Does size matter? Examining the drivers of mammalian vocalizations.

Previous studies of the vocalization frequencies of mammals have suggested that it is either body mass or environment that drives these frequencies. Using 193 species across the globe from the terrestrial and aquatic environments and a model selection approach, we identified that the best-supported model for minimum and maximum frequencies for vocalization included both body mass and environment. The minimum frequencies of vocalizations of species from all environments retained the influence of body mass.

Comparing a new laser strainmeter array with an adjacent, parallel running quartz tube strainmeter array.

In summer 2011, two new laser strainmeters about 26.6 m long were installed in N-S and E-W directions parallel to an existing quartz tube strainmeter system at the Geodynamic Observatory Moxa, Thuringia/Germany. This kind of installation is unique in the world and allows the direct comparison of measurements of horizontal length changes with different types of strainmeters for the first time.