bird song

Question 1

what are sounds?

Answer 1

changes in ambient pressure that travel in waves

Question 2

we can obtain wavform that shows ambient pressure change using _________ or ________ (aka sonogram).

Answer 2

oscillogram; spectrogram

Question 3

amplitude vs frequency

Answer 3

amplitude - intensity/loudness

frequency - pitch/tone

Question 4

what are the 3 hypotheses surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?

Answer 4

1. genetic differences hypothesis
2. acoustic stimulus hypothesis
3. social interaction hypothesis

Question 5

briefly describe genetic difference hypothesis in song sparrow populations having different dialects.

Answer 5

difference in genes account for dialect variation

Question 6

briefly describe acoustic stimulus hypothesis in song sparrow populations having different dialects.

Answer 6

diff in songs heard in envt account for dialect variation

Question 7

briefly describe social interaction hypothesis in song sparrow populations having different dialects.

Answer 7

interaction btwn adults and developing young account fot dialect variation

Question 8

which of the 3 hypotheses surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects explains cultural variation?

Answer 8

social interaction hypothesis

Question 9

what is the conclusion for the genetic diff hypothesis surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?

Answer 9

-some genetic influences on general song pattern across phylogenetically distinct birds

• however, genetic diff don’t explain local dialects

Question 10

what is the conclusion for the acoustic stimulus hypothesis surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?

Answer 10

strong support for acoustic stimulus hypothesis to account for dialect differences

Question 11

what is the conclusion for the acoustic x genetic hypotheses interaction surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?

Answer 11

sparrow song development is biased to sounds of their own species, showing genetic-based perceptual predisposition for their species’ song features.

Question 12

dialect variations in bird songs results from ______ or ________ drift of song content though basic _________ errors in the _________ process.

Answer 12

innovation; geographical; copying; learning

Question 13

what is the conclusion for the social interaction hypotheses surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?

Answer 13

• social acoustic exposure stronger learning influence than just hearing songs
• can lead to learning other species’ songs.

Question 14

what is the gene that underlies song learning?

Answer 14

ZENK

Question 15

what is ZENK gene?

Answer 15

• produces ZENK protein
• transcription factor that regulates gene expression in the neuronal synapses of brain

Question 16

By acting on _____, ZENK protein affects how neurons _______ and form __________.

ZENK gene affects _____ connections formed during song ________ and _____, thus underlies song learning.

Answer 16

synapses; communicate; connections

neural; production; hearing

Question 17

ZENK is found after singing in which centers of bird brains?

Answer 17

• auditory processing center
• song production center

Question 18

what are the 7 steps of song learning in birds? (aka pathway of song learning)

Answer 18

1. envt stimulus
2. sensory activation
3. relay to brain
4. gene activity
5. neurophysiology changes
6. learning occurs
7. behavior develops

Question 19

what are the components of the brain network in birds responsible for song? list 3

Answer 19

RA
HVC - high vocal center nucleus
LMAN
NCM - caudomedial neotriatum
Area X
nXIIts
Syrinx

Question 20

what is syrinx?

Answer 20

sound producing structure in birds

similar to our larynx

Question 21

describe the neural network playing a role in bird song production. (connect the brain components)

Answer 21

1. HVC links to RA, through NCM
2. RA links to nXIIts, which then links to Syrinx

Question 22

male european starlings exposed to high-quality long song of another male for 1 week show increased/decreased size of their RA in response.

Answer 22

increased

Question 23

size of which brain component relates to song learning ability?

Answer 23

HVC

Question 24

removal of which brain component disrupts learning and reduces song variations?

Answer 24

LMAN

Question 25

vocal learning occurs in 3 of the 23 avian orders. what are they?

Answer 25

parrots hummingbirds oscines

Question 26

which avian ordeer, oscines or suboscines do not have to learn their song like most other birds?

Answer 26

suboscines. oscines are song learners.

Question 27

state 2 comparisons of brains of song-learning birds.

Answer 27

A) all have similar ZENK gene activity all ZENK activity in NCM when exposed to songs of others B) NCM is about the same location in their brains

Question 28

In comparison of brains btwn birds and humans, _____ and _____ are most similar to human _______ regions associated with _____. Gene expression in bird ____ and ______ nuclei correspond with _____ and ______ centers in human brain.

Answer 28

RA; X; forebrain; speech motor; song-learning; motor; learning

Question 29

song learning is costly and requires a large _______-.

Answer 29

pallium

Question 30

what are the 5 hypothesis on the function of vocal learning in birds?

Answer 30

1. environmental adaptation hypothesis (allows flexibility to adjust and optimise vocal calls to local conditions) 2. recognition hypothesis (song matching for identification, communication with rivals, involved in territorial spacing, conflict and resolution) 3. info-sharing hypothesis (expands vocal repertoire to share info with kin in complex social systems) 4. sexual selection hypothesis (male-male competition and female choice during mating) 5. geographic matching hypothesis (signal geographic origins, allowing assortative mating)

Question 31

which 2 birds have language like communication?

Answer 31

1. chestnut-crowned babbler - can rearrange 2 simple song elements into 2 functionally different combis (BA - ABA) 2. japanese tit - can combine 2 calls grammatically to create new meaning (ABC + D = ABCD)

Question 32

is bigger or smaller HVC healthier in birds?

Answer 32

bigger

Question 33

unlike territorial sedge wrens, nomadic sedge wrens lack song matching and dialects. Instead, they ______ and _______ novel songs.

Answer 33

improvise; innovate

Question 34

sexual selection hypothesis: females prefer males that are better at _________ songs, have more ___ songs and have a higher level of song __________. male song sparrows with larger song repertoires are preferred. they have larger _______ size and higher _____ reserves.

Answer 34

copying; complex; performance HVC; fat