Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Variation and Social Functions of Neigh Vocalizations in Northern Muriquis (Brachyteles hypoxanthus)

人类的言语和语言是如何起源的？这是进化科学中最有趣的问题之一，也是最没有答案的问题。虽然有几个学科为我们理解语言的进化提供了有价值的见解，但对非人类灵长类动物声音交流的研究可能会为人类语言进化的机制和社会条件提供一些非常有价值的线索。在许多动物中，模仿叫声在友谊的形成和维持以及社会生活的其他方面起着重要作用。在人类中，模仿他人的能力在生命的早期阶段是至关重要的，那时婴儿正在学习说话。 模仿学习也让我们在成年后学习新的语言和口音。研究灵长类动物的模仿和学习功能，可以提供重要的信息，说明人类语言是如何从一个简单的交流系统进化而来的。在这个博士论文项目中，研究人员将研究北方穆里基猴（Brachyteles hypoxanthus）最常见的发声，即嘶鸣的声学结构和社会功能。 PI特别感兴趣的是，个体、性别和不同群体的成员之间的叫声结构如何变化，以及叫声的声学结构和社会功能的变化如何联系在一起。为期2个月的试点研究结果表明，由相邻群体的个体发出的嘶鸣声彼此不同，因此值得更仔细的分析。 在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯的Caratinga生物站进行的为期14个月的实地研究中，研究员将调查i）雌性果蝇在转移到新的群体时是否能够模仿新同伴的叫声，从而为每个群体产生独特的叫声; ii）叫声是否可以提供有关呼叫者性别或生殖条件的信息;以及iii）每个个体的叫声数量的差异是否对应于社会性的水平，对于保持较大数量或同伴的个体，预测较高的发声数量。研究模仿和社会环境对灵长类动物发声结构的影响将提供对人类如何学习语言技能的见解，这可能有助于开发更有效的非母语教学技术。行为数据和声音记录的收集和分析将由一名博士生进行，从而有助于NSF培养未来科学家和增加多样性的使命。 该研究还建立在与巴西研究人员和学生建立的长期国际合作的基础上，因此促进了国际合作。本研究的结果将通过在适当的科学期刊上发表的出版物提供，我们将准备一张CD，其中包括灵长类动物信息中所选的发声。Net.资料表系统储存在威斯康星州大学国家灵长类动物研究中心图书馆。 PI将特别努力应用我们的研究结果，以促进代表这一极度濒危物种的保护工作。

How did speech and language originated in humans? This is one of the most interesting, and still, unanswered questions in evolutionary sciences. Although several disciplines have provided valuable insights into our understanding of the evolution of language, the study of non-human primate vocal communication might provide some very valuable clues about the mechanisms and social conditions associated with the evolution of speech in humans. In many animals, the imitation of calls plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of friendships and other aspects of their social lives. In humans, the ability to imitate others is fundamental during the early stages of life, when infants are learning to speak. Imitative learning also allows us to learn new languages and accents during adulthood. The study of how imitation and learning function in primates can provide important information about how human language could have evolved from a simpler communication system.In this doctoral dissertation project, the PIs will investigate the acoustic structure and social function of the most common vocalization, known as the neigh, of northern muriqui monkeys (Brachyteles hypoxanthus). The PIs are particularly interested in how the structure of the calls vary between individuals, sexes, and members of different groups, and in how variation in acoustic structure and social functions of the call may be linked. Results from a 2-month pilot study suggest that neigh vocalizations emitted by individuals from adjacent groups are distinctive from each other, and therefore merit much closer analyses. During a 14 month field study at the Biological Station of Caratinga in Minas Gerais, Brazil, the PIs will investigate i) whether female muriquis are able to imitate the vocalizations of novel companions when they transfer into new groups, resulting in distinctive neighs for each group; ii) whether vocalizations can provide information about the caller's sex, or reproductive condition; and iii) whether differences in the number of calls per individual correspond to levels of sociality, with higher number of vocalizations predicted for individuals who maintain a larger number or associates.Investigating the effect of imitation and social environment on primate vocal structure will provide insights into how humans learn linguistic skills, potentially helping to develop more effective techniques for teaching non-native languages. The collection and analyses of behavioral data and vocal recordings will be conducted by a doctoral student, thereby contributing to NSF's mission of training future scientists and increasing diversity. The study also builds on established long-term, international collaborations with Brazilian researchers and students, and therefore promotes international collaboration. The results from this study will be available through publications in appropriate scientific journals and we will prepare a CD with a selection of vocalizations to be included within the Primate Info. Net. Factsheet System stored at the library of the National Primate Research Center - University of Wisconsin. The PIs will make a special effort to apply our results to advance conservation efforts on behalf of this critically endangered species.