01937nas a2200193 4500008004100000245009600041210006900137300001200206490000600218520129500224653001601519653002301535653001001558653001501568653001201583100002001595700001701615856011101632 2022 eng d00aBioacoustic description of the alarm call of the stump-tailed porcupine (Coendou rufescens)0 aBioacoustic description of the alarm call of the stumptailed por a198-2030 v33 a

Acoustic communication in rodents is complex and varied. However, bioacoustic studies of rodents in the wild are limited and scarce, most are performed, under controlled laboratory conditions. We recorded the alarm call of the short-tailed porcupine in the wild for the first time. Recordings were obtained in Guabisai, Sangay National Park, Ecuador. We opportunistically recorded the alarm call of an adult female Coendou rufescens in a direct encounter during its capture process. We analyzed 37 notes of 21 calls, categorizing the notes into 4 different types based on their spectral, temporal, and intensity characteristics (i.e., fundamental, dominant and harmonic frequencies). The alarm call of C. rufescens consists of up to 4 notes. The sounds vary, ranging from chirps to nasal sounds, with the dominant frequency ranging from 0.34-2.50 kHz. The notes have different spectral and temporal characteristics. Therefore, the alarm call of C. rufescens presents a repertoire with different types of notes. Our preliminary observations suggest that their different types of sound are probably associated with anti-predatory behaviors, therefore we considered these sounds as alarm calls. This report provides baseline information for future bioacoustic studies on this species.

10aalarm calls10adominant frequency10anotes10arepertoire10aRodents1 aBatallas, Diego1 aBrito, Jorge uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/bioacoustic-description-alarm-call-stump-tailed-porcupine-coendou-rufescens02290nas a2200157 4500008004100000022002500041245021000066210006900276260001600345300002000361520163000381100002802011700002202039700002302061856004802084 2022 eng d a0023-6772, 1758-111700aThe use of ball pits and playpens in laboratory Lister Hooded male rats induces ultrasonic vocalisations indicating a more positive affective state and can reduce the welfare impacts of aversive procedures0 ause of ball pits and playpens in laboratory Lister Hooded male r cJan-13-2022 a0023677221106593 a

The advancement and quality of science rely on research that is robust and unbiased in its experimental design, execution, analysis, and reproducibility. In preclinical research, a better understanding of animal emotions and refinement of their husbandry, housing, and handling are important goals in providing good animal welfare in a laboratory setting which underpins rigorous research quality. Induction of positive emotional state in animals is a key component of their well-being, and one approach is to increase their environmental complexity using, for example, ball pits or playpens in rats. In this study, we recorded 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) during animals’ exposure to the ball pit and playpen. We have previously shown that 50 kHz USVs provide a graded and quantifiable measure of an animal’s emotional state, and here find that access to the ball pit and playpen increases 50 kHz USVs, indicative of a more positive affective state. Using our affective bias test (ABT) we next quantified the animals’ emotional response to an aversive intervention and whether this could be attenuated by access to a playpen. The playpen exposure completely mitigated the negative affective state induced by an anxiogenic drug when compared with animals who experienced the drug in the home cage. Together, these findings suggest ball pits and playpens provide a simple and effective method to improve the welfare of laboratory rats and reduce the cumulative suffering they experience from their housing conditions and minor, aversive procedures.

1 aHinchcliffe, Justyna, K1 aJackson, Megan, G1 aRobinson, Emma, SJ uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0023677221106592002029nas a2200169 4500008004100000245011900041210006900160520135600229653001501585653002701600653001401627653001601641653001701657100003301674700003701707856011501744 2021 eng d00aThe Acoustic behavior of the Brazilian Caatinga big rodent is incongruent to its actual position in Hidrochaerinae0 aAcoustic behavior of the Brazilian Caatinga big rodent is incong3 a

Our knowledge about the acoustic behavior of Caviinae species drove us to investigate Kerodon rupestris’s (Caviidae: Hydrochoerinae) repertoire. This species is endemic to Caatinga and states as vulnerable in the Brazilian list of endangered species. We recorded sounds uttered by individuals from Santa Luzia, State of Paraíba, Brazil. We promoted interactions among 13 animals during intra and intersexual pairing sessions, under undisturbed interactions in captivity, and in free-living conditions. We found a repertoire of 13 call types, most of them (all except three) shared with Cavia and only five possibly shared also with Hydrochoerus: (1) Close contact and cohesion: tonal and noisy contact calls, tweet, slow-whistle; (2) Social regulation (incitement, subordination or auto-defense): whine, peep-squeak, yelp; (3) Offensive aggression and status display: roar, snort, and teeth-chattering (4) Warning or intimidation: alarm-whistle, drrr, and drumming; (5) Courtship: purr and slow-whistle. The similarity of Kerodon signals to Hydrochoerinae species, despite the ecological differences, needs to be understood in comparative phylogenetic studies tracing back the origin of the courtship display in Caviidae. Thus, future research should focus on playback studies to test signals' biological function hypothesis.

10aalarm call10aHystricognathi rodents10asemi-arid10asocial life10avocalization1 aAlencar-Jr, Raimundo, Novaes1 aMonticellia, Patrícia, Ferreira uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/acoustic-behavior-brazilian-caatinga-big-rodent-incongruent-its-actual-position02083nas a2200217 4500008004100000245009400041210006900135520138800204653002301592653001501615653001101630653001701641653001601658653002001674100002101694700002101715700002401736700002201760700002001782856006301802 2021 eng d00aIndividual-based acoustic variation of the alarm calls in the long-tailed ground squirrel0 aIndividualbased acoustic variation of the alarm calls in the lon3 a

Based on their phylogenetic position, Nearctic ground squirrels are closest relatives to the long-tailed ground squirrel Urocitellus undulates even though it has Palaearctic distribution. We aimed to investigate the variability of alarm calls of the long-tailed ground squirrel to test the individual variation in alarm calls. This species is known to produce two types of alarm calls: whistle alarms and wideband calls. Although ground squirrels are a model group for the study of vocal individuality, this phenomenon has not yet been studied in a species producing two such completely different types of alarms. Most of ground squirrel species produce either whistle or wideband alarms and this species represents a unique model for testing the degree of individual variability depending on completely different acoustic structures. We analysed 269 whistle alarms produced by 13 individuals and 591 wideband alarms from 25 individuals at the western part of Lake Baikal. A discriminant function analysis (DFA) assigned 93.5% (88.9%, cross-validated result) of whistle alarms to the correct individual and 91.4% (84%) of wideband alarms. This is the first evidence of individual variation in wideband alarms compared with whistle alarms and occurrence of vocal individuality in two warning signals of a completely different acoustic structure produced by a ground squirrel.

