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

非技术摘要Nowicki&Amp；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中发挥着重要作用，特别是在社会行为中，包括领土防御和吸引和选择配偶。鸟鸣是这类行为中最引人注目的案例之一，关于动物交流的发展和进化的大部分知识都是对鸟鸣的研究结果。在这个研究项目中，瑟西博士将研究鸟类歌唱的一个共同特征--不同的歌唱类型--的几个方面。在许多鸣禽中，雄鸟会唱各种不同的歌曲，这些歌曲可以分为少数几种类型。例如，雄性歌雀每只唱5到13种不同的歌唱类型。这种模式在许多物种中都有发现，但人们对歌曲中的这种变异性是如何在个体中发展起来的，或者它在进化意义上是如何发挥作用的知之甚少。在实验室和野外进行的一系列实验将调查：(1)歌雀区分歌型内和歌型之间的变异的能力；(2)这种变异有助于吸引配偶或阻止其他地区雄性的方式；(3)在该国不同地区，歌雀在歌声中的变化量的差异程度；以及(4)学习和文化传播在歌型变异性发展中的作用。综上所述，这些研究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.