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Crunchant AS, Stewart FA, Piel AK. Vocal communication in wild chimpanzees: a call rate study. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12326. [PMID: 34721995 PMCID: PMC8532989 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patterns of vocal communication have implications for species conservation: a change in calling behaviour can, for instance, reflect a disturbed habitat. More importantly, call rate is a parameter that allows conservation planners to convert call density into animal density, when detecting calls with a passive acoustic monitoring system (PAM). METHODS We investigated chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) call rate during the late dry season in the Issa Valley, western Tanzania by conducting focal follows. We examined the socio-ecological factors that influence call production rate of savanna woodland chimpanzees. RESULTS We found that sex, proportion of time spent in a vegetation type, proportion of time spent travelling, time of the day, party size and swollen parous female presence had a significant effect on the call rate. Call rate differed among the different demographic classes with subadult and adult males vocalising twice as often as the subadult and adult females and three times as often as the juveniles. APPLICATIONS The use of PAM and recent statistical developments to estimate animal density is promising but relies on our knowing individual call rate, often not available for many species. With the improvement in automatic call detection, we anticipate that PAM will increasingly be broadly applied to primates but also across taxa, for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Crunchant
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona A. Stewart
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex K. Piel
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Non-Invasive Monitoring of the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Vocalizations among Songbirds in a Semi Free-Flight Environment Using Robot Audition Techniques. BIRDS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/birds2020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the social interactions among songbirds, extracting the timing, position, and acoustic properties of their vocalizations is essential. We propose a framework for automatic and fine-scale extraction of spatial-spectral-temporal patterns of bird vocalizations in a densely populated environment. For this purpose, we used robot audition techniques to integrate information (i.e., the timing, direction of arrival, and separated sound of localized sources) from multiple microphone arrays (array of arrays) deployed in an environment, which is non-invasive. As a proof of concept of this framework, we examined the ability of the method to extract active vocalizations of multiple Zebra Finches in an outdoor mesh tent as a realistic situation in which they could fly and vocalize freely. We found that localization results of vocalizations reflected the arrangements of landmark spots in the environment such as nests or perches and some vocalizations were localized at non-landmark positions. We also classified their vocalizations as either songs or calls by using a simple method based on the tempo and length of the separated sounds, as an example of the use of the information obtained from the framework. Our proposed approach has great potential to understand their social interactions and the semantics or functions of their vocalizations considering the spatial relationships, although detailed understanding of the interaction would require analysis of more long-term recordings.
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3
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Rufous horneros perceive and alter temporal coordination of duets during territorial interactions. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Keenan EL, Odom KJ, Araya-Salas M, Horton KG, Strimas-Mackey M, Meatte MA, Mann NI, Slater PJB, Price JJ, Templeton CN. Breeding season length predicts duet coordination and consistency in Neotropical wrens (Troglodytidae). Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20202482. [PMID: 33323080 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals produce coordinated signals, but few are more striking than the elaborate male-female vocal duets produced by some tropical songbirds. Yet, little is known about the factors driving the extreme levels of vocal coordination between mated pairs in these taxa. We examined evolutionary patterns of duet coordination and their potential evolutionary drivers in Neotropical wrens (Troglodytidae), a songbird family well known for highly coordinated duets. Across 23 wren species, we show that the degree of coordination and precision with which pairs combine their songs into duets varies by species. This includes some species that alternate their song phrases with exceptional coordination to produce rapidly alternating duets that are highly consistent across renditions. These highly coordinated, consistent duets evolved independently in multiple wren species. Duet coordination and consistency are greatest in species with especially long breeding seasons, but neither duet coordination nor consistency are correlated with clutch size, conspecific abundance or vegetation density. These results suggest that tightly coordinated duets play an important role in mediating breeding behaviour, possibly by signalling commitment or coalition of the pair to mates and other conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Keenan
- College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Karan J Odom
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Marcelo Araya-Salas
