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，它在其他物种中独立进化的原因引起了人们极大的兴趣。虽然鸣禽表现出声音模仿，但这通常仅限于雄性，只有一部分的声乐曲目，在很短的年龄跨度和繁殖环境中获得。与此相反，更像人类，模仿大多数的声音曲目是在鹦鹉的整个生命和几乎所有的社会环境中看到的性别。鹦鹉为什么会进化出模仿声音的能力仍然是个谜。本计画探讨哥斯达黎加与博内尔岛三种野生鹦鹉的拟声功能。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解野生鹦鹉群体的高度动态裂变/融合中的作用以及在这些群体中建立地方优势的详细假设。这三个物种代表了不同的生态背景和分类的亲和力，应该允许提取的一般模式。这项研究将同时为当地居民和美国学生提供热带鹦鹉保护和先进野外技术培训的重要数据。

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.