Form and function of long-range vocalizations in a Neotropical fossorial rodent, the Anillaco Tuco-Tuco (Ctenomys sp.)

AMAYA JP; ARETA JI; VALENTINUZZI V; ZUFIAURRE E

PeerJ

PeerJ

Año: 2016

<!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face{font-family:"Cambria Math";panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face{font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-unhide:no;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:ES;}.MsoChpDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;mso-default-props:yes;font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:ES;}.MsoPapDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;}@page WordSection1{size:8.5in 11.0in;margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;mso-header-margin:.5in;mso-footer-margin:.5in;mso-paper-source:0;}div.WordSection1{page:WordSection1;}-->The underground environment poses particular communication challengesfor subterranean rodents. Some loud and low-pitched acoustic signals that cantravel long distances are appropriate for long-range underground communicationand have been suggested to be territorial signals. Long-range vocalizations areimportant in long-distance communication in Ctenomystuco-tucos. We characterized the long-range vocalization of the AnillacoTuco-Tuco (Ctenomys sp.) usingrecordings from free-living individuals and described the behavioral context inwhich this vocalization was produced during laboratory staged encountersbetween individuals of both sexes. Long-range calls of Anillaco tuco-tucos arelow-frequency, broad-band, loud, and long sounds composed by the repetition oftwo syllable types: series (formed by notes and soft-notes) and individualnotes. All vocalizations were initiated with series, but not all had individualnotes. Males were heavier than females and gave significantly lower-pitchedvocalizations, but acoustic features were independent of body mass in males.The pronounced variation among individuals in the arrangement and number ofsyllables and the existence of three types of series (dyads, triads, andtetrads), created a diverse collection of syntactic patterns in vocalizations thatwould the opportunity to encode multiple types of information. The existence ofcomplex syntactic patterns and the description of soft-notes represent newaspects on the vocal communication of Ctenomys.Long-distance vocalizations by Anillaco Tuco-Tucos appear to be territorialsignals used mostly in male-male interactions. First, emission of long-rangevocalizations resulted in de-escalation or space-keeping in male-male andmale-female encounters in laboratory experiments. Second, these vocalizationswere produced most frequently (in the field and in the lab) by males in ourstudy population.Third, males produced long-range vocalizations with greaterfrequency during male-male encounters compared to male-female encounters.Finally, males appear to have larger home ranges that were more spatiallysegregated than those of females, suggesting that males may have greater needfor long-distance signals that advertise their presence. Due to their apparentrarity, the function and acoustic features of long-range vocalizations infemale tuco-tucos remain inadequately known.