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25 - Evidence for sexual dimorphism in chimpanzee vocalizations: a comparison of male and female call production and acoustic parameters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2019

By
Kalan K. Ammie
Edited by
Christophe Boesch  and
Roman Wittig
Edited in association with
Catherine Crockford ,
Linda Vigilant ,
Tobias Deschner  and
Fabian Leendertz
Christophe Boesch
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Roman Wittig
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Catherine Crockford
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Linda Vigilant
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Tobias Deschner
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Fabian Leendertz
Affiliation:
Robert Koch-Institut, Germany
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Summary

In humans, differences in voice quality influence sexual attraction and perceived dominance, but little is known about such mechanisms in Pan. Here, we investigated the degree of sexual dimorphism in chimpanzee vocalizations. We expected the sexes to differ in mean fundamental (F0) and peak frequencies (pF) according to the source filter theory, which predicts that differences in body size affect vocal characteristics. Using data from nine chimpanzees of the South Group, we analysed call rates and measured F0, pF and durations from pant–hoots and food calls. We also tested for sex differences in bout duration and the number of food grunts per bout. Males and females had equal rates of call production for all signals except pant–hoots and buttress-drumming, with males producing these significantly more often. Additionally, contrary to predictions based on body size, female food grunts were lower in dominant frequency bands and peak frequencies while males produced longer food-call bouts with a greater number of tonal grunts. Further analyses should address whether these sex differences in acoustic parameters could play a role in female choice and male competition in chimpanzees.

Keywords

Buttress-drummingCall boutsFood-callsFundamental frequencyGruntsPant–hootsSex differencesTonal
Type
Chapter
Information
The Chimpanzees of the Taï Forest
40 Years of Research
 , pp. 410 - 421
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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