Distress vocalisations in wild dogs

Abstract

Acoustic location and identification technologies have the potential to be valuable tools for ecologists and ethologists, enabling animals in remote environments to be located and identified (Huetz and Aubin 2012). Because the acoustic properties of the environment influence sound propagation, some mammals adjust the usage and/or structure of their vocal signals accordingly. We tested if wild dogs similarly adapted calls to suit their environment. We analysed spectral (such as frequency and amplitude) and temporal (such as call length) components of vocalisations recorded from trapped individuals. Dogs were trapped at three markedly different sites: New England, NSW, characterised by thick eucalyptus forests and gorges; the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, characterised by high levels of anthropogenic noise and low lying cane fields; and the desert of WA characterised by low spinifex vegetation and a sandy substrate. While data collection is ongoing, we have early indications that the structure of wild dog vocalisations differs across sites. Understanding the differences in vocalisations of wild dogs in varying environments is vital to the success of remote acoustic monitoring and improved wildlife management.