Can a gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) generalize call classes?
Abstract
Past researchers have found that gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) are capable of classifying vocal signals by call type using a trained set, but were unable to generalize to novel exemplars (Shapiro, Slater, & Janik, 2004). Given the importance of auditory categorization in communication, it would be surprising if the animals were unable to generalize acoustically similar calls into classes. Here, we trained a juvenile gray seal to discriminate novel calls into 2 classes, “growls” and “moans,” by vocally matching call types (i.e., the seal moaned when played a moan and growled when played a growl). Our method differed from the previous study as we trained the animal using a comparatively large set of exemplars with standardized durations, consisting of both the seal’s own calls and those of 2 other seals. The seal successfully discriminated growls and moans for both her own (94% correct choices) and the other seals’ (87% correct choices) calls. We used a generalized linear model (GLM) and found that the seal’s performance significantly improved across test sessions, and that accuracy was higher during the first presentation of a sound from her own repertoire but decreased after multiple exposures. This pattern was not found for calls from unknown seals. Factor analysis for mixed data (FAMD) identified acoustic parameters that could be used to discriminate between call types and individuals. Growls and moans differed in noise, duration and frequency parameters, whereas individuals differed only in frequency. These data suggest that the seal could have gained information about both call type and caller identity using frequency cues.
Citation
Stansbury , A , de Freitas , M , Wu , G-M & Janik , V M 2015 , ' Can a gray seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) generalize call classes? ' , Journal of Comparative Psychology , vol. 129 , no. 4 , pp. 412-420 . https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039756
Publication
Journal of Comparative Psychology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0735-7036Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright 2015 American Psychological Association. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0039756
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