Singing in a silent spring: Birds respond to a half-century soundscape reversion during the COVID-19 shutdown

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 370(6516), P. 575 - 579

Published: Sept. 24, 2020

Songbirds reclaim favored frequencies When severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic lockdowns were instituted across entire countries, human activities ceased in an unprecedented way. Derryberry et al. found that the reduction traffic sound San Francisco Bay Area of California to levels not seen for half a century led shift song frequency white-crowned sparrows (see Perspective by Halfwerk). This was especially notable because human-produced noise occurs within range interferes with highest performance and most effective song. Thus, our “quiet” allowed birds quickly fill space. Science , this issue p. 575 ; see also 523

Language: Английский

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The Effects of Landscape Urbanization on the Gut Microbiome: An Exploration Into the Gut of Urban and Rural White-Crowned Sparrows

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Sept. 24, 2018

Urban habitats present new ecological and evolutionary challenges for animals. Noise infrastructure often change behavior community composition, with potential physical costs such as decreased condition. However, the underlying mechanisms driving these patterns are virtually unknown. One driver of condition within a species is diversity gut microbiome. Here, we investigate how urban habitat affects microbiome White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) using spatial analyses land cover (impervious, scrub, grass, trees) at regional level territory in San Francisco, CA nearby rural Point Reyes, CA. We hypothesized that urbanization microbial composition through direct effects on diet and/or indirect environmental effects. measured from 16s rRNA sequences amplified cloacal swabs. find microbiomes significantly different, more diverse than This relationship may be due to variable landscape compared habitats, which mainly composed native scrub. do not support impervious affecting microbiome, but precise show higher tree correlates increased alpha relative abundances taxa (Unifrac beta diversity). Although some studies physiology, our measures body indicate strong relationship. Our results highlight changes affect animals an ever-urbanizing world, provides baseline future anthropogenic communities multiple levels.

Language: Английский

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Ecoacoustics: A Quantitative Approach to Investigate the Ecological Role of Environmental Sounds

Mathematics, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 21 - 21

Published: Dec. 26, 2018

Ecoacoustics is a recent ecological discipline focusing on the role of sounds. Sounds from geophysical, biological, and anthropic environment represent important cues used by animals to navigate, communicate, transform unknown environments in well-known habitats. are utilized evaluate relevant parameters adopted as proxies for biodiversity, environmental health, human wellbeing assessment due availability autonomous audio recorders quantitative metrics. an tool establish innovative biosemiotic narrative ensure strategic connection between nature humanity, help in-situ field remote-sensing surveys, develop long-term monitoring programs. Acoustic entropy, acoustic richness, dissimilarity index, complexity indices (ACItf ACIft their evenness), normalized difference soundscape ecoacoustic event detection identification routine, fractal structure some most popular successfully applied ecoacoustics. offers great opportunities investigate across full range operational scales (from individual species landscapes), but requires implementation its foundations metrics ameliorate competency physical, sonic contexts.

Language: Английский

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Do birds vocalize at higher pitch in noise, or is it a matter of measurement?

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 71(1)

Published: Dec. 28, 2016

Language: Английский

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Urban sparrows respond to a sexually selected trait with increased aggression in noise

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

Published: May 8, 2018

Animals modify acoustic communication signals in response to noise pollution, but consequences of these modifications are unknown. Vocalizations that transmit best may not be those signal male quality, leading potential conflict between selection pressures. For example, slow paced, narrow bandwidth songs better less effective mate choice and competition than fast wide songs. We test the hypothesis affects song pace context using white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys). measure variation along a gradient ambient levels San Francisco, CA. find males discriminate paced These findings biologically relevant because noisy areas tend have bandwidths. Therefore, this phenotype potentially increases transmission distance noise, elicits weaker responses from competitors. Further, we respond more strongly stimuli noisier conditions, supporting 'urban anger' hypothesis. suggest responsiveness song, possibly territorial urban areas.

