Behaviors associated with vocal communication of squirrels

Corinne A Diggins

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3572

Abstract

AbstractVocal communication is an important method squirrels (Sciuridae) use to transfer information from one individual to others. While behaviors associated with vocal communication have been explored in individual species or single call‐types in specific groups of squirrels, no comprehensive review of these behaviors exists for Sciuridae. Herein, I review the current literature to describe behaviors associated with vocal communication in three groups of squirrels: ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and flying squirrels. I discuss the behavioral functions of squirrel vocalizations. A wide variety of behaviors are associated with particular call‐types produced by squirrels, including alarm, agonistic, discomfort, affiliative, mating, and neonatal calls. There are large knowledge gaps in cataloging the vocal repertoires and associated behaviors of many species of squirrels, including commonly studied species such as marmots and ground squirrels, as alarm calls are typically focused on and other call‐types are understudied or ignored. Since vocal communication is important to the development, reproduction, and survival of squirrels, further understanding the biological and ecological drivers behind vocal repertoires is critical to evaluating the ethology of this family as a whole.

Highlights

For many mammals, the ability to communicate effectively with conspecifics is critical to survival
Each call-type within a vocal repertoire has distinctive parameters allowing it to be differentiated from other call-types
Vocal communication is important throughout the life of a squirrel and is essential to their development, survival, and reproductive success

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The ability to communicate effectively with conspecifics is critical to survival. Most tree squirrels are solitary or live in small groups (Gurnell 1987, Thorington et al 2012) Certain species, such as Tamiasciurus spp., are highly territorial and defend territories yearround (Gurnell 1987). They are distinguishable from tree squirrels because flying squirrels have a patagium and use gliding as a form of locomotion This group ranges from highly social species with overlapping home ranges and communal nesting to solitary species that only occur in small groups during the mating season (Thorington et al 2012). I discuss vocal repertoires of squirrels, indicating which behaviors have been researched in order to highlight data gaps and future research directions

METHODS

Findings

DISCUSSION