Video evidence of song in a nestling Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus) supports innate song development in Piciformes

Lukhele, Sifiso M.; Widdows, Craig D.; Kirschel, Alexander N. G.

doi:10.1676/21-00072

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Isochrony, which has been identified in humans, non-human primates, songbirds, and bats 24,30,73 , is thought to facilitate acoustic coordination and processing, especially in vocal learners 24 . Tinkerbirds are not vocal learners 74 , but contrary to assertions that vocal nonlearners lack the ability to perceive isochronous rhythms 75 , our study suggests its perception 74 might have driven selection for rhythmic song components even in species with limited vocal flexibility. Indeed, although tinkerbirds do not duet, perception of rhythmic patterning is likely fundamental for duet coordination in confamilial species from independent clades within Lybiidae that perform highly coordinated multi-individual acoustic displays 36 .…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…We hypothesized that because tinkerbirds develop their songs innately 74 , hybrids might be expected to share acoustic features of both parental species as a consequence of their admixed genomes, thus resulting in more temporally unstable songs. Pure ancestry individuals would thus sing less variable, more temporally consistent songs than hybrids.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A genomic basis of vocal rhythm in birds

Sebastianelli,

Lukhele,

Secomandi

et al. 2024

Nat Commun

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Vocal rhythm plays a fundamental role in sexual selection and species recognition in birds, but little is known of its genetic basis due to the confounding effect of vocal learning in model systems. Uncovering its genetic basis could facilitate identifying genes potentially important in speciation. Here we investigate the genomic underpinnings of rhythm in vocal non-learning Pogoniulus tinkerbirds using 135 individual whole genomes distributed across a southern African hybrid zone. We find rhythm speed is associated with two genes that are also known to affect human speech, Neurexin-1 and Coenzyme Q8A. Models leveraging ancestry reveal these candidate loci also impact rhythmic stability, a trait linked with motor performance which is an indicator of quality. Character displacement in rhythmic stability suggests possible reinforcement against hybridization, supported by evidence of asymmetric assortative mating in the species producing faster, more stable rhythms. Because rhythm is omnipresent in animal communication, candidate genes identified here may shape vocal rhythm across birds and other vertebrates.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A genomic basis of vocal rhythm in birds

Sebastianelli,

Lukhele,

Secomandi

et al. 2024

Nat Commun

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We also found limited support for AAH, with an association of EVI with peak frequency in P. chrysoconus and P. pusillus, suggesting some adaptation of song pitch to habitat structure over a continental scale in these species with a wider ecological niche, from acacia savanna to dense forest, across the continent. Given the innate nature of tinkerbird song (Lukhele et al 2022), this result might suggest stronger environmental pressure on vocalization of birds with limited vocal flexibility, as proposed by other studies on birds that lack vocal learning (McCracken & Sheldon 1997;Bertelli & Tubaro 2002). Mikula et al (2021) focused on passerines, the vast majority of which develop songs through cultural learning, and that ability may obscure acoustic adaptation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Continent-Wide Patterns of Song Variation Predicted by Classical Rules of Biogeography

Sebastianelli

Lukhele

Nwankwo

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Physiological constraints related to atmospheric temperature pose a limit to body and appendage size in endothermic animals. This relationship has been summarized by two classical principles of biogeography: Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules. Body size may also constrain other phenotypic traits important in ecology, evolution and behaviour, and such effects have seldom been investigated at a continental scale. Through a multilevel-modelling approach, we demonstrate that continent-wide morphology of related African barbets follows predictions of both ecogeographic rules, and that body size mirrors variation in song pitch, an acoustic trait important in species recognition and sexual selection. Specifically, effects on song frequency in accordance with Bergmann’s rule dwarf those of acoustic adaptation at a continental scale. Our findings suggest that macroecological patterns of body size can influence phenotypic traits important in ecology and evolution, and provide a baseline for further studies on the effects of environmental change on bird song.

show abstract

“…We also found limited support for AAH, with an association of EVI with peak frequency in P. chrysoconus and P. pusillus, suggesting some adaptation of song pitch to habitat structure over a continental scale in these species with a wider ecological niche, from acacia savanna to dense forest, across the continent. Given the innate nature of tinkerbird song (Lukhele et al, 2022), this result might suggest stronger environmental pressure on vocalisation of birds with limited vocal flexibility, as proposed by other studies on birds that lack vocal learning (Bertelli & Tubaro, 2002;McCracken & Sheldon, 1997). Mikula et al (2021) focused on passerines, the vast majority of which develop songs through cultural learning, and that ability may obscure acoustic adaptation.…”

Section: Estimatementioning

confidence: 89%

Continent‐wide patterns of song variation predicted by classical rules of biogeography

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Physiological constraints related to atmospheric temperature pose a limit to body and appendage size in endothermic animals. This relationship has been summarised by two classical principles of biogeography: Bergmann's and Allen's rules. Body size may also constrain other phenotypic traits important in ecology, evolution and behaviour, and such effects have seldom been investigated at a continental scale.Through a multilevel-modelling approach, we demonstrate that continent-wide morphology of related African barbets follows predictions of Bergmann's rule, and that body size mirrors variation in song pitch, an acoustic trait important in species recognition and sexual selection. Specifically, effects on song frequency in accordance with Bergmann's rule dwarf those of acoustic adaptation at a continental scale. Our findings suggest that macroecological patterns of body size can influence phenotypic traits important in ecology and evolution, and provide a baseline for further studies on the effects of environmental change on bird song.

show abstract

Video evidence of song in a nestling Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus) supports innate song development in Piciformes

Cited by 6 publications

References 45 publications

A genomic basis of vocal rhythm in birds

A genomic basis of vocal rhythm in birds

Continent-Wide Patterns of Song Variation Predicted by Classical Rules of Biogeography

Continent‐wide patterns of song variation predicted by classical rules of biogeography

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About