Acoustic parameters of courtship and human-directed friendly vocalisations in seven species of Neotropical deer in captivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 1283
Author(s):  
Patricia Black-Décima ◽  
Alejandra M. Hurtado ◽  
J. M. Barbanti Duarte ◽  
Mirta Santana

Context Polygynous deer rut vocalisations have been found to be highly conspicuous, typical of the species and important in sexual selection. Information about vocalisations is not available for Neotropical species (subfamily Odocoileinae). Aims The objective was to record courtship vocalisations from all Neotropical deer available, looking for differences among species useful for taxonomic identification, characterise the vocalisations according to acoustic parameters and to try to determine functions. Methods Four species of brocket deer (red, Mazama americana (n = 9); grey, M. gouazoubira (n = 7); Amazonian brown, M. nemorivaga (n = 3); Brazilian dwarf, M. nana (n = 1)), and one individual each of marsh (Blastocerus dichotomus), white-tailed (Odocoileus virginianus) and taruca (Hippocamellus antisensis) deer were recorded in captivity at two institutions, in conditions of courtship or human interaction. The acoustic analysis was performed with Praat. Data from the first three species of Mazama were analysed statistically with a multilevel model with two layers. Key results In the context of courting either females or humans, male deer produced low-intensity, short-duration (0.1–0.3 s) bleats with fundamental frequencies (F0) between 100 and 400 Hz; calls were similar among species. The duration of these calls for Amazonian brown brocket males was significantly longer than for males of the other two species. Females of two species had longer-duration calls than did males, in friendly interactions with humans. F0 differences among species for both friendly and courtship calls were almost significant for males of M. gouazoubira. Individual differences were highly significant for both duration and mean F0. Mean F0 for courtship calls of adult males was not correlated with body size in six of the seven species, in contrast to the theory of acoustic allometry. Conclusions The production of male courtship bleats is probably a basic feature of Odocoiline deer and is probably important in sexual selection and female choice. The differences from one species to another are not sufficient for taxonomic use but may be incipient isolating mechanisms between grey and Amazonian brown brocket deer. Implications Studies of deer vocalisations have shown their importance in sexual selection and their incredible variety in closely related species and subspecies, but they have dealt mainly with Old World deer. This study fills a gap in our knowledge, as the first on Neotropical deer, which constitute six genera and 17 species and are widely distributed in the Americas. These data are important for future studies on the function and phylogeny of deer vocalisations.

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meeghan E Gray

Infanticide by adult males occurs in a variety of species. While infanticidal attacks have been documented in several equid species in captivity, it has never been witnessed in free-roaming feral horses. I report an infanticide attempt by a free-living feral stallion on a recently born female foal. The stallion picked up the foal by the shoulders, tossed it around twice and bit in on the neck several times. The dam of the foal charged the stallion and successfully protected her foal from additional attacks. The foal survived the attack and later weaned successfully. The stallion recently took over the band and was excluded as the sire through genetic analysis. While this type of attack is rare, this case lends support to the sexual selection hypothesis and further demonstrates that equids have evolved with the risk of infanticide. Furthermore, it shows that maternal protectiveness can be successful against attacks by infanticidal males.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. e0198670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Enrique Navas-Suárez ◽  
Josué Díaz-Delgado ◽  
Eliana Reiko Matushima ◽  
Cintia Maria Fávero ◽  
Angélica Maria Sánchez Sarmiento ◽  
...  

Phonology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Vietti ◽  
Birgit Alber ◽  
Barbara Vogt

In the Southern Bavarian variety of Tyrolean, laryngeal contrasts undergo a typologically interesting process of neutralisation in word-initial position. We undertake an acoustic analysis of Tyrolean stops in word-initial, word-medial intersonorant and word-final contexts, as well as in obstruent clusters, investigating the role of the acoustic parameters VOT, prevoicing, closure duration and F0 and H1–H2* on following vowels in implementing contrast, if any. Results show that stops contrast word-medially via [voice] (supported by the acoustic cues of closure duration and F0), and are neutralised completely in word-final position and in obstruent clusters. Word-initially, neutralisation is subject to inter- and intraspeaker variability, and is sensitive to place of articulation. Aspiration plays no role in implementing laryngeal contrasts in Tyrolean.


