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Conserved alarm calls but rapid auditory learning in monkey responses to novel flying objects
Franziska Wegdell1, Kurt Hammerschmidt1, Julia Fischer2,3,4
1Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|May 29, 2019
Summary
West African green monkeys produce distinct alarm calls similar to vervet monkeys. Their comprehension of new threats, like drones, is learned rapidly, showing flexible auditory learning in primates.
Area of Science:
- Primate communication
- Animal behavior
- Bioacoustics
Background:
- Vocal production and comprehension are key aspects of animal communication.
- Understanding the flexibility of these abilities in non-human primates offers insights into cognitive evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the vocal production and comprehension flexibility in West African green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus).
- To investigate the learning speed and capacity for assigning meaning to novel auditory stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Presenting a drone to West African green monkeys.
- Analyzing vocalizations produced in response to the drone.
- Playing back drone sounds after limited exposures to test comprehension.
Main Results:
- Vocalizations in response to the drone were distinct from other predator calls but similar to East African vervet monkey aerial alarm calls, indicating conserved call structure.
- Monkeys rapidly learned to associate the drone sound with danger, immediately scanning the sky and seeking cover after one to three exposures.
- Comprehension learning was rapid and open-ended, contrasting with vocal production flexibility.
Conclusions:
- Call structure for aerial threats appears conserved across Chlorocebus species.
- West African green monkeys demonstrate remarkable flexibility and speed in comprehending novel auditory threats.
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