DOCSLIB.ORG

Vocal Dialects in Parrots: Patterns and Processes of Cultural Evolution

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Vocal Dialects in Parrots: Patterns and Processes of Cultural Evolution Emu - Austral Ornithology ISSN: 0158-4197 (Print) 1448-5540 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/temu20 Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution Timothy F. Wright & Christine R. Dahlin To cite this article: Timothy F. Wright & Christine R. Dahlin (2017): Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution, Emu - Austral Ornithology To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2017.1379356 View supplementary material Published online: 12 Oct 2017. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=temu20 Download by: [24.186.124.167] Date: 12 October 2017, At: 19:40 EMU - AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2017.1379356 Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution Timothy F. Wrighta and Christine R. Dahlinb aDepartment of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA; bDepartment of Biology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA, USA ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Vocal dialects have fascinated biologists for over 50 years. This mosaic pattern of geographic Received 30 April 2017 variation in learned vocalisations was first described in a songbird, and since that time most Accepted 5 September 2017 studies investigating dialects have focused on songbird species. Here we examine patterns of KEYWORDS geographic variation in the calls of a different group of vocal learning birds, the parrots (order Contact calls; cultural Psittaciformes). We summarise the growing literature on vocal variation in parrots, and comple- evolution; dialect; ment this review with a survey of variation in the genus Amazona using calls from sound libraries. geographic variation; We find strikingly similar patterns to those previously found in songbirds. Over 90% of parrots parrots; Psittaciformes examined in the literature, and 69% of Amazona species surveyed, showed geographic variation consistent with a propensity to share local call types. This trait is evolutionarily labile and widespread; within Amazona most clades contained species with and without geographic varia- tion, and most major lineages of parrots include representatives with dialects. We found little support for the long-standing hypothesis that dialects isolate populations and thus generate genetic differences among populations. Instead, most studies support the idea that dialects are maintained by social benefits of matching local call types, a finding that has implications for the management of captive and endangered populations. Considerable scope remains for studies that experimentally test hypotheses for the exact nature of these benefits, as well as studies that employ comparisons among species, to understand how the interplay between ecology, social dynamics and vocal learning capacities produces different patterns of variation across the parrots. Introduction Since this initial discovery in the White-crowned Sparrow, vocal dialects have been described in many Dialects were first described in animal vocalisations by other songbird species (reviewed in Podos and Warren Marler and Tamura (1962) in their classic study of the 2007) and in representatives of all taxa with the ability White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys nut- to learn vocalisations, including parrots (Wright 1996), talli). They found a distinct pattern of mosaic variation hummingbirds (Wiley 1971), bats (Boughman 1997), in the territorial songs of males of this species, such that and cetaceans (Ford 1991). These studies have revealed there was relatively minor variation in acoustic structure Downloaded by [24.186.124.167] at 19:40 12 October 2017 diverse patterns of geographic variation, including of songs among males within populations and distinct some species with classic mosaic dialects with sharp differences in structure among different populations. transitions in structure, some with graded or clinal Marler and Tamura went on to show in a series of elegant variation, and some that lack geographic variation experiments that these songs were acquired by males entirely (e.g. in parrots Wright 1996; Baker 2000; early in life through social learning of the songs of adult Bradbury et al. 2001; Guerra et al. 2008). Even within males, a process they termed ‘cultural transmission’ the subset of species with clear vocal dialects, there is a (Marler and Tamura 1964). They inferred that the dialect wide range of spatial scales over which particular var- variation seen among populations was maintained by iants are shared, ranging from microgeographic varia- cultural transmission of different song types within dif- tion among neighbourhoods composed of a few ferent populations, perhaps coupled with limited disper- territorial males to macrogeographic variation extend- sal between populations (Marler and Tamura 1962). Thus ing over thousands of kilometres (Podos and Warren the dialects of the White-crowned Sparrow appeared to 2007). This variation has led to considerable interest in share many similarities with their namesake dialects in determining what underlying processes lead to the human languages (Cavalli-Sforza 2000). formation of vocal dialects, and what determines the CONTACT Timothy F. Wright [email protected] Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here. © 2017 BirdLife Australia 2 T.F.WRIGHTANDC.R.DAHLIN form and scale of spatial variation within species affect signal