Dialects are a specific form of geographic variation of birdsong with relatively sharp boundaries between distinct song characteristics,which provide opportunities for focused studies of processes underlying the emerg...Dialects are a specific form of geographic variation of birdsong with relatively sharp boundaries between distinct song characteristics,which provide opportunities for focused studies of processes underlying the emergence of spatial patterns in vocalization.Several songbird species that exhibit dialects became models for such research,and for some of them large-scale datasets were assembled that included recordings provided by the public.Among them,the Yellowhammer(Emberiza citrinella,Emberizidae) is particularly prominent,as it has been recently a subject of dedicated citizen science projects focusing on its dialect distribution.The most successful,in terms of public participation as well as the number and density of obtained recordings,was the Dialects of Czech Yellowhammers(DCY) project,which assembled detailed data at the whole-country level.A mosaic of almost all common song variants known across Europe was observed in Czechia,but the results indicated that some of the traditionally recognized Yellowhammer dialects may not represent geographically clustered song variants,at least not in Central Europe.We quantitatively analysed variation(frequency and temporal characteristics and modulation) of the terminal song element in three dialects defined by arbitrary frequency thresholds in DCY.Multivariate analyses indicated that pooling these to two distinct groups reflects the variation in the songs,as well as their spatial distribution,better than retaining the current classification to three dialects or their finer splitting to even more categories.We provide simple measures that may be used for classification of these Yellowhammer song variants in Central Europe.However,we warn from indiscriminate transposing of results from one region to another,as that may lead to substantial biases.Future studies of birdsong variation will benefit from big data assembled by citizen scientists,but to maximise their usefulness for further dialect research,careful delineation of dialect boundaries is essential.展开更多
The song systems of oscine passerines(songbirds)are complex and diverse.Because songs are used for both mate attraction and territory defense and are therefore important signals for survival and reproduction,comprehen...The song systems of oscine passerines(songbirds)are complex and diverse.Because songs are used for both mate attraction and territory defense and are therefore important signals for survival and reproduction,comprehensive knowledge of within and among species song structure and distribution is informative for understanding the evolution of song repertoires and vocal behaviour.In this study,we explored variation in the song structure of the Ovenbird(Seiurus aurocapilla),a widespread warbler(Family Parulidae)found in North American forests.We analyzed recordings from the 2021 breeding season to assess song type variation at a local(n=158 birds;Sault Ste.Marie,ON)and breeding range scale(n=512 birds;eBird).We characterized the local song types and tested whether Ovenbirds share song types with their neighbors more often than expected by chance.We then characterized song types of Ovenbirds across the breeding range to determine whether any geographic pattern of song clustering exists(i.e.,macro-dialects).We found 10 distinct song types and some evidence for song type clustering at the local study site(i.e.,song neighborhoods).We found 7 of those 10 song types throughout the breeding range and identified an additional 24 types that were not recorded in our local population.We found no evidence for song dialects across the Ovenbird breeding range.This study contributes to our understanding of Ovenbird song while simultaneously adding to our understanding of geographic structuring of warbler repertoires.Our work contributes to delineating a more comprehensive understanding of factors affecting dialect development for this diverse group of songbirds.展开更多
The geographical information reflected in a traditional genealogy mainly has two aspects.On the one hand,it is the administrative division,human geography,and other general environmental conditions of the ethnic group...The geographical information reflected in a traditional genealogy mainly has two aspects.On the one hand,it is the administrative division,human geography,and other general environmental conditions of the ethnic group.On the other hand,it points to the specific origin and migration of family members in the family tree.In addition to affecting the formation and evolution of language,these factors will also affect the development trend of language behavior by promoting the psychology of people’s geographic identity.From these data,we find that geographic factors in the genealogy have a non-negligible relationship with the geographical spread of the language of the genealogy.展开更多
基金funded by the Charles University Grant Agency (project number 312213)
文摘Dialects are a specific form of geographic variation of birdsong with relatively sharp boundaries between distinct song characteristics,which provide opportunities for focused studies of processes underlying the emergence of spatial patterns in vocalization.Several songbird species that exhibit dialects became models for such research,and for some of them large-scale datasets were assembled that included recordings provided by the public.Among them,the Yellowhammer(Emberiza citrinella,Emberizidae) is particularly prominent,as it has been recently a subject of dedicated citizen science projects focusing on its dialect distribution.The most successful,in terms of public participation as well as the number and density of obtained recordings,was the Dialects of Czech Yellowhammers(DCY) project,which assembled detailed data at the whole-country level.A mosaic of almost all common song variants known across Europe was observed in Czechia,but the results indicated that some of the traditionally recognized Yellowhammer dialects may not represent geographically clustered song variants,at least not in Central Europe.We quantitatively analysed variation(frequency and temporal characteristics and modulation) of the terminal song element in three dialects defined by arbitrary frequency thresholds in DCY.Multivariate analyses indicated that pooling these to two distinct groups reflects the variation in the songs,as well as their spatial distribution,better than retaining the current classification to three dialects or their finer splitting to even more categories.We provide simple measures that may be used for classification of these Yellowhammer song variants in Central Europe.However,we warn from indiscriminate transposing of results from one region to another,as that may lead to substantial biases.Future studies of birdsong variation will benefit from big data assembled by citizen scientists,but to maximise their usefulness for further dialect research,careful delineation of dialect boundaries is essential.
基金supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)Canadian Foundation for Innovation(CFI)+1 种基金Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation(OMRI)Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation(NOHFC)。
文摘The song systems of oscine passerines(songbirds)are complex and diverse.Because songs are used for both mate attraction and territory defense and are therefore important signals for survival and reproduction,comprehensive knowledge of within and among species song structure and distribution is informative for understanding the evolution of song repertoires and vocal behaviour.In this study,we explored variation in the song structure of the Ovenbird(Seiurus aurocapilla),a widespread warbler(Family Parulidae)found in North American forests.We analyzed recordings from the 2021 breeding season to assess song type variation at a local(n=158 birds;Sault Ste.Marie,ON)and breeding range scale(n=512 birds;eBird).We characterized the local song types and tested whether Ovenbirds share song types with their neighbors more often than expected by chance.We then characterized song types of Ovenbirds across the breeding range to determine whether any geographic pattern of song clustering exists(i.e.,macro-dialects).We found 10 distinct song types and some evidence for song type clustering at the local study site(i.e.,song neighborhoods).We found 7 of those 10 song types throughout the breeding range and identified an additional 24 types that were not recorded in our local population.We found no evidence for song dialects across the Ovenbird breeding range.This study contributes to our understanding of Ovenbird song while simultaneously adding to our understanding of geographic structuring of warbler repertoires.Our work contributes to delineating a more comprehensive understanding of factors affecting dialect development for this diverse group of songbirds.
文摘The geographical information reflected in a traditional genealogy mainly has two aspects.On the one hand,it is the administrative division,human geography,and other general environmental conditions of the ethnic group.On the other hand,it points to the specific origin and migration of family members in the family tree.In addition to affecting the formation and evolution of language,these factors will also affect the development trend of language behavior by promoting the psychology of people’s geographic identity.From these data,we find that geographic factors in the genealogy have a non-negligible relationship with the geographical spread of the language of the genealogy.
