Exploring social evolution of vocal communication systems in birds

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18616
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Toshitaka 京都大学, 生態学研究センター, 研究員 (80723626)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: コミュニケーション / 進化 / 鳥類 / 動物行動 / 音声 / 言語

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I explored whether social factors (e.g., degree of social interactions and species associations) could provide driving force for the evolution of complex communication systems in birds. Birds within family Paridae form mixed-species flocks during non-breeding seasons. Using both observational and experimental approaches, I found that species that have higher degree of social cohesion with other species produce more complex vocalizations (vocal repertoire and call combinations) than those having a lower social cohesion. Furthermore, in the area where species usually interact with other species, birds were able to learn to associate heterospecific calls with corresponding meanings. These results support "social brain hypothesis" which proposes that social complexity provides the evolutionary force for the sophisticated cognitive ability in animals.

Free Research Field

動物行動学