transmission, such as the amount of vegeta- (Baker and Cunningham 1985; Handley and Nelson tion, and that acoustic variants would transmit better in 2005; Podos and Warren 2007). Further questions their own habitat than in other habitats. revolve around the degree of the temporal stability of The fourth and final hypothesis suggests that geo- vocal variation, and whether distinctions in geographic graphic variants, in and of themselves, provide no selec- patterns made by humans (e.g. dialects, clinal variation tive advantage. The cultural drift hypothesis proposes or (apparently) invariant vocalisations) are perceived as that geographic variants are simply functionless epiphe- meaningful by the animals themselves. Finally, there nomena that are by-products of learning that occurs has been considerable interest in whether geographic from local models with some degree of copying errors variation in learned vocalisations is associated with, coupled with limited dispersal between populations and perhaps mutually reinforces, neutral genetic varia- (Payne 1981). These processes are predicted to lead to tion among populations (Nottebohm 1972; Baker et al. the accumulation of different variants in different 1982; Baker and Cunningham 1985; MacDougall- regions through a process that has been termed ‘cultural Shackleton and MacDougall-Shackleton 2001; Wright drift’, in analogy to genetic drift of genetically trans- and Wilkinson 2001; Soha et al. 2004; Wright et al. mitted traits. Importantly, cultural drift is not mutually 2005; Lipshutz et al. 2017). exclusive with hypotheses inferring selective advantages; A plethora of hypotheses have been proposed for how for example, dialects might originally form due to isola- dialects are formed and maintained, with overlapping tion and copying errors and then persist through bene- and sometimes confusing terminology (Nottebohm fits associated with sharing vocal variants with 1972;Payne1981; Baker and Cunningham 1985; neighbours within a certain range (Sewall et al. 2016). Handley and Nelson 2005; Podos and Warren 2007). It is also worth noting that discussion about these Here we have divided hypotheses for the formation and processes has been muddied by the fact that dialects maintenance of vocal dialects into four groups represent- themselves are not individual-level phenomena that are ing discrete underlying processes that lead to the sharing subject to evolution by natural selection, but instead are of geographic variants by neighbours; sexual selection, population- or species-level phenomena that arise out of signalling group membership and familiarity, environ- a propensity of individuals to share local variants with mental adaptation, and cultural drift. The first two pro- other individuals. Thus we should not be asking how or cesses are similar in that individuals who adhere to local why dialects evolve, but rather (i) why individuals evolve variants acquire some form of socially advantageous the propensity to share local variants of calls, and (ii) selective advantage. In the sexual selection hypothesis, what other factors interact with this trait to impact geographic variation in vocalisations is driven primarily dialect formation such as the propensity for copying by female preferences for locally specific variants, and errors, the strength of conformation to local types, the individuals with the correct variants are predicted to degree of dispersal, the timing of learning relative to acquire mates with greater success (Podos and Warren dispersal and the stability of the social group. 2007). Geographic variation could result from arbitrary Here we examine patterns of geographic variation in female preferences as females strive to have locally sexy the vocal repertoires of the parrots and cockatoos Downloaded by [24.186.124.167] at 19:40 12 October 2017 sons or could be driven by females’ desire to mate with (order Psittaciformes, hereafter ‘parrots’) with the males with locally adapted
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Eastern Rosella (Platycercus Eximius)
    Eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae Characteristics: The Eastern rosella averages 30 cm (12 in) in length and 99gm (3.5oz) in weight. With a red head and white cheeks, the upper breast is red and the lower breast is yellow fading to pale green over the abdomen. The feathers of the back and shoulders are black, and have yellowish or greenish margins giving rise to a scalloped appearance that varies slightly between three subspecies and the sexes. The wings and lateral tail feathers are bluish while the tail is dark green. Range & Habitat: Behavior: Like most parrots, Eastern rosellas are cavity nesters, generally Eastern Australia down to nesting high in older large trees in forested areas. They enjoy bathing in Tasmania in wooded country, puddles of water in the wild and in captivity and frequently scratch their open forests, woodlands and heads with the foot behind the wing. Typical behavior also includes an parks. Nests in tree cavities, undulating flight, strutting by the male, and tail wagging during various stumps or posts. displays such as courting, and a high-pitched whistle consisting of sharp notes repeated rapidly in quick succession. Reproduction: Breeding season is influenced by rain and location. Courting male bows while sounding out mating call followed by mutual feeding and then mating. Female alone incubates eggs while male bring food. 2-9 eggs will hatch in 18 - 20 days. Hatchlings are ready to leave the nest in about 5 weeks but may stay with their parents for several months unless there is another mating.
