Postdoctoral Fellow
Background noise interferes with acoustic communication and represents a selective force in the evolution of acoustic signals. A growing focus in the field of acoustic communication is how animals cope with noisy environments to effectively dispatch their signals. Recent advances have documented acoustic signal flexibility in noisy environments, yet others suggest that species have limited signal flexibility to reduce acoustic interference. Despite new empirical work, the field lacks a strong theoretical framework from which clear predictions can be made regarding how and why species adjust or fail to adjust signals. I will develop the acoustic signal space conservatism framework based on the idea that there are intrinsic characteristics that differ among taxa that restrict signal flexibility in response to noise interference. The type and degree of flexibility depends on phylogenetic history, current vocal function, and the nature of the interference noise. I will map vocal parameters (e.g., frequency, temporal, amplitude features) onto phylogenies to evaluate the degree to which acoustic signal space is phylogenetically conserved within and among avian taxa. I will use this framework to predict and test temporal space partitioning among co-occurring frequency space competitors and evaluate the degree to which a species' frequency space predicts sensitivity to noise pollution. This framework will provide a platform from which we can begin to reveal the phylogenetic distribution of signal flexibility across multiple acoustic signal space axes. Results will be immediately relevant to understanding the role of acoustics in structuring animal communities and for evaluating species sensitivities to noise pollution.
Acoustic signal space conservatism: a framework for signal flexibility in noise
| PI(s): | Clinton D Francis |
| Start Date: | 1-Jan-2011 |
| End Date: | 31-Dec-2012 |
| Keywords: | |
Background noise interferes with acoustic communication and represents a selective force in the evolution of acoustic signals. A growing focus in the field of acoustic communication is how animals cope with noisy environments to effectively dispatch their signals. Recent advances have documented acoustic signal flexibility in noisy environments, yet others suggest that species have limited signal flexibility to reduce acoustic interference. Despite new empirical work, the field lacks a strong theoretical framework from which clear predictions can be made regarding how and why species adjust or fail to adjust signals. I will develop the acoustic signal space conservatism framework based on the idea that there are intrinsic characteristics that differ among taxa that restrict signal flexibility in response to noise interference. The type and degree of flexibility depends on phylogenetic history, current vocal function, and the nature of the interference noise. I will map vocal parameters (e.g., frequency, temporal, amplitude features) onto phylogenies to evaluate the degree to which acoustic signal space is phylogenetically conserved within and among avian taxa. I will use this framework to predict and test temporal space partitioning among co-occurring frequency space competitors and evaluate the degree to which a species' frequency space predicts sensitivity to noise pollution. This framework will provide a platform from which we can begin to reveal the phylogenetic distribution of signal flexibility across multiple acoustic signal space axes. Results will be immediately relevant to understanding the role of acoustics in structuring animal communities and for evaluating species sensitivities to noise pollution.Related products
Publications- Environmental variability and acoustic signals: a multi-level approach in songbirds Medina, I. and C.D. Francis. Environmental variability and acoustic signals: A multilevel approach in songbirds. Biology Letters doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.0522 ** dual first author
- Are nest predators absent from noisy areas or unable to locate nests? Francis, C. D., C. P. Ortega, R. I. Kennedy, and P. J. Nylander. 2012. Are nest predators absent from noisy areas or unable to locate nests? Ornithological Monographs 74:101-110.
- Behavioral responses by two songbirds to natural gas well compressor noise Francis, C. D., N. J. Kleist, B. J. Davidson, C. P. Ortega, and A. Cruz. 2012. Behavioral responses by two songbirds to natural gas well compressor noise. Ornithological Monographs 74:36-46.
- Effects of gas well compressor noise on ability to detect birds during surveys in northwest New Mexico Ortega, C. P. and C. D. Francis. 2012. Effects of gas well compressor noise on ability to detect birds during surveys in northwest New Mexico. Ornithological Monographs 74:78-90.
- Introduction: research and perspectives on the study of anthropogenic noise and birds Francis, C. D. and J. L. Blickley. 2012. Introduction: research and perspectives on the study of anthropogenic noise and birds. Ornithological Monographs 74:1-5.
- Noise pollution alters ecological services: enhanced pollination and disrupted seed dispersal C. D. Francis, N. J. Kleist, C. P. Ortega and A. CruzNoise pollution alters ecological services: enhanced pollination and disrupted seed dispersal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, volume 279, issue 1739, pp. 2727-2735
- Noise Pollution Filters Bird Communities Based on Vocal Frequency Francis CD, Ortega CP, Cruz A (2011) Noise Pollution Filters Bird Communities Based on Vocal Frequency. PLoS ONE 6(11): e27052. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0027052
- Design of inquiry-oriented science labs: impacts on students' attitudes Basey, J. M., and C. D. Francis. 2011. Design of inquiry-oriented science labs: impacts on students' attitudes. Research in Science & Technological Education 29:241-255.
- Song Differences Among Subspecies of Yellow-Eyed Juncos (Junco phaeonotus) Pieplow, N. D., and C. D. Francis. 2011. Song Differences Among Subspecies of Yellow-Eyed Juncos (Junco phaeonotus). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123:464-471.
- Importance of juniper to birds nesting in pinyon-juniper woodlands in northwest New Mexico Francis, C.D., C. P. Ortega, and J. Hansen. 2011. Importance of juniper to birds nesting in pinyon-juniper woodlands in northwest New Mexico. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1574-1580.
- Landscape patterns of avian habitat use and nest success are affected by chronic gas well compressor noise Francis, C. D., J. Paritsis, C. P. Ortega, & A. Cruz. 2011. Landscape patterns of avian habitat use and nest success are affected by chronic gas well compressor noise. Landscape Ecology 26:1269-1280. (doi:101007/s10980-011-9609-z)
- Francis, C., C. Ortega, & Cruz, A.. 2011. Different behavioural responses to anthropogenic noise by two closely related passerine birds. Biology Letters. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0359.
- Francis, C.D., N.J. Kleist, C.P. Ortega, and A. Cruz. 2012. Anthropogenic noise alters key ecological services provided by birds. 97th Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Portland, Oregon
- Francis, C.D., N.J. Kleist, C.P. Ortega, and A. Cruz. 2012. Anthropogenic noise alters key ecological services provided by birds. 5th North American Ornithological Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia.
- Francis, C. D., C. P. Ortega, and A. Cruz. 2011. Anthropogenic noise filters avian communities nonrandomly. Joint Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society and International Ethological Conference, Bloomington, IN.
- 2012. A song for all seasons: Scientists find birds that live in fluctuating weather are better singers. Daily Mail.
- 2012. Study suggests manmade noise affects plant dispersal and flower pollination. Audubon Magazine.
- 2012. Pipe down! That noise might affect your plants. National Public Radio.
- 2012. Not just for the birds: Man-made noise has ripple effects on plants, too. Eurekalert.
- 2012. Noise pollution is changing forests. New York Times.
- 2012. Noise pollution affects plants, too. Discovery News.
- 2012. Man-made noise disrupts the growth of plants and trees. BBC News.
- 2012. Man-made noise can affect plants, as well as animals. Christian Science Monitor.
- 2012. Industrial roar changes nearby plant reproduction. Science News.
- 2012. How industrial noise helps and hurts plants. Scientific American.
- 2012. All that human noise has an effect on nature, too. MSNBC.
- 2011. Noise pollution is driving larger birds away, study says. Southern California Public Radio.
- 2011. Bird chatter: What's that? I can't hear you! Discovery News.
- 2011. Bigger birds are harder hit by human noise. Eurekalert.
- Woodsen, M. 2011. Bad vibrations. Living Bird 30: 14-20.
- 2011. When birds go to town: Urban settings offer enterprising critters new opportunities - if they can cope with the challenges. Science News.
- 2011. Songbirds tweak their tunes in different ways to cope with clamor. Science 360 news highlights from NSF.
- 2011. Songbirds tweak their tunes in different ways to cope with clamor. Eurekalert.
- 2011. Songbirds adapt to noisy environments. US News and World Report.
- 2011. C'mon feel the noise: Related songbirds respond differently to noise pollution, possibly complicating conservation efforts. Science Magazine.
