The effects of unrelated offspring whistle calls on capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) / Os efeitos do chamado de assobio de filhotes não aparentados em capivaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

Parent-offspring vocal communication, such as the isolation call, is one of the essential adaptations in mammals that adjust parental responsiveness. Thus, our aim was to test the hypothesis that the function of the capybara infants' whistle is to attract conspecifics. We designed a playback experiment to investigate the reaction of 20 adult capybaras (seven males and 13 females) to pups' whistle calls – recorded from unrelated offspring – or to bird song, as control. The adult capybaras promptly responded to playback of unrelated pup whistles, while ignoring the bird vocalisation. The adult capybaras took, on average, 2.6 ± 2.5 seconds (s) to show a response to the whistles, with no differences between males and females. However, females look longer (17.0 ± 12.9 s) than males (3.0 ± 7.2 s) toward the sound source when playing the pups' whistle playback. The females also tended to approach the playback source, while males showed just a momentary interruption of ongoing behaviour (feeding). Our results suggest that capybara pups' whistles function as the isolation call in this species, but gender influences the intensity of the response.

A comunicação vocal entre pais-filhotes, tal como os chamados de isolamento, é uma das adaptações essenciais nos mamíferos para o ajuste da resposta parental. Assim, nosso objetivo foi testar a hipótese de que a função do chamado de assobio em filhotes de capivara é para atrair co-especificos. Delineamos um experimento via playback para investigar a reação de 20 capivaras adultas (sete machos e 13 fêmeas) ao chamado de assobio de filhotes não aparentados e como controle usamos o chamado de um pássaro. As capivaras adultas prontamente responderam ao playback de assobios de filhotes não aparentados, enquanto ignoraram as vocalizações de pássaro. As capivaras levaram, em media 2,6 ± 2,5 segundos (s) para mostrar a resposta para os assobios, não havendo diferença entre machos e fêmeas. No entanto, fêmeas permanecem mais tempo (17,0 ± 12,9 s) do que os machos (3,0 ± 7,2 s) para retornar da fonte sonora após o playback de assobio iniciar. As fêmeas também tendem a aproximar-se da fonte sonora, enquanto os machos fazem uma breve interrupção do comportamento que estão engajados (comendo). Os resultados sugerem que a função do chamado de assobio de filhotes de capivaras é um chamado de isolamento na espécie e que o gênero influencia a intensidade da resposta.

Caracterización del comportamiento y las señales vibratorias en Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) durante el cortejo y la cópula / Characterization of the behavioral and vibrational signals in Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) during courtship and copulation

Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a neotropical species belonging to the family Pentatomidae with over 4 000 species described, and is distributed from Florida to Brazil. This study describes the sexual behavior and reported for the first time the production of substrate vibrations by males and females during copulatory behavior and mating. Courtship and copulatory behavior, as well as the diverse signals, were recorded with a phonographic cartridge connected to a video camera. Female vibrations were reproduced in the absence of females and the responses by males were recorded. At least three types of substrate vibrations were distinguished in males and one in females, and these signals were characterized by their low frequency, varying from 127 to 180Hz. The sounds of E. floridianus males were significantly different in frequency, duration and number of pulses, both in courtship and in copulation, for the purring and drumming sounds. The production of sounds in this species is associated principally with mechanical, stimulatory behavior during courtship and copulation. Patterns of behavior and their relation to substrate vibrations suggest that these signals are important for the males in the context of mate location and sexual selection.

Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) es una especie neotropical perteneciente a la familia Pentatomidae con más de 4 000 especies descritas, y se distribuye desde la Florida hasta Brasil. Este estudio describe el comportamiento sexual y reporta por primera vez la producción de vibraciones de sustrato por machos y hembras durante el comportamiento precopulatorio y la cópula. Se grabó tanto el comportamiento de cortejo y de cópula como las diversas señales producidas utilizando un cartucho fonográfico, conectado a una cámara de video. Posteriormente se reprodujo las vibraciones de las hembras en ausencia de estas y se registró las respuestas de los machos. Se distinguieron al menos tres vibraciones de sustrato distintas para los machos y una para las hembras, y se caracterizaron por ser señales de baja frecuencia que van desde los 127 hasta 180Hz. Las sonidos de los machos en E. floridianus fueron significativamente diferentes en la frecuencia, duración y número de pulsos tanto en el cortejo como en la cópula para los sonidos de ronroneo y tamborileo. La producción de sonidos en esta especie se asoció principalmente con comportamientos estimulatorios- mecánicos durante el cortejo y copula. Patrones de comportamiento y su relación con las vibraciones del sustrato sugiere que estas señales pueden ser importantes para los machos en el contexto de la localización de su compañera y la selección sexual.

