1
|
Vetere A, Camera ND, Cococcetta C, Paoletti C, Dondi M, Biaggi F, Ianni FD. Case report: Evaluation of head trauma in a tawny owl ( Strix aluco) with advanced imaging diagnostic, FVEP and BAER test. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1439432. [PMID: 39239386 PMCID: PMC11374603 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1439432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
An adult pet tawny owl (Strix aluco) presented to a veterinary hospital at Parma University with a history of head trauma. After a critical care protocol including thermal, oxygen and fluid support aimed at stabilizing the patient, a neurological examination was performed. During neurological evaluation, marked lethargy and an inability to rise from a recumbent position was noted. Anisocoria was also present, with a mydriatic left pupil exhibiting no pupillary light response (PLR) even on direct illumination of both eyes. On ocular fundus examination, retinal hemorrhage and retinal detachment were observed. Based on these clinical findings, a complete work-up was performed, including hematological exams and total body X-ray studies followed by a computed tomography (CT) scan. Additional examinations, such as brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) measurement and flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) recording, were performed. FVEP measurements performed on the left eye exhibited no peaks in either series of stimulations, indicating an altered functional integration within the visual pathway. A CT scan revealed a large hypoattenuating lesion within the right cerebral hemisphere, suspected to be intraparenchymal edema. The BAER test demonstrated an altered trace consistent with brainstem involvement and left hypoacusis due to cranial nerve VIII deficiency. Head trauma can result in significant neurological impairments in birds, impacting their behavior, mobility, and cognitive abilities. FVEP recordings, BAER tests and CT scans may be useful diagnostic tools in clinical practice. Understanding the causes and neurologic presentation of avian traumas is essential for effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of affected birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Vetere
- Department of Veterinary Science, Università Degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Ciro Cococcetta
- Department of Exotic Animals, Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Saint-Martin, Allonzier-la-Caille, France
| | - Carlo Paoletti
- Department of Exotic Animals, Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire ADVETIA, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
| | - Maurizio Dondi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Università Degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Fabio Biaggi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Università Degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Ianni
- Department of Veterinary Science, Università Degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Trumpp KM, Mayer J, Roman CE, Kent M. Hearing Assessment of Free-Ranging Owls and Implications for Wildlife Rehabilitation: 31 Cases (2014-2023). J Avian Med Surg 2024; 38:75-82. [PMID: 38980816 DOI: 10.1647/avianms-d-23-00043] [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] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Owls, members of the avian order Strigiformes, are nocturnal birds of prey that are found worldwide except for Antarctica. Traumatized, free-ranging owls are commonly presented to veterinary hospitals and wildlife rehabilitation facilities with the goal of providing medical care and rehabilitation to enable release back into their natural habitat. Minimal guidelines exist for the release of wildlife, and whereas a need for functional vision is described in raptors, assessing and evaluating hearing is usually not mentioned. This can be problematic for nocturnal predators because hearing is the primary sense utilized by owls when hunting and navigating in their dark environment. The brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) test is a minimally invasive, objective assessment of hearing commonly used in companion animals. To the authors' knowledge, routine or standardized BAER evaluation has not been reported in traumatized, free-ranging owls. In the following retrospective study, 31 free-ranging owls presented to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital for known or suspected trauma or being found in a debilitated state underwent BAER testing to assess for the presence of complete sensorineural hearing loss. Similar to assessment of hearing in companion animals, the BAER test was elicited using a broad click stimulus delivered at 85 dB nHL. In all owls, qualitative assessment and peak latency measurements of the BAER test reflected hearing ability. This study highlights the importance of hearing in nocturnal raptors, how BAER testing can aid in decision making regarding rehabilitation, and provides a foundation for further investigation of hearing loss in traumatized owls. We suggest that veterinarians working with free-ranging owls in a rehabilitation setting should consider BAER testing as part of routine diagnostic testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Trumpp
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, GA 30602, USA,
| | - Joerg Mayer
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Marc Kent
