Behavioural dynamics of biparental care in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus

In the dimorphic dung beetle Onthophagus taurus major males provide assistance during offspring provisioning. We examined the behavioural dynamics of biparental care to quantify directly how males and females allocate time to parental and nonparental behaviours and to determine whether parents adjust their level of investment relative to their partner's contribution. Females allocated more of their time budget to parental behaviours than males. The proportion of time females allocated to parental behaviours increased after oviposition while that of a male decreased. Male paternity assurance behaviours were negatively associated with male and female parental behaviours. Theoretical models predict that the investment provided by the members of a cooperative pair should be negatively correlated and that any shortfall of one parent should be partially compensated for by the other. In the absence of a male, unassisted females allocated more time to parental care, and performed more parental behaviours. However, compensation was incomplete as unassisted females performed fewer parental behaviours than pairs, resulting in significantly lighter brood masses (the egg and its associated dung supply). Males performed more parental behaviours when paired with small females, and small females more than large females. Contrary to prediction, the investments provided by males and females in a cooperative pair were positively correlated. Males coordinated their parental behaviours with the females rather than acting independently. Since parental behaviours were directly related to the weight of brood masses, the observed parental interactions will have important fitness consequences in this species. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Social behavior in a genetic model of dopamine dysfunction at different neurodevelopmental time points

Impairments in social behavior characterize many neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. In fact, the temporal emergence and trajectory of these deficits can define the disorder, specify their treatment and signal their prognosis. The sophistication of mouse models with neurobiological endophenotypes of many aspects of psychiatric diseases has increased in recent years, with the necessity to evaluate social behavior in these models. We adapted an assay for the multimodal characterization of social behavior at different development time points (juvenile, adolescent and adult) in control mice in different social contexts (specifically, different sex pairings). Although social context did not affect social behavior in juvenile mice, it did have an effect on the quantity and type of social interaction as well as ultrasonic vocalizations in both adolescence and adulthood. We compared social development in control mice to a transgenic mouse model of the increase in postsynaptic striatal D2R activity observed in patients with schizophrenia (D2R‐OE mice). Genotypic differences in social interactions emerged in adolescence and appeared to become more pronounced in adulthood. That vocalizations emitted from dyads with a D2R‐OE subject were negatively correlated with active social behavior while vocalizations from control dyads were positively correlated with both active and passive social behavior also suggest social deficits. These data show that striatal dopamine dysfunction plays an important role in the development of social behavior and mouse models such as the one studied here provide an opportunity for screening potential therapeutics at different developmental time points.     

Syntactic structure and geographical dialects in the songs of male rock hyraxes

Few mammalian species produce vocalizations that are as richly structured as bird songs, and this greatly restricts the capacity for information transfer. Syntactically complex mammalian vocalizations have been previously studied only in primates, cetaceans and bats. We provide evidence of complex syntactic vocalizations in a small social mammal: the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis: Hyracoidea). We adopted three algorithms, commonly used in genetic sequence analysis and information theory, to examine the order of syllables in hyrax calls. Syntactic dialects exist, and the syntax of hyrax calls is significantly different between different regions in Israel. Call syntax difference is positively correlated to geographical distance over short distances. No correlation is found over long distances, which may reflect limited dispersal movement. These findings indicate that rich syntactic structure is more common in the vocalizations of mammalian taxa than previously thought and suggest the possibility of vocal production learning in the hyrax.     

Unusual repertoire of vocalizations in adult BTBR T+tf/J mice during three types of social encounters

BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) is an inbred mouse strain that displays social deficits and repetitive behaviors analogous to the first and third diagnostic symptoms of autism. We previously reported an unusual pattern of ultrasonic vocalizations in BTBR pups that may represent a behavioral homolog to the second diagnostic symptom of autism, impaired communication. This study investigated the social and vocal repertoire in adult BTBR mice, to evaluate the role of ultrasonic vocalizations in multiple social situations at the adult stage of development. Three different social contexts were considered: male–female, male–male (resident–intruder) and female–female interactions. Behavioral responses and ultrasonic vocalizations were recorded for BTBR and for the highly social control strain C57BL/6J (B6). No episodes of overt fighting or mating were observed during the short durations of the three different experimental encounters. BTBR displayed lower levels of vocalizations and social investigation in all three social contexts as compared with B6. In addition, the correlation analyses between social investigation and ultrasonic vocalization emission rate showed that in B6 mice, the two variables were positively correlated in all the three different social settings, whereas in BTBR mice, the positive correlation was significant only in the male–female interactions. These findings strongly support the value of simultaneously recording two aspects of the mouse social repertoire: social motivation and bioacoustic communication. Moreover, our findings in adults are consistent with previous results in pups, showing an unusual vocal repertoire in BTBR as compared with B6.     

Embryonic vocalizations mediate parental care in Masked Lapwings (Vanellus miles) but not Red-capped Plovers (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Embryonic vocalizations in birds may enable communication between embryos and incubating parents but responses of parents to embryonic vocalizations have not been measured experimentally. In two ground-nesting shorebirds, we compare parental care of eggs without embryonic vocalizations, those with natural embryonic vocalizations, and those in which we experimentally introduced embryonic vocalizations, while accounting for prevailing temperatures. We continuously recorded nests (one block of up to 24 h per nest) of two ground-nesting shorebirds, the Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus and Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles and quantified parental behaviours. We predict an increase in egg thermoregulation behaviours (time spent incubating or shading) and ‘fussing’ (a combination of rising and re-settling, shuffling, orientation change and egg turning) when vocalizations were naturally present or when they were experimentally introduced in comparison to when no vocalizations were present (control). In Lapwings, the rate of fussing increased at the nest only when natural vocalizations were present; however, preening increased when natural or introduced vocalizations were present. Additionally, the frequency of bill to egg touches (inspections) increased only in the presence of introduced vocalizations. For Plovers, treatment had no influence on parental behavioural; however, the frequency of fussing, bill to egg touches and shell tossing increased with air temperature. For both species, there was no influence of the presence of the embryo’s vocalizations (natural or introduced) on the parent’s egg thermoregulation behaviours. Our results highlight that acoustic communication across the eggshell may occur and can influence parental care in shorebirds, but this appears to be species-specific.     

Vocalizations and Behaviour of Pacific Humpback Dolphins Sousa chinensis

Very little is known about the acoustic repertoire of the Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis . This study, off eastern Australia, used concurrent observations of surface behaviour and acoustic recordings to gain an insight into the behavioural significance of humpback dolphin vocalizations. Humpback dolphins exhibit five different vocalization categories: broad band clicks; barks; quacks; grunts; and whistles. Broad band clicks were high in frequency (8 kHz to > 22 kHz), were directly related to foraging behaviour and may play a role in social behaviour. Barks and quacks were burst pulse sounds (frequency: 0.6 kHz to > 22 kHz, duration: 0.1–8 s) and were associated with both foraging and social behaviour. The grunt vocalization is a low frequency narrow band sound (frequency 0.5–2.6 kHz, duration 0.06–2 s) and was only heard during socializing. There were 17 different types of whistles, ranging widely in frequency (0.9–22 kHz) and vocal structure (n=329). The predominant whistle types used by the groups were type 1 (46%) and type 2 (17%). Most whistles were heard during both socializing and foraging. The number of whistles recorded in a group increased significantly as the number of mother–calf pairs increased, suggesting that whistles may be used as contact calls. Few vocalizations were heard during either travelling or milling behaviours. Broad band clicks, barks and whistle type 1 were the only vocalizations recorded during either travelling or milling.     

The reproductive and heterosexual behaviours of adult patas monkeys in captivity

The reproductive, agonistic, and social interactions between the adult male and adult females of a patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) harem were investigated. The occurrence of oestrus appeared to be influenced by both social and hormonal factors. Oestrus was not limited to the peri-ovulatory period, but also occurred at other times within the menstrual cycle and after conception. Mating behaviour was correlated with seasonal decreases in daylength and temperature. The male showed no clear preference for either non-pregnant or pregnant sexual partners. Female dominance rank appeared to have little influence on intrasexual competition for copulations. Of the non-reproductive behaviours studied, only two (female-to-male grooming and heterosexual sitting-close) showed significant fluctuations in frequency with changing female reproductive state. For both behaviours, non-pregnant oestrous females showed the highest frequencies.     

Vocal Signalling of the Great Crested Flycatcher,Myiarchus crinitus (Aves,Tyrannidae)

The singing and related vocalizing of great crested flycatchers, Myiarchus crinitus (Aves, Tyrannidae), included at least 12 different vocalizations. Each vocalization correlated with (and thus made information available about) a distinctive range of behaviour, from unassertive to more actively responsive, provocative or even confrontational. Four were used by individuals primarily when alone and not initiating close social encounters. The eight other vocalizations were uttered primarily in close encounters: one in preliminaries to such events, two predominantly in encounters with opponents, another in close associating of mates, two in duetting, and two infrequently, mostly in confrontations. The division of the repertoire into sets of vocalizations providing information about either low or elevated probabilities that a signaller will undertake the behavioural initiatives that precede, shape or sustain social interactions parallels a division found in other recently studied passerines. Such information is pertinent to individuals' decisions to forego or start close interactions with, for instance, competitors or mates. The information should be useful to a great many species, not just birds, but also mammals and various other animals — species in which individuals keep each other informed by singing when they are apart.     

Acoustic characteristics and variations in grunt vocalizations in the oyster toadfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opsanus tau</Emphasis>

Acoustic communication is critical for reproductive success in the oyster toadfish Opsanus tau. While previous studies have examined the acoustic characteristics, behavioral context, geographical variation, and seasonality of advertisement boatwhistle sound production, there is limited information on the grunt or other non-advertisement vocalizations in this species. This study continuously monitored sound production in toadfish maintained in an outdoor habitat for four months to identify and characterize grunt vocalizations, compare them with boatwhistles, and test for relationships between the incidence of grunt vocalizations, sound characteristics and environmental parameters. Oyster toadfish produced grunts in response to handling, and spontaneous single (70% of all grunts), doublet (10%), and trains of grunts (20%) throughout the May to September study period. Grunt types varied in pulse structure, duration, and frequency components, and were shorter and of lower fundamental frequency than the pulse repetition rate of boatwhistles. Higher water temperatures were correlated with a greater number of grunt emissions, higher fundamental frequencies, and shorter sound durations. The number of grunts per day was also positively correlated with daylength and maximum tidal amplitude differences (previously entrained) associated with full and new moons, thus providing the first demonstration of semilunar vocalization rhythms in the oyster toadfish. These data provide new information on the acoustic repertoire and the environmental factors correlated with sound production in the toadfish, and have important implications for seasonal acoustic communication in this model vocal fish.     

Why is joint attention a pivotal skill in autism?

Joint attention abilities play a crucial role in the development of autism. Impairments in joint attention are among the earliest signs of the disorder and joint attention skills relate to outcome, both in the 'natural course' of autism and through being targeted in early intervention programmes. In the current study, concurrent and longitudinal associations between joint attention and other social communication abilities measured in a sample of infants with autism and related pervasive developmental disorders at age 20 months, and language and symptom severity at age 42 months, were examined. Extending the findings from previous studies, joint attention ability was positively associated with language gains and (lower) social and communication symptoms, and imitation ability was also positively associated with later language. Some specificity in the association between different aspects of joint attention behaviours and outcome was found: declarative, triadic gaze switching predicted language and symptom severity but imperative, dyadic eye contact behaviours did not. Further, although joint attention was associated with later social and language symptoms it was unrelated to repetitive and stereotyped symptoms, suggesting the latter may have a separate developmental trajectory. Possible deficits in psychological and neurological processes that might underlie the impaired development of joint attention in autism are discussed.     

Dependency and independency among fish density and electivity indices in a stream fish assemblage

Habitat preferences can be identified from population density and electivity indices, which can be derived from either abundance or occurrence data. This study examined the preference detectability and independency of density and electivity indices from different data sources -- abundance and occurrence. Eight scenarios comprising four fish species along two environmental gradients (flow velocity and water depth) in an undisturbed mountain stream were used in this study. Fish density and seven electivity indices were calculated from abundance and occurrence data for the eight scenarios. The correlation analyses illustrated that abundance electivity indices were positively correlated with density in all eight scenarios while occurrence electivity indices were positively correlated with density in only three scenarios. Electivity indices were positively correlated with each other within the same data quality (abundance or occurrence) but not between. The Chesson’s L index was less correlated with other indices and should be used cautiously. Natural historical traits, such as social interactions among organisms, may affect the preference performance of density and electivity indices. In conclusion, density is a good preference indicator. Abundance electivity indices can represent density while occurrence electivity density should be used cautiously for fast assessment. Three electivity indices, Ivlev’s E and E′ and Jacobs’ D, were recommended for their ease of understanding.     