    [Show full text]
  • TAG Operational Structure
    PARROT TAXON ADVISORY GROUP (TAG) Regional Collection Plan 5th Edition 2020-2025 Sustainability of Parrot Populations in AZA Facilities ...................................................................... 1 Mission/Objectives/Strategies......................................................................................................... 2 TAG Operational Structure .............................................................................................................. 3 Steering Committee .................................................................................................................... 3 TAG Advisors ............................................................................................................................... 4 SSP Coordinators ......................................................................................................................... 5 Hot Topics: TAG Recommendations ................................................................................................ 8 Parrots as Ambassador Animals .................................................................................................. 9 Interactive Aviaries Housing Psittaciformes .............................................................................. 10 Private Aviculture ...................................................................................................................... 13 Communication ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Influences of Oceanic Islands and the Pleistocene on The
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by LJMU Research Online 1 1 Manuscript for European Journal of Ecology http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/eje 2 Influences of oceanic islands and the Pleistocene on the 3 biogeography and evolution of two groups of Australasian parrots 4 (Aves: Psittaciformes: Eclectus roratus, Trichoglossus haematodus 5 complex). Rapid evolution and implications for taxonomy and 6 conservation 7 8 Michael P. Braun1*, Matthias Reinschmidt2, Thomas Datzmann3, David Waugh2, Rafael Zamora2, Annett Häbich2, 9 Luís Neves2, Helga Gerlach2, Thomas Arndt4, Claudia Mettke-Hofmann5, Hedwig Sauer-Gürth1 & Michael Wink1 10 11 Author Affiliations: 12 13 1Heidelberg University, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Dep. Biology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 14 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany 15 2Loro Parque Fundacíon, Camino Burgado, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife), Spain 16 3Senckenberg Collection of Natural History Dresden Museum of Zoology, Koenigsbruecker Landstr. 159, 01109 17 Dresden, Germany 18 4Thomas Arndt, Brückenfeldstraße 28, 75015 Bretten, Germany 19 5School of Natural Sciences & Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, 20 United Kingdom 21 * corresponding author 22 Michael P. Braun 23 Email: [email protected] 24 University of Heidelberg 25 Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB) 26 Dep. Biology, 4th floor 27 Im Neuenheimer Feld 364 28 69120 Heidelberg 29 Tel.: 0049 176 - 228 59 333 30 Fax.: 0049 62 21 - 54 48 31 2 32 SUMMARY 33 Background 34 The Australasian region is a centre of biodiversity and endemism, mainly based on the tropical climate in 35 combination with the large amount of islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Two Endangered Neotropical Parrots Inform in Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Strategies
    diversity Article Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Two Endangered Neotropical Parrots Inform In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Strategies Carlos I. Campos 1 , Melinda A. Martinez 1, Daniel Acosta 1, Jose A. Diaz-Luque 2, Igor Berkunsky 3 , Nadine L. Lamberski 4, Javier Cruz-Nieto 5 , Michael A. Russello 6 and Timothy F. Wright 1,* 1 Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; [email protected] (C.I.C.); [email protected] (M.A.M.); [email protected] (D.A.) 2 Fundación CLB (FPCILB), Estación Argentina, Calle Fermín Rivero 3460, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia; [email protected] 3 Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustenable, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil 7000, Argentina; [email protected] 4 San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA 92027, USA; [email protected] 5 Organización Vida Silvestre A.C. (OVIS), San Pedro Garza Garciá 66260, Mexico; [email protected] 6 Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: A key aspect in the conservation of endangered populations is understanding patterns of Citation: Campos, C.I.; Martinez, genetic variation and structure, which can provide managers with critical information to support M.A.; Acosta, D.; Diaz-Luque, J.A.; evidence-based status assessments and management strategies. This is especially important for Berkunsky, I.; Lamberski, N.L.; species with small wild and larger captive populations, as found in many endangered parrots. We Cruz-Nieto, J.; Russello, M.A.; Wright, used genotypic data to assess genetic variation and structure in wild and captive populations of T.F.
    [Show full text]
  • Part II: the Trek to El Condominio and El Taray to See the Maroon-Fronted Parrots by Steve Milpacher
    Part II: The Trek to El Condominio and El Taray to see the Maroon-fronted Parrots By Steve Milpacher Day 5 It was now the 5th day of my trip to Mexico and I was on my way to see Maroon-fronted Parrots (Rhynchopsitta terrisi), a nearly identical species to the Thick-billed, apart from the prominent maroon wash on their foreheads. I would be meeting with Rene Valdes, a young wildlife biologist studying Maroon-fronts at El Condominio and El Taray, as well as 20 other nesting cliffs. These parrot nesting areas are found in two extremely mountainous areas in the Sierra Madre Oriental in the Mexican states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, slightly east of where I first started. I would be hiking once again in terrain that would leave me breathless and exhilarated, for the trails would take me 2,100m up into an area high in canyons, with impossibly steep valleys. Rene, who has been in the area studying the birds for several years, has documented their lives and decline in the wild along with Gabriela Ortiz, one of recent my traveling companions when viewing the Thick-bills and a fellow researcher of Rene’s at Monterrey Tech. Both have watched the Maroon-fronted parrot habitat undergo extensive conversion due to logging, fires and agriculture; it is now restricted to a north-to-south 300km section of the Sierra Madre Oriental, breeding in only about 100km of that area. Recently fire has swept through the area, destroying large areas of suitable habitat with little chance of natural regeneration, as returning brush is likely to be chaparral, similar to the undergrowth found in the fire-prone state of California in the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Magnolia Bird Farm International Conure Association
    During the August 1997 American Federation of Aviculture National Convention in San Antonio TX, a ~l?J\D\SN~ group ofdevoted conure breeders and owners met to form the International ~~()~~l)§, Conure Association under the cooper­ ~"F,\e ative efforts of Sandi Brennan and ~trO~ D. Louise Kreutzer Brent Andrus. ~ P.O. Box 80035 The purpose of International ~ Conure Association (lCA) is to pro­ Bakersfield, CA 93380 International mote the keeping and breeding of call (805) 589-1941 conures by educating people on the fax (805) 832-1393 Conure needs of Conures in the home and the aviary. ICA will be publishing a quar­ Association terly newsletter dealing with both the pet care and breeding husbandry ofall Specializing in rare mutations, conures. and lovable, healthy, handfed babies. The Association will also begin Eric Antheunisse working on record keeping, tracking CEDARmLL he conure is one of the largest and stud books for the less common families of psittacines, second conures. A survey is being conducted BIRD only to the lory and lorikeet on the number of species currently ENTERPRISES T More than 70 family. The name is derived from held in captivity and currently produc­ species of birds ConuntS, an incorrect term previously ing offspring. This survey can be done 30 types of Conures, 8 types of Cockatoos used to identify this family of hook­ anonymously and ICA encourages any Macaws, Amazons & much more! (707) 578-3976 bills. Conures, in general, are small to and all owners of conures to partici­ 3442 Primrose Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95407 medium sized, with long wedge tails in pate so that we may better serve proportion to their broad large bills, conures in captivity.
    [Show full text]
  • THE Distrffiution of the AUSTRALIAN PSITTACINES (Order PSITTACIFORMES: Parrots, Cockatoos, Etc.)
    THE S.A,' ORNITHOLOGIST 3 THE DISTRffiUTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN PSITTACINES (Order PSITTACIFORMES: Parrots, Cockatoos, etc.) by ALAN LENDON, Adelaide This paper is the culmination of many east-central Queensland and of the Paradise years of documentation of personal obser- Parrot in the vicinity of the Mitchell River. vations and of published records especially those in The Emu and The South' Australian ORDER: PSITTACIFORMES: PARROTS, Ornithologist, of the distribution of the Aus­ COCKATOOS, ETC. tralian members of the order Psittaciformes. FAMILY TRICHOGLOSSIDAE: LORIKEETS An attempt has been made to collate this in­ 254 TRICHOGLOSSUS MOLUCCANUS formation with the records of the specimens RAINBOW (BLUE MOUNTAIN) LORIKEET in the various Australian Museums, thanks Checklist distribution-E.A.,- S.A., T. to the courtesy of their Directors, and with Eastern Australia is best divided into the communicated observations of numerous States. In Queensland, there are records field workers, far too numerous to mention from some Torres Strait islands and from individually. Great reliance has been placed all of Cape York Peninsula and thence down on the various regional textbooks of Aus­ the whole of eastern Queensland without ever tralian birds, particularly Birds of Western going much further west than the limits of Australia by Serventy and WhitteIl, Tasma­ the Great Dividing Range. It is appreciated nian Birds by Sharland, A H andlist of the that there is considerable overlap of the range Birds of Victoria by Wheeler, A Handlist of of this and the next species at the base of the Birds of New South Wales by McGill, Cape York Peninsula. List of Northern Territory Birds by Storr, and In New South Wales, the recorded distri­ the papers appearing in The South Australian bution is again limited to the Great Dividing Ornithologist by Terrill and Rix and by Range and to the east thereof and but rarely Condon.
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Parrots of the Neotropics
    sustain their numbers. Buffon's Macaw: Appendix I. Threatened Parrots Sometimes confused with the Mili­ tary Macaw. See A.F.A. Watchbird Oct/Nov 1986 and Dec/Jan 1990 for ofthe Neotropics clarification. These birds are seri­ by Nigel J. Col/ar ously declining throughout their International Council for Bird Preservation range in Central America. Captive Cambridge, United Kingdom breeding is desperately needed. Green-winged Macaws: Appen­ dix 11. Still being brought into the U.S. Parrots as Problems the deletion of Yellow-sided Parakeet The wild caught birds have proven Parrots are colourful, vegetarian, Pyrrhura hypoxantha (an invalid difficult to breed. Better success is playful and mimetic, so people find species), the relegation of Yellow­ possible utilizing captive bred birds them attractive, easy to keep, com­ faced Amazon Amazona xanthops to for breeding. panionable and entertaining. In popu­ near-threatened status, the promotion Hyacinth Macaws: Appendix I. lar consciousness, they are the most from near-threatened status of White­ Current population is estimated at high-profile of birds, commonly fea­ headed Amazon Amazona leuco­ 2500 to 5000 total population. lllegal tured in advertisements that seek to cephala, and the addition of El Oro trade continues to decimate their assert the tropical authenticity of a Parakeet Pyrrhura orcesi, Fuertes' population. Further captive breeding product, and often humourised in Hapalopsittaca fuertesi and Fire­ is necessary to maintain adequate cartoon form to assure the conviv­ eyed Parrots H. pyrrhops, Blue­ amounts ofbirds. iality of and complicity in the experi­ cheeked Amazona dufresniana and Military Macaws: Appendix I. ence the product offers. Alder Amazons A.
    [Show full text]
  • Vpclistaug05 (.Pdf, 165.51KB)
    Vertebrate Pests Committee List of Exotic Vertebrate Animals in Australia Rev Aug 2005 Contact Details Background Vertebrate Pests Committee Secretary All species on this list (excluding those with B or C c\o Land Protection annotations) form a definitive record of the non- Department of Natural Resources & Mines indigenous vertebrate mammals, birds, amphibians GPO Box 2454 and reptiles held in Australia under State and Territory BRISBANE QLD 4001 legislation. (It is the responsibility of the holder of an Tel. 07 3405 5540 individual animal to ensure that they are also Fax. 07 3405 5551 compliant with Commonwealth legislation relating to Mobile. the possession and quarantine of exotic animals.) Email. [email protected] This list should be used as a reference by the Vertebrate Pests Committee and Commonwealth, Sustainable Wildlife Industries State and Territory agencies in controlling the entry, Environment Australia movement and keeping of exotic vertebrate animals. GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 This list may be subject to change from time to time Tel. 02 6274 2880 (with VPC approval), to incorporate changes in the Fax. 02 6274 1921Email. [email protected] taxonomic name of species. It may also be changed where additions have been made through the legal importation of new exotic species into Australia under References the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Christidis, L. and Boles, W. E. 1994. The Taxonomy Quarantine Act 1908. and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. RAOU Monograph 2. Each species, unless otherwise stated, has so far only be subjected to a general assessment of the risk it Frost, N.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Golden Conure Research Will Aid Its Survival
