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Marcel Eens - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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difficulties when assessing birdSong learning programmes under field conditions a re evaluation of Song Repertoire flexibility in the great tit
PLOS ONE, 2011Co-Authors: Hector Fabio Riveragutierrez, Rianne Pinxten, Marcel EensAbstract:There is a remarkable diversity of Song-learning strategies in Songbirds. Establishing whether a species is closed- or open-ended is important to be able to interpret functional and evolutionary consequences of variation in Repertoire size. Most of our knowledge regarding the timing of vocal learning is based on laboratory studies, despite the fact that these may not always replicate the complex ecological and social interactions experienced by birds in the wild. Given that field studies cannot provide the experimental control of laboratory studies, it may not be surprising that species such as the great tit that were initially assumed to be closed-ended learners have later been suggested to be open-ended learners. By using an established colour-ringed population, by following a standardized recording protocol, and by taking into account the species' Song ecology (using only recordings obtained during peak of singing at dawn), we replicated two previous studies to assess Song Repertoire learning and flexibility in adult wild great tits elicited by social interactions. First, we performed a playback experiment to test Repertoire plasticity elicited by novel versus own Songs. Additionally, in a longitudinal study, we followed 30 males in two consecutive years and analysed whether new neighbours influenced any change in the Repertoire. Contrary to the previous studies, Song Repertoire size and composition were found to be highly repeatable both between years and after confrontation with a novel Song. Our results suggest that great tits are closed-ended learners and that their Song Repertoire probably does not change during adulthood. Methodological differences that may have led to an underestimation of the Repertoires or population differences may explain the discrepancy in results with previous studies. We argue that a rigorous and standardized assessment of the Repertoire is essential when studying age- or playback-induced changes in Repertoire size and composition under field conditions.
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No overlap in Song Repertoire size between yearling and older starlings **Sturnus vulgaris**
Ibis, 2008Co-Authors: Marcel Eens, Rianne Pinxten, Rudolf F. VerheyenAbstract:We recorded the Song of 25 male Starlings Sturnus vulgaris to investigate differences in Song characteristics between yearling and older males. Older males had significantly larger Repertoire sizes and sang significantly longer average Song bouts than yearling males. Since older males had almost twice as large a Repertoire size as yearling males and since there was no overlap in Repertoire size between yearling and older males, our data indicate that the Repertoire size of Starlings increases after the first year of life. The largest difference between yearling and older males occurred in the ‘variable Song types’ which are the Song types containing most of the heterospecific imitations sung in a Song bout.
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function of the Song and Song Repertoire in the european starling sturnus vulgaris an aviary experiment
Behaviour, 1993Co-Authors: Marcel Eens, Rianne Pinxten, Rudolf F. VerheyenAbstract:We confronted individually-caged male European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, with conspecifics of both sexes in order to study singing behaviour during intrasexual and intersexual encounters. Males spent more time at the nestbox, sang more Songs and more Song types during female presentations than during control periods (observation periods with no conspecifics). Males also sang more Songs in the nestbox and flew more to the nestbox with green nest material. During male presentations, only the time spent at the nestbox and the carrying of nest material increased significantly. Males spent more time at the nestbox, sang more Songs and more Song types in response to a female stimulus than to a male stimulus. Males also sang more Songs in the nestbox and flew more to the nestbox with nest material during female than during male presentations. These results suggest that the Song and Song Repertoire of male starlings serve primarily an intersexual rather than an intrasexual function. However, in contrast to a previous study, our results suggest that singing also serves as an intrasexual signal to deter rivals at close encounter. We also tested the hypothesis that the 'whistles' and the 'warbling Song' have separate intrasexual and intersexual functions, as has been suggested in the literature. We found no evidence for a specialized intrasexual function of the whistles nor for a specialized intersexual function of the warbling Song. From this study it also appears that variations in the size of the aviary can modify the behavioural responses of starling males. New information with regard to the use of green nest material by male starlings is given.
