Navigation Links
'Curtain twitching' skylarks keep track of strangers through their songs
Date:8/27/2009

Skylarks can hear the difference between friendly neighbours and dangerous strangers, and deal with any threatening intruders, says new research by scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

Male skylarks learn to recognise local dialects in their neighbours' individual songs, remember where each neighbour is supposed to be and reprimand intruders who don't belong in the neighbourhood, according to a study carried out by Dr Elodie Briefer, a postdoctoral researcher at Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

Published in the Springer journal Naturwissenschaften this week, Dr Briefer and her colleagues at the University of Paris South found that skylark neighbours are tolerated if they stay in their own territory, whereas strangers - skylarks who belong to another neighbourhood - are attacked if they intrude too close to the nest.

Researchers also observed the birds' reactions when they heard the recorded song of another skylark from different directions. The results of the study showed how neighbouring birds who travel too far from their regular territory - a move which is seen as threatening - also run the risk of being attacked.

Males skylarks fiercely guard their chosen home territory, the area of land where they make their nest and hunt for food. The size and position of the male's territory is also important as female birds check it out before deciding who is going to make the best father to her chicks. Each skylark will usually have several neighbours, living in territories that border his own.

Bird songs are among the most complex sounds produced by animals and the skylark (Alauda arvensis) is one of the most complex of all. The songs are composed of 'syllables', consecutive sounds produced in a complex way, with almost no repetition. The male skylark can sing more than 300 different syllables, and each individual bird's song is slightly different.

Dr Briefer's r
'/>"/>

Contact: Simon Levey
s.levey@qmul.ac.uk
44-207-882-5404
Queen Mary, University of London
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Scientists track impact of DNA damage in the developing brain
2. New technique can fast-track better ionic liquids for biomass pre-treatments
3. Scientists track chemical changes in cells as they endure extreme conditions
4. Geographic profiling applied to track hunting patterns of white sharks in South Africa
5. New tracking approach will help protect polar bears
6. Tracking down the causes of multiple sclerosis
7. International team tracks clues to HIV
8. ORNL, St. Jude track neurons to predict and prevent disease
9. New tracking tags are providing fish-eye views of ways to manage depressed fisheries
10. Tracking tigers in 3-D
11. ESAs water mission on track for launch
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:12/14/2009)... support of the United Nations Framework Convention on ... Environment Agency hosted the ,Bend the Trend, event ... networking platform and premiere the screening of the ... Atlas of Europe, a joint project of the ... (UNEP) and ESA, is a series of short ...
(Date:12/13/2009)... Haven, Conn.A team led by Yale University researchers ... whole blood for the first time. Their findings, ... publication of Nature Nanotechnology , could dramatically ... cancer and other diseases. , The ... of Engineering & Applied Science, and Tarek Fahmy, ...
(Date:12/11/2009)... species of wild apples that could be an ancestor ... and Central Asia. A new study comparing the diversity ... Georgia and Armenia with previously collected varieties originating in ... a core collection that will make M. orientalis ... , To identify and record the genetic diversity of ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):'Environmental Atlas of Europe' unveiled at COP15 2Scientists use nanosensors for first time to measure cancer biomarkers in blood 2Understanding apples' ancestors 2Safety and Quality Contribute to Popularity of Assisted Living 48888 1Safety and Quality Contribute to Popularity of Assisted Living 48888 2Cynvec to Present at The 2009 New York Venture Summit 12624 1Cynvec to Present at The 2009 New York Venture Summit 12624 2The downside of microtubule stability 8825 1
... Cell Metabolism has provided insight into a key mechanism ... a novel approach to the development of cholesterol-lowering drugs ... the most prescribed cholesterol inhibitors, according to researchers at ... obtain cholesterol, an important component of cell membranes, by ...
... University of Washington Alaska Salmon Program, the world's longest-running ... nearly $2.4 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore ... The Alaska-based program has applications for Pacific salmon all ... fortunes of salmon runs and their management. , The ...
... The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), apart from reducing cholesterol ... for breaking down cellulose. Finding out which genes are ... is sometimes used as a decontaminating agent, was the ... which she defended at the Public University of Navarre ...
Other Biology News:Insight into natural cholesterol control suggests novel cholesterol-lowering therapy 2Alaskan puzzles, monitoring provide insight about North Pacific salmon runs 2Advances in the characterisation of the oyster mushroom genes 2
(Date:12/15/2009)... The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS ) ... earnings results and financial tables on Tuesday, January 5, ... York Stock Exchange. Results will be available on ... will host a conference call with presentation slides on ... The call will begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... The Center for Business Intelligence (CBI), a ... announce the full agenda for the ... . The forum will take place at ... ,, Over 1,500 senior-level Finance, Accounting, Audit ... event since its inception, and this year,s ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... -- Thomson Reuters today ... the first drug pipeline database to fully integrate ... highly anticipated new content is being provided to ... ,, Thomson Pharma will offer drug ... releases, conferences, and other sources across all therapeutic ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... The Prinz Law Office has announced the launch of ... businesses secure legal services in the current economic climate. ... them the opportunity to finance legal services over a ... requiring any equity in their start-up companies. The ... for fixed montly payment arrangements over 6 to 12 ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Mosaic Announces Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call 2CBI Announces the Agenda for Their 6th Annual Pharmaceutical/Biotech Accounting and Reporting Congress 2Thomson Reuters is First to Offer Fully Integrated Pipeline and Clinical Trials 2The Prinz Law Office Launches Innovative New Programs to Aid Cash-Strapped Entrepreneurs and Businesses 2
... With Patented Triple Arterial Lumen ... ... Angiotech Pharmaceuticals,Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI , TSX: ANP) today announced that ... the 2008,Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting to be,held ...
... Trubion Pharmaceuticals,Inc. (Nasdaq: TRBN ) today announced financial ... as well as 2008 financial guidance., Fourth Quarter and ... of 2007 was $5.7 million compared with,$6.4 million for the ... 2007, was $20.1 million compared with $36.5 million for the ...
... 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Time); ... http://www.adventrx.com , SAN DIEGO, March 13 ... focused on in-licensing,developing and commercializing proprietary product candidates primarily ... financial,results for the fourth quarter and year ended December ...
Other Biology Technology:Angiotech showcases its Hemostream(TM) Dialysis Catheter at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Meeting 2Angiotech showcases its Hemostream(TM) Dialysis Catheter at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Meeting 3Angiotech showcases its Hemostream(TM) Dialysis Catheter at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Meeting 4Angiotech showcases its Hemostream(TM) Dialysis Catheter at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Meeting 5Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-Ended 2007 Financial Results and Provides 2008 Financial Outlook 2Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-Ended 2007 Financial Results and Provides 2008 Financial Outlook 3Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-Ended 2007 Financial Results and Provides 2008 Financial Outlook 4Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-Ended 2007 Financial Results and Provides 2008 Financial Outlook 5Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-Ended 2007 Financial Results and Provides 2008 Financial Outlook 6ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results 2ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results 3ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results 4ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results 5ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results 6ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results 7
... FLISP Assay with FAM-Labeled Substrate (green ... Accurately measure serine protease activation • ... B-Bridge's FLISP Kits utilize cell-permeable, fluorescently ... to measure chymotrypsin-like activity in whole ...
Request Info...
... provides the firm pressure necessary to ... tubes or plates. The multifunctional tool ... firmly holds thin-wall 0.5 ml tubes ... or closing. A side slot allows ...
... The Gene Pulser Xcell microbial system, ... is used for electroporation of bacterial ... the main unit, PC module for ... 10 sterile cuvettes (5 each of ...
Biology Products: