Projects per year
Abstract
Vocal communication systems have a set of rules that govern the
arrangement of acoustic signals, broadly defined as ‘syntax’. However,
there is a limited understanding of potentially shared or analogous
rules across vocal displays in different taxa. Recent work on songbirds
has investigated syntax using network-based modelling. This technique
quantifies features such as connectivity (adjacent signals in a
sequence) and recurring patterns. Here, we apply network-based modelling
to the complex, hierarchically structured songs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
from east Australia. Given the song's annual evolving pattern and the
cultural conformity of males within a population, network modelling
captured the patterns of multiple song types over 13 consecutive years.
Song arrangements in each year displayed clear ‘small-world’ network
structure, characterized by clusters of highly connected sounds.
Transitions between these connected sounds further suggested a
combination of both structural stability and variability. Small-world
network structure within humpback songs may facilitate the
characteristic and persistent vocal learning observed. Similar
small-world structures and transition patterns are found in several
birdsong displays, indicating common syntactic patterns among vocal
learning in multiple taxa. Understanding the syntactic rules governing
vocal displays in multiple, independently evolving lineages may indicate
what rules or structural features are important to the evolution of
complex communication, including human language.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 20192014 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
Volume | 286 |
Issue number | 1917 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 18 Dec 2019 |
Keywords
- Vocal learning
- Network modelling
- Syntax
- Humpback whale
- Song
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Network analysis reveals underlying syntactic features in a vocally learnt mammalian display, humpback whale song'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Sexy Singing: Cultural Evolution: Sexy singing: cultural evolution and sexual selection in a complex song display
Garland, E. C. (PI)
1/10/17 → 30/09/22
Project: Fellowship
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Newton International Fellowship: Culture in whales: transmission of a complex display.
Garland, E. C. (PI)
27/02/15 → 26/01/17
Project: Fellowship
Profiles
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Ellen Clare Garland
- School of Biology - Principal Research Fellow
- Centre for Biological Diversity
- Scottish Oceans Institute
- Sea Mammal Research Unit
- Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution
Person: Academic - Research
Datasets
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Network analysis reveals underlying syntactic features in a vocally learnt mammalian display, humpback whale song (dataset)
Allen, J. A. (Creator), Garland, E. C. (Creator), Dunlop, R. A. (Creator) & Noad, M. J. (Creator), Dryad, 2019
Dataset