Madeline S Bridges - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Song Repertoire across the generations a comparison of music therapy majors and senior citizens recognitions
Journal of Music Therapy, 2000Co-Authors: Carol A Prickett, Madeline S BridgesAbstract:: This study examined whether a basic Song Repertoire of folk-type melodies which can be accompanied with principal triads exists in the senior citizen population and compared this Repertoire with that of music therapy students. An audiotape of the tunes of 25 standard Songs, assumed in previous research to be known by everyone who has finished 6th grade, was played for undergraduate music therapy students (N = 78) and for healthy, active senior citizens (N = 78). None of the senior citizens had received any music therapy services, although many were involved in music activities such as the senior choir at church. Music therapy majors identified significantly more tunes than did the older listeners. Further analysis indicated that there is a good deal of overlap in the Repertoires of these two groups. Sixteen tunes were recognized by 80% of therapy students; 10 Songs were recognized by 80% of the seniors; the 10 Songs identified by these seniors were 10 of the top 11 identified by the college students ("Kumbaya" was not known by the older listeners). Six Songs could not be named by 50% of the students; 7 Songs could not be named by 50% of the seniors; these two lists contained five common selections ("Oh Shenandoah," "Kookaburra," "Down in the Valley," "Shalom Chaverim," and "Tinga Layo"). Given the growth of the senior segment of the American population, the expansion of services for them, and the popularity of including music activities among these services, it would appear that music therapy students' basic knowledge of a Repertoire of Songs which are known to older people and which can easily be accompanied with principal triads is adequate, even though the range of Songs which could be identified was broad (11-24) and the mean correctly named was merely 70.82% of a set which other investigators, teachers, and professional organizations have said represent a minimal Repertoire for all citizens beyond the 6th grade.
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a comparison of the basic Song Repertoire of vocal choral and instrumental music education majors
Journal of Research in Music Education, 2000Co-Authors: Carol A Prickett, Madeline S BridgesAbstract:Following up on an earlier study, an audiotape of the tunes of 25 standard Songs, assumed to be known by everyone who has finished 6th grade, was played for 135 undergraduate instrumental music education students and 79 undergraduate vocal/choral music education students. There was no significant difference in the ability of either group to identify the Songs. The means for both groups indicated that neither had developed a strong Repertoire of standard Songs outside the college classroom. Several Songs that music educators have stated are very important for children to learn could not be identified by even half the students in either group. It is recommended that professors preparing music education students for their future careers consider adding activities to music education courses that build a strong Song Repertoire.
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A Comparison of the Basic Song Repertoire of Vocal/Choral and Instrumental Music Education Majors.
Journal of Research in Music Education, 2000Co-Authors: Carol A Prickett, Madeline S BridgesAbstract:Following up on an earlier study, an audiotape of the tunes of 25 standard Songs, assumed to be known by everyone who has finished 6th grade, was played for 135 undergraduate instrumental music education students and 79 undergraduate vocal/choral music education students. There was no significant difference in the ability of either group to identify the Songs. The means for both groups indicated that neither had developed a strong Repertoire of standard Songs outside the college classroom. Several Songs that music educators have stated are very important for children to learn could not be identified by even half the students in either group. It is recommended that professors preparing music education students for their future careers consider adding activities to music education courses that build a strong Song Repertoire.
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familiarity with basic Song Repertoire music education therapy majors versus elementary education majors
Journal of Research in Music Education, 1998Co-Authors: Carol A Prickett, Madeline S BridgesAbstract:An audiotape of the tunes of 25 standard Songs assumed to be known by everyone who has finished Grade 6 was played for 273 undergraduate music therapy and music education students and 306 elementary education students who were beginning a music skills class. Music majors identified significantly more tunes than did elementary education majors, but the means for both groups indicated that neither had developed a strong Repertoire of standard Songs outside the college classroom. Several Songs that music educators have stated are very important for children to learn could not be identified by even half the students in either group. It is recommended that those preparing elementary education students emphasize building a Song Repertoire and that those teaching music therapy and education students consider adding this goal to appropriate courses.
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Familiarity with Basic Song Repertoire: Music Education/Therapy Majors versus Elementary Education Majors.
