However, our original report of kangaroo dry-sheep-equivalents

(DSE) of 0.42 based on DMI was an overestimate. Using the correct values for the gross DMIs needed to satisfy the FMRs of a standard 25-kg red kangaroo and standard 45-kg sheep, we estimate a kangaroo DSE to be 0.37 (Corrigendum Table 5). The authors sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. A.J. Munn, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Australia T.J. Dawson, click here School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Australia S.R. McLeod, Industry & Investment New South Wales, Orange Agricultural Institute, New South Wales, Australia “
“Quantifying bird song variation can be an important tool for ensuring accurate species identification and can provide a significant basis for understanding the evolutionary processes that shape phenotypic diversity. This study describes variation in the songs of rattling cisticolas Cisticola chiniana across sub-Saharan Africa. For many cisticola species, learned songs are the most obvious phenotypic indicators of

species affiliation and may also function selleck chemicals llc to indicate individual quality. We examined 957 songs recorded from 61 individuals and archived in sound libraries. To assess the diversity of syllable and song types, we examined patterns of syllable use. We also measured vocalization frequency and time parameters and assessed how they vary through space. Results indicated that rattling cisticola songs are highly variable, but also have features that are species-specific. Examined songs had a relatively fixed structure containing one of three characteristic introductory note types, followed by an end phrase. Two of the introductory note types were sung across the species’ range (some 4500 km), whereas the third was only recorded check details in south-western Africa. End phrases generated most of the diversity in songs and appeared to have an unlimited number

of forms. End-phrase characteristics showed a strong geographic variation, but did not vary with elevation. Song features varied individually and geographically in ways that are consistent with evolution due to multiple selective pressures, including stabilizing selection for species recognition on the introductory notes and diversifying selection on the end phrases. This pattern of lability in some song features coupled with stability in others may be a common feature of cisticola songs as it has also been found in Cisticola erythrops, a congener with a similarly broad range. The songs of birds vary spatially and temporally in a multitude of different ways (Podos & Warren, 2007; Catchpole & Slater, 2008). Songs are often used as a species-identifying characteristic, but may not be effective if the range of song features for any one species is not well-described.