DOCSLIB.ORG

Exploring the Potential Use of Seismic Waves As a Communication Channel by Elephants and Other Large Mammals1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Exploring the Potential Use of Seismic Waves As a Communication Channel by Elephants and Other Large Mammals1 AMER.ZOOL., 41:1157±1170 (2001) Exploring the Potential Use of Seismic Waves as a Communication Channel by Elephants and Other Large Mammals1 C. E. O'CONNELL-RODWELL,2*L.A.HART,² AND B. T. ARNASON³ *Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biological Sciences 371 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020 ²Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, California 95616 ³Tezar Inc., P.O. Box 26235, Austin, Texas 78755-0235 SYNOPSIS. Bioseismic studies have previously documented the use of seismic stim- uli as a method of communication in arthropods and small mammals. Seismic signals are used to communicate intraspeci®cally in many capacities such as mate Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/41/5/1157/343557 by guest on 30 September 2021 ®nding, spacing, warning, resource assessing, and in group cohesion. Seismic sig- nals are also used in interspeci®c mutualism and as a deterrent to predators. Al- though bioseismics is a signi®cant mode of communication that is well documented for relatively small vertebrates, the potential for seismic communication has been all but ignored in large mammals. In this paper, we describe two modes of pro- ducing seismic waves with the potential for long distance transmission: 1) loco- motion by animals causing percussion on the ground and 2) acoustic, seismic- evoking sounds that couple with the ground. We present recordings of several mammals, including lions, rhinoceroses, and elephants, showing that they generate similar acoustic and seismic vibrations. These large animals that produce high amplitude vocalizations are the most likely to produce seismic vibrations that prop- agate long distances. The elephant seems to be the most likely candidate to engage in long distance seismic communication due to its size and its high amplitude, low frequency, relatively monotonic vocalizations that propagate in the ground and have the potential to travel long distances. We review particular anatomical fea- tures of the elephant that would facilitate the detection of seismic waves. We also assess low frequency sounds in the environment such as thunder and the likelihood of seismic transmission. In addition, we present the potential role of seismic stimuli in human communication as well as the impact of modern anthropogenic effects on the seismic environment. INTRODUCTION brations of the earth substrate (Ewing, Bioseismic cues are known to be impor- 1989). tant for many arthropods (Cocroft et al., Vibration signal energy depends mostly 2000), ®sh, reptiles, amphibians and small on the mass and available muscular power of the signal producer (Markl, 1983). The mammals in intraspeci®c and heterospeci®c source signal intensity and attenuation dur- communication, prey detection and predator ing transmission, together with the sensitiv- avoidance and navigation (see O'Connell- ity and depth of receptors in the receiver, Rodwell et al., 2000 for review). Two pri- and the threshold at which the receptor will mary methods of initiating bioseismic cues be stimulated relative to the frequency and are: 1) percussion that causes an impact strength of the stimulus de®ne the spatial with the earth and produces waves in re- extent of vibration signals. The Weber- sponse to direct contact and 2) vocaliza- Fechner law states that the magnitude of an tions which produce wave movements that observer's psychological response is direct- are then coupled with the earth to cause vi- ly related to the logarithm of the intensity of the stimulus (Landing et al., 1998). Sig- nal detection theory (SDT) further stipu- 1 From the Symposium Vibration as a Communi- lates that detection also depends on the ex- cation Channel presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, 3±7 pectation, motivation, in situ conditions, January 2001, at Chicago, Illinois. sensitivity, decision making and ®nally, 2 E-mail: [email protected] noise level (Tanner and Swets, 1954). 