Vocal patterns of adult females and juveniles Caiman yacare (Crocodilia: Alligatoridae) in Brazilian Pantanal wetland / Patrones de vocalización de jóvenes y hembras adultas de Caiman yacare (Crocodilia: Alligatoridae) en el Pantanal de Brasil

The Paraguayan caiman (Caiman yacare) is the main Caimaninae species occurring in the Brazilian Pantanal Wetland. Despite the relative availability of works focused on biology and conservation of the Paraguayan caiman, almost nothing is known about its vocal structure and behavior. We recorded aggressive calls of adult caiman females guarding nests and, afterwards, the distress calls of the new born juvenile caimans in seasonally flooded areas of the Nhecolândia (Southern Pantanal). The results of both observations and sonographic analyses diverged from studies with other crocodilian species. Aggressive vocalization of adult females of the Paraguayan caiman was longer and more complex than the same vocalization of larger Alligatoridae species. Vocalizations of the young caimans presented interspecific differences with other crocodilian offsprings. Moreover, we found statistically significant intraspecific variation in the distress call structure among different pods, even separated by few kilometers. Differences in distress call structure were tested by Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA). We obtained the squared Mahalanobis distances between the acoustic multivariate spaces of each pod provided by the CDA and compared with the geographic distance between the bays of origin of each pod through Mantel Test. The geographic distance by itself did not explain the differences found in the structure of the vocalization of young caimans from different pods. The adult females of Paraguayan caiman positively responded to playbacks of calls from juvenile caimans from pods of other regions, as well as to rough imitations of distress call. Since the adult caimans showed protective responses to quite heterogeneous vocalizations of distress by juveniles, we hypothesized that the variation in the distress call pattern may be associated to a low specificity in sound recognition by adult caimans.

Poco se conoce sobre la estructura vocal del Caiman yacare del Pantanal brasileño. Llamadas agresivas de hembras adultas que cuidaban de los nidos fueron registradas durante enero y febrero y llamadas de socorro de caimanes jóvenes, en abril de 1992. Hembras adultas de C. yacare presentaron una vocalización agresiva más larga y compleja que en otras especies más grandes de Alligatoridae. Las vocalizaciones de los jóvenes caimanes también presentaron diferencias interespecíficas con otros cocodrilos y variaciones intraespecíficas entre grupos separados por pocos kilómetros. Se utilizó la Prueba de Mantel para comparar las distancias de Mahalanobis entre la estructura de las vocalizaciones de los jóvenes de acuerdo con sus grupos y las distancias geográficas donde ellos estaban. La distancia geográfica en sí no explica las diferencias en las vocalizaciones de jóvenes de diferentes grupos. Hembras adultas de C. yacare han respondido a grabaciones de llamadas de caimanes de grupos de otras regiones, así como a imitaciones de llamada de socorro. Se postula que las variaciones en las llamadas de socorro pueden estar asociadas con una baja especificidad en el reconocimiento de sonido por caimanes adultos que han respondido de la misma forma protectora a las más heterogéneas expresiones de peligro de los jóvenes.

