Vocal signalling of male southern elephant seals is honest but imprecise

Sanvito, Simona; Galimberti, Filippo; Miller, Edward H.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.08.005

Cited by 118 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…(Dunn et al, 2015;Kelemen and Sade, 1960), and hammer-headed bats, Hypsignathus monstrosus (Bradbury, 1977); and even an additional, non-laryngeal set of vocal folds (termed 'velar vocal folds') in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus (Charlton et al, 2013). Other species produce abnormally low formants for their size by extending their vocal tracts using descended and/or mobile larynges (red deer, Cervus elaphus, Reby and McComb, 2003;fallow deer, Dama dama, McElligott et al, 2006; Mongolian gazelle, Procapra gutturosa, Frey et al, 2008; goitred gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa, Frey et al, 2011;koala, Charlton et al, 2011; roaring cats, Panthera sp., Weissengruber et al, 2002), air sacs (black and white colobus monkey, Colobus guereza, Harris et al, 2006) and nasal proboscises (African elephant, Loxodonta africana, McComb et al, 2003;saiga, Saiga t. tatarica, Frey et al, 2007; elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, Sanvito et al, 2007). These anatomical adaptations are thought to evolve via selection pressures for individuals to lower frequency components, either to broadcast an exaggerated impression of their body size in reproductive contexts or to maximise signal propagation in the species' natural environment (koala, Charlton et al, 2011Charlton et al, , 2013red deer, Fitch and Reby, 2001;Reby and McComb, 2003;fallow deer, Vannoni and McElligott, 2008;bison, Bison bison, Wyman et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of biphonation and source–filter interactions in the bugles of male North American wapiti (Cervus canadensis)

Reby

Wyman

Frey

et al. 2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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With an average male body mass of 320 kg, the wapiti, Cervus canadensis, is the largest extant species of Old World deer (Cervinae). Despite this large body size, male wapiti produce whistlelike sexual calls called bugles characterised by an extremely high fundamental frequency. Investigations of the biometry and physiology of the male wapiti's relatively large larynx have so far failed to account for the production of such a high fundamental frequency. Our examination of spectrograms of male bugles suggested that the complex harmonic structure is best explained by a dual-source model (biphonation), with one source oscillating at a mean of 145 Hz (F0) and the other oscillating independently at an average of 1426 Hz (G0). A combination of anatomical investigations and acoustical modelling indicated that the F0 of male bugles is consistent with the vocal fold dimensions reported in this species, whereas the secondary, much higher source at G0 is more consistent with an aerodynamic whistle produced as air flows rapidly through a narrow supraglottic constriction. We also report a possible interaction between the higher frequency G0 and vocal tract resonances, as G0 transiently locks onto individual formants as the vocal tract is extended. We speculate that male wapiti have evolved such a dualsource phonation to advertise body size at close range (with a relatively low-frequency F0 providing a dense spectrum to highlight size-related information contained in formants) while simultaneously advertising their presence over greater distances using the very highamplitude G0 whistle component.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of biphonation and source–filter interactions in the bugles of male North American wapiti (Cervus canadensis)

Reby

Wyman

Frey

et al. 2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Recent theoretical and technical advances in mammalian bioacoustics, centred around the application of the source-filter theory of voice production to voiced signals (Fant 1960;Fitch 2002), have enabled investigators to understand the acoustic structure of mammal vocal signals according to their modes of production, and to predict the covariation of specific acoustic features with physiological or morphological attributes of callers (Fitch 1997;Riede & Fitch 1999;Reby & McComb 2003a;Harris et al 2006;Sanvito et al 2007;Vannoni & McElligott 2008;Charlton et al 2009). The source filter theory states that vocal signals result from a two-stage production process, with the glottal wave generated in the larynx (the source), being subsequently filtered in the supra-laryngeal vocal tract (the filter ;Fant 1960;Titze 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several recent publications applying the source-filter framework to the study of mammal signals have shown that vocal tract resonances, which reflect the length and shape of the vocal tract, are reliable acoustic cues to body size (Fitch 1997;Riede & Fitch 1999;Reby & McComb 2003a;Harris et al 2006;Sanvito et al 2007;Vannoni & McElligott 2008;Charlton et al 2009) and identity (Rendall 2003;Kidjo et al 2008). By contrast, despite its dependence on the length, mass and tension of vocal folds (Titze 1994), in mammals the fundamental frequency of vocalizations does not consistently provide reliable information on body size (Lass & Brown 1978;Reby & McComb 2003a;Rendall et al 2005; but see Pfefferle & Fisher 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oestrous red deer hinds prefer male roars with higher fundamental frequencies

et al. 2010

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Across vertebrates, the observation that lower-pitched vocalizations are typically associated with larger and/or higher quality males has lead to the widespread belief that inter-and intra-sexual selection will produce male calls with low fundamental frequencies (F0). Here we investigated the response of oestrous red deer hinds to playback of re-synthesized male roars characterized by either higher than average or lower than average F0. We found that hinds prefer higher rather than lower 'pitched' roars, providing, to our knowledge, the first evidence of such a bias in nonhuman mammals. Our findings can be interpreted in relation to previous observations that the minimum F0 of roars is positively correlated with male reproductive success in free-ranging red deer stags, and that across Cervids the F0 of male mating calls shows extreme variability. Females showing preferences for higher-pitched roars might derive genetic benefits through more competitive male offspring. Our results emphasize the need for further investigations of female preferences in mammals in order to better understand the extreme variation of F0 values observed in male sexual calls.

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“…The Auk: Ornithological Advances 135:44-59, Q 2018 American Ornithological Society always consistent and has been found to be weak or nonexistent in others species (Cardoso and Mota 2007, Sanvito et al 2007, Cardoso et al 2008, Peters et al 2009). Little Penguins settle disputes by using an ''escalation process'' in which individuals increase their aggressive behaviors-generally by increasing the intensity and amplitude of their calls, grading from agonistic to advertising calls-until one retreats (Waas 1991a(Waas , 2006.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%