Couples showing off: Audience promotes both male and female multimodal courtship display in a songbird

Ota, Nao; Gahr, Manfred; Soma, Masayo

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aat4779

Cited by 19 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Such substantial sex differences in singing behaviour are commonly found in the majority of northern temperate songbird species, even though females of many tropical and southern temperate species sing regularly, and their songs play an important role in inter-sexual communication (Hall et al, 2015; Price, 2019; Price et al, 2009; Slater and Mann, 2004). For example, female blue-capped cordon-bleus ( Uraeginthus cyanocephalus ) use their song as advertising signals and address their songs to their mates (Immelmann, 1968; Ota et al, 2018), although the female songs appear shorter and less complex than those of males (Geberzahn and Gahr, 2011). In another tropical songbird species, forest weavers ( Ploceus bicolor ), males and females develop their songs during pair binding and eventually learn to sing identical duets, which they use to defend their territories (Wickler and Seibt, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The gene expression profile of the song control nucleus HVC shows sex specificity, hormone responsiveness, and species specificity among songbirds

Frankl-Vilches

Bakker

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Singing occurs in songbirds of both sexes, but some species show typical degrees of sex-specific performance. We studied the transcriptional sex differences in the HVC, a brain nucleus critical for song pattern generation, of the forest weaver (Ploceus bicolor), the blue-capped cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus), and the canary (Serinus canaria), which are species that show low, medium, and high levels of sex-specific singing, respectively. We observed persistent sex differences in gene expression levels regardless of the species-specific sexual singing phenotypes. We further studied the HVC transcriptomes of defined phenotypes of canary, known for its testosterone-sensitive seasonal singing. By studying both sexes of canaries during both breeding and nonbreeding seasons, nonbreeding canaries treated with testosterone, and spontaneously singing females, we found that the circulating androgen levels and sex were the predominant variables associated with the variations in the HVC transcriptomes. The comparison of natural singing with testosterone-induced singing in canaries of the same sex revealed considerable differences in the HVC transcriptomes. Strong transcriptional changes in the HVC were detected during the transition from nonsinging to singing in canaries of both sexes. Although the sex-specific genes of singing females shared little resemblance with those of males, our analysis showed potential functional convergences. Thus, male and female songbirds achieve comparable singing behaviours with sex-specific transcriptomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The gene expression profile of the song control nucleus HVC shows sex specificity, hormone responsiveness, and species specificity among songbirds

Frankl-Vilches

Bakker

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…2020) or signal their current mating status (Ota et al. 2018). To our knowledge, current work on audience effects has considered networks of only three or four individuals.…”

Section: Open Questions In the Study Of Mate Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, an "audience" of potential competitors can influence a chooser's preference (Plath et al 2008), or the intensity of fights among courters (Dzieweczynski et al 2005). Similarly, the presence of courters can affect chooser aggression toward conspecifics and/or heterospecifics (Makowicz et al 2020) or signal their current mating status (Ota et al 2018). To our knowledge, current work on audience effects has considered networks of only three or four individuals.…”

Section: How Does Social Context Shape Mating Preferences and Outcomes?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Foundations and Frontiers in Mate Choice Review of: Rosenthal, G. 2017. Mate Choice: The Evolution of Sexual Decision Making from Microbes to Humans. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 648 pp. ISBN: 978‐0‐691‐15067‐3; $US55.00 HB

et al. 2020

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“…In the blue-capped cordon-bleu ( Uraeginthus cyanocephalus ; Fig. 1a ), a socially monogamous songbird, both male and female, repeatedly bob up and down and sing songs while holding a piece of nest material in the beak during courtship (Goodwin 1982 ; Ota et al 2015 , 2018 ). Using a high-speed camera, my previous laboratory study revealed that both male and female cordon-bleus rapidly stamp their feet several times in one bobbing (Ota et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tap dancers in the wild: field observations of multimodal courtship displays in socially monogamous songbirds

Ota

2020

Sci Nat

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Multimodal signaling systems are shaped not only by a signaler's physical abilities but also by external factors such as the position of signal receivers and the properties of the medium through which the signals are transmitted. To fully understand the evolution and function of multimodal communication, it is essential to investigate the behavior in the wild. Here, I present evidence that socially monogamous songbirds perform complex courtship displays that can produce multimodal and multicomponent signals in wild conditions. Cordon-bleus (Uraeginthus spp.) are socially monogamous songbirds from East Africa. Both sexes of cordon-bleus perform multimodal courtship displays by holding a piece of nest material, bobbing up and down, and singing. My previous laboratory study using high-speed video cameras revealed that courtship bobbing includes multiple rapid steps similar to human tap-dancing, which presumably contributes to producing non-vocal sounds and/or vibrations in addition to visual signals. As a result of field observation and behavioral analysis, I found that wild cordon-bleus perform tap-dance like displays just as captive cordon-bleus. I also observed that wild cordon-bleus produced non-vocal sounds and shook branches during courtship, which can contribute to multimodal signal production (i.e., visual, acoustic, and vibrational signals). My findings imply that the courtship displays of cordon-bleus are an ideal candidate for investigating the role and function of multimodal communication in animals, and demonstrate the importance of further quantitative studies in both laboratory and field.

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Couples showing off: Audience promotes both male and female multimodal courtship display in a songbird

Abstract: Socially monogamous songbird couples show off their courtship display in front of other individuals.

Cited by 19 publications

References 37 publications

The gene expression profile of the song control nucleus HVC shows sex specificity, hormone responsiveness, and species specificity among songbirds

The gene expression profile of the song control nucleus HVC shows sex specificity, hormone responsiveness, and species specificity among songbirds

Foundations and Frontiers in Mate Choice Review of: Rosenthal, G. 2017. Mate Choice: The Evolution of Sexual Decision Making from Microbes to Humans. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 648 pp. ISBN: 978‐0‐691‐15067‐3; $US55.00 HB

Tap dancers in the wild: field observations of multimodal courtship displays in socially monogamous songbirds

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