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Interspecific differences in male vocalizations of three sympatric fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2002

Brad Page
Affiliation:
Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Sea Mammal Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
Simon David Goldsworthy
Affiliation:
Sea Mammal Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
Mark Andrew Hindell
Affiliation:
Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Jane Mckenzie
Affiliation:
Sea Mammal Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
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Abstract

This study investigated species recognition based on bark calls and full threat calls (FTCs) in three fur seal species, Antarctic Arctocephalus gazella, subantarctic A. tropicalis and New Zealand A. forsteri, that breed sympatrically and hybridize at subantarctic Macquarie Island. Bark calls, which are produced by males in male–female interactions, were more species-specific than their full threat calls, suggesting that bark calls could be used in species recognition and female mate choice. Further, the bark calls of A. tropicalis were more species-specific than those of A. gazella and A. forsteri, suggesting that divergence of calls between species is a consequence of phylogenetic distance, or has resulted from sexual selection through female mate choice. We believe the latter is more probable as we did not observe similar divergence in the FTCs of males. As such, the highly divergent bark calls of A. tropicalis may have resulted from sexual selection that has promoted pre-mating isolation via the process of reinforcement.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2002 The Zoological Society of London

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