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, GA 30602, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gong L, Wu H, Wang Z, Wu H, Feng J, Jiang T. Do nocturnal birds use acoustic and visual cues to avoid predation by bats? Integr Zool 2024; 19:524-537. [PMID: 37427486 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Anti-predation strategies are critical to animal survival and are fundamental to deciphering predator-prey interactions. As an important defense strategy, sensory predator detection (such as through acoustic and visual cues) enables animals to assess predation risk and execute predator-avoidance behavior; however, there are limited studies on the anti-predation behavior of nocturnal animals. The prey of bats provides an excellent representative system for examining the anti-predation behavior of nocturnal animals. Here, we broadcasted different types of echolocation calls of the bird-eating bat Ia io to two wild passerine birds, namely, Zosterops japonicus and Sinosuthora webbiana, that are preyed upon by I. io, and presented the birds with individual bats under different light intensities. The results showed that both bird species were able to perceive the low-frequency audible portion of the bats' echolocation calls; however, they did not exhibit escape responses to the acoustic stimuli. In the dark and under moonlit conditions, both bird species were unable to respond to active bats at close range and the birds only exhibited evasive flight behavior when bats approached or touched them. These results suggest that nocturnal passerine birds may not be able to use acoustic or visual cues to detect bats and adopt evasive maneuvers to avoid predation. This work suggests that bat predation pressure may not elicit primary predator-avoidance responses in nocturnal passerine birds. The results provide new insights into the anti-predation behavior of nocturnal animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Gong
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hui Wu
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Tinglei Jiang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bae A, Peña JL. Barn owls specialized sound-driven behavior: Lessons in optimal processing and coding by the auditory system. Hear Res 2024; 443:108952. [PMID: 38242019 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.108952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The barn owl, a nocturnal raptor with remarkably efficient prey-capturing abilities, has been one of the initial animal models used for research of brain mechanisms underlying sound localization. Some seminal findings made from their specialized sound localizing auditory system include discoveries of a midbrain map of auditory space, mechanisms towards spatial cue detection underlying sound-driven orienting behavior, and circuit level changes supporting development and experience-dependent plasticity. These findings have explained properties of vital hearing functions and inspired theories in spatial hearing that extend across diverse animal species, thereby cementing the barn owl's legacy as a powerful experimental system for elucidating fundamental brain mechanisms. This concise review will provide an overview of the insights from which the barn owl model system has exemplified the strength of investigating diversity and similarity of brain mechanisms across species. First, we discuss some of the key findings in the specialized system of the barn owl that elucidated brain mechanisms toward detection of auditory cues for spatial hearing. Then we examine how the barn owl has validated mathematical computations and theories underlying optimal hearing across species. And lastly, we conclude with how the barn owl has advanced investigations toward developmental and experience dependent plasticity in sound localization, as well as avenues for future research investigations towards bridging commonalities across species. Analogous to the informative power of Astrophysics for understanding nature through diverse exploration of planets, stars, and galaxies across the universe, miscellaneous research across different animal species pursues broad understanding of natural brain mechanisms and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bae
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
| | - Jose L Peña
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ordiway G, McDonnell M, Sanchez JT. Revisiting the Chicken Auditory Brainstem Response: Frequency Specificity, Threshold Sensitivity, and Cross Species Comparison. Neurosci Insights 2024; 19:26331055241228308. [PMID: 38304551 PMCID: PMC10832403 DOI: 10.1177/26331055241228308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is important for both clinical and basic auditory research. It is a non-invasive measure of hearing function with millisecond-level precision. The ABR can not only measure the synchrony, speed, and efficacy of auditory physiology but also detect different modalities of hearing pathology and hearing loss. ABRs are easily acquired in vertebrate animal models like reptiles, birds, and mammals, and complement existing molecular, developmental, and systems-level research. One such model system is the chicken; an excellent animal for studying auditory development, structure, and function. However, the ABR for chickens was last reported nearly 4 decades ago. The current study examines how decades of ABR characterization in other animal species support findings from the chicken ABR. We replicated and expanded on previous research using 43 chicken hatchlings 1- and 2-day post-hatch. We report that click-evoked chicken ABRs presented with a peak waveform morphology, amplitude, and latency like previous avian studies. Tone-evoked ABRs were found for frequencies from 250 to 4000 Hertz (Hz) and exhibited a range of best sensitivity between 750 and 2000 Hz. Objective click-evoked and tone-evoked ABR thresholds were comparable to subjective thresholds. With these revisited measurements, the chicken ABR still proves to be an excellent example of precocious avian development that complements decades of molecular, neuronal, and systems-level research in the same model organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Ordiway
- Roxelyn and Richard Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Central Auditory Physiology Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Miranda McDonnell
- Roxelyn and Richard Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Central Auditory Physiology Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jason Tait Sanchez
