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Soma Masayo
| Faculty of Science Biological Sciences Behavioral Neuroethology | Professor |
Researcher basic information
■ Degree■ URL
researchmap URLホームページURL■ Various IDs
J-Global ID■ Research Keywords and Fields
Research KeywordResearch Field
- Humanities & Social Sciences, Cognitive science
- Life Science, Basic brain sciences
- Life Science, Evolutionary biology
- Bachelor's degree program, School of Science
- Master's degree program, Graduate School of Life Science
- Doctoral (PhD) degree program, Graduate School of Life Science
Research activity information
■ Awards- Apr. 2022, Hokkaido University, Distinguished Researcher
Masayo Soma - 2016, 資生堂女性研究者サイエンスグラント
相馬雅代 - 2015, 文部科学大臣表彰 若手科学者賞
相馬雅代 - 2011, 日本鳥学会 黒田賞
相馬雅代 - 2005, 第30 回鳥類内分泌研究会若手奨励賞
相馬雅代
- Singing softly at the edge: vocal amplitude and performance limits in star finch courtship
Hana Goto; Masayo Soma
Animal Behaviour, 238, Elsevier BV, Aug. 2026, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
English, Scientific journal - Biological and methodological pitfalls of meta-analyses in ecology and evolution: lessons from eyespot function studies
Ayumi Mizuno; Pietro Pollo; Malgorzata Lagisz; Masayo Soma; Shinichi Nakagawa
Animal Behaviour, Elsevier BV, 2026, [Peer-reviewed], ［Internationally co-authored］
Scientific journal - Allometric relationship between bill length and bill-clattering display rhythm in storks (family Ciconiidae)
Masayo Soma; Ayaka Shirai; Hana Goto; Tomohiro Deguchi; Anand Krishnan
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2026, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Corresponding author], ［Internationally co-authored］
English - A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia
Rachael Miller; Vedrana Šlipogor; Kai R. Caspar; Jimena Lois-Milevicich; Carl Soulsbury; Stephan A. Reber; Claudia Mettke-Hofmann; Megan Lambert; Benjamin J. Ashton; Alice M. I. Auersperg; Melissa Bateson; Solenne Belle; Boris Bilčík; Laura M. Biondi; Francesco Bonadonna; Desiree Brucks; Michael W. Butler; Samuel P. Caro; Marion Charrier; Tiffany Chatelin; Johnathan Ching; Nicola S. Clayton; Benjamin J. Cluver; Ella B. Cochran; Francesca Cornero; Emily Danby; Samara Danel; Martina Darwich; James R. Davies; Alicia de la Colina; Dominik Fischer; Ondřej Fišer; Florencia Foitzick; Edward C. Galluccio; Clara Garcia-Co; Elias Garcia-Pelegrin; Isabelle George; Kai-Philipp Gladow; Raúl O. Gómez; Anna Grewer; Katie Grice; Lauren M. Guillette; Devon C. Hallihan; Katie J. Harrington; Frauke Heer; Chloe Henry; Vladimira Hodova; Marisa Hoeschele; Cécilia Houdelier; Paula Ibáñez de Aldecoa; Oluwaseun Serah Iyasere; Yuka Kanemitsu; Mina Khodadadi; Duc Khong; Melanie G. Kimball; Ariana N. Klappert; Lucy N. Koch; Uta U. König von Borstel; Lubor Košt’ál; Anastasia Krasheninnikova; Lubica Kubikova; Connor T. Lambert; Daan W. Laméris; Courtenay G. Lampert; Oceane Larousse; Christine R. Lattin; Zhongqiu Li; Michael Lindenmeier; Delia A. Lister; Julia A. Mackenzie; Selina Mainz; Danna Masri; Jorg J. M. Massen; Laurenz Mohr; Wendt Müller; Paul M. Nealen; Andreas Nieder; Aurèle Novac; Nínive Paes Cavalcante; Kristina Pascual; Carla Pascual-Guàrdia; Ayushi Patel; Katarína Pichová; Cristina Pilenga; Laurent Prétôt; John L. Quinn; Elena Račevska; Juan C. Reboreda; Sam Reynolds; Amanda R. Ridley; Theresa Rössler; Francisco Ruiz-Raya; Marina Salas; Beatriz C. Saldanha; Sebastián M. Santiago; Nikola Schlöglová; Gia Seatriz; Eva Serrano-Davies; Eva G. Shair Ali; Janja Sirovnik; Zuzana Skalná; Katie E. Slocombe; Masayo Soma; Tiziana Srdoc; Stefan Stanescu; Michaela Syrová; Alex H. Taylor; Christopher N. Templeton; Karlie Thompson; Sandra Trigo; Camille A. Troisi; Utku Urhan; Maurice Valbert; Kees van Oers; Alberto Velando; Frederick Verbruggen; Jorrit W. Verkleij; Alizée Vernouillet; Jonas Verspeek; Petr Veselý; Auguste M. P. von Bayern; Eline Waalders; Benjamin A. Whittaker; Ella R. Williamson; Vanessa A. D. Wilson; Michelle A. Winfield; Neslihan Wittek; Karen K. L. Yeung; Jade A. Zanutto
PLOS Biology, 23, 10, e3003394, e3003394, Public Library of Science (PLoS), 14 Oct. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
English, Scientific journal, Neophobia, or aversion to novelty, is important for adaptability and survival as it influences the ways in which animals navigate risk and interact with their environments. Across individuals, species and other taxonomic levels, neophobia is known to vary considerably, but our understanding of the wider ecological drivers of neophobia is hampered by a lack of comparative multispecies studies using standardized methods. Here, we utilized the ManyBirds Project, a Big Team Science large-scale collaborative open science framework, to pool efforts and resources of 129 collaborators at 77 institutions from 24 countries worldwide across six continents. We examined both difference scores (between novel object test and control conditions) and raw data of latency to touch familiar food in the presence (test) and absence (control) of a novel object among 1,439 subjects from 136 bird species across 25 taxonomic orders incorporating lab, field, and zoo sites. We first demonstrated that consistent differences in neophobia existed among individuals, among species, and among other taxonomic levels in our dataset, rejecting the null hypothesis that neophobia is highly plastic at all taxonomic levels with no evidence for evolutionary divergence. We then tested for effects of ecological factors on neophobia, including diet, sociality, habitat, and range, while accounting for phylogeny. We found that (i) species with more specialist diets were more neophobic than those with more generalist diets, providing support for the Neophobia Threshold Hypothesis; (ii) migratory species were also more neophobic than nonmigratory species, which supports the Dangerous Niche Hypothesis. Our study shows that the evolution of avian neophobia has been shaped by ecological drivers and demonstrates the potential of Big Team Science to advance our understanding of animal behavior. - Systematic mapping and bibliometric analysis of meta-analyses on animal cognition
