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Vocal Communication in Woolly Monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha lugens) in Cueva de los Guacharos National Park, Colombia

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The Woolly Monkey

Part of the book series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects ((DIPR,volume 39))

Abstract

Vocal communication represents several advantages for primates. Numerous studies have shown that there are different factors that affect vocal behavior. Here, we combined classic and bioacoustics methods to provide the first comprehensive analysis of the acoustic structure and the vocal behavior of a wild population of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha lugens). This species is of special interest because it is one of the few neotropical primates whose vocal communication is still not understood completely. Results indicated that factors, such as the time of the day, activity, age, and sex, had major influences on the vocal behavior of the woolly monkey. We also show evidence of how call rates changed, between highland and lowland woolly monkey populations, due to intrinsic differences of each location. Acoustic structure analyses of two types of vocalizations show consistent acoustic differences among the calls of individuals in some features (i.e., call duration and high, low, and final frequency). These differences may enable woolly monkeys to distinguish between the calls of different group members. Finally, clear differences between age (juvenile vs. adult) and sex (male vs. female) classes were found, based on the structure of the alarm call.

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Acknowledgments

This study was possible, thanks to the permits by Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo and logistic support from Unidad de Parques Nacionales, Universidad de Los Andes, and Carlos Cortés. Andrea Morales and Oscar Laverde collaborated in the acoustics analyses. And some of the students enrolled in the course on field techniques helped at the beginning of the project. We are grateful for the financial support from Primate Conservation Inc. and Margot Marsh Foundation for Biodiversity (Conservation International, Primate Action Fund).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

    J. Julián León, Sergio A. Vargas, Mónica A. Ramírez, Nelson F. Galvis, Edgar F. Cifuentes & Pablo R. Stevenson

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  1. J. Julián León
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  2. Sergio A. Vargas
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  3. Mónica A. Ramírez
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  4. Nelson F. Galvis
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  5. Edgar F. Cifuentes
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  6. Pablo R. Stevenson
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Correspondence to J. Julián León .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, CUNDINAMARCA, Colombia

    Thomas R. Defler

  2. Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

    Pablo R. Stevenson

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León, J., Vargas, S., Ramírez, M., Galvis, N., Cifuentes, E., Stevenson, P. (2014). Vocal Communication in Woolly Monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha lugens) in Cueva de los Guacharos National Park, Colombia. In: Defler, T., Stevenson, P. (eds) The Woolly Monkey. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects, vol 39. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0697-0_11

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