Intra-sexual competition and vocal counter-strategies in wild female chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)
Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: A growing body of behavioural data is beginning to show that, like their male counterparts, \nfemale chimpanzees can be competitive and aggressive, particularly when resources come \nunder pressure. These observations are especially surprising because, for a long time, females \nwere simply considered passive pawns of male social manoeuvrings. While we are beginning \nto understand the complexities surrounding female chimpanzee group living, exactly how \nfemales manage these social pressures is unclear. In this thesis I address this by focusing on \nfemale competition in wild chimpanzees and the importance of vocal counter-strategies. \nI examined two commonly produced female vocalisations: copulation calls and victim \nscreams from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Budongo Forest, Uganda. \nMy results regarding the production and acoustic structure of copulation calls suggests that \nthese vocalisations play a crucial role in the lives of female chimpanzees, dissipating the risks \nassociated with female competition. \nDuring aggression, chimpanzee females commonly produce victim screams and these calls \nhave been shown to vary systematically with the severity of aggression experienced. A \nplayback experiment showed that victim screams are meaningful to females and that listeners \ndo not just respond to the acoustically most salient signals in their environment. Females may \nuse this information to keep track of out-of-sight agonistic interactions and make appropriate \nsocial decisions regarding whether to avoid an ensuing attack. \nTaken together, I propose that vocalisations may represent important behavioural counter-strategies, enabling females to navigate successfully through their socially intricate world.
Author: Simon W. Townsend
Language: English
Topic: Primate Behavior and Ecology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1578376221