Graduation Term

Summer 2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Biological Sciences

Committee Chair

Carlos Rodríguez-Saltos

Committee Member

Joe Casto

Committee Member

Fernanda Duque

Committee Member

Pirmin Nietlisbach

Abstract

During communication, senders send signals for their benefit to elicit a behavioral response from a receiver. Acoustic signals are efficient for long-distance signaling; however, they are influenced by environmental features, such as foliage density, humidity, temperature, and time of day. Individuals can overcome these challenges by using signals with a trajectory of peak frequency, frequencies, volumes, and timing best suited to signal transmission in their environment. Signal transmission has been studied at the species level; however, not much is known about sex differences within the same species. Duetting species provide a useful system for examining sex-specific challenges in transmission, as duets are produced through coordinated vocalizations of paired individuals. According to the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis, animals evolve vocalizations that transmit most effectively in their environments. Wrens, such as the Bay Wren, Cantorchilus nigricapillus, are suited for this study, as females and males not only have distinct phrase structures within a duet, but also separate functions. In this study, we examined whether differences in duet structure and function affect signal transmission in female and male Bay Wren duet phrases. We found no significant sex differences in the rate of attenuation and signal degradation across distance. These results, along with observed sex differences in duet structure, suggest that females and males likely utilize different strategies to reach target receivers of the same range during a duet.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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