Production of food-associated calls in wild male chimpanzees is dependent on the composition of the audience |
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Authors: | Katie E Slocombe Tanja Kaller Laurel Turman Simon W Townsend Sarah Papworth Paul Squibbs Klaus Zuberbühler |
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Institution: | (1) Animal Behaviour Group, Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;(2) School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK;(3) Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK;(4) Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda |
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Abstract: | Chimpanzees produce acoustically distinct calls when encountering food. Previous research on a number of species has indicated
that food-associated calls are relatively widespread in animal communication, and the production of these calls can be influenced
by both ecological and social factors. Here, we investigate the factors influencing the production of food-associated calls
in wild chimpanzees and examine whether male chimpanzees produce food-associated calls selectively in the presence of important
social partners. Male chimpanzees form stable long-term social relationships with each other, and these social bonds are vital
in enabling a range of cooperative activities, such as group hunting and territory defence. Our data show that males were
significantly more likely to produce food-associated calls if an important social partner was nearby, regardless of the size
of the audience or the presence of oestrus females. Call production was also mediated by the size of the food patch and by
whether or not the food could be monopolised. The presence of important social partners explained most of the variation in
male calling behaviour, indicating that food-associated calls are socially directed and serve a bonding function. |
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