1
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Broad HR, Dibnah AJ, Smith AE, Thornton A. Anthropogenic disturbance affects calling and collective behaviour in corvid roosts. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230185. [PMID: 38768208 PMCID: PMC11391286 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Acoustic communication plays an important role in coordinating group dynamics and collective movements across a range of taxa. However, anthropogenic disturbance can inhibit the production or reception of acoustic signals. Here, we investigate the effects of noise and light pollution on the calling and collective behaviour of wild jackdaws (Corvus monedula), a highly social corvid species that uses vocalizations to coordinate collective movements at winter roosting sites. Using audio and video monitoring of roosts in areas with differing degrees of urbanization, we evaluate the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on vocalizations and collective movements. We found that when levels of background noise were higher, jackdaws took longer to settle following arrival at the roost in the evening and also called more during the night, suggesting that human disturbance may cause sleep disruption. High levels of overnight calling were, in turn, linked to disruption of vocal consensus decision-making and less cohesive group departures in the morning. These results raise the possibility that, by affecting cognitive and perceptual processes, human activities may interfere with animals' ability to coordinate collective behaviour. Understanding links between anthropogenic disturbance, communication, cognition and collective behaviour must be an important research priority in our increasingly urbanized world. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Broad
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Alex J Dibnah
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney, 2052 NSW, Australia
| | - Anna E Smith
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Alex Thornton
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
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2
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Casey C, Fregosi S, Oswald JN, Janik VM, Visser F, Southall B. Common dolphin whistle responses to experimental mid-frequency sonar. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302035. [PMID: 38669257 PMCID: PMC11051594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Oceanic delphinids that occur in and around Navy operational areas are regularly exposed to intense military sonar broadcast within the frequency range of their hearing. However, empirically measuring the impact of sonar on the behavior of highly social, free-ranging dolphins is challenging. Additionally, baseline variability or the frequency of vocal state-switching among social oceanic dolphins during undisturbed conditions is lacking, making it difficult to attribute changes in vocal behavior to anthropogenic disturbance. Using a network of drifting acoustic buoys in controlled exposure experiments, we investigated the effects of mid-frequency (3-4 kHz) active sonar (MFAS) on whistle production in short-beaked (Delphinus delphis delphis) and long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis bairdii) in southern California. Given the complexity of acoustic behavior exhibited by these group-living animals, we conducted our response analysis over varying temporal windows (10 min- 5 s) to describe both longer-term and instantaneous changes in sound production. We found that common dolphins exhibited acute and pronounced changes in whistle rate in the 5 s following exposure to simulated Navy MFAS. This response was sustained throughout sequential MFAS exposures within experiments simulating operational conditions, suggesting that dolphins may not habituate to this disturbance. These results indicate that common dolphins exhibit brief yet clearly detectable acoustic responses to MFAS. They also highlight how variable temporal analysis windows-tuned to key aspects of baseline vocal behavior as well as experimental parameters related to MFAS exposure-enable the detection of behavioral responses. We suggest future work with oceanic delphinids explore baseline vocal rates a-priori and use information on the rate of change in vocal behavior to inform the analysis time window over which behavioral responses are measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Casey
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, California, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Selene Fregosi
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, California, United States of America
| | - Julie N. Oswald
- Scottish Oceans Institute, Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent M. Janik
- Scottish Oceans Institute, Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Fleur Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn, The Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Brandon Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, California, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
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3
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Girola E, Dunlop RA, Noad MJ. Singing humpback whales respond to wind noise, but not to vessel noise. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230204. [PMID: 37161338 PMCID: PMC10170193 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal communication systems evolved in the presence of noise generated by natural sources. Many species can increase the source levels of their sounds to maintain effective communication in elevated noise conditions, i.e. they have a Lombard response. Human activities generate additional noise in the environment creating further challenges for these animals. Male humpback whales are known to adjust the source levels of their songs in response to wind noise, which although variable is always present in the ocean. Our study investigated whether this Lombard response increases when singing males are exposed to additional noise generated by motor vessels. Humpback whale singers were recorded off eastern Australia using a fixed hydrophone array. The source levels of the songs produced while the singers were exposed to varying levels of wind noise and vessel noise were measured. Our results show that, even when vessel noise is dominant, singing males still adjust the source levels of their songs to compensate for the underlying wind noise, and do not further increase their source levels to compensate for the additional noise produced by the vessel. Understanding humpback whales' response to noise is important for developing mitigation policies for anthropogenic activities at sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Girola
- Cetacean Ecology Group, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - R A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology Group, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - M J Noad
- Cetacean Ecology Group, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