10aacoustic evolution10aalarm call10arodent10aSpermophilus10aUrocitellus10avocal diversity1 aGoncharov, Denis1 aPolicht, Richard1 aHambálková, Lucie1 aSalovarov, Viktor1 aHart, Vlastimil uhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.20014702831nas a2200229 4500008004100000245014500041210006900186520200300255653002302258653002402281653001502305653002602320653002502346653002902371653000802400653001702408100002102425700002902446700002002475700002102495856008502516 2020 eng d00aUltrasonic vocalizations in house mice depend upon genetic relatedness of mating partners and correlate with subsequent reproductive success0 aUltrasonic vocalizations in house mice depend upon genetic relat3 a

Background
Courtship vocalizations are used by males of many species to attract and influence the behavior of potential mating partners. Our aim here was to investigate the modulation and reproductive consequences of courtship ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus musculus). The courtship USVs of male mice are surprisingly complex and are composed of a variety of different syllable types. Our specific aims were to test whether (1) the emission of courtship USVs depends upon the kinship of a potential mating partner, and (2) whether USV emission during courtship affects the pairs’ subsequent reproductive success.

Results
We experimentally presented males with an unfamiliar female that was either genetically related or unrelated, and we recorded USV emission, first while the sexes were separated by a perforated partition and then during direct interactions, after removing the partition. USVs were detected by the Automatic Mouse Ultrasound Detector (A-MUD) and manually classified into 15 syllable types. The mice were kept together to test whether and how courtship vocalizations predict their subsequent reproductive success. We found that the mice significantly increased their amount of vocalizations (vocal performance) and number of syllable types (vocal repertoire) after the partition was removed and they began interacting directly. We show that unrelated pairs emitted longer and more complex USVs compared to related pairs during direct interactions. Unrelated pairs also had a greater reproductive success compared to related pairs, and in addition we found a negative correlation between the mean length and amount of vocalizations with the latency to their first litter.

Conclusion
Our study provides evidence that house mice modulate the emission of courtship USVs depending upon the kinship of potential mating partners, and that courtship USVs correlate with reproductive success.

10aAdaptive functions10aGenetic relatedness10aHouse mice10aMus musculus musculus10areproductive success10aUltrasonic vocalizations10aUSV10aWild derived1 aNicolakis, Doris1 aMarconi, Maria, Adelaide1 aZala, Sarah, M.1 aPenn, Dustin, J. uhttps://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12983-020-00353-102330nas a2200181 4500008004100000245008500041210006900126520175500195653001201950653001601962653001401978653002301992653002802015100001702043700001502060700001702075856005602092 2020 eng d00aSocial context increases ultrasonic vocalizations during restraint in adult mice0 aSocial context increases ultrasonic vocalizations during restrai3 a

Adult mice emit many ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during social interaction tasks, but only a few studies have yet reported USVs in stressed adult mice. Our aim was to study which experimental conditions favor USV emission during behaviors associated with different emotional states. As USVs likely mediate social communication, we hypothesized that temporary social isolation followed by exposure to a novel social congener would promote USV emission. USVs were recorded in three different behavioral paradigms: restraint, free moving in a new environment, and during a social interaction task. We compared USV emission, with or without the presence of a social congener, in animals socially isolated during different periods (0, 6 or 21 days). Social isolation decreased the number of USVs during free moving, whereas it increased during restraint. During the social interaction task, animals produced high-frequency USVs (median: 72.6 kHz, 25–75% range: 67.6–78.2 kHz), especially when the social partner was active and social motivation was high. During restraint, presence of a social congener increased the call rate of low-frequency USVs (median: 52.4 kHz, 25–75% range: 44.8–56.5 kHz). USV frequency followed two unimodal distributions that distinguished low-frequency USVs (≤ 60 kHz) mainly emitted during free-moving (90.9% of total USVs) and restraint (93.1%) conditions, from high-frequency USVs (> 60 kHz) mainly emitted during the social interaction task (85.1% of total USVs). The present study confirms that USV call rate and frequency depend on behavioral states, and provides evidence that the presence of a congener promotes ultrasonic vocalizations in restrained adult mice.

10aArousal10aFree moving10aRestraint10aSocial interaction10aultrasonic vocalization1 aLefebvre, E.1 aGranon, S.1 aChauveau, F. uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10071-019-01338-202100nas a2200193 4500008004100000245012800041210006900169520141600238100002501654700001801679700002301697700002001720700002301740700002601763700002301789700001801812700002201830856005401852 2019 eng d00aEarly Life Maternal Separation and Maternal Behaviour Modulate Acoustic Characteristics of Rat Pup Ultrasonic Vocalizations0 aEarly Life Maternal Separation and Maternal Behaviour Modulate A3 a

Early separation of preterm infants from their mothers has adverse, long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. We investigated the effects of daily maternal separation (MS) of rat pups from postnatal days 2–10 (PND2–10) on neurobehavioural responses to brief isolation at PND12 compared with pups receiving controlled handling without MS. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) were measured at PND12 during two, 3-minute isolations occurring immediately before and after a 3-minute maternal reunion. There were no significant differences in acoustic characteristics between MS and control animals in the first isolation. However, in the second isolation, MS pups produced a greater proportion of high (~60 kHz) vs low (~40 kHz) frequency calls. During this isolation, control pups made longer and louder low frequency calls compared to the first isolation, whereas MS pups did the opposite. Maternal behaviour of control and MS mothers modulated pup acoustic characteristics in opposite directions; higher maternal care was associated with more low frequency calls in control pups but more high frequency calls in MS pups. We hypothesize that MS results in USV emission patterns reflective of a greater stress response to isolation. This translational model can be used to identify mechanisms and interventions that may be exploited to overcome the negative, long-term effects of MS.