- Roxelyn and Richard Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Central Auditory Physiology Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Knowles Hearing Research Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Carr CE, Wang T, Kraemer I, Capshaw G, Ashida G, Köppl C, Kempter R, Kuokkanen PT. Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Nucleus Laminaris of the Barn Owl. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0940232023. [PMID: 37989591 PMCID: PMC10851688 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0940-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Interaural time differences (ITDs) are a major cue for sound localization and change with increasing head size. Since the barn owl's head width more than doubles in the month after hatching, we hypothesized that the development of their ITD detection circuit might be modified by experience. To test this, we raised owls with unilateral ear inserts that delayed and attenuated the acoustic signal, and then measured the ITD representation in the brainstem nucleus laminaris (NL) when they were adults. The ITD circuit is composed of delay line inputs to coincidence detectors, and we predicted that plastic changes would lead to shorter delays in the axons from the manipulated ear, and complementary shifts in ITD representation on the two sides. In owls that received ear inserts starting around P14, the maps of ITD shifted in the predicted direction, but only on the ipsilateral side, and only in those tonotopic regions that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. The contralateral map did not change. Thus, experience-dependent plasticity of the ITD circuit occurs in NL, and our data suggest that ipsilateral and contralateral delays are independently regulated. As a result, altered auditory input during development leads to long-lasting changes in the representation of ITD.Significance Statement The early life of barn owls is marked by increasing sensitivity to sound, and by increasing ITDs. Their prolonged post-hatch development allowed us to examine the role of altered auditory experience in the development of ITD detection circuits. We raised owls with a unilateral ear insert and found that their maps of ITD were altered by experience, but only in those tonotopic regions ipsilateral to the occluded ear that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. This experience-induced plasticity allows the sound localization circuits to be customized to individual characteristics, such as the size of the head, and potentially to compensate for imbalanced hearing sensitivities between the left and right ears.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Carr
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Tiffany Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ira Kraemer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Grace Capshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Go Ashida
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences and Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all" Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christine Köppl
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences and Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all" Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Richard Kempter
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paula T Kuokkanen
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Carr CE, Wang T, Kraemer I, Capshaw G, Ashida G, Koeppl C, Kempter R, Kuokkanen PT. Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Nucleus Laminaris of the Barn Owl. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.02.526884. [PMID: 36778252 PMCID: PMC9915572 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.02.526884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Barn owls experience increasing interaural time differences (ITDs) during development, because their head width more than doubles in the month after hatching. We therefore hypothesized that their ITD detection circuit might be modified by experience. To test this, we raised owls with unilateral ear inserts that delayed and attenuated the acoustic signal, then measured the ITD representation in the brainstem nucleus laminaris (NL) when they were adult. The ITD circuit is composed of delay line inputs to coincidence detectors, and we predicted that plastic changes would lead to shorter delays in the axons from the manipulated ear, and complementary shifts in ITD representation on the two sides. In owls that received ear inserts starting around P14, the maps of ITD shifted in the predicted direction, but only on the ipsilateral side, and only in those tonotopic regions that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. The contralateral map did not change. Experience-dependent plasticity of the ITD circuit occurs in NL, and our data suggest that ipsilateral and contralateral delays are independently regulated. Thus, altered auditory input during development leads to long-lasting changes in the representation of ITD.
Collapse
|
8
|
Shadron K, Peña JL. Development of frequency tuning shaped by spatial cue reliability in the barn owl's auditory midbrain. eLife 2023; 12:e84760. [PMID: 37166099 PMCID: PMC10238092 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory systems preferentially strengthen responses to stimuli based on their reliability at conveying accurate information. While previous reports demonstrate that the brain reweighs cues based on dynamic changes in reliability, how the brain may learn and maintain neural responses to sensory statistics expected to be stable over time is unknown. The barn owl's midbrain features a map of auditory space where neurons compute horizontal sound location from the interaural time difference (ITD). Frequency tuning of midbrain map neurons correlates with the most reliable frequencies for the neurons' preferred ITD (Cazettes et al., 2014). Removal of the facial ruff led to a specific decrease in the reliability of high frequencies from frontal space. To directly test whether permanent changes in ITD reliability drive frequency tuning, midbrain map neurons were recorded from adult owls, with the facial ruff removed during development, and juvenile owls, before facial ruff development. In both groups, frontally tuned neurons were tuned to frequencies lower than in normal adult owls, consistent with the change in ITD reliability. In addition, juvenile owls exhibited more heterogeneous frequency tuning, suggesting normal developmental processes refine tuning to match ITD reliability. These results indicate causality of long-term statistics of spatial cues in the development of midbrain frequency tuning properties, implementing probabilistic coding for sound localization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keanu Shadron
