Qualitative aspects of vocal communication – such as the elaboration of vocal repertoires and acoustic features – show remarkable variation within and between species. According to the ‘social complexity hypothesis,’ variation in sociality drives variation in vocal systems. Species with more elaborated vocal systems tend to live in larger or more affiliative groups. This phylogenetic relationship has been supported in primates, birds, marmots, and mongoose. In addition, many species are known to produce elaborated vocalizations (e.g., courtship songs) to attract or repel conspecifics. These patterns indicate that gregarious social systems co-evolved with diversified ways to communicate. Why these associations exist in the first place remains largely unexplored.

Current projects in the lab investigate the role of vocalizations in pair bond formation in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). We are exploring how different features of vole vocalizations function in partner selection and sexual behaviour. Methods that we use include behavioural tracking, acoustic recording, and playback experiments.