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Maxime Garcia
Equipe Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle ENES/CRNL, CNRS, INSERM, University of Lyon/Saint-Etienne, Saint-Étienne, France

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Journal article
Published: 02 October 2020 in Nature Communications
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Communicating species identity is a key component of many animal signals. However, whether selection for species recognition systematically increases signal diversity during clade radiation remains debated. Here we show that in woodpecker drumming, a rhythmic signal used during mating and territorial defense, the amount of species identity information encoded remained stable during woodpeckers’ radiation. Acoustic analyses and evolutionary reconstructions show interchange among six main drumming types despite strong phylogenetic contingencies, suggesting evolutionary tinkering of drumming structure within a constrained acoustic space. Playback experiments and quantification of species discriminability demonstrate sufficient signal differentiation to support species recognition in local communities. Finally, we only find character displacement in the rare cases where sympatric species are also closely related. Overall, our results illustrate how historical contingencies and ecological interactions can promote conservatism in signals during a clade radiation without impairing the effectiveness of information transfer relevant to inter-specific discrimination.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Frédéric Theunissen; Frédéric Sèbe; Julien Clavel; Andrea Ravignani; Thibaut Marin-Cudraz; Jérôme Fuchs; Nicolas Mathevon. Evolution of communication signals and information during species radiation. Nature Communications 2020, 11, 1 -15.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Frédéric Theunissen, Frédéric Sèbe, Julien Clavel, Andrea Ravignani, Thibaut Marin-Cudraz, Jérôme Fuchs, Nicolas Mathevon. Evolution of communication signals and information during species radiation. Nature Communications. 2020; 11 (1):1-15.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Frédéric Theunissen; Frédéric Sèbe; Julien Clavel; Andrea Ravignani; Thibaut Marin-Cudraz; Jérôme Fuchs; Nicolas Mathevon. 2020. "Evolution of communication signals and information during species radiation." Nature Communications 11, no. 1: 1-15.

Research article
Published: 11 August 2020 in PLOS Biology
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Tissue vibrations in the larynx produce most sounds that comprise vocal communication in mammals. Larynx morphology is thus predicted to be a key target for selection, particularly in species with highly developed vocal communication systems. Here, we present a novel database of digitally modeled scanned larynges from 55 different mammalian species, representing a wide range of body sizes in the primate and carnivoran orders. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we demonstrate that the primate larynx has evolved more rapidly than the carnivoran larynx, resulting in a pattern of larger size and increased deviation from expected allometry with body size. These results imply fundamental differences between primates and carnivorans in the balance of selective forces that constrain larynx size and highlight an evolutionary flexibility in primates that may help explain why we have developed complex and diverse uses of the vocal organ for communication.

ACS Style

Daniel L. Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; Jeroen Smaers; Maxime Garcia; Asha Sato; Georg Hantke; Stephan Handschuh; Sabine Dengg; Max Kerney; Andrew C. Kitchener; Michaela Gumpenberger; W. Tecumseh Fitch. Rapid evolution of the primate larynx? PLOS Biology 2020, 18, e3000764 .

AMA Style

Daniel L. Bowling, Jacob C. Dunn, Jeroen Smaers, Maxime Garcia, Asha Sato, Georg Hantke, Stephan Handschuh, Sabine Dengg, Max Kerney, Andrew C. Kitchener, Michaela Gumpenberger, W. Tecumseh Fitch. Rapid evolution of the primate larynx? PLOS Biology. 2020; 18 (8):e3000764.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel L. Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; Jeroen Smaers; Maxime Garcia; Asha Sato; Georg Hantke; Stephan Handschuh; Sabine Dengg; Max Kerney; Andrew C. Kitchener; Michaela Gumpenberger; W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2020. "Rapid evolution of the primate larynx?" PLOS Biology 18, no. 8: e3000764.