1 aKaidbey, Jasmine, H.1 aRanger, Manon1 aMyers, Michael, M.1 aAnwar, Muhammad1 aLudwig, Robert, J.1 aSchulz, Alexandra, M.1 aBarone, Joseph, L.1 aKolacz, Jacek1 aWelch, Martha, G. uhttp://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-54800-z02067nas a2200133 4500008004100000245017300041210006900214520150800283100002001791700002201811700001201833700002001845856006801865 2012 eng d00aTraveling Waves on the Organ of Corti of the Chinchilla Cochlea: Spatial Trajectories of Inner Hair Cell Depolarization Inferred from Responses of Auditory-Nerve Fibers0 aTraveling Waves on the Organ of Corti of the Chinchilla Cochlea 3 a

Spatial magnitude and phase profiles for inner hair cell depolarization throughout the chinchilla cochlea were inferred from responses of auditory-nerve fibers to threshold- and moderate-level tones and tone complexes. Firing-rate profiles for frequencies ≤ 2 kHz are bimodal, with the major peak at the characteristic place and a secondary peak at 3–5 mm from the extreme base. Response- phase trajectories are synchronous with peak outward stapes displacement at the extreme cochlear base and accumulate 1.5-period lags at the characteristic places. High-frequency phase trajectories are very similar to the trajectories of basilar-membrane peak velocity toward scala tympani. Low- frequency phase trajectories undergo a polarity flip in a region, 6.5–9 mm from the cochlear base, where traveling-wave phase velocity attains a local minimum and a local maximum and where the onset latencies of near-threshold impulse responses computed from responses to near-threshold white noise exhibit a local minimum. That region is the same where frequency-threshold tuning curves of auditory-nerve fibers undergo a shape transition. Since depolarization of inner hair cells presumably indicates the mechanical stimulus to their stereocilia, the present results suggest that distinct low-frequency forward waves of organ of Corti vibration are launched simultaneously at the extreme base of the cochlea and at the 6.5–9 mm transition region, from where antiphasic reflections arise.

1 aTemchin, A., N.1 aRecio-Spinoso, A.1 aCai, H.1 aRuggero, M., A. uhttp://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/doi/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1138-12.201203024nas a2200265 4500008004100000245014600041210006900187520194300256653002702199653002502226653001702251653001802268653004002286653001502326100002002341700001902361700002002380700001802400700001702418700002102435700002502456700002302481700001602504856023802520 2019 eng d00aVocal divergence is concordant with genomic evidence for strong reproductive isolation in grasshopper mice ( Onychomys )0 aVocal divergence is concordant with genomic evidence for strong 3 a

Behavioral barriers to gene flow often evolve faster than intrinsic incompatibilities and can eliminate the opportunity for hybridization between interfertile species. While acoustic signal divergence is a common driver of premating isolation in birds and in‐ sects, its contribution to speciation in mammals is less studied. Here we characterize the incidence of, and potential barriers to, hybridization among three closely related species of grasshopper mice (genus Onychomys). All three species use long‐distance acoustic signals to attract and localize mates; Onychomys arenicola and Onychomys torridus are acoustically similar and morphologically cryptic whereas Onychomys leu‐ cogaster is larger and acoustically distinct. We used genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) to test for evidence of introgression in 227 mice from allopatric and sympatric lo‐ calities in the western United States and northern Mexico. We conducted laboratory mating trials for all species pairs to assess reproductive compatibility, and recorded vocalizations from O. arenicola and O. torridus in sympatry and allopatry to test for evidence of acoustic character displacement. Hybridization was rare in nature and, contrary to prior evidence for O. torridus/O. arenicola hybrids, only involved O. leu‐ cogaster and O. arenicola. In contrast, laboratory crosses between O. torridus and O. arenicola produced litters whereas O. leucogaster and O. arenicola crosses did not. Call fundamental frequency in O. torridus and O. arenicola was indistinguishable in allopatry but significantly differentiated in sympatry, a pattern consistent with repro‐ ductive character displacement. These results suggest that assortative mating based on a long‐distance signal is an important isolating mechanism between O. torridus and O. arenicola and highlight the importance of behavioral barriers in determining the permeability of species boundaries.

10aacoustic communication10abehavioral isolation10acontact zone10ahybridization10areproductive character displacement10aspeciation1 aCampbell, Polly1 aArévalo, Lena1 aMartin, Heather1 aChen, Charles1 aSun, Shuzhen1 aRowe, Ashlee, H.1 aWebster, Michael, S.1 aSearle, Jeremy, B.1 aPasch, Bret uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ece3.5770https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.5770https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.5770https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/ece3.577001390nas a2200241 4500008004100000020002200041245006600063210006600129260004400195520060300239653003700842653002200879653002400901653002100925100002100946700001600967700002300983700001801006700002101024700002701045700002101072856005501093 2019 eng d a978-3-030-31634-100aAutomatic Segmentation of Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rodents0 aAutomatic Segmentation of Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rodents aChambSpringer International Publishing3 a

Ultrasonic vocalizations studies in rodents have increasingly drawn researchers attention as it have been considered a powerful tool to understand the animals behavior and their interactions in different social and environmental contexts.

This paper presents an entropy-based algorithm for accurate and robust segmentation of mouse ultrasonic calls. Instead of using the conventional energy-based features, the spectral entropy is developed to identify the audio segments accurately. The new approach for mice calls detection has been able to detect up to 97% of the vocalizations.

10aRodents ultrasonic vocalizations10aSignal processing10aSignal segmentation10aSpectral Entropy1 aHenriques, Jorge1 aNeves, Nuno1 ade Carvalho, Paulo1 aPessoa, Diogo1 aPetrella, Lorena1 aCastelo-Branco, Miguel1 aTeixeira, César uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-31635-802938nas a2200229 4500008004100000245013700041210006900178520212800247653001802375653001802393653001402411653001302425653001602438653003502454653001502489653002402504653003602528653002702564100002302591700002702614856006702641 2019 eng d00aDissimilar interaction between dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in the initiation of emission of 50-kHz and 22-kHz vocalizations0 aDissimilar interaction between dopaminergic and cholinergic syst3 a

Rats emit 22-kHz or 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to signal their emotional state to other conspecifics. The 22-kHz USVs signal a negative emotional state while 50-kHz USVs reflect a positive affective state. The initiation of 22-kHz USVs is dependent on the activity of cholinergic neurons within the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus that release acetylcholine along the medial cholinoceptive vocalization strip. Emission of 50-kHz USVs is dependent upon the activation of dopaminergic neurons located within the ventral tegmental area that release dopamine into the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens. There have been reports that showed an antagonistic interaction between acetylcholine and dopamine during the expression of emotional states, and dopamine agonists decreased carbachol-induced emission of 22-kHz USVs. The current study tests the hypothesis that initial antagonism of dopamine receptors by systemic haloperidol or intraacumbens raclopride should increase the subsequent emission of 22 kHz USVs induced by carbachol from the lateral septum. Our findings showed that antagonism of dopaminergic signaling either via systemic haloperidol or via intracerebral raclopride did not alter the number of emitted 22-kHz USVs. Thus, inhibition of the mesolimbic dopamine system did not increase the magnitude of a negative emotional state. It was found, however, that prolonged emission of 22-kHz USVs initiated by carbachol caused a delayed rebound emission (R) of 50-kHz USVs appearing after 300 s of emission of 22-kHz USVs, i.e., when the response was subsiding. The R-50-kHz USVs were predominantly frequency modulated (FM) USVs and their number was directly proportional to the number of recorded 22-kHz USVs. The emission of R-50-kHz USVs was reversed by systemic pretreatment with haloperidol or intraacumbens injection of raclopride. It is argued that the R-50-kHz USVs represent a rebound emotional state that is opposite in valence and arousal induced by carbachol. Importantly, prolonged emission of amphetamine-induced 50 kHz USVs failed to show any vocalization rebound effect.