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4
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Girola E, Dunlop RA, Noad MJ. Singing in a noisy ocean: vocal plasticity in male humpback whales. BIOACOUSTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2022.2122560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Girola
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - R. A. Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - M. J. Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
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5
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Heinen‐Kay JL, Kay AD, Zuk M. How urbanization affects sexual communication. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:17625-17650. [PMID: 35003629 PMCID: PMC8717295 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is rapidly altering landscapes worldwide, changing environmental conditions, and creating novel selection pressures for many organisms. Local environmental conditions affect the expression and evolution of sexual signals and mating behaviors; changes in such traits have important evolutionary consequences because of their effect on reproduction. In this review, we synthesize research investigating how sexual communication is affected by the environmental changes associated with urbanization-including pollution from noise, light, and heavy metals, habitat fragmentation, impervious surfaces, urban heat islands, and changes in resources and predation. Urbanization often has negative effects on sexual communication through signal masking, altering condition-dependent signal expression, and weakening female preferences. Though there are documented instances of seemingly adaptive shifts in trait expression, the ultimate impact on fitness is rarely tested. The field of urban evolution is still relatively young, and most work has tested whether differences occur in response to various aspects of urbanization. There is limited information available about whether these responses represent phenotypic plasticity or genetic changes, and the extent to which observed shifts in sexual communication affect reproductive fitness. Our understanding of how sexual selection operates in novel, urbanized environments would be bolstered by more studies that perform common garden studies and reciprocal transplants, and that simultaneously evaluate multiple environmental factors to tease out causal drivers of observed phenotypic shifts. Urbanization provides a unique testing ground for evolutionary biologists to study the interplay between ecology and sexual selection, and we suggest that more researchers take advantage of these natural experiments. Furthermore, understanding how sexual communication and mating systems differ between cities and rural areas can offer insights on how to mitigate negative, and accentuate positive, consequences of urban expansion on the biota, and provide new opportunities to underscore the relevance of evolutionary biology in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justa L. Heinen‐Kay
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulUSA
| | - Adam D. Kay
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of St. ThomasSt. PaulUSA
| | - Marlene Zuk
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulUSA
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6
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Cope S, Hines E, Bland R, Davis JD, Tougher B, Zetterlind V. Multi-sensor integration for an assessment of underwater radiated noise from common vessels in San Francisco Bay. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:2451. [PMID: 33940911 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that smaller vessels not required to broadcast data via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) contribute significant noise to urbanized coastal areas. The Marine Monitor (M2), a vessel tracking system that integrates AIS data with data collected via marine radar and high-definition camera, was employed to track all vessel types (regardless of AIS data availability) in a region of San Francisco Bay (SFB) where high-speed ferry, recreational, and commercial shipping traffic are common. Using a co-located hydrophone, source levels (SL) associated with 565 unique vessel passages were calculated and resultant cumulative daily sound exposure levels across the study area were modeled. Despite large ships primarily having the highest SLs, ferries and motorized recreational craft contributed noise to the largest area in two frequency bands of interest. The M2 provided data without the need for an on-site observer and enabled a systematic analysis of all relevant vessel types which showed that non-AIS vessels should not be excluded from consideration, especially in a highly urbanized estuary like SFB. This research provides an assessment of underwater radiated noise from all common vessel types in SFB suitable for informing habitat quality and threat evaluation for local cetacean species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Cope
- ProtectedSeas, Anthropocene Institute, 2475 Hanover Street STE 100, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Ellen Hines
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, 3150 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, California 94920, USA
| | - Roger Bland
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, 3150 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, California 94920, USA
| | - Jerry D Davis
- Department of Geography & Environment, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, California 94132, USA
| | - Brendan Tougher
- ProtectedSeas, Anthropocene Institute, 2475 Hanover Street STE 100, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Virgil Zetterlind
- ProtectedSeas, Anthropocene Institute, 2475 Hanover Street STE 100, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
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7
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Fournet MEH, Silvestri M, Clark CW, Klinck H, Rice AN. Limited vocal compensation for elevated ambient noise in bearded seals: implications for an industrializing Arctic Ocean. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202712. [PMID: 33622137 PMCID: PMC7934916 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocalizing animals have several strategies to compensate for elevated ambient noise. These behaviours evolved under historical conditions, but compensation limits are quickly being reached in the Anthropocene. Acoustic communication is essential to male bearded seals that vocalize for courtship and defending territories. As Arctic sea ice declines, industrial activities and associated anthropogenic noise are likely to increase. Documenting how seals respond to noise and identifying naturally occurring behavioural thresholds would indicate either their resilience or vulnerability to changing soundscapes. We investigated whether male bearded seals modified call amplitudes in response to changing ambient noise levels. Vocalizing seals increased their call amplitudes until ambient noise levels reached an observable threshold, above which call source levels stopped increasing. The presence of a threshold indicates limited noise compensation for seals, which still renders them vulnerable to acoustic masking of vocal signals. This behavioural threshold and response to noise is critical for developing management plans for an industrializing Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. H. Fournet
