This article was originally published by
High Country News
.
On a cool autumn evening in Grand Teton National Park, the melodic sound of a male elk bugling fills the dusky-blue light. The haunting call reverberates through the grassy meadow, receiving a response from another bull lurking in the shadows.
Bugles are distinct sounds emitted by male elk during their mating season. Recent research has revealed that these bugles exhibit slight variations depending on the geographical location of the elk. Similar studies have been conducted on whale, bat, and bird calls, but this is the first time such differences have been identified in any ungulate species. Jennifer Clarke, a behavioral ecologist at the Center for Wildlife Studies and a professor at the University of La Verne, California, led the team behind this groundbreaking discovery.
Clarke’s interest in elk bugles was sparked by the experience of hearing them in Rocky Mountain National Park many years ago. Surprisingly, she found a lack of information on elk communication. This led her and her graduate students to delve into the unique symphony produced by different elk herds. Although these regional dialects are nearly imperceptible to human ears, spectrograms enable researchers to visualize and analyze the distinct characteristics of each herd’s bugles, akin to recognizing handwriting.
The Pennsylvania elk herds, transplanted from the West in the early 1900s, exhibit longer tonal whistles and quieter bugles compared to their counterparts in Colorado. Meanwhile, Wyoming elk bugles undergo a more distinct transition from low to high tones compared to those in Pennsylvania or Colorado.
The reason behind these dialectic variations remains uncertain. Initial hypotheses suggesting differences in sound transmission based on forest density versus open landscapes were disproven by Clarke’s data. She now seeks to explore potential genetic variations and whether young males learn these dialects from older bulls, especially considering Pennsylvania’s limited genetic diversity within its elk herd.
According to Daniel Blumstein, a biologist at UCLA who was not involved in the study, Clarke’s research contributes a small yet significant piece to the broader puzzle of animal communication. Blumstein emphasizes the interplay between environmental factors and genetics in shaping vocal variations among species, calling for further investigation into the mechanisms underlying these differences.
Clarke’s research forms part of the interdisciplinary field of bioacoustics, which combines biology and acoustics to enhance our understanding of natural sounds. Besides its potential as a conservation tool for monitoring animal behavior, bioacoustics can shed light on animal evolution, disease transfer, and cognition.
Elk are not the only creatures with regional dialects. Eastern and western hermit thrushes in North America produce different song structures, and the song of the white-crowned sparrow can be used by ornithologists to determine its birthplace. Campbell’s monkeys and rock hyraxes also demonstrate localized dialects in their vocalizations. Similarly, underwater environments host unique dialects among whale species, with Caribbean sperm whales differing in their clicking patterns from those in the Pacific Ocean. Orcas in Puget Sound possess distinctive clicks and whistles specific to their pods.
Clarke’s fascination with animal vocalizations extends beyond elk. Her ongoing research includes studying the vocalizations of ptarmigan, flying foxes, and Tasmanian devils. Her future project aims to uncover the communication and leadership dynamics between bison mothers and their calves, as these females play a central role within the herd.
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