Journal of Research in Music Education, 1998Co-Authors: Carol A Prickett, Madeline S BridgesAbstract:An audiotape of the tunes of 25 standard Songs assumed to be known by everyone who has finished Grade 6 was played for 273 undergraduate music therapy and music education students and 306 elementary education students who were beginning a music skills class. Music majors identified significantly more tunes than did elementary education majors, but the means for both groups indicated that neither had developed a strong Repertoire of standard Songs outside the college classroom. Several Songs that music educators have stated are very important for children to learn could not be identified by even half the students in either group. It is recommended that those preparing elementary education students emphasize building a Song Repertoire and that those teaching music therapy and education students consider adding this goal to appropriate courses.
Rudolf F. Verheyen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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No overlap in Song Repertoire size between yearling and older starlings **Sturnus vulgaris**
Ibis, 2008Co-Authors: Marcel Eens, Rianne Pinxten, Rudolf F. VerheyenAbstract:We recorded the Song of 25 male Starlings Sturnus vulgaris to investigate differences in Song characteristics between yearling and older males. Older males had significantly larger Repertoire sizes and sang significantly longer average Song bouts than yearling males. Since older males had almost twice as large a Repertoire size as yearling males and since there was no overlap in Repertoire size between yearling and older males, our data indicate that the Repertoire size of Starlings increases after the first year of life. The largest difference between yearling and older males occurred in the ‘variable Song types’ which are the Song types containing most of the heterospecific imitations sung in a Song bout.
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function of the Song and Song Repertoire in the european starling sturnus vulgaris an aviary experiment
Behaviour, 1993Co-Authors: Marcel Eens, Rianne Pinxten, Rudolf F. VerheyenAbstract:We confronted individually-caged male European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, with conspecifics of both sexes in order to study singing behaviour during intrasexual and intersexual encounters. Males spent more time at the nestbox, sang more Songs and more Song types during female presentations than during control periods (observation periods with no conspecifics). Males also sang more Songs in the nestbox and flew more to the nestbox with green nest material. During male presentations, only the time spent at the nestbox and the carrying of nest material increased significantly. Males spent more time at the nestbox, sang more Songs and more Song types in response to a female stimulus than to a male stimulus. Males also sang more Songs in the nestbox and flew more to the nestbox with nest material during female than during male presentations. These results suggest that the Song and Song Repertoire of male starlings serve primarily an intersexual rather than an intrasexual function. However, in contrast to a previous study, our results suggest that singing also serves as an intrasexual signal to deter rivals at close encounter. We also tested the hypothesis that the 'whistles' and the 'warbling Song' have separate intrasexual and intersexual functions, as has been suggested in the literature. We found no evidence for a specialized intrasexual function of the whistles nor for a specialized intersexual function of the warbling Song. From this study it also appears that variations in the size of the aviary can modify the behavioural responses of starling males. New information with regard to the use of green nest material by male starlings is given.
Lukas F Keller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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hamilton and zuk meet heterozygosity Song Repertoire size indicates inbreeding and immunity in Song sparrows melospiza melodia
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2005Co-Authors: Jane M Reid, Peter Arcese, Alice Cassidy, James N M Smith, Amy B Marr, Lukas F KellerAbstract:Hamilton and Zuk’s influential hypothesis of parasite-mediated sexual selection proposes that exaggerated secondary sexual ornaments indicate a male’s additive genetic immunity to parasites. However, genetic correlates of ornamentation and immunity have rarely been explicitly identified. Evidence supporting Hamilton and Zuk’s hypothesis has instead been gathered by looking for positive phenotypic correlations between ornamentation and immunity; such correlations are assumed to reflect causal, additive relationships between these traits. We show that in Song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, a male’s Song Repertoire size, a secondary sexual trait, increased with his cell-mediated immune response (CMI) to an experimental challenge. However, this phenotypic correlation could be explained because both Repertoire size and CMI declined with a male’s inbreeding level. Repertoire size therefore primarily indicated a male’s relative heterozygosity, a non-additive genetic predictor of immunity. Caution may therefore be required when interpreting phenotypic correlations as support for Hamilton and Zuk’s additive model of sexual selection. However, our results suggest that female Song sparrows choosing males with large Repertoires would on average acquire more outbred and therefore more heterozygous mates. Such genetic dominance effects on ornamentation are likely to influence evolutionary trajectories of female choice, and should be explicitly incorporated into genetic models of sexual selection.
