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88 results for “song complexity”
Evolution of female song and duetting in the chaffinch (Fringilla) species complex
<p>Female song is ancestral to songbirds and shows considerable phylogenetic signal, but its presence also appears to be labile and correlated with life-history and ecology. While previous studies have examined the evolution of female song across species-rich families, here we studied female song in island populations of a recently diverged species-complex, the chaffinches (genus <em>Fringilla</em>). We show this behaviour has recently evolved in these populations, and probably on two independent occasions. In <em>F. teydea</em>, female song is performed in loose duets with males, while in <em>F. coelebs</em>, female song is produced solo. Populations with singing females showed year-round territoriality and were found in regions with low seasonality – both factors previously connected with high rates of female singing. To determine the relative saliency of female songs to conspecifics, and the degree to which they instigate territorial defence behaviours, we performed a series of speaker playback experiments. In <em>F. c. canariensis</em>, female song could induce comparable responses to male song, whilst duetting <em>F. teydea </em>playback produced similar responses to solo songs, and therefore may relate to within-pair communication instead. Our results suggest female song can be a highly labile trait that can evolve over short evolutionary timescales.</p>
Sex differences in the song circuit and song acoustic complexity in male and female house wrens
<p>In this study, we compared neural song circuit morphology to singing behavior recorded in the field for 17 male and 18 female house wrens. The acoustic complexity of house wren songs was quantified using a recently published machine learning approach. This data set includes recordings of all house wren songs used in this analysis along with Raven selection tables defining the boundaries of each syllable. This includes 109 female songs. R code used to extract acoustic features and estimate element diversity and our proxy for song acoustic complexity are included. Summaries of acoustic variables for each song and each element are provided as well as files necessary to replicate the analysis. For each bird, we measured volume, cell number, cell density, and neuron soma size for three song circuits, Area X, HVC (used as a proper name), and the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA), and one control region, the nucleus rotundus (Rt). This data set includes these neural morphology measurements for each bird as well as R code used to (1) compare males and females for each neural measurement and (2) explore the relationship between acoustic complexity and neural morphology within each sex. </p>
Evolution of female song and duetting in the chaffinch (Fringilla) species complex
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Sex differences in the song circuit and song acoustic complexity in male and female house wrens
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Data from: The role of red coloration and song in peacock spiders: insights into complex signaling systems
Research on animal signaling enhances our understanding of links between sensory processing, decision-making, behavior, and evolution. Studies of sexually-selected signals may be particularly informative as mate choice provides access to decision patterns in the way that courtship leads to an easily observable behavioral output in choosers, i.e. mating. Male peacock spiders have some of the most elaborate and varied courtship displays known among animals. Particularly striking to human observers is the diversity of red, orange and yellow ornaments that males exhibit across the genus. The primary objective of our research was to investigate how these visual ornaments interact with vibratory songs to affect female mating behavior of one species, Maratus volans. Accordingly, we conducted mating trials under a series of experimentally manipulated vibratory and lighting conditions. Contrary to expectation, chromatic characteristics of longer wavelength ornaments are not driving female mate choice decisions, despite their extensive presence on male fans. Instead, our results suggest that contrast is important to females. Additionally, we found that vibratory signals were not necessary and did not increase mating rates. Our study demonstrates the intricacies inherent in complex signaling systems.
