Vocal learning and cultural evolution in temperate and tropical animals

温带和热带动物的声音学习和文化进化

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-05303
• 负责人: Mennill, Daniel
• 金额: $ 4.3万
• 依托单位: University of Windsor
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=631948
• 关键词: Vocal; learning; cultural; evolution; temperate

In eight groups of animals on Earth, including humans and songbirds, juveniles learn to communicate by listening to adults. Vocal learning has important consequences for behavioural ecology – for example, learned vocalizations are critical for defending territories and attracting mates – and for evolutionary biology – for example, learning promotes geographic variation and thereby influences population divergence and speciation. Birds provide an outstanding model system for studying vocal learning because they produce diverse vocal signals, because they have short generation times, and because they respond strongly to experimental playback, making it possible to manipulate the learning process. Whereas traditional studies have focused on learning in males, temperate animals, and captive individuals, I propose highly innovative studies on both male and female vocalizations, on both temperate and tropical animals, and on wild animals in their natural environment. With a team of students and postdocs, I will conduct research on two model systems: a population of temperate sparrows where an unusually high return-rate allows us to track birds from birth to adulthood; and a population of tropical wrens where both sexes sing solo songs and coordinated vocal duets. We will teach songs to young birds using arrays of custom-designed loudspeakers that simulate tutors engaged in realistic vocal interactions. In part A of this investigation, we will experimentally investigate new ideas about vocal learning. We will test hypotheses that young animals preferentially learn songs overheard during interactions rather than solo broadcasts; that both an animal’s early acoustic environment and their pre-breeding social environment modifies vocal learning; that young animals preferentially learn high performance songs that are difficult to perform; and that tropical birds learn to perform duets by listening to adults. In part B, we will conduct longitudinal analyses to study vocal learning in tropical wrens. We will test hypotheses that tropical birds exhibit sex-specific vocal lineages, and that tropical birds learn to combine particular songs from their complex vocal repertoires by following “duet codes”. In part C, we will study cultural evolution in both temperate and tropical birds, documenting patterns of acoustic changes through time and space to better understand imitation, innovation, selection, and drift. Uniquely, we will test and refine theoretical models of cultural evolution by quantifying the evolution of songs we introduce using simulated vocal tutors. This body of research will provide groundbreaking insight into the behaviour, ecology, and evolutionary biology of animals, and answer novel questions about vocal learning and cultural evolution. This research will allow me to train many young Canadian scientists, and develop innovative technologies for studying wild animals.

在包括人类和歌手在内的八组动物中，少年学会通过听成年人来交流。 Vocal learning has important consequences for behavioural ecology – for example, learned vocalizations are critical for defending territory and attracting mates – and for evolutionary biology – for example, learning promotes geographic variation and thereby influences population divergence and specifications. Birds provide an outstanding model system for studying vocal learning Because they produce divers vocal signals, because they have short generation times, and because they respond strongly to experimental playback, making it possible to manipulate the learning process. Whereas traditional studies have focused on learning in males, temperature animals, and captive individuals, I proposal highly innovative studies on both male and female vocalizations, on both temperature and tropical animals, and on wild animals in their natural environment. With a team of students and postdocs, I will conduct research on two model systems: a population of temperature sparrows where an unusually high return-rate allows us to track birds from birth to adulthood;以及一群热带wrens，男女都会演唱独奏歌曲和协调的声乐二重奏。我们将使用定制设计的扬声器阵列向幼鸟传授歌曲，这些扬声器模拟从事逼真的人声互动的导师。在这项调查的第A部分中，我们将在实验上研究有关声乐学习的新想法。我们将检验假设年​​轻的动物在互动期间优先学习歌曲而不是个人广播。动物的早期声学环境及其前繁殖的社会环境都可以改变声音学习。那些年轻的动物优先学习难以表演的高性能歌曲；那只热带鸟类学会通过听成年人来表演二重奏。在B部分中，我们将进行纵向分析，以研究热带WRES中的声音学习。 We will test hypotheses that tropical birds exposed sex-specific vocal lineages, and that tropical birds learn to combine particular songs from their complex vocal repertoires by following “due codes”. In part C, we will study cultural evolution in both temperature and tropical birds, documenting patterns of acoustic changes through time and space to better understand imitation, innovation, selection, and drift. Uniquely, we will test and refine theoretical models of cultural evolution by quantifying the evolution of songs we introduce using simulated vocal tutors. This body of research will provide groundbreaking insight into the behaviour, ecology, and evolutionary biology of animals, and answer novel questions about vocal learning and cultural evolution.这项研究将使我能够培训许多加拿大年轻的科学家，并开发用于研究野生动物的创新技术。