Species-universal microstructure in the learned song of the swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Marler, Peter; Pickert, Roberta

doi:10.1016/s0003-3472(84)80143-8

Cited by 204 publications

(118 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Marler and Pickert 1984). It should be apparent from this discussion that it is not generally a valid parameter, in that it is a characteristic of the measuring instrument, not the voice, and is a joint function of the rate of change (a voice variable) and the filter bandwidth (an instrument parameter) as described by Equation 1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Spectrographic Analysis of Animal Vocalizations: Implications of the “Uncertainty Principle”

Beecher

1988

Bioacoustics

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Many animal vocalizations are non-periodic, frequency-modulated signals. Because this type of signal varies simultaneously in two dimensions, time and frequency, spectrographic measurement is constrained by the "uncertainty principle": to increase accuracy of measurement in one dimension we must sacrifice accuracy of measurement in the other dimension. Although this trade-off is unavoidable, inherent in the measurement of frequency, for any particular frequency-modulated, non-periodic signal, there is an intermediate, optimal setting of spectrographic bandwidth, equal to the square root of the average rate of change of the measured signal. This optimal bandwidth minimizes the time· frequency smear, and thus permits the most accurate measurement of the instantaneous frequency. Investigators analyzing the microstructure of animal vocal signals therefore should choose their analyzer bandwidths to match the signals under study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In particular, with the new focus on the micro-structure of vocal signals (e.g. Marler and Pickert 1984, Gouzoules etal. 1984, Clark, Marler and Beeman 1987, increasingly finer measurements are going to require an increasing precision of measurement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectrographic Analysis of Animal Vocalizations: Implications of the “Uncertainty Principle”

Beecher

1988

Bioacoustics

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“…Swamp Sparrow songs follow a predictable syntax in which one syllable is repeated throughout the entire song. Syllables can be further broken down into individual note types that are classifiable into six categories (Marler and Pickert 1984; Fig. 1).…”

Section: Song Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of their habitat-based divergence on a relatively local scale, Swamp Sparrows provide a good opportunity for examining the influences of geographic separation on song variation and response. Furthermore, previous studies of their song ontogeny and structure (Marler and Peters 1982, Marler and Pickert 1984, Balaban 1988 provide considerable background information on the vocalizations of this species as a whole. The three subspecies of Swamp Sparrow (M. g. georgiana, nigrescens and ericrypta) probably recovered from a population bottleneck and recolonized post-Pleistocene coastal estuaries or areas in the past 10 000-15 000 years (Greenberg et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrogeographic Vocal Variation in Subspecies of Swamp Sparrow

Liu

Lohr

Olsen

et al. 2008

Condor

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Abstract. Variation in song can play a central role in species and subspecies recognition among birds. The ability of individuals to distinguish between songs of their own versus songs of a different subspecies potentially strengthens local adaptation of subspecific populations. We investigated the degree of vocal divergence and discrimination between two subspecies of Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) to examine how variation in song could influence behavioral response. We recorded songs of Southern (M. g. georgiana) and Coastal Plain (M. g. nigrescens) Swamp Sparrow males in Maryland and Delaware, respectively, and analyzed variation in syllable composition, repertoire size, trill rate, and frequency bandwidth. In addition to describing differences in song characteristics, we performed an estimate of local song type diversity that predicted larger population repertoires in M. g. nigrescens. We then broadcast recordings to evaluate male territorial responses to song and found that males reacted more strongly to songs of their own subspecies than to songs of the other subspecies. The extent of song variation and discrimination suggests the possibility of continued divergence. Further tests may determine whether such results can be generalized beyond the populations studied to the subspecies level, and whether females as well as males differentiate between songs from separate subspecies. Variación Vocal Macrogeográfica en Subespecies de Melospiza georgianaResumen. La variación del canto puede desempeñar un papel importante en el reconocimiento de especies o subespecies de aves. La capacidad de distinguir entre canto autóctono y alóctono puede reforzar la adaptación local de las poblaciones subespecíficas. Se investigó el grado de divergencia y discriminación vocal en dos subespecies de Melospiza georgiana para examinar la influencia de la divergencia vocal sobre el comportamiento de ambas subespecies. Se grabaron cantos de M. g. georgiana y nigrescens en Maryland y Delaware, respectivamente, y se analizó la variación en la composición silábica, el tamaño del repertorio, la velocidad del canto y el ancho de banda. Además de describir las diferencias en las características del canto entre las dos subespecies, se hizo un cálculo de la diversidad local del canto que predijo un repertorio colectivo más grande en M. g. nigrescens. Después se reprodujeron grabaciones para evaluar la respuesta territorial de los machos al canto y se encontró que la reacción era mayor ante cantos de individuos de la misma subespecie que ante aquellos de la otra subespecie. El grado de variación y discriminación entre cantos sugiere la existencia de un proceso de divergencia entre estas dos subespecies. Sin embargo, es necesario realizar más experimentos para generalizar estos resultados más allá de las poblaciones estudiadas al nivel de subespecies, y para determinar si las hembras también pueden discriminar los cantos de diferentes subespecies.

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“…Particular species may be limited in the range of sounds that they produce, and may be incapable of copying ones outside that range (e.g. swamp sparrow: Marler & Pickert 1984; see also Podos 1997). Young birds may also be especially prone to focusing on and learning the sounds of their own species.…”

Section: Song Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fifty years of bird song research: a case study in animal behaviour

Slater

2003

Animal Behaviour

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Species-universal microstructure in the learned song of the swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Cited by 204 publications

References 7 publications

Spectrographic Analysis of Animal Vocalizations: Implications of the “Uncertainty Principle”

Spectrographic Analysis of Animal Vocalizations: Implications of the “Uncertainty Principle”

Macrogeographic Vocal Variation in Subspecies of Swamp Sparrow

Fifty years of bird song research: a case study in animal behaviour

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