A New Semi-automated Method for Assessing Avian Acoustic Networks Reveals that Juvenile and Adult Zebra Finches Have Separate Calling Networks

Abstract

Social networks are often inferred from spatial associations, but other parameters like acoustic communication are likely to play a central role in within group interactions. However, it is currently difficult to determine which individual initiates vocalizations, or who responds to whom. To this aim, we designed a method that allows analyzing group vocal network while controlling for spatial networks, by positioning each group member in equidistant individual cages and analyzing continuous vocal interactions semi-automatically. We applied this method to two types of zebra finch groups, composed of either two adult females and two juveniles, or four young adults (juveniles from the first groups). Young often co-occur in the same social group as adults but are likely to have a different social role, which may be reflected in their vocal interactions. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the social structure of the group influences the parameters of the group vocal network. We found that groups including juveniles presented periods with higher level of activity than groups composed of young adults. Using two types of analyses (Markov analysis and cross-correlation), we showed that juveniles as well as adults were more likely to respond to individuals of their own age-class (i.e. to call one after another, in terms of turn-taking, and within a short time-window, in terms of time delay). When juveniles turned into adulthood, they showed adult characteristics of vocal patterns. Together our results suggest that vocal behavior changes during ontogeny, and individuals are more strongly connected with individuals of the same age-class within acoustic networks.

Rapid effects of sex steroids on zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) pair maintenance.

“…using open-source libraries. Our software design has been fully described elsewhere (Elie, Soula, Mathevon, & Vignal, 2011; Fernandez, Soula, Mariette, & Vignal, 2016; Perez, Fernandez, Griffith, Vignal, & Soula, 2015). Note that we were only able to score the identity of the caller (female or male) during the visual reunion when the pair was separated into two cages.…”

Spatial organization and interactions of harvester ants during foraging activity

“…Similarly, spatial patterns of movement influence the probability of interactions in living systems, from bacterial aggregations, in which quorum sensing depends on chemical cues associated with local density [7], [8], to human online social networks [9], workplace interactions [10], and the votes of legislators [11]. In animal groups, spatial proximity influences the spread of innovative foraging strategies [12], vocal communication [13], and fission-fusion group dynamics [14]. Proximity in turn may be determined by social attraction and preferential associations, or simply clustered resources [15], [16].…”

Impact of group size and social composition on group vocal activity and acoustic network in a social songbird

“…This species extensively uses acoustic communication during social interactions: groups gather in 'social' trees near watering points or feeding areas (Zann, 1996) in which they produce a background sound composed of calls and songs. Some studies have started to focus on vocal dynamics in this species (Elie, Soula, Mathevon, & Vignal, 2011;Fernandez, Mariette, Vignal, & Soula, 2016;Gill, Goymann, Ter Maat, & Gahr, 2015;Perez, Fernandez, Griffith, Vignal, & Soula, 2015;Villain, Fernandez, Bouchut, Soula, & Vignal, 2016). Because of the amount of accumulated knowledge on both behavioral and neurobiological aspects of its acoustic communication, the zebra finch is an interesting model to study communal vocalization and its relation to the social structure of the group.…”