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Fitness Correlates of Song Repertoire Size in Free‐Living Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia)
The American Naturalist, 2005Co-Authors: Jane M Reid, Peter Arcese, Alice Cassidy, Sara M Hiebert, James N M Smith, Philip K Stoddard, Amy B Marr, Lukas F KellerAbstract:Abstract: Models of sexual selection propose that exaggerated secondary sexual ornaments indicate a male’s own fitness and the fitness of his offspring. These hypotheses have rarely been thoroughly tested in free‐living individuals because overall fitness, as opposed to fitness components, is difficult to measure. We used 20 years of data from Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) inhabiting Mandarte Island, British Columbia, Canada, to test whether a male’s Song Repertoire size, a secondary sexual trait, predicted overall measures of male or offspring fitness. Males with larger Song Repertoires contributed more independent and recruited offspring, and independent and recruited grandoffspring, to Mandarte’s population. This was because these males lived longer and reared a greater proportion of hatched chicks to independence from parental care, not because females mated to males with larger Repertoires laid or hatched more eggs. Furthermore, independent offspring of males with larger Repertoires were more lik...
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fitness correlates of Song Repertoire size in free living Song sparrows melospiza melodia
The American Naturalist, 2005Co-Authors: Jane M Reid, Peter Arcese, Alice Cassidy, Sara M Hiebert, James N M Smith, Philip K Stoddard, Amy B Marr, Lukas F KellerAbstract:Abstract: Models of sexual selection propose that exaggerated secondary sexual ornaments indicate a male’s own fitness and the fitness of his offspring. These hypotheses have rarely been thoroughly tested in free‐living individuals because overall fitness, as opposed to fitness components, is difficult to measure. We used 20 years of data from Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) inhabiting Mandarte Island, British Columbia, Canada, to test whether a male’s Song Repertoire size, a secondary sexual trait, predicted overall measures of male or offspring fitness. Males with larger Song Repertoires contributed more independent and recruited offspring, and independent and recruited grandoffspring, to Mandarte’s population. This was because these males lived longer and reared a greater proportion of hatched chicks to independence from parental care, not because females mated to males with larger Repertoires laid or hatched more eggs. Furthermore, independent offspring of males with larger Repertoires were more lik...
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Song Repertoire size predicts initial mating success in male Song sparrows melospiza melodia
Animal Behaviour, 2004Co-Authors: Jane M Reid, Peter Arcese, Alice Cassidy, Sara M Hiebert, James N M Smith, Philip K Stoddard, Amy B Marr, Lukas F KellerAbstract:Male Song sparrows sing Repertoires of 4–13 distinct Song types and have proved a valuable model for testing hypotheses concerning the function and evolution of Song complexity. Captive female Song sparrows solicit more copulations in response to playback of larger Repertoires, yet it remains unclear whether male Repertoire size influences female mate choice in natural situations. We used long-term data from free-living Song sparrows inhabiting Mandarte Island, British Columbia, Canada, to investigate whether male Song Repertoire size predicted three components of reproductive performance during the first year: territory acquisition, mating success and laying date. Across males whose Song was recorded, males with larger Repertoires were not more likely to acquire a territory, to acquire a larger territory or to settle sooner. However, after we controlled for territory size and between-year variation in the population sex ratio, first-year males with larger Repertoires were more likely to mate. This was because they were more likely to pair with newly settled females, not because they were more likely to acquire territories where older females were already resident. After we controlled for territory size and between-year variation in breeding date, newly settled females laid earlier when mated with males with larger Repertoires. Together with the results of previous mate choice experiments, these patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that male Song Repertoire size is a sexually selected trait that influences female mate choice in Song sparrows.