Review article
Published: 08 July 2020 in Biology Letters
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Acoustic allometry is the study of how animal vocalizations reflect their body size. A key aim of this research is to identify outliers to acoustic allometry principles and pinpoint the evolutionary origins of such outliers. A parallel strand of research investigates species capable of vocal learning , the experience-driven ability to produce novel vocal signals through imitation or modification of existing vocalizations. Modification of vocalizations is a common feature found when studying both acoustic allometry and vocal learning. Yet, these two fields have only been investigated separately to date. Here, we review and connect acoustic allometry and vocal learning across mammalian clades, combining perspectives from bioacoustics, anatomy and evolutionary biology. Based on this, we hypothesize that, as a precursor to vocal learning, some species might have evolved the capacity for volitional vocal modulation via sexual selection for ‘dishonest' signalling. We provide preliminary support for our hypothesis by showing significant associations between allometric deviation and vocal learning in a dataset of 164 mammals. Our work offers a testable framework for future empirical research linking allometric principles with the evolution of vocal learning.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Andrea Ravignani. Acoustic allometry and vocal learning in mammals. Biology Letters 2020, 16, 20200081 .

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Andrea Ravignani. Acoustic allometry and vocal learning in mammals. Biology Letters. 2020; 16 (7):20200081.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Andrea Ravignani. 2020. "Acoustic allometry and vocal learning in mammals." Biology Letters 16, no. 7: 20200081.

Journal article
Published: 25 June 2020 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences
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Mechanical constraints imposed by anatomical adaptations are a ubiquitous feature of animal sound production. They can give rise to ‘vocal predispositions' (i.e., acoustic structures strictly determined by vocal anatomy). Such predispositions are crucial to the investigation of the cognitive and evolutionary processes underlying acoustic communication in vertebrates, including human speech.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Marta Manser. Bound for Specific Sounds: Vocal Predisposition in Animal Communication. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 2020, 24, 690 -693.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Marta Manser. Bound for Specific Sounds: Vocal Predisposition in Animal Communication. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2020; 24 (9):690-693.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Marta Manser. 2020. "Bound for Specific Sounds: Vocal Predisposition in Animal Communication." Trends in Cognitive Sciences 24, no. 9: 690-693.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2019 in Current Biology
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ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Jacob C. Dunn. No evidence that maximum fundamental frequency reflects selection for signal diminution in bonobos. Current Biology 2019, 29, R732 -R733.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Jacob C. Dunn. No evidence that maximum fundamental frequency reflects selection for signal diminution in bonobos. Current Biology. 2019; 29 (15):R732-R733.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Jacob C. Dunn. 2019. "No evidence that maximum fundamental frequency reflects selection for signal diminution in bonobos." Current Biology 29, no. 15: R732-R733.

Journal article
Published: 30 September 2018 in Animals
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African savanna elephants live in dynamic fission–fusion societies and exhibit a sophisticated vocal communication system. Their most frequent call-type is the ‘rumble’, with a fundamental frequency (which refers to the lowest vocal fold vibration rate when producing a vocalization) near or in the infrasonic range. Rumbles are used in a wide variety of behavioral contexts, for short- and long-distance communication, and convey contextual and physical information. For example, maturity (age and size) is encoded in male rumbles by formant frequencies (the resonance frequencies of the vocal tract), having the most informative power. As sound propagates, however, its spectral and temporal structures degrade progressively. Our study used manipulated and resynthesized male social rumbles to simulate large and small individuals (based on different formant values) to quantify whether this phenotypic information efficiently transmits over long distances. To examine transmission efficiency and the potential influences of ecological factors, we broadcasted and re-recorded rumbles at distances of up to 1.5 km in two different habitats at the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. Our results show that rumbles were affected by spectral–temporal degradation over distance. Interestingly and unlike previous findings, the transmission of formants was better than that of the fundamental frequency. Our findings demonstrate the importance of formant frequencies for the efficiency of rumble propagation and the transmission of information content in a savanna elephant’s natural habitat.

ACS Style

Anton Baotic; Maxime Garcia; Markus Boeckle; Angela Stoeger. Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies. Animals 2018, 8, 167 .

AMA Style

Anton Baotic, Maxime Garcia, Markus Boeckle, Angela Stoeger. Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies. Animals. 2018; 8 (10):167.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anton Baotic; Maxime Garcia; Markus Boeckle; Angela Stoeger. 2018. "Field Propagation Experiments of Male African Savanna Elephant Rumbles: A Focus on the Transmission of Formant Frequencies." Animals 8, no. 10: 167.

Publisher correction
Published: 06 March 2018 in Scientific Reports
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A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst; Daniel L. Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; W. Tecumseh Fitch. Publisher Correction: Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production. Scientific Reports 2018, 8, 4219 .

