penguin chicks, A. forsteriis, can each recognize the calls of their parents
(Jouventin et al. 1999; Aubin et al. 2000), in the latter case by using harmonic interference patterns generated by the simultaneous production of
two sounds in different halves of the syrinx (the vocal-production organ in
birds). Adult king penguins can also recognize their mate’s calls (Lengagne
et al. 2000), as can spectacled parrotlets, Forpus conspicillatus (Wanker
et al. 1998), and several species of songbirds (Lind et al. 1997; O’Loghlen
and Beecher 1997, 1999; Beguin et al. 1998).
Vocalization-based kin recognition is also apparent among a variety of
mammalian species, including some populations of gray seals, Halichoerus
grypus (McCulloch and Boness 2000), and Northern fur seals, Callorhinus
ursinus, where mother-offspring recognition is maintained for many years
beyond the breeding season (Insley 2000). In addition, bottlenose dolphins,
Tursiops truncatus, have individually distinctive “signature” whistles long
thought to function in recognition. Recent data confirm this by showing that
mothers can recognize the whistles of their independent offspring and that
independent offspring can recognize the whistles of their mother (Sayigh
et al. 1999).
Female African elephants, Loxodonta africana, appear to have extensive
networks of vocal recognition, distinguishing the infrasonic calls of female
family, bond group, and even more distant kin from those of females outside
these categories (McComb et al. 2000). Female spotted hyenas, Crocuta
crocuta, can also recognize specific vocalizations of their own pups
(Holekamp et al. 1999). Female greater spear-nosed bats, Phyllostomus hastatus, give screech calls whose acoustic structure varies between groups
from different caves, and individuals appear to discriminate among the calls
from different caves, although the capacity for individual vocal recognition
remains unknown (Boughman and Wilkinson 1998).
3.3. The Songbird Model
Various forms of intraspecific vocal recognition have been observed in
nearly every species of songbird studied to date (see Stoddard 1996) and
have been examined more extensively here than in any other group of
animals. In general, vocal recognition in songbirds provides for the association of specific songs with specific singers or locations and thereby serves
as a basis for decisions in more elaborate social behaviors such as female
choice (Wiley et al. 1991; Lind et al. 1997), female preference (O’Loghlen
and Beecher 1997), and kin recognition among communally breeding birds
(reviewed by Beecher 1991). Another complex social behavior in which
vocal recognition plays an important role is territoriality, where it functions
in both the manipulation and maintenance of territorial boundaries (Peek
1972; Falls and Brooks 1975; Falls 1982; Godard 1991) and thus may have
indirect effects on reproductive success (Hiebert et al. 1989).
356
T.Q. Gentner and D. Margoliash
(Jouventin et al. 1999; Aubin et al. 2000), in the latter case by using harmonic interference patterns generated by the simultaneous production of
two sounds in different halves of the syrinx (the vocal-production organ in
birds). Adult king penguins can also recognize their mate’s calls (Lengagne
et al. 2000), as can spectacled parrotlets, Forpus conspicillatus (Wanker
et al. 1998), and several species of songbirds (Lind et al. 1997; O’Loghlen
and Beecher 1997, 1999; Beguin et al. 1998).
Vocalization-based kin recognition is also apparent among a variety of
mammalian species, including some populations of gray seals, Halichoerus
grypus (McCulloch and Boness 2000), and Northern fur seals, Callorhinus
ursinus, where mother-offspring recognition is maintained for many years
beyond the breeding season (Insley 2000). In addition, bottlenose dolphins,
Tursiops truncatus, have individually distinctive “signature” whistles long
thought to function in recognition. Recent data confirm this by showing that
mothers can recognize the whistles of their independent offspring and that
independent offspring can recognize the whistles of their mother (Sayigh
et al. 1999).
Female African elephants, Loxodonta africana, appear to have extensive
networks of vocal recognition, distinguishing the infrasonic calls of female
family, bond group, and even more distant kin from those of females outside
these categories (McComb et al. 2000). Female spotted hyenas, Crocuta
crocuta, can also recognize specific vocalizations of their own pups
(Holekamp et al. 1999). Female greater spear-nosed bats, Phyllostomus hastatus, give screech calls whose acoustic structure varies between groups
from different caves, and individuals appear to discriminate among the calls
from different caves, although the capacity for individual vocal recognition
remains unknown (Boughman and Wilkinson 1998).
3.3. The Songbird Model
Various forms of intraspecific vocal recognition have been observed in
nearly every species of songbird studied to date (see Stoddard 1996) and
have been examined more extensively here than in any other group of
animals. In general, vocal recognition in songbirds provides for the association of specific songs with specific singers or locations and thereby serves
as a basis for decisions in more elaborate social behaviors such as female
choice (Wiley et al. 1991; Lind et al. 1997), female preference (O’Loghlen
and Beecher 1997), and kin recognition among communally breeding birds
(reviewed by Beecher 1991). Another complex social behavior in which
vocal recognition plays an important role is territoriality, where it functions
in both the manipulation and maintenance of territorial boundaries (Peek
1972; Falls and Brooks 1975; Falls 1982; Godard 1991) and thus may have
indirect effects on reproductive success (Hiebert et al. 1989).
356
T.Q. Gentner and D. Margoliash