Behavioral Ecology of Vocal Diversity

声音多样性的行为生态学声音模仿似乎是人类语言进化的一种预适应，其在其他物种中独立进化的原因引起了极大的兴趣。虽然鸣禽表现出声音模仿，但这通常仅限于雄性，只有一部分声音曲目，在短时间内获得，以及繁殖环境。相比之下，更像人类的是，在几乎所有的社会环境中，鹦鹉的两性都能在一生中模仿大多数的声乐曲目。鹦鹉进化出声音模仿的原因仍然是个谜。这个项目研究了哥斯达黎加和博内尔的三种野生鹦鹉的声音模仿功能。利用先进的交互式回放和阵列记录技术，该项目将测试一系列关于声音模仿在调节野生鹦鹉群体高度动态裂变/融合中的作用的详细假设，并在这些群体中建立局部优势。这三个物种代表了不同的生态环境和分类亲缘关系，这应该允许提取一般模式。该研究将同时为热带鹦鹉保护和当地居民和美国学生的先进野外技术培训提供重要数据。

Behavioral Ecology of Vocal DiversityVocal mimicry appears to be a pre-adaptation for the evolution of speech in humans, and the reasons for its independent evolution in other species are of great interest. Although songbirds show vocal mimicry, this is usually limited to the male sex, only a portion of the vocal repertoire, acquisition during a short age span, and breeding contexts. In contrast, and more like humans, mimicry for most of the vocal repertoire is seen in both sexes of parrots throughout life and in nearly all social contexts. Why parrots have evolved vocal mimicry remains a mystery. This project examines the functions of vocal mimicry in three wild parrot species in Costa Rica and Bonaire. Using advanced interactive playback and array recording technology, the project will test a detailed series of hypotheses concerning the role of vocal mimicry in mediating the highly dynamic fission/fusion of wild parrot groups, and the establishment of local dominance within such groups. The three species represent different ecological contexts and taxonomic affinities which should allow for the extraction of general patterns. The study will concurrently provide important data for tropical parrot conservation and training in advanced field techniques to both local residents and U.S. students.