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osu1204876597.pdf (1.99 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
The Vocal Behavior of the American Crow, Corvus brachyrhyncos
Author Info
Tarter, Robin R.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1204876597
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2008, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to provide an overview of the vocal behavior of the American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos, and to thereby address questions about the evolutionary significance of crow behavior. I recorded the calls of 71 birds of known sex and age in a family context. Sorting calls by their acoustic characteristics and behavioral contexts, I identified and hypothesized functions for 7 adult and 2 juvenile call types, and in several cases found preferential use of a call type by birds of a particular sex or breeding status. My findings enrich our understanding of crow social behavior. I found that helpers and breeders played different roles in foraging and in protecting family territories from other crows and from predators. My findings may also be useful for human management of crow populations, particularly dispersal attempts using playbacks of crows' own vocalizations.
Committee
Douglas Nelson, PhD (Advisor)
Mitchell Masters, PhD (Committee Member)
Jill Soha, PhD (Committee Member)
Pages
45 p.
Subject Headings
Behaviorial Sciences
;
Biology
;
Zoology
Keywords
American Crow
;
bioacoustics
;
behavior
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Citations
Tarter, R. R. (2008).
The Vocal Behavior of the American Crow, Corvus brachyrhyncos
[Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1204876597
APA Style (7th edition)
Tarter, Robin.
The Vocal Behavior of the American Crow, Corvus brachyrhyncos.
2008. Ohio State University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1204876597.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Tarter, Robin. "The Vocal Behavior of the American Crow, Corvus brachyrhyncos." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1204876597
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
osu1204876597
Download Count:
7,218
Copyright Info
© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.