An Analysis of Vocal Communication in Young Brown Noddies (Anous stolidus)

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane E. Riska
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
The Third ◽  
Vocal Signals

Abstract Nestlings and young fledglings of the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) produce three structurally different vocal signals. The postures of the chicks and the contexts in which these signals are produced differ for each call. Nestlings produce all three calls within one day after hatching. One is given during pipping, when the chick is moving on or near the nest, or when it is isolated from the nest. The second is given by begging chicks. The third is given when an intruder approaches. The repertoire is composed of frequency-modulated tonal elements and broad-band bursts of sound. Although changes occur in the temporal and frequency patterns of the calls during the nestling and fledgling stages, there is little resemblance to the adult repertoire during these periods.

scholarly journals Discrimination of natural acoustic variation in vocal signals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Fishbein ◽  
Nora H. Prior ◽  
Jane A. Brown ◽  
Gregory F. Ball ◽  
Robert J. Dooling
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Finch ◽  
Acoustic Communication ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Speech Sounds ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Acoustic Variation ◽  
Zebra Finch Song ◽  
Human Listener

AbstractStudies of acoustic communication often focus on the categories and units of vocalizations, but subtle variation also occurs in how these signals are uttered. In human speech, it is not only phonemes and words that carry information but also the timbre, intonation, and stress of how speech sounds are delivered (often referred to as “paralinguistic content”). In non-human animals, variation across utterances of vocal signals also carries behaviorally relevant information across taxa. However, the discriminability of these cues has been rarely tested in a psychophysical paradigm. Here, we focus on acoustic communication in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), a songbird species in which the male produces a single stereotyped motif repeatedly in song bouts. These motif renditions, like the song repetitions of many birds, sound very similar to the casual human listener. In this study, we show that zebra finches can easily discriminate between the renditions, even at the level of single song syllables, much as humans can discriminate renditions of speech sounds. These results support the notion that sensitivity to fine acoustic details may be a primary channel of information in zebra finch song, as well as a shared, foundational property of vocal communication systems across species.

Memoirs: On Some Remarkable New Monticellia-Like and Other Cestodes from Sudanese Siluroids

1925 ◽  
Vol s2-69 (276) ◽  
pp. 703-729
Author(s):  
W. N. F. WOODLAND
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
The Other ◽  
Taenia Saginata ◽  
New Genera ◽  
The Third ◽  
New Family ◽  
Taxonomic Feature ◽  
A New Species

1. Those species of Proteocephalid Cestodes in which the testes are situated in the cortex may be described as of the Monticellia type. Of this type there are three conditions : (a) the Monticellia condition in which the testes, uterus, ovary, and vitellaria are all situated in the cortex; (b) the Rudolphiella condition in which the testes and vitellaria alone are in the cortex, the other organs being entirely or almost entirely in the medulla ; and (c) the Marsypocephalus condition in which the testes alone are in the cortex, all other organs being medullary. Fuhrmann's genus Goezeella is synonymous with Monticellia if we ignore the characters of the scolex as features of generic value. 2. The anatomy of two species of Marsypocephalus is described: Marsypocephalus rectangulus Wedl, 1862, and Marsypocephalus heterobranchus, n.sp., from Nile Siluroid fishes. 3. It is concluded that the cortical situation of the testes and other organs is a taxonomic feature of generic value only (as in Pseudophyllidea in the case of the vitellaria) and La Rue's new family of the Monticellidae, created to include Monticellia-like forms, is not accepted. Monticellia, Rudolphiella, and Marsypocephalus are thus regarded as new genera in the Proteocephalidae. 4. The facts that the ‘Corallobothrium’ type of scolex is found in all of the three genera Monticellia (as amended by me and including ‘Goezeella’ siluri, Fuhrmann), Rudolphiella, and Proteocephalus (as amended by me and including ‘Corallobothrium’ solidum, Fritsch), and that in the Caryophyllaeidae, Bothriocephalidae, and Cyclophyllidea (cf. e.g. Taenia solium and Taenia saginata) minor scolex characters are evidently only features of specific value, compel us to delete such genera as Corallobothrium, Choanoscolex, Acanthotaenia, and my own recent genus Gangesia and to regard them as synonyms of Proteocephalus (La Rue's genus ‘Ophiotaenia’, syn. ‘Crepidobothrium’, not being accepted). Fuhrmann's Goezeella siluri becomes Monticellia siluri, and Fritach's Corallobothrium solidum becomes Proteocephalus solidus. The genera of the Proteocephalidae are thus four in number: Proteocephalus , Monticellia, Rudolphiella , and Marsypocep, halus, and these are formally or informally redefined. The two species of Marsypocephalus are diagnosed. 5. The ‘Taenia malopteruri’ of Fritsch, 1886, is not of the Monticellia type, as suggested by La Rue. Its structure is of the usual Proteocephalid type, save that the scolex possesses a rostellum and a broad band of hooklets and is covered with spinelets. It is renamed Proteocephalus malopteruri. 6. A new species of Clestobothrium--Clestobothrium clarias, from Clarias anguillaris Günth-is described. It is of interest, not only as being the third (second ?) species known of the genus, but because it affords one more illustration of the fact that the characters of the scolex cannot be used for diagnoses of genera. For this reason also, Lönnberg's genus Ptychobothrium (1889) becomes synonymous with Diesing's genus Polyonchobothrium (1884).