Bioacústica del canto de advertencia de Ceratophrys cranwelli (Anura: Ceratophrydae) / Bioacoustic of the advertisement call of Ceratophrys cranwelli (Anura: Ceratophryidae)

The advertisement call plays an important role in the life history of anuran amphibians, mainly during the breeding season. Call features represent an important character to discriminate species, and sound emissions are very effective to assure or reinforce genetic incompatibility, especially in the case of sibling species. Since frogs are ectotherms, acoustic properties of their calls will vary with temperature. In this study, we described the advertisement call of C. cranwelli, quantifying the temperature effect on its components. The acoustic emissions were recorded during 2007 using a DAT record Sony™ TCD-100 with stereo microphone ECM-MS907 Sony™ and tape TDK™ DAT-RGX 60. As males emit their calls floating in temporary ponds, water temperatures were registered after recording the advertisement calls with a digital thermometer TES 1 300±0.1°C. Altogether, 54 calls from 18 males were analyzed. The temporal variables of each advertisement call were measured using oscillograms and sonograms and the analyses of dominant frequency were performed using a spectrogram. Multiple correlation analysis was used to identify the temperature-dependent acoustic variables and the temperature effect on these variables was quantified using linear regression models. The advertisement call of C. cranwelli consists of a single pulse group. Call duration, Pulse duration and Pulse interval decreased with the temperature, whereas the Pulse rate increased with temperature. The temperature-dependent variables were standardized at 25°C according to the linear regression model obtained. The acoustic variables that were correlated with the temperature are the variables which emissions depend on laryngeal muscles and the temperature constraints the contractile properties of muscles. Our results indicated that temperature explains an important fraction of the variability in some acoustic variables (79% in the Pulse rate), and demonstrated the importance of considering the effect of temperature in acoustic components. The results suggest that acoustic variables show geographic variation to compare data with previous works.

El canto de advertencia en anuros es especie-específico, pero como los anfibios son organismos ectotermos, las variables acústicas pueden estar afectadas por la temperatura. Se describe el canto de advertencia de Ceratophrys cranwelli cuantificando el efecto de la temperatura sobre sus componentes. Los cantos se grabaron in situ y se registró la temperatura del sitio de canto. Un total de 54 cantos de 18 individuos fueron digitalizados y analizados. Las variables temporales de cada canto de advertencia fueron medidas a partir de los oscilogramas y sonogramas, mientras que el análisis de frecuencia se realizó a través del espectrograma. Mediante análisis de correlación múltiple se identificaron las variables acústicas temperatura-dependientes y el efecto de la temperatura fue cuantificado mediante los modelos de regresión lineal obtenidos. C. cranwelli posee un canto de advertencia simple pulsado. Las variables Duración del canto, Duración del pulso e Intervalo entre pulso decrecen con la temperatura, en tanto que la Tasa de pulsos está directamente correlacionada con la temperatura. Las variables temperatura-dependientes fueron estandarizadas a 25ºC según el modelo de regresión lineal obtenido para ser comparadas con datos publicados. Se demuestra la importante variabilidad que produce la temperatura en algunas propiedades del canto de C. cranwelli.

Ultrasound call detection in capybara / Detecção de chamados de ultrassom em capivara

The vocal repertoire of some animal species has been considered a non-invasive tool to predict distress reactivity. In rats ultrasound emissions were reported as distress indicator. Capybaras[ vocal repertoire was reported recently and seems to have ultrasound calls, but this has not yet been confirmed. Thus, in order to check if a poor state of welfare was linked to ultrasound calls in the capybara vocal repertoire, the aim of this study was to track the presence of ultrasound emissions in 11 animals under three conditions: 1) unrestrained; 2) intermediately restrained, and 3) highly restrained. The ultrasound track identified frequencies in the range of 31.8±3.5 kHz in adults and 33.2±8.5 kHz in juveniles. These ultrasound frequencies occurred only when animals were highly restrained, physically restrained or injured during handling. We concluded that these calls with ultrasound components are related to pain and restraint because they did not occur when animals were free of restraint. Thus we suggest that this vocalization may be used as an additional tool to assess capybaras[ welfare.