Ayumi Mizuno; Malgorzata Lagisz; Pietro Pollo; Lauren Guillette; Masayo Soma; Shinichi Nakagawa
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 177, 106342, 106342, Elsevier BV, Aug. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
English, Scientific journal - Studying estrildid finches to understand sexual and social signals in birds: a short review
Masayo Soma
acta ethologica, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 09 May 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited], [Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
English, Scientific journal - Exploring the function of greeting display in a long-term monogamous songbird, the Java sparrow
Yuhan Zhang; Masayo Soma
Animal Cognition, 28, 1, 31, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 19 Apr. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
English, Scientific journal - Choice of props for courtship dancing in estrildid finches
Masayo Soma; Misaki Nakatani; Nao Ota
Scientific Reports, 15, 219, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 02 Jan. 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
Scientific journal - Vocal constraints on song amplitude in star finches Bathilda ruficauda
Goto H.; Soma M.; Mizuno A.; Brumm H.
PeerJ, 13, e19705, e19705, 2025, [Peer-reviewed], [Corresponding author], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
Scientific journal - A systematic review and meta-analysis of anti-predator mechanisms of eyespots: conspicuous pattern vs eye mimicry
Ayumi Mizuno; Malgorzata Lagisz; Pietro Pollo; Yefeng Yang; Masayo Soma; Shinichi Nakagawa
eLife, 13, RP96338, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Dec. 2024, [Peer-reviewed], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
Scientific journal, Eyespot patterns have evolved in many prey species. These patterns were traditionally explained by the eye mimicry hypothesis, which proposes that eyespots resembling vertebrate eyes function as predator avoidance. However, it is possible that eyespots are not the mimicry of eyes: according to the conspicuousness hypothesis, eyespots are just one form of vivid aposematic signals where only conspicuousness matters. To test these hypotheses and explore factors influencing predators’ responses, we conducted a meta-analysis with 33 empirical papers focusing on bird responses to lepidopterans having conspicuous patterns (eyespots and non-eyespots). Supporting the latter hypothesis, the results showed no clear difference in predator avoidance efficacy between eyespots and non-eyespots. When comparing geometric pattern characteristics, bigger pattern sizes and smaller numbers of patterns were more effective in preventing avian predation. This finding indicates that paired concentric patterns have weaker deterring effects than single ones. Taken together, our study supports the conspicuousness hypothesis more than the eye mimicry hypothesis. Due to the number and species coverage of published studies so far, the generalisability of our conclusion may be limited. The findings highlight that pattern conspicuousness is key to eliciting avian avoidance responses, shedding a different light on this classic example of signal evolution. - The use of artificial songs to assess song recognition in imprinted female songbirds: a concept proposal
Makioka H; Lewis RN; Soma M
Frontiers in Psychology, Aug. 2024, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited], [Last author, Corresponding author], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine] - Inheritance of temporal song features in Java sparrows
Rebecca N. Lewis; Anthony Kwong; Masayo Soma; Selvino R. de Kort; R. Tucker Gilman
Animal Behaviour, 206, 61, 74, Elsevier BV, Dec. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], ［Internationally co-authored］, [International Magazine]
Scientific journal - Eyes of love: Java sparrows increase eye ring conspicuousness when pair-bonded
Jenna Onaga; Masayo Soma
PLOS ONE, 18, 10, e0292074, e0292074, Public Library of Science (PLoS), 25 Oct. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
Scientific journal, Conspicuous facial features, such as blushing in primates, can communicate social/emotional/physiological states in animals. However, the role of bare facial features is less well studied in birds than in humans or primates. We investigate the Java sparrow, which is characterised by conspicuous rings of swollen and blushed bare skin around the eye. Eye rings show no clear sex difference, although the swelling is associated with breeding. Java sparrows are socially monogamous, with mutual courtships and long-term pair-bonding. Therefore, it is plausible that eye rings function in within-pair communication. Specifically, do eye rings reflect psychophysiological conditions after pair formation? We assessed variations in ring thickness in pair-bonded birds and compared them with single birds and pairs of non-bonded individuals. Over the 12-week experimental period, pair-bonded males and females had an increased ring thickness, unlike the controls. We suggest eye rings convey breeding motivations or serve as fertility signals. This would be of great importance for ensuring reproductive synchrony in tropical birds like the Java sparrow. Our results contribute to understanding the evolution of facial ornamentation in birds, which was often overlooked in the past studies. - Pre-existing visual preference for white dot patterns in estrildid finches: a comparative study of a multi-species experiment
