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Loning H, Griffith SC, Naguib M. The ecology of zebra finch song and its implications for vocal communication in multi-level societies. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230191. [PMID: 38768203 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0191] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Acoustic signalling is crucial in affecting movements and in social interactions. In species with dynamic social structures, such as multi-level societies, acoustic signals can provide a key mechanism allowing individuals to identify and find or avoid each other and to exchange information. Yet, if the spacing between individuals regularly exceeds the maximum signalling range, the relation between movements and signals becomes more complex. As the best-studied songbird in captivity, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) is a species with individually distinct songs that are audible over just a few metres and a widely ranging dynamic multi-level social organization in the wild, raising questions on the actual role of its song in social cohesion and coordination. Here, we provide an overview of birdsong in social organizations (networks) and use the ecology of the zebra finch and male song to discuss how singing can facilitate social cohesion and coordination in species where the signal range is very short. We raise the question of the extent to which zebra finches are a representative species to understand the function of song in communication, and we broaden current views on the function of birdsong and its individual signature. 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)
- Hugo Loning
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research , 6708 WD, The Netherlands
| | - Simon C Griffith
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Marc Naguib
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research , 6708 WD, The Netherlands
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2
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Moskát C, Elek Z, Hauber ME. Soft calls do not modulate aggressiveness in male common cuckoos toward conspecific territorial intruders: A sequential playback study. Behav Processes 2023; 206:104840. [PMID: 36738942 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104840] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In many bird species loud broadcast calls serve as aggressive signals with a large effective radius, whereas soft calls may indicate aggression at a closer distance, and are often directed at a nearby conspecific individual. Male common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) are famous for their simple cu-coo calls, which are long-range broadcast calls, uttered in long sequences during the breeding season. Cuckoos also produce soft calls, including a single gowk (wah), a series of gowks (gowk series), or a harsher single variant, the guo call. To our knowledge, no previous study has attempted to understand the function of cuckoos' soft calls. We conducted a sequential playback experiment by (i) first attracting male cuckoos with "cu-coo" calls, and then (ii) playing heterospecific control calls or one of several types of cuckoo soft calls. While the "cu-coo" call attracted focal males, neither the soft conspecific calls nor the heterospecific control calls elicited an additional response. Finally, the gowk series calls did not alter cuckoos' approach to the speaker when played together with "cu-coo" calls. As cuckoos' soft calls did not increase or decrease aggression, they instead may advertise the cuckoo's presence and position for a nearby conspecific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Moskát
- MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, a joint research group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Biological Institute of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13., Budapest H-1088, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Elek
- Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest 1022, Hungary; ELKH-DE Anthropocene Ecology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen 4032, Hungary; ELKH-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest 1117, Hungary.
| | - Márk E Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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3
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Moskát C, Hauber ME. Quantitative analysis of vocalisation types in male common cuckoos' "gowk" call complex. ZOOLOGY 2022; 154:126043. [PMID: 36027693 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2022.126043] [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: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Acoustic communication of animals often contains two types of vocalizations: loud sounds for long-range and soft sounds for short-range signalling. Brood parasitic common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) are suitable study objects for research on acoustic signalling as they have a simple acoustic repertoire, of which the loud territorial advertisement calls of males, the "cu-coo", is the most famous type. Although a distinct group of soft calls has also been reported in early naturalists' works, no systematic studies compared them acoustically. Even the classification of these soft calls is lacking. Here we surveyed these neglected types of calls, and evaluated them through bioacustic analyses. Specifically, we compared the following soft calls: single gowk, guo, and the series of gowk calls. The advertisement call ("cu-coo") was used as the referent for these comparisons. As the male's gowk series call most typically contains 3-5 elements with decreasing volume (disappearing at the end), we compared the first two elements of this call. Our analyses revealed great acoustic similarities between three call types (gowk series call 1st note, gowk series call 2nd note, and single gowk call), and the distinctiveness of the other call type (guo) from this group. Structurally the gowk cannot be regarded as a separate call from a male's gowk series call, and the only difference is that the series call contains a set of the gowk calls. Our classification of cuckoo calls offers the possibility for further research into their functional importance and communicative role in male-male or female-male social contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Moskát
- MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, a joint research group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Biological Institute of the Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. st. 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary and the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13., H-1088 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Márk E Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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4
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Podos J, Webster MS. Ecology and evolution of bird sounds. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1100-R1104. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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5
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Hasegawa M. Male Barn Swallows Tolerate Nestling-Like Courtship Calls of Rival Males. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.759438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals often exhibit conspicuous, and sometimes curious, courtship traits, such as nestling-like courtship display in birds, though modern studies of nestling-like courtship display (and calls) are virtually lacking. An exception is previous experiments on the barn swallow Hirundo rustica, demonstrating that females are equally attracted to playback of two structurally similar calls, nestling-like male courtship calls and nestling food-begging calls. The experiments support the sensory trap hypothesis, i.e., that male signals mimic nestling stimuli to exploit female parental care for nestlings. However, female attraction might not be the sole function of nestling-like traits, and males might also have a sensory bias toward nestling-like traits, in which males would be less aggressive toward characteristics typical of immature individuals. Here, I conducted playback experiments to study the function of nestling-like male courtship calls in the context of male–male interactions. Playback of male courtship songs induced frequent approaches by neighbouring males, while nestling-like male courtship calls or nestling food-begging calls induced fewer approaches, though male responses to the latter two vocalisations increased when approaching the nestling period. The observed pattern indicates that, by mimicking immature individuals, males attract intended signal receivers (i.e., females) while avoiding interference from eavesdroppers (i.e., neighbouring males). This unique function can explain why species with parental care exhibit immature-like behaviour.
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6
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Loning H, Griffith SC, Naguib M. Zebra finch song is a very short-range signal in the wild: evidence from an integrated approach. Behav Ecol 2021; 33:37-46. [PMID: 35197805 PMCID: PMC8857932 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Birdsong is typically seen as a long-range signal functioning in mate attraction and territory defense. Among birds, the zebra finch is the prime model organism in bioacoustics, yet almost exclusively studied in the lab. In the wild, however, zebra finch song differs strikingly from songbirds commonly studied in the wild as zebra finch males sing most after mating and in the absence of territoriality. Using data from the wild, we here provide an ecological context for a wealth of laboratory studies. By integrating calibrated sound recordings, sound transmission experiments and social ecology of zebra finches in the wild with insights from hearing physiology we show that wild zebra finch song is a very short-range signal with an audible range of about nine meters and that even the louder distance calls do not carry much farther (up to about fourteen meters). These integrated findings provide an ecological context for the interpretation of laboratory studies of this species and indicate that the vocal communication distance of the main laboratory species for avian acoustics contrasts strikingly with songbirds that use their song as a long-range advertisement signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Loning
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon C Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Marc Naguib
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
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7
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Opaev AS, Shishkina EM. Song amplitude and population density in two sympatric warblers, Phylloscopus schwarzi and P. fuscatus. BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2020.1720816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. S. Opaev
- Laboratory of Comparative Ethology and Biocommunication, Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - E. M. Shishkina
- Laboratory of Comparative Ethology and Biocommunication, Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
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8
