Urban sparrows respond to a sexually selected trait with increased aggression in noise

Scientific Reports
Jennifer N Phillips, Elizabeth P Derryberry

Abstract

Animals modify acoustic communication signals in response to noise pollution, but consequences of these modifications are unknown. Vocalizations that transmit best in noise may not be those that best signal male quality, leading to potential conflict between selection pressures. For example, slow paced, narrow bandwidth songs transmit better in noise but are less effective in mate choice and competition than fast paced, wide bandwidth songs. We test the hypothesis that noise affects response to song pace and bandwidth in the context of competition using white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys). We measure male response to song variation along a gradient of ambient noise levels in San Francisco, CA. We find that males discriminate between wide and narrow bandwidth songs but not between slow and fast paced songs. These findings are biologically relevant because songs in noisy areas tend to have narrow bandwidths. Therefore, this song phenotype potentially increases transmission distance in noise, but elicits weaker responses from competitors. Further, we find that males respond more strongly to stimuli in noisier conditions, supporting the 'urban anger' hypothesis. We suggest that noise affects male responsiveness to song,...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 23, 2019·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Andrew D WolfendenSelvino R de Kort
Oct 12, 2018·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Dana Lynn MoseleyElizabeth Perrault Derryberry
Dec 29, 2020·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Nathan J KleistGeorge Wittemyer
Jun 15, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Elizabeth P Derryberry, David Luther

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