Analysis of Male White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) Songs in Response to Predator Models — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Analysis of Male White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) Songs in Response to Predator Models

Name: Olivia DeRoach
Major: Biology and Neuroscience
Hometown: Ashwaubenon, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Angela Dassow
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Independent research

Name: Ryan Yont
Major: Biology and Neuroscience
Hometown: Colgate, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Angela Dassow
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Independent research

Abstract

White-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) are lesser apes that produce male-specific codas during territorial song bouts. These codas have previously been classified into three categories, wa, trill, and quaver notes, based on recordings of wild gibbons. The present study aimed to determine sequence variations between H. lar codas in the presence or absence of different predator models. Additionally, phrase frequencies in wild gibbons were analyzed to determine the complexity of the codas. Using Adobe Audition CC 2017.0.2, the minimum and maximum frequencies for each note type were examined. The sequences of notes were visualized as transitional probability diagrams using Graphviz. A single-factor ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD post-hoc tests compared frequency measurements between groups. The post-hoc tests showed a significant difference in the maximum quaver frequencies of the duets, clouded leopard responses, and sitting tiger responses compared to the running tiger responses (p = 0.008, p = 0.014, p = 0.039, respectively). This study furthers the understanding of H. lar coda vocalizations by analyzing coda note sequences and frequencies in response to predator presence/absence. Future directions will include analyzing changes to the frequencies of notes over the progression of a song bout and expanding this study to include female-specific calls.

Poster file