The evolution of song structure in southern African birds: an assessment of the acoustic adaptation hypothesis

Authors: Saunders, Julian; Slotow, Rob

Source: Ostrich - Journal of African Ornithology, Volume 75, Number 3, 2004 , pp. 147-155(9)

Publisher: NISC Pty Ltd

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Song is critical to territory defence, mate attraction, and both species and individual recognition. According to the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis (AAH), habitat structure may exercise a selective force on vocal evolution such that song evolves to minimise the degradation and attenuation of acoustic signals in the particular habitat in which a species has evolved. We conducted a comparative survey of the songs of 40 South African passerine species to test the generality of the AAH. We compared pairs of congenerics, one from closed and one from grassland habitats, for seven different song attributes, including frequency, bandwidth, structure and temporal parameters. We controlled for phylogenetic effects by assessing differences between pairs of related individuals. The survey did not support the predictions of the AAH.

Document Type: Research article

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$15.00 plus tax      Refund Policy

 

OR

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A