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MELITÆA FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

1890 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-23
Author(s):  
W. H. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Yellow Spot ◽  
Outer Side ◽  
Costal Margin ◽  
Pale Yellow ◽  
The Third ◽  
Yellow Patch ◽  
A New Species

Melitæa Augusta.Male.—Expands from 1.6 to 1.75 inch; belongs to Chalcedon group, but is an conspicuously red as the species Chalcedon is black; upper side black, the surface nearly covered with light red and pale yellow spots, disposed as in the group; the basal areas dusted with yellow scales which, on primaries, extend along both margins; costa of same wing edged red; both hind margins bordered by small red spots, varying in shape, sometimes narrow and as of a broken stripe, sometimes more or lesss rounded to ovate; the spots of second row ar small, lunular, largest of secondaries, edged with red, the interior being yellow, or they are nearly all red with a small yellow patch in middle; sometimes this yellow is thinly washed red; the third row on primaries is either wholly yellow, or yellow with red edges, particularly on the outer side; on secondaries wholly red, and often very deep, so as to make a conspicuous broad band; the fourth row on primaries is red, sometimes with the spots next the two margins either yellow or in put yellow; around the end of cell yellow spots four or five in number; in the cell spots of red and yellow alternately, four in all, the yellow one at base more or less stained red; two yellow spots below cell with black ground between, and nearer base a small duplex red one; the fourth row on secondaries is yellow, either of small spots or pretty large ones, and the three or four from costal margin are red on their outer side; a red stripe outside the cell from the end to costal margin; two small yellow spots inside cell, with a red one between them and a yellow spot below; fringes yellow, black at the tips of the nervules.

Responses To Conspecific Advertisement Calls in the Green Frog (Rana Clamitans) and Their Role in Male-Male Communication

Behaviour ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 133 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 283-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Perrill ◽  
Mark A. Bee
Keyword(s):  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Rana Clamitans ◽  
Green Frog ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
The Third ◽  
Altered Response

AbstractWe investigated vocal communication between males in a central Indiana population of the green frog, Rana clamitans. Three playback experiments were conducted. In the first test, we broadcasted a single-note and a multiple-note conspecific advertisement call and a control call (Acris crepitans) to calling males. In response to the conspecific stimuli, males increased the number of calls made per minute, increased note duration, lowered the dominant frequency in the call, and often approached the speaker platform. In a second playback test, designed to examine changes in the sound pressure levels of response calls, we broadcasted a conspecific single-note advertisement call and the control call to calling males. Males in this test lowered the intensity of their responses to the conspecific stimulus. We take these altered response calls to be encounter calls used in the vocal defense of a territory during agonistic male-male interactions. We examine the function of these calls and discuss their possible role in communication between males. In the third test, we broadcasted a second type of conspecific multiple-note call and the control call. In their responses, males increased the number of the second multiple-note calls. The multiple-note stimulus used in this test failed to elicit the agonistic responses of the first two conspecific calls. The role of this second type of multiple-note call in male-male communication remains unclear.