10aAcetylcholine10aAntipsychotic10aCarbachol10aDopamine10aHaloperidol10aLaterodorsal tegmental nucleus10aRaclopride10aRebound 50-kHz USVs10aUltrasonic vocalizations (USVs)10aVentral tegmental area1 aSilkstone, Michael1 aBrudzynski, Stefan, M. uhttps://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S009130571930259X02007nas a2200133 4500008004100000245015900041210006900200520143600269100002201705700002201727700002301749700002401772856007701796 2019 eng d00aHigh frequency audible calls in northern birch mice Sicista betulina in response to handling: effects of individuality, sex and body mass on the acoustics0 aHigh frequency audible calls in northern birch mice Sicista betu3 a

Objectives
This is the first study of the sonic and ultrasonic vocalization in a Dipodidae rodent. For the small-sized quadrupedal northern birch mouse Sicista betulina, phylogenetically related to the bipedal jerboas (Dipodidae), we report null results for ultrasonic vocalization and investigate the acoustic cues to individual identity, sex and body size in the discomfort-related high-frequency tonal sonic calls.

Results
We used a parallel audio recording in the sonic and ultrasonic ranges during weighting adult northern birch mice before the scheduled hibernation in captivity. The sonic (audible) high-frequency tonal calls (ranging from 6.21 to 9.86 kHz) were presented in all individuals (7 males and 4 females). The ultrasonic calls lacked in the recordings. Two-way nested ANOVA revealed the effects of caller individual identity on all 10 measured acoustic variables and the effects of sex on four out of 10 measured acoustic variables. Discriminant function analyses with 10 acoustic variables included in the analysis showed 85.5% correct assignment of calls to individual and 79.7% correct assignment of calls to sex; both values significantly exceeded the random values (23.1% and 54.3%, respectively) calculated with randomization procedure. Body mass did not differ between sexes and did not correlate significantly with the acoustic variables.

1 aVolodin, Ilya, A.1 aKlenova, Anna, V.1 aIlchenko, Olga, G.1 aVolodina, Elena, V. uhttps://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-019-4719-902434nas a2200181 4500008004100000245016000041210006900201520166700270653001901937653001801956653002401974653002501998653002902023653001202052100002502064700002702089856013602116 2020 eng d00aAssociation of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetamine-induced emission of 50 kHz vocalizations as studied by Zif-268 expression in the rat brain0 aAssociation of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetaminein3 a

Behavioural sensitization of locomotion and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) following repeated amphetamine (AMPH) injections in rats has been extensively demonstrated. These two behaviours appear dissociable in their sensitization patterns and are thought to be reflective of underlying emotional states of the organism. Although AMPH is often used to induce 50 kHz USVs there is little research to date on the extent of cortical and subcortical forebrain region involvement in 50 kHz call production associated with the drug. Nor has general ergometric activity (a measure that in addition to locomotor activity includes all major muscular activity of the body) been investigated in such a framework. The present study sought to address this by performing a minimal sensitization protocol, utilizing only two injections, to investigate expression of the inducible transcription factor Zif-268 (Zif) among brain regions thought to be associated with 50 kHz USV emission. It was found that animals that spent a longer time emitting 50 kHz calls after a second AMPH injection showed statistically significant correlative patterns of Zif expression in medial prefrontal and striatal regions. These associations were not significant in animals that spent a shorter period of time calling after AMPH. There was also no significant correlation between any ergometric activity and time spent calling. The results provide evidence that the medial prefrontal cortices (prelimbic and infralimbic regions) of the rat may be involved with 50 kHz USV emission induced by AMPH in association with medial portions of the ventral and dorsal striatum.

10a50 kHz calls10aD-amphetamine10aErgometric activity10aImmediate early gene10aUltrasonic vocalizations10aZif-2681 aMulvihill, Kevin, G.1 aBrudzynski, Stefan, M. uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/association-medial-corticostriatal-regions-amphetamine-induced-emission-50%E2%80%AFkhz-vocalizations01329nas a2200193 4500008004100000245015700041210006900198520065800267653001500925653001000940653001800950653001800968653001400986653001701000100002001017700002401037700001801061856005601079 2019 eng d00aEavesdropping on a heterospecific alarm call in the giant root-rat (Tachyorytes macrocephalus), an important prey of the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis)0 aEavesdropping on a heterospecific alarm call in the giant rootra3 a

The giant root-rat of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia has been reported to have a mutualistic relationship with a passerine, which involves eavesdropping on its alarm call. We tested this in a field playback experiment. Besides the alarm call, we included two sounds potentially acting as alarm cues and one as a control. Little reaction of root-rats was detected to the bird alarm call. However, intensive reaction was detected to an alarm call of the black-clawed brush-furred rat, a social rodent often occupying root-rats’ burrows. This result is understandable given the two rodents have the same principal predator, the Ethiopian wolf.

10aAfroalpine10aAlarm10aAnti-predator10aeavesdropping10aMutualism10aWing whistle1 aHrouzková, Ema1 aBernasová, Eliška1 aŠklíba, Jan uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10164-019-00618-102048nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009300041210006900134520129400203653001801497653003101515653003601546100002101582700001801603700001601621700002101637700002901658700002001687700002101707856011401728 2019 eng d00aApplying convolutional neural networks to the analysis of mouse ultrasonic vocalizations0 aApplying convolutional neural networks to the analysis of mouse 3 a

Many species in diverse taxonomic groups, including rodents, bats, and insects, communicate with complex ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) (>20 kHz). Two main components of processing and analyzing USV recordings include detection and classification of syllable types. Recently we developed an efficient algorithm for detecting mouse USVs (Automatic Mouse Ultrasound Detector (A-MUD)). The main challenge is detecting USVs under conditions with a low signal-to-noise ratio, while minimizing rates of false positives (FP). Mice produce many short USVs (< 10 millisecond) that inflate FPs. We aimed to improve the detection of mouse USVs with A-MUD by classifying vocalizations into three discrete syllable types (with 0, 1, or ≥2 frequency-jumps) or FP. Supervised Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) were fed by 2D Gammatone Spectrograms (GSs) adapted to the frequency range of mice. Evaluation of performance shows that CNNs yielded an overall accuracy of 95±1.2% and macro-F1 score of 90±2.7%. In contrast, multilayer feed-forward neural networks fed by vectorized spectrograms provided an overall accuracy of only 85.4±1.9% and macro-F1 score of 75.4±2.9%, and therefore, the chosen CNNs outperformed this conventional classification method.

