Low Frequency Groans Indicate Larger and More Dominant Fallow Deer Males
Author Information
Author(s): Vannoni Elisabetta, McElligott Alan G.
Primary Institution: Zoologisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
Hypothesis
The acoustic structure of fallow deer groans provides reliable information on the quality of the caller.
Conclusion
The study shows that sexually selected vocalisations can signal social dominance in mammals, revealing that independent acoustic components encode accurate information on different phenotypic aspects of male quality.
Supporting Evidence
- Bigger males produced groans with lower formant frequencies and lower formant dispersion.
- Dominance rank was the factor most strongly related to mating success.
- Groans of high-ranking males were characterized by lower minimum fundamental frequencies.
Takeaway
Bigger and more dominant male deer make lower-pitched sounds, which helps other deer know how strong they are.
Methodology
The study examined the relationships between male quality and the frequency components of calls, analyzing groans from 17 male fallow deer.
Limitations
The sample size may not be sufficient to reveal an effect of body size on rank.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 17 male fallow deer of known age, individually recognizable due to ear tagging.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.003
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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