In king penguin colonies, several studies have shown that both parent-chick recognition and mate-pair recognition are achieved by acoustic signals. The call of king penguins consists of strong frequency modulations with added beats of varying amplitude induced by the two-voice generating process. Both the frequency modulation pattern and the two-voice system could play a role in the identification of the calling bird. We investigated the potential role of these features in individual discrimination. Experiments were conducted by playing back altered or reconstructed parental signals to the corresponding chick. The results proved that the king penguin performs a complex analysis of the call, using both frequency modulation and the two-voice system. Reversed or frequency-modulation-suppressed signals do not elicit any responses. Modifying the shape of the frequency modulation by 30 % also impairs the recognition process. Moreover, we have demonstrated for the first time that birds perform an analysis of the beat amplitude induced by the two-voice system to assess individual identity. These two features, which are well preserved during the propagation of the signal, seem to be a reliable strategy to ensure the accurate transmission of individual information in a noisy colonial environment.
2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
The JEB Editors are delighted to announce the shortlisted authors for the 2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize. Read the winning paper - Tiny spies: mosquito antennae are sensitive sensors for eavesdropping on frog calls - by Hoover Pantoja-Sanchez and Brian Leavell from Ximena Bernal's lab at Purdue University, USA.
JEB Science Communication Workshop for ECRs
If you’re an early-career researcher interested in science communication and are attending the SEB Annual Conference in Prague this summer, come a day early and join the JEB Editors at a sci comm workshop to learn the key writing skills needed to promote your research to a broad audience beyond your peers (1 July at 14.30-17.30). Places are limited to 24 attendees, and applicants should apply through the SEB registration page by 30 April 2024.
Bridging the gap between controlled conditions and natural habitats in understanding behaviour
Novel technologies enable behavioural experiments with non-model species, in naturalistic habitats and with underexplored behaviours. In their Commentary, Scholz and colleagues discuss how to obtain a deeper understanding of the natural ecology and lifestyle of study animals.
Beluga metabolic measures could help save species
To help save animals from extinction, it’s important to understand what each species needs to survive. This led Jason John et al. to measure the metabolic rates of captive belugas to develop a ‘fish calculator’ showing that the whales need to eat ~23 salmon per day.
ECR Workshop on Positive Peer Review
Are you an ECR looking for tips on how to write concise, astute and useful manuscript reviews? If so, join the JEB Editors at a 2-hour JEB-sponsored Workshop on Positive Peer Review at the Canadian Society of Zoologists annual meeting in Moncton on 9 May 2024 at 13.00-15.00. There are 25 spaces for ECRs and selection is first come, first serve. To sign up, check the ECR Workshop box when you register for the CSZ meeting.
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