3 results
16 - Recording primate vocalizations
- Edited by Joanna M. Setchell, University of Durham, Deborah J. Curtis, Oxford Brookes University
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- Book:
- Field and Laboratory Methods in Primatology
- Published online:
- 05 June 2012
- Print publication:
- 03 February 2011, pp 287-304
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
Ornithologists have been exploring the possibilities and the methodology of recording and archiving animal sounds for many decades. Primatologists, however, have only relatively recently become aware that recordings of primate sound may be just as valuable as traditional scientific specimens such as skins or skeletons, and should be preserved for posterity (Fig. 16.1). Audio recordings should be fully documented, archived and curated to ensure proper care and accessibility. As natural populations disappear, sound archives will become increasingly important (Bradbury et al.,1999).
Studying animal vocal communication is also relevant from the perspective of behavioural ecology. Vocal communication plays a central role in animal societies. Calls are believed to provide various types and amounts of information. These may include, among other things: (1) information about the sender's identity (e.g. species, sex, age class, group membership or individual identity); (2) information about the sender's status and mood (e.g. dominance, fear or aggressive motivation, fitness); and (3) information about relevant events or discoveries in the sender's environment (e.g. predators, food location). When studying acoustic communication, sound recordings are usually required to analyse the spectral and temporal structure of vocalizations or to perform playback experiments (Chapter 11).
This chapter describes how to record non-human primate vocalizations. We begin with definitions of some technical terms, then provide information on the advantages and disadvantages of various types of equipment (sound recorders, microphones and other equipment).
15 - Tape-recording primate vocalisations
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- By Thomas Geissmann, University of Zürich
- Edited by Joanna M. Setchell, University of Surrey, Roehampton, Deborah J. Curtis, University of Surrey, Roehampton
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- Book:
- Field and Laboratory Methods in Primatology
- Published online:
- 05 June 2012
- Print publication:
- 18 September 2003, pp 228-238
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- Chapter
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
Ornithologists have been exploring the possibilities and methodology of tape-recording and archiving animal sounds for many decades. Primatologists, however, have only recently become aware that tape-recordings of primate sound may be just as valuable as traditional scientific specimens such as skins or skeletons, and should be preserved for posterity. Audio recordings should be fully documented, archived and curated to ensure proper care and accessibility. As natural populations disappear, sound archives will become increasingly important.
This article describes how to tape-record non-human primate vocalisations. It provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of various types of equipment, and gives tips for better recordings of primate vocalisations, both in the field and in the zoo. Ornithologists have to deal with very similar problems, and their introductory texts are recommended for further study (e.g. Budney & Grotke, 1997; Kroodsma et al., 1996; see also ‘Internet sites with review texts on recording nature sounds’ at the end of this chapter). Methods and equipment required for sound analysis are not included, as information on that topic has been presented elsewhere (Charif et al., 1995; Hopp et al., 1998).
As a rule, prices for sound equipment go up over the years. Prices for equipment discussed below should only be used as very rough estimates. Retailers' prices differ widely and comparing prices over the Internet before buying is recommended.
Duet-splitting and the evolution of gibbon songs
- THOMAS GEISSMANN
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- Journal:
- Biological Reviews / Volume 77 / Issue 1 / February 2002
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 March 2002, pp. 57-76
- Print publication:
- February 2002
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Unlike the great apes and most other primates, all species of gibbons are known to produce elaborate, species-specific and sex-specific patterns of vocalisation usually referred to as “songs”. In most, but not all, species, mated pairs may characteristically combine their songs in a relatively rigid pattern to produce coordinated duet songs. Previous studies disagree on whether duetting or the absence of duetting represented the primitive condition in gibbons. The present study compares singing behaviour in all gibbon species. Various vocal characteristics were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis using previously published phylogenetic trees of the gibbon radiation as a framework. Variables included the degree of sex-specificity of the vocal repertoire, the occurrence of solo songs, and the preference for a specific time of day for song-production. The results suggest the following scenario for the evolution of gibbon songs: (1) The last common ancestor of recent gibbons produced duet songs. (2) Gibbon duets probably evolved from a song which was common to both sexes and which only later became separated into male-specific and female-specific parts (song-splitting theory). (3) A process tentatively called “duet-splitting” is suggested to have led secondarily from a duetting species to a non-duetting species, in that the contributions of the pair-partners split into temporally segregated solo songs. This appears to be the first time that a non-duetting animal can be shown to be derived from a duetting form. (4) The return to exclusive solo singing may be related to the isolated island distribution of the non-duetting species.