Hello Bioacoustics-L,
The following article is available at
http://www.uvm.edu/~bmitchel/Bioacoustics.html.
Aschemeier,
Lisa M., and Christine R. Maher. 2011. Eavesdropping of woodchucks
(Marmota monax) and easter chipmunks (Tamias striatus) on
heterospecific alarm calls. Journal of Mammalogy 92(3): 493-499.
Abstract:
Individuals of 1 species might obtain information by eavesdropping
on calls produced by a syntopic species. Intercepting alarm calls
allows the eavesdropper to respond with antipredator behavior
without the need to produce its own call, which might attract the
attention of a predator. We examined eavesdropping on heterospecific
alarm calls by nonsocial eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and
woodchucks (Marmota monax), which live in the same community, share
some predators, are solitary, and produce distinct alarm calls. If
these 2 species recognize heterospecific alarm calls, we should see
antipredator behaviors similar to those displayed upon hearing a
conspecific’s alarm call. We broadcast single alarm calls of
woodchucks, eastern chipmunks, and American crows (Corvus
brachyrhynchos) to individuals of the first 2 species, using the
territorial song of the syntopic male black-capped chickadee
(Poecile atricapillus) as a control. Woodchucks became more vigilant
after hearing both conspecific and heterospecific alarm calls
compared with controls; however, they spent more time vigilant in
response to conspecific alarm calls compared to heterospecific alarm
calls. Thus, woodchucks apparently can recognize heterospecific
alarm calls, but they appear to process conspecific and
heterospecific calls differently. Eastern chipmunks responded to
heterospecific alarm calls, but sample sizes were small and the
results not definitive. Our results suggest that nonsocial mammals
might benefit from eavesdropping on heterospecifics.
Brian Mitchell
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