Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yao Hou, Ke Tang, Jingyuan Wang, Danxia Xie, Hanzhe Zhang
Summary: This study provides strong evidence supporting assortative mating based on blood type using a unique dataset of one million Chinese pregnancies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Kyung Min Jung, Minseok Seo, Young Min Kim, Jin Lee Kim, Jae Yong Han
Summary: Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), this study evaluated the heterogeneity of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in zebra finches, revealing previously unrecognized subtypes and providing a basis for further research.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sarah L. Y. Lau, Gray A. Williams, Antonio Carvajal-Rodriguez, Emilio Rolan-Alvarez
Summary: Size-assortative mating and sexual selection on size are common across species, with mate choice based on size being a widespread process. In studying the size-based mate choice in intertidal snails, it was found that males prefer to mate with slightly larger females, and multiple-choice experiments are valuable in understanding how males choose mates in the wild.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Lucille Le Maguer, Sebastien Deregnaucourt, Nicole Geberzahn
Summary: Birdsong, culturally transmitted, shows geographical variations in song among different bird species. Dialects in song contribute to reproductive isolation through female preference, with female zebra finches showing a preference for songs similar to their colony's dialect. Song may serve as an affiliative signal in highly social species, suggesting that song dialects play a role in social learning.
Article
Physiology
Yunbok Kim, Chihiro Mori, Satoshi Kojima
Summary: This study compared the non-courtship singing behavior of the zebra finch and the Bengalese finch. The researchers found that the zebra finch exhibited a greater increase in intrinsic motivation for singing when singing was suppressed by darkness compared to the Bengalese finch. Additionally, a substantial portion of Bengalese finches exhibited frequent singing in darkness. The study also provided evidence that lower stress levels in Bengalese finches during darkness were not the major factor for their frequent dark singing. These findings offer new insights into the differences in spontaneous singing behaviors between the two species and the interactions between singing motivation, ambient light, and environmental stress.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Praveen Kumar, Ulrike Redel, Tatjana Lang, Sigrun I. Korsching, Maik Behrens
Summary: Despite previous assumptions about the inferior bitter tasting abilities of birds, recent studies have shown that zebra finches exhibit strong bitter tasting capabilities. By investigating a specific bitter taste receptor in zebra finches, researchers have identified several new bitter agonists, suggesting that the bitter recognition profile of zebra finches is more diverse than previously thought. The most potent bitter agonist found in this study is cucurbitacin I, highlighting the ecological importance of this compound for zebra finches.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
E. Keith Bowers
Summary: Woodman et al. investigate age-assortative mating in bird populations with different life-history strategies. They find that in long-lived mute swans, positive age-assortative mating occurs through active mate selection, while in shorter-lived great tits, it is primarily a passive byproduct of demographic processes.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
John O. Martin, Nancy Tyler Burley
Summary: Understanding the dynamics of mutual mate choice requires investigation of mate preferences of both sexes using a variety of designs, but fewer studies have focused on male choice in avian models. The results of the study suggest that experimental design can significantly impact the preferences of male zebra finches, highlighting the importance of considering design considerations in mate choice experiments.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lisa Kalnins, Oliver Krueger, E. Tobias Krause
Summary: This study proposes a novel plumage scoring system for small songbirds, using the example of the Zebra Finch, and compares it with the traditional fat score. The results show that the plumage score has higher reliability and can be taught to other observers. This scoring method may be an important tool for assessing the well-being of captive animals.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kathryn C. Asalone, Ajuni K. Takkar, Colin J. Saldanha, John R. Bracht
Summary: The study introduces a new transcriptomic method for identifying GRC sequences in songbirds, successfully identifying 733 contigs as high confidence GRC sequences. By using comparative coverage analysis, two new GRC genes and 16 previously unplaced genes were identified.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyung Min Jung, Minseok Seo, Jae Yong Han
Summary: This study used advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology to evaluate the reproductive cells and surrounding cells of zebra finch and chicken, and identified species-specific characteristics. The study revealed interspecific differences in several signaling pathways in the reproductive cells and somatic cells between zebra finch and chicken. This study provides a basis for understanding the reproductive physiology of avian germ cells and utilizing them in conservation efforts.
Article
Biology
Paulo B. Chaves, Karen B. Strier, Anthony Di Fiore
Summary: Evidence suggests that females, both human and nonhuman primates, avoid breeding with close kin and may choose mates based on MHC diversity. In egalitarian societies like the northern muriquis, female mate choice is less constrained and sires with higher MHC diversity are preferred. However, there is no evidence of mating preference for males who are more distantly related or have more MHC alleles distinct from their own, suggesting that female mate choice may be limited by other factors impacting male fertilization success.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Cassandra K. Hui, Nadya Chen, Arunima Chakraborty, Valentina Alaasam, Simon Pieraut, Jenny Q. Ouyang
Summary: Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive pollutant that alters physiology and behavior. Previous research suggests that dim levels of ALAN may bypass the central clock, but the underlying mechanisms triggering these alterations are still unknown. This study used immediate early gene (IEG) expression as a proxy for neuronal activity to determine the brain regions activated in response to ALAN. The results show that ALAN-exposed birds had significantly different IEG expression from birds inactive at night and active during the day in brain areas associated with vision, movement, learning and memory, pain processing, and hormone regulation, providing insight into the mechanistic pathways underlying the documented behavioral and physiological changes.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Madeline P. Choi, Alexander M. Rubin, Haruka Wada
Summary: This study investigates the long-term effects of embryonic incubation temperature on beak color maturation and stress sensitivity in zebra finches. The results reveal that periodic cooling during incubation leads to lower beak color in females, and eggs laid later in a clutch have lower beak color saturation throughout life. Furthermore, handling and restraint stress have different effects on beak color in males and females, with males subjected to low incubation treatment showing higher activity levels during restraint.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Xue-Yuan Di, Bin Yan, Cheng-Xu Wu, Xiao-Fei Yu, Jian-Feng Liu, Mao-Fa Yang
Summary: The study compared the life performance and mating choice of Spodoptera litura reared on different diets, showing significant effects on developmental stages, fecundity, and mate choice. Artificial diet may promote behavioral isolation, impacting mating outcomes. Host plant preference during the larval stage may shape phenotypic plasticity and behavioral isolation in S. litura populations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sergio D. Bolivar-Leguizamon, Luis F. Silveira, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Robb T. Brumfield, Gustavo A. Bravo
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Mae Berlow, Jennifer N. Phillips, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
Summary: Habitats are rapidly changing due to urbanization, affecting food availability, environmental stressors, and disease prevalence for many species, leading to divergence in phenotypic traits between urban and rural populations. Recent research shows urbanization is also altering gut microbial communities in a diverse group of host species, with urban and rural bird microbiomes differing in the variables predicting their diversity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Jennifer N. Phillips, Graham E. Derryberry, Michael J. Blum, David Luther
Article
Ecology
Clara Howell, Rindy Anderson, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael G. Harvey, Gustavo A. Bravo, Santiago Claramunt, Andres M. Cuervo, Graham E. Derryberry, Jaqueline Battilana, Glenn F. Seeholzer, Jessica Shearer McKay, Brian C. O'Meara, Brant C. Faircloth, Scott Edwards, Jorge Perez-Eman, Robert G. Moyle, Frederick H. Sheldon, Alexandre Aleixo, Brian Tilston Smith, R. Terry Chesser, Luis Fabio Silveira, Joel Cracraft, Robb T. Brumfield, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
Article
Ecology
Raymond M. Danner, Casey M. Coomes, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
Summary: Heat waves lead to mass animal mortality globally, prompting research on how animals cope with high temperatures. Recent studies have found that high temperatures can cause cognitive and motor performance declines in animals, including zebra finches. Zebra finches exhibited heat dissipation behaviors and varied performance declines at high temperatures, providing insights into the effects of heat on animal ecology and evolution.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jennifer N. Phillips, W. Justin Cooper, David A. Luther, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rafael N. Leite, Rebecca T. Kimball, Edward L. Braun, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Peter A. Hosner, Graham E. Derryberry, Marina Anciaes, Jessica S. McKay, Alexandre Aleixo, Camila C. Ribas, Robb T. Brumfield, Joel Cracraft
Summary: Target capture sequencing was used to study the phylogeny of the Pipridae family of birds, revealing that UCE data provided strong support for resolving relationships. Exon probes had limited capability and resulted in weaker support and modest topological differences. Two genera were found to be paraphyletic in all analyses, and caution is advised in interpreting relationships within the Chiroxiphia-Antilophia group. Despite some uncertainties, the analysis resulted in a robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the Pipridae family.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Renata Beco, Luis F. Silveira, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Gustavo A. Bravo
Summary: The study revealed the impact of both environmental and behavioral factors on signal evolution, with effects on signal transmission properties and trade-offs in different signal modalities, supporting the importance of sensory drive and transfer hypothesis in signal evolution.
Article
Zoology
Elizabeth P. Derryberry, David Luther
Summary: Urban environments have significantly altered soundscapes, impacting the way animals communicate through acoustic signals. While much research has focused on the effects of urbanization on signalers and their signals, there is limited understanding of how noise pollution affects receiver behaviors and sensory systems. Future studies need to address key gaps in knowledge regarding how acoustic communication systems evolve in urban areas.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Timothy F. Wright, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
Summary: Vocal learning is a complex cognitive trait that varies across species in terms of which vocalizations are learned, how much is learned, when it is learned, who it is learned from, the extent of the internal template, and how the template is integrated with social learning and innovation. By examining vocal learning through a multi-dimensional framework, researchers can accelerate understanding of why vocal learning has evolved and how brains became capable of this behavior.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
C. M. Coomes, E. P. Derryberry
Summary: Global climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, affecting mating behavior and song production in zebra finches. Male zebra finches reduce song output and alter singing characteristics under high temperature conditions, while females can discriminate between songs produced at different temperatures.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gabriel Macedo, Gustavo A. Bravo, Rafael S. Marcondes, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Cibele Biondo
Summary: Through playback experiments in antbirds, it was found that females of species with more conspicuous melanin patches responded more strongly to simulated intruders, while males responded similarly to all intrusions. This suggests that melanin patches in antbirds may serve as ornaments, with stronger female ornamentation potentially reflecting stronger social competition in ornamented females.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ruth A. Simberloff, Jennifer N. Phillips, Graham E. Derryberry, Michael C. Mahoney, Elizabeth P. Derryberry
Summary: Numerous studies have shown that urban noise disrupts animal communication by masking acoustic signals such as birdsong, but the consequences of impaired communication are not well understood. This study examines the relationship between communication distance and territory size for male white-crowned sparrows in urban and rural areas. The results indicate that birds with shorter communication distance tend to have smaller territories, suggesting that communication distance may influence the size of songbird territories.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sergio D. Bolivar-Leguizamon, Luis F. Silveira, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Robb T. Brumfield, Gustavo A. Bravo
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2020)