Abstract
The laboratory mouse is an emerging model for context-dependent vocal signaling and reception. Mouse ultrasonic vocalizations are robustly produced in social contexts. In adults, male vocalization during courtship has become a model of interest for signal-receiver interactions. These vocalizations can be grouped into syllable types that are consistently produced by different subspecies and strains of mice. Vocalizations are unique to individuals, vary across development, and depend on social housing conditions. The behavioral significance of different syllable types, including the contexts in which different vocalizations are made and the responses listeners have to different types of vocalizations, is not well understood. We examined the effect of female presence and estrous state on male vocalizations by exploring the use of syllable types and the parameters of syllables during courtship. We also explored correlations between vocalizations and other behaviors. These experimental manipulations produced four main findings: 1) vocalizations varied among males, 2) the production of USVs and an increase in the use of a specific syllable type were temporally related to mounting behavior, 3) the frequency (kHz), bandwidth, and duration of syllables produced by males were influenced by the estrous phase of female partners, and 4) syllable types changed when females were removed. These findings show that mouse ultrasonic courtship vocalizations are sensitive to changes in female phase and presence, further demonstrating the context-sensitivity of these calls.
Highlights
Animal vocal communication is a widespread phenomenon that provides insight into context-dependent signaling and reception [1,2,3,4,5,6]
This was most convincingly demonstrated by a study in which devocalizing males reduced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) production to the level shown by devocalized malefemale pairs, and devocalizing females had no effect on USV
We discuss whether the courtship USVs we measured can best be attributed to males or females, the relationship between USVs and other courtship behaviors, the importance of female presence and estrous state on production of courtship USVs, and the implications of these findings for female responses to courtship USVs
Summary
Animal vocal communication is a widespread phenomenon that provides insight into context-dependent signaling and reception [1,2,3,4,5,6]. USVs are produced at a high rate during male-female interactions. Both sexes produce USVs, the majority of USVs produced during male-female interactions in the genus Mus are believed to be from males [9,10,19,20,21]. The overall number of syllables and even particular syllable types produced by males correspond to particular courtship behaviors such as mounting and social investigation [24,25]. Non-kin USVs over familiar USVs from siblings [23] All of these findings suggest that USVs have an important role in courtship, potentially facilitating mate attraction or mate choice. Whether the finer structure of courtship vocalizations is important to this role, how spectrotemporal features of syllables correspond to behaviorally important aspects of courtship, is not well understood
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