Loss of vocal culture and fitness costs in a critically endangered songbird

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 288(1947)

Published: March 17, 2021

Cultures in humans and other species are maintained through interactions among conspecifics. Declines population density could be exacerbated by culture loss, thereby linking to conservation. We combined historical recordings, citizen science breeding data assess the impact of severe decline on song culture, complexity individual fitness critically endangered regent honeyeaters (Anthochaera phrygia). Song production remaining wild males varied dramatically, with 27% singing songs that differed from regional cultural norm. Twelve per cent males, occurring areas particularly low density, completely failed sing any species-specific instead sang species' songs. Atypical was associated reduced fitness, as atypical were less likely pair or nest than Songs captive-bred birds those all birds. The honeyeater has also declined over recent decades. therefore provide rare evidence a is loss vocal animal, concomitant costs for individuals. may precursor extinction declining populations learn selected behaviours conspecifics, provides useful conservation indicator.

Language: Английский

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Efficiency fosters cumulative culture across species

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 377(1843)

Published: Dec. 13, 2021

Recent studies in several taxa have demonstrated that animal culture can evolve to become more efficient various contexts ranging from tool use route learning and migration. Under recent definitions, such increases efficiency might satisfy the core criteria of cumulative cultural evolution (CCE). However, there is not yet a satisfying consensus on precise definition efficiency, CCE or link between complex, extended forms considered uniquely human. To bring clarity this wider discussion CCE, we develop concept by (i) reviewing potential evidence for animals, (ii) clarifying useful synthesizing perspectives found within literature, including iterated literature. Finally, (iii) discuss what factors impinge informational bottleneck social transmission, argue provides pressure learnable behaviours across species. We conclude framing terms casts complexity new light, as are requirement complexity. Understanding how greases ratchet better appreciation similar be taxonomically diverse species—a case continuity kingdom. This article part meeting issue ‘The emergence collective knowledge humans machines’.

Language: Английский

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Population turnover facilitates cultural selection for efficiency in birds

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(11), P. 2477 - 2483.e3

Published: April 6, 2021

Culture, defined as socially transmitted information and behaviors that are shared in groups persist over time, is increasingly accepted to occur across a wide range of taxa behavioral domains.1Schuppli C. van Schaik C.P. Animal cultures: how we've only seen the tip iceberg.Evolutionary Human Sciences. 2019; 1: e2Crossref Scopus (27) Google Scholar While persistent, cultural traits not necessarily static, their distribution can change frequency type response selective pressures, analogous genetic alleles. This has led treatment culture an evolutionary process, with theory arguing exhibits three fundamental components Darwinian evolution: variation, competition, inheritance.2Creanza N. Kolodny O. Feldman M.W. Cultural theory: evolves why it matters.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2017; 114: 7782-7789Crossref PubMed (103) Scholar, 3Mesoudi A. Whiten Laland K.N. Perspective: human evolution Darwinian? Evidence reviewed from perspective Origin Species.Evolution. 2004; 58: 1-11PubMed 4Mesoudi Pursuing Darwin's curious parallel: prospects for science evolution.Proc. 7853-7860Crossref (49) 5Boyd R. Richerson P.J. Culture Evolutionary Process. University Chicago press, 1988Google Selection more efficient alternatives crucial component cumulative evolution,6Mesoudi Thornton What evolution?.Proc. Biol. 2018; 285: 20180712Crossref (96) yet our understanding when such selection occurs non-human animals limited. We performed diffusion experiment using 18 captive populations wild-caught great tits (Parus major) ask whether foraging traditions selected for, this process affected by demographic process—population turnover. Our results showed gradual replacement individuals naive immigrants greatly increased probability behavior invaded population's repertoire outcompeted established inefficient behavior. Fine-scale, automated tracking revealed turnover did increase innovation rates, but instead acted on adoption disproportionately sampled novel, relative available social information. These provide strong evidence efficiency animals, highlight mechanism links population process.

Language: Английский

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Content bias in the cultural evolution of house finch song

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 185, P. 37 - 48

Published: Jan. 21, 2022

We used three years of house finch, Haemorhous mexicanus, song recordings spanning four decades in the introduced eastern range to assess how individual level cultural transmission mechanisms drive population changes birdsong. First, we developed an agent-based model (available as a new R package called 'TransmissionBias') that simulates finch given different parameters related biases, or biases social learning modify probability adoption particular variants. Next, approximate Bayesian computation and machine estimate what parameter values likely generated temporal diversity our observed data. found evidence strong content bias, targeted towards syllable complexity, plays central role evolution New York metropolitan area. Frequency demonstrator appear be neutral absent. Additionally, estimated is transmitted with extremely high fidelity. Future studies can use simulation framework better understand declines influence wild populations.