10aDeep learning10aImage-based classification10aUltrasonic vocalizations (USVs)1 aAbbasi, Reyhaneh1 aBalazs, Peter1 aNOLL, Anton1 aNICOLAKIS, Doris1 aMarconi, Maria, Adelaide1 aZala, Sarah, M.1 aPenn, Dustin, J. uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/applying-convolutional-neural-networks-analysis-mouse-ultrasonic-vocalizations02153nas a2200205 4500008004100000245014200041210007300183520141100256653001601667653002201683653003001705653003001735653001101765653001301776653002801789100002101817700002201838700002501860856006201885 2019 eng d00aPerinatal high‐fat diet impairs pup retrieval and induces sex‐specific changes in ultrasonic vocalization characteristics of rat pups0 aPerinatal high‐fat diet impairs pup retrieval and induces sex‐sp3 a

Rodent pups emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to solicit maternal behavior, promoting their survival. Conversely, maternal behaviors affect the expression of pup USVs. We previously demonstrated that a maternal diet high in saturated fat (HFD) alters maternal behavior and is associated with early maturation of pups and their stress physiology. Here, we assessed the developmental profiles of pup USVs using quantitative and qualitative measures on postnatal days (PND)7 and 13. Quantitative measures included call counts, duration, and frequency, while qualitative measures examined calls' sonographic structures. HFD offspring lacked the typical decrease in USV numbers with age observed among control offspring. They also had shorter calls at PND7 compared to control and HFD offspring at PND13. HFD female offspring showed a greater number of one‐frequency‐sweep calls, while male pups showed a greater number of two‐frequency‐sweep calls compared to control offspring. Concomitantly, HFD dams showed impaired pup retrieval on PND7. The data suggest that fewer USVs of shorter duration in HFD offspring may alter dam solicitation and thus impair maternal pup retrieval. This study highlights the impacts of perinatal HFD exposure on the dyadic reciprocal interaction between dam and pups, which may set the stage for long‐lasting effects on offspring physiology and behavior.

10adevelopment10amaternal behavior10amother–pup interactions10aperinatal high‐fat diet10arodent10asonogram10aultrasonic vocalization1 aAbuaish, Sameera1 aTse, Emmanuel, K.1 aMcGowan, Patrick, O. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.2192302137nas a2200145 4500008004100000245008000041210006900121520158100190653001201771653002001783653000901803100002401812700002201836856013301858 2019 eng d00aPerception of Ultrasonic Vocalizations by Socially Housed and Isolated Mice0 aPerception of Ultrasonic Vocalizations by Socially Housed and Is3 a

It is currently unclear whether mice use their ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) for communication purposes. It is also unknown if mice require previous experience with USVs to understand conspecifics. There is some evidence that experience changes the perception of juvenile USVs; however, it is unclear whether similar plasticity also occurs for adult USVs. To examine whether social exposure or deprivation throughout development leads to changes in USV perception, eleven female CBA/CaJ mice were trained to discriminate between 18 USVs of three different categories using operant conditioning procedures. Mice were group housed with four females or housed individually from weaning for the duration of the experiment. Socially housed and isolated mice differed in initial training times on pure tones, suggesting isolated mice had a more difficult time learning the task. Both groups completed USV discrimination conditions quicker at the end of the testing phases relative to the beginning. The overall discrimination of USVs did not differ between the two housing conditions, but a multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that socially experienced and isolated mice perceive some USVs differently, illustrated by differences in locations of USVs on the scaling maps from the two groups. Finally, a negative correlation was found between spectrotemporal similarity and percent discrimination, and analyses support the idea that mice may show categorical perception of at least two of the three USV categories. Thus, experience with USVs changes USV perception.

10ahearing10apsychoacoustics10aUSVs1 aScreven, Laurel, A.1 aDent, Micheal, L. uhttp://eneuro.org/lookup/doi/10.1523/ENEURO.0049-19.2019https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1523/ENEURO.0049-19.201902566nas a2200229 4500008004100000245021900041210006900260520168300329653001502012653001902027653001702046653002202063653002402085100002402109700002702133700002402160700002202184700002802206700002602234700002202260856005402282 2019 eng d00aPhylogenetic relationship and variation of alarm call traits of populations of red‐cheeked ground squirrels ( Spermophilus erythrogenys sensu lato) suggest taxonomic delineation0 aPhylogenetic relationship and variation of alarm call traits of 3 a

Distribution area and taxonomic borders within the species complex Spermophilus erythrogenys sensu lato remain questionable. Early evidence suggests that red‐cheeked ground squirrels of Southeast Kazakhstan are remarkably different in terms of the acoustic structure of their alarm calls from the red‐cheeked ground squirrels of the Kurgan region in Russia. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the acoustic structure of the alarm call and mitochondrial DNA (complete control region, 1005–1006 bp and complete cytochrome b gene, 1140 bp) in 3 populations of red‐cheeked ground squirrels (Tara, Altyn‐Emel and Balkhash), all located within areas isolated by geographical barriers in Southeast Kazakhstan. We found that the alarm call variables were similar between the 3 study populations and differed by the maximum fundamental frequency (8.46 ± 0.75 kHz) from the values (5.62 ± 0.06 kHz) reported for the red‐cheeked ground squirrels from the Kurgan region of Russia. Variation in mtDNA control region was only 3% and variation in cytochrome b gene was only 2.5%. Phylogenetic trees based on cytochrome b gene polymorphism of 44 individuals from the study area and adjacent territories indicated 3 clades with high (98–100%) bootstrap support: “intermedius,” “brevicauda” and “iliensis”). We conclude that the 3 study populations in Southeast Kazakhstan belong to the clade intermedius and suggest a taxonomical revision of the species complex Spermophilus erythrogenys sensu lato, including analyses of nuclear DNA and alarm calls for populations of the brevicauda and iliensis clades.

