Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context
In comparative studies of evolution of communication, the function and use of animal quiet calls have typically been understudied, despite that these signals are presumably under selection like other vocalizations, such as alarm calls. Here, we examine vocalization diversification of chimpanzee quie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.172066 |
| _version_ | 1818147214865727488 |
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| author | Catherine Crockford Thibaud Gruber Klaus Zuberbühler |
| author_facet | Catherine Crockford Thibaud Gruber Klaus Zuberbühler |
| author_sort | Catherine Crockford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In comparative studies of evolution of communication, the function and use of animal quiet calls have typically been understudied, despite that these signals are presumably under selection like other vocalizations, such as alarm calls. Here, we examine vocalization diversification of chimpanzee quiet ‘hoos’ produced in three contexts—travel, rest and alert—and potential pressures promoting diversification. Previous playback and observational studies have suggested that the overarching function of chimpanzee hoos is to stay in contact with others, particularly bond partners. We conducted an acoustic analysis of hoos using audio recordings from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of Budongo Forest, Uganda. We identified three acoustically distinguishable, context-specific hoo variants. Each call variant requires specific responses from receivers to avoid breaking up the social unit. We propose that callers may achieve coordination by using acoustically distinguishable calls, advertising their own behavioural intentions. We conclude that natural selection has acted towards acoustically diversifying an inconspicuous, quiet vocalization, the chimpanzee hoo. This evolutionary process may have been favoured by the fact that signallers and recipients share the same goal, to maintain social cohesion, particularly among those who regularly cooperate, suggesting that call diversification has been favoured by the demands of cooperative activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:31:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af1c6f9ac9ca45c79108fa41bbe5d848 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:31:42Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-af1c6f9ac9ca45c79108fa41bbe5d8482022-12-22T01:07:14ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032018-01-015510.1098/rsos.172066172066Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to contextCatherine CrockfordThibaud GruberKlaus ZuberbühlerIn comparative studies of evolution of communication, the function and use of animal quiet calls have typically been understudied, despite that these signals are presumably under selection like other vocalizations, such as alarm calls. Here, we examine vocalization diversification of chimpanzee quiet ‘hoos’ produced in three contexts—travel, rest and alert—and potential pressures promoting diversification. Previous playback and observational studies have suggested that the overarching function of chimpanzee hoos is to stay in contact with others, particularly bond partners. We conducted an acoustic analysis of hoos using audio recordings from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of Budongo Forest, Uganda. We identified three acoustically distinguishable, context-specific hoo variants. Each call variant requires specific responses from receivers to avoid breaking up the social unit. We propose that callers may achieve coordination by using acoustically distinguishable calls, advertising their own behavioural intentions. We conclude that natural selection has acted towards acoustically diversifying an inconspicuous, quiet vocalization, the chimpanzee hoo. This evolutionary process may have been favoured by the fact that signallers and recipients share the same goal, to maintain social cohesion, particularly among those who regularly cooperate, suggesting that call diversification has been favoured by the demands of cooperative activities.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.172066animal communicationchimpanzeecall diversificationcooperation |
| spellingShingle | Catherine Crockford Thibaud Gruber Klaus Zuberbühler Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context Royal Society Open Science animal communication chimpanzee call diversification cooperation |
| title | Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context |
| title_full | Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context |
| title_fullStr | Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context |
| title_short | Chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context |
| title_sort | chimpanzee quiet hoo variants differ according to context |
| topic | animal communication chimpanzee call diversification cooperation |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.172066 |
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