Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Singing Patterns of White-Cheeked Gibbons (Nomascus sp.) in the Annamite Mountains of Laos

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Studying the structure and patterns of vocalizations in primates is important to understand their evolution, responses to changing environments, and social behavior, and to design efficient vocalization-based survey techniques. Gibbons (Hylobatidae) are small arboreal apes known for their stereotyped songs. Data on their vocalization patterns remain limited, especially for crested gibbons (Nomascus spp.). We recorded songs of white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus sp.) heard from listening posts at a site in Nakai–Nam Theun National Protected Area, central-eastern Laos, during a cold dry and a warm dry season, from November 2013 to May 2014, along with weather data. Males typically initiated the duet songs at a mean time of 06:14 h. Duet song bouts lasted a mean of 16 min. Song bout length was relatively constant throughout the study but decreased with the occurrence of wind. On a given day, the first male song started at a mean of 12 min before sunrise and all songs ceased at a mean of 13 min after sunrise. The start time of the first song relative to sunrise did not differ significantly between the two seasons but we found a significant negative relationship between the start time of the first song and both time of sunrise and temperature. The mean number of song bouts heard was significantly larger during the cold dry season than the warm dry season, and we found a significant negative relationship between the number of song bouts heard and temperature. Song rates also increased during days with no rain relative to rainy days. Our findings provide a preliminary understanding of song patterns in Nomascus spp. and can aid the planning and interpretation of surveys that rely on documenting their calls.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartlett, T. Q. (2009). Territoriality and intergroup encounters. In T. Q. Bartlett (Ed.), The gibbons of Khao Yai: Seasonal variation in behaviour and ecology (pp. 103–119). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockelman, W., & Ali, R. (1987). Methods of surveying and sampling forest primate populations. In C. W. Marsh & R. A. Mittermeier (Eds.), Primate conservation in the tropical rain forest (pp. 23–62). New York: Alan R. Liss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockelman, W., & Srikosamatara, S. (1993). Estimation of density of gibbon groups by use of loud songs. American Journal of Primatology, 29, 93–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, C. H., Gomez, R., & Waser, P. M. (1995). Old world monkey vocalizations: adaptations to the local habitat? Animal Behaviour, 50, 945–961.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheyne, S. M. (2008). Effects of meteorology, astronomical variables, location and human disturbance on the singing apes: Hylobates albibarbis. American Journal of Primatology, 70, 386–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, E., Reichard, U. H., & Zuberbu, K. (2006). The syntax and meaning of wild gibbon songs. PloS one, e73.

  • Coudrat, C. N. Z., & Nanthavong, C. (2014). Gibbon survey and taxonomical status in Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area, Laos reveals one of the largest remaining populations of white-cheeked gibbons: Implications for their long-term conservation [Abstract]. Hanoi, Vietnam: XXVIth International Primatological Society Congress, August 11–16, 2014.

  • Cowlishaw, G. U. Y. (1992). Song function in gibbons. Behaviour, 121, 131–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallmann, R., & Geissmann, T. (2001). Different levels of variability in the female song of silvery gibbons (Hylobates moloch). Behaviour, 138, 629–648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dallmann, R., & Geissmann, T. (2009). Individual and geographical variability in the songs of wild silvery gibbons (Hylobates moloch) on Java, Indonesia. In S. Lappan & D. Whittaker (Eds.), The gibbons: New perspectives on small ape socioecology and population biology (pp. 51–72). New York: Springer Science+Business Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dooley, H. M., Judge, D. S., & Schmitt, L. H. (2013). Singing by male and female Kloss gibbons (Hylobates klossii) in the Peleonan Forest, Siberut Island, Indonesia. Primates, 54, 39–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duckworth, J. W. (2008). Preliminary gibbon status review for Lao PDR 2008. Vientiane, Laos: Fauna & Flora International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duckworth, J. W., Robichaud, W. G., & Eve, R. (2005). Observations of birds and large mammals in Phongsaly province, Lao PDR, with particular reference to Phou Dendin National Protected Area. Vientiane, Laos: WWF-Laos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duckworth, J. W., Timmins, R. J., Anderson, G. Q. A., Thewlis, R. M., Nemeth, E., Evans, T. D., Dvorak, M., & Cozza, K. E. A. (1995). Notes on the status and conservation of the gibbon Hylobates (Nomascus) gabriellae in Laos. Tropical Biodiversity 3, 15–27.

