Environmental variability and acoustic signals: A multi-level approach in songbirds
Date
2012
Authors
Medina, Iliana
Francis, Clinton D
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Royal Society of London
Abstract
Among songbirds, growing evidence suggests that acoustic adaptation of song traits occurs in response to habitat features. Despite extensive study, most research supporting acoustic adaptation has only considered acoustic traits averaged for species or populations, overlooking intraindividual variation of song traits, which may facilitate effective communication in heterogeneous and variable environments. Fewer studies have explicitly incorporated sexual selection, which, if strong, may favour variation across environments. Here, we evaluate the prevalence of acoustic adaptation among 44 species of songbirds by determining how environmental variability and sexual selection intensity are associated with song variability (intraindividual and intraspecific) and short-termsong complexity. We showthat variability in precipitation can explain short-term song complexity among taxonomically diverse songbirds, and that precipitation seasonality and the intensity of sexual selection are related to intraindividual song variation. Our results link song complexity to environmental variability, something previously found for mockingbirds (Family Mimidae). Perhaps more importantly, our results illustrate that individual variation in song traits may be shaped by both environmental variability and strength of sexual selection.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: rain; adaptation; bioacoustics; cohort analysis; environmental factor; sensory system; sexual selection; song; songbird; adaptation; animal; article; environment; geography; mate choice; North America; phylogeny; physiology; principal component analysis; Acoustic adaptation; Birdsong; Environmental variability; Selection; Sensory drive; Song variation
Citation
Collections
Source
Biology Letters
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
License Rights
Restricted until
2037-12-31
Downloads
File
Description