Acoustic allometry revisited: morphological determinants of fundamental frequency in primate vocal production.

ABSTRACT: 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

SUBMITTER: Garcia M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5585385 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature