Same data, different results? Evaluating machine learning approaches for individual identification in animal vocalisations

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 14, 2024

ABSTRACT Automated acoustic analysis is increasingly used in animal communication studies, and determining caller identity a key element for many investigations. However, variability feature extraction classification methods limits the comparability of results across species constraining conclusions we can draw about ecology evolution groups under study. We investigated impact using different (spectro-temporal measurements, Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, highly comparative time-series analysis) (discriminant function analysis, support vector machines, Gaussian mixture models, neural networks, random forests) on consistency accuracy 16 mammalian datasets. found that coefficients forests yield consistently reliable datasets, facilitating standardised approach generates directly comparable data. These findings remained consistent vocalisation sample sizes number individuals considered. offer guidelines processing analysing vocalisations, fostering greater comparability, advancing our understanding evolutionary significance diverse species.

Language: Английский

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Cognition in the wild: understanding animal thought in its natural context

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 47, P. 101210 - 101210

Published: Aug. 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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A cooperatively breeding mouse shows flexible use of its vocal repertoire according to social context

Behavioural Brain Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 486, P. 115575 - 115575

Published: April 5, 2025

Mice exchange information using chemical, visual and acoustic signals. Long ignored, mouse ultrasonic communication is now considered to be an important aspect of their social life, transferring such as individual identity or stress levels. However, whether how mice modulate communications largely unknown. Here we show that the cooperatively breeding African striped Rhabdomys pumilio controls its vocal production both qualitatively quantitatively, depending on naturally relevant context. By conducting controlled experiments in captivity, found a repertoire consisting seven vocalisation types, which it uses differently different types interactions. Familiar individuals same sex vocalise more than two unfamiliar same-sex individuals. The greatest diversity vocalisations was recorded during encounter between female male, suggesting certain are mainly used for courtship. Our results highlight familiar may alternate while tend overlap one another. These observations suggest control temporal dynamics vocalisations, addressing targeted specific receivers via channel.

Language: Английский

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Evolution and development of vocal communication in primates

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Calls of the little auk (Alle alle) chicks reflect their behavioural contexts

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(2), P. e0299033 - e0299033

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Animal vocalisations can often inform conspecifics about the behavioural context of production and underlying affective states, hence revealing whether a situation should be approached or avoided. While this is particularly important for socially complex species, little known expression in wild colonial animals, even less to their young. We studied auk ( Alle alle ) chicks Hornsund breeding colony, Svalbard. Little auks are highly seabirds, adults convey contexts through calls. recorded chick calls during two opposite valence: handing by human, while they interact with parents inside nest. Using permuted discriminant function analysis series linear mixed models, we examined effect context/associated valence on acoustic parameters those Calls were reliably classified context, over 97% accuracy. uttered handling had higher mean entropy, fundamental frequency, as well lower spectral centre gravity steep slope compared produced interactions parent The individuality calls, assessed information content, was than These findings suggest that seabird effectively communicate behavioural/affective conveying messages early development. Our results mostly line emotional patterns observed across taxa, supporting evolutionary continuity.

Language: Английский

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Use of acoustic signals in Cape fur seal mother–pup reunions: individual signature, signal propagation and pup home range

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(13)

Published: July 1, 2024

ABSTRACT The Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) is one of the most colonial mammals, with colonies up to hundreds thousands individuals during breeding season. During lactation period, mothers and pups are regularly separated as females undertake multi-day foraging trips at sea. Mothers use a mutual vocal recognition system reunite after separation. Such communication highly constrained by both high background noise risk individual confusion owing density seals. This study aimed experimentally assess acoustic features relevant for mother–pup identification propagation properties their calls. Playback experiments revealed that mother pup signatures rely on temporal frequency parameters: amplitude modulations, timbre fundamental (f0). more parameters than in any species studied so far. combinational reinforces concept environmental social constraints may have acted selective pressures systems. Theoretical distances vocalisations were estimated be below range which reunions can occur. suggests seals strong abilities extract signals from noise, previously demonstrated king penguin. Investigating transmission information throughout signal well ability receiving decipher crucial understanding systems wild.

Language: Английский

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Knowing a fellow by their bellow: acoustic individuality in the bellows of the American alligator

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 207, P. 157 - 167

Published: Dec. 2, 2023

Identity cues in animal calls are essential for conspecific vocal individual recognition. Some acoustically active species mainly show reliable identity their vocalizations because of variation anatomy and life history. Long strenuous-to-produce may be particularly effective showing sustaining such reveal anatomical differences sound production. It is largely unknown whether reptiles possess acoustic individuality despite some groups being vocal. We analysed 814 bellows from 47 American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, extracting spectral characteristics manually corrected contours the fundamental frequency. Recognition was up to 66% correct with a supervised classifier (random forest) 61% unsupervised clustering (chance = 2.1%), indicating that alligators have highly distinct bellows. Alligators were distinguished primarily based on call spectrum, frequency contour amplitude modulation, which also provided information about animal's size. Neither manual supervision analyses nor training labelled data necessary achieve reasonable accuracy, has promising potential identification individuals via passive monitoring research conservation purposes. Additionally, our results highlight importance studying utilization social lives crocodylians.

Language: Английский

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

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

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

Language: Английский

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Vocal tract shape variation contributes to individual vocal identity in African penguins

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(2008)

Published: Oct. 11, 2023

Variation in formant frequencies has been shown to affect social interactions and sexual competition a range of avian species. Yet, the anatomical bases this variation are poorly understood. Here, we investigated morphological correlates formants production vocal apparatus African penguins. We modelled geometry supra-syringeal tract 20 specimens generate population virtual tracts with varying dimensions. then estimated acoustic response these extracted centre frequency first four predicted formants. demonstrate that: (i) length cross-sectional area strongly affects pattern, (ii) tracheal region determines most variation, (iii) skeletal size penguins does not correlate trachea consequently relatively little effect on conclude that penguins, while generates resonant supporting discrimination conspecifics, such provide information emitter's body size. Overall, our findings advance understanding role bird communication.

Language: Английский

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Friend or foe? Using eye-tracking technology to investigate the visual discrimination ability of giant pandas

Current Zoology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 70(4), P. 430 - 439

Published: May 4, 2023

Abstract The role that visual discriminative ability plays among giant pandas in social communication and individual discrimination has received less attention than olfactory auditory modalities. Here, we used an eye-tracker technology to investigate pupil fixation patterns for 8 captive male Ailuropoda melanoleuca. We paired images (N = 26) of conspecifics against: 1) sympatric predators (gray wolves tigers), non-threatening species (golden pheasant, golden snub-nosed monkey, takin, red panda), 2) with atypical fur coloration (albino brown), 3) zookeepers/non-zookeepers wearing either work uniform or plain clothing. For each session, tracked the panda’s movements measured first point (FFP), latency, total count (TFC), duration (TFD) image. Overall, exhibited similar (FFPs TFCs) species. Images tiger conspecifics, whereas takin panda more attention, suggesting a greater alertness habitat food competitors potential predators. Pandas’ TFCs were black-white albino brown phenotypes, implying familiar color elicited interest. Pandas reacted differently men versus women. women only, gave (TFC) combinations (uniformed zookeepers plain-clothed non-zookeepers), consistent familiarity hypothesis. That can use perception discriminate intra-specifically inter-specifically, including details human appearance, applications conservation husbandry.

Language: Английский

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