Energetic cost of calling: general constraints and species-specific differences

The energetic cost of acoustic signalling varies tremendously among species. Understanding factors responsible for this heterogeneity is important for understanding the costs and benefits of signalling. Here, we present a general model, based on well-established principles of bioenergetics, which pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of evolutionary biology 2010-07, Vol.23 (7), p.1564-1569
Main Authors: OPHIR, A.G, SCHRADER, S.B, GILLOOLY, J.F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acoustic signals
Acoustics
allometry
Animal Communication
Animals
Anura
bioacoustic
Biomechanics
Birds
Body Weight
call efficiency
communication
Energy Metabolism - physiology
Evolutionary biology
Insecta
metabolic theory
Metabolism
Models, Theoretical
Oxygen Consumption - physiology
Species Specificity
Temperature
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Summary:The energetic cost of acoustic signalling varies tremendously among species. Understanding factors responsible for this heterogeneity is important for understanding the costs and benefits of signalling. Here, we present a general model, based on well-established principles of bioenergetics, which predicts the energetic cost of call production across species. We test model predictions using an extensive database of resting and calling metabolic rates of insects, amphibians and birds. Results are largely supportive of model predictions. Calling metabolic rates scale predictably with body mass and temperature such that calling and resting metabolic rates are directly proportional to each other. The cost of acoustic signalling is ~8 times higher than resting metabolic rate in ectotherms, and ~2 times higher in birds. Differences in the increase in metabolic rate during calling are explained by the relative size of species' sound-producing muscles. Combined with published work, we quantify call efficiency and discuss model implications.
ISSN:1010-061X
1420-9101
DOI:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02005.x