Ayumi Mizuno; Masayo Soma
Royal Society Open Science, 10, 10, The Royal Society, 18 Oct. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
Scientific journal, The diverse characteristics of animal signal designs can be explained by the sensory bias hypothesis, which suggests that natural selection shapes sensory bias and preferences associated with signal design. Traditionally, this hypothesis has focused on female sensory biases and male sexual traits. However, considering shared sensory systems between males and females in non-sexual contexts, existing sensory bias possibly contributes to the evolution of shared social and sexual traits. Our previous studies on the family Estrildidae supported this idea. An evolutionary relationship probably existed between diet and white dot plumage, and a species of estrildid finches showed a visual preference for white dot patterns. To investigate this further, we examined hunger-related visual preferences using phylogenetic comparative methods and behavioural experiments. Specifically, we compared the gazing responses of 12 species of estrildids to monochromatic printed white dot and stripe patterns, considering their phylogenetic relationships. The results support our idea that the common estrildid ancestor had a hunger-related visual preference for white dot patterns. Subject species generally preferred white dots to stripes. Furthermore, males and females showed a similar preference towards dots. Our findings provide insights into the role of sensory bias in the evolution of mutual ornamentation. - Star finches Neochmia ruficauda have a visual preference for white dot patterns: a possible case of trypophilia
Ayumi Mizuno; Masayo Soma
Animal Cognition, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 16 Mar. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author], [International Magazine]
Scientific journal, Abstract
Many animals have polka dot patterns on their body surface, some of which are known to have signalling functions; however, their evolutionary origins remain unclear. Dot patterns can trigger a fear response (trypophobia) in humans and are known to function as aposematic signals in non-human animals, suggesting that dots may deserve attention for biological reasons. Interestingly in many birds, plumage dot patterns serve for social/sexual signalling. To understand their evolution, we have focused on the sensory bias hypothesis, which predicts the role of pre-existing sensory preference driven by natural selection in shaping signal design. Our previous phylogenetic comparative study supported the hypothesis and showed that diet-driven visual preference promoted the evolution of plumage patterns, as there was an evolutionary correlation between termite-eating (white roundish gregarious prey) and the presence of plumage dot patterns in species of the family Estrildidae. This suggests that these species possess an intrinsic preference for dots. To test this, we compared the responses of an Estrildid species with dot plumage pattern (star finch Neochmia ruficauda) towards simultaneously presented monochrome-printed white dot vs white stripe patterns under both food-deprived and -supplied conditions. Overall, star finches preferred dots to stripes. They showed foraging-like behaviours almost only toward dots when hungry and gazed at dots frequently even when food was available, suggesting both hunger-related and hunger-neutral dot preferences. These results are rather surprising, given how strongly the subjects were attracted to abstract dot patterns without organic structure, but provided good support for the sensory bias hypothesis. - Behavioral and Evolutionary Perspectives on Visual Lateralization in Mating Birds: A Short Systematic Review
Masayo Soma
Frontiers in Physiology, 12, Frontiers Media SA, 31 Jan. 2022, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author]
Scientific journal, The division of cognitive processing between the two hemispheres of the brain causes lateralized eye use in various behavioral contexts. Generally, visual lateralization is shared among vertebrates to a greater extent, with little interspecific variation. However, previous studies on the visual lateralization in mating birds have shown surprising heterogeneity. Therefore, this systematic review paper summarized and analyzed them using phylogenetic comparative methods. The review aimed to elucidate why some species used their left eye and others their right to fixate on individuals of the opposite sex, such as mating partners or prospective mates. It was found that passerine and non-passerine species showed opposite eye use for mating, which could have stemmed from the difference in altricial vs. precocial development. However, due to the limited availability of species data, it was impossible to determine whether the passerine group or altricial development was the primary factor. Additionally, unclear visual lateralization was found when studies looked at lek mating species and males who performed courtship. These findings are discussed from both evolutionary and behavioral perspectives. Possible directions for future research have been suggested. - Vibrational Signals in Multimodal Courtship Displays of Birds
Nao Ota; Masayo Soma
Biotremology: Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution, 237, 259, Springer International Publishing, 2022
In book - Rhythm in dyadic interactions
Koen de Reus; Masayo Soma; Marianna Anichini; Marco Gamba; Marianne de Heer Kloots; Miriam Lense; Julia Hyland Bruno; Laurel Trainor; Andrea Ravignani
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 376, 1835, 20200337, 20200337, The Royal Society, 23 Aug. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author]
Scientific journal, This review paper discusses
rhythmic
interactions and distinguishes them from
non-rhythmic
interactions. We report on communicative behaviours in social and sexual contexts, as found in dyads of humans, non-human primates, non-primate mammals, birds, anurans and insects. We discuss observed instances of rhythm in dyadic interactions, identify knowledge gaps and propose suggestions for future research. We find that most studies on rhythmicity in interactive signals mainly focus on one modality (acoustic or visual) and we suggest more work should be performed on multimodal signals. Although the social functions of interactive rhythms have been fairly well described, developmental research on rhythms used to regulate social interactions is still lacking. Future work should also focus on identifying the exact timing mechanisms involved. Rhythmic signalling behaviours are widespread and critical in regulating social interactions across taxa, but many questions remain unexplored. A multidisciplinary, comparative cross-species approach may help provide answers.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Synchrony and rhythm interaction: from the brain to behavioural ecology’. - Like Father Like Son: Cultural and Genetic Contributions to Song Inheritance in an Estrildid Finch
Rebecca N. Lewis; Masayo Soma; Selvino R. de Kort; R. Tucker Gilman
Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 654198, 654198, Frontiers Media SA, 04 Jun. 2021, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited]
Scientific journal, Social learning of vocalizations is integral to song inheritance in oscine passerines. However, other factors, such as genetic inheritance and the developmental environment, can also influence song phenotype. The relative contributions of these factors can have a strong influence on song evolution and may affect important evolutionary processes such as speciation. However, relative contributions are well-described only for a few species and are likely to vary with taxonomy. Using archived song data, we examined patterns of song inheritance in a domestic population of Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora ), some of which had been cross-fostered. Six-hundred and seventy-six songs from 73 birds were segmented and classified into notes and note subtypes (N = 22,972), for which a range of acoustic features were measured. Overall, we found strong evidence for cultural inheritance of song structure and of the acoustic characteristics of notes; sons’ song syntax and note composition were similar to that of their social fathers and were not influenced by genetic relatedness. For vocal consistency of note subtypes, a measure of vocal performance, there was no apparent evidence of social or genetic inheritance, but both age and developmental environment influenced consistency. These findings suggest that high learning fidelity of song material, i.e., song structure and note characteristics, could allow novel variants to be preserved and accumulate over generations, with implications for evolution and conservation. However, differences in vocal performance do not show strong links to cultural inheritance, instead potentially serving as condition dependent signals. - Potential role of sensory bias in plumage pattern evolution: termite-eating and polka-dots in estrildid finches
Ayumi Mizuno; Masayo Soma
Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 1, 13, Informa UK Limited, Aug. 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author]
Scientific journal - Group living facilitates the evolution of duets in barbets
Masayo Soma; Henrik Brumm
Biology Letters, 16, 8, 20200399, 20200399, The Royal Society, Aug. 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Corresponding author]
Scientific journal, The duets of birds have intrigued biologists for a long time, yet much remains unknown about the evolution of these striking collective displays. This is partly because previous studies on duet evolution have been biased to songbirds and neglected other bird groups. In songbirds, the absence of migration has been found to predict the occurrence of duetting, indirectlysupporting the idea that duet communication is linked with pair bonding. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative analyses in a sedentary clade of non-songbirds, the barbets (Capitonidae), to reveal new correlates of duet evolution. We found (i) that duets evolved several times independently in different barbet lineages and (ii) that duetting evolved in association with group living (i.e. the presence of helpers or non-breeding adults during the breeding period), but not with sexual monochromatism or habitat type. Our findings are consistent with a duet function in mate guarding and dominance against subordinate group members as well as joint territory defence. Altogether, the results highlight the importance of the social environment for the evolution of collective signalling. - Same-sex pair bonding in male Java sparrows
