Evolução acústica em aves: alometria vocal, filtro ambiental e nicho acústico

Abstract

Several species are inserted in the acoustic space due to a long evolutionary process. There is a negative allometric relation between body mass and acoustic frequencies, and this relationship can be optimized through signal-to-noise ratio, signal threshold or efficiency limits according to body size. Additionally, the acoustic competition can cause divergence in the use of the frequency expected by allometry, creating a structured acoustic space. The efficiency of propagation can push the vocalizations of the smaller species to a lower portion of the spectrum. To analyze the vocal allometry, we conducted type II linear regressions (Ranged Major Axis) with acoustic data of New World Parrots (Psittacidae – Arini), New World Doves (8 genera), woodcreepers (Dendrocolaptinae), tinamous (Tinamidae) and thrushes (25 species). To verify the existence of non-random patters in the use of the acoustic space, we used null model with Pianka overlap index. To test whether smaller species use lower frequencies than the expected by allometry, we used Wilcoxon Sign Rank. These were tested with acoustic data from a bird assembly of the Carajás National Forest. We used the dominant frequency (FDOM), the minimum fundamental frequency (FFMIN) and the maximum fundamental frequency (FFMAX). The allometric relation was found in parrots, doves, woodcreepeers and in the fundamental frequencies of tinamous. No structure was found in the use of acoustic frequencies. FDOM and FFMIN differed significantly from those expected by allometry, but both were higher than expected. Sound communication has been shaped by a long process of natural selection, through distinct evolutionary forces, each having a role in the acoustic signal.