Next-generation acoustic recorders for studies of animal communication, vocal learning, and cultural evolution

数字声学技术的最新发展产生了能够在全天候野外条件下长期部署的野外便携式记录仪。在这份提案中，我请求NSERC RTI支持下一代自主数字录音机，我将与一个庞大而多样化的学生和合作者团队一起使用它来研究野生鸟类的声音学习和文化进化。 在包括人类和鸣禽在内的八种动物中，年幼的动物通过听成年动物的声音来学习发声。文化遗传的声音特征在动物生存和交配中起着至关重要的作用。我将与一个由学生和博士后研究人员组成的团队一起，使用所要求的数字录音机来研究两个研究系统中的声乐学习：温带麻雀，雄性使用歌曲来保卫领土和吸引配偶;热带弗伦斯，两性都使用独唱和协调的声乐二重唱。在使用我们最近开发的实验方法向幼鸟教授新的歌曲后，我们将使用所要求的数字记录仪在广泛的地理和时间尺度上进行长期的声学监测，以评估声乐学习的生态和进化后果。 下一代数字录音机将使我们能够通过一系列的三个项目来测试关于声乐学习和动物文化的新假设。在项目A中，在温带鸟类中，所要求的设备将允许我们测试以下假设：（1）物理导师的存在增强了声音学习，（2）幼鸟根据暴露频率学习歌曲，（3）幼鸟通过拒绝次优歌曲来改善其声音学习。在项目B中，关于热带鸟类的二重唱，我们将测试以下假设：（1）热带鸟类的学习是性别特异性的，（2）二重唱促进了声乐学习，（3）鸟类从附近的动物那里学习二重唱行为。最后，在项目C中，我们将通过记录时间和空间的声学变化模式来研究两种研究系统中的文化演变。由于测试这些假设需要大量的录音，而且需要进行声学采样的地点很多，如果没有所要求的设备，这些项目都是不可能的。 这项研究将为动物的行为，生态和进化提供突破性的见解，并将回答有关声乐学习和动物文化的新问题。这项研究还将使我能够培训许多不同的加拿大科学家，并进一步开发用于研究野生动物的创新记录技术;我的团队中许多以前的HQP现在利用他们在自动记录器方面的经验为政府和非政府机构工作。我的实验室被广泛认为是研究野生动物的新方法的先驱来源，所要求的下一代记录仪对我的研究团队继续这一创新至关重要。

Recent developments in digital acoustic technology have given rise to field-portable recorders capable of long deployments in all-weather field conditions. In this proposal, I request NSERC RTI support for next-generation autonomous digital recorders that I will use with a large and diverse team of students and collaborators to study vocal learning and cultural evolution in wild birds. In only eight groups of animals, including humans and songbirds, young animals learn to vocalize by listening to adults. Culturally inherited vocal traits play a vital role in animal survival and mating. With a team of students and postdoctoral researchers, I will use the requested digital recorders to study vocal learning in two study systems: temperate sparrows where males use songs to defend territories and attract mates; and tropical wrens where both sexes use solo songs and coordinated vocal duets in diverse contexts. After teaching novel songs to young birds using our recently developed experimental approach, we will use the requested digital recorders to conduct long-term acoustic monitoring, at broad geographic and temporal scales, to assess the ecological and evolutionary consequences of vocal learning. The next-generation digital recorders will allow us to test new hypotheses about vocal learning and animal culture, through a series of three projects. In Project A, on temperate birds, the requested equipment will allow us to test the hypotheses that (1) the presence of a physical tutor enhances vocal learning, (2) young birds learn songs based on frequency of exposure, and (3) young birds refine their vocal learning by rejecting suboptimal songs. In Project B, on duetting tropical birds, we will test the hypotheses that (1) learning is sex-specific in tropical birds, (2) duets facilitate vocal learning, and (3) birds learn duetting behaviour from nearby animals. Finally, in Project C, we will study cultural evolution in both study systems by documenting patterns of acoustic changes through time and space. Due to the high number of recordings needed to test these hypotheses, and the large number of locations where acoustic sampling is necessary, none of these projects are possible without the requested equipment. This body of research will provide ground-breaking insights into the behaviour, ecology, and evolution of animals, and will answer novel questions about vocal learning and animal culture. This research will also allow me to train many diverse Canadian scientists and further develop innovative recording technologies for studying wild animals; many previous HQP from my team now use their experience with automated recorders to work for government and non-government agencies. My laboratory is widely recognized as a pioneering source of novel methods for studying wild animals, and the requested next-generation recorders are vital for my research team to continue this innovation.