Peter Kovalik
Well-known member
Cardoso, Guilherme Sementili. Bioacoustic variation of the vocalizations of Taraba major complex (Vieillot, 1816) (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) / Variação bioacústica das vocalizações do complexo Taraba major (Vieillot, 1816) (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae). Dissertação (mestrado), Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu.
Abstract:
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Abstract:
The vocal variation is one of the processes that can lead to speciation in birds. The divergence of the vocal features can drive the reproductive isolation, since individuals of the same species will not be able to recognize their mates, which emit altered voice signals. The environment make a significant selective pressure on sound transmission. Thus, individuals tend to change the acoustic structure of their vocalizations to improve the sound transmission. Individuals of the same species that inhabit different environments tend to display vocal differences. This study surveyed the vocalizations of T. major from several locations in the Neotropical region to identify possible vocal variations between different subspecies. These variations were correlated with the geographic coordinates, with altitude and with the spatial distribution of subspecies. We collected 119 vocalizations of different individuals. Vocalizations had their temporal and spectral variables measured through the espectrogram and the power spectrum, taking a -42 dB as reference limit. These variables were correlated with latitude, longitude and altitude. From these same data, we identified the predominant subspecies the location of sampling. In total, four subspecies were obtained. The variables were reduced by a principal component analysis. Then, they were classified by a discriminant function analysis. From the correlations, we found an inverse relationship between spectral and temporal characteristics. Frequency values decrease with increasing latitude, while time values increase. Moreover, the frequency values tend to increase with the increase in longitude, while time values decrease. Something similar occurs with the groups assigned to the subspecies, for the northwestern samples (attributed to T. m. semifasciatus and T. m. melanurus) have lower frequencies and longer durations, while the southeastern ones (attributed to T. m. major and T. m. stagurus) have higher frequencies and shorter durations. This effect is linked to habitat features, since the subspecies T. m. semifasciatus and T. m. melanurus are located predominantly in regions of dense rain forest of the Amazon basin. Thus, vocalizations with lower frequency values and greater time values suffer less sound attenuation caused by the high density of obstacles to transmission. This kind of vocal variation is well documented, and supported by the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis.
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