scholarly journals Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies

Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Baotic ◽  
Maxime Garcia ◽  
Markus Boeckle ◽  
Angela Stoeger
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Transmission Efficiency ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
African Savanna ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Resonance Frequencies

African savanna elephants live in dynamic fission–fusion societies and exhibit a sophisticated vocal communication system. Their most frequent call-type is the ‘rumble’, with a fundamental frequency (which refers to the lowest vocal fold vibration rate when producing a vocalization) near or in the infrasonic range. Rumbles are used in a wide variety of behavioral contexts, for short- and long-distance communication, and convey contextual and physical information. For example, maturity (age and size) is encoded in male rumbles by formant frequencies (the resonance frequencies of the vocal tract), having the most informative power. As sound propagates, however, its spectral and temporal structures degrade progressively. Our study used manipulated and resynthesized male social rumbles to simulate large and small individuals (based on different formant values) to quantify whether this phenotypic information efficiently transmits over long distances. To examine transmission efficiency and the potential influences of ecological factors, we broadcasted and re-recorded rumbles at distances of up to 1.5 km in two different habitats at the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. Our results show that rumbles were affected by spectral–temporal degradation over distance. Interestingly and unlike previous findings, the transmission of formants was better than that of the fundamental frequency. Our findings demonstrate the importance of formant frequencies for the efficiency of rumble propagation and the transmission of information content in a savanna elephant’s natural habitat.

Influences of Fundamental Frequency, Formant Frequencies, Aperiodicity, and Spectrum Level on the Perception of Voice Gender

2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena G. Skuk ◽  
Stefan R. Schweinberger
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Spectral Envelope ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Spectrum Level ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Gender Perception ◽  
Scale Factors ◽  
Baseline Experiment

Purpose To determine the relative importance of acoustic parameters (fundamental frequency [F0], formant frequencies [FFs], aperiodicity, and spectrum level [SL]) on voice gender perception, the authors used a novel parameter-morphing approach that, unlike spectral envelope shifting, allows the application of nonuniform scale factors to transform formants and more direct comparison of parameter impact. Method In each of 2 experiments, 16 listeners with normal hearing (8 female, 8 male) classified voice gender for morphs between female and male speakers, using syllable tokens from 2 male–female speaker pairs. Morphs varied single acoustic parameters (Experiment 1) or selected combinations (Experiment 2), keeping residual parameters androgynous, as determined in a baseline experiment. Results The strongest cue related to gender perception was F0, followed by FF and SL. Aperiodicity did not systematically influence gender perception. Morphing F0 and FF in conjunction produced convincing changes in perceived gender—changes that were equivalent to those for Full morphs interpolating all parameters. Despite the importance of F0, morphing FF and SL in combination produced effective changes in voice gender perception. Conclusions The most important single parameters for gender perception are, in order, F0, FF, and SL. At the same time, F0 and vocal tract resonances have a comparable impact on voice gender perception.

scholarly journals Grasshopper mice employ distinct vocal production mechanisms in different social contexts

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1859) ◽  
pp. 20171158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bret Pasch ◽  
Isao T. Tokuda ◽  
Tobias Riede
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Distance Communication ◽  
Production Mechanisms

Functional changes in vocal organ morphology and motor control facilitate the evolution of acoustic signal diversity. Although many rodents produce vocalizations in a variety of social contexts, few studies have explored the underlying production mechanisms. Here, we describe mechanisms of audible and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) produced by grasshopper mice (genus Onychomys ). Grasshopper mice are predatory rodents of the desert that produce both loud, long-distance advertisement calls and USVs in close-distance mating contexts. Using live-animal recording in normal air and heliox, laryngeal and vocal tract morphological investigations, and biomechanical modelling, we found that grasshopper mice employ two distinct vocal production mechanisms. In heliox, changes in higher-harmonic amplitudes of long-distance calls indicate an airflow-induced tissue vibration mechanism, whereas changes in fundamental frequency of USVs support a whistle mechanism. Vocal membranes and a thin lamina propria aid in the production of long-distance calls by increasing glottal efficiency and permitting high frequencies, respectively. In addition, tuning of fundamental frequency to the second resonance of a bell-shaped vocal tract increases call amplitude. Our findings indicate that grasshopper mice can dynamically adjust motor control to suit the social context and have novel morphological adaptations that facilitate long-distance communication.

