I am interested in the study of acoustic communication in birds; the morphological and physiological characteristics of birds that determine the output of their vocalizations; how sexual selection processes of mate choice and male-male competition; as well as habitat features like vegetation structure and ambient noise, influence the evolution of bird song.

More information about Eira Bermudez Cuamatzin

Brief biography and collaborators

• 2016 - present - Postdoctoral fellow at Leiden University - Supervisor: Dr. Hans Slabbekoorn. Funding: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México, CONACyT (National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico)

• 2015-2016 - Postdoctoral fellow at Center for Biological Research, Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico in collaboration with Leiden University - Supervisor: Dra. Iriana Zuria. Co-supervisor: Dr. Hans Slabbekoorn

• Sept-Dec 2009 - PhD-research at Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), Madrid, Spain - Supervisor: Dr. Diego Gil

• 2009-2014 - PhD student, Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico - Supervisor: Dr. Constantino Macías Garcia

Research

I am interested in the study of acoustic communication in birds; the morphological and physiological characteristics of birds that determine the output of their vocalizations; how sexual selection processes of mate choice and male-male competition; as well as habitat features like vegetation structure and ambient noise, influence the evolution of bird song.

My research focus is on the effects of anthropogenic noise on acoustic communication in passerine birds. Using correlative and experimental approaches, I have investigated the spectral and temporal flexibility strategies used by birds to deal with urban noise and make their acoustic signals heard in noisy environments.

During my PhD-project I published some of the first reports of the capacity of passerine birds to adjust the minimum frequency of their songs in response to urban noise. I have also explored how changes in song due to noise can affect sexual preferences of females. My work concerns captive studies as well as fieldwork on free-ranging birds.

In addition, I have evaluated whether and how body size, beak shape and habitat structure affect spectral and other birdsong parameters in European passerines. I am currently evaluating whether noise-dependent singing flexibility is affected by functionality of timing and spectral adjustments during vocal interactions and if this phenomenon is related to singing style in American and European bird species.

Publications

• Bermúdez-Cuamatzin E., Ríos-Chelén A. A., Diego G., Macías Garcia C. 2011. Experimental evidence for real-time song frequency shift in response to urban noise in a passerine bird. Biology Letters. 7 (1):36-38. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2010.0437

• Bermúdez-Cuamatzin E., Ríos-Chelén A. A., Gil, D., Macías Garcia C. 2009. Strategies of song adaptation to urban noise in the house finch: syllable pitch plasticity or differential syllable use? Behaviour 146, 1269-1286. DOI: 10.1163/156853909X423104, ISSN: 0005-7959, E-ISSN: 1568-539X

Teaching

I gave lectures at BSc, MSc and PhD level at different Universities in Mexico, as well as courses and workshops in bioacoustics. At Leiden University, I provide practical advice on using bioacoustic tools and software and I also co-supervise BSc-students during their field research projects.

Publications