A small vocal repertoire during the breeding season expresses complex behavioral motivations and individual signature in the common coot

BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Changjian Fu ◽  
Atul Kathait ◽  
Guangyi Lu ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Temporal Parameters ◽  
Fulica Atra ◽  
Individual Signature ◽  
Behavioral Activities ◽  
Types Of Information

Abstract Background Although acoustic communication plays an essential role in the social interactions of Rallidae, our knowledge of how Rallidae encode diverse types of information using simple vocalizations is limited. We recorded and examined the vocalizations of a common coot (Fulica atra) population during the breeding season to test the hypotheses that 1) different call types can be emitted under different behavioral contexts, and 2) variation in the vocal structure of a single call type may be influenced both by behavioral motivations and individual signature. We measured a total of 61 recordings of 30 adults while noting the behavioral activities in which individuals were engaged. We compared several acoustic parameters of the same call type emitted under different behavioral activities to determine how frequency and temporal parameters changed depending on behavioral motivations and individual differences. Results We found that adult common coots had a small vocal repertoire, including 4 types of call, composed of a single syllable that was used during 9 types of behaviors. The 4 calls significantly differed in both frequency and temporal parameters and can be clearly distinguished by discriminant function analysis. Minimum frequency of fundamental frequency (F0min) and duration of syllable (T) contributed the most to acoustic divergence between calls. Call a was the most commonly used (in 8 of the 9 behaviors detected), and maximum frequency of fundamental frequency (F0max) and interval of syllables (TI) contributed the most to variation in call a. Duration of syllable (T) in a single call a can vary with different behavioral motivations after individual vocal signature being controlled. Conclusions These results demonstrate that several call types of a small repertoire, and a single call with function-related changes in the temporal parameter in common coots could potentially indicate various behavioral motivations and individual signature. This study advances our knowledge of how Rallidae use “simple” vocal systems to express diverse motivations and provides new models for future studies on the role of vocalization in avian communication and behavior.

scholarly journals Characterising the vocal repertoire of the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sougata Sadhukhan ◽  
Lauren Hennelly ◽  
Bilal Habib
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
Frequency Variation ◽  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
Silhouette Width ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Free Ranging

Vocal communication in social animals plays a crucial role in mate choice, maintaining social structure, and foraging strategy. The Indian grey wolf, among the less studied subspecies, is a social carnivore that lives in groups called packs and has many types of vocal communication. In this study, we characterise harmonic vocalisation types in the Indian wolf using howl survey responses and opportunistic recordings from captive and nine packs (each pack contains 2-9 individuals) of free-ranging Indian wolves. Using principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering, and discriminant function analysis, we found four vocal types using 270 recorded vocalisations (Average Silhouette width Si = 0.598) which include howls and howl-bark (N=238), whimper (N=2), social squeak (N=28), and whine (N=2). Although having a smaller body size, Indian wolf howls have an average mean fundamental frequency of 0.422KHz (±0.126), which is similar to other Holarctic clade subspecies. The whimper showed the highest frequency modulation (37.296±4.601 KHz) and the highest mean fundamental frequency (1.708±0.524 KHz) compared to other call types. Less information is available on the third vocalisation type, i.e. ‘Social squeak’ or ‘talking’ (Mean fundamental frequency =0.461±0.083 KHz), which is highly variable (coefficient of frequency variation = 18.778±3.587 KHz). Our study’s characterisation of the Indian wolf’s harmonic vocal repertoire provides a first step in understanding the function and contextual use of vocalisations in this social mammal.

New underwater and aerial vocalizations of captive harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus)

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
Maximum Frequency ◽  
Pagophilus Groenlandicus ◽  
Vocal Activity ◽  
The Mean

Pinnipeds are ecologically and socially diverse, attributes that are reflected in their systems of communication. The purpose of this investigation was to document the vocal repertoire and annual cycle of vocal activity in the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), a species that communicates mainly under water, but whose social and communicative systems outside the breeding season are poorly known. The repertoire comprised 18 vocal classes, or call types; 7 that had not been described previously are described here. Vocal activity varied seasonally and with time of day. Calls of low frequency and with few pulse repetitions were predominantly used outside the breeding season, and calls of high frequency and with a high number of pulse repetitions predominated in the breeding season. The new vocalizations described here differed in several ways from those described previously. First, calls were relatively brief, with an average duration of 1.75 s (except call types 22 and 23, which averaged >2 s in duration). Second, some calls differed in mean fundamental frequency, the average being 677 Hz. Call types 22 and 23 differed the most, with an average of 838 Hz. The vocal repertoire described previously comprise calls with a fundamental frequency of approximately 400–500 Hz. Third, call types 22 and 25 differed from the rest of the vocalizations. The mean maximum frequency of call types 22 and 25 was 3.4 kHz, while the mean maximum frequency of the other call types is around 7.7 kHz.

Seasonal differences in habitat use and fat reserves in an arctic muskrat population

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis E. Jelinski
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Discriminant Function ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Food Habit ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Resource Defense ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Access To Food

Differences in summer and winter habitat use by muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) were studied in the Mackenzie River Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada. Quantitative data consisting of 11 habitat variables were obtained from 73 winter and 119 summer burrow sites. The single discriminant function derived from a discriminant function analysis of summer and winter burrow sites was strongly correlated with variables interpreted as describing food, cover, and overwinter survival of muskrats. During summer, muskrat burrows were closer to shallow water, on gentler slopes with greater cover, and occurred closer to stands of horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) than in winter. Food habit analyses revealed that high-protein E. fluviatile was the most frequently consumed species in summer. Muskrats of both sexes were found to enter the breeding season in extremely good condition when judged on the basis of body fat; the costs of breeding, lactation, and resource defense are hypothesized to account for the low-fat condition noted at the onset of winter. Prior to winter, muskrats relocated to deep-water sites, possibly to maintain access to food and (or) forage on the energy-rich roots and rhizomes of submerged macrophytes. The change in habitat use, coupled with physiological adaptations to cold, is suggested to account for the winter recovery in fat reserves. These same reserves can be mobilized in spring at the onset of the metabolically demanding breeding season.

