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Do male "long-distance calls" function in mate defense? A comparative study of long-distance calls in primates

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wich, SA; Nunn, CL
Published in: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
November 1, 2002

Long-distance calls produced by males are common among vertebrate species. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain features of male long-distance calls and their phylogenetic distribution in primates, but the putative functions of male long-distance calls have yet to be tested comprehensively. We used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate hypotheses for the function of male long-distance calls. We focused on the mate defense hypothesis, which states that male long-distance calls function in intra-sexual competition for mates, but we also examined factors involving resource defense, mate attraction, and habitat. Phylogenetic reconstruction of male long-distance calls in 158 primate species indicates that the presence of male long-distance calls is the ancestral state. The carrying distance of male long-distance calls is correlated with the size of the home range, which is consistent with the role of male long-distance calls in defending mates, attracting mates, and defending resources. However, measures of male intra-sexual competition were not associated with the evolution of male long-distance calls. Evolutionary transitions were only partly correlated with factors related to mate attraction. Instead, the strongest correlates of male long-distance calls were activity period, body mass, home range, habitat and some measures of resource defense. Our results are consistent with long-distance call production as a costly signal, but detailed study within species is required to assess these costs and the functions of long-distance calls in individual cases. Electronic Supplementary Material is available if you access this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/.

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Published In

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

DOI

ISSN

0340-5443

Publication Date

November 1, 2002

Volume

52

Issue

6

Start / End Page

474 / 484

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

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Wich, S. A., & Nunn, C. L. (2002). Do male "long-distance calls" function in mate defense? A comparative study of long-distance calls in primates. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 52(6), 474–484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-002-0541-8
Wich, S. A., and C. L. Nunn. “Do male "long-distance calls" function in mate defense? A comparative study of long-distance calls in primates.” Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 52, no. 6 (November 1, 2002): 474–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-002-0541-8.
Wich SA, Nunn CL. Do male "long-distance calls" function in mate defense? A comparative study of long-distance calls in primates. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2002 Nov 1;52(6):474–84.
Wich, S. A., and C. L. Nunn. “Do male "long-distance calls" function in mate defense? A comparative study of long-distance calls in primates.” Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, vol. 52, no. 6, Nov. 2002, pp. 474–84. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s00265-002-0541-8.
Wich SA, Nunn CL. Do male "long-distance calls" function in mate defense? A comparative study of long-distance calls in primates. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 2002 Nov 1;52(6):474–484.
Journal cover image

Published In

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

DOI

ISSN

0340-5443

Publication Date

November 1, 2002

Volume

52

Issue

6

Start / End Page

474 / 484

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences