Collier, Katie, Radford, Andrew N., Townsend, Simon W. and Manser, Marta B. (2017) Wild dwarf mongooses produce general alert and predator-specific alarm calls. Behavioural Ecology, 28 (5). pp. 1293-1301. ISSN 1045-2249.

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Abstract

Many species produce alarm calls in response to predator threats. Whilst these can be general alert calls, some are urgency-based, indicating perceived threat level, some are predator-specific, indicating the predator type present, and some encode information about both urgency level and predator type. Predator-specific calls given to a narrow range of stimuli and which elicit a specific, adaptive, response from the receiver are termed functionally referential. Differing escape strategies, habitat structural complexity and sociality may favor the evolution of functionally referential calls. A study of one captive group of dwarf 3 mongooses (Helogale parvula) suggested their alarm calls could transmit information about species, distance and elevation of predators. Using recordings of natural predator encounters, predator presentations and audio playbacks, we investigated the alarm-call system in seven wild dwarf mongoose groups. We recorded 11 different alarm-call types given to nine stimulus categories. Of the five commonly emitted alarm-call types, three appeared to be non-specific and two predator-specific, given to aerial and terrestrial predators respectively. The remaining six call types were rarely produced. Furthermore, aerial alarms were given to a narrower range of stimuli than their terrestrial alarm calls, which were given to both visible terrestrial predators and secondary cues of predators. Unlike other mongoose species, dwarf mongoose seem to use the same alarm-call type for both physically present terrestrial predators and secondary cues of their presence. We argue that detailed knowledge of species’ alarm-call systems under natural conditions can shed light on the evolutionary emergence of different types of alarm calls.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Helogale -- Behavior, Animal calls
Journal or Publication Title:	Behavioural Ecology
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	1045-2249
Official Date:	1 September 2017
Dates:	Date Event 1 September 2017 Published 5 July 2017 Available 3 June 2017 Accepted
Volume:	28
Number:	5
Page Range:	pp. 1293-1301
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	12 July 2017
Date of first compliant Open Access:	5 July 2018
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:	Project/Grant ID RIOXX Funder Name Funder ID URPP U-702-06 Universität Zürich http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100006447 UNSPECIFIED University of Bristol http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000883 UNSPECIFIED University of Warwick http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000741

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