Mother–pup vocal recognition in harbour seals: influence of maternal behaviour, pup voice and habitat sound properties

• Published in: Animal Behaviour
• Main Authors: Sauvé, Caroline C., Beauplet, Gwénaël, Hammill, Mike O., Charrier, Isabelle
• Other Authors: Université Laval Québec (ULaval), Maurice-Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (NeuroPSI), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: [SDV.NEU.NB]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Neurobiology; [SDV.NEU.PC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Psychology and behavior; [SDV.NEU.SC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Cognitive Sciences; harbour seal; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01402090; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.04.011

International audience Mother–pup vocal recognition abilities in pinnipeds reflect maternal reproductive strategies. In otariids, mother–pup pairs are frequently separated during lactation, pups are highly mobile at an early stage, and the high densities of colonies increase the risks of confusion between individuals. Accordingly, vocal recognition between mothers and pups is well developed in this group. In contrast, among phocids, the young are less mobile and mothers normally stay with their pups throughout lactation. Hence, the risks of confusion between individuals are relatively low and mother–young vocal recognition abilities are less developed in this family. Harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, are unique among phocids as females forage during lactation and pups are highly mobile throughout the 21–42-day nursing period. We performed playback experiments on 18 breeding female harbour seals to assess their abilities to recognize the calls of their pup and to evaluate the effect of maternal protectiveness and pup vocal stereotypy on the recognition process. In addition, we performed propagation tests to assess pup call propagation efficiency in the environment. As early as 3 days after birth, females were more responsive to calls of their own pup than to calls of nonfilial pups. Female responses also varied depending on their protective behaviour displayed towards their pup. Vocal discrimination abilities were positively correlated with the level of individuality conveyed in pup calls. Considerable differences in the propagation efficiency of pup calls were measured among sites used for mother–pup reunions. This study provides experimental evidence that wild harbour seal females recognize the calls of their pup among others, and that they memorize previous versions of their pup's calls, taking into account age- and size-related effects on vocalizations. Propagation tests further suggest that some mother–pup reunion sites are better suited for vocal recognition than others.