Information content of female copulation calls in yellow baboons.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
In a wide variety of animal species, females produce vocalizations just before, during, or immediately after copulation. Observational and experimental evidence indicates that these copulation calls are sexually selected traits, functioning to promote competition between males for access to the calling female. In this paper, we present an acoustic analysis of variation in the form of copulation calls of female yellow baboons, Papio cynocephalus cynocephalus. In particular, we examine whether information about three factors-the calling female's reproductive state, the occurrence or absence of ejaculation, and the dominance rank of the mating male-is encoded in call structure and hence is potentially available to male receivers attending to the signal. Although several features of copulation calls were correlated with each of these factors, when all three were included in multiple regressions only reproductive state and rank of the mating male had independent effects on call form. These findings indicate that female copulation calls in this species signal information about the proximity to ovulation of the calling female and also the relative competitive strength of her mating partner.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Semple, S; McComb, K; Alberts, S; Altmann, J
Published Date
- January 2002
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 56 / 1
Start / End Page
- 43 - 56
PubMed ID
- 11793412
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1098-2345
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0275-2565
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1002/ajp.1062
Language
- eng