02826nam a2200193 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000220006024500860008226000160016830000110018450001040019552022580029965000200255765300140257765300180259165300120260965300110262117868572018-07-17       2004    bl uuuu  m   00u1 u    #d1 aCUNHA, R. G. T da  aA functional analysis of vocalisations of black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya).  a2004.c2004  a282 p.  aThesis (Doctor of Philosophy) - School of Psychology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, 2004.  aVocal behaviour represents a fundamental aspect of a mammal's behavioural repertoire. In this thesis I present a functional study of the vocal repertoire of black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya). I collected observational data on behavioural states and circumstances surrounding the emission of low amplitude calls of a habituated group in the wild. Loud calls were studied both observationally and experimentally through the use of playbacks. I present a call never described before, the moo, arguing that it possesses a contact role, and suggest possible specific functions: maintenance of contact, co-irduatuib if grio travel, and regaining lost contact. In infants moos are related to stressful situations. I suggest three non-exclusive hypotheses for the proximate function: indication of emotion; indication of physical needs; and manipulation. The ultimate function for infants seems to be elicitation of a caregiving response, and possibly indication of retaliation/disagreement as well. I describe three structurally and functionally related calls, screeches, cries, and screech-cries. All were related to stressful situations, but seemed to have some degree of specificity regarding the level of presumed stress of a situation, although contextual specificity cannot be ruled out. Screech-cries appeared to relate to lower stress levels, cries to the highest, and screeches to medium and high stress. I propose that screeches serve to elicit help/care-giving, but also to signal sbmissive status, while cries present the same functions, but with inverse priority. Screeches-cries would mostly announce disagreement and submission, but could also elicit care. I propose that roars (a loud call) function in the inter-group spacing system. The group had exclusive access to a large area, with a small overlap at the borders. I hypothesise that roars provide a mechanism for advertisement of occupancy, and an aggressive display during encounters to reinforce occupancy and provide a way of settling disputes without chases and fights. A series of alternative proposals are discussed, most of which could be dismissed. In particular, roars do not function in a system of mutual avoidance nor operate in regular reinforcement of border locations.  aAlouatta caraya  aBehaviour  aComportamento  aMacacos  aMonkey