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Reichert MS, Enriquez MS, Carlson NV. New dimensions for animal communication networks: space and time. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:814-824. [PMID: 33744960 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication is a social process and usually occurs in a network of signalers and receivers. While social network analysis has received enormous recent attention from animal behaviorists, there have been relatively few attempts to apply these techniques to communication networks. Communication networks have the potential to offer novel insights into social network studies, and yet are especially challenging subjects, largely because of their unique spatiotemporal characteristics. Namely, signals propagate through the environment, often dissociating from the body of the signaler, to influence receiver behavior. The speed of signal propagation and the signal's active space will affect the congruence of communication networks and other types of social network; in extreme cases the signal may persist and only first be detected long after the signaler has left the area. Other signals move more rapidly and over greater distances than the signaler could possibly move to reach receivers. We discuss the spatial and temporal consequences of signaling in networks and highlight the distinction between the physical location of the signaler and the spread of influence of its signals, the effects of signal modality and receiver sensitivity on communication network properties, the potential for feedbacks between network layers, and approaches to analyzing spatial and temporal change in communication networks in conjunction with other network layers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nora V Carlson
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
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9
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Elfström TS. The signal value of vocalisations revealing auditory threat assessment in meadow pipit males ( Anthus pratensis). BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2020.1871408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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10
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Female song in eastern bluebirds varies in acoustic structure according to social context. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2824-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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11
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Shannon G, McKenna MF, Wilson-Henjum GE, Angeloni LM, Crooks KR, Wittemyer G. Vocal characteristics of prairie dog alarm calls across an urban noise gradient. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Increasing anthropogenic noise is having a global impact on wildlife, particularly due to the masking of crucial acoustical communication. However, there have been few studies examining the impacts of noise exposure on communication in free-ranging terrestrial mammals. We studied alarm calls of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) across an urban gradient to explore vocal adjustment relative to different levels of noise exposure. There was no change in the frequency 5%, peak frequency, or duration of the alarm calls across the noise gradient. However, the minimum frequency—a commonly used, yet potentially compromised metric—did indeed show a positive relationship with noise exposure. We suspect this is a result of masking of observable call properties by noise, rather than behavioral adjustment. In addition, the proximity of conspecifics and the distance to the perceived threat (observer) did affect the frequency 5% of alarm calls. These results reveal that prairie dogs do not appear to be adjusting their alarm calls in noisy environments but likely do in relation to their social context and the proximity of a predatory threat. Anthropogenic noise can elicit a range of behavioral and physiological responses across taxa, but elucidating the specific mechanisms driving these responses can be challenging, particularly as these are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Our research sheds light on how prairie dogs appear to respond to noise as a source of increased risk, rather than as a distraction or through acoustical masking as shown in other commonly studied species (e.g., fish, songbirds, marine mammals).
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme Shannon
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Megan F McKenna
- Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Grete E Wilson-Henjum
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lisa M Angeloni
- Department of Biology, Biology Building, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kevin R Crooks
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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12
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Nakano R, Nagamine K. Loudness–Duration Tradeoff in Ultrasonic Courtship Songs of Moths. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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13
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Elfström TS. Vocal and visual communication in territorial rock pipit males (Anthus petrosus), focused on playback experiments. A study of the information content of displays. BIOACOUSTICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2019.1621775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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14
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Barker JL, Power EA, Heap S, Puurtinen M, Sosis R. Content, cost, and context: A framework for understanding human signaling systems. Evol Anthropol 2019; 28:86-99. [PMID: 30869833 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Humans frequently perform extravagant and seemingly costly behaviors, such as widely sharing hunted resources, erecting conspicuous monumental structures, and performing dramatic acts of religious devotion. Evolutionary anthropologists and archeologists have used signaling theory to explain the function of such displays, drawing inspiration from behavioral ecology, economics, and the social sciences. While signaling theory is broadly aimed at explaining honest communication, it has come to be strongly associated with the handicap principle, which proposes that such costly extravagance is in fact an adaptation for signal reliability. Most empirical studies of signaling theory have focused on obviously costly acts, and consequently anthropologists have likely overlooked a wide range of signals that also promote reliable communication. Here, we build on recent developments in signaling theory and animal communication, developing an updated framework that highlights the diversity of signal contents, costs, contexts, and reliability mechanisms present within human signaling systems. By broadening the perspective of signaling theory in human systems, we strive to identify promising areas for further empirical and theoretical work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Barker