O repertório vocal de algumas espécies de animais tem sido considerado uma ferramenta não invasiva para predizer o distresse. Em ratos, emissões de ultrassom foram registradas como indicador de distresse. O repertório vocal de capivaras foi relatado recentemente e parece haver a presença de chamados em ultrassom que ainda não foram confirmados. Assim para associar o estado de bem-estar empobrecido em capivaras e a possibilidade de ocorrência de ultrassom em seu repertório vocal, o presente estudo teve como objetivo rastrear a presença deste tipo de vocalização em 11 animais submetidos a três condições diferentes: 1) sem contenção; 2) média contenção e 3) alta contenção. O rastreamento revelou a presença de faixas de frequência de 31,8±3,5 kHz em adultos e 33,2±8,5 kHz em filhotes. Estas emissões encontradas na faixa de ultrassom ocorreram apenas durante a alta contenção, quando contidos fisicamente ou feridos durante o manejo. Concluímos que tais emissões, com componentes de ultrassom, estão relacionadas à dor e ao distresse de contenção pois não ocorreram quando os animais estavam livres de contenção. Assim sugerimos que esta vocalização pode ser usada como uma ferramenta adicional para acessar o estado de bem-estar em capivaras.

On the relationships between ultrasonic calling and anxiety-related behavior in rats

In the present review, the phenomenon of ultrasonic vocalization in rats will be outlined, including the three classes of vocalizations, namely 40-kHz calls of pups, and 22- and 50-kHz calls of juvenile and adult rats, their general relevance to behavioral neuroscience, and their special relevance to research on anxiety, fear, and defense mechanisms. Here, the emphasis will be placed on 40- and 22-kHz calls, since they are typical for various situations with aversive properties. Among other topics, we will discuss whether such behavioral signals can index a certain affective state, and how these signals can be used in social neuroscience, especially with respect to communication. Furthermore, we will address the phenomenon of inter-individual variability in ultrasonic calling and what we currently know about the mechanisms, which may determine such variability. Finally, we will address the current knowledge on the neural and pharmacological mechanisms underlying 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalization, which show a substantial overlap with mechanisms known from other research on fear and anxiety, such as those involving the periaqueductal gray or the amygdala.

Copulatory courtship song in Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Lutzomyia migonei is a vector of leishmaniasis with a wide distribution in South America, which could favour population differentiation and speciation. Cryptic species of the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex, the widely distributed sand fly vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America, have previously been shown to display distinct copulation songs. We found that Lu. migonei males also produce a song during copulation. This "lovesong" presents short trains (6-8 pulses) with an inter-pulse interval around 26 ms and is potentially involved in cryptic female choice and insemination success.

Acoustic communication and vocalization microhabitat in Ameerega braccata (Steindachner, 1864) (Anura, Dendrobatidae) from Midwestern Brazil / Comunicação acústica e microhabitat de vocalização em Ameerega braccata (Steindachner, 1864) (Anura, Dendrobatidae) do centro-oeste do Brasil

Ameerega braccata is an aposematic, small dendrobatid anuran known from its type-locality, Chapada dos Guimarães, in the State of Mato Grosso, and from a few additional localities in Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás States, Brazil. The advertisement call of A. braccata is composed of a single unpulsed note, with a frequency range from 3.5 to 4.2 KHz (N = 110), and average duration of 65.8 ms (N = 110, SD = 11.6). The territorial call is composed of five or six repeated notes, structurally similar to advertisement call notes. The courtship call is emitted in close-range interactions between male-female during the courtship event and may reach frequencies of 2.2 to 5.3 KHz (N = 10), with shorter notes (average duration 43 ms; N = 10; SD = 4.9). Call duration, note duration and call rate of the advertisement call showed high variation (>15 percent of coefficient of variation), and dominant frequency showed low variation (<4 percent). The properties with higher variation possibly respond to climatic features and male social position. When producing advertisement calls, males were usually found at an average height of 31.4 cm (N = 19, SD = 12.2 cm), mainly on leaves of shrubs and herbaceous plants (59 percent). Individuals of A. braccata were found in open physiognomies in the Cerrado ("campo sujo" and "cerrado stricto sensu"), as opposed to that found by previous researchers, who reported an association of the species with gallery forests in the Cerrado.