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Margherita Silvestri
- Department of Environmental Biology, Marine Ecology Lab, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Christopher W. Clark
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Holger Klinck
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Aaron N. Rice
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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8
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Nuñez CMV, Rubenstein DI. Communication is key: Mother-offspring signaling can affect behavioral responses and offspring survival in feral horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231343. [PMID: 32302348 PMCID: PMC7164835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic signaling plays an important role in mother-offspring recognition and subsequent bond-formation. It remains unclear, however, if mothers and offspring use acoustic signaling in the same ways and for the same reasons throughout the juvenile stage, particularly after mutual recognition has been adequately established. Moreover, despite its critical role in mother-offspring bond formation, research explicitly linking mother-infant communication strategies to offspring survival are lacking. We examined the communicative patterns of mothers and offspring in the feral horse (Equus caballus) to better understand 1) the nature of mother-offspring communication throughout the first year of development; 2) the function(s) of mother- vs. offspring-initiated communication and; 3) the importance of mare and foal communication to offspring survival. We found that 1) mares and foals differ in when and how they initiate communication; 2) the outcomes of mare- vs. foal-initiated communication events consistently differ; and 3) the communicative patterns between mares and their foals can be important for offspring survival to one year of age. Moreover, given the importance of maternal activity to offspring behavior and subsequent survival, we submit that our data are uniquely positioned to address the long-debated question: do the behaviors exhibited during the juvenile stage (by both mothers and their young) confer delayed or immediate benefits to offspring? In summary, we aimed to better understand 1) the dynamics of mother-offspring communication, 2) whether mother-offspring communicative patterns were important to offspring survival, and 3) the implications of our research regarding the function of the mammalian juvenile stage. Our results demonstrate that we have achieved those aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra M. V. Nuñez
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Daniel I. Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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9
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Sakata JT, Woolley SC. Scaling the Levels of Birdsong Analysis. THE NEUROETHOLOGY OF BIRDSONG 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-34683-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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10
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Putland RL, Montgomery JC, Radford CA. Ecology of fish hearing. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:39-52. [PMID: 30447064 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Underwater sound is directional and can convey important information about the surrounding environment or the animal emitting the sound. Therefore, sound is a major sensory channel for fishes and plays a key role in many life-history strategies. The effect of anthropogenic noise on aquatic life, which may be causing homogenisation or fragmentation of biologically important signals underwater is of growing concern. In this review we discuss the role sound plays in the ecology of fishes, basic anatomical and physiological adaptations for sound reception and production, the effects of anthropogenic noise and how fishes may be coping to changes in their environment, to put the ecology of fish hearing into the context of the modern underwater soundscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalyn L Putland
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Biology, Swenson Science Building, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - John C Montgomery
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Craig A Radford
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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11
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Blom EL, Kvarnemo C, Dekhla I, Schöld S, Andersson MH, Svensson O, Amorim MCP. Continuous but not intermittent noise has a negative impact on mating success in a marine fish with paternal care. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5494. [PMID: 30940841 PMCID: PMC6445290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41786-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic underwater noise is a global pollutant of increasing concern but its impact on reproduction in fish is largely unknown. Hence, a better understanding of its consequences for this important link to fitness is crucial. Working in aquaria, we experimentally tested the impact of broadband noise exposure (added either continuously or intermittently), compared to a control, on the behaviour and reproductive success of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps), a vocal fish with exclusive paternal care. Compared to the intermittent noise and control treatments, the continuous noise treatment increased latency to female nest inspection and spawning and decreased spawning probability. In contrast, many other female and male pre-spawning behaviours, and female ventilation rate (proxies for stress levels) did not differ among treatments. Therefore, it is likely that female spawning decisions were delayed by a reduced ability to assess male acoustic signals, rather than due to stress per se and that the silent periods in the intermittent noise treatment provided a respite where the females could assess the males. Taken together, we show that noise (of similar frequency range as anthropogenic boat noise) negatively affects reproductive success, particularly under a continuous noise exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Lotta Blom
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Charlotta Kvarnemo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- The Linnaeus Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, Box 460, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Isabelle Dekhla
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 100, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sofie Schöld