1157 1158 C. E. O'CONNELL-RODWELL ET AL. It appears there is a ``sweet zone'' for humans may also have used seismic cues at seismic signal transmission ranging from 10 one time as a means of long distance com- Hz to 40 Hz, where there is a maximum munication and prey detection. ef®ciency of transmission of seismic energy (O'Connell-Rodwell et al., 2000). Ambient Seismic vibrations produced by percussion seismic noise on land from ocean waves Foot-drumming of banner-tailed kanga- creates peaks at about 0.14 Hz and about roo rats (Randall, 1989) and the chela 0.07 Hz (White, 1965). With increasing fre- drumming of the male ®ddler crab (Aicher quency, these low frequency and storm mi- and Tautz, 1990) are percussion-induced croseisms sharply decline to negligible lev- seismic signals. Markl (1983) suggests that els by 10 Hz. Although noise due to micro- drumming-induced communication is a seisms decreases to trivial levels above 10 close-ranged communication system. More Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/41/5/1157/343557 by guest on 30 September 2021 Hz, the attenuation of seismic pulses in- recent studies of the Cape mole rat suggest creases with frequency (Frantii et al., that seismic signals produced by drumming 1962). Pre-historically, the range around 20 propagate at least an order of magnitude be- Hz was a quiet seismic region, carrying yond acoustical signals (Narins et al., 1992, only vibrations associated with thunder and 1997), providing evidence that seismic sig- earth tremors making it available to ele- nals might also be used in long distance phants and other large mammals. communication. Both acoustic and seismic waves are sub- Large terrestrial mammals inevitably ject to interference and alteration due to en- cause far greater impact on the seismic en- vironmental factors. Wind shear and tem- vironment than the invertebrates and small perature gradients in¯uence the acoustic mammals. Trunk banging displays of the propagation of sound, whereas the soil type Asian elephant produce a booming sound and heterogeneity are among the factors in- heard for a great distance (Tennent, 1867; ¯uencing the propagation of a seismic sig- Sanderson, 1878). The sound seems to be nal (O'Connell-Rodwell et al., 2000). Air- produced by the sudden percussion of the borne sound waves spread spherically rath- column of air in the trunk as it is expelled er than cylindrically, attenuating more rap- (Krishnan, 1972). A female may drum her idly than ground surface waves such as trunk following the birth of a calf (Vincent, Rayleigh waves, losing 6 dB for every dou- 1946), when a musth bull joins the herd bling of distance as opposed to 3 dB. (LAH, unpublished observations), as a There is also an outer limit to airborne threat to an intruder (O'Connell-Rodwell, transmission (Uman, 1984) which is not the unpublished observations), or even when case for surface seismic waves. In this pa- testing the soundness of a bridge (Baker, per, we address the production of both 1890/1988). acoustic and seismic waves by large terres- An elephant seal lying on the ground re- trial mammals, especially Asian and Afri- sponds to a seismic wave caused by drop- can elephants, that are known to produce ping an object at a distance of 20 m (Shi- high amplitude acoustic vocalizations. pley et al., 1992). Although the psycho- The primary aim of this paper is to pre- physical parameters have not yet been sent a conceptual framework for examining worked out, perhaps these animals obtain bioseismic cues produced by large verte- seismic information about the size and brates through percussion and the coupling strength of an opponent in an episode of of low frequency vocalizations, especially con¯ict. where such signals might be used for long The locomotion of large mammals pro- distance communication. We review what is duces ground-borne vibrations. An elephant known about biological sense organs that mock charge ends in a foot stomping be- could potentially be used to detect seismic havior that produces a substantial seismic signals and discuss the data that support the signal, modeled to be capable of traveling possibility of the elephant being capable of up to 32 km (O'Connell-Rodwell et al., detecting the seismic signals produced by 2000). The seismic energy generated by a conspeci®cs. We address the possibility that stampede of bison was apparently detect- SEISMIC WAVES AS A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL 1159 able by Native Americans and used as a phone, with a ¯at response of 20±20,000 form of prey detection. A herd of zebra or Hz. Seismic signals were recorded using a giraffe running may propagate a series of Mandrel 10 Hz MD-79 vertical polarized seismic waves with characteristics unique geophone with a transduction coef®cient of to that species. The characteristic gaits of 0.230 V/cm/sec. Geophones were buried 10 four-legged animals relate to the size and cm into the ground. structure