scholarly journals Form and function of long-range vocalizations in a Neotropical fossorial rodent: the Anillaco Tuco-Tuco (Ctenomyssp.)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Amaya ◽  
Juan I. Areta ◽  
Veronica S. Valentinuzzi ◽  
Emmanuel Zufiaurre
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Subterranean Rodents ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Types Of Information

The underground environment poses particular communication challenges for subterranean rodents. Some loud and low-pitched acoustic signals that can travel long distances are appropriate for long-range underground communication and have been suggested to be territorial signals. Long-range vocalizations (LRVs) are important in long-distance communication inCtenomystuco-tucos. We characterized the LRV of the Anillaco Tuco-Tuco (Ctenomyssp.) using recordings from free-living individuals and described the behavioral context in which this vocalization was produced during laboratory staged encounters between individuals of both sexes. Long-range calls of Anillaco tuco-tucos are low-frequency, broad-band, loud, and long sounds composed by the repetition of two syllable types: series (formed by notes and soft-notes) and individual notes. All vocalizations were initiated with series, but not all had individual notes. Males were heavier than females and gave significantly lower-pitched vocalizations, but acoustic features were independent of body mass in males. The pronounced variation among individuals in the arrangement and number of syllables and the existence of three types of series (dyads, triads, and tetrads), created a diverse collection of syntactic patterns in vocalizations that would provide the opportunity to encode multiple types of information. The existence of complex syntactic patterns and the description of soft-notes represent new aspects of the vocal communication ofCtenomys. Long-distance vocalizations by Anillaco Tuco-Tucos appear to be territorial signals used mostly in male-male interactions. First, emission of LRVs resulted in de-escalation or space-keeping in male-male and male-female encounters in laboratory experiments. Second, these vocalizations were produced most frequently (in the field and in the lab) by males in our study population. Third, males produced LRVs with greater frequency during male-male encounters compared to male-female encounters. Finally, males appear to have larger home ranges that were more spatially segregated than those of females, suggesting that males may have greater need for long-distance signals that advertise their presence. Due to their apparent rarity, the function and acoustic features of LRV in female tuco-tucos remain inadequately known.

Vibrational Communication in Subterranean Rodents

1998 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Francescoli ◽  
Carlos A. Altuna
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Subterranean Rodents ◽  
Seismic Signals ◽  
Evolutionary Sequence ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Vibrational Signals ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Long Range Communication ◽  
Solitary Species ◽  
Fossorial Species

Here we discuss different factors that could influence the development of vocal and/or seismic communicative channels in subterranean rodents. We suggest that: 1) Highly social subterranean rodents that do not leave their burrows use essentially vocal signals in the vibrational channel; 2) Solitary and almost permanently fossorial species use vocal signals in short range and seismic signals in long range communication; 3) Other solitary species that leave the burrow system more frequently and that retain good visual capabilities are constrained to use vocal communication only. Also we suggest that seismic communication probably derives from digging activities and, consequently, developed after the acquisition of the subterranean way of life. The first three statements are based on a previously proposed relationship between visual capabilities, hearing capabilities, time spent outside the burrows, social organization and type of vibrational signals used by the species. The fourth statement is based in the correlation found between digging and transporting tools and thumping tools, that are the same across the literature on pertinent genera. Some thumping techniques unique to subterranean animals lead us to propose an evolutionary sequence leading from digging to thumping.