Hiroko Adachi; Masayo Soma
日本性科学会誌, 37, 1, 45, 54, Jul. 2019, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited], [Last author]
Japanese - Early-life lessons of the courtship dance in a dance-duetting songbird, the Java sparrow
Soma M; Iwama M; Nakajima R; Endo R
Royal Society Open Science, 6, 190563, Jun. 2019, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Corresponding author]
English, Scientific journal - Selection of food cache location by a pair of Large-billed Crow in Japan
Ayumi MIZUNO; Yutaka MARUYAMA; Masayo SOMA
Japanese Journal of Ornithology, 68, 1, 67, 71, JStage (Ornithological Society of Japan), 23 Apr. 2019, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author]
Japanese, Scientific journal - Vocalization can mediate male-male sexual interactions in Java sparrows
Hiroko Adachi; Masayo Soma
Animal Biology, Dec. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited]
English, Scientific journal - Couples showing off: Audience promotes both male and female multimodal courtship display in a songbird
Ota N; Gahr M; Soma M
Science Advances, 4, 10, eaat4779, Oct. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Last author, Corresponding author]
English - 歌鳥の雌雄の音声コミュニケーション
Masayo SOma
Journal of INCE/J, 42, 4, 161, 164, Aug. 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited], [Lead author, Corresponding author]
Japanese - Evolution of patterned plumage as a sexual signal in estrildid finches
Masayo Soma; László Zsolt Garamszegi
Behavioral Ecology, 29, 3, 676, 685, Oxford University Press, 09 May 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Lead author, Corresponding author]
English, Scientific journal - Sexual selection in Estrildid finches, with further review of the evolution of nesting material holding display in relation to cooperative parental nesting
Masayo Soma
Japanese Journal of Animal Psychology, 2018, [Peer-reviewed], [Invited]
English - Multimodal signalling in estrildid finches: song, dance and colour are associated with different ecological and life-history traits
A. C. R. Gomes; C. Funghi; M. Soma; M. D. Sorenson; G. C. Cardoso
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, 30, 7, 1336, 1346, Jul. 2017, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Mating success follows duet dancing in the Java sparrow
Masayo Soma; Midori Iwama
PLOS ONE, 12, 3, e0172655, Mar. 2017, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Songbird tap dancing produces non-vocal sounds
Nao Ota; Manfred Gahr; Masayo Soma
BIOACOUSTICS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SOUND AND ITS RECORDING, 26, 2, 161, 168, 2017, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Diet and birdsong: short-term nutritional enrichment improves songs of adult Bengalese finch males
Kentaro Yamada; Masayo Soma
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, 47, 6, 865, 870, Dec. 2016, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Tap dancing birds: the multimodal mutual courtship display of males and females in a socially monogamous songbird
Nao Ota; Manfred Gahr; Masayo Soma
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 5, Nov. 2015, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - The Songbird as a Percussionist: Syntactic Rules for Non-Vocal Sound and Song Production in Java Sparrows
Masayo Soma; Chihiro Mori
PLOS ONE, 10, 5, May 2015, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Evolution of courtship display in Estrildid finches: dance in relation to female song and plumage ornamentation
Soma M; Garamszegi LZ
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 3, 4, Feb. 2015, [Peer-reviewed]
English - Age-dependent song changes in a closed-ended vocal learner: elevation of song performance after song crystallization
Nao Ota; Masayo Soma
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, 45, 6, 566, 573, Nov. 2014, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Song performance and elaboration as potential indicators of male quality in Java sparrows
Hiroko Kagawa; Masayo Soma
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES, 99, 138, 144, Oct. 2013
English, Scientific journal - Differential allocation in relation to mate song quality in the Bengalese finch
M. Soma; K. Okanoya
BEHAVIOUR, 150, 13, 1491, 1508, 2013, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Social factors in song learning: A review of Estrildid finch research
Masayo F. Soma
ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, 10, 2, 89, 100, Dec. 2011
English - Male traits and female choice in Java Sparrows: preference for large body size
Ai Hasegawa; Masayo Soma; Toshikazu Hasegawa
ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, 10, 1, 73, 80, Jun. 2011, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - Rethinking birdsong evolution: meta-analysis of the relationship between song complexity and reproductive success
Masayo Soma; Laszlo Zsolt Garamszegi
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY, 22, 2, 363, 371, Mar. 2011
English, Scientific journal - Song-learning strategies in the Bengalese finch: do chicks choose tutors based on song complexity?
