Behavioral Ecology of Vocal Diversity

发声多样性的行为生态学语音模仿似乎是人类言语进化的前适应，其在其他物种中独立进化的原因引起了人们的极大兴趣。虽然鸣禽表现出声音模仿，但这通常仅限于雄性，只有一部分发声曲目，在很短的年龄范围内获得，以及繁殖环境。相比之下，更像人类的是，大多数发声曲目的模仿在一生中和几乎所有的社交环境中都可以在鹦鹉的两性身上看到。为什么鹦鹉会进化出声音模仿能力仍然是个谜。这个项目研究了哥斯达黎加和博内尔三种野生鹦鹉的发声模仿功能。利用先进的交互回放和阵列记录技术，该项目将测试一系列详细的假设，这些假设涉及声音模仿在调节野生鹦鹉群体高度动态的分裂/融合中的作用，以及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背景和分类亲缘关系，这应该允许提取一般模式。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田间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.