scholarly journals Notes on a tree: reframing the relevance of primate choruses, duets, and solo songs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara De Gregorio ◽  
Filippo Carugati ◽  
Daria Valente ◽  
Teresa Raimondi ◽  
Valeria Torti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Turning Point ◽  
Territorial Behavior ◽  
Vocal Behavior ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Singing Behavior ◽  
Unique Definition

The complexity of primates’ singing behavior has long gathered the attention of researchers interested in understanding the selective pressures underpinning the evolution of language. Among these pressures, a link between territoriality, pair-living, and singing displays has been suggested. Historically, singing primates have been found in a few taxa that are not closely related to each other, and, in the last years, their phylogeny has dramatically changed. Hence, we aimed at understanding if the dogmatic association between territorial behavior and a monogamous social structure still holds in the light of current research. Moreover, singing behavior has often been considered a whole, but animals can perform different singing forms depending on how many individuals call simultaneously. Currently, it is unclear to which extent these singing forms are widespread among these primate groups. Given that there is no unique definition for a song, solo, duet, and chorus, we envisioned some of the most used descriptions. We then formulated some new definitions that we followed in our review of the presence/absence of these different forms of song organization among singing primates’ taxa. In particular, we suggested that tarsier species that are typically considered non-singers may indeed sing, and we pointed out that non-duetting gibbons may perform duet interactions. We found that, besides duets, chorusing behavior and solo songs are essential features of primates’ communication, but their study is still in a descriptive phase. Moreover, while territorial behavior seems to be conserved in these singing taxa, we highlighted that the monogamous social structure is not the rule. Pair-living plus multi- females groups displaying singing behavior are common too. We suggest that ending to consider these taxa as uniform in their sociality and vocal behavior might be a significant turning point to unravel the different selective pressures that influenced the emergence and organization of such peculiar vocal behavior.

Environments organize the verbal brain

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Charles Catania
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Behavior ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Tone Of Voice ◽  
Verbal Discourse

AbstractFOXP2 expression in the evolution of language derives from its role in allowing vocal articulation that is sensitive to its consequences. The discrete verbal discourse it allows must have evolved recently relative to affective features of vocal behavior such as tone of voice. Because all organ systems must have evolved in the service of behavior, attention is given to ways in which environments may have driven brain organization.

Bimodal signaling in infancy

2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Locke
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Vocal Behavior ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
Wide Margin ◽  
Evolutionary Path ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Communicative Context ◽  
The Relationship

It has long been asserted that the evolutionary path to spoken language was paved by manual–gestural behaviors, a claim that has been revitalized in response to recent research on mirror neurons. Renewed interest in the relationship between manual and vocal behavior draws attention to its development. Here, the pointing and vocalization of 16.5-month-old infants are reported as a function of the context in which they occurred. When infants operated in a referential mode, the frequency of simultaneous vocalization and pointing exceeded the frequency of vocalization-only and pointing-only responses by a wide margin. In a non-communicative context, combinatorial effects persisted, but in weaker form. Manual–vocal signals thus appear to express the operation of an integrated system, arguably adaptive in the young from evolutionary times to the present. It was speculated, based on reported evidence, that manual behavior increases the frequency and complexity of vocal behaviors in modern infants. There may be merit in the claim that manual behavior facilitated the evolution of language because it helped make available, early in development, behaviors that under selection pressures in later ontogenetic stages elaborated into speech.

Culture: In the beak of the beholder?

2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-342
Author(s):  
Spencer K. Lynn ◽  
Irene M. Pepperberg
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Vocal Behavior ◽  
Social Stability

We disagree with two of Rendell and Whitehead's assertions. Culture may be an ancestral characteristic of terrestrial cetacean ancestors; not derived via marine variability, modern cetacean mobility, or any living cetacean social structure. Furthermore, evidence for vocal behavior as culture, social stability, and cognitive ability, is richer in birds than Rendell and Whitehead portray and comparable to that of cetaceans and primates.

scholarly journals The Duetting Behavior of Pacific Coast Plain Wrens

The Condor ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 686-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Cuthbert ◽  
Daniel J. Mennill
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sister Taxon ◽  
Vocal Behavior ◽  
Temporal Coordination ◽  
Singing Behavior ◽  
Males And Females

Abstract Abstract. We provide the first detailed analysis of the vocal behavior of Pacific coast Plain Wrens (Thryothorus modestus modestus). Male Plain Wrens sing two categories of song phrase; one phrase is given as a solo song or duet introduction (I-phrases), while the other is sung primarily during duets (M-phrases). Females sing only one category of song phrase, usually during duets (F-phrases). Both sexes have repertoires of their respective song categories. Plain Wren duets show extreme temporal coordination: duets typically begin with male I-phrases, which are followed by the rapid alternation of female F-phrases and male M-phrases. These patterns are congruent with the solo and duet singing behavior of a sister taxon to the Plain Wren, the Canebrake Wren (Thryothorus modestus zeledoni). Our analyses of Plain Wren songs and duets reveal pronounced differences between males and females and contribute to our understanding of the complex duetting behavior of Thryothorus wrens.

Conditions of innovative behaviour in primates

1985 ◽  
Vol 308 (1135) ◽  
pp. 203-214 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Ecological Conditions ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Innovative Behaviour ◽  
Natural Groups

Innovative behaviour achieved through exploration, learning and insight heavily depends on certain motivational, social and ecological conditions of short duration. We propose that more attention should be given to what these conditions are and where they are realized in natural groups of non-human primates. Only to the extent that such favourable conditions were frequently realized in a social structure or an extraspecific environment could selective pressures act on innovative abilities. There is hope that research into field conditions of innovative behaviour will help to identify its selectors in evolution.

scholarly journals Behavioral ecology of Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-89
Author(s):  
Jyoti Karna
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Ecology ◽  
Territorial Behavior ◽  
Breeding Behavior ◽  
Nesting Ecology ◽  
Singing Behavior ◽  
One Year

Every species of bird possesses some behavior which differ it from other species. It was interesting to note that species wise some different peculiar behaviors are found. Several ornithologists have described about Oriental Magpie Robin (Fleming et al., 1984; Grimmett et al., 2000; Ali, 2002). In case of the Oriental Magpie Robin, behavioral ecology such as feeding behavior, breeding behavior, nesting ecology, territorial behavior, social behavior, communicational behavior and singing behavior were observed and studied in Biratnagar, Nepal for one year.

DEVELOPMENT OF SITUATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Vladimir A. Pleshakov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Situational Crime Prevention ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Territorial Behavior ◽  
Ecological Design ◽  
Territory Design ◽  
Street Design ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Theory Of Crime

The article analyzes the development of the theory of crime prevention in foreign countries. Since the 80s of the last century, situational crime prevention has been developed there. This direction was based on the idea of the influence of the environment on the commission of crimes. The vision of crime prevention through ecological design by creating a protected space was put forward. A protected space is a model of a residential environment that deters crime by creating a physical expression of a social structure that protects itself, sends a signal to a potential criminal, which is then interpreted as an area not conducive to criminal activity. This way of preventing criminal events involves establishing territorial behavior, strengthening surveillance of the territory by creating zones of territorial influence (territory design, organic approach, street design, real and symbolic barriers) and convincing residents that their actions matter. The main purpose of situational warning is to reduce the possibilities of criminal events and increase the risks of criminal events in such a way that they are perceived by most (if not all) offenders.

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