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - José Luis Peña
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ordiway G, McDonnell M, Mohan S, Sanchez JT. Evaluation of Auditory Brainstem Response in Chicken Hatchlings. J Vis Exp 2022:10.3791/63477. [PMID: 35435914 PMCID: PMC9136940 DOI: 10.3791/63477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is an invaluable assay in clinical audiology, non-human animals, and human research. Despite the widespread use of ABRs in measuring auditory neural synchrony and estimating hearing sensitivity in other vertebrate model systems, methods for recording ABRs in the chicken have not been reported in nearly four decades. Chickens provide a robust animal research model because their auditory system is near functional maturation during late embryonic and early hatchling stages. We have demonstrated methods used to elicit one or two-channel ABR recordings using subdermal needle electrode arrays in chicken hatchlings. Regardless of electrode recording configuration (i.e., montage), ABR recordings included 3-4 positive-going peak waveforms within the first 6 ms of a suprathreshold click stimulus. Peak-to-trough waveform amplitudes ranged from 2-11 µV at high-intensity levels, with positive peaks exhibiting expected latency-intensity functions (i.e., increase in latency as a function of decreased intensity). Standardized earphone position was critical for optimal recordings as loose skin can occlude the ear canal, and animal movement can dislodge the stimulus transducer. Peak amplitudes were smaller, and latencies were longer as animal body temperature lowered, supporting the need for maintaining physiological body temperature. For young hatchlings (<3 h post-hatch day 1), thresholds were elevated by ~5 dB, peak latencies increased ~1-2 ms, and peak to trough amplitudes were decreased ~1 µV compared to older hatchlings. This suggests a potential conductive-related issue (i.e., fluid in the middle ear cavity) and should be considered for young hatchlings. Overall, the ABR methods outlined here permit accurate and reproducible recording of in-vivo auditory function in chicken hatchlings that could be applied to different stages of development. Such findings are easily compared to human and mammalian models of hearing loss, aging, or other auditory-related manipulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Ordiway
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University;
| | - Miranda McDonnell
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University
| | - Sandesh Mohan
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University
| | - Jason Tait Sanchez
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University; Knowles Hearing Research Center, Northwestern University; Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
LaRocco EP, Proudfoot GA, Gall MD. Effects of Frequency on the Directional Auditory Sensitivity of Northern Saw-Whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus). BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2021; 97:129-139. [PMID: 34847554 DOI: 10.1159/000519893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many animals use sound as a medium for detecting or locating potential prey items or predation threats. Northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) are particularly interesting in this regard, as they primarily rely on sound for hunting in darkness, but are also subject to predation pressure from larger raptors. We hypothesized that these opposing tasks should favor sensitivity to low-frequency sounds arriving from many locations (potential predators) and high-frequency sounds below the animal (ground-dwelling prey items). Furthermore, based on the morphology of the saw-whet owl skull and the head-related transfer functions of related species, we expected that the magnitude of changes in sensitivity across spatial locations would be greater for higher frequencies than low frequencies (i.e., more "directional" at high frequencies). We used auditory-evoked potentials to investigate the frequency-specific directional sensitivity of Northern saw-whet owls to acoustic signals. We found some support for our hypothesis, with smaller-magnitude changes in sensitivity across spatial locations at lower frequencies and larger-magnitude changes at higher frequencies. In general, owls were most sensitive to sounds originating in front of and above their heads, but at 8 kHz there was also an area of high sensitivity below the animals. Our results suggest that the directional hearing of saw-whet owls should allow for both predator and prey detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Megan D Gall
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mariette MM, Clayton DF, Buchanan KL. Acoustic developmental programming: a mechanistic and evolutionary framework. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:722-736. [PMID: 34052045 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Conditions experienced prenatally, by modulating developmental processes, have lifelong effects on individual phenotypes and fitness, ultimately influencing population dynamics. In addition to maternal biochemical cues, prenatal sound is emerging as a potent alternative source of information to direct embryonic development. Recent evidence suggests that prenatal acoustic signals can program individual phenotypes for predicted postnatal environmental conditions, which improves fitness. Across taxonomic groups, embryos have now been shown to have immediate adaptive responses to external sounds and vibrations, and direct developmental effects of sound and noise are increasingly found. Establishing the full developmental, ecological, and evolutionary impact of early soundscapes will reveal how embryos interact with the external world, and potentially transform our understanding of developmental plasticity and adaptation to changing environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mylene M Mariette
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia.