of the body and differ with species The lion roars were recorded at approx- (Hildebrand, 1995). The natural period for imately 300 m. Rhino vocalizations were a walking elephant is 1.6 to 2.2 sec, for the recorded at approximately 100 m and the horse, 1.2 to 1.8 sec, and for the deer, 0.8 African elephant rumble was recorded at 20 to 1.0 sec (Hildebrand, 1985), each setting m. The Asian elephant rumble was recorded in motion a characteristic seismic wave. In from a female at 5 m. The thunder was re- Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/41/5/1157/343557 by guest on 30 September 2021 theory, a seismic eavesdropper, such as a corded at varying distances approximately lion on the African plain, could assess 1 km away. whether vibrations are from antelope or ze- The seismic components of vocalizations bra, making more selective hunting forays were ®ltered and ampli®ed separately from for preferred food.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Social Significance of Trunk Use in Captive Asian Elephants
    Ethology Ecology & Evolution ISSN: 0394-9370 (Print) 1828-7131 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/teee20 Social significance of trunk use in captive Asian elephants Saki Yasui & Gen’ichi Idani To cite this article: Saki Yasui & Gen’ichi Idani (2016): Social significance of trunk use in captive Asian elephants, Ethology Ecology & Evolution, DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2016.1179684 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2016.1179684 View supplementary material Published online: 23 May 2016. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 28 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=teee20 Download by: [Kyoto University] Date: 10 June 2016, At: 01:49 Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2016.1179684 Social significance of trunk use in captive Asian elephants 1,* 2 SAKI YASUI and GEN’ICHI IDANI 1Kyoto City Zoo, Okazaki Koen, Okazaki Houshojicho, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606- 8333, Japan 2Wildlife Research Centre, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-cho, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8203, Japan Received 20 January 2016, accepted 3 April 2016 Tactile behaviour plays an important role in maintaining social relationships in several mammalian species. Touching with the tip of the trunk is a common social behaviour among Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). This is considered an affiliative behaviour; however, few studies have investigated it in detail. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether this is an affiliative behaviour and whether it has other functions. We directly observed a group of captive female Asian elephants in Thailand.
    [Show full text]
  • {TEXTBOOK} Elephant
    ELEPHANT PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Raymond Carver | 128 pages | 05 Jul 2011 | Vintage Publishing | 9780099530350 | English | London, United Kingdom Elephant - Wikipedia The seeds are typically dispersed in large amounts over great distances. This ecological niche cannot be filled by the next largest herbivore, the tapir. At Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, the overabundance of elephants has threatened several species of small birds that depend on woodlands. Their weight can compact the soil, which causes the rain to run off , leading to erosion. Elephants typically coexist peacefully with other herbivores, which will usually stay out of their way. Some aggressive interactions between elephants and rhinoceros have been recorded. At Aberdare National Park , Kenya, a rhino attacked an elephant calf and was killed by the other elephants in the group. This is due to lower predation pressures that would otherwise kill off many of the individuals with significant parasite loads. Female elephants spend their entire lives in tight-knit matrilineal family groups, some of which are made up of more than ten members, including three mothers and their dependent offspring, and are led by the matriarch which is often the eldest female. The social circle of the female elephant does not necessarily end with the small family unit. In the case of elephants in Amboseli National Park , Kenya, a female's life involves interaction with other families, clans, and subpopulations. Families may associate and bond with each other, forming what are known as bond groups which typically made of two family groups. During the dry season, elephant families may cluster together and form another level of social organisation known as the clan.
    [Show full text]
  • Vocal Learning in Elephants: Neural Bases and Adaptive Context
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Vocal learning in elephants: neural bases and adaptive context 1 2 Angela S Stoeger and Paul Manger In the last decade clear evidence has accumulated that their vocal learning can help reveal the original selective elephants are capable of vocal production learning. Examples advantage of vocal learning in our human ancestors of vocal imitation are documented in African (Loxodonta (because the adaptive function in modern human africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants, but little is language, e.g. creating an extensive vocabulary, might known about the function of vocal learning within the natural not necessarily conform to the original function [3]). communication systems of either species. We are also just starting to identify the neural basis of elephant vocalizations. Until recently, our knowledge of the elephant brain was The African elephant diencephalon and brainstem possess limited [4]. Central to the current review are recent specializations related to aspects of neural information observations related to infrasound production and recep- processing in the motor system (affecting the timing and tion, as well as the control of the musculature involved. In learning of trunk movements) and the auditory and vocalization the context of vocal learning, the most pressing question system. Comparative interdisciplinary (from behavioral to is whether elephants possess direct connections between neuroanatomical) studies are strongly warranted to increase telencephalic neurons and the primary vocal motor our understanding of both vocal learning and vocal behavior in neurons in the brainstem controlling the vocal apparatus elephants. (following the Kuypers/Ju¨ rgens hypothesis) [5–9]. The Addresses required tract tracer studies to address this issue have not 1 Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse been conducted in elephants.
    [Show full text]
  • VIBRATIONAL COMMUNICATION in MAMMALS of the AFRICAN SAVANNAH a Literature Study on Vibrational Communication in the Context of Predator-Prey Relationships
    VIBRATIONAL COMMUNICATION IN MAMMALS OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH A literature study on vibrational communication in the context of predator-prey relationships Elephant using its trunk and front foot to listen to seismic signals. Photo by O’Connell & Rodwell (2019) 2nd year Msc student Nynke Wemer Student number: S2714442 Ecology & Conservation, BPE Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Eddy van der Zee, Faculty of Science and Engineering University of Groningen 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………………………….……..3 I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 3 II. EVOLUTION OF VIBRATIONAL COMMUNICATION ........................................................... 5 A. Costs and benefits of vibrational communication ....................................................................... 6 III. VIBRATIONAL COMMUNICATION NETWORKS .............................................................. 7 IV. VIBRATIONAL COMMUNICATION IN AFRICAN MAMMALS ....................................... 7 A. Foot drumming............................................................................................................................... 8 B. Head drumming/dipping ............................................................................................................. 10 C. Bone conduction ........................................................................................................................... 10 V. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • O'connell-‐Rodwell References, Awards and Media HONORS • Distinguished Young Alumna
    O’Connell-Rodwell references, awards and media HONORS • Distinguished Young Alumna Award, University of California, Davis, CA 10/07. • Martha Daniel Newell Scholar in Residence, Georgia College, GA 2-4/13. BOOK AWARDS Sibert Honor Book 2012 Boston Globe Horn Book Honor 2012 Outstanding Science Trade Book award 2012 ALA Notable Book Amanda Bloom Best Feminist Book for Young Readers 2012 Junior Library Guild Selection 2012 ELEPHANT AND CONSERVATION PUBLICATIONS 1. O’Connell-Rodwell CE, Wyman M, Wood JD, Redfield S, Puria S, Hart LA. (2012) Antiphonal vocal bouts facilitate group departures in free-ranging African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Bioacoustics. DOI:10.1080/09524622.2012.686166 2. O’Connell-Rodwell CE, Wood JD, Kinzley C, Rodwell TC, Alarcon C, Wasser SK, Sapolsky R. 2011. Male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) queue when the stakes are high. Ethol. Ecol. & Evol. DOI:10.1080/03949370.2011.598569 3. Thurber MI, O'Connell-Rodwell CE*, Turner WC, Nambandi K, Kinzley C, Rodwell TC, Faulkner CT, Felt SA & Bouley DM. 2011. Effects of Rainfall, Host Demography, and Musth on Strongyle Fecal Egg Counts in African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Namibia. J. Wild. Disease. 47(1): 172-181. 4. Forrester G, O’Connell-Rodwell CE, Baily P, Giovannini S, Harmon L, Karis R, Krumholz J, Rodwell T, Jarecki L. 2011. Testing an approach to ecological restoration: transplanting endangered Elkhorn corals in the Virgin Islands. Restor. Ecol. 9(3): 299-306. 5. O’Connell-Rodwell CE, Wood JD, Kinzley C, Rodwell TC, Poole JH, Puria S. 2007. Wild African elephants (Loxodonta africana) discriminate seismic alarm calls of familiar versus unfamiliar conspecifics.
    [Show full text]
  • Information Resources on Elephants: Animal Welfare Information Center
    NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY ARCHIVED FILE Archived files are provided for reference purposes only. This file was current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may now be outdated. Content may not appear in full or in its original format. All links external to the document have been deactivated. For additional information, see http://pubs.nal.usda.gov. Information Resources on Elephants: Animal Welfare Information Center You are here: Home / Publications / Bibliographies and Resource Guides / Information Resources on Elephants AWIC Resource Series No. 18 Revised May 2010 Updates and Replaces Information Resources on Elephants, June 2006. For information prior to 2002 please see Information Resources on Elephants, April 2003 Table of Contents About this Document Bibliography African Elephant General African Elephants Asian Elephants Additional AWIC Resources Exhibit Animal Species - Elephants Loxodonta africana Legislation, Regulations and Guidelines - Exhibition Animals About this Document Although there is a considerable amount of information available on elephants in bibliographic databases it is not readily available in an organized manner to most persons. The references in this publication were obtained from multiple databases and compiled chronologically and alphabetically by author, under various general headings. Although there are a number of published papers and articles dealing with elephants in the wild, including their tracking, number estimation, feeding habits, environmental damage, and conflicts with people, only a few of these types of articles are included in this resource. Most of the references in this publication are concerned with captive animals and their care, behavior, health, and handling. This publication is not meant to be all inclusive as there are a number of private database collections with references on elephants which are not included here.
    [Show full text]
  • Seismic Communication and Adventure Among African Elephants the Elephant’S Secret Sense: the Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa
    J Mammal Evol DOI 10.1007/s10914-009-9107-0 BOOK REVIEW Seismic Communication and Adventure Among African Elephants The Elephant’s Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of The Wild Herds of Africa. By Caitlin O’Connell. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 2007. 264 pp., $15.00 (paper). ISBN 0-226-61674-6. Jason Munshi-South # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009 As the heir apparent to the voluminous nature narrative of the substantial struggles of conserva- travelogues of the Victorian era, contemporary mem- tion work in marginally stable areas. Whereas oirs from American scientists and conservationists many writers might tend towards rollicking bar- have supplied an increasingly popular hybrid genre of stool tales or professional triumphalism, O’Connell science and travel writing. Unlike Victorian accounts expertly captures the pace of international field of wealthy explorers traversing the colonies, these work as an often languid enterprise punctuated by contemporary works are often imbued with earnest intense moments of achievement and frustration. desires to reconcile the conservation of endangered Highlights include riveting descriptions of face-to- species with the needs of local people. Caitlin face encounters with dangerous wildlife, bizarre O’Connell’s book The Elephant’s Secret Sense: the dealings with impenetrable tribal bureaucracy, and Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa, recently personal tragedies that the author, and reader, will released in paperback, uniquely contributes to this not forget any time soon. Prospective volunteers literature in that the author is a female scientist still in and graduate students contemplating field work in the first half of her already-accomplished career.