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Folkborgsvägen 17, SE-603 80, Norrköping, Sweden
| | | | - Ola Svensson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- The Linnaeus Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, Box 460, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies, Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - M Clara P Amorim
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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12
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Kragh IM, McHugh K, Wells RS, Sayigh LS, Janik VM, Tyack PL, Jensen FH. Signal-specific amplitude adjustment to noise in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb.216606. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.216606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic underwater noise has increased over the past century, raising concern about the impact on cetaceans that rely on sound for communication, navigation, and locating prey and predators. Many terrestrial animals increase the amplitude of their acoustic signals to partially compensate for the masking effect of noise (the Lombard response), but it has been suggested that cetaceans almost fully compensate with amplitude adjustments for increasing noise levels. Here, we use sound-recording DTAGs on pairs of free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to test (i) if dolphins increase signal amplitude to compensate for increasing ambient noise and (ii) whether or not adjustments are identical for different signal types. We present evidence of a Lombard response in the range of 0.1-0.3 dB per 1 dB increase in ambient noise, which is similar to that of terrestrial animals, but much lower than the response reported for other cetaceans. We found that signature whistles tended to be louder and with a lower degree of amplitude adjustment to noise compared to non-signature whistles, suggesting that signature whistles may be selected for higher output levels and may have a smaller scope for amplitude adjustment to noise. The consequence of the limited degree of vocal amplitude compensation is a loss of active space during periods of increased noise, with potential consequences for group cohesion, conspecific encounter rates, and mate attraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida M. Kragh
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Moellers Allé, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Katherine McHugh
- Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
| | - Randall S. Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
| | - Laela S. Sayigh
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
- Hampshire College, 893 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
| | - Vincent M. Janik
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Peter L. Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Frants H. Jensen
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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13
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Moseley DL, Derryberry GE, Phillips JN, Danner JE, Danner RM, Luther DA, Derryberry EP. Acoustic adaptation to city noise through vocal learning by a songbird. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181356. [PMID: 30305435 PMCID: PMC6191693 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
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 noise pollution. Although there is support for animals changing their vocalizations in real time in response to noise (i.e. immediate flexibility), other evolutionary mechanisms for animals that learn their vocalizations remain largely unexplored. We hypothesize that cultural selection for signal structures less masked by noise is a mechanism of acoustic adaptation to anthropogenic noise. We test this hypothesis by presenting nestling white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophyrs) with less-masked (higher-frequency) and more-masked (lower-frequency) tutor songs either during playback of anthropogenic noise (noise-tutored treatment) or at a different time from noise playback (control treatment). As predicted, we find that noise-tutored males learn less-masked songs significantly more often, whereas control males show no copying preference, providing strong experimental support for cultural selection in response to anthropogenic noise. Further, noise-tutored males reproduce songs at higher frequencies than their tutor, indicating a distinct mechanism to increase signal transmission in a noisy environment. Notably, noise-tutored males achieve lower performance songs than their tutors, suggesting potential costs in a sexual selection framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Lynn Moseley
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Institution, National Zoological Park, PO Box 37012-MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Nicole Phillips
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
| | - Julie Elizabeth Danner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Raymond Michael Danner
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
| | - David Andrew Luther
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Elizabeth Perrault Derryberry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1610, USA
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14
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Zollinger SA, Slater PJB, Nemeth E, Brumm H. Higher songs of city birds may not be an individual response to noise. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0602. [PMID: 28794216 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been observed in many songbird species that populations in noisy urban areas sing with a higher minimum frequency than do matched populations in quieter, less developed areas. However, why and how this divergence occurs is not yet understood. We experimentally tested whether chronic noise exposure during vocal learning results in songs with higher minimum frequencies in great tits (Parus major), the first species for which a correlation between anthropogenic noise and song frequency was observed. We also tested vocal plasticity of adult great tits in response to changing background noise levels by measuring song frequency and amplitude as we changed noise conditions. We show that noise exposure during ontogeny did not result in songs with higher minimum frequencies. In addition, we found that adult birds did not make any frequency or song usage adjustments when their background noise conditions were changed after song crystallization. These results challenge the common view of vocal adjustments by city birds, as they suggest that either noise itself is not the causal force driving the divergence of song frequency between urban and forest populations, or that noise induces population-wide changes over a time scale of several generations rather than causing changes in individual behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Anne Zollinger
- Communication and Social Behaviour Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Peter J B Slater
