Background: Birds produce alarm calls to convey information about threats. Some Passerine alarm calls consist of several note strings, but few studies have examined their function. Previous studies have shown that Jap...Background: Birds produce alarm calls to convey information about threats. Some Passerine alarm calls consist of several note strings, but few studies have examined their function. Previous studies have shown that Japanese Tits(Parus minor) can alter the calling rate and number and combination of notes in response to predators. We previously found the combinations of note types in Japanese Tit alarm calls to be significantly different in response to the Sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus) and Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).Methods: Through playback experiments, we tested whether the note strings in Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo have different functions in conveying information. The note strings of selected alarm calls were divided into the categories of C and D, and different calls were then constructed separately based on the two note string categories. Original alarm calls(C–D), C calls and D calls were played back to male Japanese Tits during the incubation period.Results: Male Japanese Tits had a significantly stronger response to C calls than to C–D calls, and they showed a significantly stronger response to both C and C–D calls than to D calls, suggesting that Japanese Tits discriminated between the C and D calls.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the C-and D-category note strings of Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo have different functions, which supports the previous finding that different note strings in an alarm call can provide different information to receivers. However, the exact meanings of these note strings are not yet known, and further investigation is therefore required.展开更多
Begging brings benefits and costs for nestling birds:it can indicate their needs to their parents,but it can also be a cue used by predators to find the nest.The costs,like many variables related to nest predation,can...Begging brings benefits and costs for nestling birds:it can indicate their needs to their parents,but it can also be a cue used by predators to find the nest.The costs,like many variables related to nest predation,can be specific to what kinds of predators are present and their auditory capabilities.These costs and benefits could also be affected by human noise,as noise could disrupt communication to parents and eavesdropping by predators,although human-produced noise might be easily ignored if predators can hear high-frequency components of the begging.We studied nest predation on a generalist bird,the Red-whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus),in a tropical forest in which there are many kinds of nest predators,including birds,mammals and reptiles.In 20 natural nests in which artificial eggs were placed,and subsequently in 140 artificial nests,we broadcast recordings of begging nestlings,with and without traffic noise,at two volume levels.We hypothesized that playback would increase predation relative to a silent control,and that mixing in traffic noise with the begging would decrease predation,as the begging signal was masked.However,we hypothesized that some predators,particularly small mammals with sensitive high-frequency hearing,might ignore the traffic noise.We found that predation was lowest for the control treatment,and lower for treatments mixed with traffic noise than for those without it.Small mammals,however,showed an unexpected pattern,displaying less nest predation in the treatments with traffic noise.Our results demonstrate the human-associated noise can disturb nest predators and influence which kinds of predators use begging to locate nests.展开更多
A multi-domain collaborative simulation(MDCS) system for dual clutch transmission(DCT) was presented based on controller area network(CAN) bus.An interface card of CAN bus was designed,in which MDCS subsystems were li...A multi-domain collaborative simulation(MDCS) system for dual clutch transmission(DCT) was presented based on controller area network(CAN) bus.An interface card of CAN bus was designed,in which MDCS subsystems were linked as the nodes according to the interface mode of MDCS.A DCT simulation model was established based on Matlab/Simdriveline,whose running process was accurately controlled by the designed control system.The playback system of vehicle state(VPS) was proposed whose input was the road-test data,with a real vehicle test environment for the development of transmission control unit(TCU) being provided.A DCT kinematic system model was set up,and the running status of DCT parts could be displayed in real time.The functions of MDCS were verified based on the extra-urban driving cycle(EUDC) and the vehicle road-test data respectively.The results show the functions of MDCS are accomplished,and the unified supporting platform for the development of TCU is achieved by MDCS.展开更多
Background:Generally speaking,playbacks were often ineffective to determine the group sizes of birds since mainly males from leks responded.This limitation has not been tested properly for flocking birds such as Crest...Background:Generally speaking,playbacks were often ineffective to determine the group sizes of birds since mainly males from leks responded.This limitation has not been tested properly for flocking birds such as Crested Guineafowl(Guttera edouardi) with the view to use it as a counting method.The aims of the study reported in this paper were(1) to describe the cal s of Crested Guineafowl in a social context;(2) to interpret cal s in an evolutionary context;and(3) to demonstrate that playbacks can be used to locate and count Crested Guineafowl in smal isolated forests.Methods:The vocal behavior of Crested Guineafowl was observed during a survey conducted in the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve(Kwa Zulu-Natal,South Africa) from November 2010 to June 2012.Transect line observations and sound playback methods were used.Results:The behavioral context and structure of cal s were described.The eight cal s described for Crested Guineafowl were produced mainly to unite flock members in the dense understory,where visibility was poor,and to repel intruders.When not disturbed,Crested Guineafowl were quiet and only made soft contact calls.Conclusions:The high rate of call back and the fact that flocks invariably approach the source of the call en masse,shows that field researchers are able to assess the population size of Crested Guineafowl with sound playbacks along a transect.The value of playbacks as a conservation tool is assessed.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31272331 and 31470458 to HW,31472013 and 31772453 to WL)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2412016KJ043)the Open Project Program of Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization(130028685)