    Golden Conure research will aid its survival By GLENN REYNOLDS We have long been concerned about this Brazilian species, which has suffered from tremendous loss of its rainforest habitat and being highly sought after for the illicit bird-trade; therefore, in May of 1999 we launched the WPT-USA ’Golden Conure Survival Fund’. We contacted Carlos Yamashita, Brazil’s leading parrot biologist, who had previously conducted research into the Golden Conure and its needs. He indicated he was anxious to do more to help its preservation. We published a detailed proposal from Dr. Charles Munn III in the August 1999 PsittaScene. Glenn Reynolds. The town of Paragominas, at the heart of History the region, is now surrounded by a The Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba) is devastated landscape. Over the past several also known as the Queen of Bavaria’s years, two thirds of the town’s lumber mills Conure. Although it has been considered have ceased to operate, indicating an endangered since the mid 1940s it has exhaustion of local wood sources. This never been formally studied as its range means the forests that provide food for the was considered to be so remote that it was local fauna are likely to be razed in the out of harm’s way. In the early 1970s very near future. The rural social conditions construction began on the Tucuruí dam, spawned this boom-bust cycle of timber, which on completion flooded 888 square presenting a further obstacle in the Golden miles of rainforest. The dam evoked the Conure’s struggle to survive.
    [Show full text]
  • Parrots in the London Area a London Bird Atlas Supplement
    Parrots in the London Area A London Bird Atlas Supplement Richard Arnold, Ian Woodward, Neil Smith 2 3 Abstract species have been recorded (EASIN http://alien.jrc. Senegal Parrot and Blue-fronted Amazon remain between 2006 and 2015 (LBR). There are several ec.europa.eu/SpeciesMapper ). The populations of more or less readily available to buy from breeders, potential factors which may combine to explain the Parrots are widely introduced outside their native these birds are very often associated with towns while the smaller species can easily be bought in a lack of correlation. These may include (i) varying range, with non-native populations of several and cities (Lever, 2005; Butler, 2005). In Britain, pet shop. inclination or ability (identification skills) to report species occurring in Europe, including the UK. As there is just one parrot species, the Ring-necked (or Although deliberate release and further import of particular species by both communities; (ii) varying well as the well-established population of Ring- Rose-ringed) parakeet Psittacula krameri, which wild birds are both illegal, the captive populations lengths of time that different species survive after necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), five or six is listed by the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) remain a potential source for feral populations. escaping/being released; (iii) the ease of re-capture; other species have bred in Britain and one of these, as a self-sustaining introduced species (Category Escapes or releases of several species are clearly a (iv) the low likelihood that deliberate releases will the Monk Parakeet, (Myiopsitta monachus) can form C). The other five or six¹ species which have bred regular event.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Cerebrotypes in Birds
    Original Paper Brain Behav Evol 2005;65:215–230 Received: June 23, 2004 Returned for revision: July 20, 2004 DOI: 10.1159/000084313 Accepted after revision: September 14, 2004 Published online: March 8, 2005 The Evolution of Cerebrotypes in Birds Andrew N. Iwaniuk Peter L. Hurd Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Key Words tionships among species, but there is a tendency for spe- Birds W Wulst W Nidopallium W Brainstem W Cerebellum W cies within an order to clump together. There may also Evolution W Prey capture W Cognition be a weak relationship between cerebrotype and devel- opmental differences, but two of the main clusters con- tained species with both altricial and precocial develop- Abstract mental patterns. As a whole, the groupings do agree Multivariate analyses of brain composition in mammals, with behavioral and ecological similarities among spe- amphibians and fish have revealed the evolution of ‘cer- cies. Most notably, species that share similarities in loco- ebrotypes’ that reflect specific niches and/or clades. motor behavior, mode of prey capture or cognitive abili- Here, we present the first demonstration of similar cere- ty are clustered together. The relationship between cere- brotypes in birds. Using principal component analysis brotype and behavior/ecology in birds suggests that and hierarchical clustering methods to analyze a data set future comparative studies of brain-behavior relation- of 67 species, we demonstrate that five main cerebro- ships will benefit from adopting a multivariate ap- types can be recognized. One type is dominated by galli- proach. forms and pigeons, among other species, that all share Copyright © 2005 S.
    [Show full text]