Language: Английский

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Local song evolution after three decades in a complex songster, the Thrush Nightingale

Avian Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100224 - 100224

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Geographical distribution of two acoustic fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ) populations across the Weddell Sea

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Understanding and identifying population-specific acoustic features is crucial to passive monitoring-based remote sensing of population distributions. Fin whales are known produce 20-Hz pulses, often accompanied by a simultaneous higher frequency (HF) component. The centre this component has been found differ regionally, presumably representing characteristic. Within the Southern Ocean, five distinct HF components have identified so far, two which present in Atlantic Sector Ocean (ASSO) with peak frequencies around 86 99 Hz. This study investigates extent these indicate fin whale populations their spatial distribution across ASSO. By automatically analysing data from 2013, 10 recording positions, our show that while 99-Hz was detected at seven positions throughout ASSO, 86-Hz only its western area, centred Western Antarctic Peninsula. Additional 2019 Peninsula confirmed consistent presence component, suggesting robust indicators populations. Knowledge on key habitats strategic effective conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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The demographic drivers of cultural evolution in bird song

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 1, 2025

Highlights•Analyzed over 100,000 great tit songs using deep learning to study vocal culture•Tested if local demographic variation and processes impact song culture in the wild•Showed that age, dispersal, turnover affect cultural diversity changeSummarySocial can give rise shared behavioral patterns persist as within animal communities,1,2 such bird whale cetacean feeding techniques.3,4,5 These traits evolve6,7,8,9 individual survival, population structure, conservation efforts.10 Although theoretical work indicates processes—like turnover, immigration, age structure—significantly influence evolution,11,12,13 empirical evidence from natural populations is limited. Using metric analyze >400 repertoires tits (Parus major), we show affects cultures small spatial temporal scales where occurs. Within-population dispersal homogenizes culture, immigrant birds adopt while increasing neighborhood through larger repertoires. Birds of similar tend have more repertoires, which provides change, with mixed-age neighborhoods showing higher diversity. We estimate a main driver change its pace also moderated by structure. findings support expectations regarding key role evolution highlighting their interaction species-specific factors timing mode acquisition.Graphical abstract

Language: Английский

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Conserving avian vocal culture

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Over 40% of bird species learn their vocalizations from conspecifics. Avian therefore represent one the most pervasive and quantifiable examples culturally acquired behaviour that evolves is maintained within populations through conformity selection. We review research exploring loss vocal culture in wild birds synthesize how this may occur three processes, defined as erosion/fragmentation, divergence convergence. discuss potential to conserve avian cultures captivity, using regent honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia a case study. Given current rates global biodiversity decline, we predict more will emerge future. There need, therefore, for better understanding (i) birds; (ii) what factors predispose culture; (iii) fitness costs culture, including population size or density range which be greatest; (iv) can best conserved restored. This knowledge could then inform management actions such diversity world's generations come.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: conservation changing world'.

Language: Английский

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Animal culture: conservation in a changing world

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Social learning and animal culture can influence conservation outcomes in significant ways. Culture is a dynamic phenomenon; socially learned behaviours be transmitted within and/or between generations among populations, which facilitate resilience, or other circumstances generate vulnerability. driver of evolutionary diversification, population structure demography, shaping sociality influencing underlying biological processes such as reproduction survival, affecting fitness. This theme issue synthesizes the current state knowledge on cultural variation major vertebrate taxa, offering practical insights how social interface directly with interventions. It ranges over topics that include translocations, human-wildlife interactions adaptation to anthropogenic change. complex; integrating into challenging. No one-size-fits-all policy recommended. Instead, we aim balance understanding diversity implementations this nascent field, exploring supporting developing pathways towards efficiencies. Key themes emerge conserving capacity, benefits data sharing, along intrinsic value cultures role Indigenous Peoples local communities.This article part 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

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Widespread cultural change in declining populations of Amazon parrots

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2029)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Species worldwide are experiencing anthropogenic environmental change, and the long-term impacts on animal cultural traditions such as vocal dialects often unknown. Our prior studies of yellow-naped amazon ( Amazona auropalliata ) revealed stable over an 11-year period (1994–2005), with modest shifts in geographic boundaries acoustic structure contact calls. Here, we examined whether amazons maintained subsequent time span from 2005 to 2016, culminating 22 years study. Over this same period, species suffered a dramatic decrease population size that prompted two successive uplists IUCN status, vulnerable critically endangered. In most recent span, found evidence call types, manifesting more bilingual sites introgression across formerly distinct North–South boundary. We also greater drift, form new emerging types variation overall. These results suggest may change response demographic conditions, broad implications for threatened species.

Language: Английский

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