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,The Behavioural Insights Team, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor A Power
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico.,Department of Methodology, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Heap
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Mikael Puurtinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Richard Sosis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
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15
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Tinghitella RM, Broder ED, Gurule-Small GA, Hallagan CJ, Wilson JD. Purring Crickets: The Evolution of a Novel Sexual Signal. Am Nat 2018; 192:773-782. [PMID: 30444653 DOI: 10.1086/700116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Opportunities to observe contemporary signal change are incredibly rare but critical for understanding how diversity is created and maintained. We discovered a population of the Pacific field cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus) with a newly evolved song (purring), different from any known cricket. Male crickets use song to attract females from afar and to court females once near. Teleogryllus oceanicus is well known for sexual signal evolution, as exemplified by a recent signal loss. In this study, we characterized the new purring sound and investigated the role of the purr in long-distance and short-distance communication. The purring sound differed from typical ancestral calls in peak frequency, amplitude, and bandwidth. Further, the long-distance purring song facilitated mate location, though the role of courtship purring song is less clear. Our discovery of purring male crickets is an unprecedented opportunity to watch the emergence of a newly evolved sexual signal unfold in real time and has potential to illuminate the mechanisms by which evolutionary novelties arise and coevolve between the sexes.
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16
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Radford CA, Putland RL, Mensinger AF. Barking mad: The vocalisation of the John Dory, Zeus faber. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204647. [PMID: 30281630 PMCID: PMC6169905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on the behavioural function of sounds are very rare within heterospecific interactions. John Dory (Zeus faber) is a solitary, predatory fish that produces sound when captured, but has not been documented to vocalize under natural conditions (i.e. in the wild). The present study provides the first in-situ recordings of John Dory vocalisations and correlates them to behavioural response of snapper (Pagrus auratus) a common species found through New Zealand. Vocalisations or ‘barks’, ranged between 200–600 Hz, with a peak frequency of 312 ± 10 Hz and averaged 139 ± 4 milliseconds in length. Baited underwater video (BUV) equipped with hydrophones determined that under natural conditions a John Dory vocalization induced an escape response in snapper present, causing them to exit the area opposite to the position of the John Dory. We speculate that the John Dory vocalisation may be used for territorial display towards both conspecifics and heterospecifics, asserting dominance in the area or heightening predatory status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A. Radford
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - Rosalyn L. Putland
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealand
| | - Allen F. Mensinger
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealand
- Biology Department, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, United States of America
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17
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Moran IG, Doucet SM, Newman AEM, Ryan Norris D, Mennill DJ. Quiet violence: Savannah Sparrows respond to playback-simulated rivals using low-amplitude songs as aggressive signals. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ines G. Moran
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Windsor; Windsor Ontario Canada
| | - Stéphanie M. Doucet
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Windsor; Windsor Ontario Canada
| | - Amy E. M. Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph Ontario Canada
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph Ontario Canada
| | - Daniel J. Mennill
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Windsor; Windsor Ontario Canada
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18
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Jakubowska A, Osiejuk TS. Soft songs in male ortolan buntings are used in an aggressive context but are not an aggressive signal. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Jakubowska
- Department of Behavioural Ecology; Faculty of Biology; Institute of Environmental Sciences; Adam Mickiewicz University; Poznań Poland
| | - Tomasz S. Osiejuk
- Department of Behavioural Ecology; Faculty of Biology; Institute of Environmental Sciences; Adam Mickiewicz University; Poznań Poland
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19
