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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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Sierro J, de Kort SR, Hartley IR. A limit to sustained performance constrains trill length in birdsong. iScience 2023; 26:108206. [PMID: 37953962 PMCID: PMC10637923 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In birds, song performance determines the outcome of contests over crucial resources. We hypothesized that 1) sustained performance is limited within song, resulting in a performance decline towards the end and 2) the impact of song length is compromised if performance declines. To test these hypotheses, we analyzed the songs of 597 bird species (26 families) and conducted a playback experiment on blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Our multi-species analysis showed that song performance declines after sustained singing, supporting our hypothesis. If the performance decline is determined by individual attributes (i.e., physical condition), our results explain how trill length can honestly signal quality. Our experiment showed that longer trills of high performance elicited a stronger response during territorial interactions. However, long trills that declined in performance elicited a weaker response than short, high-performance trills. A trade-off between the duration and performance quality of a motor display can be an important aspect in communication across taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Sierro
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Selvino R. de Kort
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK
| | - Ian R. Hartley
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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3
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Logue DM, Bonnell TR. Skewed performance distributions as evidence of motor constraint in sports and animal displays. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230692. [PMID: 38026035 PMCID: PMC10645065 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Animal displays (i.e. movement-based signals) often involve extreme behaviours that seem to push signallers to the limits of their abilities. If motor constraints limit display performance, signal evolution will be constrained, and displays can function as honest signals of quality. Existing approaches for measuring constraint, however, require multiple kinds of behavioural data. A method that requires only one kind could open up new research directions. We propose a conceptual model of performance under constraint, which predicts that the distribution of constrained performance will skew away from the constraint. We tested this prediction with sports data, because we know a priori that athletic performance is constrained and that athletes attempt to maximize performance. Performance consistently skewed in the predicted direction in a variety of sports. We then used statistical models based on the skew normal distribution to estimate the constraints on athletes and displaying animals while controlling for potential confounds and clustered data. We concluded that motor constraints tend to generate skewed behaviour and that skew normal models are useful tools to estimate constraints from a single axis of behavioural data. This study expands the toolkit for identifying, characterizing, and comparing performance constraints for applications in animal behaviour, physiology and sports.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. Logue
- Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
| | - Tyler R. Bonnell
- Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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4
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Peng X, Liu Y, He W, Hoppe ED, Zhou L, Xin F, Haswell ES, Pickard BG, Genin GM, Lu TJ. Acoustic radiation force on a long cylinder, and potential sound transduction by tomato trichomes. Biophys J 2022; 121:3917-3926. [PMID: 36045574 PMCID: PMC9674985 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic transduction by plants has been proposed as a mechanism to enable just-in-time up-regulation of metabolically expensive defensive compounds. Although the mechanisms by which this "hearing" occurs are unknown, mechanosensation by elongated plant hair cells known as trichomes is suspected. To evaluate this possibility, we developed a theoretical model to evaluate the acoustic radiation force that an elongated cylinder can receive in response to sounds emitted by animals, including insect herbivores, and applied it to the long, cylindrical stem trichomes of the tomato plant Solanum lycopersicum. Based on perturbation theory and validated by finite element simulations, the model quantifies the effects of viscosity and frequency on this acoustic radiation force. Results suggest that acoustic emissions from certain animals, including insect herbivores, may produce acoustic radiation force sufficient to trigger stretch-activated ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjun Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yifan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Wei He
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Ethan D Hoppe
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Lihong Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, P. R. China
| | - Fengxian Xin
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Elizabeth S Haswell
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Barbara G Pickard
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Guy M Genin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China.
| | - Tian Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, P.R. China; MIIT Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Lightweight Materials and Structures (MLMS), Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, P.R. China.
