Stability of referential signalling across time and locations: testing alarm calls of Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) in urban and rural Australia and in Fiji

摘要: In many avian species, vocal repertoire expands and changes throughout life as new syllables are added sounds adapted to neighbours circumstances. Referential signals, on the other hand, demand stability lack of variation so that their meaning can be understood by conspecifics at all times. It is not known how stable such signals may when context changed entirely but point reference remains unchanged. We investigated these questions in a rare case forced translocation an Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), from Australia remote Fijian island Taveuni decades ago. By using playbacks vocalisations 45 groups Australia, we first established magpies use functionally referential alarm call signalling aerial danger (measured looking up response specific even though speakers were ground). With results then used same Taveuni. Our showed one (eagle call) maintained populations have been isolated over (at least 10) generations. To our knowledge, this time signal has shown natural habitat.