Date of Award
2010
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Biological sciences
Supervisor
Daniel Mennill
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Communication plays a crucial role in the social behaviour of many animals. In this thesis, I examine both signalling strategies and landscape-scale communication in free-living Common Loons (Gavia immer). Using over 6700 hours of passive, single-channel recordings, I demonstrate that Common Loons modify their vocal behaviour in response to time of day, time of year, and changing weather conditions. Using custom software, CALLSPACE, in combination with a ten-microphone acoustic monitoring system that spans three lakes, I examine the dynamics of over 5000 natural vocal interactions among Common Loons. I demonstrate that Common Loons from different territories participate in dyadic and multi-individual vocal interactions that span several kilometres both within and between lakes. Overall, my research provides important empirical evidence for animal signalling strategies in the natural environment and a comprehensive, observational record of large-scale communication in free-living territorial birds.
Recommended Citation
La, Van Thuc, "The vocal behaviour of Common Loons (Gavia immer): Signalling strategies & landscape scale communication" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8274.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/8274