Individual variation in nursing vocalizations of Hawaiian monk seal pups, Monachus schauinslandi (Phocidae, Pinnipedia), and lack of maternal recognition

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 975-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damon A. Job ◽  
Daryl J. Boness ◽  
John M. Francis

Vocalizations of individual Hawaiian monk seal pups, Monachus schauinslandi, do not have unique attributes that enable females to recognize their own offspring. Despite low aggregation density during pupping, aggressive encounters are common between females with pups. Fostering is prevalent and may reflect confusion over the identity of pups following aggressive encounters between females. All pup vocalizations were simple in structure and contained true harmonics. The coefficients of variation revealed considerable variance in vocalization structure within pups. Controlling for age, multivariate analyses of variance revealed significant differences among pups in vocalization attributes. Significant developmental changes occurred in vocalization structure for some pups but not for others. Discriminant function analysis suggested that it would be difficult for females to distinguish between the vocalizations of pups. The results of experiments conducted in the field showed that females did not discriminate between filial and alien pups by voice. In addition, females tended not to foster pups that had vocalizations similar to those of their own offspring. Thus, females seem to be unable to recognize their pups by voice. The apparent lack of vocal recognition of pups may contribute to the high frequency of fostering in this species.

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison S. Chiu ◽  
Denise Donlon

The utilization of odontometric variation as a discriminator between modern human groups continues to decline, despite its value in both anthropological and forensic contexts. Traditional odontometric methods, coupled with advanced statistical methods, are applied to illustrate the continuing usefulness of these techniques. The ability to discriminate between the major population groups (Caucasoid and Mongoloid) in the Sydney region of Australia, absed on dental dimensions, is extremely valuable in the forensic identification of individuals. Furthermore, metric variation in the dentition of these contemporary populations is poorly understood in this region of the world. The utility of variation in tooth dimensions in discriminating between these two groups is explored. Dental stone casts of the permanent maxillary and mandibular dentition of 198 individuals were made, and mesiodistal and buccolingual crown diameters were recorded for each tooth. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate differences in linear and areal dimensions, as well as the predictive value of these measures in a forensic contect, using discriminant function analysis (DFA). DFA produced separation of Caucasoids and Mongoloids with a success rate of 93.9% on the basis of these measurements. Separation of the groups was most apparent in the mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of the maxillary first premolar (P1), the mesiodistal diameter of the maxillary second premolar (P2), and the mesiodistal dimension of the mandibular first premolar (P1). The results from this study further highlight the usefulness of dental metrics in forensic applications and contribute to our knowledge of the variation of these features in contemporary human populations.


1980 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 205-209
Author(s):  
L. A. Abbott ◽  
J. B. Mitton

Data taken from the blood of 262 patients diagnosed for malabsorption, elective cholecystectomy, acute cholecystitis, infectious hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, or chronic renal disease were analyzed with three numerical taxonomy (NT) methods : cluster analysis, principal components analysis, and discriminant function analysis. Principal components analysis revealed discrete clusters of patients suffering from chronic renal disease, liver cirrhosis, and infectious hepatitis, which could be displayed by NT clustering as well as by plotting, but other disease groups were poorly defined. Sharper resolution of the same disease groups was attained by discriminant function analysis.


Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Long Kim Pham ◽  
Bang Van Tran ◽  
Quy Tan Le ◽  
Trung Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Christian C. Voigt

This study is the first step towards more systematic monitoring of urban bat fauna in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries by collecting bat echolocation call parameters in Ho Chi Minh and Tra Vinh cities. We captured urban bats and then recorded echolocation calls after releasing in a tent. Additional bat’s echolocation calls from the free-flying bats were recorded at the site where we captured bat. We used the obtained echolocation call parameters for a discriminant function analysis to test the accuracy of classifying these species based on their echolocation call parameters. Data from this pilot work revealed a low level of diversity for the studied bat assemblages. Additionally, the discriminant function analysis successfully classified bats to four bat species with an accuracy of >87.4%. On average, species assignments were correct for all calls from Taphozous melanopogon (100% success rate), for 70% of calls from Pipistrellus javanicus, for 80.8% of calls from Myotis hasseltii and 67.3% of calls from Scotophilus kuhlii. Our study comprises the first quantitative description of echolocation call parameters for urban bats of Vietnam. The success in classifying urban bats based on their echolocation call parameters provides a promising baseline for monitoring the effect of urbanization on bat assemblages in Vietnam and potentially also other Southeast Asian countries.


2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Agha ◽  
Ray E. Ferrell ◽  
George F. Hart

1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 804-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Beaudoin ◽  
R. H. King

The magnetite composition from three sets of samples of Mazama, St. Helens set Y, and Bridge River tephras from Jasper and Banff national parks are used to test whether discriminant function analysis can unambiguously distinguish these tephras. The multivariate method is found to be very sensitive to the change in reference samples. St. Helens set Y tephra is clearly distinguished. However, discrimination between Mazama and Bridge River tephras is less distinct. A set of unknown tephras from the Sunwapta Pass area was used to test the classification schemes. Unknown tephras are assigned to different tephra types depending on which reference tephra set is used in the discriminant function analysis.


1967 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-436
Author(s):  
Rayman W. Bortner

When statements of formal eligibility requirements fail to account for the characteristics of institutional populations, there is a tendency to resort to speculative explanations. This study examined some methods for empirical evaluations of these speculative notions. Univariate and step-down analyses did not aid in conceptualizing informal selection processes in this study; a discriminant function analysis seemed to provide an adequate approach to a synthesis. The method was illustrated by examining definable subsamples in a VA domiciliary which were compared with a non-institutional, community sample; means of the standardization samples for the tests used provided additional reference points for comparison. For these particular subsamples from this institution, alterations in self concept appeared to provide the single unifying theme which best integrated the diverse differences among the groups.


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