Drumming thunder chickens the ethology and neurobiology of
Drumming ‘thunder chickens’: the ethology and neurobiology of a non-vocal courtship display. Andrew Iwaniuk University of Lethbridge, Canada
How is this display produced? is the display used? bioacoustics comparative anatomy
May 2012
9. 1 -10. 6 sec 39 -48 beats freq = 44. 65 Hz # drumbeats and speed varies across individuals Garcia et al. (2012) Ethology 118: 292 -301.
Comparative anatomy NADA
Motor control?
Seasonal/sex differences in motor control regions? seasonal and sex differences in brain region volumes reflect behaviour appear to be correlated in manakins and wingsnapping Photo kindly stolen from Leo Fusani’s website
Grouse Brains Other Telencephalic Regions ‘Control Region’ Production Hippocampal Formation (HF) Nucleus Rotundus (n. Rt) Arcopallium (A) Telencephalon (TELE) Cerebellum (Cb) Mesopallium (M) Striatopallidal Complex (SPC)
Some things never change…
A and SPC (relative to brain size)
A and SPC (relative to telencephalon)
Seasonal neuroplasticity in the Ruffed Grouse SPC is 14% larger in spring males similar pattern as the song system, but smaller magnitude Grouse A is 28% larger in spring males +28% +14% Songbird +128% in birds, this is the first evidence of seasonal plasticity in the telencephalon of a non-songbird +142%
• seasonal changes in motor control regions of the telencephalon parallel seasonal changes in muscle mass and drumming • suggests that the arcopallium plays a role in drumming behaviour
Relationship between drumming and T? How do they produce the drumming sound? What brain regions modulate drumming behaviour? Do females prefer it louder, faster or lower?
Thank You Maxime Garcia Jeremy Corfield Justin Krilow Isabelle Charrier Drew Rendall
- Slides: 21