A global analysis of song frequency in passerines provides no support for the acoustic adaptation hypothesis but suggests a role for sexual selection

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 24(3), P. 477 - 486

Published: Dec. 12, 2020

Abstract Animals use acoustic signals for communication, implying that the properties of these can be under strong selection. The adaptation hypothesis predicts species in dense habitats emit lower‐frequency sounds than those open areas because low‐frequency propagate further vegetation high‐frequency sounds. Signal frequency may also sexual selection it correlates with body size and are perceived as more intimidating. Here, we evaluate hypotheses by analysing variation peak song across 5,085 passerine (Passeriformes). A phylogenetically informed analysis revealed decreases increasing mass male‐biased dimorphism. However, found no support predicted relationship between habitat. Our results suggest global is mostly driven natural causing evolutionary shifts rather habitat‐related on sound propagation.

Language: Английский

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Respiratory contributions to birdsong—evolutionary considerations and open questions

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1920)

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

Respiration plays a central role in avian vocal behaviour by providing the airstream that induces vibration of folds. In this role, respiratory movements dictate coarse temporal pattern song, while simultaneously fulfilling its vital functions. Whereas these aspects have been investigated oscines, little information exists other taxa. Broad taxonomic is, however, necessary for addressing questions regarding evolutionary specializations system. Acoustic recordings unstudied taxa suggest rapid action muscles is basal trait within birds. addition to controlling timing vocalization, activity also influences acoustic features such as sound amplitude and frequency. The latter more strongly influenced driving pressure non-vocal learners. Singing, highly dynamic presents an opportunity studying detailed ventilation patterns thus could give insight into basic control airflow lung–air sac Although we learned many details how tied cortical song control, open remain. Control pacemaker circuitry upstream centres, input initiation vocalization use online feedback from system are all incompletely understood. This article part theme issue ‘The biology system’.

Language: Английский

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Ants adjust their pheromone deposition to a changing environment and their probability of making errors

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 282(1810), P. 20150679 - 20150679

Published: June 10, 2015

Animals must contend with an ever-changing environment. Social animals, especially eusocial insects such as ants and bees, rely heavily on communication for their success. However, in a changing environment, communicated information can become rapidly outdated. This is particular problem pheromone trail using ants, once deposited pheromones cannot be removed. Here, we study the response of ant foragers to environmental change. Ants were trained one feeder location, was then moved different location. We found that responded change by strongly upregulating deposition immediately after experiencing may help maintain colony's foraging flexibility, allow multiple food locations exploited simultaneously. Our treatment also caused uncertainty foragers, making memories less reliable. which had made error but eventually source upregulated when returning nest. Intriguingly, way towards downregulated if they going make error. suggest individual measure reliability own respond appropriately.

Language: Английский

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Song adjustments by an open habitat bird to anthropogenic noise, urban structure, and vegetation

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. arw105 - arw105

Published: July 1, 2016

Urban environments challenge animals with 2 novel impediments to communication: low-frequency anthropogenic noise, which masks vocalizations, and large sound-reflecting structures, contribute reverberation. We studied spectral temporal traits of trill songs chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina), a species historically found in open grassland habitat, understand how urban structure, vegetation affected song traits. On the basis features, males clustered into groups. Males that had lower minimum frequencies broader bandwidths increased frequency decreased increasing vegetation. higher narrower bandwidth but made no adjustments noise or structure. To maintain high vocal performance songs, should increase rates compensate for decreases bandwidth, they did not change this trait. As result, declined across all Finally, peak suggesting put more energy their possibly improve sound transmission human-built environments. Overall, both structure influenced features limited effects timing. Sound reflections from structures may have strong, underappreciated, influence on animal communication, compound challenges singing noise.

