Hi Everyone,
If what Martin says is correct, it would mean that producing higher
frequencies in a bird that is deaf for those frequencies would not require
increased energy intake, i.e., food. Otherwise natural selection could have
favoured those individuals who did not produce those higher frequencies,
regardless of whether males hear them or not. Unless of course females are
able to hear these frequencies and can use them as a proxy for prowess in
males with regard to territory acquisition and maintenance. Are there any
studies on the ability of female birds to hear higher frequencies in the
respective species?
Harald
on 3/28/08 6:37 AM, Martin Braun at wrote:
> Michael Stocker wrote:
>
> "We could infer that they do use these sounds for something which
> involves their being able to hear them ...."
>
> This may not always be true. Imagine the following scenario:
>
> A bird is deaf above 6 kHz. If this bird has sound components
> around 10-12 kHz in its calls, it cannot hear these components and it is
> thus unable to influence its voice organs to reduce or even eliminate
> them.
>
> Martin
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Martin Braun
> Neuroscience of Music
> S-671 95 Klässbol
> Sweden
> web site: http://w1.570.telia.com/~u57011259/index.htm
>
>
>
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