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Allo-preening is linked to vocal signature development in a wild parrot
[Grooming-at-a-distance by exchanging calls in non-human primates]

Author

Listed:
  • Caleb M M Arellano
  • Nurialby Viloria Canelón
  • Soraya Delgado
  • Karl S Berg

Abstract

Allo-grooming networks in primate social groups are thought to have favored the evolution of vocal recognition systems, including vocal imitation in humans, as a more effective means of maintaining social bonds in large groups. Select avian taxa converged on vocal learning, but it is not clear what role analogues of allo-grooming might have played. Unlike allo-grooming in most primates, allo-preening in birds is usually limited to pair-bonds. One exception to this is during nestling development when siblings preen each other, but it is unknown how allo-preening influences vocal learning. We addressed this question in wild Green-rumped Parrotlets (Forpus passerinus) in Venezuela. Nestlings learn signature contact calls from adult templates. Large broods, age hierarchies and protracted development in this species create the potential for complex allo-preening networks and a unique opportunity to test how early sociality makes the development of vocal learning labile. From audio-video recordings inside nest cavities and a balanced design of different brood sizes, we quantified allo-preening interactions between marked nestlings, to compare to signature contact calls. Controlling for brood size and age hierarchy, the propensity to preen a larger number of individuals (i.e., out-strength) correlated positively with the age at first contact call. Allo-preening and acoustic similarity matrices did not reveal clear correlations within broods, instead larger broods produced greater contact call diversity. Results indicate that allo-preening elongates the period during which contact calls develop, which might allow individuals time to form a unique signature under the computationally challenging social conditions inherent to large groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Caleb M M Arellano & Nurialby Viloria Canelón & Soraya Delgado & Karl S Berg, 2022. "Allo-preening is linked to vocal signature development in a wild parrot [Grooming-at-a-distance by exchanging calls in non-human primates]," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 33(1), pages 202-212.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:33:y:2022:i:1:p:202-212.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arab126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. László Zsolt Garamszegi & Sara Calhim & Ned Dochtermann & Gergely Hegyi & Peter L. Hurd & Christian Jørgensen & Nobuyuki Kutsukake & Marc J. Lajeunesse & Kimberly A. Pollard & Holger Schielzeth & Matt, 2009. "Changing philosophies and tools for statistical inferences in behavioral ecology," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 20(6), pages 1363-1375.
    2. Stuart P. Sharp & Andrew McGowan & Matthew J. Wood & Ben J. Hatchwell, 2005. "Learned kin recognition cues in a social bird," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7037), pages 1127-1130, April.
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