Journal ArticleUpper vocal tract resonances in singing birds could be modified by beak opening, laryngeal adjustments  and tracheal length changes

Daley, M. A.

Goller, Franz

English

The University of Utah: J. Willard Marriott Digital Library

269.20 TRACHEAL LENGTH CHANGES AND UPPER VOCAL TRACT RESONANCES OUR· ING ZEBRA FINCH SONG. M.A. Daley, F. Goller". Bi%gy, Univ. ofUtnh, 8a/1 Lake City, UT, USA Uppcrvocal tract resonances in singing birds could be modified by beakopening,larynge.u adjust-ments and tnlcheallength changes. Beak movements during song correlate with song frequency, suggesting that the upper vocal met length is effectively modified to adjust resonance frcquen"cy (e.g., Westneat et aI., J. expo BioI. 182:147-171, 1993). It is not known, however, whether direct changes of tracheal length abo contribute to adjusting upper vocal tract resonances. To investigate this possibility, we recorded tracheal length using sonomicrometry (Sonom"etrics) together with subryringcal air sac pressure and vocal output in four spontaneously singing zebra finches (Ttu:-lIilJpygia gill/a/a). Sonomicrometry crystals were attached (6-7.5 mm apart) to the trachea a few mm above the point where it exits the interclavicular air sac. Tr.lchc~l shortening occurs at the beginning of each song and with every expiratory pulse during the song, whereas some lengthen-ing occurs during minibreaths. The pattern of shortening is stereotyped and follows largcly, but not entirely, the pattern of expiratory pressure, suggesting that both pressurization of the air 'sac system and syringeal muscle action contribute to the observed length changes. There does not appear to be a correlation between particular sound frequencies and tracheal length changes. The magnitude of shortening (maximally 0.6 mm) is small and is typically no greater than that gener-ated by slight head turning. Calculations of resonance shifts based on these measurements suggest that length changes of the trachea play only a minor role in adjusting upper vocal tract resonances in singing zebra finches. SlIpplJrfd 6y: NIH. 

Tracheal length changes and upper vocal tract resonances during zebra finch song

https://collections.lib.utah.edu/dl_files/b8/a3/b8a3174f3240a1b5fbadfe0b4dcc720cd93b96da.pdf

Tracheal length changes and upper vocal tract resonances during zebra finch song

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

The University of Utah: J. Willard Marriott Digital Library