2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 234-238
Author(s):  
Mirjana Petrovic-Lazic ◽  
Snezana Babac ◽  
Zoran Ivankovic ◽  
Rade Kosanovic

Introduction. There are subjective and objective ways to examine the effects of vocal therapy in voice disorders. The most precise and objective check-up is the use of computer voice analysis. Objective. The aim of the research was to perform a detailed analysis of acoustic structure of the vowel A before and after voice treatment in patients with vocal fold nodules in order to obtain objective verification of the vocal rehabilitation success. Methods. We examined 30 female patients, aged 34.6?6.69 years, with vocal fold nodules. Acoustic parameters of voice were compared with the control group consisting of 21 subjects without voice pathology. In all persons the vowel A was recorded and analyzed before and after a month of vocal therapy. The success of the vocal therapy was tracked using computer analysis of vocal structure. Signal, noise and tremor parameters were processed. Results. Of the analyzed vowel A parameters: STD, PER, JITA, JITT, RAP, vFO, ShdB, SHIM, APQ, VTI, SPI, F0, NHR, FTRI, eleven improved (p<0.05 and p<0.01). Three parameters (F0, NHR, FTRI) changed showing improvement, but the obtained differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that vocal therapy gave satisfactory results, but that it should be continually applied until full stabilization of the voice.


1995 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
J.L. Gardner ◽  
M. Serena

The Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster is Australia&apos;s largest amphibious rodent, occupying freshwater rivers, lakes, and coastal and estuarine habitats throughout the continent (Watts and Aslin 1981). Little is known of the species&apos; social organisation or use of space in the wild although Harris (1978) suggested that adults might be intrasexually aggressive. The home ranges of all sex and age classes overlap to some extent but home ranges of adults of the same sex appear to overlap less (Harris 1978). Adult males occupy the largest home ranges which overlap those of one or more females. In captivity individuals kept in groups form hierarchies in which only the dominant females usually breed successfully (Olsen 1982). Fighting occurs primarily among males, with the highest incidence of injuries observed at the beginning of the main September-March breeding season (Olsen 1980, 1982). The results of trapping studies indicate that population density may vary considerably, with the greatest numbers of animals typically occupying man-modified habitats such as irrigation channels or fish farms (McNally 1960, Watts and Aslin 1981, Smales 1984). Aggressive behaviour appears to be related to pelage colour (phenotype) and population density; the higher the density the greater the number of injured individuals (Olsen 1980).


2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiza Lara M Santos ◽  
Larissa Oliveira dos Reis ◽  
Iara Bassi ◽  
Clara Guzella ◽  
Francisco Cardoso ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the voice quality of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, at the "on" and "off" moments of the disease. METHOD: Five individuals with Parkinson's disease and five of the control group were assessed. All of them underwent the recording of voice and speech. The acoustic parameters analyzed were: fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, harmonic noise proportion and index of tremor, besides performing the hearing-perceptual analysis by means of GRBASI scale. The findings were analyzed using statistics through t test and the level of significance adopted was p<0.05. RESULTS: There was no difference in the acoustic parameters in the three analyzed groups. In the hearing-perceptual analysis, patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease showed altered voice quality and the ones from the control group, neutral vocal quality. CONCLUSION: Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease present rough, breathy and unstable vocal quality in both stages. In the acoustic analysis, there are no differences in the studied parameters.


1994 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 738-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie H. Walton ◽  
Robert F. Orlikoff

One-second acoustic samples were extracted from the mid-portion of sustained /a/ vowels produced by 50 black and 50 white adult males. Each vowel sample from a black subject was randomly paired with a sample from a white subject. From the tape-recorded samples alone, both expert and naive listeners could determine the race of the speaker with 60% accuracy. The accuracy of race identification was independent of the listener’s own race, sex, or listening experience. An acoustic analysis of the samples revealed that, although within ranges reported by previous studies of normal voices, the black speakers had greater frequency perturbation, significantly greater amplitude perturbation, and a significantly lower harmonics-to-noise ratio than did the white speakers. The listeners were most successful in distinguishing voice pairs when the differences in vocal perturbation and additive noise were greatest and were least successful when such differences were minimal or absent. Because there were no significant differences in the mean fundamental frequency or formant structure of the voice samples, it is likely that the listeners relied on differences in spectral noise to discriminate the black and white speakers.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Vial ◽  
James R. Stewart

The dimorphic expression of body size, body – head size relationships, and chromatic characters among anguid lizards is reviewed. These characteristics are quantitatively examined in a population of Barisia monticola. No sexual differences are found in body size. Head size is positively correlated with body size; however, allometric growth rates in head size are significantly greater in adult males than in females or juveniles. Adult males also differ significantly in eight of nine chromatic characters, the most pronounced being the presence of light dorsal scale markings. These differences are explored in the context of both natural and sexual selection. We hypothesize that the absence of dimorphism in overall body size is the result of natural selection operating to maximize female reproductive potential. In contrast, we predict that dimorphism expressed in body – head size relationships and dichromatism are consequences of sexual selection relating to agonistic and reproductive behavior of males.


