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1.
Begging and provisioning in broods of asynchronously-hatched yellow-headed blackbird nestlings 总被引:13,自引:0,他引:13
Studies of begging have found a positive relationship between begging level and provisioning level. Studies of unequal nestlings, however, have found that small nestlings generally beg more but are fed less than their larger siblings. We manipulated the begging levels of yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) chicks to investigate how begging benefits individuals in broods of unequal siblings. Food-deprived chicks begged more and were fed more; satiated chicks begged less and were fed less. When we deprived each chick of a brood in turn, large and small chicks generally increased begging and received more provisioning. Small chicks, however, rarely received more food than their larger siblings even when they behged relatively more. Parent yellow-headed blackbirds increase provisioning to hungry begging chicks, but also allocate food based on relative offspring size. 相似文献
2.
Gail L. Patricelli Marc S. Dantzker Jack W. Bradbury 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》2007,61(7):1099-1110
Studies of animal acoustic communication have found that the frequency and temporal structure of acoustic signals can be shaped
by selection for efficient communication. The directionality of acoustic radiation may also be adapted for communication,
but we know relatively little about how directionality varies with signal function, sender morphology, and the environment
in which the sound is transmitted. We tested the hypothesis that the directionality of a vocalization is adapted to its function
in communication. This hypothesis predicts that vocalizations that are directed to multiple conspecifics (e.g., advertisements
and alarms) will be relatively omnidirectional because this will maximize the number of neighbors and mates that receive the
signal, and that vocalizations directed to particular individuals will be relatively directional because this will maximize
detection of the signal by the targeted receiver and minimize eavesdropping. To test these predictions, we measured the directionality
and amplitude of red-winged blackbird (Agelaius pheoniceus) vocalizations in the field by recording vocalizations simultaneously on eight calibrated microphones encircling the bird.
We found significant variation in directionality among vocalizations. Supporting our predictions, we found that the most omnidirectional
vocalizations were those used to alert conspecifics to danger, and the most directional vocalizations are those used during
courtship and solicitation of copulation, when the costs of eavesdropping are likely to be high. These results suggest that
the directionality of red-winged blackbird vocalizations is shaped by selection for effective communication. This study is
the first to provide statistical support for the hypothesis that directionality is related to the function of a signal in
communication. 相似文献
3.
Five hypotheses have been proposed to explain polygyny in the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). We categorized the hypotheses into three groups based on female preference for unmated versus monogamously mated males:
(1) the “polygyny threshold” model, “sexy son” hypothesis and the “asynchronous settlement” model, which assume that females
prefer unmated males to mated males on breeding situations of homogeneous quality; (2) the “neutral mate choice” hypothesis,
which assumes that females have no preference; and (3) the “cooperative female choice” model, which assumes that females prefer
monogamously mated males to unmated males. We tested the direction of female preference in two field experiments. In both
experiments, newly settling females were given a choice of two adjacent territories, one defended by an unmated male and the
other by a monogamously mated male. Male mating status was randomized with respect to the variation in territory quality and
male quality. Early in the breeding season, significantly more females settled with the unmated males than with the mated
males. Although more females settled with the unmated males than with the mated males late in the breeding season, the difference
was no longer significant. Female settlement late in the season appeared to be related to the tenure of the resident females:
the new females avoided territories where the resident females were in early stages of their nesting, but settled on territories
where the resident females were in late stages. The pattern of female settlement shows that females prefer unmated males to
mated males. The preference is consistent with the polygyny threshold model, sexy son hypothesis and the asynchronous settlement
model, and inconsistent with the neutral mate choice hypothesis and the cooperative female choice model. For this reason,
the latter two hypotheses are unlikely to explain the occurrence of polygyny in our population of red-winged blackbirds.
Received: 1 December 1994 / Accepted after revision: 28 October 1995 相似文献
4.
Pair and extra-pair mating success relative to male quality in red-winged blackbirds 总被引:9,自引:0,他引:9
We tested whether the reproductive success of male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) varied with male secondary sexual traits or with haematozoa prevalence, and whether these patterns were consistent with females preferring genetically superior males. We also determined whether the traits that correlated with male success on their own territories were also correlated with male success at siring young on other males territories. Our analysis included data from a 6-year study involving 617 nestlings for which paternity was determined by DNA profiling. Larger males sired more young on their territories, principally because they obtained larger harems. The success of larger males at acquiring more mates did not appear to be a consequence of larger males holding larger or better-quality territories. Older and longer-lived males sired more young by extra-pair fertilizations. Larger males sired the most offspring overall (on territory + off territory). Variation in epaulet size and color, responses to male and female models, nest defence and parasitism was not correlated with male success either on or off their territories or overall. Male success in a given year was significantly correlated with success the previous year, as expected if females were selecting genetically superior males. The male that was by far the most successful individual in this study was highly consistent from year to year. Because male body size is positively correlated with survival in this population (although not within the sample of males included in this study), female preference for larger males may have reflected a general preference for males with superior Survival ability. We propose that the direct advantage realized by older males in extra-pair matings might indicate that experience is important, such that experienced males are better at creating or exploiting the opportunities for extra-pair mating. This hypothesis is consistent with a pairwise analysis of cuckoldry that showed that cuckolders were most often older than the males they cuckolded. 相似文献
5.