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Christian T. Herbst, Daniel L. Bowling, Jacob C. Dunn, W. Tecumseh Fitch. Publisher Correction: Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production. Scientific Reports. 2018; 8 (1):4219.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst; Daniel L. Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2018. "Publisher Correction: Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production." Scientific Reports 8, no. 1: 4219.

Publisher correction
Published: 15 January 2018 in Scientific Reports
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A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst; Daniel L. Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; W. Tecumseh Fitch. Publisher Correction: Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production. Scientific Reports 2018, 8, 1037 .

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Christian T. Herbst, Daniel L. Bowling, Jacob C. Dunn, W. Tecumseh Fitch. Publisher Correction: Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production. Scientific Reports. 2018; 8 (1):1037.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst; Daniel L. Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2018. "Publisher Correction: Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production." Scientific Reports 8, no. 1: 1037.

Conference paper
Published: 01 January 2018 in The Evolution of Language. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (Evolang12)
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ACS Style

Andrea Ravignani; Maxime Garcia; Stephanie Gross; Koen De Reus; Nienke Hoeksema; Ana Rubio García; Bart De Boer. Pinnipeds have something to say about speech and rhythm. The Evolution of Language. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (Evolang12) 2018, 1 .

AMA Style

Andrea Ravignani, Maxime Garcia, Stephanie Gross, Koen De Reus, Nienke Hoeksema, Ana Rubio García, Bart De Boer. Pinnipeds have something to say about speech and rhythm. The Evolution of Language. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (Evolang12). 2018; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Ravignani; Maxime Garcia; Stephanie Gross; Koen De Reus; Nienke Hoeksema; Ana Rubio García; Bart De Boer. 2018. "Pinnipeds have something to say about speech and rhythm." The Evolution of Language. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (Evolang12) , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in Anthropological Science
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The study of sound production mechanisms is a crucial, yet understudied, aspect of vocal communication research in vertebrates. In excised larynx experimentation (ELE), phonation is simulated ex vivo by forcing air through a larynx specimen mounted on a laboratory bench. The method provides unique insights into vocal production and allows inference of in vivo conditions. Here, we provide a historical overview of how this technique has been implemented, from antiquity to current state-of-the-art setups. We review the advances made by applying ELE to human voice and biophysics research. We then highlight the promising research output resulting from ELE in animal bioacoustics, a research field that has largely overlooked the use of this method until very recently, but is now increasingly relying on this tool. We continue by discussing the limitations of ELE, depending on the focus of investigation. Finally, we suggest how this approach should be implemented and can be applied to various research questions. We conclude by underlining the value that ELE contributes to the comprehension of human voice as well as mammalian and avian vocal communication within an interdisciplinary approach.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst. Excised larynx experimentation: history, current developments, and prospects for bioacoustic research. Anthropological Science 2018, 126, 9 -17.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Christian T. Herbst. Excised larynx experimentation: history, current developments, and prospects for bioacoustic research. Anthropological Science. 2018; 126 (1):9-17.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst. 2018. "Excised larynx experimentation: history, current developments, and prospects for bioacoustic research." Anthropological Science 126, no. 1: 9-17.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in Journal of Experimental Biology
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While the call repertoire and its communicative function is relatively well explored in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), little empirical data is available on the physics and the physiology of this species' vocal production mechanism. Here, a 6 year old female Japanese macaque was trained to phonate under an operant conditioning paradigm. The resulting “coo” calls, and spontaneously uttered “growl” and “chirp” calls, were recorded with sound pressure level (SPL) calibrated microphones and electroglottography (EGG), a non-invasive method for assessing the dynamics of phonation. A total of 448 calls were recorded, complemented by ex vivo recordings on an excised Japanese macaque larynx. In this novel multidimensional investigative paradigm, in vivo and ex vivo data were matched via comparable EGG waveforms. Subsequent analysis suggests that the vocal range (range of fundamental frequency and SPL) was comparable to that of a 7-10 year old human, with the exception of low-intensity chirps, whose production may be facilitated by the species' vocal membranes. In coo calls, redundant control of fundamental frequency in relation to SPL was also comparable to humans. EGG data revealed that growls, coos, and chirps were produced by distinct laryngeal vibratory mechanisms. EGG further suggested changes in the degree of vocal fold adduction in vivo, resulting in spectral variation within the emitted coo calls, ranging from “breathy” (including aerodynamic noise components) to “non-breathy”. This is again analogous to humans, corroborating the notion that phonation in humans and non-human primates is based on universal physical and physiological principles.

