Suffixation influences receivers' behaviour in non-human primates - PubMed (original) (raw)

Suffixation influences receivers' behaviour in non-human primates

Camille Coye et al. Proc Biol Sci. 2015.

Abstract

Compared to humans, non-human primates have very little control over their vocal production. Nonetheless, some primates produce various call combinations, which may partially offset their lack of acoustic flexibility. A relevant example is male Campbell's monkeys (Cercopithecus campbelli), which give one call type ('Krak') to leopards, while the suffixed version of the same call stem ('Krak-oo') is given to unspecific danger. To test whether recipients attend to this suffixation pattern, we carried out a playback experiment in which we broadcast naturally and artificially modified suffixed and unsuffixed 'Krak' calls of male Campbell's monkeys to 42 wild groups of Diana monkeys (Cercopithecus diana diana). The two species form mixed-species groups and respond to each other's vocalizations. We analysed the vocal response of male and female Diana monkeys and overall found significantly stronger vocal responses to unsuffixed (leopard) than suffixed (unspecific danger) calls. Although the acoustic structure of the 'Krak' stem of the calls has some additional effects, subject responses were mainly determined by the presence or the absence of the suffix. This study indicates that suffixation is an evolved function in primate communication in contexts where adaptive responses are particularly important.

Keywords: alarm calls; field experiment; guenon; syntax.

© 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

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Figures

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Median and inter-quartile range in the four experimental conditions natural ‘Krak’ (K, N = 11), artificial ‘Krak’ (K( ), N = 9), natural ‘Krak-oo’ (K+, N = 12) and artificial ‘Krak-oo’ (K(+), N = 10) for each variable studied. (a_–_e) The number of calls given, respectively, by the male (a) and by the group with (b) ‘Alk’ alarm call units, given alone and combined with an R unit, (c) ‘W’ alarm call units, given alone and combined with an R unit, (d) number of ‘RA’ alert calls given (combination of ‘R’ and ‘A’ call units) and (e) sum of three positive social call units and combinations between them (i.e. H, L, A call units and HA and LA calls). Plots (f) and (g) show the duration of alarm, respectively, for the male (f) and the group (g). Finally, (h) and (i) show latency to give first call, respectively, for the male (h) and the group (i).

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Spectrographic representation of (a) ‘Krak’ and (b) ‘Krak-oo’ calls. Black circle: ‘oo’ suffix.

References

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