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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Acoustic adaptation to city noise through vocal learning by a songbird

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 285(1888), P. 20181356 - 20181356

Published: Oct. 10, 2018

Anthropogenic noise imposes novel selection pressures, especially on species that communicate acoustically. Many animals—including insects, frogs, whales and birds—produce sounds at higher frequencies in areas with low-frequency pollution. Although there is support for animals changing their vocalizations real time response to (i.e. immediate flexibility), other evolutionary mechanisms learn remain largely unexplored. We hypothesize cultural signal structures less masked by a mechanism of acoustic adaptation anthropogenic noise. test this hypothesis presenting nestling white-crowned sparrows ( Zonotrichia leucophyrs ) less-masked (higher-frequency) more-masked (lower-frequency) tutor songs either during playback (noise-tutored treatment) or different from (control treatment). As predicted, we find noise-tutored males significantly more often, whereas control show no copying preference, providing strong experimental Further, reproduce than tutor, indicating distinct increase transmission noisy environment. Notably, achieve lower performance tutors, suggesting potential costs sexual framework.

Language: Английский

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White‐crowned sparrow males show immediate flexibility in song amplitude but not in song minimum frequency in response to changes in noise levels in the field

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 7(13), P. 4991 - 5001

Published: May 31, 2017

Abstract The soundscape acts as a selective agent on organisms that use acoustic signals to communicate. A number of studies document variation in structure, amplitude, or timing signal production correspondence with environmental noise levels thus supporting the hypothesis are changing their signaling behaviors avoid masking. time scale at which respond is particular interest. Signal structure may evolve across generations through processes such cultural genetic transmission. Individuals also change behavior during development (ontogenetic change) real (i.e., immediate flexibility). These not mutually exclusive mechanisms, and all must be investigated understand how selection pressures from soundscape. Previous work white‐crowned sparrows ( Zonotrichia leucophrys ) found males holding territories louder areas tend sing higher frequency songs both song have increased over (30 years) urban areas. previous findings suggest generations; however, it known if this species exhibits flexibility. Here, we conducted an exploratory, observational study ask whether minimum response changes levels. We louder, physiologically linked producing sound amplitudes, noise. territorial adjust amplitude but Our results do show flexibility frequency, although experimental manipulations needed test further. highlights need investigate multiple mechanisms adaptive soundscapes.

Language: Английский

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Immediate signaling flexibility in response to experimental noise in urban, but not rural, white‐crowned sparrows

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 8(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2017

Abstract Background noise can interfere with acoustic communication. Signal modifications have the potential to increase signal‐to‐noise ratios and reduce masking effect of noise. Immediate signaling flexibility, a type vocal plasticity, allows animals modify their signal optimize transmission depending on ambient conditions. Results from previous studies provide conflicting evidence about whether expression immediate flexibility is dependent upon signaler having prior experience noisy environments. To improve our understanding we examined in white‐crowned sparrows Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli urban rural locations. We experimentally broadcast three different spectral profiles—city (low frequency), inverse city (high white (equal intensity at all frequencies)—successfully 107 males measured multiple features songs produced during experiment. predicted that would adjust song structure broadcast, but extent plasticity be greater noisier territories manner adjustment depend experimental broadcast. Instead, found only exhibit through which bandwidth decreases response modification did not change or territory background Although were less flexible than predicted, relative reduction birds could ratio

Language: Английский

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Combined effect of anthropogenic noise and artificial night lighting negatively affect Western Bluebird chick development

Ornithological Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 122(4)

Published: June 9, 2020

Abstract Sensory pollutants such as anthropogenic noise and night lighting now expose much of the world to evolutionarily novel sound conditions. An emerging body literature has reported a variety deleterious effects caused by these stimuli, spanning behavioral, physiological, population, community-level responses. However, combined influence light received almost no attention despite co-occurrence stimuli in many landscapes. Here we evaluated singular on Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) reproductive success using field-based manipulation. Nests exposed together experienced less predation than control light-exposed nests, noise-exposed nests yet overall nest was only higher compared nests. Although exposure decreased nestling condition evidence mixed for or size, those nestlings were smaller across several metrics Our results support previous research either including potential benefits, reduced with exposure. our also suggest that can negatively affect some aspects reproduction more strongly sensory pollutant alone. This finding is especially important given tend covary are projected increase dramatically next decades.

Language: Английский

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