TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimental test of the communicative value of syllable diversity and syllable switching in the common chiffchaff

AU - Sierro, J.

AU - Slabbekoorn, H.

PY - 2020/7/1

Y1 - 2020/7/1

N2 - All songbirds have their own species-specific song, and vocal variety among individuals of the same species is used for communication. Some aspects of vocal variety have been shown to relate to sender characteristics and thus to convey a potential message to receivers. During playback experiments, individuals show different response patterns, which provide evidence for perception, and thus meaning, of the vocal variety. Here, we tested the impact of two types of vocal variety: syllable diversity and syllable switching in the common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, in two separate playback experiments. We found that syllable diversity was a relatively fixed trait and that variation among individuals was likely to reflect some male quality triggering responses of different intensity. Higher rates of syllable switching did not elicit different responses but songs after playback showed that it is a dynamic trait, potentially contributing to motivational signalling together with other song parameters. The resolution of analyses in our experiments revealed subtle changes in vocal features over time in unprecedented detail. This approach unveiled an intricate combination of various vocal features during the response that may complement each other during vocal interactions. We believe future studies would benefit from the same resolution, through which one can explore advanced levels in animal communication.

AB - All songbirds have their own species-specific song, and vocal variety among individuals of the same species is used for communication. Some aspects of vocal variety have been shown to relate to sender characteristics and thus to convey a potential message to receivers. During playback experiments, individuals show different response patterns, which provide evidence for perception, and thus meaning, of the vocal variety. Here, we tested the impact of two types of vocal variety: syllable diversity and syllable switching in the common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, in two separate playback experiments. We found that syllable diversity was a relatively fixed trait and that variation among individuals was likely to reflect some male quality triggering responses of different intensity. Higher rates of syllable switching did not elicit different responses but songs after playback showed that it is a dynamic trait, potentially contributing to motivational signalling together with other song parameters. The resolution of analyses in our experiments revealed subtle changes in vocal features over time in unprecedented detail. This approach unveiled an intricate combination of various vocal features during the response that may complement each other during vocal interactions. We believe future studies would benefit from the same resolution, through which one can explore advanced levels in animal communication.

KW - acoustic communication

KW - agonistic interactions

KW - birdsong

KW - common chiffchaff

KW - playback experiment

KW - song switching

KW - syllable diversity

KW - syllable switching

KW - behavioral response

KW - bioacoustics

KW - calling behavior

KW - experimental study

KW - sexual behavior

KW - song

KW - songbird

KW - Animalia

KW - Phylloscopus collybita

U2 - 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.04.016

DO - 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.04.016

M3 - Journal article

VL - 165

SP - 11

EP - 21

JO - Animal Behaviour

JF - Animal Behaviour

SN - 0003-3472

ER -