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Erwin Nemeth
- Communication and Social Behaviour Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany.,BirdLife Austria, 1070 Vienna, Austria
| | - Henrik Brumm
- Communication and Social Behaviour Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
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15
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Potvin DA. Coping with a changing soundscape: avoidance, adjustments and adaptations. Anim Cogn 2016; 20:9-18. [PMID: 27215574 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-016-0999-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Since the industrial age, background anthropogenic noise has become a pervasive feature of many habitable environments. This relatively recent environmental feature can be particularly challenging for organisms that use acoustic forms of communication due to its propensity for masking and decreasing the potential acoustic space of signals. Furthermore, anthropogenic noise may affect biological processes including animal interactions, physiological and behavioural responses to stimuli and cognitive development. However, animals' cognitive abilities may enable them to cope with high levels of anthropogenic noise through learning, the employment of acoustic and behavioural flexibility as well as the use of multi-modal sensory systems. We are only just beginning to understand how neural structures, endocrine systems and behaviour are mechanistically linked in these scenarios, providing us with information we can use to mitigate deleterious effects of pervasive noise on wildlife, along with highlighting the remarkable adaptability of animals to an increasingly anthropogenic world. In this review, I will focus mainly on birds, due to the amount of literature on the topic, and survey recent advancements made in two main spheres: (1) how anthropogenic noise affects cognitive processes and (2) how cognition enables animals to cope with increasingly noisy environments. I will be highlighting current gaps in our knowledge, such as how noise might impact behavioural traits such as predation, as well as how noise causes physical damage to neurotransmitters and affects stress levels, in order to direct future studies on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique A Potvin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia.
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16
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Luo J, Goerlitz HR, Brumm H, Wiegrebe L. Linking the sender to the receiver: vocal adjustments by bats to maintain signal detection in noise. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18556. [PMID: 26692325 PMCID: PMC4686984 DOI: 10.1038/srep18556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Short-term adjustments of signal characteristics allow animals to maintain reliable communication in noise. Noise-dependent vocal plasticity often involves simultaneous changes in multiple parameters. Here, we quantified for the first time the relative contributions of signal amplitude, duration, and redundancy for improving signal detectability in noise. To this end, we used a combination of behavioural experiments on pale spear-nosed bats (Phyllostomus discolor) and signal detection models. In response to increasing noise levels, all bats raised the amplitude of their echolocation calls by 1.8-7.9 dB (the Lombard effect). Bats also increased signal duration by 13%-85%, corresponding to an increase in detectability of 1.0-5.3 dB. Finally, in some noise conditions, bats increased signal redundancy by producing more call groups. Assuming optimal cognitive integration, this could result in a further detectability improvement by up to 4 dB. Our data show that while the main improvement in signal detectability was due to the Lombard effect, increasing signal duration and redundancy can also contribute markedly to improving signal detectability. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the observed adjustments of signal parameters in noise are matched to how these parameters are processed in the receiver's sensory system, thereby facilitating signal transmission in fluctuating environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhong Luo
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Acoustic and Functional Ecology Group, Eberhard-Gwinner-Straße, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Holger R. Goerlitz
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Acoustic and Functional Ecology Group, Eberhard-Gwinner-Straße, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Henrik Brumm
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Communication and Social Behaviour Group, Eberhard-Gwinner-Straße, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Lutz Wiegrebe
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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17
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Stansbury AL, Götz T, Deecke VB, Janik VM. Grey seals use anthropogenic signals from acoustic tags to locate fish: evidence from a simulated foraging task. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 282:20141595. [PMID: 25411449 PMCID: PMC4262164 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise can have negative effects on animal behaviour and physiology. However, noise is often introduced systematically and potentially provides information for navigation or prey detection. Here, we show that grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) learn to use sounds from acoustic fish tags as an indicator of food location. In 20 randomized trials each, 10 grey seals individually explored 20 foraging boxes, with one box containing a tagged fish, one containing an untagged fish and all other boxes being empty. The tagged box was found after significantly fewer non-tag box visits across trials, and seals revisited boxes containing the tag more often than any other box. The time and number of boxes needed to find both fish decreased significantly throughout consecutive trials. Two additional controls were conducted to investigate the role of the acoustic signal: (i) tags were placed in one box, with no fish present in any boxes and (ii) additional pieces of fish, inaccessible to the seal, were placed in the previously empty 18 boxes, making possible alternative chemosensory cues less reliable. During these controls, the acoustically tagged box was generally found significantly faster than the control box. Our results show that animals learn to use information provided by anthropogenic signals to enhance foraging success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Stansbury
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Thomas Götz
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Volker B Deecke
- Centre for Wildlife Conservation, University of Cumbria, Nook Lane, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9BB, UK
| | - Vincent M Janik
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
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