Chorus Synchrony as a Cue: Influence of Chorus Howl Synchrony from Unfamiliar Packs on Wolves' Behaviour
Chorus howls play a central role in wolves' (Canis lupus) social communication, shaping both intra- and inter-pack interactions. While synchrony has been shown to influence perceived threat from outgroups in birds and humans, whether the synchrony of an outside pack's chorus howl plays a role in wolf pack behaviour remains unclear. This study investigated behavioural responses of 19 zoo-housed…
Chorus howls are essential to wolves' social communication, influencing both pack and inter-pack interactions. Researchers investigated how the synchrony of a chorus howl from an unfamiliar pack affects wolf pack behavior, with an eye on whether synchronous or asynchronous howls provoke a stronger response. The study used recordings of synchronous and asynchronous chorus howls from unfamiliar packs, played back to 19 zoo-housed wolf packs, and compared the responses to a dove control call.
Wolves showed stronger intra-pack cohesion and spatial withdrawal in the presence of more synchronous howls, interpreting them as more formidable and potentially dangerous signals. Conversely, asynchronous howls elicited a stronger threat-investigation response, with wolves spending more time near the sound source, approaching it more frequently, and orienting towards it for longer periods.
While this pattern could indicate a more difficult localization of synchronous howls or greater ambiguity in pack size with asynchronous playbacks, more investigation is needed to determine the full impact of these responses on wild wolf behavior.
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