Energetic state and the performance of dawn chorus in silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)

Barnett, Craig A.; Briskie, James V.

doi:10.1007/s00265-006-0286-x

Cited by 49 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…This differential production of Dh notes may potentially be associated with a higher energetic cost associated with maintaining a clean break between high pitch A, B and C notes and lower pitch, broadband D notes [see cost of birdsong production (Oberweger and Goller, 2001;Hasselquist and Bensch, 2008)]. In a similar vein, Barnett and Briskie found that wild male silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) given supplemental food produced more complex songs than they had prior to supplementation (Barnett and Briskie, 2007). We suggest that the increased use of Dh notes in spontaneous calls from partially reinforced birds may be the result of a reduced ability or willingness to invest energy into vocal production, because more energy was required to access food.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

The effect of schedules of reinforcement on the composition of spontaneous and evoked black-capped chickadee calls

Proppe

Sturdy

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYSongbirds often modify elements of their songs or calls in particular social situations (e.g. song matching, flock convergence, etc.) but whether adult individuals also make vocal modifications in response to abiotic environmental factors (e.g. food availability) is relatively unknown. In the present study we test whether two different schedules of food reinforcement, fixed ratio continuous reinforcement and variable ratio partial reinforcement, cause adult black-capped chickadees to change the structure of their chick-a-dee calls. We also examine how these calls differ in two contexts: being alone versus when experiencing an alarming event. Wild-caught black-capped chickadees were housed in isolation to prevent social interaction and recorded weekly for seven weeks. Baseline recordings on week one show that calls given alone differed from those given during an alarming event in both note type composition and frequency (i.e. pitch). Calls also changed over time between birds on the two different schedules of reinforcement. In addition, birds on different reinforcement schedules responded differently during the two recording conditions. Our results suggest that call characteristics can be modified rapidly and may reflect abiotic environmental conditions. If call structure varies consistently with particular abiotic environmental conditions, much can be gained from bioacoustic analyses of calls from wild birds. However, vocal patterns must be consistent across dialects, and we must disentangle vocal changes due to the abiotic environment from those due to social interaction. Further research is needed from natural populations and across multiple regions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

The effect of schedules of reinforcement on the composition of spontaneous and evoked black-capped chickadee calls

Proppe

Sturdy

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…In addition, persistent singing takes time and energy (Thomas 2002;Ward et al 2003;Ward & Slater 2005;Hasselquist & Bensch 2008) and increases the risk of being taken by a predator (Møller et al 2006). Despite this, the reed bunting dawn chorus is loud and lasts for about 1 h. Thus only males in good physical condition may maintain a high song rate during this time (Cuthill & MacDonald 1990;Thomas & Cuthill 2002;Barnett & Briskie 2007). A high song rate at dawn could thus be an honest signal towards females, indicating male quality (Otter et al 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Type III song is mainly produced during the dawn chorus. Song output early in the morning is likely to be an honest signal, indicating a male's physical condition, because the birds could not feed during the night (Cuthill & MacDonald 1990;Thomas & Cuthill 2002;Barnett & Briskie 2007). Studies on various species have found a peak in the dawn song activity or intensity during the fertile period of females (Mace 1987;Eens et al 1994;Welling et al 1995).…”

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confidence: 99%

A distinct reed bunting dawn song and its relation to extrapair paternity

et al. 2009

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“…Moreover, low temperatures are not the only challenge dawn presents. For example, diurnal songbirds endure a long fast at night that negatively affects their energetic reserves available for singing at dawn [11]. Females may prefer songs they hear at dawn because of its association with the end of this fast [12,13], which, once daylight arrives, might pressure males in poor condition to focus on foraging rather than singing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Song in the cold is ‘hot’: memory of and preference for sexual signals perceived under thermal challenge

Beaulieu

Sockman

2012

Biol. Lett.

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The environmental conditions under which signals are perceived can affect receiver responses. Many songbird populations produce a song chorus at dawn, when, in cold habitats, they would experience thermal challenge. We recorded temperature and the song activity of Lincoln's sparrows (Melospiza lincolnii ) on a high-elevation meadow, and determined that song behaviour is concentrated around the coldest time of the day, at dawn. We hypothesized that this is because male song in the cold is more attractive to females than song in the warm. To test this, we exposed laboratory-housed Lincoln's sparrow females to songs at 18 8 8 8 8C and 168 8 8 8 8C, which they naturally experience in the wild. Females spent 40 per cent more time close to the speaker during playback at 18 8 8 8 8C than at 168 8 8 8 8C. When tested at 168 8 8 8 8C 1-2 days later, females biased their movement towards the speaker playing songs previously heard at 18 8 8 8 8C over 168 8 8 8 8C. Thus, female Lincoln's sparrows remembered and affiliated with songs they heard under thermal challenge, indicating that the thermal environment can affect the attractiveness of a sexual signal.

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Energetic state and the performance of dawn chorus in silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)

Cited by 49 publications

References 35 publications

The effect of schedules of reinforcement on the composition of spontaneous and evoked black-capped chickadee calls

The effect of schedules of reinforcement on the composition of spontaneous and evoked black-capped chickadee calls

A distinct reed bunting dawn song and its relation to extrapair paternity

Song in the cold is ‘hot’: memory of and preference for sexual signals perceived under thermal challenge

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