Pfefferle Dana, Brauch Katrin, Heistermann Michael, Hodges J Keith, Fischer Julia
Research Group Cognitive Ethology, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
Proc Biol Sci. 2008 Mar 7;275(1634):571-8. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1499.
In a number of primate species, females utter loud and distinctive calls during mating. Here we aim to clarify the information content and function of Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) copulation calls by testing (i) whether or not copulation calls advertise the female fertile phase and (ii) whether and how copulation calls influence male ejaculatory behaviour. In order to do this, we combined hormone measurements with acoustic analysis and behavioural observations. In contrast to a previous study implying that the structure of copulation calls indicates the timing of the fertile phase, our results, using objective endocrine criteria for assessing ovulation, provide evidence that the structure of copulation calls of female Barbary macaques does not reveal the timing of the fertile phase. More importantly, females seem to influence the likelihood of ejaculation by calling versus remaining silent and by adjusting the timing of call onset. Females make use of this ability to influence mating outcome to ensure ejaculatory matings with almost all males in the group. In addition, calls given during ejaculatory copulations differ from those during non-ejaculatory copulations, providing information about mating outcome for listeners. We conclude that in this species, copulation calls apparently serve to enhance sperm competition and maximize paternity confusion.
在许多灵长类物种中，雌性在交配时会发出响亮且独特的叫声。在此，我们旨在通过测试（i）交配叫声是否表明雌性的排卵期，以及（ii）交配叫声是否以及如何影响雄性射精行为，来阐明巴巴里猕猴（Macaca sylvanus）交配叫声的信息内容和功能。为了做到这一点，我们将激素测量与声学分析及行为观察相结合。与之前一项暗示交配叫声结构表明排卵期时间的研究不同，我们使用评估排卵的客观内分泌标准得出的结果表明，雌性巴巴里猕猴交配叫声的结构并未揭示排卵期时间。更重要的是，雌性似乎通过发声与保持沉默以及调整叫声开始的时间来影响射精的可能性。雌性利用这种影响交配结果的能力，确保与群体中几乎所有雄性进行射精交配。此外，射精交配时发出的叫声与非射精交配时发出的叫声不同，能为听众提供有关交配结果的信息。我们得出结论，在这个物种中，交配叫声显然有助于增强精子竞争并最大化父权混淆。