  • Erkert, H. G. (2003). Chronobiological aspects of primate research. In J. M. Setchell & D. J. Curtis (Eds.), Field and laboratory methods in primatology (pp. 252–270). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, P.-F., Ni, Q.-Y., Sun, G.-Z., Huang, B., & Jiang, X.-L. (2008). Seasonal variations in the activity budget of Nomascus concolor jingdongensis at Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China: Effects of diet and temperature. International Journal of Primatology, 29, 1047–1057.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, P., Xiao, W. E. N., Huo, S., & Jiang, X.-L. (2009). Singing behavior and singing functions of black-crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, Central Yunnan, China. American Journal of Primatology, 71(7), 539–547.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geissmann, T. (1993). Evolution of communication in gibbons (Hylobatidae). Doctoral dissertation, Zurich University, Switzerland.

  • Geissmann, T. (2002). Duet-splitting and the evolution of gibbon songs. Biological Reviews, 77, 57–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geissmann, T., & Nijman, V. (2006). Calling in wild silvery gibbons (Hylobates moloch) in Java (Indonesia): Behavior, phylogeny, and conservation. American Journal of Primatology, 68, 1–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haimoff, E. H. (1984). The organization of song in the Hainan black gibbon (Hylobates concolor hainanus). Primates, 25, 225–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, M. E., Cheyne, S. M., Sulistiyanto, Y., & Rieley, J. O. (2007). Biological effects of smoke from dry-season fires in non-burnt areas of the Sabangau peat swamp forest, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. In J. O. Rieley, C. J. Banks, & G. Radjaguk (Eds.), Carbon-climate-human interaction on Tropical Peatland: Proceedings of the international symposium and workshop on Tropical Peatland, Yogyakarta, August 27–29, 2007 (pp. 1–5). Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia and University of Leicester, UK: EU CARBOPEAT and RESTOPEAT Partnership.

  • Heller, R., Sander, A. F., Wang, C. W., Usman, F., & Dabelsteen, T. (2010). Macrogeographical variability in the great call of Hylobates agilis: Assessing the applicability of vocal analysis in studies of fine-scale taxonomy of gibbons. American Journal of Primatology, 72, 142–151.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hijmans, R. J., Cameron, S. E., Parra, J. L., Jones, P. G., & Jarvis, A. (2005). Very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global land areas. International Journal of Climatology, 25, 1965–1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johns, A. D. (1985). Behavioral responses of two Malaysian primates (Hylobates lar and Presbytis melalophos) to selective logging: Vocal behavior, territoriality, and nonemigration. International Journal of Primatology, 6, 423–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, A., Singh, S., Duangdala, M., Hedemark, M. (2005). The western black crested gibbon Nomascus concolor in Laos: new records and conservation status. Oryx 39, 311–317.

  • Keith, S. A., Waller, M. S., & Geissmann, T. (2009). Vocal diversity of Kloss’s gibbons (Hylobates klossii) in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. In S. Lappan & D. Whittaker (Eds.), The gibbons: New perspectives on small ape socioecology and population biology (pp. 91–110). New York: Springer Science+Business Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konrad, R. (2004). Vocal diversity and taxonomy of the crested gibbons (genus Nomascus) in Cambodia. PhD dissertation, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

  • Konrad, R., & Geissmann, T. (2006). Vocal diversity and taxonomy of Nomascus in Cambodia. International Journal of Primatology, 27, 713–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lan, D.-Y. (1993). Feeding and vocal behaviours of black gibbons (Hylobates concolor) in Yunnan: A preliminary study. Folia Primatologica, 60, 94–105.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larom, D., Garstang, M., Payne, K., & Raspet, R. (1997). The influence of surface atmospheric conditions on the range and area reached by animal vocalisations. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 200, 421–431.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J. T., & Marshall, E. R. (1976). Gibbons and their territorial songs. Science, 193(4249), 235–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melfi, V. A. (2012). Gibbons: Probably the most endangered primates in the world. International Zoo Yearbook, 46, 239–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitani, J. C. (1988). Male gibbon (Hylobates agilis) singing behavior: Natural history, song variations and function. Ethology, 79, 177–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrill, R. J., Thomas, A. W., Schiel, N., Souto, A., & Miller, C. T. (2013). The effect of habitat acoustics on common marmoset vocal signal transmission. American Journal of Primatology, 75, 904–916.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock, J. I. (1986). The song of the Indris (Indri indri; Primates: Lemuroidea): Natural history, form, and function. International Journal of Primatology 7, 225–264.