Masayo Soma; Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa; Kazuo Okanoya
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 78, 5, 1107, 1113, Nov. 2009
English, Scientific journal - Early ontogenetic effects on song quality in the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica): laying order, sibling competition, and song syntax
Masayo Soma; Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa; Kazuo Okanoya
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, 63, 3, 363, 370, Jan. 2009
English, Scientific journal - Genetic and developmental effects, and morphological influences on the acoustic structure of individual distance calls in female Bengalese finches Lonchura striata var. domestica
Masayo Soma; Toshikazu Hasegawa; Kazuo Okanoya
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, 39, 1, 101, 107, Jan. 2008
English, Scientific journal - Sex-specific maternal effect on egg mass, laying order, and sibling competition in the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica)
Masayo Soma; Daichi S. Saito; Toshikazu Hasegawa; Kazuo Okanoya
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, 61, 11, 1695, 1705, Sep. 2007
English, Scientific journal - Early rearing conditions affect the development of body size and song in Bengalese finches
Masayo Soma; Miki Takahasi; Maki Ikebuchi; Hiroko Yamada; Madoka Suzuki; Toshikazu Hasegawa; Kazuo Okanoya
ETHOLOGY, 112, 11, 1071, 1078, Nov. 2006
English, Scientific journal - Trade-offs and correlations among multiple song features in the Bengalese Finch
Masayo Soma; Toshikazu Hasegawa; Miki Takahasi; Kazuo Okanoya; Kazuo Okanoya
Ornithological Science, 5, 1, 77, 84, 2006, [Peer-reviewed]
English, Scientific journal - The effect of social facilitation and social dominance on foraging success of budgerigars in an unfamiliar environment
M Soma; T Hasegawa
BEHAVIOUR, 141, 1121, 1134, Sep. 2004
English, Scientific journal
- The Evolution of Song Learning: A Review from a Biological Perspective (特集 動物の認知)
相馬雅代; 長谷川寿一; 岡ノ谷一夫, 認知科学, 12, 3, 166, 176, Sep. 2005
日本認知科学会 - ハシブトガラスCorvus macrorhynchosにおける集合音声と採餌群れの形成
相馬雅代; 長谷川寿一, 日本鳥学会誌, 52, 2, 97, 106, 31 Dec. 2003
Recruitment calls are reported as one mechanism used by some birds and mammals for attracting conspecifics once an individual has found a food source, hence leading to the formation of foraging flocks/groups. Jungle Crows Corvus macrorhynchos sometimes give "kakaka" calls while foraging in flocks. We conducted field observations and playback experiments to examine whether these calls serve as recruitment calls leading to flock formation. Crows gave "kakaka" calls while foraging, and the size of foraging flocks was positively correlated with the number of calls given. Broadcasting "kakaka" calls attracted more Jungle Crows. There was also a positive correlation between pecking rates and the size of foraging flocks. The results indicate that "kakaka" calls are effective recruitment calls and that Jungle Crows forage more efficiently in flocks., The Ornithological Society of Japan, Japanese
- 動物の行動と心の事典 = Encyclopedia of animal behavior and mind
Japan Ethological Society; 日本動物心理学会
朝倉書店, Nov. 2025, 9784254172058, xiii, 365p, 図版2枚(ページ付なし), Japanese, [Contributor] - Acoustic communication in animals : from insect wingbeats to human music
Seki, Yoshimasa, Chapter 6 Dancing in Singing Songbirds: Choreography in Java Sparrows
Springer, 2023, 9789819908301, viii, 231 p., English, [Joint work] - Biotremology: Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution
Ota N; Soma M, 10 Vibrational Signals in Multimodal Courtship Displays of Birds
Springer, 2022, 9783030974183, [Joint work] - 動物行動学 原書11版
J. Alcock (原著), D. R. Rubenstein (原著), 松島 俊也 (翻訳), 相馬 雅代 (翻訳), 的場 知之 (翻訳)
丸善出版, Jan. 2021 - 遺伝子から解き明かす鳥の不思議な世界
上田, 恵介; 田中, 啓太; 伊澤, 栄一; 森本, 元; 相馬, 雅代; 三上, かつら; 関, 伸一; 齋藤, 武馬; 杉田, 典正; 泉, 洋江; 久井, 貴世; 江田, 真毅; 田中, 康平; 綿貫, 豊; 出口, 智広; 笠原, 里恵; 森, さやか(環境学); 森口, 紗千子; 浅井, 芝樹; 佐藤, 雪太
一色出版, Nov. 2019, 9784910389080, 431p, Japanese - ダーウィンと現代 : 「生命の樹」の発見
Eldredge, Niles; 長谷川, 真理子; 長谷川, 寿一; 相馬, 雅代
麗澤大学出版会, Jun. 2012, 9784892056123, xv, 253p, Japanese
- 生命システム科学基礎論, 2024年, 修士課程, 生命科学院
- 多様性生物学基礎論, 2024年, 修士課程, 環境科学院
- 大学院共通授業科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 修士課程, 大学院共通科目
- 行動システム制御科学特論, 2024年, 修士課程, 生命科学院
- 科学・技術の世界（1単位）, 2024年, 学士課程, 全学教育
- 生物多様性概論, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- ISP生物科学実習Ⅱ・a, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- ISP生物科学実習Ⅱ・b, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 行動神経生物学実習, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 行動神経生物学実習, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 生物学Ⅱ, 2024年, 学士課程, 全学教育
- 生物統計学, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 生物統計学, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 行動神経生物学Ⅰb, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 生物学Ⅱ, 2024年, 学士課程, 全学教育
- 行動神経生物学Ⅰ, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- 行動神経生物学a, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
- Diversity of avian sound communication in the light of the evolutionary loss
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
01 Apr. 2024 - 31 Mar. 2028
相馬 雅代; 太田 菜央
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Hokkaido University, 24K09553 - 野生復帰に基づく個体差がコウノトリの野外個体群に及ぼす影響の解明
科学研究費助成事業
Apr. 2024 - Mar. 2027
出口 智広; 相馬 雅代
日本学術振興会, 基盤研究(C), 兵庫県立大学, 24K08954 - カエデチョウ科を中心とする鳥類の目の顕著性進化に関わる種間比較および行動学的検討
科学研究費助成事業 基盤研究(C)
01 Apr. 2020 - 31 Mar. 2023
相馬 雅代
本研究課題は，鳥類の目付近の形態が示す特徴の多様性に焦点をあて，その視覚信号としての進化要因解明を目指している．これまで，形態形質自体に着目し，種内および種間変異を検討してきた．これを発展させてきたのに加え，本年度は，視覚系の果たす役割についても，種間比較と行動実験の両面から検討をおこなった．一般に，視覚信号の進化は，視覚情報処理や視覚的注意と切り離すことができない問題である．この観点から以下のような研究成果を得ている．
(1) 視覚の側方性
本課題の研究対象でるカエデチョウ科鳥類は，顔から体側にかけてしばしば模様を持ち，これらが雌雄が隣同士に並び立っておこなう求愛において重要な役割をになっていることがすでに指摘されている．また，鳥類は視覚情報処理において，左右での機能局在が著しく，求愛にも片側の目（視野）を使う傾向が高い（利き目が存在する）ことはよく知られている．一方で，求愛に左右どちらの目を使うかに関しては，異なる分類群で真逆の報告がなされており，スズメ目あるいはカエデチョウ科は，鳥類の中では特異な性質を示す可能性が高い．それがなぜであるのか，進化と機能の観点から解析をおこなった．
(2) 視覚的注意
特定の模様特徴が視覚信号として機能しているならば，その特性だけを抽出した抽象的な視覚刺激に対しても，鳥は視覚的注意を向ける可能性がある．そこで，抽象的な模様呈示による注視実験をおこない，選好注視による刺激弁別および選好の定量により成果を得た．
以上の結果は，いずれも論文および学会発表として年度内に発表済みである．
日本学術振興会, 基盤研究(C), 北海道大学, 20K06809 - Evolution of complex sexual signals shared between males and females of songbirds
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
01 Apr. 2016 - 31 Mar. 2020
Soma Masayo
Estrildid finches are known for great interspecific diversity in the degree of elaboration in courtship dance, song and plumage coloration and also for the considerable sex differences in these traits within species. The present series of studies examined the function and evolution of such diverse sexual signals. Ethological studies revealed that song and dance have different functions even when they are expressed simultaneously. Song serves as a condition dependent signal giving a clue for mate choice, while dance plays an important role in pair bonding. Phylogenetic comparative studies also showed that song and dance evolved independently. However, plumage pattern conspicuousness and courtship dance complexity are correlated among species, meaning that static and dynamic aspects of visual sexual signals are interlinked with each other.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A), Hokkaido University, 16H06177 - Function and evolution of audio-visual communication: songbird study from comparative cognitive aspects
