bird song Flashcards
what are sounds?
changes in ambient pressure that travel in waves
we can obtain wavform that shows ambient pressure change using _________ or ________ (aka sonogram).
oscillogram; spectrogram
amplitude vs frequency
amplitude - intensity/loudness
frequency - pitch/tone
what are the 3 hypotheses surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?
- genetic differences hypothesis
- acoustic stimulus hypothesis
- social interaction hypothesis
briefly describe genetic difference hypothesis in song sparrow populations having different dialects.
difference in genes account for dialect variation
briefly describe acoustic stimulus hypothesis in song sparrow populations having different dialects.
diff in songs heard in envt account for dialect variation
briefly describe social interaction hypothesis in song sparrow populations having different dialects.
interaction btwn adults and developing young account fot dialect variation
which of the 3 hypotheses surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects explains cultural variation?
social interaction hypothesis
what is the conclusion for the genetic diff hypothesis surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?
-some genetic influences on general song pattern across phylogenetically distinct birds
- however, genetic diff don’t explain local dialects
what is the conclusion for the acoustic stimulus hypothesis surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?
strong support for acoustic stimulus hypothesis to account for dialect differences
what is the conclusion for the acoustic x genetic hypotheses interaction surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?
sparrow song development is biased to sounds of their own species, showing genetic-based perceptual predisposition for their species’ song features.
dialect variations in bird songs results from ______ or ________ drift of song content though basic _________ errors in the _________ process.
innovation; geographical; copying; learning
what is the conclusion for the social interaction hypotheses surrounding song sparrow populations having different dialects?
- social acoustic exposure stronger learning influence than just hearing songs
- can lead to learning other species’ songs.
what is the gene that underlies song learning?
ZENK
what is ZENK gene?
- produces ZENK protein
- transcription factor that regulates gene expression in the neuronal synapses of brain
By acting on _____, ZENK protein affects how neurons _______ and form __________.
ZENK gene affects _____ connections formed during song ________ and _____, thus underlies song learning.
synapses; communicate; connections
neural; production; hearing
ZENK is found after singing in which centers of bird brains?
- auditory processing center
- song production center
what are the 7 steps of song learning in birds? (aka pathway of song learning)
- envt stimulus
- sensory activation
- relay to brain
- gene activity
- neurophysiology changes
- learning occurs
- behavior develops
what are the components of the brain network in birds responsible for song? list 3
RA
HVC - high vocal center nucleus
LMAN
NCM - caudomedial neotriatum
Area X
nXIIts
Syrinx
what is syrinx?
sound producing structure in birds
similar to our larynx
describe the neural network playing a role in bird song production. (connect the brain components)
- HVC links to RA, through NCM
- RA links to nXIIts, which then links to Syrinx
male european starlings exposed to high-quality long song of another male for 1 week show increased/decreased size of their RA in response.
increased
size of which brain component relates to song learning ability?
HVC
removal of which brain component disrupts learning and reduces song variations?
LMAN
vocal learning occurs in 3 of the 23 avian orders. what are they?
parrots
hummingbirds
oscines
which avian ordeer, oscines or suboscines do not have to learn their song like most other birds?
suboscines. oscines are song learners.
state 2 comparisons of brains of song-learning birds.
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
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.
RA; X; forebrain; speech
motor; song-learning; motor; learning
song learning is costly and requires a large _______-.
pallium
what are the 5 hypothesis on the function of vocal learning in birds?
- environmental adaptation hypothesis (allows flexibility to adjust and optimise vocal calls to local conditions)
- recognition hypothesis (song matching for identification, communication with rivals, involved in territorial spacing, conflict and resolution)
- info-sharing hypothesis (expands vocal repertoire to share info with kin in complex social systems)
- sexual selection hypothesis (male-male competition and female choice during mating)
- geographic matching hypothesis (signal geographic origins, allowing assortative mating)
which 2 birds have language like communication?
- chestnut-crowned babbler - can rearrange 2 simple song elements into 2 functionally different combis (BA - ABA)
- japanese tit - can combine 2 calls grammatically to create new meaning (ABC + D = ABCD)
is bigger or smaller HVC healthier in birds?
bigger
unlike territorial sedge wrens, nomadic sedge wrens lack song matching and dialects. Instead, they ______ and _______ novel songs.
improvise; innovate
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.
copying; complex; performance
HVC; fat
