Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song
Animals can communicate using visual and acoustic displays to convey information to conspecifics. In some cases, such displays are produced in highly stereotyped and repetitive sequences. Here we use a quantitative analysis technique, the Levenshtein distance, to assess similarity in sequences of di...
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Online Access: | https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:290475 |
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ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:290475 2023-05-15T16:35:51+02:00 Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song Garland, Ellen C. Lilley, Matthew S. Goldizen, Anne W. Rekdahl, Melinda L. Garrigue, Claire Noad, Michael J. 2012-11-01 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:290475 eng eng Brill doi:10.1163/1568539X-00003032 issn:0005-7959 issn:1568-539X orcid:0000-0003-0101-4108 orcid:0000-0002-2799-8320 Levenshtein distance Behavioural sequence Animal communication Song Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 2802 Behavioral Neuroscience Journal Article 2012 ftunivqespace https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-00003032 2020-10-27T01:38:14Z Animals can communicate using visual and acoustic displays to convey information to conspecifics. In some cases, such displays are produced in highly stereotyped and repetitive sequences. Here we use a quantitative analysis technique, the Levenshtein distance, to assess similarity in sequences of displays at both the population and individual levels. We review two existing variations of the method and present two new variations that complement and extend these existing techniques. Three of the methods include the use of a median string sequence and three use a normalisation of the original equation. Humpback whale song theme sequences from multiple populations, years and song types (different variations of the display) are used as examples to illustrate the application and success of each variation. A novel outcome of this technique is that it can produce a threshold measure of similarity to assess when behavioural sequences are so dissimilar that they must be considered different, with a measure of the probability of such clusters being distinct. The Levenshtein distance is applicable to all behavioural data produced in sequences and its use should not be limited to acoustical studies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace Behaviour 149 13-14 1413 1441 |
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Open Polar |
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The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftunivqespace |
language |
English |
topic |
Levenshtein distance Behavioural sequence Animal communication Song Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 2802 Behavioral Neuroscience |
spellingShingle |
Levenshtein distance Behavioural sequence Animal communication Song Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 2802 Behavioral Neuroscience Garland, Ellen C. Lilley, Matthew S. Goldizen, Anne W. Rekdahl, Melinda L. Garrigue, Claire Noad, Michael J. Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
topic_facet |
Levenshtein distance Behavioural sequence Animal communication Song Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae 1103 Animal Science and Zoology 2802 Behavioral Neuroscience |
description |
Animals can communicate using visual and acoustic displays to convey information to conspecifics. In some cases, such displays are produced in highly stereotyped and repetitive sequences. Here we use a quantitative analysis technique, the Levenshtein distance, to assess similarity in sequences of displays at both the population and individual levels. We review two existing variations of the method and present two new variations that complement and extend these existing techniques. Three of the methods include the use of a median string sequence and three use a normalisation of the original equation. Humpback whale song theme sequences from multiple populations, years and song types (different variations of the display) are used as examples to illustrate the application and success of each variation. A novel outcome of this technique is that it can produce a threshold measure of similarity to assess when behavioural sequences are so dissimilar that they must be considered different, with a measure of the probability of such clusters being distinct. The Levenshtein distance is applicable to all behavioural data produced in sequences and its use should not be limited to acoustical studies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Garland, Ellen C. Lilley, Matthew S. Goldizen, Anne W. Rekdahl, Melinda L. Garrigue, Claire Noad, Michael J. |
author_facet |
Garland, Ellen C. Lilley, Matthew S. Goldizen, Anne W. Rekdahl, Melinda L. Garrigue, Claire Noad, Michael J. |
author_sort |
Garland, Ellen C. |
title |
Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
title_short |
Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
title_full |
Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
title_fullStr |
Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
title_full_unstemmed |
Improved versions of the Levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
title_sort |
improved versions of the levenshtein distance method for comparing sequence information in animals’ vocalisations: tests using humpback whale song |
publisher |
Brill |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:290475 |
genre |
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_relation |
doi:10.1163/1568539X-00003032 issn:0005-7959 issn:1568-539X orcid:0000-0003-0101-4108 orcid:0000-0002-2799-8320 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-00003032 |
container_title |
Behaviour |
container_volume |
149 |
container_issue |
13-14 |
container_start_page |
1413 |
op_container_end_page |
1441 |
_version_ |
1766026161485250560 |