Contributions of Voice and Nonverbal Communication to Perceived Masculinity–Femininity for Cisgender and Transgender Communicators

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 931-947
Author(s):  
Teresa L. D. Hardy ◽  
Carol A. Boliek ◽  
Daniel Aalto ◽  
Justin Lewicke ◽  
Kristopher Wells ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Presentation Mode ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Presentation Modes ◽  
Audiovisual Stimuli ◽  
Vocal Tract Resonance ◽  
Point Light

Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to identify a set of communication-based predictors (including both acoustic and gestural variables) of masculinity–femininity ratings and (b) to explore differences in ratings between audio and audiovisual presentation modes for transgender and cisgender communicators. Method The voices and gestures of a group of cisgender men and women ( n = 10 of each) and transgender women ( n = 20) communicators were recorded while they recounted the story of a cartoon using acoustic and motion capture recording systems. A total of 17 acoustic and gestural variables were measured from these recordings. A group of observers ( n = 20) rated each communicator's masculinity–femininity based on 30- to 45-s samples of the cartoon description presented in three modes: audio, visual, and audio visual. Visual and audiovisual stimuli contained point light displays standardized for size. Ratings were made using a direct magnitude estimation scale without modulus. Communication-based predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings were identified using multiple regression, and analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of presentation mode on perceptual ratings. Results Fundamental frequency, average vowel formant, and sound pressure level were identified as significant predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings for these communicators. Communicators were rated significantly more feminine in the audio than the audiovisual mode and unreliably in the visual-only mode. Conclusions Both study purposes were met. Results support continued emphasis on fundamental frequency and vocal tract resonance in voice and communication modification training with transgender individuals and provide evidence for the potential benefit of modifying sound pressure level, especially when a masculine presentation is desired.

PENGUCAPAN MAKHRAJ DARI UNIT BUNYI TERKECIL HURUF HIJAIYAH BERDASARKAN FREKUENSI DASAR DAN FREKUENSI FORMANT UNTUK MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN MEMBACA ALQURAN

ALQALAM ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Muhammad Subali ◽  
Miftah Andriansyah ◽  
Christanto Sinambela
Keyword(s):  
College Student ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Autocorrelation Function ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Male Speaker ◽  
Similarities And Differences

This article aims to look at the similarities and differences in the fundamental frequency and formant frequencies using the autocorrelation function and LPCfunction in GUI MATLAB 2012b on sound hijaiyah letters for adult male speaker beginner and expert based on makhraj pronunciation and both of speaker will be analysis on matching distance of the sound use DTW method on cepstrum. Subject for speech beginner makhraj pronunciation are taken from college student of Universitas Gunadarma and SITC aged 22 years old Data of the speech beginner makhraj pronunciation is recorded using MATLAB algorithm on GUI Subject for speech expert makhraj pronunciation are taken from previous research. They are 20-30 years old from the time of taking data. The sound will be extracted to get the value of the fundamental frequency and formant frequency. After getting both frequencies, it will be obtained analysis of the similarities and differences in the fundamental frequency and formant frequencies of speech beginner and expert and it will shows matching distance of both speech. The result is all of speech beginner and expert based on makhraj pronunciation have different values of fundamental frequency and formant frequency. Then the results of the analysis matching distance using method DTW showed that obtained in the range of 28.9746 to 136.4 between speech beginner and expert based on makhraj pronunciation. Keywords: fundamental frequency, formant frequency, hijaiyah letters, makhraj

scholarly journals Group size and aquatic vegetation modulates male preferences for female shoals in wild zebrafish, Danio rerio

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Ghoshal ◽  
Anuradha Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Female Group ◽  
Aquatic Flora ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Individual

AbstractShoaling decisions in the wild are determined by a combination of innate preferences of the individual along with the interplay of multiple ecological factors. In their natural habitat as well as in the laboratory, zebrafish is a shoaling fish. Here, we investigate the role of group size and associated vegetation in shaping shoaling preferences of wild male zebrafish. We studied the association preference of males to groups of female shoals in a multi-choice test design. We found that males made greater proportion of visits to an 8-female group compared to 2 and 4-female groups. However, males spent similar proportions of time across the three female-containing groups. When artificial vegetation was incorporated along with female number as an additional factor, we found that males prefer high and moderately vegetated patches compared to low or no-vegetation groups, irrespective of the number of females in these patches. Based on experiments using a novel multi-choice design, our results show that preference for group size can change due to interaction of two separate factors. This work is a first attempt to understand the role of aquatic flora in determining shoaling preferences in zebrafish, using an experimental paradigm consisting of a gradation in female and vegetation densities.

Correlation between vocal tract length, body height, formant frequencies, and pitch frequency for the five Japanese vowels uttered by fifteen male speakers

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Hatano ◽  
Tatsuya Kitamura ◽  
Hironori Takemoto ◽  
Parham Mokhtari ◽  
Kiyoshi Honda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Tract Length ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Pitch Frequency

Formant Frequencies of Stuttered and Fluent Vowels

1987 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Prosek ◽  
Allen A. Montgomery ◽  
Brian E. Walden ◽  
David B. Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Vowel Space

The formant frequencies of 15 adult stutterers' fluent and disfluent vowels and the formant frequencies of stutterers' and nonstutterers' fluent vowels were compared in an F1-F2 vowel space and in a normalized F1-F2 vowel space. The results indicated that differences in formant frequencies observed between the stutterers' and nonstutterers' vowels can be accounted for by differences among the vocal tract dimensions of the talkers. In addition, no differences were found between the formant frequencies of the fluent and disfluent vowels produced by the stutterers. The overall pattern of these results indicates that, contrary to recent reports (Klich & May, 1982), stutterers do not exhibit significantly greater vowel centralization than nonstutterers.