ACS Style

Christian T. Herbst; Hiroki Koda; Takumi Kunieda; Juri Suzuki; Maxime Garcia; W. Tecumseh Fitch; Takeshi Nishimura. Japanese macaque phonatory physiology. Journal of Experimental Biology 2018, 221, jeb171801 .

AMA Style

Christian T. Herbst, Hiroki Koda, Takumi Kunieda, Juri Suzuki, Maxime Garcia, W. Tecumseh Fitch, Takeshi Nishimura. Japanese macaque phonatory physiology. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2018; 221 (12):jeb171801.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christian T. Herbst; Hiroki Koda; Takumi Kunieda; Juri Suzuki; Maxime Garcia; W. Tecumseh Fitch; Takeshi Nishimura. 2018. "Japanese macaque phonatory physiology." Journal of Experimental Biology 221, no. 12: jeb171801.

Video audio media
Published: 25 November 2017 in Journal of Visualized Experiments
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The voice of humans and most non-human mammals is generated in the larynx through self-sustaining oscillation of the vocal folds. Direct visual documentation of vocal fold vibration is challenging, particularly in non-human mammals. As an alternative, excised larynx experiments provide the opportunity to investigate vocal fold vibration under controlled physiological and physical conditions. However, the use of a full larynx merely provides a top view of the vocal folds, excluding crucial portions of the oscillating structures from observation during their interaction with aerodynamic forces. This limitation can be overcome by utilizing a hemi-larynx setup where one half of the larynx is mid-sagittally removed, providing both a superior and a lateral view of the remaining vocal fold during self-sustained oscillation. Here, a step-by-step guide for the anatomical preparation of hemi-laryngeal structures and their mounting on the laboratory bench is given. Exemplary phonation of the hemi-larynx preparation is documented with high-speed video data captured by two synchronized cameras (superior and lateral views), showing three-dimensional vocal fold motion and corresponding time-varying contact area. The documentation of the hemi-larynx setup in this publication will facilitate application and reliable repeatability in experimental research, providing voice scientists with the potential to better understand the biomechanics of voice production.

ACS Style

Christian T. Herbst; Vit Hampala; Maxime Garcia; Riccardo Hofer; Jan G. Svec. Hemi-laryngeal Setup for Studying Vocal Fold Vibration in Three Dimensions. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2017, e55303 -e55303.

AMA Style

Christian T. Herbst, Vit Hampala, Maxime Garcia, Riccardo Hofer, Jan G. Svec. Hemi-laryngeal Setup for Studying Vocal Fold Vibration in Three Dimensions. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2017; (129):e55303-e55303.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christian T. Herbst; Vit Hampala; Maxime Garcia; Riccardo Hofer; Jan G. Svec. 2017. "Hemi-laryngeal Setup for Studying Vocal Fold Vibration in Three Dimensions." Journal of Visualized Experiments , no. 129: e55303-e55303.

Journal article
Published: 05 September 2017 in Scientific Reports
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A fundamental issue in the evolution of communication is the degree to which signals convey accurate (“honest”) information about the signaler. In bioacoustics, the assumption that fundamental frequency (f o) should correlate with the body size of the caller is widespread, but this belief has been challenged by various studies, possibly because larynx size and body size can vary independently. In the present comparative study, we conducted excised larynx experiments to investigate this hypothesis rigorously and explore the determinants of f o. Using specimens from eleven primate species, we carried out an inter-specific investigation, examining correlations between the minimum f o produced by the sound source, body size and vocal fold length (VFL). We found that, across species, VFL predicted minimum f o much better than body size, clearly demonstrating the potential for decoupling between larynx size and body size in primates. These findings shed new light on the diversity of primate vocalizations and vocal morphology, highlighting the importance of vocal physiology in understanding the evolution of mammal vocal communication.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst; Daniel Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; W. Tecumseh Fitch. Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 10450 .

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Christian T. Herbst, Daniel Bowling, Jacob C. Dunn, W. Tecumseh Fitch. Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7 (1):10450.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Christian T. Herbst; Daniel Bowling; Jacob C. Dunn; W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2017. "Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production." Scientific Reports 7, no. 1: 10450.