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Chaverri G, Ancillotto L, Russo D. Social communication in bats. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1938-1954. [PMID: 29766650 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bats represent one of the most diverse mammalian orders, not only in terms of species numbers, but also in their ecology and life histories. Many species are known to use ephemeral and/or unpredictable resources that require substantial investment to find and defend, and also engage in social interactions, thus requiring significant levels of social coordination. To accomplish these tasks, bats must be able to communicate; there is now substantial evidence that demonstrates the complexity of bat communication and the varied ways in which bats solve some of the problems associated with their unique life histories. However, while the study of communication in bats is rapidly growing, it still lags behind other taxa. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of communication in bats, from the reasons why they communicate to the diversity and application of different signal modalities. The most widespread form of communication is the transmission of a signaller's characteristics, such as species identity, sex, individual identity, group membership, social status and body condition, and because many species of bats can rely little on vision due to their nocturnal lifestyles, it is assumed that sound and olfaction are particularly important signalling modes. For example, research suggests that secretions from specialized glands, often in combination with urine and saliva, are responsible for species recognition in several species. These olfactory signals may also convey information about sex and colony membership. Olfaction may be used in combination with sound, particularly in species that emit constant frequency (CF) echolocation calls, to recognize conspecifics from heterospecifics, yet their simple structure and high frequency do not allow much information of individual identity to be conveyed over long distances. By contrast, social calls may encode a larger number of cues of individual identity, and their lower frequencies increase their range of detection. Social calls are also known to deter predators, repel competitors from foraging patches, attract group mates to roost sites, coordinate foraging activities, and are used during courtship. In addition to sound, visual displays such as wing flapping or hovering may be used during courtship, and swarming around roost sites may serve as a visual cue of roost location. However, visual communication in bats still remains a poorly studied signal modality. Finally, the most common form of tactile communication known in bats is social grooming, which may be used to signal reproductive condition, but also to facilitate and strengthen cooperative interactions. Overall, this review demonstrates the rapid advances made in the study of bat social communication during recent years, and also identifies topics that require further study, particularly those that may allow us to understand adaptation to rapidly changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloriana Chaverri
- Recinto de Golfito, Universidad de Costa Rica, Golfito, 60701, Costa Rica
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, Portici NA 80055, Italy
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, Portici NA 80055, Italy.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
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20
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Niederhauser JM, DuBois AL, Searcy WA, Nowicki S, Anderson RC. A test of the eavesdropping avoidance hypothesis as an explanation for the structure of low-amplitude aggressive signals in the song sparrow. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2469-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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21
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22
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Syrová M, Policht R, Linhart P, Špinka M. Ontogeny of individual and litter identity signaling in grunts of piglets. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 142:3116. [PMID: 29195455 DOI: 10.1121/1.5010330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have shown that animal vocalizations can signal individual identity and group/family membership. However, much less is known about the ontogeny of identity information-when and how this individual/group distinctiveness in vocalizations arises and how it changes during the animal's life. Recent findings suggest that even species that were thought to have limited vocal plasticity could adjust their calls to sound more similar to each other within a group. It has already been shown that sows can acoustically distinguish their own offspring from alien piglets and that litters differ in their calls. Surprisingly, individual identity in piglet calls has not been reported yet. In this paper, this gap is filled, and it is shown that there is information about piglet identity. Information about litter identity is confirmed as well. Individual identity increased with age, but litter vocal identity did not increase with age. The results were robust as a similar pattern was apparent in two situations differing in arousal: isolation and back-test. This paper argues that, in piglets, increased individual discrimination results from the rapid growth of piglets, which is likely to be associated with growth and diversification of the vocal tract rather than from social effects and vocal plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Syrová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, Prague Uhrineves, 104 00, Czech Republic
| | - Richard Policht
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, Prague Uhrineves, 104 00, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Linhart
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, Prague Uhrineves, 104 00, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Špinka
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Pratelstvi 815, Prague Uhrineves, 104 00, Czech Republic