10aalarm call10acontrol region10acytochrome b10amitochondrial DNA10avocal communication1 aMatrosova, Vera, A.1 aIVANOVA, Anastasia, D.1 aVolodina, Elena, V.1 aVolodin, Ilya, A.1 aAlexandrov, Dmitry, Yu.1 aSibiryakova, Olga, V.1 aErmakov, Oleg, A. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17494877/14/402385nas a2200193 4500008004100000245013100041210006900172260001600241300001300257490000700270520172700277100002502004700002302029700001602052700002202068700002202090700002702112856005202139 2019 eng d00aSex differences in auditory brainstem response audiograms from vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro and wild-type Long-Evans rats0 aSex differences in auditory brainstem response audiograms from v cJun-08-2021 ae02220960 v143 a

Rats are highly social creatures that produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during social interactions. Brattleboro rats, a Long-Evans derived rat that lacks vasopressin (AVP) due to a mutation in the Avp gene, exhibit atypical social behavior, including fewer USVs with altered spectrotemporal characteristics during social interactions. It is unclear why Brattleboro rats produce atypical USVs, but one factor could be differences in auditory acuity between them and wild-type Long Evans rats with functional vasopressin. Previous studies have suggested a link between increased levels of AVP and auditory processing. Additionally, few studies have investigated sex differences in auditory perception by Long-Evans rats. Sex differences in auditory acuity have been found throughout the animal kingdom, but have not yet been demonstrated in rat audiograms. This study aimed to measure auditory brainstem response (ABR) derived audiograms for frequencies ranging from 1 to 64 kHz in male and female homozygous Brattleboro (Hom), heterozygous Brattleboro (Het), and wild-type (WT) Long-Evans rats to better understand the role of AVP and sex differences in auditory processing by these rats. We failed to detect significant differences between the ABR audiograms of Hom, Het, and WT Long-Evans rats, suggesting that varying levels of AVP do not affect auditory processing. Interestingly, males and females of all genotypes did differ in their ABR thresholds, with males exhibiting higher thresholds than females. The sex differences in auditory acuity were significant at the lowest and highest frequencies, possibly affecting the perception of USVs. These are the first known sex differences in rat audiograms.

1 aCharlton, Payton, E.1 aSchatz, Kelcie, C.1 aBurke, Kali1 aPaul, Matthew, J.1 aDent, Micheal, L.1 aDelano, Paul, Hinckley uhttp://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.022209601758nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245014800055210006900203260001600272300001400288490000700302520096800309653002601277653002701303653002001330653001501350653003701365100002101402700002501423700002501448856005501473 2019 eng d a1062-360400aComparative Analysis of the Alarm Call in Different Age and Sexual Groups of the Russet Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus major Pallas 1778)0 aComparative Analysis of the Alarm Call in Different Age and Sexu cJan-07-2019 a173 - 1790 v503 a

The formation of the alarm call’s time–frequency characteristics at different stages of individual development was studied on the russet ground squirrel (S. major). The hypothesis about the vocalizations of young individuals of ground squirrels being emitted at lower frequencies than those of adults was tested. The results of the study indicate a differentiated formation of the sound signal in the different sexes of the russet ground squirrel in postnatal ontogenesis. The sound signal in females is formed in the first year of life during the season of activity, whereas it is formed in males in the year following the first hibernation. In terms of the studied call parameters, the voice of adult females is higher than that of young animals of both sexes, while the voice of adult males is lower. The possible causes and significance of the identified sex and age features of the alarm call of the russet ground squirrel are discussed.

10apostnatal ontogenesis10aRusset ground squirrel10asex differences10asound call10atime–frequency characteristics1 aBrandler, O., V.1 aTukhbatullin, A., R.1 aNikol’skii, A., A. uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1134/S106236041904002702468nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245015500055210006900210260001600279520155900295653001601854653002001870653001401890653001901904653002901923100002601952700002301978700002302001856023802024 2019 eng d a0012-163000aSocial experience during adolescence in female rats increases 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in adulthood, without affecting anxiety‐like behavior0 aSocial experience during adolescence in female rats increases 50 cJul-08-20203 a

Adolescents are highly motivated to engage in social interactions, and researchers have hypothesized that positive social relationships during adolescence can have long term, beneficial effects on stress reactivity and mental well‐being. Studies of laboratory rodents provide the opportunity to investigate the relationship between early social experiences and later behavioral and physiological responses to stressors. In this study, female Lister‐hooded rats (N = 12 per group) were either (a) provided with short, daily encounters (10 min/day) with a novel partner during mid‐adolescence (postnatal day 34–45; “social experience,” SE, subjects) or (b) underwent the same protocol with a familiar cagemate during mid‐adolescence (“control experience,” CE, subjects), or (c) were left undisturbed in the home cage (non‐handled “control,” C, subjects). When tested in adulthood, the groups did not differ in behavioral responses to novel environments (elevated plus maze, open field, and light‐dark box) or in behavioral and physiological (urinary corticosterone) responses to novel social partners. However, SE females emitted significantly more 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations than control subjects both before and after social separation from a familiar social partner, which is consistent with previous findings in male rats. Thus, enhanced adolescent social experience appears to have long‐term effects on vocal communication and could potentially modulate adult social relationships.

10aadolescence10aglucocorticoids10aneophobia10asocial novelty10aUltrasonic vocalizations1 aEmmerson, Michael, G.1 aSpencer, Karen, A.1 aBrown, Gillian, R. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.21906https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dev.21906https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dev.21906https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/dev.2190602228nas a2200169 4500008004100000022001300041245011600054210006900170260001600239520154000255100002901795700002501824700003101849700002401880700003301904856012101937 2019 eng d a0924977X00aCharacterization of rat ultrasonic vocalization in the orofacial formalin test: Influence of the social context0 aCharacterization of rat ultrasonic vocalization in the orofacial cJan-08-20193 a

Rats emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) about 22 kHz and 50 kHz sound frequency to communicate the presence of negative or positive emotional states, respectively. The calling behavior may be influenced by several factors, including environmental factors. Likewise, pain behavior can be modulated according to the social context, and also can be transferred to conspecifics through direct observation and/or social interaction. Herein we investigated if acute pain induction was related to changes in emission of aversive and appetitive calls and how different social contexts affected the nociceptive behavior and USVs. Our results demonstrated that orofacial formalin injection in rats induced aversive calls in addition to the nociceptive behavior, and both are reduced by systemic treatment with morphine (2.5 mg/kg). Exposure of formalin-injected rats to cagemates had no effect on the nociceptive behavior or calls emitted by the demonstrator, but the observer showed emotional contagion of pain. In contrast, exposure of formalin-injected rats to non-cagemates decreased the nociceptive behavior of the demonstrator, without affecting the calls emission. The emotional contagion was not detected in non-cagemates or in cagemates separated by a visual barrier. In conclusion, we suggest that familiarity and the visual contact contributes to emotional contagion of pain. USV analysis may represent an additional measure in the evaluation of the emotional aspect of orofacial pain, and for the study of pain modulation.

