Geographic Variation in Short Calls of Pikas (Ochotona princeps)

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Abstract
Short calls of pikas (Ochotona princeps) living in seven localities in California, Utah, and New Mexico were recorded and analyzed for variation in fundamental frequency, note duration, internote interval, and number of notes per call. Significant differences were found only between widely separated groups. It is suggested that variations in pika short calls are examples of geographic variation, and do not represent vocal dialects. Differences in call parameters between widely separated populations resulted from independent evolutionary histories maintained by geographic barriers to interbreeding. The major constraint on this variability was retention of cues for sound localization.

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