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Recinto de Golfito, Universidad de Costa Rica, Golfito 60701, Costa Rica
| | - Kyle G Horton
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Megan A Meatte
- Department of Biology, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR, USA
| | - Nigel I Mann
- Biology Department, The Glasgow Academy, Glasgow G12 8HE, UK
| | | | - J Jordan Price
- Department of Biology, St Mary's College of Maryland, St Mary's City, MD, USA
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Grabarczyk EE, Araya‐Salas M, Vonhof MJ, Gill SA. Anthropogenic noise affects female, not male house wren response to change in signaling network. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin E. Grabarczyk
- Department of Biological Sciences Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI USA
| | | | - Maarten J. Vonhof
- Department of Biological Sciences Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI USA
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI USA
| | - Sharon A. Gill
- Department of Biological Sciences Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI USA
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Rhinehart TA, Chronister LM, Devlin T, Kitzes J. Acoustic localization of terrestrial wildlife: Current practices and future opportunities. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6794-6818. [PMID: 32724552 PMCID: PMC7381569 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autonomous acoustic recorders are an increasingly popular method for low-disturbance, large-scale monitoring of sound-producing animals, such as birds, anurans, bats, and other mammals. A specialized use of autonomous recording units (ARUs) is acoustic localization, in which a vocalizing animal is located spatially, usually by quantifying the time delay of arrival of its sound at an array of time-synchronized microphones. To describe trends in the literature, identify considerations for field biologists who wish to use these systems, and suggest advancements that will improve the field of acoustic localization, we comprehensively review published applications of wildlife localization in terrestrial environments. We describe the wide variety of methods used to complete the five steps of acoustic localization: (1) define the research question, (2) obtain or build a time-synchronizing microphone array, (3) deploy the array to record sounds in the field, (4) process recordings captured in the field, and (5) determine animal location using position estimation algorithms. We find eight general purposes in ecology and animal behavior for localization systems: assessing individual animals' positions or movements, localizing multiple individuals simultaneously to study their interactions, determining animals' individual identities, quantifying sound amplitude or directionality, selecting subsets of sounds for further acoustic analysis, calculating species abundance, inferring territory boundaries or habitat use, and separating animal sounds from background noise to improve species classification. We find that the labor-intensive steps of processing recordings and estimating animal positions have not yet been automated. In the near future, we expect that increased availability of recording hardware, development of automated and open-source localization software, and improvement of automated sound classification algorithms will broaden the use of acoustic localization. With these three advances, ecologists will be better able to embrace acoustic localization, enabling low-disturbance, large-scale collection of animal position data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa A. Rhinehart
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | | | - Trieste Devlin
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Justin Kitzes
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
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7
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A duetting perspective on avian song learning. Behav Processes 2019; 163:71-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Rivera-Cáceres KD, Quirós-Guerrero E, Araya-Salas M, Templeton CN, Searcy WA. Early development of vocal interaction rules in a duetting songbird. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171791. [PMID: 29515888 PMCID: PMC5830777 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Exchange of vocal signals is an important aspect of animal communication. Although birdsong is the premier model for understanding vocal development, the development of vocal interaction rules in birds and possible parallels to humans have been little studied. Many tropical songbirds engage in complex vocal interactions in the form of duets between mated pairs. In some species, duets show precise temporal coordination and follow rules (duet codes) governing which song type one bird uses to reply to each of the song types of its mate. We determined whether these duetting rules are acquired during early development in canebrake wrens. Results show that juveniles acquire a duet code by singing with a mated pair of adults and that juveniles gradually increase their fidelity to the code over time. Additionally, we found that juveniles exhibit poorer temporal coordination than adults and improve their coordination as time progresses. Human turn-taking, an analogous rule to temporal coordination, is learned during early development. We report that the ontogeny of vocal interaction rules in songbirds is analogous to that of human conversation rules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcelo Araya-Salas
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Laboratorio de Bioacústica, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - William A. Searcy
