The influence of behavioural context on Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) airborne mother-pup vocalisation

• Published in: Behavioural Processes
• Main Authors: Collins, KT, McGreevy, PD, Wheatley, KE, Harcourt, RG
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science Bv 2011
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Zoology; Animal Behaviour; Lone; Weddell; Weddell Seal
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2011.06.005; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21718762; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/78360

Previous mammalian studies have demonstrated that varying levels of signaller arousal are frequentlyexpressed through vocal behaviour. The potential for callers to convey their motivational state may ensurethat recipient responses are appropriate to their needs. The current study investigated the influence ofbehavioural context on Weddell seal mother-pup vocalisation. Mother and pup call rates were calculatedwithin five and seven behavioural contexts, respectively, and the acoustic characteristics of 69 pup callswere measured within four contexts (total calls = 276). Context significantly influenced the temporalpatterning of calls, with reuniting mothers and pups and lone active pups emitting more calls than duringmother-pup contact periods. Reuniting and lone pup calls were also characterised by longer durations,higher fundamental frequencies, and increased energy in upper harmonics. Results suggest that reunionevents and lone pup searching are characterised by calls reflective of heightened arousal, compared withmother-pup contact periods.