Ameerega braccata é um pequeno anuro aposemático da família Dendrobatidae, conhecido de sua localidade-tipo, Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso e outras localidades adicionais em Mato Grosso do Sul e Goiás, Brasil. A vocalização de anúncio de A. braccata é composta de uma única nota, não pulsionada, com amplitude de frequência entre 3,5 e 4,2 KHz (N = 110) e duração média de 65,8 ms (N = 110, DP = 11,6). A vocalização territorial é composta por cinco ou seis notas repetidas, estruturalmente similares às notas da vocalização de anúncio. Vocalização de corte é emitida em interações de proximidade entre machos e fêmeas durante o processo de corte, podendo alcançar frequências entre 2,2 e 5,3 KHz (N = 10), com notas curtas (duração média 43 ms; N = 10; DP = 4,9). A duração do canto, a duração da nota e a taxa de repetição de canto de anúncio apresentam alta variação (>15 por cento de coeficiente de variação), ao passo que a frequência dominante apresenta baixa variação (<4 por cento). As propriedades com variação alta podem variar de acordo com características climáticas e possivelmente em função do contexto social do macho emissor. Quando em exibição de anúncio, os machos foram usualmente encontrados a uma altura média de 31,4 cm (N = 19, DP = 12,2 cm), principalmente sobre folhas de arbustos e plantas herbáceas (59 por cento). Indivíduos de A. braccata foram encontrados em fisionomias abertas no cerrado ("campo sujo" e "cerrado stricto sensu"), em oposição aos relatos prévios, os quais registraram uma associação da espécie com floresta de galeria no cerrado.

Reproductive isolation between sympatric and allopatric Brazilian populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l., the main vector of Leishmania chagasi in Latin America, is a species complex although the exact number of siblings is yet unknown. In Brazil, the siblings differ in male copulatory courtship songs and pheromones that most certainly act as pre-zygotic reproductive barriers. Here we analysed the reproductive isolation between three allopatric and two sympatric populations of Lu. longipalpis s.l. from Brazil. The results indicate a strong copulatory and pre-mating isolation between the three allopatric populations. In addition, the results also indicate a stronger pre-mating isolation between the two sympatric siblings than between the three allopatric ones, suggesting a role for reinforcement in the speciation of the Lu. longipalpis s.l. complex.

Comparative anatomy of the syrinx in the tribe arini (Aves psittacidae)

The syrinx is the organ responsible for producing the vast majority of bird sounds. Because its anatomyvaries greatly among bird taxa, prior knowledge of variations is extremely important to studies of functionalanatomy and phylogenetic systematics. With the aim of accessing and describing morphological variationin birds of the tribe Arini, this paper presents the findings of a comparative analysis of the syrinxes of 156specimens belonging to 47 species in 22 genera of the tribe. A number of hitherto unknown variationsare highlighted and confronted with the knowledge produced to date on the morphology of the syrinx inPsittaciformes. Some of the variations detected occurred in structures probably involved in sound productionand this should be taken into consideration in future studies of functional anatomy. Several characterssuggest the presence of a phylogenetic signal, given the congruence between their distribution among taxaand the hypotheses regarding monophyletic groupings proposed in the literature. Some of the variationsfound, including those suggesting a phylogenetic signal, are intraspecifically polymorphic, which reinforcesthe importance of using series of specimens in studies of syrinx anatomy.

Hemidactylus frenatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae): call frequency, movement and condition of tail in Costa Rica

Call frequency and movements of the gecko Hemidactylus frenatus were studied in Punta Morales, Costa Rica from April 1999 through May 2000. Call activity of H. frenatus was positively related to air temperature at night and throughout the year. Higher activity was at dusk, dawn, and during the hottest months. Call frequency was related with gecko abundance per month, although not during the night. More males and females had a regenerated tail compared to juveniles, the last ones could have it complete or regenerated. Females moved longer distances than males and juveniles. Adults were found higher on walls. Males and females were recaptured more times than juveniles, and the period of time between their recaptures was longer. Members of this population do not seem to be as aggressive to other geckos as mentioned in the literature.

Estudié la frecuencia de canto y el desplazamiento de la lagartija Hemidactylus frenatus en Punta Morales, Costa Rica. La frecuencia de canto se corelaciona positivamente con la temperatura ambiental durante la noche y con la temperatura a lo largo del año. La mayor actividad fue al anochecer, al amanecer y durante los meses más calurosos. La abundancia mensual de lagartijas se relacionó con la frecuencia de canto, no así la abundancia por noche. Las colas regeneradas son más frecuentes en hembras y machos que en las lagartijas jóvenes. Las hembras se desplazaron mayores distancias que machos y jóvenes. Los adultos se encontraban más alto en las paredes de los edificios. Los machos y hembras se recapturaron más veces que los jóvenes, y el tiempo entre recapturas fue mayor. Esta población no parece ser tan agresiva como se menciona en la literatura.

