Species interactions and the structure of complex communication networks

A universal challenge faced by animal species is the need to communicate effectively against a backdrop of heterospecific signals. It is often assumed that this need results in signal divergence to minimize interference among community members, yet previous support for this idea is mixed, and few st...

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Published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 111; no. 3; pp. 1020 - 1025
Main Authors Tobias, Joseph A., Planqué, Robert, Cram, Dominic L., Seddon, Nathalie
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States National Academy of Sciences 21.01.2014
National Acad Sciences
SeriesFrom the Cover
Subjects
Acoustics
Animal Communication
Animals
Biological Evolution
Biological Sciences
Biological taxonomies
Bird songs
Birds
Birds - genetics
Birds - physiology
Communication
Convergence
Dawn chorus
Ecological competition
Ecosystem
Models, Theoretical
Signal detection
Signals
Social Behavior
South America
Space
Species
Species Specificity
Time
Vocalization, Animal
Wildlife habitats
South America
acoustic niche
Amazonia
signal partitioning
dawn chorus
interspecific communication
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Summary:A universal challenge faced by animal species is the need to communicate effectively against a backdrop of heterospecific signals. It is often assumed that this need results in signal divergence to minimize interference among community members, yet previous support for this idea is mixed, and few studies have tested the opposing hypothesis that interactions among competing species promote widespread convergence in signaling regimes. Using a null model approach to analyze acoustic signaling in 307 species of Amazonian birds, we show that closely related lineages signal together in time and space and that acoustic signals given in temporal or spatial proximity are more similar in design than expected by chance. These results challenge the view that multispecies choruses are structured by temporal, spatial, or acoustic partitioning and instead suggest that social communication between competing species can fundamentally organize signaling assemblages, leading to the opposite pattern of clustering in signals and signaling behavior.
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Edited by John R. Krebs, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, and approved December 2, 2013 (received for review July 29, 2013)
Author contributions: J.A.T. and N.S. designed research; J.A.T., D.L.C., and N.S. performed research; R.P. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; R.P. and N.S. analyzed data; and J.A.T. and N.S. wrote the paper.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1314337111