Audience sensitivity in chimpanzee display pant hoots

Audience effects are key in studies of animal social cognition and typically investigated during directed interactions. Male chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, regularly perform aggressive displays the presence others, often targeting a specific group member, combine this agonistic behaviour with acoustic signals. Here, we were interested whether production structure pant hoots, long-distance signal, influenced by audience composition (i.e. absence individuals). We hoots produced adult subadult males Budongo Forest, Uganda. found that overall called more when their preferred partners females absent from party, as well dominant present. then separately analysed four phases introduction, build-up, climax let-down, context could explain or each phase. In addition, accompanied drumming, especially older male audiences small. Our study adds to growing body literature on other factors shows impact sophisticated vocal sequence, which enhances communicative capacity species limited control.