Document Detail


The deterrent effect of bird song in territory defense.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19337589     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Using the responses of territory owners to playback to infer the territorial function of acoustic signals is common practice. However, difficulties with interpreting the results of such experiments have obscured our understanding of territorial signaling. For instance, a stronger response to playback is often interpreted as more aggressive, but there is no consensus as to whether this should be in response to the least or most threatening simulated intruder. Rather than following a gradual increase or decrease, the relationship between signal intensity and response strength may instead describe a peaked curve. We manipulated banded wren (Thryophilus pleurostictus) songs to simulate low, median and high performance singers and used these songs as stimuli in playback experiments. Banded wrens were less likely to approach the high performance stimulus compared to the low and median performance stimuli. However, the birds that did approach the high performance stimulus sang more than those that approached the low performance stimulus. In addition, birds were more likely to match the songs when exposed to the median and high performance stimuli compared to the low performance stimuli and song matching predicted approach behavior. These results are in accordance with theoretical models of aggressive encounters in which low performance opponents are challenged without further assessment. Median and high performance opponents however, may require further assessment and the latter may be perceived as too intimidating for approach.
Authors:
Selvino R de Kort; Erin R Bohman; Emily R A Cramer; Sandra L Vehrencamp
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology     Volume:  20     ISSN:  1465-7279     ISO Abbreviation:  Behav. Ecol.     Publication Date:  2009 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-4-1     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9426330     Medline TA:  Behav Ecol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  200-206     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, USA, Email addresses in order of authorship: Selvino@selvino.nl , erb29@cornell.edu , erc25@cornell.edu , slv8@cornell.edu.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 MH060461-08//NIMH NIH HHS

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