Vocal Tract Steadiness

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 761-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Zwirner ◽  
Gary J. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Subject Group ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Acoustic Analyses ◽  
The Relationship

Acoustic analyses of upper airway and phonatory stability were conducted on samples of sustained phonation to evaluate the relation between laryngeal and articulomotor stability for 31 patients with dysarthria and 12 non-dysarthric control subjects. Significantly higher values were found for the variability in fundamental frequency and formant frequency of patients who have Huntington’s disease compared with normal subjects and patients with Parkinson’s disease. No significant correlations were found between formant frequency variability and the variability of the fundamental frequency for any subject group. These findings are discussed as they pertain to the relationship between phonatory and upper airway subsystems and the evaluation of vocal tract motor control impairments in dysarthria.

scholarly journals A comparison of the Mouse Song Analyzer and DeepSqueak ultrasonic vocalization analysis systems in C57BL/6J, FVB.129, and FVB mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S Binder ◽  
Zachary P Pranske ◽  
Joaquin N Lugo
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Automated Analysis ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalization ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Two Systems ◽  
Similar Quantity ◽  
Analysis System

Vocal communication is an essential behavior in mammals and is relevant to human neurodevelopmental conditions. Mice produce communicative vocalizations, known as ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), that can be recorded with various programs. The Mouse Song Analyzer is an automated analysis system, while DeepSqueak is a semi-automated system. We used data from C57BL/6J, FVB.129, and FVB mice to compare whether the DeepSqueak and Mouse Song Analyzer systems measure a similar total number, duration, and fundamental frequency of USVs. We found that the two systems detected a similar quantity of USVs for FVB.129 mice (r= .90, p< .001), but displayed lower correlations for C57BL/6J (r= .76, p< .001) and FVB mice (r= .60, p< .001). We also found that DeepSqueak detected significantly more USVs for C57BL/6J mice than the Mouse Song Analyzer. The two systems detected a similar duration of USVs for C57BL/6J (r= .82, p< .001), but lower correlations for FVB.129 (r= .13, p< .001) and FVB mice (r= .51, p< .01) were found, with DeepSqueak detecting significantly more USVs per each strain. We found lower than acceptable correlations for fundamental frequency in C57BL/6J (r= .54, p< .01), FVB.129 (r= .76, p< .001), and FVB mice (r= .07, p= .76), with the Mouse Song Analyzer detecting a significantly higher fundamental frequency for FVB.129 mice. These findings demonstrate that the strain of mouse used significantly affects the number, duration, and fundamental frequency of USVs that are detected between programs. Overall, we found that DeepSqueak is more accurate than the Mouse Song Analyzer.

scholarly journals Distribution of Gyrinops versteegii (Gilg.) Domke in varying vegetation structures, soil properties, and microclimates in Manggarai, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Titut Yulistyarini ◽  
Abban Putri Fiqa ◽  
Sugeng Budiharta ◽  
Ridesti Rindyastuti
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Home Garden ◽  
Dispersion Pattern ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Tropical Plants ◽  
Vegetation Structures

Abstract. Yulistyarini T, Fiqa AP, Budiharta S, Rindyastuti R. 2020. Distribution of Gyrinops versteegii in varying vegetation structures, soil properties, and microclimates in western part of Flores Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1800-1808. Gyrinops versteegii is one of the agarwood-producing tropical plants that is distributed in the Lesser Sunda Islands to Sulawesi, Moluccas (Maluku), and Papua. The natural population of Gyrinops versteegii (Gilg.) Domke is widely exploited, making it being listed in CITES Appendix II. Despite largely exploited, information regarding the distribution of G. versteegii to reveal the habitat characteristics of its natural population is limited. The aims of the research were (i) to investigate the habitat characteristics of the distribution of G. versteegii in term of vegetation community, as well as soil and microclimate variables in its natural habitat in western part of Flores Island, and (ii) to study the relationship between its occurrence and ecological factors. The research was conducted in one community forest and three natural forests in the districts of Manggarai and West Manggarai, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Data on vegetation, soil properties and microclimates were collected by establishing 73 observation plots across the four studied areas. Data were analyzed to reveal vegetation composition and structure where G. versteegii occurred, the dispersion pattern, and relationship between its occurrence and ecological factors. Our study revealed that G. versteegii populations at four studied areas in Flores Island were distributed in a broad range of habitat characteristics with varying vegetation compositions and structures, canopy covers as well as soil and microclimates variables. The local/metapopulations of G. versteegii in these areas can be dispersed in clumped or uniform pattern. Nonetheless, some ecological variables might be important for the abundance of this species including soil texture, soil pH, C organic and Soil Organic Matters (SOM). The results of this study suggest a promising opportunity for the conservation efforts of G. versteegii through the possibility of planting this species in various land management including planted in monoculture system, polyculture system (e.g. home garden and agroforestry) as well as reintroduced into species-rich natural forest.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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