Collaborative Project: Perception, Function and Development of Complex Vocal Signals

复杂声音信号的感知、功能和发展动物的交流在许多重要的生物学领域起着重要的作用，特别是社会行为，包括领土防御和配偶的吸引和选择。鸟类鸣叫是这类行为中最引人注目的案例之一，我们对动物交流的发展和进化的许多了解都是对鸟类鸣叫研究的结果。在这个研究项目中，Searcy博士将从几个方面研究鸟类鸣叫的共同特征，即不同的鸣叫类型。在许多鸣禽中，雄鸟会唱各种各样的歌曲，这些歌曲可以分为少数几种类型。例如，雄性歌雀每只会唱五到十三种不同的歌曲。这种模式在许多物种中都有发现，但人们对这种歌声的变化是如何在个体中发展的，或者它在进化意义上是如何起作用的，知之甚少。在实验室和野外进行的一系列实验将调查：(1)鸣禽区分不同鸣种内和不同鸣种的能力；(2)这种变化对吸引配偶或劝阻其他领地雄性的作用方式；(3)在全国不同地区，鸣禽的歌声变异性的差异程度；(4)学习和文化传播在歌曲类型变异性发展中的作用。综上所述，这些研究的结果将促进对动物交流的进化和发展的理解。

NONTECHNICAL SUMMARY Nowicki & Searcy, IBN 9408360, Perception, Function and Development of Complex Vocal Signals Animal communication plays an important role in many biologically critical arenas, particularly social behavior, including territorial defense and the attraction and choice of a mate. Bird song is one of the most spectacular cases on this type of behavior, and much of what has been learned about the development and evolution of animal communication has been the result of studies of bird song. In this research project, Dr. Searcy will investigate several aspects of a common characteristic of bird song, different song types. In many songbirds, the males sing variable songs which can be classified into a small number of song types. For example, male song sparrows sing five to thirteen different song types each. This pattern is found in many species but little is known about either how such variability in song develops in the individual or about how it functions in an evolutionary sense. A series of experiments conducted in both the laboratory and the field will investigate: (1) the abilities of song sparrows to discriminate variation both within and between song types; (2) the ways in which such variation contributes toward either attracting a mate or discouraging other territorial males: (3) the extent to which song sparrows differ in the amount of variability in their songs in different regions of the country; and (4) the role of learning and cultural transmission in the development of song type variability. Taken together, the results of these studies will advance the understanding of the evolution and development of animal communication.