Journal article
Published: 29 May 2017 in Current Zoology
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Understanding the processes involved in how and why animals communicate has long been fascinating to scientists (Darwin 1871). This endeavor plays a key role in the pursuit of reaching a better comprehension both of the rules involved in organizing the animal societies around us (Freeberg et al. 2012) and of the evolutionary bases underlying our own vocal communication system: human language (Fitch 2010). Moreover, in recent years, the type and function of information conveyed by animal vocalizations have also attracted research interest in the field of ecology (see Sueur and Farina 2015). While these fields certainly still have room for developing new concepts and methods in order to improve our appreciation of animal vocal communication, to date, 3 main approaches have been applied which have greatly contributed to advance our knowledge on the question.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Livio Favaro. Animal vocal communication: function, structures, and production mechanisms. Current Zoology 2017, 63, 417 -419.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Livio Favaro. Animal vocal communication: function, structures, and production mechanisms. Current Zoology. 2017; 63 (4):417-419.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Livio Favaro. 2017. "Animal vocal communication: function, structures, and production mechanisms." Current Zoology 63, no. 4: 417-419.

Journal article
Published: 12 April 2017 in Current Zoology
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Vocal communication is a crucial aspect of animal behavior. The mechanism which most mammals use to vocalize relies on three anatomical components. First, air overpressure is generated inside the lower vocal tract. Second, as the airstream goes through the glottis, sound is produced via vocal fold vibration. Third, this sound is further filtered by the geometry and length of the upper vocal tract. Evidence from mammalian anatomy and bioacoustics suggests that some of these three components may covary with an animal’s body size. The framework provided by acoustic allometry suggests that, because vocal tract length (VTL) is more strongly constrained by the growth of the body than vocal fold length (VFL), VTL generates more reliable acoustic cues to an animal’s size. This hypothesis is often tested acoustically but rarely anatomically, especially in pinnipeds. Here, we test the anatomical bases of the acoustic allometry hypothesis in harbor seal pups Phoca vitulina. We dissected and measured vocal tract, vocal folds, and other anatomical features of 15 harbor seals post-mortem. We found that, while VTL correlates with body size, VFL does not. This suggests that, while body growth puts anatomical constraints on how vocalizations are filtered by harbor seals’ vocal tract, no such constraints appear to exist on vocal folds, at least during puppyhood. It is particularly interesting to find anatomical constraints on harbor seals’ vocal tracts, the same anatomical region partially enabling pups to produce individually distinctive vocalizations.

ACS Style

Andrea Ravignani; Stephanie Gross; Maxime Garcia; Ana Rubio-Garcia; Bart De Boer. How small could a pup sound? The physical bases of signaling body size in harbor seals. Current Zoology 2017, 63, 457 -465.

AMA Style

Andrea Ravignani, Stephanie Gross, Maxime Garcia, Ana Rubio-Garcia, Bart De Boer. How small could a pup sound? The physical bases of signaling body size in harbor seals. Current Zoology. 2017; 63 (4):457-465.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Ravignani; Stephanie Gross; Maxime Garcia; Ana Rubio-Garcia; Bart De Boer. 2017. "How small could a pup sound? The physical bases of signaling body size in harbor seals." Current Zoology 63, no. 4: 457-465.

Journal article
Published: 24 January 2017 in Scientific Reports
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A fundamental assumption in bioacoustics is that large animals tend to produce vocalizations with lower frequencies than small animals. This inverse relationship between body size and vocalization frequencies is widely considered to be foundational in animal communication, with prominent theories arguing that it played a critical role in the evolution of vocal communication, in both production and perception. A major shortcoming of these theories is that they lack a solid empirical foundation: rigorous comparisons between body size and vocalization frequencies remain scarce, particularly among mammals. We address this issue here in a study of body size and vocalization frequencies conducted across 91 mammalian species, covering most of the size range in the orders Primates (n = 50; ~0.11–120 Kg) and Carnivora (n = 41; ~0.14–250 Kg). We employed a novel procedure designed to capture spectral variability and standardize frequency measurement of vocalization data across species. The results unequivocally demonstrate strong inverse relationships between body size and vocalization frequencies in primates and carnivores, filling a long-standing gap in mammalian bioacoustics and providing an empirical foundation for theories on the adaptive function of call frequency in animal communication.

