Book chapter
Recording primate vocalizations
Field and Laboratory Methods in Primatology: A Practical Guide, 2nd Edition, pp.287-304
Cambridge University Press, 2nd Edition
2011
Abstract
Ornithologists have been exploring the possibilities and the methodology of recording and archiving animal sounds for many decades. Primatologists, however, have only relatively recently become aware that recordings of primate sound may be just as valuable as traditional scientific specimens such as skins or skeletons, and should be preserved for posterity (Fig. 16.1). Audio recordings should be fully documented, archived and curated to ensure proper care and accessibility. As natural populations disappear, sound archives will become increasingly important (Bradbury et al.,1999).
Studying animal vocal communication is also relevant from the perspective of behavioural ecology. Vocal communication plays a central role in animal societies. Calls are believed to provide various types and amounts of information. These may include, among other things: (1) information about the sender's identity (e.g. species, sex, age class, group membership or individual identity); (2) information about the sender's status and mood (e.g. dominance, fear or aggressive motivation, fitness); and (3) information about relevant events or discoveries in the sender's environment (e.g. predators, food location). When studying acoustic communication, sound recordings are usually required to analyse the spectral and temporal structure of vocalizations or to perform playback experiments (Chapter 11).
This chapter describes how to record non-human primate vocalizations. We begin with definitions of some technical terms, then provide information on the advantages and disadvantages of various types of equipment (sound recorders, microphones and other equipment).
Details
- Title
- Recording primate vocalizations
- Authors
- T Geissmann (Author) - University of ZurichS Parsons (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Contributors
- Joanna M Setchell (Editor) - Durham UniversityDeborah J Curtis (Editor) - Oxford Brookes University
- Publication details
- Field and Laboratory Methods in Primatology: A Practical Guide, 2nd Edition, pp.287-304
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Edition
- 2nd Edition
- DOI
- 10.1017/CBO9780511921643.018; 10.1017/CBO9780511921643
- ISBN
- 9780511921643
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99576108502621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
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