1 aBarroso, Amanda, Ribeiro1 aAraya, Erika, Ivanna1 ade Souza, Camila, Pasquini1 aAndreatini, Roberto1 aChichorro, Juliana, Geremias uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/characterization-rat-ultrasonic-vocalization-orofacial-formalin-test-influence-social02818nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001300041245011800054210006900172260001600241300001200257490000800269520186900277653001602146653001902162653002702181653003502208653001802243653001902261653001702280653001502297100003102312856023302343 2018 eng d a0003347200aPresence of a potential competitor and its individual identity modulate ultrasonic vocalizations in male hamsters0 aPresence of a potential competitor and its individual identity m cJan-11-2018 a11 - 270 v1453 a

Animal communication takes place in a complex environment that is constantly modulated by particular social conditions. The majority of examples of signalling behaviours modulated by social context involve the presence of an individual of a particular sex or one that simply represents general competition. However, the identity of the individuals and the social relationships among individuals could also significantly modulate acoustic behaviour. In this study, I examined whether the presence of another male competitor modulates the post-interaction vocal response of a male subject to an oestrous female stimulus in golden hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus. I found that the presence of a potential competitor during an interaction with a female across a wire-mesh barrier significantly decreased the duration, tempo and energy of ‘post-female calls’ over time (experiment 1). Moreover, the call duration and energy of one-note simple calls changed over time depending on the identity of the stimulus male. Males that experienced social conflict and lost a fight maintained call duration and increased the energy of their calls over time, but only if the social interaction with the female was in the presence of another familiar neutral male and not in the presence of a familiar winner male (experiment 2). When the winner male stimulus was present, the duration and energy of the calls produced by the loser decreased with time. Individual recognition between familiar conspecifics with different shared experiences likely modulated the motivational state of the male subject and his vocal response after a social interaction with the female. This study provides new evidence that social complexity (competition and individual recognition) can induce dynamic changes of spectrotemporal features of hamster sexual ultrasonic vocalizations.

10afamiliarity10agolden hamster10aindividual recognition10asexual ultrasonic vocalization10asocial defeat10aSyrian hamster10aUSV duration10aUSV energy1 aFernández-Vargas, Marcela uhttps://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0003347218302689https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0003347218302689?httpAccept=text/xmlhttps://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0003347218302689?httpAccept=text/plain01936nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245006600055210006600121260001600187520115100203653001701354653001801371653002001389653001601409653003001425653000901455653001201464653001701476653002001493653002201513653002001535653002901555100003101584856005501615 2018 eng d a1548-358400aVocal Signals of Sexual Motivation in Male and Female Rodents0 aVocal Signals of Sexual Motivation in Male and Female Rodents cJan-10-20203 a

Purpose of the Review

Rodents produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) under different social contexts, including courtship and reproduction. The present review aims to summarize the behavioral, bioacoustical, and physiological evidence that USV are reliable signals of sexual motivation in both male and female rodents.

Recent Findings

USV are actively produced by both sexes during sexual interactions, contrary to earlier assumptions. Male-typical and female-typical vocal behaviors can be identified. Calling rates and acoustic parameters, such as call duration, frequency, and energy, can be modulated rapidly over time by motivational state and sexual context. USV produced in response to sexual context could be regulated by the brain on a moment-to-moment basis through non-classical mechanisms of steroid action. Finally, I provide some practical considerations for the acoustic and statistical analyses of these vocal signals.

Summary

USV can be used as signals of sexual motivation in both sexes to study brain and hormonal mechanisms underlying sexual behavior or sexual differentiation.

10abioacoustics10acommunication10aGolden hamsters10aHouse mouse10aNongenomic steroid action10aRats10aRodents10aSex steroids10aSexual behavior10aSexual motivation10aSyrian hamsters10aUltrasonic vocalizations1 aFernández-Vargas, Marcela uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11930-018-0179-902784nas a2200241 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157300001400226490000800240520193100248653001402179653003302193653001002226653002302236653001402259653002802273653002002301653002402321100002102345700003402366700002502400856011702425 2018 eng d00aTestosterone pulses at the nest site modify ultrasonic vocalization types in a monogamous and territorial mouse0 aTestosterone pulses at the nest site modify ultrasonic vocalizat a804–8150 v1243 a

Modulation of baseline testosterone (T) via long‐lasting T implants alters territorial, sexual, and social behavior of animals in the field. Transient T increases occur in numerous species after social interactions, but these transient increases in T have not been manipulated in the field. In the laboratory, these T increases can influence future behavior for days, causing changes in social behavior and inducing preferences for specific locations. We manipulated transient increases in T in the field at the nests of the monogamous and territorial California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) to examine long‐term (>24 hr) changes in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Males of bonded male–female dyads (=pair) were administered a T injection (vs. saline) three times over seven days and USVs of the male–female dyad were measured for three days after the last injection. At T nests, the male–female dyad produced significantly more 1SV (one call SV: an SV is a sustained vocalization that is long in duration and low in modulation) and 4SV (four call SV) type USVs than controls, but no significant changes in aggressive barks. Overall, male–female dyad mice at T nests produced a greater diversity in call types such that 1SV, 4SV, 5SV, and a complex sweep were produced at T nests but not control nests. There were significantly more USVs produced at T nests on night 2 after the final injection. There were no differences in spectral characteristics of SV calls or aggressive barks between T and control nests. The function of the changes that occurred is unknown, but is consistent with increased long‐term changes in behavioral interactions with nest mates and may reflect T‐induced conditioned place preferences to the nest site. Significantly, transient increases in T influence future acoustic communication under field conditions with competing biotic and abiotic stimuli.