scholarly journals Simple Sentence Information Structure in Teleut: Problem Statement

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 268-277
Author(s):  
D. M. Tokmashev
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Semantic Field ◽  
Simple Sentence ◽  
Problem Statement ◽  
The Core ◽  
Information Packaging ◽  
Turkic Languages ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Involved Field

The present research featured the main approaches to the study of the information structure of a simple sentence, as well as their application to the Turkic languages. The paper focuses on the case of the Teleut language. The research objective was to identify and characterize various types of information structure of a simple sentence in their relationship with formalgrammatical and prosodic characteristics. The study involved field, comparative-historical, and descriptive methods, structural and component analysis, methods of modeling semantics and visualization of spectrograms. The information structure of a simple sentence can be modeled as the corresponding functional-semantic field. In Teleut, it is represented mostly by syntagm order and intonation, which make the core of information structure management. The peripheral means are represented by lexemes, particles, and affixes. Syntactically, information structure is expressed by the phrase order. Narrative sentences are characterized by the decrease of the fundamental frequency of the phrase that makes up the focal part. Pragmatically neutral narrative sentences that do not have presuppositions are characterized by a progressive arrangement of topical and focal elements with a predicate in the terminal right position. Since topics and foci are shifter categories, syntax inversions with preservation of the progressive information packaging "topic > focus" are possible, as well as inversion of its components "focus < topic" while retaining the phrase order. The inversion of both linear (syntagms) and non-linear (topics and foci) elements of the sentence is due to various presuppositions. The lexical and grammatical means of information packaging management are on the periphery of the functional-semantic field. Their potential to control the information structure is combined with their other functions, namely the expression of aspectual, modal, evidential, definiteness, and other characteristics. Most Turkic languages share the means of information packaging management.

Vocal repertoire of the Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) during the breeding season

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 920-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Rautio ◽  
Marja Niemi ◽  
Mervi Kunnasranta ◽  
Ismo J. Holopainen ◽  
Heikki Hyvärinen
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Ringed Seal ◽  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
Phoca Hispida

Vocal repertoire and calling activity of the mink frog, Rana septentrionalis

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Larson ◽  
Kelly Reilly ◽  
Catherine Bevier ◽  
Stephanie Tat
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Calling Behavior ◽  
Vocal Repertoire ◽  
Call Rate ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Temporal Properties ◽  
Calling Activity

AbstractWe studied the calling behavior of male mink frogs, Rana septentrionalis, and how their calling activity varied through nightly calling periods. We observed focal males during their summer breeding season for 1 h periods during chorus activity, which extends from midnight until 0900h, and recorded call types and rates. During this period, male R. septentrionalis produced a repertoire of single and multi-note calls composed of one or two note types, referred to as cuk and rumble notes. Calls that included series of both note types were most frequent between 0100 and 0330h, while single cuks were primarily produced early and late in the chorus period. Call rate peaked between 0200h and 0300h, declined until dawn, then increased until 0900h. Call properties were analyzed from recordings of male vocalizations; temporal properties, such as call and note duration, were the most variable, both within and among males, whereas spectral properties, such as dominant frequency, varied the least. In general, males produced the most complex and variable calls during a peak period of calling activity.

Proportional underwater call type usage by Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in breeding and nonbreeding situations

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elyse E. Doiron ◽  
Philippe A. Rouget ◽  
John M. Terhune
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Leptonychotes Weddellii ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Weddell Seals ◽  
Breeding Behaviour ◽  
Dark Conditions

Proportional underwater call type usage by Weddell seals ( Leptonychotes weddellii (Lesson, 1826)) near Mawson, Antarctica, investigated the hypothesis that certain call types function specifically in breeding behaviour. Recordings were collected at various sites in 2000 and 2002 from June to December. Twenty-four hour recordings were collected in 2002 at two sites. One hundred consecutive calls from each of 248 recordings were classified into one of ten common call types. Time to 100 calls provided the calling rate. The study period was divided into four periods representing initial sea-ice formation, pre-pupping, pupping, and mating. Calling rate and light–dark differences were also examined. No presence–absence differences were observed for any of the call types with season. The largest difference between nonbreeding and breeding situations was an increase from 32.2% to 38.1% for descending whistles (F[3,244] = 4.483, p = 0.004). Trills gradually increased from 1.8% to 7.3% toward the mating period (F[3,244] = 30.932, p < 0.001). The proportion of trills, chugs, descending whistles, and other call types also varied with calling rate and light–dark conditions. Some pre-reproductive behaviours may occur in winter, but no call types of Weddell seals function solely in the breeding season.

Within-call repetition may be an anti-masking strategy in underwater calls of harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus)

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 1410-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Serrano ◽  
John M Terhune
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Pagophilus Groenlandicus ◽  
Significant Difference

Underwater vocalizations of harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) were recorded in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, during the breeding season in March of 1999 and 2000. At high calling rates (>95 calls/min) the background noise levels increase and individual calls may be masked. The purpose of the study was to determine if seals increase the number of elements per call in response to higher calling rates by conspecifics. Eight multi-element call types were analyzed. Six narrowband and one of two broadband multi-element call types showed a significant increase in the number of elements per call at higher calling rates. One broadband call type did not show a significant difference among the different calling rates. Our findings suggest that harp seals increase the number of elements per call in many call types to avoid having their calls masked by an increasing number of conspecific vocalizations.

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