Social and individual factors mediate chimpanzee vocal ontogeny

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dc.contributor.authorSoldati, Adrian;
dc.contributor.authorFedurek, Pawel;
dc.contributor.authorDezecache, Guillaume ;
dc.contributor.authorMuhumuza, Geresomu;
dc.contributor.authorHobaiter, Catherine;
dc.contributor.authorZuberbühler, Klaus;
dc.contributor.authorCall, Josep
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-21T12:32:47Z
dc.date.available2025-03-21T12:32:47Z
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.description.abstractAbstract Human language develops in social interactions. In other ape species, the role of social learning in vocal ontogeny can be typically underappreciated, mainly because it has received little empirical attention. Here, we examine the development of pant hoot vocalisations during vocal exchanges in immature wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the Sonso community of the Budongo Forest, Uganda. We investigated how maternal gregariousness, age, sex, and social context are associated with behavioural and vocal responses to other group members’ calls. We show that the older sons of gregarious mothers are more likely to orient their attention, respond vocally to the calls of others, and are overall more exposed to others’ calls compared to other immature individuals. This effect is strongest in the presence of adult males and when their mothers also respond vocally, suggesting that chimpanzee vocal development is enhanced by social and vocal exposure. Our findings are consistent with a more flexible and socially mediated chimpanzee vocal ontogeny than previously assumed and show some parallels with animal vocal learners and children language acquisition.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation grant (501100001711-166458) awarded to K.Z., the St Leonard College Inter-University scholarship awarded to J.C. and K.Z., and individual mobility grants from Swissuniversities and St Leonard College awarded to A.S. We are grateful to the management, staff, field assistants and researchers of the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) for their support and discussions. We thank the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology for permission to conduct the study. We are thankful to Charles Paxton for statistical advice.
dc.identifier.citationSoldati, A., Fedurek, P., Dezecache, G. et al. Social and individual factors mediate chimpanzee vocal ontogeny. Sci Rep 15, 8529 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93207-x
dc.identifier.issnISSN 2045-2322
dc.identifier.issnEISSN 2045-2322
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/10174
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherNature Publishing Group UK
dc.titleSocial and individual factors mediate chimpanzee vocal ontogeny
dc.typeArticle
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