The evolution of vocal learning.

Published

Journal Article

Vocal learning, in which animals modify their vocalizations to imitate those of others, has evolved independently in scattered lineages of birds and mammals. Comparative evidence supports two hypotheses for the selective advantages leading to the origin of vocal learning. The sexual selection hypothesis proposes that vocal learning evolves to allow expansion of vocal repertoires in response to mating preferences for more complex vocalizations. The information-sharing hypothesis also proposes that vocal learning evolves to allow expansion of vocal repertoires, but in this case in response to kin selection favoring sharing of information among relatives.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Nowicki, S; Searcy, WA

Published Date

  • October 2014

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 28 /

Start / End Page

  • 48 - 53

PubMed ID

  • 25033109

Pubmed Central ID

  • 25033109

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1873-6882

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0959-4388

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.conb.2014.06.007

Language

  • eng