Alarm Calls of California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Owings, Donald H.; Virginia, Ross A.

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1978.tb01438.x

Cited by 113 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…For example, in tree shrews, decreasing physical distance between a male and female is thought to increase arousal levels in the female, resulting in a higher rate of vocal output (with higher fundamental frequencies; Schehka et al 2007). Along the same lines, levels of "response urgency" can be modulated by distance from a predator, and this is linked to changes in the acoustic structure of alarm calls in squirrels (Owings and Virginia 1978), marmots (Blumstein and Armitage 1997), and meerkats (Manser 2001). Acoustic changes in cat (Scheumann et al 2012), bat (Bastian and Schmidt 2008), and horse (Briefer et al 2015) vocalizations were also reported as a response to contextrelated arousal fluctuations.…”

Section: We Investigated the Role Of Arousal During Naturally Occurrimentioning

confidence: 99%

Arousal dynamics drive vocal production in marmoset monkeys

Borjon

Takahashi

Cervantes

et al. 2016

Journal of Neurophysiology

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Vocal production is the result of interacting cognitive and autonomic processes. Despite claims that changes in one interoceptive state (arousal) govern primate vocalizations, we know very little about how it influences their likelihood and timing. In this study we investigated the role of arousal during naturally occurring vocal production in marmoset monkeys. Throughout each session, naturally occurring contact calls are produced more quickly, and with greater probability, during higher levels of arousal, as measured by heart rate. On average, we observed a steady increase in heart rate 23 s before the production of a call. Following call production, there is a sharp and steep cardiac deceleration lasting ∼8 s. The dynamics of cardiac fluctuations around a vocalization cannot be completely predicted by the animal's respiration or movement. Moreover, the timing of vocal production was tightly correlated to the phase of a 0.1-Hz autonomic nervous system rhythm known as the Mayer wave. Finally, a compilation of the state space of arousal dynamics during vocalization illustrated that perturbations to the resting state space increase the likelihood of a call occurring. Together, these data suggest that arousal dynamics are critical for spontaneous primate vocal production, not only as a robust predictor of the likelihood of vocal onset but also as scaffolding on which behavior can unfold.

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Section: We Investigated the Role Of Arousal During Naturally Occurrimentioning

confidence: 99%

Arousal dynamics drive vocal production in marmoset monkeys

Borjon

Takahashi

Cervantes

et al. 2016

Journal of Neurophysiology

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“…Related to this, it is not clear whether primates intend to produce calls that refer to specific external events, or whether they merely respond to "evolutionarily important" events that place them into different motivations. One way to address this has been by investigating whether associated variables, such as the level of threat experienced by the caller, can explain the caller's behaviour better than the predatory category (e.g., California ground squirrels: Owings and Virginia 1978). In some other species, it has been argued that alarm calls refer to both the level and type of threat (Manser et al 2002;Templeton et al 2005;Sieving et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The alarm call system of wild black-fronted titi monkeys, Callicebus nigrifrons

Cäsar

Byrne

Young

et al. 2012

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Upon encountering predators, many animals produce specific vocalisations that alert others and sometimes dissuade the predators from hunting. Callicebus monkeys are known for their large vocal repertoire, but little is known about the function and meaning of most call types. We recorded a large number of natural predator responses from five different groups of black-fronted titi monkeys in their Atlantic forest habitat in South Eastern Brazil. When detecting predatory threats, adult group members responded with call sequences that initially consisted of two brief, highpitched calls with distinct frequency contours. Call A was mainly given to raptors but also to predatory capuchin monkeys and other threats within the canopy, while call B was given to predatory or non-predatory disturbances on the ground. In later parts of the sequences, we also recorded a high-pitched unmodulated call C and various low-pitched loud calls. Results therefore suggest that calls A and B provide listeners with rapid and reliable information about the general classes of danger experienced by the caller, while obtaining more specific information through other call types and combinations and behavioural responses. We discuss these findings in relation to current evolutionary theory of primate communication.

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“…If Cape ground squirrels actually produce urgency-based alarm calls, as many ground-dwelling rodent species do (e.g., Owings and Virginia 1978;Robinson 1980;Blumstein and Arnold 1995;Blumstein and Armitage 1997a;Le Roux et al 2001;Randall and Rogovin 2002), then this environment would house two ground-dwelling, burrowusing small mammal species that face the same predation pressure but use different alarm call systems. If so, we might predict that interspecific differences in vigilance, antipredator behavior, and habitat use may provide insights into whether factors other than the need for different escape strategies may have an influence on the evolution of particular alarm call systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evolution of Urgency‐Based and Functionally Referential Alarm Calls in Ground‐Dwelling Species

Furrer

Manser

2009

The American Naturalist

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A major evolutionary force driving functionally referential alarm calls is the need for different strategies to escape various predator types in complex structured habitats. In contrast, a single escape strategy appears to be sufficient in less-structured open habitats, and under such conditions urgency-dependent alarm calls may be favored. Nevertheless, some species, such as meerkats (Suricata suricatta), have evolved functionally referential alarm calls despite living in open areas, using only bolt-holes for retreat. To understand the evolution of different alarm call systems, we investigated the calls of sympatric Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) and compared their antipredator and foraging behavior with that of meerkats. Cape ground squirrels emitted urgency-dependent alarm calls and responded to playbacks depending on urgency, not predator type. Vigilance behavior and habitat use differed between the two species. Meerkats roam widely to find prey and for efficient foraging depend on coordinated predator vigilance and escape behavior. As herbivores with smaller territories, Cape ground squirrels depend less on coordinated antipredator behavior, and urgency-dependent alarm calls encode all essential information. We conclude that habitat complexity does not explain the evolution of functionally referential alarm calls in all species, and other constraints, such as the need to coordinate group movements to maintain foraging efficiency, could be more relevant. Meerkats roam widely to find prey and for efficient foraging depend on coordinated predator vigilance and escape behavior. As herbivores with smaller territories, Cape ground squirrels depend less on coordinated antipredator behavior, and urgency-dependent alarm calls encode all essential information. We conclude that habitat complexity does not explain the evolution of functionally referential alarm calls in all species, and other constraints, such as the need to coordinate group movements to maintain foraging efficiency, could be more relevant.

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Alarm Calls of California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Cited by 113 publications

References 17 publications

Arousal dynamics drive vocal production in marmoset monkeys

Arousal dynamics drive vocal production in marmoset monkeys

The alarm call system of wild black-fronted titi monkeys, Callicebus nigrifrons

The Evolution of Urgency‐Based and Functionally Referential Alarm Calls in Ground‐Dwelling Species

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