Diversity and function of vocalisations in the cooperatively breeding Chestnut-crowned Babbler

Crane, Jodie M. S.; Savage, James L.; Russell, Andrew F.

doi:10.1071/mu15048

Cited by 16 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…These range from behavioural studies on vocal communication (Crane et al . ) and sexual selection (Taff et al . ), to the identification of new species (McKay et al .…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Despite the limited distances over which sound travels in air, researchers have used passive acoustic methods to study a wide range of questions among avian species in terrestrial ecosystems. These range from behavioural studies on vocal communication (Crane et al 2016) and sexual selection (Taff et al 2014), to the identification of new species (McKay et al 2010). One group that has proven particularly suitable for passive acoustic studies are seabirds.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Acoustic activity across a seabird colony reflects patterns of within‐colony flight rather than nest density

Arneill

Critchley

Wischnewski

et al. 2019

Ibis

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Passive acoustic monitoring is increasingly being used as a cost‐effective way to study wildlife populations, especially those that are difficult to census using conventional methods. Burrow‐nesting seabirds are among the most threatened birds globally, but they are also one of the most challenging taxa to census, making them prime candidates for research into such automated monitoring platforms. Passive acoustic monitoring has the potential to determine presence/absence or quantify burrow‐nesting populations, but its effectiveness remains unclear. We compared passive acoustic monitoring, tape‐playbacks and GPS tracking data to investigate the ability of passive acoustic monitoring to capture unbiased estimates of within‐colony variation in nest density for the Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus. Variation in acoustic activity across 12 study plots on an island colony was examined in relation to burrow density and environmental factors across 2 years. As predicted fewer calls were recorded when wind speed was high, and on moon‐lit nights, but there was no correlation between acoustic activity and the density of breeding birds within the plots as determined by tape‐playback surveys. Instead, acoustic indices correlated positively with spatial variation in the in‐colony flight activity of breeding individuals detected by GPS. Although passive acoustic monitoring has enormous potential in avian conservation, our results highlight the importance of understanding behaviour when using passive acoustic monitoring to estimate density and distribution.

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“…These range from behavioural studies on vocal communication (Crane et al . ) and sexual selection (Taff et al . ), to the identification of new species (McKay et al .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic activity across a seabird colony reflects patterns of within‐colony flight rather than nest density

Arneill

Critchley

Wischnewski

et al. 2019

Ibis

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“…The major drivers of vocal complexity in avian systems include sexual selection and sociality (MacDougall-Shackleton 1997; Freeberg et al 2012) and measures of complexity include both structural (repertoire size and features of calls) and functional (behavioural contexts) aspects of vocalizations (Crane et al 2016; Holt 2017). Cooperative breeding has been found to be a strong predictor of large repertoire size in avian systems (Leighton 2017) and several avian cooperative breeders possess multiple structurally-distinct calls (Ficken et al 1978; Seddon 2002; Warrington et al 2014; Crane et al 2016). Evaluation of overall structural complexity, however, must also incorporate an assessment of the fine structure of all vocalizations by measuring the temporal and spectral features of elements (notes/syllables) that constitute a call/song.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evaluation of overall structural complexity, however, must also incorporate an assessment of the fine structure of all vocalizations by measuring the temporal and spectral features of elements (notes/syllables) that constitute a call/song. This level of analysis is largely missing in the assessment of vocal complexity in social birds (Greig et al 2008; Grieves et al 2015; Crane et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Structural complexity of vocalizations is determined by the compositional features of calls (how many elements make a call and how these elements are organized within a call), overall acoustic features of the call (temporal and spectral characteristics) and the total number of unique vocalizations of a species (Hailman and Ficken 1986; Zimmermann and Lerch 1993; reviewed in Freeberg et al 2012). Additionally, the different behavioural contexts in which calls differ also add to the communication complexity (reviewed in Freeberg et al 2012; Crane et al 2016). Based on the number of elements in a call, avian vocalizations can be classified as monosyllabic or multisyllabic (Rothstein 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural and functional complexity of vocalizations in a cooperatively breeding passerine, Jungle Babbler

Yambem

Chorol²,

Jain³

2020

Preprint

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Animal vocal communication ranges from simple to complex based on repertoire size, structure, and 16 composition of calls and the information encoded in them. According to the social complexity hypothesis, 17 communication complexity tends to increase with an increase in social complexity. While several studies on 18 mammalian systems exist supporting this, evidence from avian systems is comparatively limited. Towards this, 19 we present evidence for complex acoustic communication in a cooperatively breeding passerine, Jungle Babbler, 20 based on three aspects of complexity: an extensive repertoire of acoustically-distinct calls, within-call structural 21 complexity and the diverse behavioural contexts in which these calls are used. Jungle Babblers were found to 22 possess a structurally and functionally diverse vocal repertoire comprising 15 different calls. Detailed acoustic 23 analyses of multisyllabic calls revealed that these calls are composed of different notes. Further, despite a large 24 number of notes present in the repertoire, the number of calls were limited to 15. This implies that there may be 25 underlying rules that determine call composition to give rise to functional calls to which receivers respond. We 26 also found that these calls were produced in a variety of affiliative and agonistic contexts and were employed 27 towards coordination of diverse social behaviours including group movement, foraging, brood care, aggression 28 and vigilance. Yet, 7 out of 15 vocalizations were produced in the context of vigilance. This disproportionate 29 investment of vocalizations towards co-ordinated acoustic vigilance is characteristic of many cooperatively 30 2 breeding birds. Our study extends support for the social complexity hypothesis and also lays the foundation for 31 future investigations on combinatorial and syntactical rules underlying call structure and function in bird 32 vocalizations. 33 34 Significance statement 35 Studies on vocal complexity in birds have focussed mainly on repertoire size, structure and function. However, 36 fine temporal and spectral features of elements that constitute a call/song are rarely examined to evaluate vocal 37 complexity. We examined complex communication in a cooperatively breeding social passerine, Jungle Babbler 38 for which we assessed repertoire size, function, acoustic features of calls and of their constituent elements. 39Jungle Babblers were found to possess a structurally and functionally diverse vocal repertoire comprising of 15 40 calls, 46% of which were in the context of vigilance, thereby extending support to the social complexity 41 hypothesis. We also found that several calls were composed of multiple, acoustically distinct notes. These 42 findings will be foundational in understanding the interrelations between sociality and communicative 43 complexity and underlying combinatorial rules that determine call structure and function. 44 45

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Audience effects in a group‐living bird: How contact call rate is affected by vegetation and group size and composition

Meaux

Zeng

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Diversity and function of vocalisations in the cooperatively breeding Chestnut-crowned Babbler

Cited by 16 publications

References 57 publications

Acoustic activity across a seabird colony reflects patterns of within‐colony flight rather than nest density

Acoustic activity across a seabird colony reflects patterns of within‐colony flight rather than nest density

Structural and functional complexity of vocalizations in a cooperatively breeding passerine, Jungle Babbler

Audience effects in a group‐living bird: How contact call rate is affected by vegetation and group size and composition

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