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5
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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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Budka M, Jobda M, Szałański P, Piórkowski H. Acoustic approach as an alternative to human-based survey in bird biodiversity monitoring in agricultural meadows. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266557. [PMID: 35395028 PMCID: PMC8992991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic monitoring has been tested as an alternative to the traditional, human-based approach of surveying birds, however studies examining the effectiveness of different acoustic methods sometimes yield inconsistent results. In this study we examined whether bird biodiversity estimated by traditional surveys of birds differs to that obtained through soundscape surveys in meadow habitats that are of special agricultural importance, and whether acoustic monitoring can deliver reliable indicators of meadows and farmland bird biodiversity. We recorded soundscape and simultaneously surveyed birds by highly skilled human-observers within a fixed (50 m and 100 m) and unlimited radius using the point-count method twice in the breeding season at 74 recording sites located in meadows, in order to compare differences in (1) bird biodiversity estimation of meadow, farmland, songbird, and all bird species and (2) the detection rate of single bird species by these two methods. We found that recorders detected more species in comparison to the human-observers who surveyed birds within a fixed radius (50 and 100 m) and fewer when detection distance for human-observers was unlimited. We did not find significant differences in the number of meadow and farmland bird species detected by recorders and observers within a 100 m radius–the most often used fixed radius in traditional human based point-counts. We also showed how detection rate of 48 the most common bird species in our study differ between these two methods. Our study showed that an acoustic survey is equally effective as human observers surveying birds within a 100 m radius in estimation of farmland and meadow bird biodiversity. These groups of species are important for agricultural landscape and commonly used as indicators of habitat quality and its changes. Even though recorders rarely detect species that remain mostly silent during the observation periods, or species that are further distant than 100 m away, we recommend using acoustic soundscape recording methods as an equally effective and more easily standardised alternative for monitoring of farmland and meadow bird biodiversity. We propose adaptation of acoustic approach to long-term, large-scale monitoring by collecting acoustic data by non-specialists, including landowners and volunteers, and analysing them in a standardised way by units supervising monitoring of agriculture landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Budka
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Behavioural Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Marek Jobda
- Department of Nature Protection and Rural Landscape, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, Falenty, Poland
| | - Paweł Szałański
- Department of Nature Protection and Rural Landscape, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, Falenty, Poland
| | - Hubert Piórkowski
- Department of Nature Protection and Rural Landscape, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, Falenty, Poland
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8
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Dharmasiri ME, Barber CA, Horn AG. Nestling European Starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris) adjust their begging calls in noise. BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2021.2008495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Colleen A. Barber
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Andrew G. Horn
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Jakobsen L, Christensen-Dalsgaard J, Juhl PM, Elemans CPH. How Loud Can you go? Physical and Physiological Constraints to Producing High Sound Pressures in Animal Vocalizations. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.657254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sound is vital for communication and navigation across the animal kingdom and sound communication is unrivaled in accuracy and information richness over long distances both in air and water. The source level (SL) of the sound is a key factor in determining the range at which animals can communicate and the range at which echolocators can operate their biosonar. Here we compile, standardize and compare measurements of the loudest animals both in air and water. In air we find a remarkable similarity in the highest SLs produced across the different taxa. Within all taxa we find species that produce sound above 100 dBpeak re 20 μPa at 1 m, and a few bird and mammal species have SLs as high as 125 dBpeak re 20 μPa at 1 m. We next used pulsating sphere and piston models to estimate the maximum sound pressures generated in the radiated sound field. These data suggest that the loudest species within all taxa converge upon maximum pressures of 140–150 dBpeak re 20 μPa in air. In water, the toothed whales produce by far the loudest SLs up to 240 dBpeak re 1 μPa at 1 m. We discuss possible physical limitations to the production, radiation and propagation of high sound pressures. Furthermore, we discuss physiological limitations to the wide variety of sound generating mechanisms that have evolved in air and water of which many are still not well-understood or even unknown. We propose that in air, non-linear sound propagation forms a limit to producing louder sounds. While non-linear sound propagation may play a role in water as well, both sperm whale and pistol shrimp reach another physical limit of sound production, the cavitation limit in water. Taken together, our data suggests that both in air and water, animals evolved that produce sound so loud that they are pushing against physical rather than physiological limits of sound production, radiation and propagation.
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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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11
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Anderson HL, Perkes A, Gottfried JS, Davies HB, White DJ, Schmidt MF. Female signal jamming in a socially monogamous brood parasite. Anim Behav 2021; 172:155-169. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.10.011] [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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12
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Currie SE, Boonman A, Troxell S, Yovel Y, Voigt CC. Echolocation at high intensity imposes metabolic costs on flying bats. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1174-1177. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-1249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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13
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Longridge NS, Lim A, Mallinson AI, Renshaw J. Vestibular suppression of normal bodily sounds. Acta Otolaryngol 2020; 140:401-405. [PMID: 32068478 DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2020.1723807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are present in almost everyone. The proximity of the cochlear and vestibular end organs strongly indicates an overlap of the stimuli to which they respond.Aims/objectives: To determine the loudness of shouting compared to the external auditory canal (EAC) and explore how hyperstimulation of the cochlea and vestibular structures might be prevented.Materials and methods: We compared the loudness and frequency response of sound during shouting, biting and chewing, as well as the measurement of the loudness and frequency of sound in the external auditory canal (EAC) when a calibrated minishaker is applied to the forehead and to the upper incisor teeth.Results: We showed that vibratory sounds produced by vocalizations and oral activities were attenuated when they reached the ear, so that these sounds would not act as vestibular stimulants.Conclusions and significance: Chewing is known to cause a stapedius reflex which suppresses internal sounds to optimize audition of external sounds, while at the same time suppressing vestibular stimulation, which serves to optimize the sensitivity of the vestibular system, in order that it may respond precisely to a threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil S. Longridge
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Anielle Lim
- Department of Audiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Arthur Ian Mallinson
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Neuro-otology Unit, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jim Renshaw
- Neuro-otology Unit, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
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