ACS Style

D. L. Bowling; Maxime Garcia; Jacob Dunn; R. Ruprecht; A. Stewart; Karl-Heinz Frommolt; W. T. Fitch. Body size and vocalization in primates and carnivores. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 41070 .

AMA Style

D. L. Bowling, Maxime Garcia, Jacob Dunn, R. Ruprecht, A. Stewart, Karl-Heinz Frommolt, W. T. Fitch. Body size and vocalization in primates and carnivores. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7 (1):41070.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D. L. Bowling; Maxime Garcia; Jacob Dunn; R. Ruprecht; A. Stewart; Karl-Heinz Frommolt; W. T. Fitch. 2017. "Body size and vocalization in primates and carnivores." Scientific Reports 7, no. 1: 41070.

Journal article
Published: 16 February 2016 in Ethology
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Determining whether a species' vocal communication system is graded or discrete requires definition of its vocal repertoire. In this context, research on domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) vocalizations, for example, has led to significant advances in our understanding of communicative functions. Despite their close relation to domestic pigs, little is known about wild boar (Sus scrofa) vocalizations. The few existing studies, conducted in the 1970s, relied on visual inspections of spectrograms to quantify acoustic parameters and lacked statistical analysis. Here, we use objective signal processing techniques and advanced statistical approaches to classify 616 calls recorded from semi-free ranging animals. Based on four spectral and temporal acoustic parameters—quartile Q25, duration, spectral flux, and spectral flatness—extracted from a multivariate analysis, we refine and extend the conclusions drawn from previous work and present a statistically validated classification of the wild boar vocal repertoire into four call types: grunts, grunt-squeals, squeals, and trumpets. While the majority of calls could be sorted into these categories using objective criteria, we also found evidence supporting a graded interpretation of some wild boar vocalizations as acoustically continuous, with the extremes representing discrete call types. The use of objective criteria based on modern techniques and statistics in respect to acoustic continuity advances our understanding of vocal variation. Integrating our findings with recent studies on domestic pig vocal behavior and emotions, we emphasize the importance of grunt-squeals for acoustic approaches to animal welfare and underline the need of further research investigating the role of domestication on animal vocal communication.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Bruno Gingras; Daniel Bowling; Christian Herbst; Markus Boeckle; Yann Locatelli; W. Tecumseh Fitch. Structural Classification of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Vocalizations. Ethology 2016, 122, 329 -342.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Bruno Gingras, Daniel Bowling, Christian Herbst, Markus Boeckle, Yann Locatelli, W. Tecumseh Fitch. Structural Classification of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Vocalizations. Ethology. 2016; 122 (4):329-342.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Bruno Gingras; Daniel Bowling; Christian Herbst; Markus Boeckle; Yann Locatelli; W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2016. "Structural Classification of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Vocalizations." Ethology 122, no. 4: 329-342.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2016 in Journal of Experimental Biology
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The information conveyed in acoustic signals is a central topic in mammal vocal communication research. Body size is one form of information that can be encoded in calls. Acoustic allometry aims to identify the specific acoustic correlates of body size within the vocalizations of a given species, and formants are often a useful acoustic cue in this context. We conducted a longitudinal investigation of acoustic allometry in domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus), asking whether formants of grunt vocalizations provide information concerning the caller's body size over time. On four occasions, we recorded grunts from 20 Kune Kune piglets, measured their vocal tract length by means of radiographs (X-rays) and weighed them. Controlling for effects of age and sex, we found that body weight strongly predicts vocal tract length, which in turn determines formant frequencies. We conclude that grunt formant frequencies could allow domestic pigs to assess a signaler's body size as it grows. Further research using playback experiments is needed to determine the perceptual role of formants in domestic pig communication.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Marianne Wondrak; Ludwig Huber; W. Tecumseh Fitch. Honest signaling in domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus): vocal allometry and the information content of grunt calls. Journal of Experimental Biology 2016, 219, 1913 -1921.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Marianne Wondrak, Ludwig Huber, W. Tecumseh Fitch. Honest signaling in domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus): vocal allometry and the information content of grunt calls. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2016; 219 (12):1913-1921.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Marianne Wondrak; Ludwig Huber; W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2016. "Honest signaling in domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus): vocal allometry and the information content of grunt calls." Journal of Experimental Biology 219, no. 12: 1913-1921.