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
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Araya-Salas M, Gonzalez-Gomez P, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, López V, Wright TF. Spatial memory is as important as weapon and body size for territorial ownership in a lekking hummingbird. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2001. [PMID: 29386557 PMCID: PMC5792557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20441-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced cognitive abilities have long been hypothesized to be important in mating. Yet, most work on sexual selection has focused on morphological traits and its relevance for cognitive evolution is poorly understood. We studied the spatial memory of lekking long-billed hermits (Phaethornis longirostris) and evaluated its role in lek territory ownership, the magnitude of its effect compared to phenotypic traits expected to influence sexual selection, and whether its variation is indicated in the structure of mating vocal signal. Spatial memory (the ability to recall the position of a rewarding feeder) was compared between “territorial” and “floater” males. Interestingly, although spatial memory and body size both positively affected the probability of lek territory ownership, our results suggest a stronger effect of spatial memory. Bill tip length (used as weapon in agonistic interactions) also showed a positive but smaller effect. Load lifting during vertical flight, a measure of physical performance relevant to agonistic interactions, had no effect on territory ownership. Finally, both body size and spatial memory were indicated in the structure of male song: body size negatively correlated with song lowest frequency, while spatial memory positively predicted song consistency. Together, our findings lend support for cognition as a sexual selection target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Araya-Salas
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. .,Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica. .,Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA.
| | - Paulina Gonzalez-Gomez
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Universidad Autonoma de Chile, Av. Pedro de Valdivia 425, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Virgilio López
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, CT, USA
| | - Timothy F Wright
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
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Suzuki R, Matsubayashi S, Saito F, Murate T, Masuda T, Yamamoto K, Kojima R, Nakadai K, Okuno HG. A spatiotemporal analysis of acoustic interactions between great reed warblers ( Acrocephalus arundinaceus) using microphone arrays and robot audition software HARK. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:812-825. [PMID: 29321916 PMCID: PMC5756896 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic interactions are important for understanding intra‐ and interspecific communication in songbird communities from the viewpoint of soundscape ecology. It has been suggested that birds may divide up sound space to increase communication efficiency in such a manner that they tend to avoid overlap with other birds when they sing. We are interested in clarifying the dynamics underlying the process as an example of complex systems based on short‐term behavioral plasticity. However, it is very problematic to manually collect spatiotemporal patterns of acoustic events in natural habitats using data derived from a standard single‐channel recording of several species singing simultaneously. Our purpose here was to investigate fine‐scale spatiotemporal acoustic interactions of the great reed warbler. We surveyed spatial and temporal patterns of several vocalizing color‐banded great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) using an open‐source software for robot audition HARK (Honda Research Institute Japan Audition for Robots with Kyoto University) and three new 16‐channel, stand‐alone, and water‐resistant microphone arrays, named DACHO spread out in the bird's habitat. We first show that our system estimated the location of two color‐banded individuals’ song posts with mean error distance of 5.5 ± 4.5 m from the location of observed song posts. We then evaluated the temporal localization accuracy of the songs by comparing the duration of localized songs around the song posts with those annotated by human observers, with an accuracy score of average 0.89 for one bird that stayed at one song post. We further found significant temporal overlap avoidance and an asymmetric relationship between songs of the two singing individuals, using transfer entropy. We believe that our system and analytical approach contribute to a better understanding of fine‐scale acoustic interactions in time and space in bird communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiji Suzuki
- Graduate School of Informatics Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Shiho Matsubayashi
- Center for Open Innovation Research and Education Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University Suita Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Ryosuke Kojima
- Department of Biomedical Data Intelligence Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakadai
- Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. Wako Saitama Japan.,Department of Systems and Control Engineering School of Engineering Tokyo Institute of Technology Meguro-ku Tokyo Japan
| | - Hiroshi G Okuno
- Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering Waseda University Shinjuku-ku Tokyo Japan
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