Presentation Details
| Cultural Evolution of Complexity Heather Williams. Williams College, WILLIAMSTOWN, Massachusetts, USA |
Abstract
The learned songs sung by populations of Savannah sparrows and humpback whales change from year to year, usually increasing incrementally in complexity – an “evolution” phase – followed by periodic “revolutions” when the songs become much simpler. One explanation for this pattern might be limits on individuals' ability to learn and perform ever more complicated songs. If sexual selection favors both complex songs and well-performed songs, a simpler song that is sung accurately and well may be favored over a complex song sung poorly. Males that learn complex songs might then choose to drop some song elements and replace others with simpler versions. If song complexity is an accurate signal of a male’s developmental trajectory or his cognitive or physiological characteristics, males singing more complex songs would then be expected to have greater fitness. Wild Savannah sparrow males that copied complex foreign songs played through speakers over a five-year period provide an opportunity for testing these predictions. Many copiers simplified the complex songs, suggesting that cognitive and/or performance limits may explain cycles of complexity in the cultural evolution of songs.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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