Male lyrebirds create a complex acoustic illusion of a mobbing flock during courtship and copulation

Dalziell, Anastasia H.; Maisey, Alex C.; Magrath, Robert D.; Welbergen, Justin A.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.003

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…However, all lyrebird populations are probably under similar physiological constraints and able to mimic the same sounds, and all species mimicked had a high chance of occurring at all locations, albeit we could not account for possible differences in the local abundance of model species. Furthermore, sequences in recital mimicry are unlikely to reflect naturally occurring environmental sequences (sensu [57]), as recital mimicry includes vocalizations that would be produced by model species in a range of contexts. Another possible explanation is that sequence sharing is a by-product of individuals applying shared acoustic contrast rules to a shared mimetic repertoire.…”

Section: (B) Social Transmission Of Sequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher-order sequences of vocal mimicry performed by male Albert's lyrebirds are socially transmitted and enhance acoustic contrast

et al. 2022

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Most studies of acoustic communication focus on short units of vocalization such as songs, yet these units are often hierarchically organized into higher-order sequences and, outside human language, little is known about the drivers of sequence structure. Here, we investigate the organization, transmission and function of vocal sequences sung by male Albert's lyrebirds ( Menura alberti ), a species renowned for vocal imitations of other species. We quantified the organization of mimetic units into sequences, and examined the extent to which these sequences are repeated within and between individuals and shared among populations. We found that individual males organized their mimetic units into stereotyped sequences. Sequence structures were shared within and to a lesser extent among populations, implying that sequences were socially transmitted. Across the entire species range, mimetic units were sung with immediate variety and a high acoustic contrast between consecutive units, suggesting that sequence structure is a means to enhance receiver perceptions of repertoire complexity. Our results provide evidence that higher-order sequences of vocalizations can be socially transmitted, and that the order of vocal units can be functionally significant. We conclude that, to fully understand vocal behaviours, we must study both the individual vocal units and their higher-order temporal organization.

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Section: (B) Social Transmission Of Sequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher-order sequences of vocal mimicry performed by male Albert's lyrebirds are socially transmitted and enhance acoustic contrast

et al. 2022

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“…These vocalizations are called plastic songs, which finally develop into a fully structured unchangeable vocal pattern in adulthood (Eales, 1985;Slater and Jones, 1998). For closed-ended learners such as zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata) and white crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys), the adult song does not undergo further change and is aptly referred to as "crystallized (Harcus, 1977;Eens, 1997;Hardy and Parker, 1997;Dowsett-Lemaire, 2008;Gammon and Altizer, 2011;Balsby et al, 2012;Janik, 2014;Mello, 2014;Reichmuth and Casey, 2014;Stoeger and Manger, 2014;Favaro et al, 2016;Mori et al, 2018;Johnson and Clark, 2020;Vernes and Wilkinson, 2020;Dalziell et al, 2021).…”

Section: Vocal Learning and The Underlying Neural Circuitrymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Endogenous Opioid System in the Vocal Behavior of Songbirds and Its Possible Role in Vocal Learning

Singh

Iyengar

2022

Front. Physiol.

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The opioid system in the brain is responsible for processing affective states such as pain, pleasure, and reward. It consists of three main receptors, mu- (μ-ORs), delta- (δ-ORs), and kappa- (κ-ORs), and their ligands – the endogenous opioid peptides. Despite their involvement in the reward pathway, and a signaling mechanism operating in synergy with the dopaminergic system, fewer reports focus on the role of these receptors in higher cognitive processes. Whereas research on opioids is predominated by studies on their addictive properties and role in pain pathways, recent studies suggest that these receptors may be involved in learning. Rodents deficient in δ-ORs were poor at recognizing the location of novel objects in their surroundings. Furthermore, in chicken, learning to avoid beads coated with a bitter chemical from those without the coating was modulated by δ-ORs. Similarly, μ-ORs facilitate long term potentiation in hippocampal CA3 neurons in mammals, thereby having a positive impact on spatial learning. Whereas these studies have explored the role of opioid receptors on learning using reward/punishment-based paradigms, the role of these receptors in natural learning processes, such as vocal learning, are yet unexplored. In this review, we explore studies that have established the expression pattern of these receptors in different brain regions of birds, with an emphasis on songbirds which are model systems for vocal learning. We also review the role of opioid receptors in modulating the cognitive processes associated with vocalizations in birds. Finally, we discuss the role of these receptors in regulating the motivation to vocalize, and a possible role in modulating vocal learning.

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“…Greater racket-tailed drongos, Dicrurus paradiseus, mimic mixed-species flock mobbing events to draw the flocks to them so they can join the flock (Goodale, Ratnayake, & Kotagama, 2014). In Superb lyrebirds, Menura novaehollandiae, males effectively mimic multi-species mobbing events and it is thought to prevent females from leaving a display area or to prolong mating to ensure a better chance of success (Dalziell, Maisey, Magrath, & Welbergen, 2021).…”

Section: Mobbing Mimicrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobbing in animals: a thorough review and proposed future directions

Griesser¹,

Carlson²

2021

Preprint

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Mobbing is an important anti-predator behavior where prey harass and attack a predator to lower the immediate and long-term risk posed by predators, warn others, and communicate about the predator’s threat. While this behavior has been of interest to humans since antiquity, and aspects of it have been well researched for the past 50 years, we still know little about its ecology and the evolutionary pressures that gave rise to this ubiquitous anti-predator behavior. In this review, we explore what mobbing is, how it is used, what its functions are thought to be, its use as a proxy for cognition, before providing suggestions for specific future avenues of research necessary to improve our understanding of mobbing in its ecological and evolutionary context.

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Male lyrebirds create a complex acoustic illusion of a mobbing flock during courtship and copulation

Cited by 22 publications

References 42 publications

Higher-order sequences of vocal mimicry performed by male Albert's lyrebirds are socially transmitted and enhance acoustic contrast

Higher-order sequences of vocal mimicry performed by male Albert's lyrebirds are socially transmitted and enhance acoustic contrast

The Role of the Endogenous Opioid System in the Vocal Behavior of Songbirds and Its Possible Role in Vocal Learning

Mobbing in animals: a thorough review and proposed future directions

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