Using networks to visualize, analyse and interpret multimodal communication

Hex, Severine B.S.W.; Rubenstein, Daniel I.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.11.002

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Three of the four vocalization types that we found align with previous literature [ 29 , 32 ]: the ‘quagga quagga’ (corresponding to the previously described ‘bark’, or ‘i-ha’, used as a contact call for long-distance communication), the ‘snort’ (previously described as the ‘loud snort’, produced when moving into potentially dangerous cover, and the ‘long drawn-out snort’, the ‘whuffle’, the ‘blow’ or the ‘long snort’, emitted in contexts previously described as ‘contentment’) and the ‘squeal’ (previously described as the ‘chirp’, appearing during aggression or conflict, but also greeting and play). The ‘snort’ merges the previously described ‘short snort’ and ‘long snort’ [ 29 , 32 ]. Classification from both acoustic features and spectrogram, together with clustering results for acoustic features, supported this conclusion.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Our study improves the robustness of identifying distinct vocalization types compared with prior subjective descriptions [ 29 , 32 ]. Three of the four vocalization types that we found align with previous literature [ 29 , 32 ]: the ‘quagga quagga’ (corresponding to the previously described ‘bark’, or ‘i-ha’, used as a contact call for long-distance communication), the ‘snort’ (previously described as the ‘loud snort’, produced when moving into potentially dangerous cover, and the ‘long drawn-out snort’, the ‘whuffle’, the ‘blow’ or the ‘long snort’, emitted in contexts previously described as ‘contentment’) and the ‘squeal’ (previously described as the ‘chirp’, appearing during aggression or conflict, but also greeting and play). The ‘snort’ merges the previously described ‘short snort’ and ‘long snort’ [ 29 , 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…However, studies on plains zebra acoustic communication are scarce, and the information content of their vocalizations has not been investigated yet. To our knowledge, so far, only two studies have attempted to establish plains zebras’ vocal repertoire, and detected 4–6 distinct vocalization types by subjectively describing vocalizations and contexts of production [ 29 , 32 ]. This study aimed to re-visit the vocal repertoire of plains zebras using modern methods of classifications, and to investigate the individuality content of the resulting vocalization types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vocal repertoire and individuality in the plains zebra ( Equus quagga )

Xie,

Daunay,

Petersen

et al. 2024

R. Soc. Open Sci.

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Acoustic signals are vital in animal communication, and quantifying them is fundamental for understanding animal behaviour and ecology. Vocalizations can be classified into acoustically and functionally or contextually distinct categories, but establishing these categories can be challenging. Newly developed methods, such as machine learning, can provide solutions for classification tasks. The plains zebra is known for its loud and specific vocalizations, yet limited knowledge exists on the structure and information content of its vocalzations. In this study, we employed both feature-based and spectrogram-based algorithms, incorporating supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods to enhance robustness in categorizing zebra vocalization types. Additionally, we implemented a permuted discriminant function analysis to examine the individual identity information contained in the identified vocalization types. The findings revealed at least four distinct vocalization types—the ‘snort’, the ‘soft snort’, the ‘squeal’ and the ‘quagga quagga’—with individual differences observed mostly in snorts, and to a lesser extent in squeals. Analyses based on acoustic features outperformed those based on spectrograms, but each excelled in characterizing different vocalization types. We thus recommend the combined use of these two approaches. This study offers valuable insights into plains zebra vocalization, with implications for future comprehensive explorations in animal communication.

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