Noise and Attention Span

1977 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 919-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. O'Malley ◽  
John Gallas
Keyword(s):  
Color Word ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Arousal Level ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
The Third ◽  
Band Noise ◽  
Stroop Color Word Test ◽  
Breadth Of Attention ◽  
Rod And Frame Test ◽  
Rod And Frame

The effect of emotional arousal, as induced by broad-band noise, upon breadth of attention was investigated. Four intensity levels were employed (no noise, 75 db, 85 db, and 100 db). Two of the tasks, Stroop color-word test, rod-and-frame test, required narrowed attention and the third, Tsai-Partington pathways test, required broader attention. Arousal level did not significantly affect performance on the rod-and-frame test or the pathways test, although in the latter a curvilinear trend was suggested. A complex relationship between arousal level and Stroop performance was obtained; performance of the 85-db group was superior to that of other groups, which did not differ significantly from one another. Results were discussed in terms of Easterbrook's (1959) arousal hypothesis.

scholarly journals Distinct timescales for the neuronal encoding of vocal signals in a high-order auditory area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurore Cazala ◽  
Catherine Del Negro ◽  
Nicolas Giret
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
High Order ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Natural Sound ◽  
Auditory Area ◽  
Natural Variations ◽  
Neuronal Encoding

The ability of the auditory system to selectively recognize natural sound categories with a tolerance to variations within categories is thought to be crucial for vocal communication. Subtle variations, however, may have functional roles. To date, how the coding of the balance between tolerance and sensitivity to variations in acoustic signals is performed at the neuronal level requires further studies. We investigated whether neurons of a high-order auditory area in a songbird species, the zebra finch, are sensitive to natural variations in vocal signals by recording responses to repeated exposure to similar and variant sound sequences. We took advantage of the intensive repetition of the male songs which subtly vary from rendition to rendition. In both anesthetized and awake birds, responses based on firing rate during sequence presentation did not show any clear sensitivity to these variations, unlike the temporal reliability of responses based on a 10 milliseconds resolution that depended on whether variant or similar sequences were broadcasted and the context of presentation. Results therefore suggest that auditory processing operates on distinct timescales, a short one to detect variations in individual's vocal signals, longer ones that allow tolerance in vocal signal structure and the encoding of the global context.

An Analysis of Vocal Communication in the Adult Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane E. Riska
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Wide Band ◽  
Basic Unit ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Mean Frequency ◽  
Dry Tortugas ◽  
Msec Duration ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Nesting Season

Abstract I analyzed vocal signals of marked adult Brown Noddies (Anous stolidus) throughout their nesting season in the Dry Tortugas, Florida from 1979 to 1982. The basic unit of the adult repertoire is a wide-band click, less than 4 msec duration, ranging in frequency from 200 to 3,300 Hz. I identified nine temporal arrangements of these clicks, which form the notes of the calls. These calls differ little in frequency range, but they differ in the mean frequency of the most intense sound energy band, in note duration, in the number of clicks per note, and in internote interval. These calls are used in different contexts, which sometimes overlap. Frequency, note duration, and internote interval do not differ between sexes. Mean frequency and note length varied among individuals for some calls. No tonal elements characteristic of calls of Brown Noddy nestlings remain in the adult repertoire.

scholarly journals Distinct timescales for the neuronal encoding of vocal signals in a high-order auditory area

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurore Cazala ◽  
Catherine Del Negro ◽  
Nicolas Giret
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
High Order ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Natural Sound ◽  
Auditory Area ◽  
Natural Variations ◽  
Neuronal Encoding

AbstractThe ability of the auditory system to selectively recognize natural sound categories while maintaining a certain degree of tolerance towards variations within these categories, which may have functional roles, is thought to be crucial for vocal communication. To date, it is still largely unknown how the balance between tolerance and sensitivity to variations in acoustic signals is coded at a neuronal level. Here, we investigate whether neurons in a high-order auditory area in zebra finches, a songbird species, are sensitive to natural variations in vocal signals by recording their responses to repeated exposures to identical and variant sound sequences. We used the songs of male birds which tend to be highly repetitive with only subtle variations between renditions. When playing these songs to both anesthetized and awake birds, we found that variations between songs did not affect the neuron firing rate but the temporal reliability of responses. This suggests that auditory processing operates on a range of distinct timescales, namely a short one to detect variations in vocal signals, and longer ones that allow the birds to tolerate variations in vocal signal structure and to encode the global context.

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