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Dryad

Sequence structure mining, white browed sparrow weaver

Data files

Jul 12, 2021 version files 507.35 KB

Abstract

This dataset contains data for sequence analysis described in the paper: “Lemazina et al., (2021) The multifaceted vocal duets of White-browed sparrow weavers are based on complex duetting rules. Journal of Avian Biology, doi: 10.1111/jav.02703”. 

In our study, we recorded duet songs produced by six wild P. mahali pairs in South Africa. Our study further reveals the existence of answering rules in P. mahali, adhered to by both sexes. Even though answering rules can be shared between pairs of different colonies, pair-specificity in ordering of syllable types within the most commonly used duet trains exists. Most importantly, we found that a single answering rule was never used twice in one P. mahali duet song, but answering rules switched constantly, which contrasts the song structure in this species with the song structure of most other duetting bird species studied so far.

For sequence analysis, we used KOE (https://koe.io.ac.nz). Koe discoveres commonly-occurring transitions between syllables in a database using the cSPADE (constrained Sequential Pattern Discovery using Equivalence classes) algorithm (Zaki 2001). The credibility of sequence rules is asserted via the following factors: Support (proportion of songs in the database that contain a certain sequence at least once), Confidence (strength of association; the proportion of songs containing the syllable A that also contain the sequence A⇒B), and Lift (measure of the strength of the association relative to chance; ratio of the proportion of songs in which the transition A⇒B occurred versus the proportion of songs expected to contain the transition A⇒B by chance). Chain length referees to the number of items in the current squence, while Count refers to the occurance number of each particular sequence.

Our study further reveals the existence of answering rules in P. mahali, adhered to by both sexes. Even though answering rules can be shared between pairs of different colonies, pair-specificity in ordering of syllable types within the most commonly used duet trains exists. Most importantly, we found that a single answering rule was never used twice in one P. mahali duet song, but answering rules switched constantly, which contrasts the song structure in this species with the song structure of most other duetting bird species studied so far.