AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Behaviour-genetic analysis of canary song: inter-strain differences in sensory learning, and epigenetic rules

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1995
Authors:Mundinger, PC
Journal:Animal Behaviour
Volume:50
Issue:6
Date Published:1995
ISBN Number:0003-3472
Keywords:Fringillidae, Serinus, Serinus canaria
Abstract:The relation between genes and canary song learning preferences was analysed with two experiments. A breeding experiment used inbred canaries, Serinus canaria, reared in isolation from adult songs to uncover differences in the song learning of Roller canaries, Border canaries and their hybrid. Given a choice of a Roller and a Border canary tutor song, all Rollers selectively learned from the Roller song, all Borders learned only from the Border song, but the hybrids learned from both tutor songs. A pair of social experiments confirmed these strain-typical learning preferences in conditions permitting social interaction and some cross-fostering. Cross-fostering showed that early experience with an alien-strain female parent does not noticeably affect the development of canary song learning preferences, and that neither strain is totally incapable of hearing and learning from songs of the other strain. The study provides empirical evidence for canary epigenetic rules, which are postulated gene-inherited mechanisms that guide cultural transmission. Some epigenetic rules for canary song learning are described.
URL:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003347295800069
Short Title:Animal Behaviour
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith