Acoustical expression of arousal in conflict situations in tree shrews (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tupaia belangeri)</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Simone Schehka Karl-Heinz Esser Elke Zimmermann |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany |
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Abstract: | Empirical research on human and non-human primates suggests that communication sounds express the intensity of an emotional
state of a signaller. In the present study, we have examined communication sounds during induced social interactions of a
monogamous mammal, the tree shrew. To signal their unwillingness to mate, female tree shrews show defensive threat displays
towards unfamiliar males paralleled by acoustically variable squeaks. We assumed that the distance between interacting partners
as well as the behavior of the male towards the female indicates the intensity of perceived social threat and thereby the
arousal state of a female. To explore this hypothesis we analyzed dynamic changes in communication sounds uttered during induced
social interactions between a female and an unfamiliar male. Detailed videographic and sound analyzes revealed that the arousal
state predicted variations in communication sound structure reliably. Both, a decrease of distance and a male approaching
the female led to an increase in fundamental frequency and repetition rate of syllables. These findings support comparable
results in human and non-human primates and suggest that common coding rules in communication sounds govern acoustic conflict
regulation in mammals. |
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Keywords: | Communication Emotion Defensive threat Conflict Sounds |
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