Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?

Urban environments have challenging characteristics for bird acoustic communication. High levels of anthropogenic noise, as well as vegetation structure (e.g., in urban parks), can potentially affect the song frequency characteristics of several bird species. An additional factor such as the abundan...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xhareni Díaz-Lezama, Alejandro Ariel Ríos-Chelén, Jorge Castellanos-Albores, Paula L. Enríquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-03-01
Series:Avian Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716624000628
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850025007127724032
author Xhareni Díaz-Lezama
Alejandro Ariel Ríos-Chelén
Jorge Castellanos-Albores
Paula L. Enríquez
author_facet Xhareni Díaz-Lezama
Alejandro Ariel Ríos-Chelén
Jorge Castellanos-Albores
Paula L. Enríquez
author_sort Xhareni Díaz-Lezama
collection DOAJ
description Urban environments have challenging characteristics for bird acoustic communication. High levels of anthropogenic noise, as well as vegetation structure (e.g., in urban parks), can potentially affect the song frequency characteristics of several bird species. An additional factor such as the abundance of conspecific and heterospecific vocalizing birds may play an important role in determining the structure of bird songs. In this study, we analyzed whether noise levels, vegetation percentage, and abundance of conspecifics and heterospecifics influence the song characteristics of three syntopic songbird species: House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) living in urban sites. We recorded songs of these species and measured the peak frequency and entropy of their songs at 14 sites in the city of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. We found that the song peak frequency of House Finch and House Sparrow's songs was negatively related to the vegetation. The peak frequency of neither of the three species correlated with the average noise level. However, the abundances of conspecific and heterospecific were related to the peak frequency of the three species' songs. The entropy of the House Finch and House Sparrow songs was positively and negatively related, respectively, to noise levels. House Sparrow song entropy was negatively related to the percentage of vegetation. Song entropy of House Finches was negatively associated to conspecific and House Sparrow abundance. Song entropy of Rufous-collared Sparrows was positively related to conspecific abundance. In conclusion, the song peak frequency and song entropy of the three songbird species were differentially related to urban noise, vegetation, and conspecific and heterospecific abundance, suggesting these factors influence bird song characteristics.
format Article
id doaj-art-edf5b2ffbba346ed96564a1ccd4c6572
institution DOAJ
issn 2053-7166
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Avian Research
spelling doaj-art-edf5b2ffbba346ed96564a1ccd4c65722025-08-20T03:00:58ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662025-03-0116110021910.1016/j.avrs.2024.100219Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?Xhareni Díaz-Lezama0Alejandro Ariel Ríos-Chelén1Jorge Castellanos-Albores2Paula L. Enríquez3Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Rural, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Carr. Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n Barrio Ma. Auxiliadora, 29290. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, MexicoCentro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Universidad 1, La Loma Xicohtencatl, Centro, 90000, Tlaxcala, Mexico; Corresponding author.Departamento Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carr. Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n Barrio Ma. Auxiliadora, 29290 San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, MexicoDepartamento Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carr. Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n Barrio Ma. Auxiliadora, 29290 San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico; Corresponding author.Urban environments have challenging characteristics for bird acoustic communication. High levels of anthropogenic noise, as well as vegetation structure (e.g., in urban parks), can potentially affect the song frequency characteristics of several bird species. An additional factor such as the abundance of conspecific and heterospecific vocalizing birds may play an important role in determining the structure of bird songs. In this study, we analyzed whether noise levels, vegetation percentage, and abundance of conspecifics and heterospecifics influence the song characteristics of three syntopic songbird species: House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) living in urban sites. We recorded songs of these species and measured the peak frequency and entropy of their songs at 14 sites in the city of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. We found that the song peak frequency of House Finch and House Sparrow's songs was negatively related to the vegetation. The peak frequency of neither of the three species correlated with the average noise level. However, the abundances of conspecific and heterospecific were related to the peak frequency of the three species' songs. The entropy of the House Finch and House Sparrow songs was positively and negatively related, respectively, to noise levels. House Sparrow song entropy was negatively related to the percentage of vegetation. Song entropy of House Finches was negatively associated to conspecific and House Sparrow abundance. Song entropy of Rufous-collared Sparrows was positively related to conspecific abundance. In conclusion, the song peak frequency and song entropy of the three songbird species were differentially related to urban noise, vegetation, and conspecific and heterospecific abundance, suggesting these factors influence bird song characteristics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716624000628Bird songNoiseSong entropySong peak frequencyVegetation
spellingShingle Xhareni Díaz-Lezama
Alejandro Ariel Ríos-Chelén
Jorge Castellanos-Albores
Paula L. Enríquez
Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?
Avian Research
Bird song
Noise
Song entropy
Song peak frequency
Vegetation
title Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?
title_full Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?
title_fullStr Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?
title_full_unstemmed Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?
title_short Are urbanization, biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines?
title_sort are urbanization biotic and social factors associated with the song frequency and song entropy attributes of three urban syntopic passerines
topic Bird song
Noise
Song entropy
Song peak frequency
Vegetation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716624000628
work_keys_str_mv AT xharenidiazlezama areurbanizationbioticandsocialfactorsassociatedwiththesongfrequencyandsongentropyattributesofthreeurbansyntopicpasserines
AT alejandroarielrioschelen areurbanizationbioticandsocialfactorsassociatedwiththesongfrequencyandsongentropyattributesofthreeurbansyntopicpasserines
AT jorgecastellanosalbores areurbanizationbioticandsocialfactorsassociatedwiththesongfrequencyandsongentropyattributesofthreeurbansyntopicpasserines
AT paulalenriquez areurbanizationbioticandsocialfactorsassociatedwiththesongfrequencyandsongentropyattributesofthreeurbansyntopicpasserines