Group specific vocal signature in free-ranging wolf packs

Abstract

Acoustic communication conveys a variety of information that is a helpful tool for animal conservation. The wolf is an elusive species, which can be detected through the howls that individuals emit. In this study we investigated the acoustic features of wild wolf pack howls from five locations in the province of Arezzo, Italy. We tested the hypothesis that each group had a distinctive vocal signature. Our results showed that these wolf packs emitted howls with significantly distinctive acoustic structures. We hypothesized that group-specific vocal signatures require temporal stability to be functional. Indeed, we did not find any statistical differences in howls collected from the same location during the same season or for 2 consecutive years. We suggest that the acoustic features of howls can be used to distinguish wolf packs in the wild.