Not so sexy in the city: urban birds adjust songs to noise but compromise vocal performance

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 332 - 340

Published: Sept. 30, 2015

Anthropogenic noise affects the behavior of a variety animal taxa around world. In many taxa, minimum frequencies acoustic signals increase with ambient levels, and males females respond less strongly to these adjusted signals. Lower response may be due higher or associated decrease in frequency bandwidth. There is performance challenge producing notes rapidly at wide bandwidth, any reduction bandwidth necessarily reduces value. This measure vocal trait under sexual selection taxa. We investigated relationship between anthropogenic amplitude male white-crowned sparrow San Francisco, CA. Males on louder territories produced songs but also reduced lower performance. These results suggest that behavioral adjustments reduce songs. conducted playback experiments test if responses urban are narrower bandwidths. responded more normal than songs, equally high- low-pass filtered Our therefore performance—not frequency—could reason birds responsive for noise. Ultimately, high levels could result fewer mating opportunities challenges defending their territory.

Language: Английский

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Are extra‐pair males different from cuckolded males? A case study and a meta‐analytic examination

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 1558 - 1571

Published: Feb. 23, 2015

Abstract Traditional models for female extra‐pair matings assume that females benefit indirectly from mating behaviour. Under these so‐called adaptive models, males are hypothesized to have more compatible genotypes, larger body size, exaggerated ornaments or be older than cuckolded males. Alternatively, (‘nonadaptive’) consider a by‐product posit can maintained even if there is no females. This could happen if, example, gained fitness benefits mating, while and male behaviours were genetically correlated. Extra‐pair also expected this improves their ability convince coerce mate. We investigated whether female's mates differed her mate in both genetic phenotypic traits by analysing data an insular house sparrow population. found males, consistent with models. However, contrast the expectations of similar relatedness, hence compatibility, female, had comparable size secondary sexual traits. updated previous meta‐analyses examining differences between The meta‐analytic results matched our case study. Although we cannot completely exclude indirect females, nonadaptive may better explain matings. These neglected alternative deserve research attention, should improve understanding evolution systems.

Language: Английский

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How a songbird with a continuous singing style modulates its song when territorially challenged

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 68(1), P. 1 - 12

Published: Aug. 17, 2013

In songbirds of the temperate zone, often only males sing and their songs serve to attract females deter territorial rivals. many species, vary certain aspects singing behavior when engaged in interactions. Such variation may be an honest signal traits signaler, such as fighting strength, condition, or aggressive motivation, used by receivers decisions on whether retreat escalate a fight. This has been studied intensively species that discontinuously, which are alternating with silent pauses. We contextual song skylarks (Alauda arvensis), songbird large vocal repertoire continuous versatile style. exposed subjects simulated intrusions broadcasting conspecific recorded responses. found differently if they spontaneously no other around than territorially challenged. this last case, produced lower-frequency syllables. Furthermore, increased sound density song: proportion within song. They seem do so different elements reactively. consistency mean peak frequency: repeated syllable types less variability suggests might use low frequencies, density, indicate competitive potential, thus, those features important for mutual assessment abilities.

Language: Английский

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Vocal individuality of male Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus calls, an ambisonic bio-acoustic approach

Bird Study, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 11

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

Capsule Male Western Capercaillies Tetrao urogallus use their vocalizations during the breeding season for territorial and reproductive purposes, these have genetically predefined characteristics that confer each bird with a unique distinguishable vocal signature.

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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Transcontinental latitudinal variation in song performance and complexity in house wrens (Troglodytes aedon)

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 283(1824), P. 20152765 - 20152765

Published: Feb. 10, 2016

There is growing interest in latitudinal effects on animal behaviour and life history. One recent focus birdsong, which hypothesized to be more elaborated or complex the north temperate zone compared with tropics. Current evidence mixed based cross-species comparisons, single species restricted distributions. We circumvent these limitations using a transcontinental sample of 358 songs from house wrens ( Troglodytes aedon ) at 281 locations spanning than 100° latitude (52° N–55° S) across Americas. found significant gradient several basic elements song performance complexity between tropical populations. Furthermore, we document convergence patterns populations higher latitudes Northern Southern Hemispheres. Effects were strongest for number song, rate element production, both increasing towards poles, similar but weaker other dimensions (e.g. unique elements, trills trill rate). consider possible causes related variable habitats morphology, concluding that shorter breeding seasons hemispheres may favour greater elaboration mediate territory competition mate choice.

Language: Английский

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Vocal performance is a salient signal for male–male competition in White-crowned Sparrows

Ornithology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 134(3), P. 564 - 574

Published: May 10, 2017

Vocal communication in songbirds is important for aggressive signaling, such that an honest signal allows receivers to assess a competitor's qualities. One aspect of song conspecifics may vocal performance. An example performance how well individual performs the trade-off between trill rate and bandwidth production repeated notes. This type (vocal deviation) thought be because male's ability maximize both limited by motor constraints on sound modification. Further, male can repeat this provide with information about signaler, own level affect strength response high-performance songs. We tested whether males each other based model species, White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). show Sparrows respond more strongly songs than lower-performance 2 different locations, supporting hypothesis utilize competitors. also initial evidence varies among repeatable within individuals.

Language: Английский

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Multifractal analysis reveals music-like dynamic structure in songbird rhythms

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: March 9, 2018

Abstract Music is thought to engage its listeners by driving feelings of surprise, tension, and relief through a dynamic mixture predictable unpredictable patterns, property summarized here as “expressiveness”. Birdsong shares with music the goal attract listeners’ attention might use similar strategies achieve this. We tested thrush nightingale’s ( Luscinia luscinia ) rhythm , represented song amplitude envelope (containing information on note timing, duration, intensity), for evidence expressiveness. used multifractal analysis, which designed detect in signal fluctuations between states multiple timescales (e.g. notes, subphrases, songs). Results show that strongly multifractal, indicating patterns. Moreover, comparing original songs re-synthesized lack all subtle deviations from “standard” envelopes, we find intensity duration significantly contributed multifractality. This suggests birdsong more due timing often musical operations like accelerando or crescendo . While different sources these dynamics are conceivable, this study shows multi-timescale can be detected birdsong, paving path studying mechanisms function behind such

Language: Английский

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Equivalent effects of bandwidth and trill rate: support for a performance constraint as a competitive signal

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 132, P. 209 - 215

Published: Sept. 15, 2017

Language: Английский

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The structure and organization of song in Southern House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon chilensis)

Journal of Ornithology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 157(1), P. 289 - 301

Published: Aug. 19, 2015

Language: Английский

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