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons from Northwestern Elephant Range in India
    Functional Role Of Elephants In Maintaining Forest Ecosystem And Biodiversity: Lessons From Northwestern Elephant Range In India . ABSTRACT This article focuses on the functional role of Asian elephant in maintaining forest ecosystem and biodiversity. Elephant performs different activities in forest which greatly influence ecosystem processes, plant communities and trophic structure of the community. Elephants have cascading effects in altering the vegetation regeneration and providing habitat, water and nutrients to other animals. Besides, elephants also have affirmative effects in controlling illegal poaching, promoting ecotourism and act as an indicator species to know about natural calamities. Since elephants play a crucial role in ecological trajectories of ecological communities, developing a rigorous framework to evaluate the qualitative influence made by the elephants in ecosystem would be of paramount importance. Keywords: Asian elephant; biodiversity; northwestern India; ecotourism 1. INTRODUCTION It is widely acknowledged that ecological role of wildlife species greatly influences ecosystem, which includes changes in plant communities, ecosystem processes, geomorphology and trophic structure of a community. Even from a tourism perspective alone, presence of wildlife facilitates to boost up the tourism industry. During the recent past, enough has been written on the ecological and behavioural aspects of wildlife species. However, our current knowledge of the role of wildlife species in maintaining an ecological system is not so ample. Traditionally, wildlife-habitat relationships, models and databases have focused on how the presence of terrestrial vertebrates is influenced by environmental conditions [1]. This aspect has remained neglected in the past, which is essential to be documented to illustrate about the set of ecological roles performed by the species, which in turn would give insight on the role of species in management and conservation of floral and faunal diversity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Elephant Keeper PDF Book
    THE ELEPHANT KEEPER PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Christopher Nicholson | 320 pages | 04 Mar 2010 | HarperCollins Publishers | 9780007278831 | English | London, United Kingdom The Elephant Keeper PDF Book Other reasons? I very much enjoy this author's work, even though I generally have to read a title at least twice to be anywhere close to understanding the complexities of his ideas and plots. Add to list. Part Four is also written in the first person but modern day. That's not say I didn't enjoy it, I'm just not sure what it was all about. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The idea of "the door" that the children always referenced was very cool. I have it to read, and will at some point, but trying to squeeze it into a reading challenge. Behavior Cognition Musth Seismic communication. Retrieved 27 January And anyway, I don't think we are trying to prevent teens from knowing about sex, are we? They have an older brother Hans who does not really play a huge role in the novel. We all know our childhoods have to end at some point, but this final chapter is painful for all of us who have been ignoring it. Frequent mentions. Jenny and Tom are an inseparable duo. They've contributed to the national discourse on civil rights, immigration, politics, and capitalism. Customer Service. But all were so charmed by the writing and by the way the author develops the characters of the pachyderms Timothy and Jenny, as well as their relationship to Tom, that they were Had Christopher Nicholson simply tried to write a historical novel of the 18th century, critics probably would not have liked his book quite so much.
    [Show full text]
  • Recent Research on E L E P H a N T S and Rhinos
    IU 1151-2002 Scientific -, ,,,.,,.,,.S~HOWIUNN Progress Reports Haralcl M. Schwamnler Thomas J. Foose Michael Fouraker Deborah Olson Recent Research on Elephants and Rhinos Abstracts of the International Elephant and Rhino Research Symposium, Vienna, June 7-11, 2001 ISRN 3-934849-79-2 Content Oral Session Elephants BOARDMAN Suzanne Elephants and Rhinos: Diseases. Data and Data-deficiencies DASTlG Brigit Births and Reproduction Rate in a Herd 13 of Captive Asia11 Elephants in the Pinnawel:~Orphanage (Sri L;lnk;l) EASA Pulinkunnel Distribution, Status and Conservation 14 of Elephants in Kerala, Southern Western Ghats. FRITSCH Guido New Aspects of Sexual hlaruration in Male Elephants Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahrr~e GANSLOSSER Uclu Social Relationships. Lifc, History, Bchaviournl 16 Recent research on elephants and rhinos : abstracts of the Ecology and Management: Some Introductory International Elephant and Rhino Research Symposium Vienna. Remarks on their Relationship in Megaherbivores June 7 - 11. 