Journal article
Published: 06 August 2015 in Journal of Voice
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SummaryObjectiveElectroglottography (EGG) is a widely used noninvasive method that purports to measure changes in relative vocal fold contact area (VFCA) during phonation. Despite its broad application, the putative direct relation between the EGG waveform and VFCA has to date only been formally tested in a single study, suggesting an approximately linear relationship. However, in that study, flow-induced vocal fold (VF) vibration was not investigated. A rigorous empirical evaluation of EGG as a measure of VFCA under proper physiological conditions is therefore still needed.Methods/designThree red deer larynges were phonated in an excised hemilarynx preparation using a conducting glass plate. The time-varying contact between the VF and the glass plate was assessed by high-speed video recordings at 6000 fps, synchronized to the EGG signal.ResultsThe average differences between the normalized [0, 1] VFCA and EGG waveforms for the three larynges were 0.180 (±0.156), 0.075 (±0.115), and 0.168 (±0.184) in the contacting phase and 0.159 (±0.112), −0.003 (±0.029), and 0.004 (±0.032) in the decontacting phase.Discussions and conclusionsOverall, there was a better agreement between VFCA and the EGG waveform in the decontacting phase than in the contacting phase. Disagreements may be caused by nonuniform tissue conductance properties, electrode placement, and electroglottograph hardware circuitry. Pending further research, the EGG waveform may be a reasonable first approximation to change in medial contact area between the VFs during phonation. However, any quantitative and statistical data derived from EGG should be interpreted cautiously, allowing for potential deviations from true VFCA

ACS Style

Vít Hampala; Maxime Garcia; Jan G. Svec; Ronald C. Scherer; Christian Herbst. Relationship Between the Electroglottographic Signal and Vocal Fold Contact Area. Journal of Voice 2015, 30, 161 -171.

AMA Style

Vít Hampala, Maxime Garcia, Jan G. Svec, Ronald C. Scherer, Christian Herbst. Relationship Between the Electroglottographic Signal and Vocal Fold Contact Area. Journal of Voice. 2015; 30 (2):161-171.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vít Hampala; Maxime Garcia; Jan G. Svec; Ronald C. Scherer; Christian Herbst. 2015. "Relationship Between the Electroglottographic Signal and Vocal Fold Contact Area." Journal of Voice 30, no. 2: 161-171.

Journal article
Published: 14 August 2014 in Die Naturwissenschaften
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Red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) give two distinct types of roars during the breeding season, the “common roar” and the “harsh roar.” Harsh roars are more frequent during contexts of intense competition, and characterized by a set of features that increase their perceptual salience, suggesting that they signal heightened arousal. While common roars have been shown to encode size information and mediate both male competition and female choice, to our knowledge, the specific function of harsh roars during male competition has not yet been studied. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that the specific structure of male harsh roars signals high arousal to competitors. We contrast the behavioral responses of free ranging, harem-holding stags to the playback of harsh roars from an unfamiliar competitor with their response to the playback of common roars from the same animal. We show that males react less strongly to sequences of harsh roars than to sequences of common roars, possibly because they are reluctant to escalate conflicts with highly motivated and threatening unfamiliar males in the absence of visual information. While future work should investigate the response of stags to harsh roars from familiar opponents, our observations remain consistent with the hypothesis that harsh roars may signal motivation during male competition, and illustrate how intrasexual selection can contribute to the diversification of male vocal signals.

ACS Style

Maxime Garcia; Megan T. Wyman; Benjamin Charlton; W. Tecumseh Fitch; David Reby. Response of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) to playback of harsh versus common roars. Die Naturwissenschaften 2014, 101, 851 -854.

AMA Style

Maxime Garcia, Megan T. Wyman, Benjamin Charlton, W. Tecumseh Fitch, David Reby. Response of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) to playback of harsh versus common roars. Die Naturwissenschaften. 2014; 101 (10):851-854.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maxime Garcia; Megan T. Wyman; Benjamin Charlton; W. Tecumseh Fitch; David Reby. 2014. "Response of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) to playback of harsh versus common roars." Die Naturwissenschaften 101, no. 10: 851-854.