Tempo and modes of cultural evolution in the complex display of the superb lyrebird
Cornell University team: Prof Irby Lovette, Dr Aaron Rice, Prof Mike Webster
Australia-based team: Dr Anastasia Dalziell (University of Wollongong), A/Prof Justin Welbergen (HIE)
Collaborators and students: Prof Rob Magrath (Australian National University); Victoria Austin (HIE), Fiona Backhouse (HIE), Matthew Chaumont (HIE)
Support: National Science Foundation Grant (USA) Cornell University to Lovette et al. (start 2018)
Contact: A Dalziell
Explaining natural patterns of phenotypic variation through space and time is a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology, yet conventional models of genetic evolution often fall short in explaining variation in behavioural phenotypes, particularly in those that are learned. Social transmission of learned behaviours can often lead to ‘cultures’ characterised by the conformity of behavioural variants within groups (such as family groups or populations) but variation in behavioural phenotypes among groups. However, such non-random patterns in behavioural variants can also result from genetic or environmental factors, and the extent to which social transmission shapes behavioural repertories in wild animals is still poorly understood. In this project, we will examine how lyrebird audio-visual displays vary through space and time using both comparative approaches and experiments. Lyrebirds provide an excellent system in which to investigate cultural evolution. Like humans, lyrebirds are excellent vocal mimics. In addition, they communicate using multi-component signals made up of both mimetic and non-mimetic song, and perform a complex dance display. Combined with limited dispersal and a large but patchy distribution, these attributes provide the necessary ingredients for the development of diverse lyrebird ‘cultures’.
Cornell University team: Prof Irby Lovette, Dr Aaron Rice, Prof Mike Webster
Australia-based team: Dr Anastasia Dalziell (University of Wollongong), A/Prof Justin Welbergen (HIE)
Collaborators and students: Prof Rob Magrath (Australian National University); Victoria Austin (HIE), Fiona Backhouse (HIE), Matthew Chaumont (HIE)
Support: National Science Foundation Grant (USA) Cornell University to Lovette et al. (start 2018)
Contact: A Dalziell
Explaining natural patterns of phenotypic variation through space and time is a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology, yet conventional models of genetic evolution often fall short in explaining variation in behavioural phenotypes, particularly in those that are learned. Social transmission of learned behaviours can often lead to ‘cultures’ characterised by the conformity of behavioural variants within groups (such as family groups or populations) but variation in behavioural phenotypes among groups. However, such non-random patterns in behavioural variants can also result from genetic or environmental factors, and the extent to which social transmission shapes behavioural repertories in wild animals is still poorly understood. In this project, we will examine how lyrebird audio-visual displays vary through space and time using both comparative approaches and experiments. Lyrebirds provide an excellent system in which to investigate cultural evolution. Like humans, lyrebirds are excellent vocal mimics. In addition, they communicate using multi-component signals made up of both mimetic and non-mimetic song, and perform a complex dance display. Combined with limited dispersal and a large but patchy distribution, these attributes provide the necessary ingredients for the development of diverse lyrebird ‘cultures’.
Anthropogenic soundscape change and avian vocal mimics
Project leader: Dr Anastasia Dalziell
Collaborators: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Prof Kris French
Support: University of Wollongong Vice-chancellor's postdoctoral research fellowship to Dalziell (start 2017)
Australia’s natural landscapes are characterised by unique sounds produced by the biological and physical processes that operate within them. Collectively, these sounds form distinctive ‘soundscapes’ that are important for both human societies and natural ecological communities, and thus comprise a key, but often overlooked ‘natural value’. However, soundscapes worldwide are undergoing rapid and substantial changes as a result of human activities, to the extent that they are now considered an endangered resource. It is now well established that changes in natural soundscapes can provide early and quantifiable indications of declines in biodiversity and ecosystem health. However, soundscapes are not simply measurable by-products of biophysical processes, but rather play integral functional roles in the acoustic ecology of many species. Yet, little is known about how soundscape changes impact on the fitness of individual organisms, and ultimately therefore, we do not know how acoustic disturbance can affect ecosystem function. This project investigates how anthropogenic changes to soundscapes affect communication in the superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), a species that is fundamentally dependent on local soundscapes because its mimetic vocalisations are derived directly from the sounds in its environment.