Patrick J. Weatherhead 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1997,40(3):151-158
Using data from a 6-year paternity study of red-winged blackbirds, I tested the hypotheses that increased nesting synchrony
should either promote extra-pair mating by increasing the advantage of extra-pair mating to females, or decrease extra-pair
mating by constraining males from seeking extra-pair copulations. Contrary to these hypotheses, the occurrence of extra-pair
paternity did not vary with nesting synchrony over the breeding season, or vary with the number of synchronous nests within
territories or within marshes, or with nesting order on territories. However, for nearly all nests with extra-pair young,
there were fewer females synchronous with that nest on the cuckolder's territory than on the territory of the cuckolded male.
This “advantage” of a synchrony difference was less pronounced for older males that cuckolded younger males, particularly
when the two males were not neighbors. Collectively, these results suggest that breeding synchrony affects extra-pair mating
by affecting mate guarding, but that breeding synchrony alone can not be used to predict which females are more likely to
engage in extra-pair mating, nor with which extra-pair males they will mate. Understanding why extra-pair mating by older
males is less affected by breeding synchrony may explain much about both the proximate and ultimate causes of extra-pair mating
in red-winged blackbirds.
Received: 7 June 1996 / Accepted after revision: 25 November 1996 相似文献
6.
Costs of brood parasitism and the lack of defenses on the yellow-winged blackbird - shiny cowbird system 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
The shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a generalist brood parasite that lays either white-immaculate or spotted egg morphs in eastern Argentina and Uruguay.
Some hosts accept both morphs, others accept spotted eggs and reject the white morph, but no host has been found to accept
white eggs and reject spotted ones. It has been suggested that the yellow-winged blackbird (Agelaius thilius) may be that type of host. The finding of a white acceptor-spotted rejector species would help to explain the occurrence
and maintenance of the parasite egg polymorphism. We studied the incidence of shiny cowbird parasitism on this host, its costs
for their reproductive success and the presence of antiparasitic defenses in the yellow-winged blackbird - shiny cowbird system.
The parasite affected the reproductive success of the host in two ways. Cowbirds punctured host eggs causing a reduction in
clutch size, and yellow-winged blackbirds deserted their nests whenever they suffered high egg loss. In addition, parasitized
nests suffered higher predation during the nestling stage, but not during egg stages, indicating that the difference found
was related to the presence of the cowbird chick, and not to higher exposure of parasitized nests to both parasites␣and predators.
Despite the costs imposed by the parasite, yellow-winged blackbirds have not evolved antiparasitic defenses. This host did
not reject any egg morph of the shiny cowbird nor desert parasitized nests unless it had suffered high egg loss. Current explanations
for the host lack of defenses, the “time lag” and the “equilibrium” hypothesis, are discussed.
Received: 29 August 1997 / Accepted after revision: 10 January 1998 相似文献
7.
Patterns of courtship behavior and ejaculate characteristics in male red-winged blackbirds 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
David F. Westneat Lisa A. McGraw Jennifer M. Fraterrigo Tim R. Birkhead F. Fletcher 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1998,43(3):161-171
Sperm competition in birds is likely to have important effects on the behavior and physiology of reproduction in both sexes.
For males, such competition should select for large sperm reserves and behavioral adjustment of copulation when reserves are
low. We investigated both these possibilities in free-living red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), a highly polygynous species with apparently strong sperm competition. We found that the recent copulatory behavior of males
did not affect the propensity to copulate with a model female. Ejaculates collected from individual males at 1-h intervals
showed no evidence of sperm depletion, yet repeated ejaculates collected less than 10 min apart did. Male ejaculate size was
significantly larger if it was the first one of the day (i.e., after an overnight rest). The average ejaculate size was 12.5
(±12.5 SD) million sperm. Males captured during the breeding season had an average of 111.7 (±52.8) million sperm stored in
their seminal glomera. Because males average a peak copulation rate of six per female per day, in one day a male might utilize
all the sperm in his seminal glomera if more than two females on his territory are fertilizable. We hypothesize that polygyny
and sperm competition in this species have combined to select for rapid replenishment of the seminal glomera throughout the
day, in contrast to other species that have been studied. Testis size and sperm reserves of male red-winged blackbirds are
intermediate between monogamous species and species with intense sperm competition. Several possible explanations for this
are discussed.
