TY - JOUR
T1 - Flexible use of contact calls in a species with high fission-fusion dynamics
AU - Briseño-Jaramillo, Margarita
AU - Sosa-López, José Roberto
AU - Ramos-Fernández, Gabriel
AU - Lemasson, Alban
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s).
PY - 2022/9/26
Y1 - 2022/9/26
N2 - The 'social complexity hypothesis' posits that complex social systems (which entail high uncertainty) require complex communicative systems (with high vocal flexibility). In species with fission-fusion dynamics, where the fluid composition of temporary subgroups increases the uncertainty with which group members must manage their social relationships, vocal communication must be particularly flexible. This study assessed whether contact call rates vary with caller and audience characteristics in free-living spider monkeys, as well as with fission and fusion events. Adult females and immature individuals called more when in small audience settings, while audience size did not influence adult males. Adults called more when in the presence of the opposite sex, whereas immatures vocalized more in subgroups composed only by females. Females also called more when with their mature sons. We found higher call rates in periods during which fission and fusion events took place than in periods with more stable compositions and when the composition after a fission or fusion event changed from one sex to two sexes. A flexible use of contact calls allows individuals to identify themselves when they join others, particularly if they are members of the opposite sex. This socio-spatial cohesion function reduces the uncertainty about subgroup composition. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cognition, communication and social bonds in primates'.
AB - The 'social complexity hypothesis' posits that complex social systems (which entail high uncertainty) require complex communicative systems (with high vocal flexibility). In species with fission-fusion dynamics, where the fluid composition of temporary subgroups increases the uncertainty with which group members must manage their social relationships, vocal communication must be particularly flexible. This study assessed whether contact call rates vary with caller and audience characteristics in free-living spider monkeys, as well as with fission and fusion events. Adult females and immature individuals called more when in small audience settings, while audience size did not influence adult males. Adults called more when in the presence of the opposite sex, whereas immatures vocalized more in subgroups composed only by females. Females also called more when with their mature sons. We found higher call rates in periods during which fission and fusion events took place than in periods with more stable compositions and when the composition after a fission or fusion event changed from one sex to two sexes. A flexible use of contact calls allows individuals to identify themselves when they join others, particularly if they are members of the opposite sex. This socio-spatial cohesion function reduces the uncertainty about subgroup composition. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cognition, communication and social bonds in primates'.
KW - New World monkeys
KW - audience effect
KW - contact calls
KW - social uncertainty
KW - vocal flexibility
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135548754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1098/rstb.2021.0309
DO - 10.1098/rstb.2021.0309
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 35934970
SN - 0962-8436
VL - 377
JO - Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
JF - Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
IS - 1860
M1 - 20210309
ER -