Female conspecifics restore rhythmic singing behaviour in arrhythmic male zebra finches

Journal of biosciences

NEELU ANAND JHA¹  VINOD KUMAR1¹ 

[1] Indo-US Joint Center for Biological Timing, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110 007, India$$

关键词: Circadian rhythm;    social cue;    song;    songbird;    zebra finch;   

DOI  :  

来源: Indian Academy of Sciences

【 摘 要 】

The present study investigated whether pairing with a conspecific female would restore rhythmicity in the singingbehaviour of arrhythmic male songbirds. We recorded the singing and, as the circadian response indicator, monitoredthe activity–rest pattern in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) housed without or with a conspecific femaleunder 12 h light: 12 h darkness (12L:12D) or constant bright light (LLbright). Both unpaired and paired birds exhibiteda significant daily rhythm in the singing and activity behaviour, but paired birds, under 12L:12D, showed a ~2 hextension in the evening. Exposure to LLbright decayed rhythmicity, but the female presence restored rhythmic patternswithout affecting the 24 h song output. In the acoustic features, we found a significant difference in the motif durationbetween unpaired and paired male songs. Overall, these results demonstrated for the first time the role of the female inrestoring the circadian phenotype of singing behaviour in male songbirds with disrupted circadian functions, althoughhow interaction between sexes affects the circadian timing of male singing is not understood yet. It is suggested thatsocial cues rendered by a conspecific female could improve the circadian performance by restoring rhythmicity in thebiological functions of the cohabiting arrhythmic male partner.

【 授权许可】

Unknown