Stridulatory sound emission of Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus Champion, 1899, (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Este estudo contém o primeiro reporte da estridulação observada em Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus Champion, 1899, e um novo registro desta espécie na Venezuela. Descrevem-se as condições em que ocorre a estridulação, como também as características gerais das localidades onde foi capturado. Este triatomino só emite som em condições de extrema provocação.

Análisis de la conducta vocal en cobayos infantes con o sin hipoacusia provocada / Analisys of the vocal behavior in infant guinea pigs with or without induced deafness

El objeto del trabajo fue analizar el comportamiento de las vocalizaciones en cobayos recién nacidos con audición normal e hipoacúsicos. Para ello se utilizaron 10 camadas de cobayos pigmentados, cada camada consistía en la madre y sus hijos viviendo en jaulas separadas. De cada camada se utilizaron a las dos hijas hembras de mayor peso a una de las cuales se le destruyeron las cócleas al nacimiento. Cinco días a la semana se registraron las vocalizaciones que emitía cada grupo (sordas o normales) hasta el día 40 post nacimiento. Para el análisis de resultados se cuantificó la cantidad de vocalizaciones que emitía cada grupo y se hicieron estudios estadísticos que mostraron diferencia significativa con p<0.05. Los resultados señalan la importancia de la retroalimentación auditiva para la evolución y desarrollo de vocalizaciones en esta especie.

Visual and acoustic communication in non-human animals: a comparison.

The visual and auditory systems are two major sensory modalities employed in communication. Although communication in these two sensory modalities can serve analogous functions and evolve in response to similar selection forces, the two systems also operate under different constraints imposed by the environment and the degree to which these sensory modalities are recruited for non-communication functions. Also, the research traditions in each tend to differ, with studies of mechanisms of acoustic communication tending to take a more reductionist tack often concentrating on single signal parameters, and studies of visual communication tending to be more concerned with multivariate signal arrays in natural environments and higher level processing of such signals. Each research tradition would benefit by being more expansive in its approach.

Anatomia comparada dos órgäos da fonaçao e sua filogenia / Comparative anatomy of the vocal organs and its filogeny

Estudos anatomocomparativos geralmente fornecem subsídios importantes para o entendimento da evoluçao animal. Na presente revisao abordaremos as origens e modificaçoes do aparato fonador sofridas através das classes animais. Serao descritas as estruturas que deram origem aos atuais órgaos da fonaçao, bem como adaptaçoes e variaçoes presentes desde peixes até mamiferos. Acreditamos contribuir a futuros trabalhos na área da cirurgia experimental e técnicas afins, demonstrando as similitudes e diferenças em relaçao ao homem.

Effect of duration of stress on pain threshold in rats.

Rats were subjected to immobilization stress of varying duration and their pain thresholds were recorded. It was seen that stress of lesser duration did not affect the endogenous opioid analgesic system while stressor of longer duration stimulated this system to its maximum irrespective of further increasing the duration of the stress condition even upto two fold.

Effects of massive telencephalic lesions on the organization of behavior in pigeons (Columba livia)

The effect of massive lesions of the telencephalon on the repertoire of captive pigeons were investigated. The behavior of four birds with an intact telencephalon was compared to that of four birds submitted to ablation of telencephalic structures. Behavioral audio recording was done according to previously defined categories in three daily sessions for fifteen days. Experimental birds were followed up for month. Immediately after the lesion, operated birds showed decreases in the occurrence of different behaviors such as coording movements, feeding, interaction, preening, maintenance, exploration and vocalization and increases in locomotion and discrete movements of the body when compared to the control birds (P<0.05). Recovery of exploration (P<0.05), feeding and localization was during the follow-up period. These data are interpreted as suggestive of a functional role of the telencephalon in the organization of behavior and a long-term recovery of behavior after detelencephalation