Language: Английский

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Coding for ‘Dynamic’ Information: Vocal Expression of Emotional Arousal and Valence in Non-human Animals

Animal signals and communication, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 137 - 162

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Language: Английский

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Accurate prediction of olive‐sided flycatcher breeding status using song rate measured with autonomous recording units

Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 15, 2025

Abstract Autonomous recording units (ARUs) are recognized for their use in detecting vocalizing bird species to assess presence, occupancy, and density, but potential monitor reproductive status of individuals rates is not well known. We investigated whether song derived from ARU data, when combined with the known date, can be used predict proportion male songbirds 3 breeding classes (single, paired, feeding young). monitored weekly field visits collected daily recordings at 46 olive‐sided flycatcher ( Contopus cooperi ) territories northwestern Canada 2016–2017. tested 4 variations a hierarchical multinomial regression model that time day, day year, rate 2‐minute status, evaluated models using novel, likelihood‐based approach. found top correctly estimated 79% observed proportions birds each across length season. Although date was primary predictor singing reduced some uncertainty provided more accurate estimates given time. A major challenge prediction accuracy data interpretation accounting movement associated impact on detection, which we partly addressed by limiting our study who were detected least 30% sampling days. demonstrate ARUs cryptic, low‐density risk such as flycatcher, suggesting this method could applied wider range better understand demographics population dynamics, inform management decisions, concern.

Language: Английский

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Personality predicts song complexity in superb fairy-wrens

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

In birds, singing behaviours play a critical role in mating and territory defence. Although birdsong can signal individual quality personality, very few studies have explored the relationship between personality song characteristics, none has investigated this females. Here, we examined relationships complexity two ecologically relevant traits (exploration aggressiveness) wild superb fairy-wrens ( Malurus cyaneus ), species which both sexes learn to produce complex songs. First, assessed males females (including juveniles) by quantifying their exploration behaviour (novel environment test) aggressiveness (mirror stimulation during short-term captivity. After birds were released, recorded songs over several months assess variation (i.e. element types per syllables song) relation personality. Regardless of sex or life stage, individuals that more exploratory had song. Additionally, aggressive produced with fewer syllables, fledglings, but not adults, Our study supports idea male female advertise when singing, may be important for mate choice.

Language: Английский

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Assessing vocal performance in complex birdsong: a novel approach

BMC Biology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Aug. 4, 2014

Vocal performance refers to the ability produce vocal signals close physical limits. Such motor skills can be used by conspecifics assess a signaller's competitive potential. For example it is difficult for birds repeated syllables both rapidly and with broad frequency bandwidth. Deviation from an upper-bound regression of bandwidth on trill rate has been widely performance. This approach is, however, only applicable simple trilled songs, even then may affected differences in syllable complexity.

Language: Английский

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Social coordination in animal vocal interactions. Is there any evidence of turn-taking? The starling as an animal model

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Sept. 28, 2015

Turn-taking in conversation appears to be a common feature various human cultures and this universality raises questions about its biological basis evolutionary trajectory. Functional convergence is widespread phenomenon evolution, revealing sometimes striking functional similarities between very distant species even though the mechanisms involved may different. Studies on mammals (including non-human primates) bird with different levels of social coordination reveal that temporal structural regularities vocal interactions depend species' structure. Here we test hypothesis turn-taking associated rules conversations an adaptive response requirements life, by testing applicability animal model, European starling. Birdsong has for many decades been considered as one best models language starling songs have well described terms production perception. Starlings do where alternating patterns predominate. Observational experimental data (1) there are indeed clear regularities, (2) patterning influenced immediate context, general situation, individual history, internal state emitter. Comparison phylogenetically close Sturnids reveals pattern varies greatly according structure, suggesting interactional evolved together systems. These findings lead solid bases discussion evolution communication relation evolution. They will discussed also processes, at light recent neurobiological findings.

Language: Английский

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Personality differentially affects individual mate choice decisions in female and male Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 13(5), P. e0197197 - e0197197

Published: May 15, 2018

Consistent individual differences in behavioral tendencies (animal personality) can affect mate choice decisions. We asked whether personality traits male and female decisions similarly potential effects are consistent across different situations. Using western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as our study organism, we characterized focal individuals (males females) twice for boldness, activity, sociability/shoaling found high significant repeatability. Additionally, each was tested two dichotomous tests which it could choose between computer-animated stimulus fish of the opposite sex that differed body size activity levels, respectively. Personality had on choice: females were larger than average showed stronger preferences large-bodied males with increasing levels boldness/activity (i.e., towards more proactive types). Males higher shoaling actively swimming females. Size-dependent strength distinct phenotypes mating partners may reflect age/experience (especially social dominance males). Previous studies evidence assortative based types or hypothesized existence syndromes individuals’ choosiness criteria, possibly including other traits. Our present exemplifies far complex patterns personality-dependent emerge natural systems.

Language: Английский

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