| | - David F Clayton
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Möckel D, Groulx T, Faure PA. Development of hearing in the big brown bat. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 207:27-42. [PMID: 33200279 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-020-01452-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
We studied the development of hearing in newborn pups of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. In the majority of pups, the opening of both outer auditory canals occurred on or before postnatal day (PND) 7, but in some, it extended to PND 11. Using repeated auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings, we tracked the progressive development and maturation of auditory sensitivity in 22 E. fuscus pups every 3 days, from PND 10 to PND 31, with additional recordings in a subset of bats at 2 months, 3 months and 1 year of life. There was a profound increase in auditory sensitivity across development for frequencies between 4 and 100 kHz, with the largest threshold shifts occurring early in development between PND 10 and 19. Prior to PND 13-16 and when pups were still non-volant, most bats were unable to hear frequencies above 48 kHz; however, sensitivity to these higher ultrasonic frequencies increased with age. Notably, this change occurred near the age when young bats started learning how to fly and echolocate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Möckel
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Thomas Groulx
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Paul A Faure
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
de Koning M, Beatini JR, Proudfoot GA, Gall MD. Hearing in 3D: Directional Auditory Sensitivity of Northern Saw-Whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus). Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:1058-1067. [PMID: 32359136 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) are nocturnal predators that are able to acoustically localize prey with great accuracy; an ability that is attributed to their unique asymmetrical ear structure. While a great deal of research has focused on open loop sound localization prior to flight in owls (primarily barn owls), directional sensitivity of the ears may also be important in locating moving prey on the wing. Furthermore, directionally sensitive ears may also reduce the effects of masking noise, either from the owls' wings during flight or environmental noise (e.g., wind and leaf rustling), by enhancing spatial segregation of target sounds and noise sources. Here, we investigated auditory processing of Northern saw-whet owls in three-dimensional space using auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). We simultaneously evoked auditory responses in two channels (right and left ear) with broadband clicks from a sound source that could be manipulated in space. Responses were evoked from 66 spatial locations, separated by 30° increments in both azimuth and elevation. We found that Northern saw-whet owls had increased sensitivity to sound sources directly in front of and above their beaks and decreased sensitivity to sound sources below and behind their heads. The spatial region of highest sensitivity extends from the lower beak to the crown of the head and 30° left or right of the median plane, dropping off beyond those margins. Directional sensitivity is undoubtedly useful during foraging and predator evasion, and may also reduce the effect of masking noise from the wings during flight due to the spatial segregation of the noise and targets of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan de Koning
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Julia R Beatini
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Glenn A Proudfoot
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Megan D Gall
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ducrest A, Neuenschwander S, Schmid‐Siegert E, Pagni M, Train C, Dylus D, Nevers Y, Warwick Vesztrocy A, San‐Jose LM, Dupasquier M, Dessimoz C, Xenarios I, Roulin A, Goudet J. New genome assembly of the barn owl ( Tyto alba alba). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2284-2298. [PMID: 32184981 PMCID: PMC7069322 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
New genomic tools open doors to study ecology, evolution, and population genomics of wild animals. For the Barn owl species complex, a cosmopolitan nocturnal raptor, a very fragmented draft genome was assembled for the American species (Tyto furcata pratincola) (Jarvis et al. 2014). To improve the genome, we assembled de novo Illumina and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) long reads sequences of its European counterpart (Tyto alba alba). This genome assembly of 1.219 Gbp comprises 21,509 scaffolds and results in a N50 of 4,615,526 bp. BUSCO (Universal Single-Copy Orthologs) analysis revealed an assembly completeness of 94.8% with only 1.8% of the genes missing out of 4,915 avian orthologs searched, a proportion similar to that found in the genomes of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) or the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). By mapping the reads of the female American barn owl to the male European barn owl reads, we detected several structural variants and identified 70 Mbp of the Z chromosome. The barn owl scaffolds were further mapped to the chromosomes of the zebra finch. In addition, the completeness of the European barn owl genome is demonstrated with 94 of 128 proteins missing in the chicken genome retrieved in the European barn owl transcripts. This improved genome will help future barn owl population genomic investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne‐Lyse Ducrest
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | | | | | - Marco Pagni
- Vital‐ITSwiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Clément Train
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - David Dylus
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Yannis Nevers
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alex Warwick Vesztrocy
- Center for Life's Origins and EvolutionDepartment of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Luis M. San‐Jose
- Laboratory Evolution and Biological DiversityUMR 5174CNRSUniversity of Toulouse III Paul SabatierToulouseFrance