  • Rawson, B. (2004). Vocalisation patterns in the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae). In T. Nadler, U. Streicher, & H. T. Long (Eds.), Conservation of primates in Vietnam (pp. 130–136). Hanoi, Vietnam: Frankfurt Zoological Society; Endangered Primate Rescue Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawson, B. M., Clements, T., & Nut Meng Hor. (2009). Status and conservation of yellow-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae) in the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area, Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia. In S. Lappan & D. Whittaker (Eds.), The gibbons: New perspectives on small ape socioecology and population biology (pp. 387–408). New York: Springer Science+Business Media.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rawson, B. M., Insua-cao, P., Ha, N. M., Thinh, V. N., Hoang, D. M., Mahood, S., Geissmann, T., & Roos, C. (2011). The conservation status of gibbons in Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam: Fauna & Flora International and Conservation International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, E. P., Mackinnon, K. C., Fernandez-duque, E., Setchell, J. M., & Garber, P. A. (2014). Code of best practices for field primatology. International Primatological Society and American Society of Primatologists Steering Committee.

  • Robichaud, W., Sinclair, A., Odarkor-Lanquaye, N., & Klinkenberg, B. (2009). Stable forest cover under increasing populations of swidden cultivators in central Laos: The roles of intrinsic culture and extrinsic wildlife trade. Ecology and Society, 14, 33–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srikosamatara, S., & Brockelman, W. Y. (1983). Patterns of territorial vocalization in the pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus). In P. K. Seth (Ed.), Perspectives in primate biology (pp. 19–22). New Delhi, India: T.T.P.P. Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenaza, R. (1976). Songs, choruses and countersinging of Kloss’ gibbons (Hylobates klossii) in Siberut Island, Indonesia. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie, 40, 37–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thinh, V. N., Mootnick, A. R., Geissmann, T., Li, M., Ziegler, T., Agil, M., Moisson, P., Nadler, T., Walter, L., & Roos, C. (2010a). Mitochondrial evidence for multiple radiations in the evolutionary history of small apes. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10, 74–87.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thinh, V. N., Rawson, B., Hallam, C., Kenyon, M., Nadler, T., Walter, L., & Roos, C. (2010b). Phylogeny and distribution of crested gibbons (genus Nomascus) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence data. American Journal of Primatology, 72, 1047–1054.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thinh, V. N., Hallam, C., Roos, C., & Hammerschmidt, K. (2011). Concordance between vocal and genetic diversity in crested gibbons. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11, 36–44.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Timmins, R. J., & Evans, T. D. (1996). Wildlife and habitat survey of the Nakai-Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area. Vientiane, Lao PDR: Wildlife Conservation Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traeholt, C., Bonthoeun, R., Virak, C., Samuth, M., & Vutthin, S. (2006). Song activity of the Pileated gibbon, Hylobates pileatus, in Cambodia. Primate Conservation, 21, 139–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Belle, S., Estrada, A., & Garber, P. A. (2013). Spatial and diurnal distribution of loud calling in black howlers (Alouatta pigra). International Journal of Primatology, 34, 1209–1224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitten, A. J. (1982). The ecology of singing in Kloss gibbons (Hylobates klossii) on Siberut Island, Indonesia. International Journal of Primatology, 3, 33–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Permission to conduct this research was provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Lao PDR (authorization letter No. 5707, dated August 29, 2013) and the Nam Theun 2 Watershed Management and Protection Authority. Special thanks go to the field assistants from Ban Navang and Ban Nahao. Thank you to Project Anoulak’s team for the support to make this gibbon project possible. Funding for this study was provided by Parc Animalier d’Auvergne/La Passerelle Association (France), Minnesota Zoo (USA), Mulhouse Zoo (France), Zoologische Gesellschaft Für Arten Und Populationsschutz e. V. (ZGAP) (Germany), Idea Wild (USA), Le Conservatoire pour la Protection des Primates/La Vallée des Singes (France), Primate Conservation Inc. (USA), Apenheul Primate Park (The Netherlands), American Society of Primatology (USA), Association Française des Parcs Zoologiques (France), and Suranaree University of Technology (Thailand). We are grateful to T. Q. Bartlett, W. Brockelman, W. J. Duckworth, anonymous reviewers, and the journal editor for their comments on earlier drafts, which substantially improved the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Project Anoulak, Ban Oudomsouk, Nakai District Khammouan Province, Lao PDR

    C. N. Z. Coudrat

  2. Suranaree University of Technology, School of Biology, Institute of Science, NakhonRatchasima, 30000, Thailand

    C. Nanthavong & P. Suwanwaree

  3. King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, School of Bioresources & Technology, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand

    D. Ngoprasert & T. Savini

Authors
  1. C. N. Z. Coudrat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Nanthavong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Ngoprasert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Suwanwaree
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. Savini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. N. Z. Coudrat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Coudrat, C.N.Z., Nanthavong, C., Ngoprasert, D. et al. Singing Patterns of White-Cheeked Gibbons (Nomascus sp.) in the Annamite Mountains of Laos. Int J Primatol 36, 691–706 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-015-9849-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-015-9849-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation