Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study

Luef Eva Maria; Pika Simone

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

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Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study

Luef Eva Maria, Pika Simone

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 6)

Received: 4 November 2014 Accepted: 13 November 2014 Published: 21 November 2014

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Abstract

Western lowland gorillas frequently produce a vocalization known as the DOUBLE GRUNT. It occurs in a variety of different behavioral contexts but so far no acoustical differences have been described that would distinguish DOUBLE GRUNT morphology in the particular contexts. The present study tests the hypothesis if different acoustical features characterize DOUBLE GRUNTS in different behavioral contexts. We are able to demonstrate that one acoustical variation of DOUBLE GRUNTS is consistently used in one behavioral context. Context-specificity of this kind has been described for certain chimpanzee calls and represents an interesting research avenue to investigate how species with a genetically determined vocal repertoire can achieve some degree of vocal variability. Our findings indicate that gorillas’ vocalizations also comprise calls that can be acoustically modified to be used for specific contexts.

Published in	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12
Page(s)	192-196
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Double Grunt, Context-Specific Call, Acoustic Variation

References

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APA Style

Luef Eva Maria, Pika Simone. (2014). Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 3(6), 192-196. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

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ACS Style

Luef Eva Maria; Pika Simone. Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2014, 3(6), 192-196. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

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AMA Style

Luef Eva Maria, Pika Simone. Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study. Psychol Behav Sci. 2014;3(6):192-196. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12,
  author = {Luef Eva Maria and Pika Simone},
  title = {Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {3},
  number = {6},
  pages = {192-196},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20140306.12},
  abstract = {Western lowland gorillas frequently produce a vocalization known as the DOUBLE GRUNT. It occurs in a variety of different behavioral contexts but so far no acoustical differences have been described that would distinguish DOUBLE GRUNT morphology in the particular contexts. The present study tests the hypothesis if different acoustical features characterize DOUBLE GRUNTS in different behavioral contexts. We are able to demonstrate that one acoustical variation of DOUBLE GRUNTS is consistently used in one behavioral context. Context-specificity of this kind has been described for certain chimpanzee calls and represents an interesting research avenue to investigate how species with a genetically determined vocal repertoire can achieve some degree of vocal variability. Our findings indicate that gorillas’ vocalizations also comprise calls that can be acoustically modified to be used for specific contexts.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study
AU  - Luef Eva Maria
AU  - Pika Simone
Y1  - 2014/11/21
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JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - Western lowland gorillas frequently produce a vocalization known as the DOUBLE GRUNT. It occurs in a variety of different behavioral contexts but so far no acoustical differences have been described that would distinguish DOUBLE GRUNT morphology in the particular contexts. The present study tests the hypothesis if different acoustical features characterize DOUBLE GRUNTS in different behavioral contexts. We are able to demonstrate that one acoustical variation of DOUBLE GRUNTS is consistently used in one behavioral context. Context-specificity of this kind has been described for certain chimpanzee calls and represents an interesting research avenue to investigate how species with a genetically determined vocal repertoire can achieve some degree of vocal variability. Our findings indicate that gorillas’ vocalizations also comprise calls that can be acoustically modified to be used for specific contexts.
VL  - 3
IS  - 6
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Author Information

Luef Eva Maria

Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
Pika Simone

Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany

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APA Style

Luef Eva Maria, Pika Simone. (2014). Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 3(6), 192-196. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

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ACS Style

Luef Eva Maria; Pika Simone. Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2014, 3(6), 192-196. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

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AMA Style

Luef Eva Maria, Pika Simone. Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study. Psychol Behav Sci. 2014;3(6):192-196. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12,
  author = {Luef Eva Maria and Pika Simone},
  title = {Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {3},
  number = {6},
  pages = {192-196},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20140306.12},
  abstract = {Western lowland gorillas frequently produce a vocalization known as the DOUBLE GRUNT. It occurs in a variety of different behavioral contexts but so far no acoustical differences have been described that would distinguish DOUBLE GRUNT morphology in the particular contexts. The present study tests the hypothesis if different acoustical features characterize DOUBLE GRUNTS in different behavioral contexts. We are able to demonstrate that one acoustical variation of DOUBLE GRUNTS is consistently used in one behavioral context. Context-specificity of this kind has been described for certain chimpanzee calls and represents an interesting research avenue to investigate how species with a genetically determined vocal repertoire can achieve some degree of vocal variability. Our findings indicate that gorillas’ vocalizations also comprise calls that can be acoustically modified to be used for specific contexts.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Acoustical Variation and Contextual Specificity of a Gorilla Vocalization: A Case Study
AU  - Luef Eva Maria
AU  - Pika Simone
Y1  - 2014/11/21
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 192
EP  - 196
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140306.12
AB  - Western lowland gorillas frequently produce a vocalization known as the DOUBLE GRUNT. It occurs in a variety of different behavioral contexts but so far no acoustical differences have been described that would distinguish DOUBLE GRUNT morphology in the particular contexts. The present study tests the hypothesis if different acoustical features characterize DOUBLE GRUNTS in different behavioral contexts. We are able to demonstrate that one acoustical variation of DOUBLE GRUNTS is consistently used in one behavioral context. Context-specificity of this kind has been described for certain chimpanzee calls and represents an interesting research avenue to investigate how species with a genetically determined vocal repertoire can achieve some degree of vocal variability. Our findings indicate that gorillas’ vocalizations also comprise calls that can be acoustically modified to be used for specific contexts.
VL  - 3
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download