Received: 21 October 1997 / Accepted after revision: 15 February 1998 相似文献
8.
There has been much recent interest in subtle departures from perfect symmetry in bilaterally paired morphological characters,
and the extent to which such departures reflect aspects of individual quality. We used data from aviary contests involving
pairs of wild-caught male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) to test the hypothesis that comparatively symmetrical males are disproportionately successful in intra-sexual competition
for food. Although paired contestants showed clear and consistent differences in competitive ability, there was no indication
that symmetrical males were competitively superior. Winners and losers of aviary contests were indistinguishable based on
asymmetry measures made on each of four bilateral characters (tarsus length, wing chord, and two epaulet dimensions), and
for a fifth character (length of outer retrix), asymmetry differences, though significant, occurred in the direction opposite
to that predicted. Furthermore, there was no detectable association between male competitive ability and a composite measure
that combined asymmetry information across all five characters. Our results, in combination with those of several other recent
avian studies, suggest that symmetry is generally a poor predictor of social dominance in birds. This finding is inconsistent
with the proposal that symmetry provides a readily obtained, reliable measure of phenotypic quality.
Received: 15 May 1997 / Accepted after revision: 26 September 1997 相似文献
9.
Female control of offspring paternity in a western population of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) 总被引:9,自引:0,他引:9
E. M. Gray 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1996,38(4):267-278
Extra-pair copulations, which occur when individuals that have formed social relationships to breed copulate outside their
pairbond, now are recognized as an important component of reproductive success in many species. In situations where both males
and females benefit from extra-pair copulations without incurring much risk, an inevitable conflict arises between pairbonded
mates. In this study I investigated the conflict of interest between male and female reproductive strategies in a western
population of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). Female red wings in this population initiate extra-pair copulations, which resulted in a 35% rate of extra-pair fertilization.
Females initiated the majority (78%) of extra-pair copulations away from their nesting territory where pairbonded individuals
typically copulate, and females that engaged in extra-pair copulations spent a significantly greater amount of time off the
marsh during peak fertilization compared to females that did not. In addition, females that nested in areas with a large number
of potential extra-pair partners produced significantly more extra-pair fertilized young compared to females that nested on
marshes with few male neighbors. Males’ strategies to protect paternity were limited primarily to patrolling territory boundaries
and to opportunistically preventing extra-pair copulations off the marsh when they were visible. In this population females
appear to use behavioral means to control nestling paternity, which in turn directly affected their mate’s reproductive success,
and males were restricted to using strategies that were largely ineffective at preventing the threat of extra-pair paternity.
Received: 23 December 1994/Accepted after revision: 17 December 1995 相似文献
10.
Is avian humoral immunocompetence suppressed by testosterone? 总被引:2,自引:2,他引:0
Dennis Hasselquist James A. Marsh Paul W. Sherman John C. Wingfield 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,45(3-4):167-175
A key issue in sexual selection theory is how a correlation between male secondary sexual characters and male genetic quality
can be maintained. The immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone-dependent male characters remain honest
signals because of the immunosuppressive effect of elevated steroid hormone levels. The hypothesis requires that physiological
levels of testosterone depress immune system function. We quantified testosterone titers and humoral immunocompetence of captive
male and female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) at three points in the annual cycle (autumn, prebreeding, and breeding). We also conducted an implant experiment on the
males to assess the effects of prolonged, above-normal testosterone titers on humoral immune responses. Humoral immunocompetence
was measured as secondary antibody production to a non-pathogenic protein antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, using an enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay we developed for A. phoeniceus. Secondary antibody responses of individuals were highly repeatable between sampling periods. Neither physiological nor above-normal
levels of plasma testosterone suppressed secondary antibody production. In paired tests of the same individuals between prebreeding
and breeding, and between breeding and implant, plasma testosterone increased significantly but secondary antibody responses
were unaffected. We are confident in these results because with 80% power, an 11–14% difference in antibody titers would have
been detected. There was no relationship between plasma testosterone levels and humoral immunocompetence in free-ranging males
tested at the peak of breeding. These results cast doubt on a key assumption of the immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis.
Received: 13 April 1998 / Accepted after revision: 7 October 1998 相似文献