Song complexity is maintained during inter-population cultural transmission of humpback whale songs
<p>Among animal species, the songs of male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a rare example of social learning between entire populations. Understanding fine-scale similarity in song patterns and structural features will better clarify how accurately songs are learned during inter-population transmission. Here, six distinct song types (2009–2015) transmitted from the east Australian to New Caledonian populations were quantitatively analysed using fine-scale song features. Results found that New Caledonian whales learned each song type with high accuracy regardless of the pattern's complexity. However, there were rare instances of themes (stereotyped patterns of sound units) only sung by a single population. These occurred more often in progressively changing 'evolutionary' songs compared to rapidly changing 'revolutionary' songs. Our results suggest that populations do not need to reduce complexity to accurately learn song patterns. Populations may also incorporate changes and embellishments into songs in the form of themes which are suggested to be learnt as distinct segments. Maintaining complex song patterns with such accuracy suggests significant acoustic contact, supporting the hypothesis that song learning may occur on shared feeding grounds or migration routes. This study improves the understanding of inter-population mechanisms for large-scale cultural transmission in animals.</p>
Data for: Ecology and behavior predict an evolutionary trade-off between song complexity and elaborate plumages in antwrens (Aves, Thamnophilidae)
<p>The environment can impose constraints on signal transmission properties such that signals should evolve in predictable directions (Sensory Drive Hypothesis). However, behavioral and ecological factors can limit investment in more than one sensory modality leading to a trade-off in use of different signals (Transfer Hypothesis). In birds, there is mixed evidence for both sensory drive and transfer hypothesis. Few studies have tested sensory drive while also evaluating the transfer hypothesis, limiting understanding of the relative roles of these processes in signal evolution. Here, we assessed both hypotheses using acoustic and visual signals in male and female antwrens (Thamnophilidae), a species-rich group that inhabits diverse environments and exhibits behaviors, such as mixed-species flocking, that could limit investment in different signal modalities. We uncovered significant effects of habitat (sensory drive) and mixed-species flocking behavior on both sensory modalities, and we revealed evolutionary trade-offs between song and plumage complexity, consistent with the transfer hypothesis. We also showed sex- and trait-specific responses in visual signals that suggest both natural and social selection play an important role in the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Altogether, these results support the idea that environmental (sensory drive) and behavioral pressures (social selection) shape signal evolution in antwrens.</p>
Data from: The role of red coloration and song in peacock spiders: insights into complex signaling systems
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Song complexity is maintained during inter-population cultural transmission of humpback whale songs
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Did complex song and dance co-evolve with brain size in the Birds of Paradise (Aves: Paradisaeidae)?
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Data from: Elements of male song performance and complexity are associated with reduced risk of paternity loss in a South American passerine
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Data for: Ecology and behavior predict an evolutionary trade-off between song complexity and elaborate plumages in antwrens (Aves, Thamnophilidae)
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Data from: Molecular species-delimitation methods recover most song-delimited cicada species in the European Cicadetta montana complex
Molecular species delimitation is increasingly being used to discover and inform illuminate species level diversity and a number of methods have been developed. Here we compare the ability of two molecular species delimitation methods to recover song-delimited species in the Cicadetta montana cryptic species complex throughout Europe. Recent bioacoustics studies of male calling songs (pre-mating reproductive barriers) have revealed cryptic species diversity in this complex. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses were used to analyze the mitochondrial genes COI and COII and the nuclear genes EF1α and period for thirteen European Cicadetta species as well as the closely related monotypic genus Euboeana. Two molecular species delimitation methods, general mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) and Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography (BPP), identified the majority of song-delimited species and were largely congruent with each other. None of the molecular delimitation methods were able to fully recover a recent radiation of four Greek species.
Data from: Repertoire-based individual acoustic monitoring of a migratory passerine bird with complex song as an efficient tool for tracking territorial dynamics and annual return rates
In field ecological and behavioural studies, it is often necessary to identify specific individuals. In birds, colour rings are frequently used to mark individuals; however, rings are often difficult to observe, especially in small species and dense habitats. Acoustic-based monitoring detecting individuals by their characteristic vocalization is a potentially suitable alternative, but this approach is challenging in species with complex songs. On the example of the Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), a small migratory passerine often singing in flight or from perches obscured by foliage, we demonstrate that acoustic monitoring based on the syllable repertoire can be very efficient tool for individual recognition. During a 3-year study, we obtained over 500 recordings from males from one study population (a number of them returning after winter). Males banded with colour rings were repeatedly recorded throughout the seasons, and syllable repertoires were determined from spectrograms for each recording. The repertoire of each unambiguously identified male was distinct and stable within as well as between seasons; and males with similar syllable repertoires differed in syntax. Based on the congruence between identification based solely on spectrogram assessment, and that based on observation of colour rings, we inferred that reliable identification of singing males (including non-ringed ones) was possible in the studied population from assessing a repertoire and song syntax of <5-min recording (containing 20–30 songs). The acoustic-based data: (i) increased the overall estimated number of territorial males at the study locality (from 49 ringed to 61), and improved the estimates of the period of their presence; (ii) revealed dynamic within-season changes in territory occupancy that would otherwise be missed; and (iii) allowed identification of returning birds (including non-ringed ones and those actively avoiding approaching humans). Our results suggest that some commonly used methods may substantially underestimate return rates of migratory bird species. Individual acoustic monitoring should be applicable on various bird species with complex song and stable repertoires, and may be particularly useful for those living in dense habitat or sensitive to handling.
