on the origins and mechanisms of vocal learning in both animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra B Sewall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, U.S.A
| | - Anna M Young
- Department of Biology and Earth Science, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH, U.S.A
| | - Timothy F Wright
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A
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Gustison ML, Townsend SW. A survey of the context and structure of high- and low-amplitude calls in mammals. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Lin HJ, Kanwal JS, Jiang TL, Liu Y, Feng J. Social and vocal behavior in adult greater tube-nosed bats (Murina leucogaster). ZOOLOGY 2015; 118:192-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/31/2014] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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17
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Dos Santos E, Tokumaru RS, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Nogueira SSC. The effects of unrelated offspring whistle calls on capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). BRAZ J BIOL 2015; 74:S171-6. [PMID: 25627382 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.25212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Parent-offspring vocal communication, such as the isolation call, is one of the essential adaptations in mammals that adjust parental responsiveness. Thus, our aim was to test the hypothesis that the function of the capybara infants' whistle is to attract conspecifics. We designed a playback experiment to investigate the reaction of 20 adult capybaras (seven males and 13 females) to pups' whistle calls - recorded from unrelated offspring - or to bird song, as control. The adult capybaras promptly responded to playback of unrelated pup whistles, while ignoring the bird vocalisation. The adult capybaras took, on average, 2.6 ± 2.5 seconds (s) to show a response to the whistles, with no differences between males and females. However, females look longer (17.0 ± 12.9 s) than males (3.0 ± 7.2 s) toward the sound source when playing the pups' whistle playback. The females also tended to approach the playback source, while males showed just a momentary interruption of ongoing behaviour (feeding). Our results suggest that capybara pups' whistles function as the isolation call in this species, but gender influences the intensity of the response.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas - DCB, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - R S Tokumaru
- Departamento de Psicologia Social e do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - UFES, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - S L G Nogueira-Filho
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas - DCB, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - S S C Nogueira
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas - DCB, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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Volodin IA, Zaytseva AS, Ilchenko OG, Volodina EV. Small Mammals Ignore Common Rules: A Comparison of Vocal Repertoires and the Acoustics between Pup and Adult Piebald ShrewsDiplomesodon pulchellum. Ethology 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilya A. Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology; Faculty of Biology; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
- Scientific Research Department; Moscow Zoo; Moscow Russia
| | - Alexandra S. Zaytseva
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology; Faculty of Biology; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
- Scientific Research Department; Moscow Zoo; Moscow Russia
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Almeida AR, Biondi D. Área de uso de Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris L. em ambiente urbano. CIÊNCIA ANIMAL BRASILEIRA 2014. [DOI: 10.1590/1809-6891v15i319663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
As capivaras são bastante comuns nas áreas verdes da capital do Estado do Paraná, que apresentam lagos e rios dentro de seus limites. Este estudo objetivou analisar a área de uso de uma população de capivaras em uma destas áreas, o Parque Municipal Tingui. Para este fim, foram coletados dados dos registros diretos da presença dos animais e de vestígios deixados por eles na área de estudo, além de observações do comportamento social da espécie. As coordenadas geográficas dos pontos onde foram observados os vestígios ou a presença direta dos animais foram plotadas no mapa do Parque Tingui. Os resultados mostraram que as capivaras utilizaram toda extensão do parque, porém, ocorreu uma maior concentração de visualizações, de fezes e de marcação de território na região norte do parque, indicando essa como a área de maior uso pelas capivaras. Quanto ao comportamento, os resultados evidenciaram ocorrências de conflitos entre os animais que podem estar relacionados à competição por território.
