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Clink DJ. Isochronous rhythms: Facilitating song coordination across taxa? Curr Biol 2024; 34:R201-R203. [PMID: 38471449 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The biological expression of isochronous rhythms - rhythms like those produced by a metronome - was once thought to be unique to humans. A new study reports that faster and more isochronous rhythms lead to more successful duets in singing gibbons: isochronous rhythms might be an important component of song coordination across taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dena Jane Clink
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
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Ma H, Wang Z, Han P, Fan P, Chapman CA, Garber PA, Fan P. Small apes adjust rhythms to facilitate song coordination. Curr Biol 2024; 34:935-945.e3. [PMID: 38266649 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Song coordination is a universal characteristic of human music. Many animals also produce well-coordinated duets or choruses that resemble human music. However, the mechanism and evolution of song coordination have only recently been studied in animals. Here, we studied the mechanism of song coordination in three closely related species of wild Nomascus gibbons that live in polygynous groups. In each species, song bouts were dominated by male solo sequences (referred to hereafter as male sequence), and females contributed stereotyped great calls to coordinate with males. Considering the function of rhythm in facilitating song coordination in human music and animal vocalizations, we predicted that adult males adjust their song rhythm to facilitate song coordination with females. In support of this prediction, we found that adult males produced significantly more isochronous rhythms with a faster tempo in male sequences that were followed by successful female great calls (a complete sequence with "introductory" and "wa" notes). The difference in isochrony and tempos between successful great call sequences and male sequences was smaller in N. concolor compared with the other two species, which may make it difficult for females to predict a male's precise temporal pattern. Consequently, adult females of N. concolor produced more failed great call (an incomplete sequence with only introductory notes) sequences. We propose that the high degree of rhythm change functions as an unambiguous signal that can be easily perceived by receivers. In this regard, gibbon vocalizations offer an instructive model to understand the origins and evolution of human music.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haigang Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Zidi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Pu Han
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Penglai Fan
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin 541006, Guangxi, China; Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541006, Guangxi, China
| | - Colin A Chapman
- Biology Department, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada; Wilson Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa; Shanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali 671003, Yunnan, China
| | - Pengfei Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
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