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Recording Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalizations to Evaluate Social Communication
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Bison mother-offspring acoustic communication.

Jennifer A Clarke1

  • 1Biology Department, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA 91750, United States.

Journal of Mammalogy
|September 30, 2024
PubMed
Summary

American bison mothers and calves use distinct vocalizations for essential communication. Acoustic analysis revealed significant differences in call structure across age classes, crucial for coordinating movements and maintaining social bonds.

Keywords:
Bisonage classbuffalocommunicationcow–calfherd movementsimprintingpulsatile vocalizationswelfare

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Area of Science:

  • Ethology
  • Bioacoustics
  • Animal Communication

Background:

  • Mother-offspring communication is vital for survival in social species.
  • American bison (Bison bison) exhibit strong mother-calf bonds, necessitating effective communication.
  • Understanding bison vocalizations is key to their welfare and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To acoustically analyze and compare vocalizations from adult female, subadult, and calf bison.
  • To identify the specific contexts in which bison vocalizations occur.
  • To determine age-class differences in bison call structure.

Main Methods:

  • Acoustic analysis of vocalizations from 101 bison (53 adult females, 15 subadults, 33 calves) in a semi-free-ranging herd.
  • Quantification and comparison of call parameters including duration, pulse number, pulse duration, and pulse rate.
  • Identification and categorization of vocalization contexts.

Main Results:

  • Bison vocalizations are pulsatile sounds, differing from bulls or domestic cattle.
  • Significant differences in acoustic structure were found between age classes (cows, subadults, calves).
  • Seven distinct call contexts were identified, with 'moving-on' (39%) and 'contact' (21%) calls being most frequent.

Conclusions:

  • Acoustic communication is critical for coordinating movements between bison mothers and offspring.
  • Differences in call structure likely facilitate age-specific communication needs.
  • Understanding these vocalizations aids in the humane management and welfare of American bison.