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Favaro L, Ozella L, Pessani D. The vocal repertoire of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus): structure and function of calls. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103460. [PMID: 25076136 PMCID: PMC4116197 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is a highly social and vocal seabird. However, currently available descriptions of the vocal repertoire of African Penguin are mostly limited to basic descriptions of calls. Here we provide, for the first time, a detailed description of the vocal behaviour of this species by collecting audio and video recordings from a large captive colony. We combine visual examinations of spectrograms with spectral and temporal acoustic analyses to determine vocal categories. Moreover, we used a principal component analysis, followed by signal classification with a discriminant function analysis, for statistical validation of the vocalisation types. In addition, we identified the behavioural contexts in which calls were uttered. The results show that four basic vocalisations can be found in the vocal repertoire of adult African Penguin, namely a contact call emitted by isolated birds, an agonistic call used in aggressive interactions, an ecstatic display song uttered by single birds, and a mutual display song vocalised by pairs, at their nests. Moreover, we identified two distinct vocalisations interpreted as begging calls by nesting chicks (begging peep) and unweaned juveniles (begging moan). Finally, we discussed the importance of specific acoustic parameters in classifying calls and the possible use of the source-filter theory of vocal production to study penguin vocalisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Favaro
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Ozella
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Daniela Pessani
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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21
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Salmi R, Hammerschmidt K, Doran-Sheehy DM. Individual distinctiveness in call types of wild western female gorillas. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101940. [PMID: 25029238 PMCID: PMC4100815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Individually distinct vocalizations play an important role in animal communication, allowing call recipients to respond differentially based on caller identity. However, which of the many calls in a species' repertoire should have more acoustic variability and be more recognizable is less apparent. One proposed hypothesis is that calls used over long distances should be more distinct because visual cues are not available to identify the caller. An alternative hypothesis proposes that close calls should be more recognizable because of their importance in social interactions. To examine which hypothesis garners more support, the acoustic variation and individual distinctiveness of eight call types of six wild western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) females were investigated. Acoustic recordings of gorilla calls were collected at the Mondika Research Center (Republic of Congo). Acoustic variability was high in all gorilla calls. Similar high inter-individual variation and potential for identity coding (PIC) was found for all call types. Discriminant function analyses confirmed that all call types were individually distinct (although for call types with lowest sample size - hum, grumble and scream - this result cannot be generalized), suggesting that neither the distance at which communication occurs nor the call social function alone can explain the evolution of identity signaling in western gorilla communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Salmi
- Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Kurt Hammerschmidt
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Diane M. Doran-Sheehy
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
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22
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23
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Salmi R, Hammerschmidt K, Doran-Sheehy DM. Western Gorilla Vocal Repertoire and Contextual Use of Vocalizations. Ethology 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Salmi
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences; Stony Brook University; Stony Brook; NY; USA
| | - Kurt Hammerschmidt
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory; German Primate Center; Göttingen; Germany
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Baotic A, Stoeger AS, Li D, Tang C, Charlton BD. The vocal repertoire of infant giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). BIOACOUSTICS 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2013.798744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anton Baotic
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna ,
Vienna, Austria
- Zoo Vienna (Tiergarten Schoenbrunn) ,
Vienna, Austria
| | - Angela S. Stoeger
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna ,
Vienna, Austria
| | - Desheng Li
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda ,
Ya'an, P.R. China
| | - Chunxiang Tang
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda ,
Ya'an, P.R. China
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25
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Monticelli PF, Ades C. The rich acoustic repertoire of a precocious rodent, the wild cavy Cavia aperea. BIOACOUSTICS 2012. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2012.711516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Ferreira Monticelli
- a Depto de Psicologia , Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - César Ades
- b Depto de Psicologia Experimental , Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo , Brazil
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Nogueira SSC, Pedroza JP, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Tokumaru RS. The Function of Click Call Emission in Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Ethology 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Selene S. C. Nogueira
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada; Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Ilhéus; BA; Brazil
| | - Janine P. Pedroza
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada; Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Ilhéus; BA; Brazil
| | | | - Rosana S. Tokumaru
- Departamento de Psicologia Social e do Desenvolvimento; Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Vitória; ES; Brazil
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