Rianne Pinxten - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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difficulties when assessing birdSong learning programmes under field conditions a re evaluation of Song Repertoire flexibility in the great tit
PLOS ONE, 2011Co-Authors: Hector Fabio Riveragutierrez, Rianne Pinxten, Marcel EensAbstract:There is a remarkable diversity of Song-learning strategies in Songbirds. Establishing whether a species is closed- or open-ended is important to be able to interpret functional and evolutionary consequences of variation in Repertoire size. Most of our knowledge regarding the timing of vocal learning is based on laboratory studies, despite the fact that these may not always replicate the complex ecological and social interactions experienced by birds in the wild. Given that field studies cannot provide the experimental control of laboratory studies, it may not be surprising that species such as the great tit that were initially assumed to be closed-ended learners have later been suggested to be open-ended learners. By using an established colour-ringed population, by following a standardized recording protocol, and by taking into account the species' Song ecology (using only recordings obtained during peak of singing at dawn), we replicated two previous studies to assess Song Repertoire learning and flexibility in adult wild great tits elicited by social interactions. First, we performed a playback experiment to test Repertoire plasticity elicited by novel versus own Songs. Additionally, in a longitudinal study, we followed 30 males in two consecutive years and analysed whether new neighbours influenced any change in the Repertoire. Contrary to the previous studies, Song Repertoire size and composition were found to be highly repeatable both between years and after confrontation with a novel Song. Our results suggest that great tits are closed-ended learners and that their Song Repertoire probably does not change during adulthood. Methodological differences that may have led to an underestimation of the Repertoires or population differences may explain the discrepancy in results with previous studies. We argue that a rigorous and standardized assessment of the Repertoire is essential when studying age- or playback-induced changes in Repertoire size and composition under field conditions.
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No overlap in Song Repertoire size between yearling and older starlings **Sturnus vulgaris**
Ibis, 2008Co-Authors: Marcel Eens, Rianne Pinxten, Rudolf F. VerheyenAbstract:We recorded the Song of 25 male Starlings Sturnus vulgaris to investigate differences in Song characteristics between yearling and older males. Older males had significantly larger Repertoire sizes and sang significantly longer average Song bouts than yearling males. Since older males had almost twice as large a Repertoire size as yearling males and since there was no overlap in Repertoire size between yearling and older males, our data indicate that the Repertoire size of Starlings increases after the first year of life. The largest difference between yearling and older males occurred in the ‘variable Song types’ which are the Song types containing most of the heterospecific imitations sung in a Song bout.
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function of the Song and Song Repertoire in the european starling sturnus vulgaris an aviary experiment
Behaviour, 1993Co-Authors: Marcel Eens, Rianne Pinxten, Rudolf F. VerheyenAbstract:We confronted individually-caged male European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, with conspecifics of both sexes in order to study singing behaviour during intrasexual and intersexual encounters. Males spent more time at the nestbox, sang more Songs and more Song types during female presentations than during control periods (observation periods with no conspecifics). Males also sang more Songs in the nestbox and flew more to the nestbox with green nest material. During male presentations, only the time spent at the nestbox and the carrying of nest material increased significantly. Males spent more time at the nestbox, sang more Songs and more Song types in response to a female stimulus than to a male stimulus. Males also sang more Songs in the nestbox and flew more to the nestbox with nest material during female than during male presentations. These results suggest that the Song and Song Repertoire of male starlings serve primarily an intersexual rather than an intrasexual function. However, in contrast to a previous study, our results suggest that singing also serves as an intrasexual signal to deter rivals at close encounter. We also tested the hypothesis that the 'whistles' and the 'warbling Song' have separate intrasexual and intersexual functions, as has been suggested in the literature. We found no evidence for a specialized intrasexual function of the whistles nor for a specialized intersexual function of the warbling Song. From this study it also appears that variations in the size of the aviary can modify the behavioural responses of starling males. New information with regard to the use of green nest material by male starlings is given.