2001 / Huald M. Schwammer .... - Miinster: Schuling 2001 GARAI Marion Social Behaviour of the Elephants 16 (Scientific progress reports) at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Sri Lanka ISBN 3-934849-79-2 HART Benjamin Cognition and Tool Use in Elepliants 17 I I HART Lynette Exploring Seismic Communication Mechanisms 1S in Elephants and Other Large Vertebrates HEINE Nicole Social roles, family units and the format~on 18 of clans in Asian Elephants ISBN 3-9348493-79-2 of thc Uda Walawe National Park (Sri Lanka) Munster 200 1 FlILDEBRANDT
    [Show full text]
  • Elephants Show Risk-Avoidance Behaviour In
    Noise matters: elephants show royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb risk-avoidance behaviour in response to human-generated seismic cues Beth Mortimer1, James A. Walker1, David S. Lolchuragi2, Michael Reinwald1 Research and David Daballen2 Cite this article: Mortimer B, Walker JA, 1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK Lolchuragi DS, Reinwald M, Daballen D. 2021 2Save the Elephants, Marula Manor, Karen, Nairobi 00200, Kenya Noise matters: elephants show risk-avoidance BM, 0000-0002-7230-3647; MR, 0000-0001-8481-8392 behaviour in response to human-generated seismic cues. Proc. R. Soc. B 288: 20210774. African elephants (Loxodonta africana) use many sensory modes to gather https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.0774 information about their environment, including the detection of seismic, or ground-based, vibrations. Seismic information is known to include elephant-generated signals, but also potentially encompasses biotic cues that are commonly referred to as ‘noise’. To investigate seismic information Received: 1 April 2021 transfer in elephants beyond communication, here we tested the hypothesis that wild elephants detect and discriminate between seismic vibrations that Accepted: 8 June 2021 differ in their noise types, whether elephant- or human-generated. We played three types of seismic vibrations to elephants: seismic recordings of elephants (elephant-generated), white noise (human-generated) and a com- bined track (elephant- and human-generated). We found evidence of both Subject Category: detection of seismic noise and discrimination between the two treatments Behaviour containing human-generated noise. In particular, we found evidence of retreat behaviour, where seismic tracks with human-generated noise caused elephants to move further away from the trial location.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Raspberry Shake and Boom Sensors for Recording African Elephant Acoustic Vocalizations Oliver D
    1 Assessing Raspberry Shake and Boom sensors for recording African Elephant acoustic vocalizations Oliver D. Lamb1;∗, Michael J. Shore1, Jonathan M. Lees1, Stephen J. Lee2, and Sean Hensman3 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; 2US Army Research Laboratory/Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 3Adventures with Elephants, Bela Bela, South Africa *Correspondence to: O. D. Lamb, [email protected] 2 ABSTRACT 3 In this work we assess the performance of the Raspberry Shake and Boom (RS&B) sensor 4 package for detecting and monitoring African elephants (Loxodonta africana). This is the first 5 documented test of this particular unit for recording animal behaviour; the unit was originally 6 designed for detecting tectonic earthquakes and low frequency (<50 Hz) atmospheric acoustics. 7 During a four day deployment in South Africa we tested five RS&B units for recording acoustic 8 and seismic vocalizations generated by a group of African elephants. Our results highlight a 9 varied degree of success in detecting the signals of interest. The acoustic microphone recorded 10 fundamental frequencies of low-frequency (<50 Hz) harmonic vocalizations that were not clearly 11 recorded by more sensitive instruments, but was not able to record higher frequency harmonics 12 due to the low sampling rate (100 Hz). The geophone was not able to consistently record clear 13 seismic waves generated by vocalizations but was able to record higher harmonics. In addition, 14 seismic signals were detected from footsteps of elephants at <50 m distance. We conclude that 15 the RS&B unit shows limited potential as a monitoring tool for African elephants and discuss 16 future directions and deployment strategies to improve the sensitivity of the sensor package.
    [Show full text]