Data from: Deciphering information encoded in birdsong: male songbirds with fertile mates respond most strongly to complex, low-amplitude songs used in courtship
Research on the function of acoustic signals has focused on high-amplitude, long-range song (LRS) and largely ignored low-amplitude songs produced by many species during close-proximity, conspecific interactions. Low-amplitude songs can be structurally identical to LRS (soft LRS) or they can be widely divergent, sharing few spectral and temporal attributes with LRS (short-range song (SRS)). SRS is often more complex than LRS and is frequently sung by males during courtship. To assess function, we performed two playback experiments on males of a socially monogamous songbird. We compared responses of males whose mates were fertile or non-fertile to differences in song structure (SRS v. LRS and soft LRS), amplitude (SRS and soft LRS v. LRS), and tempo (slow v. fast SRS). Males responded more strongly to SRS than to LRS or soft LRS, indicating that song structure had a greater effect on response than song amplitude. SRS tempo did not detectably affect male response. Importantly, males responded more strongly to SRS when their mates were fertile, presumably because hearing SRS can indicate that a male's mate is being courted by an intruding male and a strong response can deter extra-pair competitors. We conclude that low-amplitude songs can function in both inter- and intra-sexual communication and should receive greater attention in future studies of mate choice and male-male competition.
Data from: Divergence in calls but not songs in the orchard oriole complex: Icterus spurius and I. fuertesi
Birdsong has important functions in attracting and competing for mates, and song characteristics are thought to diverge rapidly during the process of speciation. In contrast, other avian vocalizations that may have non-reproductive functions, such as calls, are thought to be more evolutionarily conserved and may diverge more slowly among taxa. This study examines differences in both male song and an acoustically simpler vocalization, the 'jeet' call, between two closely related taxa, Icterus spurius and I. fuertesi. A previous study comparing song syllable type sharing within and between I. spurius and I. fuertesi indicated that their songs do not differ discernibly. Here we measured 18 acoustic characteristics of their songs and found strong evidence supporting this prior finding. In contrast, we measured 17 acoustic characteristics of jeet calls and found evidence of significant divergence between the two taxa in many of these characteristics. Calls in I. fuertesi have a longer duration, a larger frequency bandwidth, a lower minimum frequency, a lower beginning frequency, and greater levels of both frequency and amplitude modulation in comparison to the calls of I. spurius. In addition, I. fuertesi calls contain two distinct parts, while the calls of I. spurius have only one part. Thus, we find evidence of divergence in the calls of the two taxa but not their songs challenging the widespread assumption that complex bird song evolves more rapidly than other types of vocalizations. Understanding divergence in multiple vocalization types as well as other behavioral, morphological, and molecular traits is important to understanding the earliest stages of speciation.
FIGURE 8 in Similar look but different song: a new Cicadetta species in the montana complex (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadidae)
FIGURE 8. Distribution maps of Cicadetta species in France including Corsica (inset). Internal borders follow administrative divisions ("départements"). Cicadetta cf. montana refer to specimens of the complex that could not be determined at species level because of unavailable acoustic information.
FIGURE 7 A–C in Similar look but different song: a new Cicadetta species in the montana complex (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadidae)
FIGURE 7 A–C. Frequency pattern of a typical long echeme produced by C. cerdaniensis. A, Oscillogram; B, Spectrogram (time vs frequency vs amplitude, colour amplitude scale given on the right) and mean spectrum (frequency vs amplitude) of the first and second parts of the echeme. C, Dominant frequency variation along the echeme. Parameters as in figure 6.
FIGURE 6 A–E in Similar look but different song: a new Cicadetta species in the montana complex (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadidae)
FIGURE 6 A–E. Temporal pattern of C. cerdaniensis calling song. A, Oscillogram (time vs amplitude) of two typical sequences, each made of three phrases (P1, P2, P3). Letters refer to temporal zooms depicted in C, D and E; B, Variations of temporal parameters along the phrases. ED, EID, FPD and SPD covary. C, Oscillogram of a typical echeme produced during phrase 1 (P1); D, Oscillogram of a typical echeme produced during phrase 2 (P2); E, Oscillogram of a typical echeme produced during phrase 3 (P3). Abbreviations as in figure 2.
FIGURE 5 in Similar look but different song: a new Cicadetta species in the montana complex (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadidae)
FIGURE 5. Type-locality habitat of C. cantilatrix sp. nov. Males were mainly found calling in trees and bushes.
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
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DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.