10aandrogens10aconditioned place preference10afield10amale‐female dyad10apair bond10aPeromyscus californicus10asocial behavior10avocal communication1 aTimonin, Mary, E1 aKalcounis-Rueppell, Matina, C1 aMarler, Catherine, A uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/testosterone-pulses-nest-site-modify-ultrasonic-vocalization-types-monogamous-and04059nas a2200109 4500008004100000245009500041210006900136260002600205520358400231100002103815856011303836 2018 eng d00aUsing Bioacoustics to Examine the Effects of Industrial Disturbance on Owls and their Prey0 aUsing Bioacoustics to Examine the Effects of Industrial Disturba bUniversity of Alberta3 a

Anthropogenic disturbance is known to have negative population consequences and alter animal behaviour, and a growing body of research on the effects of anthropogenic noise is finding similar negative impacts on wildlife. Noise in natural environments can mask important acoustic signals used for animal communication. Owls use vocal communication to attract mates and defend territories, and rely on acoustic cues to locate their prey. Industrial noise has been shown to negatively affect owl hunting success and reduce foraging efficiency by affecting their ability to detect prey, but whether this results in reduced habitat suitability for owls in areas near industrial noise sources is largely unknown. It is also not known if the abundance of small mammals, the primary prey of owls, is affected by industrial noise. Communication between small mammals is unlikely to be directly affected by noise because they primarily communicate using olfactory rather than vocal signals, but small mammals could be indirectly affected through altered predation dynamics. I sought to determine if owls avoid the areas surrounding chronic industrial noise sources, if prey availability is affected by chronic industrial noise, and the relative importance of noise compared to other types of disturbance resulting from industrial development on owl habitat use. I used autonomous recording units and automated recognizers to survey for owls and scan recordings for owl vocalizations, to assess the impacts of disturbance from industrial development on owls in northeastern Alberta, a region that has seen increased development in the oil and gas industries in recent years. I found that barred owls (Strix varia), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), and boreal owls (Aegolius funereus) were equally likely to occupy noisy sites compared to sites with no noise, indicating that site-level occupancy (representing a home range scale) was unaffected by the presence of noise sources on the landscape. I found no difference in abundance or activity of red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), indicating that these important prey species are not strongly affected by noise. Finally, I found each owl species responded differently to the different disturbance types. Barred owls were less likely to be present in areas with greater proportions of human footprint and roads, whereas great horned owls were more tolerant to disturbance and were more likely to be present in areas with greater proportions of soft linear features (e.g. seismic lines, pipelines), though they did avoid areas with large industrial facilities. Boreal owl presence was more strongly affected by forest composition than disturbance; they prefer more coniferous forests, and it was less clear if they were sensitive or relatively tolerant to disturbance. Assessing the relative impacts of multiple types of disturbance and how the accumulation of disturbances can impact wildlife is important in understanding species declines and can help focus conservation efforts. My thesis contributes to research on the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and suggests the effect of noise on barred owls, great horned owls, and boreal owls is minimal at the spatial scales I looked at. Similarly, the effect of noise on abundance and activity of red-backed voles and deer mice was weak, suggesting similar prey availability for owls. For the owl species I studied, forest composition and other types of disturbance on the landscape are more likely to influence their habitat use.

1 aShonfield, Julia uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/using-bioacoustics-examine-effects-industrial-disturbance-owls-and-their-prey01937nas a2200121 4500008004100000245014400041210006900185260003200254490000800286520142700294100002001721856007401741 2018 eng d00aThe Auditory Sensitivity and Active Space of the Northern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys leucogaster) in Relation to Woody Plant Encroachment0 aAuditory Sensitivity and Active Space of the Northern Grasshoppe bNorthern Arizona University0 vMSc3 a

Vocal communication is a critical component of mate choice and territoriality in many animals. The efficacy of communication depends on signal transmission through an often- cluttered environment. Anthropogenic-induced changes in vegetation structure may impact sound propagation and thus habitat quality, but few studies have explored this hypothesis. In the American Southwest, fire suppression and cattle grazing have facilitated displacement of grasslands by pinyon-juniper woodlands. Northern grasshopper mice (Onychomys
leucogaster) produce long-distance vocalizations to advertise their presence to rivals and potential mates and inhabit regions impacted by juniper encroachment. Here, we coupled acoustic recordings and physiological measurements of hearing sensitivity in the laboratory with sound transmission experiments in the field to estimate the active space of grasshopper mouse calls. We found that receivers are sensitive to loud (ca. 85 dB re: 20 μPa at 1 m) 11.6 kHz calls at 30 dB and that calls travel 30 m (range: 20 – 60 m). However, we found no effect of shrub encroachment on call propagation as juniper and grass density were inversely associated and both present barriers to a 9 cm mouse advertising at ground level. Our findings suggest that juniper encroachment does not affect sound propagation but may influence habitat quality through alternative mechanisms.

1 aGreen, Dana, M. uhttps://search.proquest.com/openview/e347237ef0544cf639c2d95e4d50a22b02328nas a2200133 4500008004100000245014900041210006900190260002000259300001100279490000600290520175100296100002502047856012202072 2017 eng d00aEnvironmental factors could constrain the use of long-range vocal signals in solitary tuco-tucos (Ctenomys; Rodentia, Ctenomyidae) reproduction 0 aEnvironmental factors could constrain the use of longrange vocal cOct-24-20172112 aR7YFP00 v13 a

Ctenomys are mainly solitary subterranean rodents. Life underground has advantages (protection against predators, environmental control and reduced competition) but also implies disadvantages (digging costs, coping with hypercapnia, physiological and sensory changes, and communication problems) that can affect the social structure. Reproduction is a critical moment in the use of the signal repertoire, because individuals should locate in space, travel to, contact and copulate with a suitable partner. Energy expenditure involved in digging (connecting) tunnels makes difficult to attain a partner burrow system, but predation risk involved in moving above ground can counterbalance it and coupled with the spatial structure of the population, can determine the best communicative strategy to contact and locate a potential partner. Vocalisations allow to communicate over longer distances an with a reduced risk, while chemical signals, mostly aimed at vomerolfaction involve proximity or direct contact with the sample odour thus making information gathering more risky. As Ctenomys can use different signal types to gather different types of information leading to copulation, we propose that the use of these signals would be flexible, depending mostly on population spatial structure and type of predators living in the zone. This is because differences among species and/or populations in the use and characteristics of long-range vocalisations could be induced by environmental and/or social factors. This variation could be considered as a case of phenotypic plasticity, determining communication strategies variability in reproductive context, mostly dependent on long-range communication signals and the behaviour of males.

1 aFrancescoli, Gabriel uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/content/environmental-factors-could-constrain-use-long-range-vocal-signals-solitary-tuco-tucos