| Vocal recognition is a critically important aspect of the sexual behaviors and nurture behaviours of animals; and the mission success rate of breed and nurture have an effect on their survival and future. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) as a flagship species for global conservation, is cited as one of the most endangered species in the world and has been widely concerned for the conservationand management of the population. They vocalize frequently during the rather short copulation period of the breeding season, and these vocalizations are used by individuals to discriminate and choose between potential mates. In addition, high frequency calls are emitted by the infant giant pandas at the first few weeks of their life, so acoustic cues may be an important communication channel for signalling need to the mother at a time when cubs are extremely dependent on maternal care, meanwhile, maternal recognition for the the infant vocalization is vitally important in this phase. Hence, it has a significant importance on improving the reproductive success and promoting management of giant pandas to study the pandas vocal communication in the mechanism of judgement and choice for spouse as well as in the function of parental breeding process.From Februray 2013 to December 2014, according to the recording and study for vocal communication of captive giant panda in estrus and breeding season at Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base of captive, and some communication was verified by the voice playback experiments further, we reveals the ability to regulate and control the behavior for the giant panda as well as the sound signal significance in some specific recording contexts. The main results show as below:1. Giant pandas in copulation have seven categories of call types:bleat, long bleat, snort, bark, strong bark, roar and low growl, respectivly. However, each used during different copulation activities. In general, males primarily used the bleat call; while females had a greater vocal repertoire, often making the low growl, snort and bleat calls; hence, there was significant difference in the use of these call types between genders.2. Infant giant pandas have three categories of call types:squawk, squall and croak. They can prefer some special calls under different press circumstances:compared with the number of calls emitted in the materal care context(n=25), infants emited more (n=199) in artificial rearing context, meanwhile, the squalls also occurred more frequently in this context (increasing 316%, n=54). Moreover, some parameters of one call type would vary in differet recording context (t=-2.143, df=14, sig= 0.008 & t=-4.367, df=14, sig= 0.015, respectively):compared with the other recording contexts, infants can emited the total call types (n=3) in high aroual contexts, and where the wave frequencies of croak and squawk were more higher (352.4 Hz & 283.6 Hz, respectively).3. Athough parents hardly respond to the vocalization of infant panda, there is significant difference of mother and fathers’ responsive behaviour. Mothers usually adjust their pose according to the infant vocalizationlike licking, rearing or picking up the infans, while the fathers not do these.Generally speaking, vocalization is a highly efficient communication means for sexual activity, and conveying information during copulation. Cosidered the relatively low success rate of mating attempts in the captive giant pandas, the fine-scale information of vocalization during the copulation is critical for breeding success improving. Both for the infant and adult giant pandas, vocalizations convey information about their distress and need, rather than being tied to specific contexts of emission. |
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