A TECHNIQUE TO ‘TAG’ SPECIFIC VOCALIZATIONS IN TAPE-RECORDINGS OF COMPLEX VOCAL INTERACTIONS

ABSTRACT

It has been suggested that African savanna elephants Loxodonta africana produce 31 different call types (Langbauer 2000). Various researchers have described these calls by associating them with specific behavioural contexts. More recently Leong et al. (2003) have attempted to classify elephant call types based on their physical properties. They classified 8 acoustically distinct call types from a population of captive elephants. This study focuses on one of these call types, the rumble, in a wild population of elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa. A single family group of elephants was followed to record group behaviours and vocalizations from January through August 2001. By measuring the physical properties of 663 rumbles and subjecting these to cluster analysis, we present evidence that shows that rumbles can be categorized by their physical properties and that the resulting rumble types are associated with specific group behaviours. We characterize three types of rumbles that differ significantly by ten acoustic parameters. Two rumble types were associated with the elephant group feeding and resting, while the third was associated with socializing and agitation.     

Vocal Cues in Cotton-top Tamarin Play Vocalizations1

In cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus o. oedipus) one finds a significantly increased frequency of occurrence of playful wrestling, where the respective vocalizations are characterized by a high degree of instability in the contour of the fundamental frequency. Approximately 20 s after these instable pitched vocalizations, however, frequency of occurrence is significantly reduced. The ethometric methods and those for the detailed analysis of vocalizations are explained in this paper. It is hypothesized that instable pitch expresses some kind of emotion involved in playful interactions.     

Short-Term Behavioural Responses of Impalas in Simulated Antipredator and Social Contexts

Prey animals often have to trade off foraging against vigilance. However, vigilance is costly and individuals are expected to adjust their vigilance and its cost in relation to social cues and their predation risk. To test this, we conducted playback experiments in the field to study how lions’ (Panthera leo) roars and male impalas’ (Aepyceros melampus) territorial vocalizations affected the vigilance and foraging behaviours as well as movements of female impalas. Our results show that impalas adjusted their activities in different ways depending on the vocalizations broadcast. After lions’ roars were played, female impalas increased their vigilance activity (in particular increasing their high-cost vigilance – vigilance without chewing), decreased their bite rates and increased their movements, whereas male impalas’ vocalizations caused females to decrease their vigilance (decreasing their low-cost vigilance – vigilance while chewing) and increase their movements without affecting their bite rates. Therefore, it appears that predators’ vocalizations stimulate anti-predator behaviours such as vigilance and movement at the expense of foraging, whereas males’ vocalizations increase individuals’ displacements at the expense of vigilance. Overall, this study shows that both predator and social cues have direct effects on the behaviour of gregarious prey and need to be considered in future studies.     

Function of male song in the greater white-lined bat, Saccopteryx bilineata

The use of vocalizations by males to attract mates and defend territories is widespread in birds but uncommon in mammals. In the greater white-lined bat, males defend small territories in tree buttresses and produce complex audible vocalizations. During the day, females roost within these territories, and males with females in their territories have higher reproductive success than males without females. To determine call function, we recorded male vocalizations on the island of Trinidad and made behavioural observations of the focal male and nearby bats at the time the calls were given. Noisy broadband calls were directed mainly at other males whereas tonal calls were used primarily in interactions with females. Two other types of calls were given independently of any observable context and may be involved in territorial defence or conspecific notification. Poisson regression showed that males with song repertoires that contained more unique types of composite syllables had more females in their territories. In addition, several acoustic features of one common call type significantly correlated with the number of females on a territory. Male vocalizations may, therefore, transfer information to colony members about male quality or fighting ability.     

