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

非技术总结 Nowicki Searcy，IBN 9408360，复杂声音信号的感知，功能和发展 动物交流在许多生物学关键领域发挥着重要作用，特别是社会行为，包括领土防御和吸引力以及配偶的选择。 鸟鸣是这类行为中最引人注目的例子之一，关于动物交流的发展和进化的许多知识都是对鸟鸣研究的结果。 在这个研究项目中，Searcy博士将研究鸟类鸣叫的一个共同特征的几个方面，不同的鸣叫类型。 在许多鸣禽中，雄性鸣禽唱的歌曲可以分为几种类型。 例如，雄性麻雀每只会唱5到13种不同的歌。 这种模式在许多物种中都有发现，但人们对这种歌声的变异性如何在个体中发展或如何在进化意义上发挥作用知之甚少。 在实验室和野外进行的一系列实验将调查：（1）唱歌麻雀区分歌声类型内和歌声类型之间的变化的能力;（2）这种变化有助于吸引配偶或阻止其他领土雄性的方式：（3）在不同地区，鸣禽的鸣叫变异程度不同;（4）学习和文化传播在鸣叫类型变异发展中的作用。 总之，这些研究的结果将促进对动物交流进化和发展的理解。

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.