Structure and function of mimetic song in female superb lyrebirds (Menura novaehollandiae)
PhD Student: Victoria Austin
Supervisors: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Dr Anastasia Dalziell, Prof Naomi Langmore
Contact: Victoria Austin
A long-held assumption in animal behaviour is that the production of complex learned vocalisations or “song” is a consequence of sexual selection on males. However, recent work has overturned this idea by showing that song in females is widespread and, indeed, constitutes an ancestral trait. There is now an urgent need to develop and test new hypotheses for the evolution of song in females. The proposed research will examine complex vocalisations in female superb lyrebirds, recently shown to imitate a wide range of sounds. This research will provide crucial insight into the mechanisms and functions of elaborate displays in females and vocal learning in non-human animals.
Dalziell, A.H. and Welbergen, J. A. 2016. Elaborate mimetic vocal displays by female superb lyrebirds. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 4, pp. 1-34.
PhD Student: Victoria Austin
Supervisors: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Dr Anastasia Dalziell, Prof Naomi Langmore
Contact: Victoria Austin
A long-held assumption in animal behaviour is that the production of complex learned vocalisations or “song” is a consequence of sexual selection on males. However, recent work has overturned this idea by showing that song in females is widespread and, indeed, constitutes an ancestral trait. There is now an urgent need to develop and test new hypotheses for the evolution of song in females. The proposed research will examine complex vocalisations in female superb lyrebirds, recently shown to imitate a wide range of sounds. This research will provide crucial insight into the mechanisms and functions of elaborate displays in females and vocal learning in non-human animals.
Dalziell, A.H. and Welbergen, J. A. 2016. Elaborate mimetic vocal displays by female superb lyrebirds. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 4, pp. 1-34.
Geographic variation in the multimodal display of the Albert’s lyrebird (Menura alberti)
PhD Student: Fiona Backhouse
Supervisors: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Dr Anastasia Dalziell, Prof Rob Magrath
Contact: Fiona Backhouse
The males of many species of bird attract females by performing dance-like visual displays accompanied by elaborate songs, but such multimodal performances are poorly understood. The Menuridae – the lyrebirds – are famous for their mimetic songs but they also perform elaborate multimodal displays. Our lab's previous work has focused on the superb lyrebird, but at present it is unclear to what extent their displays are unique to this species and what features are typical of the Menuridae more generally. This project will provide the first systematic study of the multimodal displays of Albert’s lyrebirds, informing our understanding of the song and dance displays of the Menuridae more generally.
PhD Student: Fiona Backhouse
Supervisors: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Dr Anastasia Dalziell, Prof Rob Magrath
Contact: Fiona Backhouse
The males of many species of bird attract females by performing dance-like visual displays accompanied by elaborate songs, but such multimodal performances are poorly understood. The Menuridae – the lyrebirds – are famous for their mimetic songs but they also perform elaborate multimodal displays. Our lab's previous work has focused on the superb lyrebird, but at present it is unclear to what extent their displays are unique to this species and what features are typical of the Menuridae more generally. This project will provide the first systematic study of the multimodal displays of Albert’s lyrebirds, informing our understanding of the song and dance displays of the Menuridae more generally.
Avian vocal mimicry and the superb lyrebird
Project leader: Dr Anastasia Dalziell
Collaborating institutions: Australian National University, Western Sydney University, Cornell University
The ability of some species of bird to accurately imitate the songs and calls of other species is one of the most spectacular but poorly understood forms of animal communication. We investigate avian vocal mimicry using field-based studies of the superb lyrebird, as well as theoretical approaches.
Dalziell, A.H. and Welbergen, J. A. 2016. Mimicry for all modalities. Ecology Letters, 19, pp. 609-619.
Dalziell, A.H., Welbergen, J. A.., Igic, B and Magrath, R. D. 2015. Avian vocal mimicry: a unified conceptual framework. Biological Reviews, 90:643-668.
Dalziell, A.H. and Magrath, R. D. 2012. Fooling the experts: accurate vocal mimicry in the song of the superb lyrebird. Animal Behaviour, 83, pp. 1401-1410.
Project leader: Dr Anastasia Dalziell
Collaborating institutions: Australian National University, Western Sydney University, Cornell University
The ability of some species of bird to accurately imitate the songs and calls of other species is one of the most spectacular but poorly understood forms of animal communication. We investigate avian vocal mimicry using field-based studies of the superb lyrebird, as well as theoretical approaches.
Dalziell, A.H. and Welbergen, J. A. 2016. Mimicry for all modalities. Ecology Letters, 19, pp. 609-619.
Dalziell, A.H., Welbergen, J. A.., Igic, B and Magrath, R. D. 2015. Avian vocal mimicry: a unified conceptual framework. Biological Reviews, 90:643-668.
Dalziell, A.H. and Magrath, R. D. 2012. Fooling the experts: accurate vocal mimicry in the song of the superb lyrebird. Animal Behaviour, 83, pp. 1401-1410.
The functional significance of coordinated song and dance lyrebirds
Project leader: Dr Anastasia Dalziell
Collaborating institutions: Australian National University, Western Sydney University, Cornell University
Music and dance are intimately associated in all human cultures: indeed, many languages use one word to describe both practices. Recent research points to a deep cognitive connection between music and dance-like movements, fuelling speculation that they have evolved together. However, the evolutionary origins and functions of music and dance are highly controversial, and the extent to which music and dance is unique to humans is unclear. Formulating evolutionary explanations of music and dance in ourselves requires a much greater understanding of the functional significance of song and dance displays in non-humans. We have shown that non-human animals can also coordinate song and dance movements in their natural displays. Superb lyrebirds, Menura novaehollandiae, are world-renowned for their accurate vocal mimicry; however lyrebirds can also match specific dance movements with specific songs to produce a remarkable multimodal display. This coordination between a repertoire of dance movements and a repertoire of song types implies a level of sophistication previously only associated with humans. This project investigates the evolutionary causes and consequences of coordinated song and dance displays in birds using the superb lyrebird as a model system.
Dalziell, A. H. Peters, R. A., Cockburn, A., Dorland, A., Maisey, A. C. & Magrath, R. D. 2013. Dance choreography is coordinated with song repertoire in a complex avian display. Current Biology, 23, pp. 1132-1135.
Project leader: Dr Anastasia Dalziell
Collaborating institutions: Australian National University, Western Sydney University, Cornell University
Music and dance are intimately associated in all human cultures: indeed, many languages use one word to describe both practices. Recent research points to a deep cognitive connection between music and dance-like movements, fuelling speculation that they have evolved together. However, the evolutionary origins and functions of music and dance are highly controversial, and the extent to which music and dance is unique to humans is unclear. Formulating evolutionary explanations of music and dance in ourselves requires a much greater understanding of the functional significance of song and dance displays in non-humans. We have shown that non-human animals can also coordinate song and dance movements in their natural displays. Superb lyrebirds, Menura novaehollandiae, are world-renowned for their accurate vocal mimicry; however lyrebirds can also match specific dance movements with specific songs to produce a remarkable multimodal display. This coordination between a repertoire of dance movements and a repertoire of song types implies a level of sophistication previously only associated with humans. This project investigates the evolutionary causes and consequences of coordinated song and dance displays in birds using the superb lyrebird as a model system.
Dalziell, A. H. Peters, R. A., Cockburn, A., Dorland, A., Maisey, A. C. & Magrath, R. D. 2013. Dance choreography is coordinated with song repertoire in a complex avian display. Current Biology, 23, pp. 1132-1135.
The acoustic ecology and conservation of the endangered rufous scrub-bird
The rufous scrub-bird (Atrichornis rufescens) is a cryptic near-flightless passerine with a powerful song. It is one of only two extant species of the Atrichornithidae - the sister family to the lyrebirds (Menuridae). The rufous scrub-bird is classified as Endangered under the Commonwealth EPBC Act, and is restricted to five isolated sub-populations in high altitude habitat “islands” in NSW and Queensland, including an area south-east of Gloucester (the Gloucester Tops). Monitoring this listed species is a key to their conservation but the habitat in which the birds are found is challenging and remote. This study involves the development and application of acoustic monitoring techniques and other appropriate means of remote monitoring, aimed at increasing knowledge about the biology and behaviour of this intriguing but little-known species.
People: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Dr Anastasia Dalziell & Dr Alan Stuart
We are looking for a Masters student to work on this project. For more information see here.
The rufous scrub-bird (Atrichornis rufescens) is a cryptic near-flightless passerine with a powerful song. It is one of only two extant species of the Atrichornithidae - the sister family to the lyrebirds (Menuridae). The rufous scrub-bird is classified as Endangered under the Commonwealth EPBC Act, and is restricted to five isolated sub-populations in high altitude habitat “islands” in NSW and Queensland, including an area south-east of Gloucester (the Gloucester Tops). Monitoring this listed species is a key to their conservation but the habitat in which the birds are found is challenging and remote. This study involves the development and application of acoustic monitoring techniques and other appropriate means of remote monitoring, aimed at increasing knowledge about the biology and behaviour of this intriguing but little-known species.
People: A/Prof Justin Welbergen, Dr Anastasia Dalziell & Dr Alan Stuart
We are looking for a Masters student to work on this project. For more information see here.