| | | | - Christophe Dessimoz
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Ioannis Xenarios
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Jérôme Goudet
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
McGee J, Nelson PB, Ponder JB, Marr J, Redig P, Walsh EJ. Auditory performance in bald eagles and red-tailed hawks: a comparative study of hearing in diurnal raptors. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:793-811. [PMID: 31520117 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01367-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Collision with wind turbines is a conservation concern for eagles with population abundance implications. The development of acoustic alerting technologies to deter eagles from entering hazardous air spaces is a potentially significant mitigation strategy to diminish associated morbidity and mortality risks. As a prelude to the engineering of deterrence technologies, auditory function was assessed in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), as well as in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis). Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to a comprehensive battery of clicks and tone bursts varying in level and frequency were acquired to evaluate response thresholds, as well as suprathreshold response characteristics of wave I of the ABR, which represents the compound potential of the VIII cranial nerve. Sensitivity curves exhibited an asymmetric convex shape similar to those of other avian species, response latencies decreased exponentially with increasing stimulus level and response amplitudes grew with level in an orderly manner. Both species were responsive to a frequency band at least four octaves wide, with a most sensitive frequency of 2 kHz, and a high-frequency limit of approximately 5.7 kHz in bald eagles and 8 kHz in red-tailed hawks. Findings reported here provide a framework within which acoustic alerting signals might be developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn McGee
- Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science, University of Minnesota, 164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Peggy B Nelson
- Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science, University of Minnesota, 164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Julia B Ponder
- The Raptor Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Jeffrey Marr
- St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA
| | - Patrick Redig
- The Raptor Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Edward J Walsh
- Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science, University of Minnesota, 164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Linnenschmidt M, Wiegrebe L. Ontogeny of auditory brainstem responses in the bat, Phyllostomus discolor. Hear Res 2019; 373:85-95. [PMID: 30612027 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hearing is the primary sensory modality in bats, but its development is poorly studied. For newborns, hearing appears essential in maintaining contact with their mothers and to develop echolocation abilities. Here we measured auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to clicks and narrowband tone pips covering a large frequency range (5-90 kHz) in juveniles (p7 to p200) and adults of the bat, Phyllostomus discolor. Tone-pip audiograms show that juveniles at p7 are already quite responsive, not only below 20 kHz but up to 90 kHz. Hearing sensitivity increases further until about p14 and is then refined, possibly correlated with growth and differentiation of the animals' outer ears. ABR amplitudes decrease within the first 3-4 months, inversely correlated with the bat weight and forearm length. ABR Wave I latency decreases with increasing stimulation level. ABR duration (measured between Waves I and V) is longer in juveniles and shortens with age which may reflect temporal refinement of auditory brainstem neurons to accommodate the exceptional temporal precision required for effective echolocation. Overall our data show that P. discolor bats have good hearing very early in life. The current method represents a fast and minimally invasive way of characterizing basic hearing in bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meike Linnenschmidt
- Division of Neurobiology, Dept. Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Lutz Wiegrebe
- Division of Neurobiology, Dept. Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kuokkanen PT, Kraemer A, Kempter R, Köppl C, Carr CE. Auditory brainstem response wave III is correlated with extracellular field potentials from nucleus laminaris of the barn owl. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 104:874-877. [PMID: 30976274 DOI: 10.3813/aaa.919236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is generated in the auditory brainstem by local current sources, which also give rise to extracellular field potentials (EFPs). The origins of both the ABR and the EFP are not well understood. We have recently found that EFPs, especially their dipole behavior, may be dominated by the branching patterns and the activity of axonal terminal zones [1]. To test the hypothesis that axons also shape the ABR, we used the well-described barn owl early auditory system. We recorded the ABR and a series of EFPs between the brain surface and nucleus laminaris (NL) in response to binaural clicks. The ABR and the EFP within and around NL are correlated. Together, our data suggest that axonal dipoles within the barn owl nucleus laminaris contribute to the ABR wave III.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula T Kuokkanen
- Department of Biology, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universitätzu Berlin, Philippstr 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Anna Kraemer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park MD 20742, USA
| | - Richard Kempter
- Department of Biology, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universitätzu Berlin, Philippstr 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christine Köppl
- Department of Neuroscience, Carl von Ossietzky University, 26109 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Catherine E Carr
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park MD 20742, USA
| |
Collapse
|