文摘Background: Birds produce alarm calls to convey information about threats. Some Passerine alarm calls consist of several note strings, but few studies have examined their function. Previous studies have shown that Japanese Tits(Parus minor) can alter the calling rate and number and combination of notes in response to predators. We previously found the combinations of note types in Japanese Tit alarm calls to be significantly different in response to the Sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus) and Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).Methods: Through playback experiments, we tested whether the note strings in Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo have different functions in conveying information. The note strings of selected alarm calls were divided into the categories of C and D, and different calls were then constructed separately based on the two note string categories. Original alarm calls(C–D), C calls and D calls were played back to male Japanese Tits during the incubation period.Results: Male Japanese Tits had a significantly stronger response to C calls than to C–D calls, and they showed a significantly stronger response to both C and C–D calls than to D calls, suggesting that Japanese Tits discriminated between the C and D calls.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the C-and D-category note strings of Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo have different functions, which supports the previous finding that different note strings in an alarm call can provide different information to receivers. However, the exact meanings of these note strings are not yet known, and further investigation is therefore required.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant 31870370)Guangxi 1000 Young and Middle-Aged College and University Backbone Teachers Cultivation Program(2019.5)。
文摘Begging brings benefits and costs for nestling birds:it can indicate their needs to their parents,but it can also be a cue used by predators to find the nest.The costs,like many variables related to nest predation,can be specific to what kinds of predators are present and their auditory capabilities.These costs and benefits could also be affected by human noise,as noise could disrupt communication to parents and eavesdropping by predators,although human-produced noise might be easily ignored if predators can hear high-frequency components of the begging.We studied nest predation on a generalist bird,the Red-whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus),in a tropical forest in which there are many kinds of nest predators,including birds,mammals and reptiles.In 20 natural nests in which artificial eggs were placed,and subsequently in 140 artificial nests,we broadcast recordings of begging nestlings,with and without traffic noise,at two volume levels.We hypothesized that playback would increase predation relative to a silent control,and that mixing in traffic noise with the begging would decrease predation,as the begging signal was masked.However,we hypothesized that some predators,particularly small mammals with sensitive high-frequency hearing,might ignore the traffic noise.We found that predation was lowest for the control treatment,and lower for treatments mixed with traffic noise than for those without it.Small mammals,however,showed an unexpected pattern,displaying less nest predation in the treatments with traffic noise.Our results demonstrate the human-associated noise can disturb nest predators and influence which kinds of predators use begging to locate nests.
基金Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality,China (No. 08dz1150401)
文摘A multi-domain collaborative simulation(MDCS) system for dual clutch transmission(DCT) was presented based on controller area network(CAN) bus.An interface card of CAN bus was designed,in which MDCS subsystems were linked as the nodes according to the interface mode of MDCS.A DCT simulation model was established based on Matlab/Simdriveline,whose running process was accurately controlled by the designed control system.The playback system of vehicle state(VPS) was proposed whose input was the road-test data,with a real vehicle test environment for the development of transmission control unit(TCU) being provided.A DCT kinematic system model was set up,and the running status of DCT parts could be displayed in real time.The functions of MDCS were verified based on the extra-urban driving cycle(EUDC) and the vehicle road-test data respectively.The results show the functions of MDCS are accomplished,and the unified supporting platform for the development of TCU is achieved by MDCS.
文摘Background:Generally speaking,playbacks were often ineffective to determine the group sizes of birds since mainly males from leks responded.This limitation has not been tested properly for flocking birds such as Crested Guineafowl(Guttera edouardi) with the view to use it as a counting method.The aims of the study reported in this paper were(1) to describe the cal s of Crested Guineafowl in a social context;(2) to interpret cal s in an evolutionary context;and(3) to demonstrate that playbacks can be used to locate and count Crested Guineafowl in smal isolated forests.Methods:The vocal behavior of Crested Guineafowl was observed during a survey conducted in the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve(Kwa Zulu-Natal,South Africa) from November 2010 to June 2012.Transect line observations and sound playback methods were used.Results:The behavioral context and structure of cal s were described.The eight cal s described for Crested Guineafowl were produced mainly to unite flock members in the dense understory,where visibility was poor,and to repel intruders.When not disturbed,Crested Guineafowl were quiet and only made soft contact calls.Conclusions:The high rate of call back and the fact that flocks invariably approach the source of the call en masse,shows that field researchers are able to assess the population size of Crested Guineafowl with sound playbacks along a transect.The value of playbacks as a conservation tool is assessed.
