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Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires

Publication ,  Journal Article
Peters, S; Searcy, WA; Beecher, MD; Nowicki, S
Published in: Auk
January 1, 2000

We asked whether geographic variation exists in the complexity of song repertoires in Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) by quantitatively comparing four measures of repertoire organization across four geographically distant populations: (1) repertoire size (the number of distinct song types), (2) the number of 'minimal units of production' per repertoire, (3) mean similarity among variants of the same song type ('within-type' similarity), and (4) mean similarity among song types in a repertoire ('between-type' similarity). We found significant geographic differences among populations in three of these four measures, with mean similarity among song types being the exception. In general, relatively sedentary populations in North Carolina and Washington were more similar to each other than to migratory populations in Pennsylvania and Maine. Contrary to our expectation based on prior interspecific analyses of variation in repertoire complexity, the relatively sedentary populations in our sample had more complex repertoires than did the more migratory populations. The origin and functional significance of population differences in repertoire complexity in this species remain uncertain.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Auk

DOI

ISSN

0004-8038

Publication Date

January 1, 2000

Volume

117

Issue

4

Start / End Page

936 / 942

Related Subject Headings

  • Ornithology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Peters, S., Searcy, W. A., Beecher, M. D., & Nowicki, S. (2000). Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires. Auk, 117(4), 936–942. https://doi.org/10.2307/4089632
Peters, S., W. A. Searcy, M. D. Beecher, and S. Nowicki. “Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires.” Auk 117, no. 4 (January 1, 2000): 936–42. https://doi.org/10.2307/4089632.
Peters S, Searcy WA, Beecher MD, Nowicki S. Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires. Auk. 2000 Jan 1;117(4):936–42.
Peters, S., et al. “Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires.” Auk, vol. 117, no. 4, Jan. 2000, pp. 936–42. Scopus, doi:10.2307/4089632.
Peters S, Searcy WA, Beecher MD, Nowicki S. Geographic variation in the organization of Song Sparrow repertoires. Auk. 2000 Jan 1;117(4):936–942.
Journal cover image

Published In

Auk

DOI

ISSN

0004-8038

Publication Date

January 1, 2000

Volume

117

Issue

4

Start / End Page

936 / 942

Related Subject Headings

  • Ornithology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology