Abstract
Alarm calls that carry information about the identity of the caller may help the receiver decide how to react. We recorded the tsik calls of six captive adult marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in two different social groups in response to snake models at two time points (summer 2014 and January 2015). We measured eight acoustic variables including duration, inter-call interval, minimum and maximum frequency, and starting, maximum and ending peak frequency. Discriminant function analyses (DFA) confirmed that calls were individually distinct at both time periods (78.88 and 79.89% correctly classified at time one and time two, respectively). Stability of the vocal signatures was assessed using the DFA model for summer 2014 to classify calls elicited in January 2015. Although the classification rates were lower in 2015, calls were still classified more than would be expected by chance (64.50%). This suggests that acoustic signatures of common marmoset tsik calls remain fairly stable over time and therefore remain recognizable by their groupmates. However, during that six-month period, at least three (out of seven) acoustic parameters changed such that they were significantly higher or lower in all six marmosets; in two marmosets six out of seven parameters changed. Changes to individual ‘voices’ of animals, despite overall stability reflected in above-chance matching of calls over time in a DFA analysis, may have implications for acoustic research.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.