10.5061/DRYAD.10454G0
Weissman, Yishai A.
Bar-Ilan University
Demartsev, Vlad
Tel Aviv University
Ilany, Amiyaal
Bar-Ilan University
Barocas, Adi
University of Oxford
Bar-Ziv, Einat
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Shnitser, Inbar
Bar-Ilan University
Geffen, Eli
Tel Aviv University
Koren, Lee
Bar-Ilan University
Shnitzer, Inbar
Bar-Ilan University
Data from: Acoustic stability in hyrax snorts: vocal tightrope-walkers or
wrathful verbal assailants?
Dryad
dataset
2018
inner arousal theory
Jitter
nonlinear vocalizations
Procavia capensis
source-filter theory
vocal communication
2018-09-19T14:48:17Z
2018-09-19T14:48:17Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary141
40023 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The source-filter theory proposes that information on caller properties is
communicated through acoustic qualities, as physical state and performance
ability are reflected in the voice. Vocal stability, manifested through
harshness is especially intriguing, and has rarely been explored although
harsh sounds are prevalent in nature. Male rock hyraxes (Procavia
capensis) produce loud complex calls that we term songs. Only the calls of
older, socially dominant males, include a harsh sound termed snort. As
snorts are the rarest element in songs, we hypothesized that high quality
snorts are difficult to produce, and that their quality consists in the
ability to maintain smoothness throughout this low-pitched, harsh call. We
quantified harshness by measuring periodicity deviations and expected to
find a link between social parameters (residence, rank, and weight) and
the ability to produce longer, smoother snorts. In addition, we presumed
that if calls are used as vocal contests, conspecifics would avoid
answering songs that exhibit a higher acoustic ability than their own
songs. We found that in wild hyrax songs, snort harshness was associated
with both weight and social rank, but in opposite directions. Heavier
males produced smoother snorts and higher ranked individuals produced
harsher snorts, possibly indicating aggressiveness. Playback experiments
showed that longer and harsher synthetic snorts, inserted into natural
songs, reduced conspecific answer rates. Snorts may communicate complex
information on hyrax weight and dominance by means of element length and
harshness. Our present results provide a stimulating insight into the
understanding of acoustics in mammalian vocal communication.
Snort variation analysis dataData related to the analysis of snort
roughness (jitter and shimmer) and individual characteristics.
Israel
Dead Sea