Current research on rhinoceroses

Project Details:
With Alexa, Siri and Cortana, voice recognition and control software has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Animal voices also contain a huge number of information about the sender animal, such as species, identity, gender, age, body size, emotional state, diseases and hormone status. Bioacoustics therefore enables the development of non-invasive, time- and cost-efficient, automatic bioacoustic monitoring systems for animals. For this purpose, microphones can be installed recording animals' vocalisations around the clock without disturbing or influencing them. The recordings can be automatically analysed using mathematical algorithms to extract specific information. In addition, psychoacoustic tools can be used to elicit specific positive behaviours. Such bioacoustic tools can be used for clarification of taxonomic questions, to monitor wildlife as well as to improve animal husbandry and thus play an increasingly important role in species conservation and animal management. The aim of this project is to explore the wide range of possible applications and to develop bioacoustic monitoring systems for species conservation and animal management.

Results:

van Elst T, Sgarlata GM, Schüßler D, Tiley GP, Poelstra JW, Scheumann M, Blanco MB, Aleixo-Pais IG, Rina Evasoa M, Ganzhorn JU, Goodman SM, Hasiniaina AF, Hending D, Hohenlohe PA, Ibouroi MT, Iribar A, Jan F, Kappeler PM, Le Pors B, Manzi S, Olivieri G, Rakotonanahary AN, Rakotondranary SJ, Rakotondravony R, Ralison JM, Ranaivoarisoa JF, Randrianambinina B, Rasoloarison RM, Rasoloharijaona S, Rasolondraibe E, Teixeira H, Zaonarivelo JR, Louis EE, Yoder AD, Chikhi L, Radespiel U, Salmona J (2025). Integrative taxonomy clarifies the evolution of a cryptic primate clade. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 9(1), 57-72. DOI:10.1038/s41559-024-02547-w.

 

Heseker P, Bergmann T, Liebolt M-A, Traulsen I, Kemper N, Probst J, Scheumann M (2024a). Exposing tail biters by automatic scream detection. Smart Agricultural Technology, 9. DOI:10.1016/j.atech.2024.100582.

 

Heseker P, Bergmann T, Scheumann M, Traulsen I, Kemper N, Probst J (2024b). Detecting tail biters by monitoring pig screams in weaning pigs. Scientific Report, 14(1), 4523. DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-55336-7.

 

Pfannerstill V, Balkenhol N, Bennitt E, Maboga O, Scheumann M (2023a). Assessing the potential of conspecific playbacks as a post-translocation management tool for white rhinoceros. Conservation Science and Practice, 5(9), e12996. DOI:10.1111/csp2.12996.

 

Hasiniaina AF, Radespiel U, Kessler SE, Evasoa MR, Rasoloharijaona S, Randrianambinina B, Zimmermann E+, Schmidt S, Scheumann M+ (2020). Evolutionary significance of the variation in acoustic communication of a cryptic nocturnal primate radiation (Microcebus spp.). Ecology and Evolution, 10(8), 3784-3797. DOI:10.1002/ece3.6177; + shared senior authorship

Funding: Deutscher Akadademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD-PROCOPE), 9.108 EUR

Project Details:
Nonverbal vocal communication in humans contains information about the emotional state of the sender which can be used by the receiver. Comparing the acoustic structure and the context of production of these vocalizations across mammalian species revealed cross-taxa similarities suggesting a pre-human origin in encoding emotional information acoustically (e.g., Davila Ross et al., 2009, Newman, 1985, Zimmermann et al., 2013). In contrast to human laughter and cries, our knowledge on other nonverbal sounds such as the Sigh is limited. Therefore, the current study investigated whether vocalizations comparable to the human sigh can be found in nonhuman mammals and whether these vocalizations can be related to emotional states of the sender as well as to the quality of social interaction.
In the order Perissodactyla, horses and rhinoceros are known to produce noisy vocalizations at a high call rate (e.g. Policht et al., 2008, Yeon et al., 2011). The Snort is one of this noisy vocalizations, characterized as an explosive more or less pulsed breathing sound produced by nostril vibrations while expulsing the air. The function of this call type is not yet clear. First, it was proposed that this call type might have a hygienic function rather than a communicative function (e.g., Yeon et al., 2011, Linn et al., 2018). Second, it was proposed that the Snort might be an indicator of positive emotions or at least a relaxed state in horses. In the rhinoceros infant Snorts occurred also during affiliative interactions supporting to function as an indicator of the positive emotional state (Linn et al., 2018). This suggests that either the Snort has a communicative function to signal socially acceptance to group members or express an internal relaxed state of the sender which might affect group members via an emotional contagion mechanism.
To clarify the function of Snorts and to investigate to which extent there are cross-taxa similarities at least in the order Perissodactyla, we aim to compare Snort production between horses and rhinoceros.

Cooperation Partners:

Idu Azogu-Sepe, Serengeti Park Hodenhagen

Prof. Alban Lemasson, Rennes 1 University, France

Prof. Martine Hausberger, Rennes 1 University, France

Dr. Mathilde Stomp, Rennes 1 University, France

Planét Sauvage, Frankreich

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 248.300 EUR

Project Details:
Non-verbal acoustic cues of the human voice are suggested to be an ornament signaling mate quality and therefore have an important impact on sexual behavior and mate choice. Thus, acoustic cues contain information about the physical characteristic, the motivational state and the level of sex hormones of the sender. Studies in nonhuman mammals revealed similar vocal correlates suggesting that vocal correlates in nonhuman mammals reflect also important proximate mechanisms for sexual behavior and mate choice. Such vocal correlates should play an important role in non-seasonally breeding large-bodied species. Because males and females often live separated from each other and females have a low reproductive output, it is important to find a high-quality mating partner at the right time. However, data on vocal correlates on such species are limited, therefore this project will investigate, as a first essential step, whether vocal correlates as proximate mechanisms for sexual behavior and mate choice, in the Southern white rhinoceros. To date, data on vocal correlates related to the motivational state and the hormonal level of the sender are lacking in rhinoceros and data on physical characteristics are limited to only one call type. Thus, the whole project will consist of four studies. These studies will investigate whether in white rhinoceros vocal correlates related to (1) the physical characteristics of the sender, (2) the motivational state of the sender, (3) the level of sex hormones in the sender exists and whether (4) conspecifics can recognize the fertility of females or male quality based on their voices. Thereby, these vocal correlates might encode mate quality, the willingness to mate as well as the reproductive status of the sender and will play an important role in sexual behavior. Combining the results of the Southern white rhinoceros with findings in group living mammals or/and seasonal breeders will allow a deeper understanding how vocal mating behavior is shaped by social structure of and/or mating strategy. Thus, the project will help to clarify the biological function and principles of vocal correlates on sexual interactions and mating behavior in mammals.

Results:

e.g.,

 

Jenikejew, J.; Wauters, J.; Dehnhard, M.; & Scheumann, M. (2021). The female effect?how female receptivity influences faecal testosterone metabolite levels, socio-positive behaviour and vocalization in male Southern white rhinoceroses. Conservation Physiology, 9(1), coab026.

 

Jenikejew, J.; Wauters, J.; Dehnhard, M.; & Scheumann, M. (2021). Linking socio-sexual and vocal behaviour with faecal progesterone and oestrogen metabolite levels in Southern white rhinoceros females. Conservation physiology, 9(1), coab098.

 

Jenikejew, J.; Chaignon B.; Linn, S.; Scheumann, M. (2020): Proximity-Based Vocal Networks Reveal Social Relationships in the Southern White Rhinoceros. Scientific Reports 10(1): 15104. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72052-0.

Cooperation Partners:

Sabrina Linn, Zoo Frankfurt

Dr. Jella Wauters, Leibniz Institut für Zoo- und Wildtierforschung

Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen

Zoo Osnabrück

Allwetterzoo Münster

Zoo Augsburg

Zoo Dortmund

Zoo Schwerin

Zoo Erfurt

Zoom Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen

Knuthenborg Safaripark, Dänemark

Zoo Amneville, Frankreich

Planét Sauvage, Frankreich

Funding: Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Serengetiepark-Stiftung, 17.650 EUR

Project Details:
Vocal communication plays an important role in coordinating social interactions. Vocalizations convey various information?s about the sender itself (e.g., physical characteristics, emotional state) as well as about the situation in which the sender is (e.g., mating, mother-infant communication). Sociality has been hypothesized to be a driving factor of the evolution of complex communication systems: Thus, the majority of studies on acoustic communication focussed on species living in complex social systems. However, also species living in less complex systems have to communicate to each other. Thus, in this study we investigate vocal communication in a mammalian species living in a less complex social system, the white rhinoceros. In this species, females and subadults form temporally stable groups whereas bulls live solitarily. To get insight into the vocal complexity, vocal repertoires have to be established. To date, two publications exist on the vocal repertoire of the white rhinoceros describing 10 to 11 distinct vocalizations, but both coincide only in five call types. Whereas Owen-Smith, (1973) characterized the call types only based on onomatopoetic descriptions of free-living rhinoceros, Policht et al., (2008) conducted a detailed multi-parametric sound analysis combined with statistical methods on a captive rhinoceros herd of a different subspecies. Thus, captivity and/or subspecies differences may also affect the results. To clarify the vocal repertoire of the white rhinoceros and to investigate the effect of captivity on vocal production, we compare the vocal repertoires of captive rhinoceros herd of different zoos and in the field (Ziwa Rhino Sancatury).

Results:

e.g.,

 

Pfannerstill, V.; Härdtner, R.; Maboga, O. S.; Balkenhol, N.; Bennitt, E.; Scheumann, M. (2023). Dehorning impacts white rhinoceros behaviour less than social events: evidence from Botswana. Journal of Zoology, 321(4), 249-259.

 

Pfannerstill, V.; Balkenhol, N.; Bennitt, E.; Maboga, O. S.; Scheumann, M. (2023). Assessing the potential of conspecific playbacks as a post‐translocation management tool for white rhinoceros. Conservation Science and Practice, 5(9), e12996.

 

Linn, S. N.; Schmidt, S.; & Scheumann, M. (2021). Individual distinctiveness across call types of the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). Journal of Mammalogy, 102(2), 440-456.

 

Jenikejew J, Wauters J, Dehnhard M, Scheumann M (2021a). Linking socio-sexual and vocal behaviour with faecal progesterone and oestrogen metabolite levels in Southern white rhinoceros females. Conservation Physiology, 9(1), coab098. DOI:10.1093/conphys/coab098.

 

Jenikejew J, Wauters J, Dehnhard M, Scheumann M (2021b). The female effect-how female receptivity influences faecal testosterone metabolite levels, socio-positive behaviour and vocalization in male Southern white rhinoceroses. Conservation Physiology, 9, coab026. DOI:10.1093/conphys/coab026.

Cooperation Partners:

Vera Pfannerstill, Universität Göttingen

Sabrina Linn, Zoo Frankfurt

Daniela Lahn, Zoo Rostock

Emily Bennitt, Botswana

Felix Patton, Ziwa Rhino Sancatury, Uganda

Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen

Zoo Osnabrück

Allwetterzoo Münster

Zoo Augsburg

Zoo Dortmund

Zoo Schwerin

Zoo Erfurt

Zoom Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen

Knuthenborg Safaripark, Dänemark

Zoo Amneville, Frankreich

Planét Sauvage, Frankreich