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
01 Apr. 2011 - 31 Mar. 2015
SOMA Masayo
Estrildid finches have multiple sexual traits, including courtship display that is composed of song and dance and ornamental plumage colors. This study shed light on song and dance, and asked why multiple sexual signals evolved and how they function. Estrildid finches showed a capacity to coordinate multimodal signals, such as singing, dancing, and bill sounds. In addition, young finches of a Estrildid species show practicing behavior of dance very early in their life, which might contribute to master fine coordination between singing and dancing. As dances are often displayed in parallel with songs, they are likely to evolve non-independently of songs. However, by using phylogenetic comparative approaches I found that dance and song evolved independently. The mechanisms and functions of the two behaviors are at least partially independent.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A), Hokkaido University, 23680027 - コミュニケーションにおける身体動作リズムの機能と進化:鳴禽類をモデルとした研究
科学研究費助成事業 研究活動スタート支援
2010 - 2011
相馬 雅代
ヒトを含む脊椎動物のコミュニケーションは多くの場合,視聴覚シグナルの複合的行動として表出される.本研究で対象とする鳥類(鳴禽類)においては,これまで発声行動がもっぱら着目されてきたものの,音声と身体動作との複合シグナルが雌雄間コミュニケーションに重要な役割を果たしている.このため,複数モダリティを介した情報伝達行動の進化を考える上で,このような視覚シグナルをも含む複雑なコミュニケーション行動に着目することは有用である.本研究では,その中でも求愛ディスプレイ行動の機能と特徴に焦点をあて,性淘汰の見地から社会行動の進化を明らかにすることを目指している.本年度は,ブンチョウを対象とした視覚シグナルに関わる種内研究と,鳴禽類全般を対象とした発声シグナルに関わる系統種間比較研究とを行った.前者においては,ブンチョウの性的形質の中でもとりわけ視覚シグナリングに重要と考えられる嘴の色および形の個体差について定量的検討を行い,嘴の大きさに性的二型が見られるだけでなく,色(赤さ)にも性差があり,ここから,オスの赤く盛り上がった嘴が繁殖期の求愛文脈において,オスの「質」と結びついている可能性が示唆された.後者の系統種間比較研究においては,求愛ディスプレイ行動の発声面での複雑さが繁殖成功とどの程度結びついており,それがどのような生態学的要因と結びついているかメタ分析の手法を用いて検討し,発声行動の進化に関わる性淘汰圧のレベルを明らかにした
日本学術振興会, 研究活動スタート支援, 北海道大学, 22800002 - 動作の時系列的規則性獲得の認知メカニズム:鳥をモデルとした研究
科学研究費助成事業 特別研究員奨励費
2007 - 2009
相馬 雅代
卵生の動物のメスにとって産卵量の調節は,限られた繁殖資源を配分投資し,自身とさらに子の適応度を最適化するという面で,重要な繁殖パラメータである.一般的に,卵1個に対する栄養投資量が多いほど子の生存率は高まる一方,メスには総投資量として大きな負担を強いることになる.また,一度の繁殖で産む卵は多いほうが,効率的に子の数を増やすことができ,適応度に寄与する可能性もあるが,他方で,育児・育雛のコストが大きくなり兄弟間競争が激化するぶん,メス自身や子の各個体にとって必ずしも利益となるとは限らない.そのため,産卵量の調節は,繁殖コンディションの影響を鋭敏に反映するのではないかと予測されている。このような産卵量の調節に関わるのが,繁殖コンディションやつがい相手オスの質である.ジュウシマツのような鳴禽類は,性淘汰形質として発声行動(歌)を求愛ディスプレイに用いる.そこでメスは,どのような歌をうたうオスとつがうと産卵投資を増加させるのか検討を行った.
その結果,それぞれのメスがつがった相手の歌の音響特性が,初期発達期にさらされた歌とどれだけ似ているかどうかという指標が,卵重・一腹卵数・性比の増減に関連していた.メスの配偶投資に反映される選好性には,父親よりも,発達初期に社会交渉のあった非父親オスの歌の方が影響を与えていることが示唆された.このことは,初期聴覚記憶にもとづく性的刷り込み学習が繁殖投資に影響している一方で,近親交配を促進するような,すなわち父親の歌を選好するような傾向は無いことを示唆している.この結果については,学会において発表を行い,論文を準備中である.
日本学術振興会, 特別研究員奨励費, 総合研究大学院大学, 07J07732 - 初期環境による認知機能の個体差:鳥類の音声学習をモデルとした研究
科学研究費助成事業 特別研究員奨励費
2005 - 2006
相馬 雅代
昨年度までの研究によって,ジュウシマツヒナの発達コンディションの影響の受けやすさに性差があることが示唆された.この理由として,(1)母性効果の性差,(2)性特異的な成長パターンという2つの要因を考え検討した.
(1)母性効果の性差:卵順と性によって卵に量的差異が生じている可能性について検討した.卵重には性と卵順の交互作用の影響がみとめられた.すなわち母親は,産卵順が遅いほど重い卵を産む傾向があった.この傾向はメス卵よりもオス卵でより顕著で,また全般に,メスよりオスで卵重が重かった.このことは,母親がヒナ間競争で不利になりやすい孵化順の遅い卵,脆弱な性であるオスの卵に多く投資し,ヒナの減少を回避しようとする戦略を反映すると考えられる.しかしこれらの結果から,オスの脆弱性を母性効果で説明することはできなかった.
(2)成長パターンの性差:性および卵順がヒナ間競争中での発達におよぼす影響を検討するため,里子実験によってヒナ間に実験的に日齢差をもうけることで,ヒナ間競争に有利な年長個体と不利な年少個体との身体発達(体重増加)を比較した.発達初期にヒナの性判定を行い,実験巣が全て両性とも2羽ずつ,各性年少・年長1羽ずつになるようヒナを配置した.各ヒナの体重増加を成長曲線にあてはめ,最終体重と成長速度に影響を与えている要因を分析した.この結果,成長速度には性と日齢差の影響が,最終体重には卵順・性・日齢差の影響がみられた.実験巣で年少群に割り当てられたヒナは成長速度の低減がみられ,特にメスにおいて顕著であった.しかし,最終体重は,年長群・年少群ともメスの方が大きかった.つまり,不利なヒナ間競争下でのメスは成長速度の大幅な低減を示すが,成長期間を柔軟に長くとることで補完していたと考えられる.他方オスは,成長期間の可塑性が低いことが,発達ストレスに対する脆弱性の原因であることが示唆された.
日本学術振興会, 特別研究員奨励費, 東京大学, 05J10949
