The functions of vocal learning in parrots

Bradbury, Jack W.; Balsby, Thorsten J. S.

doi:10.1007/s00265-016-2068-4

Cited by 90 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 250 publications

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“…Possessing a group badge or password could be beneficial to individuals in a group if membership is associated with cooperative interactions that are both costly to participants and vulnerable to cheating. The potential for learned shared vocalizations to facilitate recognition of other group members in especially large or fluid social groups has been proposed for diverse taxa because these species represent cases when learning to produce a shared calls has the potential to be more efficient than learning and remembering many individual calls (Bradbury & Balsby, 2016). For example, greater spear-nosed bats, Phyllostomus hastatus , learn roost-specific calls while foraging and these shared calls permit individuals to quickly identify other group members, possibly to facilitate the cooperative defence of rich food resources (Wilkinson & Boughman, 1998).…”

Section: Hypotheses For the Evolutionary Origins Of Call Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, learned calls can be shared at multiple levels, permitting a single call to simultaneously reflect information about social associations within a nested hierarchy of social groups such as social pairs, groups and populations, a phenomenon termed hierarchical mapping (Bradbury & Vehrencamp, 2011). These complex patterns of call sharing may be important both in denoting past associations and negotiating future associations by individuals in groups (Bradbury & Balsby, 2016). For example, the calls of budgerigars reflect individual identity as well as pair or group membership (Dahlin et al, 2014).…”

Section: Hypotheses For the Evolutionary Origins Of Call Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social calls provide novel insights into the evolution of vocal learning

2016

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Learned song is among the best-studied models of animal communication. In oscine songbirds, where learned song is most prevalent, it is used primarily for intrasexual selection and mate attraction. Learning of a different class of vocal signals, known as contact calls, is found in a diverse array of species, where they are used to mediate social interactions among individuals. We argue that call learning provides a taxonomically rich system for studying testable hypotheses for the evolutionary origins of vocal learning. We describe and critically evaluate four nonmutually exclusive hypotheses for the origin and current function of vocal learning of calls, which propose that call learning (1) improves auditory detection and recognition, (2) signals local knowledge, (3) signals group membership, or (4) allows for the encoding of more complex social information. We propose approaches to testing these four hypotheses but emphasize that all of them share the idea that social living, not sexual selection, is a central driver of vocal learning. Finally, we identify future areas for research on call learning that could provide new perspectives on the origins and mechanisms of vocal learning in both animals and humans.

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Section: Hypotheses For the Evolutionary Origins Of Call Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hypotheses For the Evolutionary Origins Of Call Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social calls provide novel insights into the evolution of vocal learning

2016

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“…Additionally, it is also important to consider the species' behavioural characteristics. For example, while captive cetaceans are known by their interest in novel objects [29,30], other animals such as ravens [31] or parrots [32] are neophobic and can easily become stressed when introduced to new objects or experimental setups. Such variations in intra-as well as interspecific behaviours may not only have large consequences for animal welfare, but also for the scientific results that the research project produces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research as an enrichment tool to improve welfare in captive animals

Ortiz¹,

Maxwell²,

Hansen³

2017

Anim Husb Dairy Vet Sci

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To ensure the mental well-being of animals in human care, it is necessary to evaluate their welfare. One way to improve the animals' wellbeing is to introduce cognitive challenges that requires creative problem solving through divergent thinking, openness, tolerance of ambiguity and intrinsic motivation. Cognitive challenges can be provided by performing research activities with the animals. Here, we determine whether engaging in research provides positive mental stimulation in two grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). The effects of participating in research varied between the two individuals depending on their individual personalities. For one of the seals, being involved in the research was motivating and positive, while the second seal displayed a tendency for low motivation and frustration. This indicates that captive animals may react to cognitive challenges differently, not only between species, but also between animals of different personalities.

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“…Both parrots and the oscine passerines (songbirds) use vocal learning in mate attraction and territory defence (Podos and Warren 2007;Bradbury and Balsby 2016), but parrots seem to go further by using vocal learning in an open-ended way to maximise opportunities in their large social groups. It seems that the major differences in vocal learning between parrots and songbirds may result from contrasting foraging styles.…”

Section: Paradigm-shifting Insights Into Evolutionary Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parrots specialise on foods that are often difficult to find and access, and that are toxic. They are often neophobic as a response and seem to rely on social information to learn how to exploit such marginal food sources over large geographic areas, leading to selection for imitation of others, referential signalling and recognition of many individuals in their highly fluid social circles (Bradbury and Balsby 2016).…”

Section: Paradigm-shifting Insights Into Evolutionary Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%