Behaviour ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 124 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 207-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Sugiura

AbstractVocal exchanges of coo calls in female Japanese macaques were observed in two populations. Temporal patterns of occurrence of these vocalizations during vocal interaction were studied by analyzing inter-call intervals between two consecutive coos. When the second call was uttered by a different caller from the first (DC sequence), most of the second calls occurred at intervals shorter than approximately 0.8 sec, and the remaining ones at intervals longer than approximately 0.8 sec. These results indicate that the second coos of DC sequence are of two different types, and that second calls separated by short intervals may occur in response to the first call, whereas second calls separated by a relatively longer interval may occur independently of the preceding call. When an animal responds to a coo given by another, she appears to do so within a certain period of time. When two consecutiove calls were uttered by the same caller (SC sequence), the second coos rarely occurred within 0.8 sec, but mostly at longer intervals. These results suggest that when an animal utters a coo spontaneously, it remains silent for a short interval and when no response occurs, she is likely to give further coos addressing groups members. Acoustic analysis of two consecutive coos in DC sequence showed that the second coos given by a different caller and occurring within 0.8 sec significantly correlated with those of first coos with respect to several acoustic parameters. This correlation was not observed when coos occurred at intervals of more than 0.8 sec. This phenomenon was confirmed by a playback experiment. The results suggest the possibility that an animal is able to alter acoustic features of responding coos and matches those of preceding coos.


Author(s):  
Hille Pajupuu ◽  
Rene Altrov ◽  
Jaan Pajupuu

The goal of this study was to determine which acoustic parameters are significant in differentiating the speaking styles of a narrator and that of male and female characters as voiced by a reader of audiobooks. The study was initiated by a need to improve the expressivity and differentiation of speaking styles in fiction books read out by synthesized voices. The corpus used as research material was created from an audio novel, as read by a professional male voice artist. To determine whether it is possible to identify these speaking styles from the voice of the reader, a web-based perception test consisting of 48 sentences was conducted. The results showed that the listeners identified all three styles. For acoustic analysis, the openSMILE toolkit was used and 88 eGeMAPS-defined parameters were extracted for every sentence in the corpus. All styles were differentiated by 38 statistically significant parameters. To improve vividness, synthesizers aimed at reading fiction books could be trained to perform all three styles. Kokkuvõte. Hille Pajupuu, Rene Altrov ja Jaan Pajupuu: Teel audioraamatute sünteeskõne elavdamisele. Uurimuse eesmärk oli teada saada, milli sed olulisemad akustilised parameetrid eristavad audioraamatu lugeja hääles jutustaja kõnet ning mees- ja naistegelaste otsekõnet. Uurimuse tingis vajadus parandada sünteeshäälega loetavate juturaamatute väljendus rikkust ja kõnestiilide eristatavust. Uurimismaterjalina kasutati professionaalse meeshäälega loetud audioromaani „Tõde ja õigus I“ põhjal loodud korpust. Et teada saada, kas audioraamatu lugeja hääle põhjal on kuulaja võimeline eristama eri kõnestiile (jutustaja kõnet, mees- ja naistegelaste otsekõnet), koostati 48 lausest koosnev tajutest. Testi tulemused näitasid, et kuulajad tundsid ära kõik kolm kõnestiili. Akustiliseks analüüsiks kasutati kogu korpuse materjali. openSMILE’i tööriistaga ekstraheeriti kõnest iga lause jaoks 88 eGeMAPSis defineeritud parameetrit. Statistiliselt oluliselt eristasid kõnestiile 38 parameetrit, millest 18 oli seotud hääle kvaliteedi ja tämbriga, 11 hääle valjusega, 8 hääle kõrgusega ja 1 tempoga. Kuna tajutest ja akustiliste parameetrite analüüs näitasid, et audioraamatus eristusid nii jutustaja kõne, naistegelaste otsekõne kui ka meestegelaste otsekõne, võib pidada otstarbekaks õpetada juturaamatuid ettelugevaid süntesaatoreid esitama kõiki kolme kõnestiili. Märksõnad: audioraamatud, kõnestiil, otsekõne, karakteri kõne, GeMAPS, kõneanalüüs, ekspressiivne kõnesüntees


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