John Henryism,Gender and Self-reported Health Among Roma/Gypsies in Serbia

We describe how self-reported health (SRH) varies with gender and John Henryism (a strong behavioral predisposition to engage in high-effort coping to overcome adversity) in a low income sample of Serbian Roma. Data were collected in 2016 in several Roma settlements around Belgrade, Serbia. The sample consisted of 90 men and 112 women. In addition to John Henryism (JH), measured by a Serbian version of the John Henryism Scale, demographic data and data on SRH and family relationships dynamics were collected. SRH was positively correlated with age and JH, and negatively correlated with a history of chronic disease. Roma males and females differed significantly on JH and a number of other variables. For Roma women, multiple regression analyses revealed that a history of chronic disease, unemployment, age and daily stress level were negatively associated with SRH, while JH, SES and harmonious relationships with one’s family/children were positively associated with SRH. For Roma men, there was no association between JH and SRH, but older age, being on welfare, a diagnosis of hypertension and extended family disputes were associated with poorer SRH. Hence, despite economic disadvantage and social exclusion from mainstream society, some Roma report good health and the ability to cope actively with economic disadvantage and social exclusion. This study adds to the literature on the cross-cultural relevance of JH theory for understanding health variations within socially and economically marginalized populations.     

Ultrasonic vocalization of the female rat (Rattus norvegicus) during mating

The characterization and frequency of occurrence of ultrasonic vocalizations produced by females rats (Rattus norvegicus) during copulation were investigated. By devocalizing one member of a male-female pair, it was demonstrated that female rats produce complex, brief 40–70-kHz vocalizations during copulation. These calls shared common structural characteristics with those produced by males and occurred with similar frequency. The female-produced vocalizations were controlled by a hormone-sensitive mechanism; ovariectomized females exhibited few, if any, vocalizations without exposure to ovarian hormones. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to previous results and to the role of these vocalizations in rodent communication.     

Courtship behaviour in Japanese macaques during heterosexual and homosexual consortships

Female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in the Arashiyama population near Kyoto, Japan, are unusual, in that they exhibit what many would consider to be male-typical sexual characteristics. Specifically, they mount other females within the context of temporary, but exclusive, sexual relationships (i.e., homosexual consortships) and they sometimes exhibit a preference for female sexual partners, even when given the choice of a sexually motivated male alternative. In this study, we examined whether female Japanese macaques also exhibited male-typical patterns of courtship behaviour during homosexual consortships. Data were collected on courtship behaviour during heterosexual and homosexual consortships in free-ranging Japanese macaques from the Arashiyama (Japan) population. We analyzed the occurrence of 12 different courtship behaviours during 3374 heterosexual inter-mount intervals and 1412 homosexual inter-mount intervals. Sex differences between heterosexually consorting males and females existed for only two of the 12 courtship behaviours we investigated: inclined-back presentations and sexual vocalizations. Dominant and subordinate homosexually consorting females were sex-typical in their expression of inclined-back presentations and sexual vocalizations. Consequently, facultative same-sex sexual partner preference, mounting and consortships do not co-occur with male-typical patterns of courtship behaviour in female Japanese macaques.     

The use of vocal signals in the social play of barbary macaques

Field studies in various species ofMacaca (Cercopithecidae) provided evidence for specific visual displays that typically accompany playful interactions. The aim of our study was to examine whether and when playing individuals would use auditory displays, i.e. vocalizations that often occur during social play as well. The study was conducted on a population of semi-free Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) with a special focus on the composition and dynamics of playful wrestling (synonymous term: ‘rough-and-tumble play’). Analyses of dyadic encounters between subadult males allowed us to distinguish five types of playful behaviours and three types of vocalizations. The latter were clearly linked to encounters where effects of visual signals were impaired, e.g. during close body contact. During wrestling, vocalizations tended to increase in the beginning of an encounter, whereas the last seconds of wrestling often showed a decline in vocalization rate. Our results allowed us to conclude that these vocalizations may supplement or in many cases even substitute interactional effects of visual signals, e.g. the ‘play face.’     

The first weeks of cohabitation of newly-formed heterosexual pairs of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

16 pairs of common marmosets were formed, six of which were observed for 7 weeks, and ten for 4 weeks. A variety of behaviours was recorded, including sexual mounting, male tongue-smacking, female slit-eyed tongue-flicking, scent marks, huddling, allogrooming and autogrooming. Behaviours associated with sexual encounters occurred initially at high levels but declined during the study period. The incidence of sexual mounting was closely related to that of male tongue-smacking and female slit-eyed tongue-flicking. Other social behaviours including scent-marking and allogrooming did not show a consistent pattern of occurrence with respect to time or sexual activity.