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Plasticity of signaling and mate choice in a trilling species of the Mecopoda complex (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017; 71:164. [PMID: 29104348 PMCID: PMC5655568 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2381-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Males of a trilling species in the Mecopoda complex produce conspicuous calling songs that consist of two motifs: an amplitude-modulated motif with alternating loud and soft segments (AM-motif) and a continuous, high-intensity trill. The function of these song motifs for female attraction and competition between males was investigated. We tested the hypothesis that males modify their signaling behavior depending on the social environment (presence/absence of females or rival males) when they compete for mates. Therefore, we analyzed acoustic signaling of males in three different situations: (1) solo singing, (2) acoustic interaction with another male, and (3) singing in the presence of a female. In addition, the preference of females for these song motifs and further song parameters was studied in two-choice experiments. As expected, females showed a preference for conspicuous and loud song elements, but nevertheless, males increased the proportion of the AM-motif in the presence of a female. In acoustic interactions, males reduced bout duration significantly compared to both other situations. However, song bouts in this situation still overlapped more than expected by chance, which indicates intentionally simultaneous singing. A multivariate statistical analysis revealed that the proportion of the AM-motif and the duration of loud segments within the AM-motif allow a reliable prediction of whether males sing in isolation, compete with another male, or sing in the presence of a female. These results indicate that the AM-motif plays a dominant role especially in close-range courtship and that males are challenged in finding a balance between attracting females and saving energy during repeated acoustic interactions. Significance statement Males of acoustic insects often produce conspicuous calling songs that have a dual function in male-male competition and mate attraction. High signal amplitudes and signal rates are associated with high energetic costs for signal production. We would therefore predict that males adjust their signaling behavior according to their perception of the social context. Here we studied signal production and mate choice in a katydid, where males switch between loud and soft song segments in a dynamic way. Additionally, we examined the attractiveness of different song elements in female choice tests. Our results show how males of this katydid deal with the conflict of remaining attractive for females and competing with a costly signal with rivals.
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McGrath N, Dunlop R, Dwyer C, Burman O, Phillips CJ. Hens vary their vocal repertoire and structure when anticipating different types of reward. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Ladich F, Winkler H. Acoustic communication in terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:2306-2317. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.132944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Sound propagates much faster and over larger distances in water than in air, mainly because of differences in the density of these media. This raises the question of whether terrestrial (land mammals, birds) and (semi-)aquatic animals (frogs, fishes, cetaceans) differ fundamentally in the way they communicate acoustically. Terrestrial vertebrates primarily produce sounds by vibrating vocal tissue (folds) directly in an airflow. This mechanism has been modified in frogs and cetaceans, whereas fishes generate sounds in quite different ways mainly by utilizing the swimbladder or pectoral fins. On land, vertebrates pick up sounds with light tympana, whereas other mechanisms have had to evolve underwater. Furthermore, fishes differ from all other vertebrates by not having an inner ear end organ devoted exclusively to hearing. Comparing acoustic communication within and between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates reveals that there is no ‘aquatic way’ of sound communication, as compared with a more uniform terrestrial one. Birds and mammals display rich acoustic communication behaviour, which reflects their highly developed cognitive and social capabilities. In contrast, acoustic signaling seems to be the exception in fishes, and is obviously limited to short distances and to substrate-breeding species, whereas all cetaceans communicate acoustically and, because of their predominantly pelagic lifestyle, exploit the benefits of sound propagation in a dense, obstacle-free medium that provides fast and almost lossless signal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich Ladich
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Hans Winkler
- Konrad Lorenz-Institute of Comparative Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna 1160, Austria
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Luef EM, Ter Maat A, Pika S. Vocal similarity in long-distance and short-distance vocalizations in raven pairs (Corvus corax) in captivity. Behav Processes 2017; 142:1-7. [PMID: 28535928 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Vocal interactions in many birds are characterized by imitation or the matching of vocalizations whereby one individual makes its vocalizations more similar to those of a conspecific. This behaviour is aided by vocal learning, which allows birds to change the vocalizations already in their repertoires, or to add new ones. The majority of studies on vocal similarity have been focussing on the songs of birds rather than their calls, with evidence for vocal similarity in calls being rather scarce. Here, we investigated whether ravens make their calls acoustically similar to one another by analysing the extent to which short- and long-distance calls of their vocal repertoires exhibited vocal similarity. Our results showed that long-distance calls, but not short-distance calls, are highly similar between pair partners. This effect may be explained by the different functions underlying short- and long-distance communication in ravens, with vocal similarity possibly being scaffolded by specific social matrices such as pair-bonds and/or strong social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Maria Luef
- Seoul National University, College of Education, Department of Foreign Languages, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Andries Ter Maat
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse 6, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Simone Pika
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Humboldt Research Group 'Evolution of Communication', Virtual Geesehouse, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse 6, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for the Sciences of Human History, Humboldt Research Group, Virtual Geesehouse, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Acoustic communication in zebra finches signals when mates will take turns with parental duties. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
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Krieg CA, Burnett AD. Female House Wrens may Use a Low‐Amplitude Call as an Aggressive Signal. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cara A. Krieg
- Department of Integrative Biology Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station Hickory Corners MI USA
| | - Alexandra D. Burnett
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA
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Kelly JK, Ward MP. Do songbirds attend to song categories when selecting breeding habitat? A case study with a wood warbler. BEHAVIOUR 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Breeding habitat selection strongly affects reproduction and individual fitness. Among birds, using social cues from conspecifics to select habitat is widespread, but how different types of conspecific social cues influence breeding habitat selection remains less understood. We conducted a playback experiment evaluating if the yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), a species with two song categories linked to pairing status, uses categories differently when selecting breeding habitat. We hypothesized that yellow warblers use second-category singing mode, which is mostly sung by paired males, over first-category singing mode for habitat selection, as successfully paired males should indicate higher-quality habitat. We broadcast yellow warbler first-category singing mode, second-category singing mode, and silent controls at sites in Illinois. Yellow warblers were more abundant at sites treated with second-category singing mode compared other sites. Our results demonstrate that yellow warblers use social cues informing successful pairing over other types of social cues to select breeding habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice K. Kelly
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Balenger SL, Lara LM, Zuk M. Relative Amplitude of Courtship Song Chirp and Trill Components Does Not Alter Female
Teleogryllus oceanicus
Mating Behavior. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L. Balenger
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
| | - Laura M. Lara
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
| | - Marlene Zuk
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
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Alves D, Amorim MCP, Fonseca PJ. Assessing acoustic communication active space in the Lusitanian toadfish. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:1122-9. [PMID: 26896547 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.134981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The active space of a signal is an important concept in acoustic communication as it has implications for the function and evolution of acoustic signals. However, it remains mostly unknown for fish as it has been measured in only a restricted number of species. We combined physiological and sound propagation approaches to estimate the communication range of the Lusitanian toadfish's ( ITALIC! Halobatrachus didactylus) advertisement sound, the boatwhistle (BW). We recorded BWs at different distances from vocalizing fish in a natural nesting site at ca. 2-3 m depth. We measured the representation of these increasingly attenuated BWs in the auditory pathway through the auditory evoked potential (AEP) technique. These measurements point to a communication range of between 6 and 13 m, depending on the spectral characteristics of the BW. A similar communication range (ca. 8 m) was derived from comparing sound attenuation at selected frequencies with auditory sensitivity. This is one of the few studies to combine auditory measurements with sound propagation to estimate the active space of acoustic signals in fish. We emphasize the need in future studies for estimates of active space to take informational masking into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Alves
- Departamento de Biologia Animal and cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1749-016, Portugal
| | - M Clara P Amorim
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon 1149-041, Portugal
| | - Paulo J Fonseca
- Departamento de Biologia Animal and cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1749-016, Portugal
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Akçay Ç, Clay A, Campbell SE, Beecher MD. The sparrow and the hawk: aggressive signaling under risk of predation. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Akçay Ç, Anderson RC, Nowicki S, Beecher MD, Searcy WA. Quiet threats: soft song as an aggressive signal in birds. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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