Comparative Analysis of the Alarm Call in Different Age and Sexual Groups of the Russet Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus major Pallas 1778)

The formation of the alarm call's time-frequency characteristics at different stages of individual development was studied on the russet ground squirrel (S. major). The hypothesis about the vocalizations of young individuals of ground squirrels being emitted at lower frequencies than those of adults was tested. The results of the study indicate a differentiated formation of the sound signal in the different sexes of the russet ground squirrel in postnatal ontogenesis. The sound signal in females is formed in the first year of life during the season of activity, whereas it is formed in males in the year following the first hibernation. In terms of the studied call parameters, the voice of adult females is higher than that of young animals of both sexes, while the voice of adult males is lower. The possible causes and significance of the identified sex and age features of the alarm call of the russet ground squirrel are discussed

Сравнительный анализ звукового предупреждающего об опасности сигнала разных возрастных и половых групп рыжеватого суслика (Spermophilus major Pallas 1778)

The formation of the time-frequency characteristics of the alarm call at different stages of individual development was studied on the example of the Russet ground squirrel (S. major). The hypothesis about the vocalizations of young individuals of ground squirrels at lower frequencies than adults was tested. The results of the study indicate a differentiated formation of the sound signal in different sexes of Russet ground squirrel in postnatal ontogenesis. The sound signal in females is formed during the first year of life at the season of activity, and in males at the next year – after the first hibernation. In terms of studied signal parameters, the voice of adult females is higher than that of young animals of both sexes, and that of adult males is lower. The possible causes and significance of the identified sexual and age features of the alarm call of the Russet ground squirrel are discussed.На примере большого суслика (S. major) изучалось формирование частотно-временных характеристик звукового сигнала на разных стадиях индивидуального развития. Проверялась гипотеза о вокализации молодых особей наземных беличьих на более низких частотах, чем у взрослых. Результаты исследования свидетельствуют о дифференцированном формировании звукового сигнала у разных полов большого суслика в постнатальном онтогенезе. Звуковой сигнал у самок формируется в течение первого года жизни в период сезона активности, а у самцов на следующий год – после первой зимней спячки. По совокупности исследованных параметров сигнала голос взрослых самок выше, чем у молодых сусликов обоих полов, а взрослых самцов – ниже. Обсуждаются возможные причины и значение выявленных половых и возрастных особенностей звукового сигнала большого суслика